Exercise devices – Support for entire body of user
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2002-11-26
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Support for entire body of user
Reexamination Certificate
active
06485400
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a gymnastic device for the exercise of the back and abdominal musculature, said device comprising an elongated beam and means arranged at said beam for transferring the effects of a force between said device and its user.
So far no gymnastic device exists specifically intended for the abdomen and back. Devices intended for general gymnastics and strengthening of muscles have been used for the exercise of abdominal and back muscles. The device which is most common in home use comprises a disc bar, i.e. a bar provided with weights in both ends. It is not, however, possible to perform gymnastic movements which are ideal for the back and abdominal musculature with a disc bar.
Another gymnastic device intended for home use comprises a bar which is stressed in between two door posts. Moreover, rings or bars hanging in straps and intended for hanging in, are popular for home use. Consequently, there does exist several different devices but with the exception of one quite recently developed device, none of the known devices is in all respects suitable for exercising the important abdominal muscles and the situation is just as bad for the exercise of the back musculature. When considering that backache today is an extremely common disorder, it is surprising that no easily handled devices for back exercise exist.
A fairly new device comprises essentially a plastic board with handles provided at the sides thereof. The user lies down on said plastic board resting of the floor, and grips the handles and pulls himself up into a sitting position (so called sit-ups). The poorer the user's abdominal muscles are, the more he is forced to use his arms for the pulling movement. However, this device is only intended for exercising the abdominal muscles.
Despite the existence of the above mentioned devices the situation is so far such that there are no suitable ways of providing a regular exercise of the back and abdominal muscles with existing devices. On the other hand, the lack of exercise of the abdominal and back musculature forms an essential part of various kinds of physiological disorders which cause considerable losses both individually and for society.
In order to have a healthy back, the abdominal muscles should also kept be in good condition. These two muscle groups co-act and support each other. It is therefore important that a suitable gymnastic device inherently combines the possibility to exercise both important entities, i.e. both the abdominal and back muscles, with one and the same device, and it should be possible to perform this exercise at home as well as in a gym. Since backache is a very common disorder, a suitable device should be developed for home use and for quite ordinary persons.
In order to exercise the abdominal muscles and the back muscles, a person must either bend his body forward (the abdominal muscles) or slightly backwards (the back muscles). In order to increase the burden it is common especially for athletes to use weights either over the breast or at the neck. The person lies on the floor or on a bench and heaves up the upper part of his body. However, weights over the neck may cause the body to bend too much backwards at the small of the back, which usually damages the back, causing e.g. vertebral disorders. On the other hand, a forward bending will cause the weight to pull the upper part of the body downwards, which in turn will cause an incorrect burden on the small of the back. It may thus be concluded that weights over the neck tend to press the body into a crooked shape. It is therefore often considered that the weight of the body itself is sufficient. In any case, a person exercising the abdomen or the back in this way will have to lie down to perform the movements, since a bending of the upper part of the body essentially lacks effect if it is performed in an upright position. Bending the upper part of the body backward and forward can even be really dangerous if the neck is loaded at the same time.
Ordinary people who for their exercise normally need movements which strengthen the back and abdominal muscles often feel that movements which are performed lying on a floor or the like feel complicated and also often too arduous, especially in case the person's body weight is so great that it is difficult to heave the upper part of the body upwards. A common result will be that the person in question will not perform any suitable exercise at all which in the long run is very bad for the back. It is also important to have access to such devices for the exercise of the back and abdomen wherein the user of the device can perform the exercise in an upright position. Such a gymnastic device should further be simple and robust and it must not take up too much space.
The prior art patent literature disclose three devices which to some extent concern muscle exercise in an upright position. Thus, DE publication 39 15 079 relates to a device for isometric muscle exercising. Said apparatus comprises a central body having a handle-like loop means at either end. According to said patent the length of the central body may be varied, and further, the handle-like loop means may be turned in different directions. The apparatus is, however, only suitable for the performing of certain specific isometric exercises and it is not possible to perform any general constructive exercise of the back and abdominal musculature with said apparatus.
The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,609 which in fact basically concerns a way of attaching a handle to an elastic beam. According to said patent the gymnastic movement at this apparatus is intended to repeatedly prolong the elastic beam by pulling at the handles. The invention described in the patent concerns an arrangement for fastening the handle to the elastic beam in such a way that the handle will not come loose during the exercise. This apparatus is not suitable for exercising the back and abdominal musculature.
The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,185, as well as an earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,364 concerning an essentially similar apparatus. This known gymnastic device comprises a foot plate on which the user stands. A rigid central bar is pivotally attached to said foot plate. Crossbars are arranged at said central bar on one hand at the height of the users knees and on the other hand as handles at the upper end of the apparatus. This known apparatus is used as a device for taking exercise so that the force from a muscle is transferred via said rigid central bar to act as an opposing counter force for another muscle. The essential movements which suitably can be performed with the apparatus in question are pulling with the arms on one hand, and a stretching of the thigh muscles on the other hand, said muscles being made to co-operate by the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus only has a limited utility for the exercise of the back and abdominal musculature.
The present invention provides a completely new solution to the problem of strengthening exercise of the abdominal and back musculature, and this is performed in a simple way which is well adapted to its purpose. When using the device according to the invention anybody can bend his body forward and backward standing in an upright position so that the bending takes place at the waist region. It is precisely such bending movements which are performed with the aid of the abdominal and back musculature. However, a bending movement as such without resistance has only a limited effect on the strengthening of the muscles. The device according to the present invention will now provide a possibility to add an extra resistance, which additionally may be adjusted according to the needs and capabilities of the person in question. That way the exercising movements can be utilized also as strengthening exercise.
The device according to the invention is very safe to use since it only acts in principle so as to pull the body into a straight position. This way gymnastic movements performed with the device cannot cause any damag
Ladas & Parry
Richman Glenn E.
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