w sy a), a) ay @ 6) @) (@) on (2) 38) United States Patent Brown et al. ABDOMINAL EXERCISE MACHINE Inventors: Wallace Brown, Mendham, NI (US): Robert W, Nelson, Rowlett, TX (US) Assignee: Ab Coaster Holdings, Ine., Wilmington, DE(S) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC, 154(b) by O days This patent is subject to a terminal dis- claimes, Appl. No. 11983,040 Filed: Nov. §,2007 Prior Publication Data [US 2008/0070766.A1 Mar 20, 2008, Related U plication Data CContinuation-in-part of application No. 11/607,7 filed ow Nov. 30,2006, which isa contiaation-in-part. ‘of application No, 11/030,420, filed on Jan. 5, 2008, row Pat, No, 7,232,404, Provisional application No, 60/741, 104, filed on Now 30, 2005, Int.Cl AGB 710 (2006001) us.c. 482/140; 4821907 Field of Classification Search 482/72 “482/142, 140,91, 97, 92-96 ‘See application file for complet search history Referenees Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS, 567915 A 91896 MLany 2U83M5 A 121939 Bandon S176836 4121979 Coyle 493 161990 Neat x US007485079B2 US 7,485,079 B2 *Feb. 3, 2009 (10) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent: SAD SGT A 71995 Gerschefte etal SS18483 A $1996 Oswald 55720 A 61996 Hanis so20403 A 41997 Lundin DITIES § 91998 Wu DaDss88 § $2000. Wu 6.188.397 BL 22001. Steuns 6.196954 BI* 32001 Chea sa 6.244995 BI 62001 Prats 640045 BI $2002 Gaston (Continued) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS op iso sists OTHER PUBLICATIONS Ab Lounge, website dscinton from wo fiesguest com, stb ‘med wih parent US. Appl. No. 11030420, Sep. 2006 (Continued) Primary Examiner—Lori Amerson (14) Attorney Agent, or Firm—Cislo & Thomas, LLP 37) ABSTRACT The abdominal exerisr of the present invention isan © cise device designed to work the abdominal and oblique muscle groups. The abdominal exerciser nels a cariage ‘that can slide orroll along rack and an upper body suppor. The abdominal exercise device is designed to simulate an abominal exercise “eruneh” motion when the knoes are Drought within proximity of the upper body support. 20 Claims, 11 Drawing SheetsUS 7,485,079 B2 Page 2 6634996 20030022770 2ovr4s713 2005 0085348, 20060100070, 200710001280, 2on70rs1989 20080070765 US. PATENT DOCUMENTS R =p BD AL at AL aL At AL A to2o0s 62007 72007 12003 22004 42005 52006 12007 £2007 32008 Jobson Nelson Rodgers, J Loe Campana eat Kier et a. Ano ‘Tyree Weiret a. Browne sa (OTHER PUBLICATIONS. Al Scissor, website description from “wabodgbyak com” sb- ‘mite wi parent US. Appl No. 1103020, Sep 2006 |AbDolly2, website descrpin fom "ww finessqust com? sub- ‘ited with parent US. Appl No 11030420, Sep. 2006. ‘Ab Side[R). website review ofthe Ab SldeR] from “wo Sitnessquest som subited with parent US. Appl. No, 103020, Sep. 2006, Ab Slider, website dessipton fom “wenvomerilys som” submited with pareat US. Appl No, 111030420, Sep 2006 * cited by examinerUS. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet 1 of 11 US 7,485,079 B2US. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet 2 of 11 US 7,485,079 B2 FIG. 2US 7,485,079 B2 FIG. 3US. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet 4 of 11 US 7,485,079 B2 FIG. 4US 7,485,079 B2 US. PatentUS. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet $ of 11 US 7,485,079 B2 FIG. 7AUS. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet 9 of 11 US 7,485,079 B2 FIG. 7BUS. Patent Feb. 3, 2009 Sheet 10 of 11 US 7,485,079 B2US 7,485,079 B2 1 ABDOMINAL EXERCISE MACHINE (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED. "APPLICATIONS ‘This patent application is « continuation in-part of US. pplication Ser. No. 11/607, 785 fled Nov. 30, 2006, which is 4 coatinuatien-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No, 11/030, 420 filed Jan, $, 2005, now U.S, Pat. No. 7,232,404, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No, 60741 104 file Now. 30,2005, which applications are ‘incorporated herein by this reference TECHNICAL FIELD ‘This invention relates to exercise machines for abdominal ‘muscles and more particular to exercise machinesin which the lower legs are supported by leg suppor that uilizes 3 rolling, gliding or sliding mechanism, BACKGROUND Traditional abdominal exercises, suchassitups areknown to cause overload to the spine and neck and ean easily cause injury when sitting up from a prone position to a siting » position, To comect this problem, maay devices and exercises have boen created in an stempt to develop and maintain the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately these devices and exer- cises often produce results which do not necessarily strengthen the abdominal muscles but strengthen the hip and ‘high muscles attached the lumbar spineareaand tothe rear ‘ofthe pelvis and hip bones. When such museles contrat not only does the rectus musele ofthe abdomen work with litle effort but the other muscles rotate the pelvis forward thus creating the occurrence of increased lower back pain which contributes 10 poor mechanical alignment and undesirable ‘upright posture ofthe exerciser. For example, abdominal exercises tht use arm slings and ‘the person hanging ftom bar are only beneficial to advanced athletes that are able to perform the exercise effectively. How- ever, even wen performed effectively, te back is extremely ‘overlosied and the hip-lexors handle much of the load ere ating a risk of injury. ‘Ako, lower abdominal exercises uslzing leg raises or reverse crunches where the kneos ae rasodto the chest while the body is suspended vertically, supported only by arms o elbows, are strenuous oa the lower back aad offer minimal back support. These types of exerises are especially bad due to excessive strain on the back cause by liling the knees to the chest. Furthermore, a significant aumaher of people who 4o this typeof abdominal exercise become injured with con- tinued use, ‘Akko, some exercise mochines concentrate on cardio train ing with to ite resistance thereby producing semi-efective strength training with very limited results. For example, exer- ss cise machines similar tothe AB LOUNGE or AB SCISSOR, provide more isolation tan the above abdominal exercise but do not provide enough resistance because the exercise ‘motions performed with these devices do not provide a es tance that is consistent with strength ting Inaddition, exercise machines silat the AB DOLLEY OorAB SLIDE are effective for upper abdominal muscles and ‘upper torso but not for lower abdominals, Als, exercises using these types of devices are difficult and dangerous for ‘two reasons: ist resistance is concentrated dawnward by sravity making isolation on the abdominal muscles impos- sible, a the entire upper oro, front and back muscles, and x“ 2 lamns are needed to handle the Joa and second, the users back is forced into an ergonomically unfiiendly angle with the upper body which i operating too kw inconjunetion with, the lower body. Such a position is uncomfortable, awkward and can cause injury. ‘What is noeded is an abdominal exerciser that will isolate the upper and lower abdominal muscles with tre stength conditioning to change the shape of the overall abdomen muscle strcture without compromising safety or support for the back. It would be beneficial ifthe apparatus could enable ‘user t9 execute the abdominal exercise in a biometricaly ‘neutral postion, minimizing or eliminating back and neck stain, I would also be beneficial ifthe user could perforaa aa ‘upper abdominal crunch simultaneously with a coatmlled and supported reverse crunch would furtberbe beneficial it the apparatus could allow the user to hold ether the upper or lower erunch in a fully contracted “isometric” position while ‘contiauig with the opposite crunch renderings dynamically cconcentatd isolation af the abdominal muscles, DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The abdominal exerciser of the present invention is an exercise device designed to work the asominal and oblique ‘muscle groups. The aominal excise inludes a sl that issupportedby and slides rol slong at eastone tack The _pper by supports ergonomically positioned higher han the sled, and fixed to across bae supported bythe tack. Tho crossbar is designed orotate forward simulatea“runch” ‘tion when the knoes are brought within proximity ofthe upperody support To pelo the abdominal exercise a use ist positions the fore oa the upper body support and thes positions the shins onto the sled. The use then slides the sl towards the ‘Upper body support by using the abdominl muscles wo bring the kes close tothe upper body supp BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ‘The nove features believed characteristic ofthe invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention iself, Dowever as wellasa prefered mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbe best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodi- ‘menis when read in coajunction with the accompanying wings, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an abdominal exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention FIG. 2 isa front view ofan alternate embodiment of an ‘upper body support of an abdominal exercise apparats in accordance wih the present invention FIG. 3is perspective view ofan altemate embodiment of ‘an abdominal exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. Aisa perspective view of the apparatus showin in FIG, 1 in use bya person; FIG. $A isa perspective view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention FIG. 52 is a perspective view of another embodiment ia \hich the upper body suppor is rotated into a second posi- tion FIG. 6 sa perspective view of another embodiment; FIG. TA isa side view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 6; FIG. B isa side view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 6 in use by persons