Exercise devices – Isometric
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-21
2002-09-17
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3739)
Exercise devices
Isometric
C482S092000, C482S148000, C602S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450926
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application No. PP3086, filed Apr. 21, 1998 and Australian Patent Application No. PP7312, filed Nov. 26, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a medical or related device and in particular to an exercise device for improving the health and well-being of a person. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device for toning or strengthening the abdominal muscles or the abdominal region of a person using the device. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device which supports the back of a wearer or user of the device whilst presenting a load or resistance against which the abdominal muscles are exercised in order to tone or strengthen the abdominal muscles. It is thought that the effect of toning or strengthening the abdominal muscles in that the pelvic contours are realigned. The present invention finds particular application as a portable or transportable exerciser for improving the health or well-being of a person by permitting the abdomninal area of the person to be improved by exercise, which exercise can be performed even when the person is in a sedentary position or engaged in a sedentary activity, such as sitting or driving a motor vehicle.
2. Related Art
Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to one form of the exerciser, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but rather the scope of the present invention is more extensive so as to include other arrangements and embodiments of the device, its use for other purposes than described, and its use in other applications.
As society becomes increasing sedentary, there is less opportunity and time available for exercising, particularly exercising whilst performing other tasks such as sitting at work, in an office, driving a motor vehicle or the like. In a sitting position it is not usually possible for a person to improve the tone or strength of their abdominal region through exercise since existing exercise machines usually have moving parts that must be moved in order to exercise the abdominal or other muscles. The lack of opportunity and availability to exercise results in a deterioration of the tone and strength of the abdominal muscles and surrounding regions of the body. Increasingly, industrialized societies such as those of the western world have a high incidence of people with weak or atrophied abdominal muscles or abdominal regions caused by excessive sitting and/or lack of exercise, particularly exercise of the muscles located in or about abdominal region. It is not always convenient to exercise at work, home or whilst driving, and with more stressful modem lifestyles there is often little or no time available for exercising, particularly exercising the abdominal muscles, involving the use of conventional exercise machines. Therefor, there is a need to be able to exercise the abdominal region whilst engaged in other pursuits.
The deterioration of muscle condition in the abdominal region results in some physical malfunctions, such as for example back pain, hernias, and digestive inefficiencies and disorders. Additionally the lack of support from these muscles may cause the pelvis to misalign. Although poor muscle tone in the abdominal region is not the sole cause of many malfunctions or disorders, it is a contributing factor. Therefore, if it were possible to increase the strength and tone of the abdominal region, improved health and well-being should result and many malfunctions and disorders could be ameliorated, if not eliminated or prevented entirely.
Another health problem afflicting an increasing number of the population is back pain. It is thought that at least some of the causes of back pain result from poor abdominal muscle tone or low abdominal muscle strength. It is also thought that pelvic misalignment causes some, if not all, of the unexplainable lower back pain for which medical practitioners and other health workers cannot identify a cause. It is also believed that pelvic misalignment is the cause of sciatica and related conditions. Therefore, if the condition of the abdominal region of a person suffering from back pain is improved, there should be a corresponding improvement in the back pain. Accordingly, there is a need to provide an increased opportunity and availability to improve the strength and tone of abdominal muscles and the abdominal region by exercise in order to alleviate back complaints.
One problem of existing exercise devices for toning the abdominal region is that such devices are usually large and bulky and require the use of moving parts, some of which are heavy, in order to exercise, which in turn requires space for the exercise machine to be stored and/or located, including in some embodiments having to be firmly fixed to the floor or similar. Owing to their nature, size and use, such exercise machines cannot be used to exercise the abdominal region whilst the person using them is performing other tasks. Normally, such previously available devices have required the person using the exercise device to adopt a number of different positions or postures, including moving through the variety of positions during the performance of the exercise regime. Therefore, there is a need for an exercise device that can be used to tone or condition the abdominal region of a person whilst that person is engaged in another activity such as sitting at a desk, working in an office, driving a vehicle, or similar, and which is compact, lightweight and portable.
Previous attempts at reducing back pain have involved the use of external back and stomach supports primarily to provide support for persons at risk of pain when engaged in active sports or recreational pursuits. One such combined support is made of two flexible pads interconnected together by one or more flexible straps in which one of the pads is a back pad contoured to the shape and curvature of the small of the back of the person wearing the support in order to provide support for the back, whilst the other pad is an abdominal support pad for supporting the abdominal region of the person wearing the support. The primary object of using such supports is merely to provide support for the body of the wearer and not to increase the strength of the relevant parts of the body through exercise or by following a specific and/or rigorous exercise regime. The front and rear pads of such supports are essentially flexible allowing the pads to conform to the body as it moves and to continue to provide support for the body as it undergoes changes during the movement, such as for example when playing sport or engaged in recreational pursuits. As the support is essentially flexible, it does not provide a load or resistance against which it is possible to exercise, as is required of the exercise device of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is one aim of the present invention to provide an exercise device which allows the tone or strength of the abdominal muscles or abdominal region of a person to be improved, thereby improving the health and well-being of a person suffering from any one of a number of complaints attributable to weak abdominal muscles, such as for example back pain, hernias, digestive inefficiencies, or the like.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a portable or transportable exercise device that may be used to improve the condition of the abdominal region of a person using the device whilst the person is engaged in other activities, particularly whilst the person remains seated.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide an exerciser having a rigid front portion which can be used as a load or resistance against which it is possible to exercise the muscles in the abdominal region in order to increase the muscle tone and to build the abdominal muscle tissue of a person.
According to
McGarry Bair LLP
Mulcahy John
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