AU2012100146B4 - A sliding abdominal exercise machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Docket No. 91049PCT A compact, easily storable abdominal exercise machine is described that provides a sliding (to-and-fro) form of exercise for a seated user. In addition, the cushion may rotate so that it can also allow a swinging/twisting motion. Consequently, the sliding and/or the sliding + twisting modes of the exercise machine allow a greater range of motions for exercising the muscles of the waist and help to stimulate firming and toning of the waist areas more effectively.

Description

I A SLIDING ABDOMINAL EXERCISE MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION [00011 This invention relates to an exercise machine. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise machine incorporating a waist-oriented, sliding motion for the user. BACKGROUND [00021 Exercise machines are available that are tailored to different types of fitness exercises, basically working on a part of the body or different muscles or muscle groups. These exercise machines include treadmills, stationary bikes and weight training machines, etc. These exercise machines are typically very large in size and are inconvenient for storing, particularly for users who have limited living space available to them. [00031 One exercise machine that is somewhat compact is described in Chinese Utility Model patent no. CN2897325, titled "Swing Torque Fitness Device," which discloses a fitness machine achieving exercise motions through turning the body in a limited torquing/swiveling manner. It is relatively small in size and is convenient for storing. In Fig. 1, of the CN2897325 patent, the body 1 comprises a lower bracket 11, swivel wheel assembly 12 and regulator 13. The swivel wheel assembly 12 is located above the middle bracket 111 of the lower bracket 11, and in the swivel wheel assembly 12 there is a rotating component 121, which allows the upper wheel 122 of the swivel wheel assembly 12 to rotate 360 degrees relative to the bottom wheel 123. Anti-slip belt 131 and regulator 13 are set on the outer edge of the upper wheel 122, to permit tightening of the anti-slip belt 131 to control the regulator 13, which the upper wheel 122 requires for swiveling. When the body I is connected with stand 14, a chair is composed. The seated user can then swivel his or her waist when sitting, exercising waist muscles to improve the waist's shape. 100041 However, since this exercise machine can only exercise the waist by a swiveling motion, the user must use this exercise machine for a very long time to achieve some results.

2 [0005] Therefore, there has been a long standing need for an exercise machine that allows waist muscles to be more efficiently exercised, while also maintaining a compact size. Details of such a machine are described in the following sections. SUMMARY [00061 The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. [00071 In an aspect there is provided a sliding abdominal exercise machine comprising: - means for supporting a user in a sitting position;-first and second handles for a user to grip the means for supporting; - means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting; - means for sitting; - means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; - means for swiveling coupled to the means for sitting and the means for sliding; and- means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti sway; wherein the handles are provided at each of opposing ends of the means for providing arced bidirectional travel, and wherein the means for swiveling enables the means for sitting to swivel relative to the means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion. In an embodiment, the handles form part of the means for supporting the user. In another aspect there is provided a sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising: a means for sitting; a means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion and a swivel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting by allowing the means for sitting to swivel relative to the means for providing arced bi-directional travel; and a handle provided at each of opposing ends of the means for providing arced bidirectional travel. In yet another aspect there is provided a method for a seated form of exercising in an abdominal exercise machine, comprising the steps: sitting on a seat of the abdominal exercise machine, holding a first handle and a second handle of the abdominal exercise machine, engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat in a 3 bidirectional arcuate movement in the machine in a direction extending between the first and second handles, and engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat in a swivel motion substantially vertical axis. 100081 In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding abdominal machine is provided, comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; and a cushion coupled to the slide seat. [0009] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding abdominal machine is provided, comprising: means for supporting a user in a sitting position; means for gripping the means for supporting; means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting; means for sitting; means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; and means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway. [00101 In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a seated form of exercising is provided, comprising: sitting on a seat of an exercise machine comprising: at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; and a cushion coupled to the slide seat; gripping the gripping section; first engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat upward in a first direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail; and second engaging the at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat in a second, opposite direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail. [00111 In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an exercise machine, comprising at least one arcuate rail supported above the ground, a seat arranged to 4 receive a user in a sitting position, the seat further arranged to move along the rail and swivel about a vertical axis in response to a user engaging at least the user's abdominal muscles. [00121 In another aspect of the present disclosure, an exercise machine comprising a structure for reducing sway or providing rigidity, the structure having at least one stand extending thereof, an arcuate rail extending from the structure or stand, a seat arranged to receive a user in a sitting position, the seat further arranged to slide along the rail and rotate about a vertical axis in response to a user engaging at least the user's abdominal muscles. [00131 In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising a means for sitting, a means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion and a swivel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting. [0014] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an abdominal exercise machine comprising at least one arcuate rail supported above the ground, a seat arranged to move along the acruate rail, the seat comprising an anti-derailing member. 100151 In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a seated form of exercising in an abdominal exercise machine, comprising the steps of sitting on a seat of the abdominal exercise machine, engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat in a bidirectional acruate movement in the machine, and engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat a swivel motion in the machine. [0016] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the claimed subject matter may be employed and the claimed subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. As such, other aspects of the disclosure are found throughout the specification. [00171 In another aspect of the present disclosure, an exercise machine or an abdominal exercise machine that is arranged to allow a user to exercise abdominal muscles by moving a seat in an arced bi-directional motion as well as a swiveling motion when the user engages at least the user's abdominal muscles. [00181 In this specification, the word "comprising" and its variations, such as "comprises", has its usual meaning in accordance with International patent practice.

5 That is, the word does not preclude additional or unrecited elements, substances or method steps, in addition to those specifically recited. Thus, the described apparatus, substance or method may have other elements, substances or steps in various embodiments of the invention. The purpose of the claims is to define the features which make up the invention and not necessarily all features which a working embodiment of the apparatus, substance or method, to which the invention defines, may have. The apparatus, substance or method defined in the claims may therefore include other elements, steps or substances as well as the inventive elements, steps or substances which make up the invention and which are specifically recited in the claims. 100191 Further it is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00201 FIG. 1 is I is a structure drawing of a prior art swiveling abdominal exercise machine; [00211 FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise machine; [00221 FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise machine; [00231 FIG. 4 is a movement schematic drawing of an exemplary sliding abdominal exercise machine; 100241 FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional exploded view drawing of another exemplary sliding abdominal exercise machine; and [0025] FIG. 6 is a movement schematic drawing of the exemplary sliding abdominal exercise machine of FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0026] Various embodiments of an exercise machine disclosed herein provide for a sliding motion for exercise, which can engage the muscles of the side and abdomen for a to-and-fro like motion. In addition, a cushion in various embodiments may swing about a sliding seat, so that it can also allow a swinging/twisting motion. Consequently, the sliding and/or the sliding + twisting modes of the exemplary exercise machine allow 6 a greater range of motions for exercising the muscles of the waist and help to stimulate firming and toning of the waist areas more effectively. [00271 In various exemplary embodiments, the exercise machine comprises a rigidity providing or anti-sway providing bracket, a sliding seat and a cushion, wherein coupled to the bracket(s) are stands with ground contacting members which can support the exercise machine above the ground. Each stand has an arc-shaped handle portion that is provided on the top of the stand. The stands are connected with two substantially parallel, arced sliding rails. The middle of the arced sliding rail is lower than the ends of the arced sliding rail. An anti-escape member (or anti-derailment member) and a plurality of sliding surfaces/wheels are provided on either side of the sliding seat/frame. The anti-escape member constrains the sliding seat/frame from derailing from the arced sliding rail(s), and the sliding surfaces/wheels are movably mounted to the arced sliding rail(s). The cushion is set on the sliding seat/frame, and a swiveling structure is provided between them to allow the cushion to rotate on the sliding seat/frame. [00281 When using the exemplary exercise machine, the user can sit on the cushion, hold the two arc-shaped handle portions, and engage the abdominal muscles to make the sliding seat/frame move in a to-and-fro like manner along the arced sliding rails. Additionally, in another embodiment, the user can also swing his/her hips in a twisting/rotational motion due to the function of the swiveling structure. With either the sliding motion or the sliding + swiveling motion, an increased effectiveness of exercise can be achieved, while in a sitting position. [00291 Compared to the larger sized prior art machines, the exemplary exercise machine is not only simpler in structure, but also smaller in size, so that it can used while only requiring a small amount of space and, when not in use, be easily stored due to its compact size. [00301 Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the exemplary exercise machine comprises a series of coupled elements. A bracket 2 is coupled to stands 21 to provide lateral restraint and structural rigidity of the stands 21 to reduce any swaying or flexing that may occur. The stands 21 are illustrated as generally upside-down, U-shaped supports having an arced upper region 22 at a near mid-section of the stands 21. The surface of the arced upper region 22 is covered with an anti-slip material 221 to accommodate the user's hands. The bottom of the stands 21 form feet and may have optional anti-slip cushions 211, which can be used as friction elements to secure the stand ends/feet from sliding on the floor. The two stands 21 are connected with two parallel arced sliding rails 23 that are 7 coupled to either the bracket 2 or to the stands 21, depending on design implementation. The middle of the arced sliding rails 23 is lower than the ends of the arced sliding rails 23. 100311 A sliding seat 3 contains several elements and is illustrated with an "H" shaped slide frame 31. An anti-escape member 32 (or anti-derailment member) is disposed on the lower side of the slide frame 31, having a tab or a protruding element on a bottom of the arced sliding rails 23. A sliding member or wheel 33 is positioned on a downward facing side of the slide frame 31. The slide frame 31 is set on arced sliding rails 23 with the sliding member or wheel 33 movably mounted on the arced sliding rails 23. The sliding seat 3 is limited by the anti-escape member 32, so it cannot disengage from the arced sliding rails 23 when sliding. Moreover, because the middle of the arced sliding rails 23 is lower than its edges, the sliding seat 3 will normally rest in the middle of the arced sliding rail 23 due to gravity. 100321 Cushion 4 is set on the top of the sliding seat 3, and may be made of an elastic material, such as sponge, foam, and so on, in order to provide user 49 comfort when exercising. Additionally, the cushion 4 may be composed of several different materials or "layers" of cushions. 100331 When using the machine, the user can sit on the cushion 4, for example, in its resting lower "gravity" position at the center of the of arced sliding rails 23, and with the user's hands holding the two upper regions 22 of the stands 21, use the abdominal muscles to slide the sliding seat 3 in a to-and-fro motion on the arced sliding rails 23. Generally, the motion will be one of rising upward with the arcs of the sliding rails 23 when approaching the ends of the sliding rails 23 and falling downward to the center of the arcs of the sliding rails 23 when approaching the middle of the sliding rails 23. The full range of movement of the sliding seat 3 will be limited by the length of the arced sliding rails 23, and because of the arced shape of the arced sliding rails 23, the user will experience a lateral to-and-fro motion. The amount of difficulty of the exercise can be increased by increasing the amount of arcing in the arced sliding rails 23. Accordingly, a easy to execute fitness exercise using a "natural" sliding motion can be performed without requiring a great deal of strength, while in a sitting position. The exemplary sliding exercise machine described herein is not only simple in structure, but also small in size, requiring only as much space as a chair. Furthermore, because of its small size, it can be easily stored.

8 [0034] Referring now to FIGS. 5 - 6, to improve the exercising effect on the muscles of the abdomen or waist region, a swivel structure is placed between the above mentioned cushion 4 and sliding seat 3. The swivel structure generally comprises a spindle 41, which is set approximately at the center of a bottom of seat plate 45 of the cushion 4 and the spindle sleeve 34, which is set approximately at the center of the slide frame 31. The spindle 41 is movably set in the spindle sleeve 34, and the cushion 4, being secured in some embodiments to seat plate 45, can swivel about the slide frame 31. While it is understood that the swivel structure is shown and described as being coupled at a near center point of the respective elements, it should be appreciated that swiveling structures that have non-center located swiveling mechanisms may be used, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, a spinnable ring-like structure may be used, or a ball bearing or disc assembly, and so forth. [0035] In addition to the above, one or more cushioning members 35 can be positioned on top of the sliding frame 31. There can also be several spacers 42 on the bottom of the cushion 4. When the cushion 4 swivels about the slide frame 31 (or the cushion 4), the length of the spacers 42 will be restricted by either the cushioning members 35 or the non-open areas of the sliding frame 31. That is, the range of swiveling motion afforded to the user can be constrained by controlling the free sweep of the cushion, as determined by the spacers 42 hitting the cushioning members 35 or hitting any other restraining mechanism desired. Therefore, when the sliding seat 3 is moving on the arced sliding rails 23 in its "to-and-fro" motion, the user can also incorporate a swiveling motion that may be full range or limited, depending on the spacer 42 lengths. [00361 Additionally, as described in FIGS. 2-4 above, anti-slip material 221 can be placed on the "top" of the stands 21, and non-slide cushions 211 can be placed on the bottom of the stands 21. [00371 FIG. 6 illustrates a user performing a sliding motion and a swiveling motion with the exemplary exercise machine, and is understood to be self-explanatory. [00381 It should be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the number or shape of the arced sliding rail(s), the shape of the sliding seat, or the shape and the material of the cushion, and so on, are within the scope of this disclosure. Changes such as, modifying the shape of the cushion to round, or square or any other geometry, are understood as supported by this disclosure.

8A Also, while the exemplary embodiments illustrate two separate stands 21, the use of a single, larger stand may be used, according to design preference. [0039] It should be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the number or shape of the arced sliding rail(s), the shape of the sliding seat, or the shape and the material of the cushion, and so on, are within the scope of this disclosure. Changes such as, modifying the shape of the cushion to round, or square or any other geometry, are understood as supported by this disclosure. Also, while the exemplary embodiments illustrate two separate stands 21, the use of a single, larger stand may be used, according to design preference. [00401 What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. [00411 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the exercise machine and method, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the exercise machine and method.

Claims (5)

1. A sliding abdominal exercise machine comprising: - means for supporting a user in a sitting position; - first and second handles for a user to grip the means for supporting; - means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting; - means for sitting; - means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; - means for swiveling coupled to the means for sitting and the means for sliding; and - means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway; wherein the handles are provided at each of opposing ends of the means for providing arced bidirectional travel; and wherein the means for swiveling enables the means for sitting to swivel relative to the means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion

2. A sliding abdominal exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the handles form part of the means for supporting the user.

3. A sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising: a means for sitting; a means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion and a swivel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting by allowing the means for sitting to swivel relative to the means for providing arced bi-directional travel; and a handle provided at each of opposing ends of the means for providing arced bidirectional travel.

4. A method for a seated form of exercising in an abdominal exercise machine, comprising the steps: sitting on a seat of the abdominal exercise machine; holding a first handle and a second handle of the abdominal exercise machine; 10 engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat in a bidirectional arcuate movement in the machine in a direction extending between the first and second handles; and engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the seat in a swivel motion about a substantially vertical axis.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the abdominal exercise machine is a sliding abdominal exercise machine as claimed in any of claims I to 3.