Exercise devices – Sit up device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-04
2001-11-20
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3733)
Exercise devices
Sit up device
C482S074000, C482S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319180
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to exercise devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an exercise device that provides support to the head, neck and upper back of a user performing abdominal exercises.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The abdominal crunch exercise and the many variations thereof, have long been regarded as among the most effective exercises for strengthening and toning the abdominal musculature. However, performing these exercises requires the exerciser to repeatedly contract, stress and strain the flexor muscles of the anterolateral and anterior head and neck, chiefly, the sternocleidomastoid, scaleni, the anterior scaleni, suprahyoids, infrahyoids and, when the aforementioned are in a weakened or exhausted state, the platysma. This stress and strain results in the exerciser not being able to perform enough abdominal crunch-type exercise repetitions to gain the full benefits of such exercise, without discomfort.
There exist devices that have attempted to address the issue of neck strain while performing abdominal crunch exercises. However, the angle and position of the exercises possible on those apparatus not only limit the body's ability to move throughout a full range of motion but force the body into unnatural and limiting positions while performing abdominal exercises. Those apparatus are large, inconvenient, impractical, bulky and expensive, and some, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,107 to Gardner, incorporate very cumbersome and impractical harness devices with a strapping system that requires the exerciser to affix the apparatus to his waist, chest, shoulders and head while the fit of the straps can only be adjusted by cumbersome sliding buckles or other mechanical means.
Other inconvenient, impractical, expensive and bulky devices provide a pad for the head and neck to rest on while the arms and/or hands rest on a frame that rocks through the approximate range of motion of an exerciser performing crunch exercises. This, unfortunately, limits the range of exercise positions and restricts the exercisers movement within the rocking range of the device. The frame does not provide comfortable or proper use by exercisers of certain sizes, shapes and physiques. The pad under the head and neck is of a foam type material that does not provide optimal comfort and positioning to many exercisers because the shape and contour foam does not adjust or allow for the wide variations in anatomical size, shape and contour of the individual exerciser's head and neck area. This pad, even when in its lowest resting position, is often elevated to such a height off the floor as to force the head and neck forward (upward) unnaturally and out of proper biomechanical alignment with the spine, thereby exposing the exerciser to potential harm.
Yet other known devices provide a pad or strap under the neck only, without support to the head, and are attached to a rope or strap which is pulled up by the hands to provide aid to the neck muscles. These devices focus the force of the pulled pad or strap directly on the neck and can force the neck forward with too great a force, and at improper angles, causing undesired stress, strain and potential injury to the neck.
Other devices provide means to apply a pressing force to the abdomen, thus causing the abdominal musculature to contract in opposition to such force. This exercise primarily provides an isometric contraction of the muscles and does not strengthen the musculature throughout its full range of motion, as is desirable in a complete strengthening program.
Although the foregoing exercise devices have been available, whether or not they utilize a pad under the neck or neck and head, they have proven unsuccessful in overcoming the problem of reducing undesired stress and strain of the neck and have often adversely compromised the biomechanics of the individual exerciser. Generally, they do not allow for safe and effective progression to more advanced abdominal crunch type exercises if desired. Additionally, in some cases, these devices impose additional undesired stress and strain to the neck. The aforementioned problems, and resultant exerciser's discomfort and inconvenience, in some cases. results in the exerciser failing to stick to or maintain a regular abdominal exercise program.
It is therefore an object of the invention to allow the exerciser to perform a variety of abdominal crunch-type exercises without requiring any deviation from, or adversely affecting, the optimal biomechanical position of the individual exerciser while performing such exercises.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an abdominal exercise device that incorporates a head, neck and upper back support.
Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide an abdominal exercise device which has a head, neck and upper back support pad is soft and contoured to assure the comfort of the exerciser.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an abdominal exercise device that facilitates the progression to more difficult and advanced abdominal crunch type exercises, if and when desired, by the addition of weights.
Another object of the invention is to provide an abdominal exercise device that facilitates the biomechanically correct and comfortable performance of the intermediate to advanced abdominal exercises commonly known as supine lateral bent leg twists and supine lateral straight leg twists.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an exercise device that facilitates the biomechanicaby correct and comfortable performance of the exercises commonly known as adductor leg lifts and abductor leg lifts.
It is also the object of the invention to provide an abdominal exercise device that is lightweight and small and therefore easy to tote and store, and is easy and cost effective to manufacture, yet reliable and efficient in use.
It is a feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention that a support pad is positioned behind the head, continues downward behind the neck and then to the upper section of the back. Strap handles are attached to the pad and emanate, generally, outward from both lateral sides of the pad. These strap handles are held by the hands and pulled by the arms. This pulling action assists the muscles of the neck while performing abdominal crunch type exercises while at the same time assists in maintaining the correct position of the pad. The arms can be extended at various alignments and angles in relation to the body, or with the elbows resting on the floor at the sides of the exerciser. Used in this manner the invention facilitates the efficient, unencumbered and unrestricted performance of biomechanically correct abdominal crunch type exercises. These straps provide, by means of multiple hand loop holds disposed down their lengths, a quick and unencumbered means of changing the position and angle of the hands and arms, thereby facilitating adjustments for any desired position or variation in the individual exerciser's size, shape or physique while at the same time facilitating numerous abdominal exercise variations. By providing support disposed in such a manner, under the head, neck and upper back, the pulling force used to aid the lift of the head is distributed over the head neck and upper back. With such distribution of the pulling force, there is little risk of stress and strain to the neck while performing abdominal crunch type exercises, providing safe and efficient assistance to the muscles of the neck and therefore facilitating the safe, comfortable and proper execution of numerous abdominal exercise variations.
It is another feature that the support pad is made of a soft and contoured foam-like material or, as in the preferred embodiment, comprised of at least two substantially identical flexible sheets of gas impermeable material being sealed together to form a single or plurality of inflatable chambers. There can be provided at least one outlet means for selectively inflating, deflating and sealing the chamber(s). This select
Darby & Darby
Donnelly Jerome
LandOfFree
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