JP5103477B2 - Abs exercise machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an exercise machine, and more particularly to an exercise machine aimed at training the abdominal muscles.

  What is important for health and longevity is regular and appropriate exercise. Movement takes several forms. Exercise is done through cosmetic exercises, the use of free weights to provide resistance, and the use of exercise machines. If exercise machines are properly designed and used, exercise machines are often very useful for effective exercise. For example, exercise machines focus on a specific set of muscles or a series of movements throughout the exercise cycle. The exercise machine may also be provided with resistance adjustments to accommodate the changing demands of different users or a single user.

  The exercise machine aims to train the abs. For example, abdominal wall muscles, including the abdominal rectus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique muscles and external abdominal oblique muscles, can be effectively performed by abdominal muscle movements or exercises commonly referred to as sit-up or crunch type exercises. Be trained. Here, the angle defined by the longitudinal axis of the upper torso and the thigh is changed between the contraction and relaxation of the abdominal muscles. In sit-up crunch exercises, which are performed without free weights or machines, it is typical for the user to hold the knee and foot in the air and crunch the user's nose into the knee. To be done.

  Free weights are used for abdominal exercises, for example, by a person exercising with a lightweight weight in the chest area during abs exercise performance.

  In order to allow various movements while adding some form of resistance to the torso without much movement of the limbs, abdominal exercise machines typically place the user on the machine. Resistance is typically provided by weights, springs, pulleys, and in some cases hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders.

  The purpose of the exercise machine is to provide the right amount of resistance with the right range of exercise while maintaining the proper position to provide very useful motion while minimizing the possibility of injury. The injury may be due to exercise performed improperly or without proper resistance. In the use of abdominal machines, poor techniques or excessive weight has led to muscle injuries such as meat loss and hernia.

  Sometimes exercise machines are intended to mimic certain actions, such as sit-up crunches. Sometimes exercise machines are intended to provide more appropriate levels of resistance for categories of users such as women and children, not athletes. The prior art concept of an abdominal exercise machine lacks at least one of the design objectives described hereinabove, i.e., the proper posture of the user's body and the use of the appropriate resistance due to the proper range of motion. Prior art exercise machines either do not define their objectives properly or, if defined, do not address these objectives seriously.

  Prior art abdominal machines tend to use weights stacks, user weights, resilient members or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder mechanisms that can be adjusted to provide resistance. However, prior art abdominal exercise machines do not provide a balanced combination of hydraulic and / or pneumatic resistance benefits and user weight. Therefore, applicants are effective, efficient and safe to achieve the proper application of resistance on the exercise area and the proper position to suit the effective exercise of the target muscle group. Efforts were made to provide an abdominal exercise machine.

Object of the invention

  Applicant's invention aims to provide an exercise machine that exercises the abdominal muscles provided to apply a balanced resistance over a range of exercises, especially with the needs of non-exercise women in mind. To do.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine that focuses on the abdominal muscles but can also easily assume multiple positions aimed at specific muscles within the abdominal muscle group.

  For these and other purposes, an abdominal exercise machine that uses a balanced combination of user weight and hydraulic or pneumatic resistance is made available. The user's objectives will be achieved in an abdominal exercise machine consisting of a fixed base. This fixed base includes a seat and a lower back (lumbar) bearing, and an upper backrest that rotates with respect to a set of hinges that are incorporated on both sides of the seated user ( Upper backrest) is pivotally attached. The axis of the hinged mount aligns with the pivot axis of the user performing sit-up crunch style movements and penetrates the lower lumbar portion of the seated user horizontally from one side to the other.

  For the above and other purposes, the machine described above can be used, but this machine can also be placed on the user's head so that it can be gripped by the user during upper back movement in a simulated crunch style exercise. It includes a set of handles provided on the outside and along the top.

  For these and other purposes, the exercise machine described in the preceding paragraph is available, but the machine is typically mounted behind the user to bridge between the fixed base and the upper backrest. It further includes a hydraulic device and / or a pneumatic device that applies resistance when the user attempts to rotate the backrest. The user usually sits on the back and back support and seat, grabs the handle on the side of the head, and pulls the back up and forward along the torso, doing a circular exercise exercise that includes abdominal muscle contraction. Do.

  For these and other purposes, an exercise machine is available, and at the start of exercise, the user is likely to be pulled back by gravity due to the backrest, thereby providing resistance to the crunch exercise. The seat, the waist support and the backrest are angled. However, in the middle of the user's area of motion, the user can If the movement is "over", the backward tilt angle decreases.

  These and other objectives are achieved with the exercise machine described herein, where the cylinder exhibits minimal resistance at the beginning of the forward crunch stroke and the progress of the crunch process is top. Beyond, it is positioned to gradually increase the resistance. In this way, both gravity and the cylinder combine to provide an effective level of resistance on the exercise area, with the effect of the upper body weight on the user's exercise area and exercise. Take speed into account.

  For these and other purposes, the torso faces forward, but the legs are semicircular or delta-shaped so that the user can sit in a range from straight forward to angled on both sides. Make available an exercise machine with a sheet having a shape perimeter. This exercise machine can emphasize exercises of the internal and external oblique muscles and provide a versatile design that can be used to work with different muscle groups in the abdomen on a single machine.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Applicant's abdominal muscle exercise machine. 2A, 2B and 2C are side views of Applicant's abdominal exercise machine showing the position of the upper seat back with respect to the frame assembly. Here, when the user simulates crunch style abdominal muscle movement, FIG. 2A shows the start state of the user, FIG. 2B shows the state beyond the top, and FIG. 2C shows the end position. FIG. 3 shows the position immediately after the user on the abdominal muscle exercise machine passes the top, and is just past the position shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the user's leg has moved to one side.

  As will be described with reference to the drawings, Applicants provide an abdominal exercise machine 10 having two components, one of which is pivoted with respect to the other. It is attached through the cylinder assembly. Here, a rigid, fixed and floor mounted frame assembly 12 is provided, which engages a pivotable upper back assembly 14. The back assembly 14 pivoting with the frame assembly 12 engages each other via a piston / cylinder assembly 16. The frame base 18 is designed to provide a safe support for the exercise machine against a floor-like foundation. The frame base 18 has at least one longitudinal member 18a and typically a large number of transverse members 18b (three are shown here). As will be explained more fully below, the transverse member typically provides lateral support, as well as vertical support, for a user seated on the abdominal exercise machine.

  The support arm 20 has an acute angle with respect to the plane of the horizontal support surface, as shown in the side view, for example between 45 and 89 degrees with respect to the horizontal. As will be described in more detail below, the support arm 20 provides a support structure for many components. Although a single leg support arm is illustrated here, two or more legs may be used, and a plate-like member may be provided. These are included in what the applicant intends as the term “support arm”.

  More specifically, the support arm 20 supports the waist support portion 22. Here, the waist support portion 22 is in the form of a flat padded member laid on the plane of the support arm, and is above the seat member 24. Although the seat member 24 is generally disposed at a right angle, the seat member 24 is disposed at an angle of more than 90 degrees, and most preferably between 100 and 110 degrees relative to the plane of the support arm 20. As shown in FIG. 3, it is located below the waist support and supports the user's buttocks and upper thighs to a considerable extent. The sheet member 24 is typically padded in a manner known in the art. However, the sheet member 24 has a front edge 24a, and the front edge 24a is curved so that the user can easily take the posture described in FIG. 4, for example. Therefore, the user's posture is focused on a different muscle group, for example, as illustrated in FIG.

  Pivot arm standoffs 26a, 26b positioned between a pair are spaced on either side of the support arm 20 through the use of a pivot arm positioning member 28, as best seen in FIG. Provided. The pivot arm positioning member 28 is rigidly attached to the support arm 20 and extends from both sides thereof. Through the use of a pivot arm positioning member 28 and a set of pivot arm standoffs 26a, the backrest assembly 14 is pivotally attached to the frame assembly 12, for example through the use of bearing assemblies 30a, 30b.

Turning now to the nature of the pivot backrest assembly, it has upstanding portions 32a, 32b attached to the bearing assembly. The upright typically has a pair of cross members 36, 38, here a lower cross member 36 and an upper cross member 38. The cross member positions the rear upper support member 34. Typically, the upper back support member 34 is flat and stuffed and set in a position aligned or generally parallel alignment with the support arm 20 when the backrest assembly 14 is in the starting position. Is done. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a pair of handles 40a, 40b are typically provided to move forward and upward from the plane of the back support member 34. The piston assembly engaging bracket 42 is provided with a proximal end 42a and a spaced end 42b. The proximal end 42a is positioned in a state of being firmly attached to one or more members of the backrest assembly portion 14, and here is shown attached to the cross member 36. A piston assembly engagement bracket 42 is provided to engage the piston and cylinder combination 16. More specifically, the piston / cylinder combination 16 includes a cylinder 16a and a rod member 16b. The combination of a piston and cylinder 16 is engaged with one or more members and any frame assembly 12 through the vertical standoff (separation member) 17. The piston / cylinder combination 16 is attached to the frame assembly 12 at the remote end of the rod member 16b and the remote end of the cylinder 16a, and the backrest assembly 14 and the frame assembly 12 are each supported by a pivot shaft to support them. Engage with each other.

  Further details of Applicant's abdominal exercise machine 10 will be apparent with reference to FIGS. 1, 2B and 3. FIG. According to these figures, the backrest assembly 14 reveals the axis that pivots with respect to the frame. When the user is sitting on the seat member 24 and the lower lumbar support portion 22, the pivot shaft is located on the lower abdomen of the user. Therefore, the user's back upper part is applied to the back upper support member 34, the hand is positioned on the handle holding the pivoting backrest assembly part, and the user's lower abdomen is properly positioned by the seat during the exercise operation. Determined. The user's proper posture over the entire range of motion in crunch style abdominal exercises includes a properly positioned seat and lower lumbar support member in addition to a properly positioned rear upper support member on the pivoting back assembly. Can be maintained by using a combination of and a pivot axis.

  Another advantage of Applicant's abdominal exercise machine 10 can be evaluated with respect to the longitudinal cylinder axis CA, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. To recognize the preferred positioning of the piston / cylinder combination 16 with respect to the backrest assembly 14 pivoting with the frame assembly 12, reference is made to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and in addition to the remote end 42b of the piston assembly engagement bracket 42. Reference should be made to this position, and further attention should be paid to how the remote end 42b is positioned at the end of the rod 16b with respect to the pivot axis PA.

  Furthermore, it can be seen that the movement of the remote end 42b is a partially fixed radial arc with respect to the pivot axis PA. Second, as will be appreciated with reference to FIG. 2A, in the initial starting position, the cylinder axis CA is aligned to intersect or almost intersect with the pivot axis PA, the distance of which in the most preferred embodiment is approximately It is between 0cm and about 3cm. Thus, the initial movement of the backrest along the arc hardly extends the rod, but movement of the same distance beyond the top extends the rod to a considerable extent. Thus, when the user moves from the position illustrated in FIG. 2A via the top illustrated in FIG. 2B to the position illustrated in FIG. 2C, the resistance provided by the cylinder is minimized from the arc. Reaches the top of the arc, reaches the maximum, and returns to the minimum from the top of the arc. On the same region of motion, the user's torso center of gravity moves from behind the pivot axis PA to an upper position and then comes before the pivot axis PA. As a result, gravity changes from a force that resists forward crunch exercise motion to a slightly assisting force. Thus, increasing cylinder resistance cooperates with decreasing gravity resistance to provide a balanced effect across the region of motion. At or near the position illustrated in FIG. 2C, the vertical distance from the pivot axis PA to the cylinder axis CA reaches a maximum value, typically about 20 cm. Accordingly, the preferred range of distance between the cylinder axis CA and the pivot axis PA measured along the vertical is 0 cm at the closest position and about 20 cm at the maximum value.

  Turning to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the user may determine his / her position in the same posture as in FIG. 3 regarding the lower back position and the upper back position. However, the leg may be rotated to either the left or right side to emphasize the contraction of the internal and external oblique muscles on either side of the set of rectus abdominis muscles. Use at the position illustrated in FIG. 4 or a corresponding pair of opposite sides is facilitated through the use of a curved leading edge 24 a around the seat 24.

  Similar to the position of the cylinder with respect to the operating arc of the upper backrest assembly 14 so that the decreasing resistance of the upper body weight and the increasing resistance of the cylinder are balanced through the indicated motion area, Alternatively, the use of resistance in the form of piston and cylinder combinations, either pneumatic or pneumatic, is preferred. However, one or more elastic members may be used instead of the piston and cylinder combination. Thus, the term resistance assembly is used to include elastic members, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, and these structures for mechanical resistance applications. Therefore, when using the elastic member in the rear position, it is optional, but preferably the elastic member is attached between the frame and the backrest assembly so that a nominal tensile force acts.

  While this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments in addition to other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are considered to be within the protection scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

A frame assembly seat and waist bearing is mounted, the sheet and the waist support portion is positioned immovably relative to the frame assembly, the frame assembly to have a support arm is tilted posture;
A backrest assembly portion pivotally attached to the frame assembly by a pivot shaft, the backrest assembly portion having a back upper support member, wherein the back upper support member is inclined from a vertical position to a rear position ; A backrest assembly that pivots about the pivot axis to a tilted forward bend posture in which the upper back support member passes vertical ;
A piston / cylinder combination provided between the frame assembly and the backrest assembly, the piston / cylinder combination having a cylinder shaft ;
An abdominal exercise machine comprising:
Here, when in the rest position, the support arm supporting the rear upper support member;
And when in the rest position, the back upper support member is substantially flush with the plane of the waist support;
The pivot shaft is provided to be positioned at a lower lumbar region of the user when the user is sitting on the frame assembly at the seat and the waist support;
An extension of the cylinder shaft of the piston / cylinder combination is proximate to the pivot shaft when the back assembly is in a rearwardly inclined position;
The piston / cylinder combination is provided by a bent bracket between the frame assembly and the backrest assembly, and when the backrest assembly moves to a tilted forward bending position, an extension of the cylinder shaft of the piston / cylinder combination Configured to increase the distance between the line and the pivot axis;
The sheet has a curved leading edge to facilitate the rotation of the hips in a predetermined range;
The back assembly further includes a handle for gripping by a user ;
The abdominal exercise machine characterized by the above. The abdominal muscle exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the support arm includes a resilient stop for receiving the back assembly thereon . The frame assembly has a base;
The abdominal muscle exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the support arm engages the base in an angular range of about 45 degrees to about 89 degrees.   2. The abdominal muscle exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the piston and the cylinder is a hydraulic type.   The abdominal muscle exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the piston and the cylinder is pneumatic.   The abdominal muscle exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the backrest assembly includes a plurality of cross members to support the upper back support member.   The abdominal muscle exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a bearing assembly for engaging the backrest assembly with the frame assembly. The abdominal muscle exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly further comprises a spacing member for mounting the piston and cylinder combination . A frame assembly seat and waist bearing is mounted, the sheet and the waist support portion is positioned immovably relative to the frame assembly, the frame assembly to have a support arm which is posture tilted rearward ;
A backrest assembly portion pivotally attached to the frame assembly by a pivot shaft, the backrest assembly portion having a rear upper support member, and the rear upper support member is tilted rearward from a vertical position. after being rearward position, Ru said back assembly der to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to said support arm to the inclined stooped posture that the upper rear support member has passed the vertical, and a seat back assembly;
A resistive assembly provided between the frame assembly and the backrest assembly and having a cylinder shaft;
An abdominal exercise machine comprising:
Wherein the support arm is provided to support the back assembly in a rest position;
The back upper support member is substantially flush with the plane of the waist support when in the rest position;
Said resistive assembly comprises a piston and cylinder combination;
The pivot shaft is provided to be positioned at a lower lumbar region of the user when the user is sitting on the frame assembly at the seat and the waist support;
An extension of the cylinder shaft of the piston / cylinder combination is proximate to the pivot shaft when the back assembly is in a rearwardly inclined position;
The piston / cylinder combination is provided by a bent bracket between the frame assembly and the backrest assembly, and when the backrest assembly is moved to a tilted forward bending position, an extension of the cylinder shaft of the piston / cylinder combination Configured to increase the distance between the line and the pivot axis;
The sheet has a curved leading edge to facilitate the rotation of the hips in a predetermined range;
The backrest assembly further includes a handle grasped by a user ;
The frame assembly has a base;
The support arm engages the base in an angular range of about 45 degrees to about 89 degrees;
The abdominal exercise machine characterized by the above.

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