US20190099638A1

US20190099638A1 - Abdominal exercise machine

Info

Publication number: US20190099638A1
Application number: US16/126,434
Authority: US
Inventors: Dwayne Flowers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-10-02
Filing date: 2018-09-10
Publication date: 2019-04-04

Abstract

An abdominal exercise machine. The abdominal exercise machine has a landing box held in a vertical position by at least one elongated member. The elongated member is supported by a base connected opposite of the landing box. The elongated member is adjustable by the slidability of a first portion of the elongated member with a second portion of the elongated member. The landing box has a base and sidewalls to support an object placed in the landing box.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/567,107 filed on Oct. 2, 2017. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise machine. More particularly, the machine is designed to exercise the abdominal muscles of a user.
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excess amount of body fat. Individuals who suffer from obesity carry an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea, certain kinds of cancer, osteoarthritis and depression. Dieting and physical exercise are important steps that an individual must take in losing weight. Additionally, individuals who are not considered obese may wish to engage in physical exercise in order to lose weight for a desired purpose.
When an individual wishes to engage in physical exercise, there are several exercises that they may wish to engage in, an individual will engage in a series of exercises that each isolate an individual muscle or group of muscles. Under this type of exercise program, the individual may particularly wish to engage in exercises that target central obesity specifically.
Excess fat that accumulates on the sides of the abdomen of an individual is colloquially referred to as “love handles.” Many individuals who exercise desire to increase the amount of muscle present on the sides of their abdomen. Thus, there is a need in the known art for a machine that provides an individual with the opportunity to exercise their abdominal muscles, specifically, the oblique abdominal muscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of exercise machines now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an abdominal exercise machine wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when exercising their oblique abdominal muscles.
The present system comprises at least one elongated member having a first portion and a second portion. The elongated member is affixed at a lower end to a base member. The first portion of the elongated member is slidably disposed in the second portion of the elongated member. A landing box is disposed at an upper end of the elongated member opposite the base member. The landing box has a base defining a first end and a second end. At least one sidewall extends from the base opposite the elongated member.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exercise machine that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a knob operably connected to the base of the landing box such that the height of the trough base first end and the trough base second end can be adjusted relative to each other.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a first portion comprising a spring-biased push button corresponding to at least one aperture in the second portion.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a landing box having a track therein. The track is configured to receive an object therein, such as a medicine ball.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a track that is pivotably adjustable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a pivotably-adjustable track that is operably connected to an actuator on the external surface of the landing box.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extending sidewalls.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a backboard disposed on the landing box, such that an object placed in the landing box will not bounce out of the back side of the landing box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of an elongated member of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine.

FIG. 4 shows an in-use view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the abdominal exercise machine. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. The abdominal exercise machine 10 comprises at least one elongated member 11. In the shown embodiment, a single elongated member 11 is defined, however, in alternate embodiments, several elongated members 11 provide support to the exercise device 10. The elongated member 11 defines a lower end 12 and an upper end 13.
The lower end 12 of the elongated member 11 is in connection with a base member 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the base member 14 comprises a plate extending perpendicularly from the elongated member 14. In this way, the base member 14 is configured to provide support to the abdominal exercise machine 10. In the shown embodiment, the elongated member 11 is received into a sleeve 15 extending perpendicularly upward from the base member 14. The sleeve 15 provides support to the elongated member 11 so as to prevent the elongated member 11 from tipping.
In the shown embodiment, the elongated member 11 comprises a first portion 16 configured to slidably engage a second portion 17. In this way, the elongated member 11 is adjustable in length, such that the user can set it at a desired height for efficient exercising. Additionally, in the shown embodiment, the first portion 16 and the second portion 17 are each tubular in configuration. Furthermore, the first portion 16 defines a circumference of a greater unit of measurement than the circumference of the second portion 17.
A landing box 18 is affixed at the upper end 13 of the elongated member 11. The landing box 18 is defined by a first end 19 and a second end 20. Furthermore, the landing box 18 comprises a base 21 with at least one sidewall 22 extending upward from a perimeter thereof. In the shown embodiment, the landing box 18 is defined by a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extending sidewalls. In one embodiment, the landing box 18 comprises a knob 28 disposed on an external surface thereof. In another embodiment, the landing box 18 comprises a sleeve on a bottom, exterior surface thereof, wherein the sleeve is configured to secure the landing box to the elongated member.
In the illustrated embodiment, a rear wall 25 extends upward from the base 21 of the landing box 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear wall 25 comprises a height greater than that of the sidewalls 22. This upward extension of the rear wall 25 compared to the remainder of sidewalls 22 enables the rear wall to act as a backboard for an object, such as a medicine ball, that is placed in the landing box 18 while the abdominal exercise machine 10 is in use. In this way, the object is constrained to the landing box 18 such that the object does not fall therefrom.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a close-up view of an elongated member of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. In one embodiment, the second portion 17 comprises a spring-biased push button 23 on an external surface thereof. The spring-biased push button 23 corresponds to at least one aperture 24 disposed in the first portion 16. The spring-biased push button 23 is configured to selectively move between a depressed position and an extended position, wherein the depressed position, the spring-biased push button 23 is disposed within the second portion 17. When the spring-biased push button 23 is in the depressed position, the first portion 16 becomes freely slidable along the second portion 16 such that a linear distance between the landing box and the base member is adjustable to a desired position. In the illustrated embodiment, the apertures 24 are disposed at intervals, allowing a user to adjust the height of the exercise machine in regular increments.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. In the illustrated embodiment, the landing box 18 further comprises a track 26 disposed therein. The track 26 is configured to be pivotable around a pivot point 27. In one embodiment, the pivot point 27 is operably controllable by a knob (as shown in FIG. 1, 28) in operable connection thereto.
The pivot point 27 control is configured to allow a user to change a vertical height of the first end 19 of the track 26 relative to the second end 20 of the track 26. In this way, the user can adjust the track 26 such that an object, such as a medicine ball, is inserted into the landing box 18, the object is configured to roll from one end to the other. Adjustment of the vertical height of the first end 19 relative to the second end 20 allows a user to change the configuration of the abdominal exercise machine such as to enable exercise of each side of the abdominal muscles of a user.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an in-use view of an embodiment of the abdominal exercise machine. In use, a user 29 is positioned with his or her back to the abdominal exercise machine 10. In the shown embodiment, the user 29 is seated on a pedestal. Adjustment of the first portion of the elongated member 11 relative to the second portion, enables the user 29 to use the abdominal exercise machine 10 in a standing position and a seated position on a floor. In another embodiment, the user 29 can adjust the first portion of the elongated member 11, such that the landing box is disposed in a vertical position higher than the user's vertical height.
The user 29 rotates his or her body while holding an object 30, such as a weighted medicine ball, and places the object 30 into the landing box 18. The track 26 is adjustable such that the user can elevate an active side of the track 26 to allow the object 30 to move or roll from one end to another. The user 29 turns approximately 180 degrees to retrieve the object 30 from the opposite side of the landing box 18 from where it was placed. Upon retrieval, the user 29 rotates again to place the object 30 into the landing box on the side of initial placement. In a fitness program, the user 29 completes this action a desired amount of repetitions. The user 29 can change the configuration of the track 26 by engaging the pivot point to elevate the opposite side of the track, such that the opposite side of abdominal muscles of the user 29 may be exercised.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) An exercise machine comprising:

a base member;

at least one elongated member affixed at a lower end thereof to the base member;

the elongated member having a first portion slidably disposed in a second portion;

a landing box disposed at an upper end of the elongated member opposite the base member;

the landing box having a base defining a first end and a second end and at least one sidewall extending from the base opposite the elongated member.

2) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a spring-biased push button corresponding to at least one aperture in the first portion.

3) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the landing box comprises a track therein.

4) The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the track is pivotably adjustable around a pivot point.

5) The exercise machine of claim 5, wherein the pivot point is operable connection with a knob disposed on an external surface of the landing box.

6) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the landing box comprises a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of latitudinally extending sidewalls.

7) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein a rear wall of the landing box comprises a height greater than that of the sidewalls.