2) United States Patent Brown et al. (S4)_ ABDOMINAL EXERCISER DEVICE (75) Inventors: Wallace Brown, Chester, NI (US): Robert W, Nelson, Rowlet, TX (US) a) Assignee: AB Coaster Holdings, LLC Wilmington, DE (US) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC, 154(b) by 54 days en Appl. Nos 1U/607.745 (22) Filed: Now. 30, 2006 Prior Publication Data Us 2007901493701 J. 28, 2007 @) Related U. plication Data (63) Continvaion-n-paet of application No, 11/030, filed on Jan. 5, 2005, now Pat, No. 7,232,404 Provisional application No, 60/741,104, fied oa Nov. 30,2005, @ (1) Int Cl AO3B 36000 us.cl, Field of Classification Search 2006.01) 4821142; 48 482/140, 48072 ‘See application file for complete seach history (32) 68) 66) References Cited U.S, PATENT DOCUMENTS, A 91896 MeLany A 121939 Brndoe A 121979 Coyle 129 4930760 A 61990 Nenof! SADISET A 71995 Getsbefe et ab ve $8270 SSISa83 A 51996 Oswald 532728 A 61996 Hams 48296 Sexoaot A 411997 Lundin 48296 Dim7745 § 91998 Wu pou US 7,455,633 B2 Novy. 25, 2008 USO0 1145563382 (10) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent: Dinsses § $2000. Wu 21ers 6.188.397 BI 22001. Steuns 6196954 BI* 32001 Chen sw 6248995 BI 62001 Pra 482% 6440045 BI $2002 Gaston 6634996 B2 102003. Jacobsen 48296 7272404 B2* 62007 Nelson 80140 7246217 B2 72007” Rodgers. 20030022770 AL 12003 Lee 2004028713 AL 122004 Campana etal. 482/123 20080085348 AL 42005 Kieferet al 200610100070 AL $2006 Abdo 20060166798 AL 712006. Nelson ss 20070001280 AL 12007 “Tyree (Continued) OTHER PUBLICATIONS ABB Lounge, website dessition frm won nesses com, stb ‘mite with paren onpovisonl patent application, Sp No, 19020 (Continued) Primary Examiner—Lori Amerson (14) Attorney Agent, o Firm—Cisto & 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 inludes a leg sup- port that ean slide or roll along a track and an upper body support. The abdominal exerciser device is designed to sim Jae an abdominal exercise “eranch” mation when the knees are brought within proximity of the upper body support. 41 Claims, 10 Drawing SheetsUS 7,455,633 B2 Page 2 US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2007018408 AL 82007 Weirot a 2o0wOOTOTES AL 32008 Bown tal. (OTHER PUBLICATIONS, AB Scissor website description from “warscbodyyake com sub- ‘ited with paren nonpovisional patent application, US. Appl No, Tha30.20 AB Dally, website deseo fom “worwsfinessquest com sub- ‘mite with paren nonpovisonal patent application, US. App. No. Toso. AB Sli), website review of the AB. STideR} from “ww Fimessquestcom” submited wth parent nonprovisonl patent aplication, US. Appl No 1030400. [NB Slit, website description from “wis: wonerflbs.com,” submited with pares noqprosisonl pater sppeaon, US. Ap No 1103040. * cited by examinerUS. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 1 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 1US. Patent Nov. 25,2008 Sheet 2 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 2US. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 3 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 3US. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 4 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 4US. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 5 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 5AUS. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 6 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG 5BUS. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 8 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 7AUS. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 9 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 FIG. 7BUS. Patent Nov. 25, 2008 Sheet 10 of 10 US 7,455,633 B2 520 Af i SZ \ FIG. 8 ° € & 600 552US 7,455,633 B2 1 ABDOMINAL EXERCISER DEVICE, (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED. "APPLICATIONS “This document clams the priority through erie filed US, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 607741,104, filed Nov. 30,2005, whichis elatedto, and claims priority through catlir filed US. Continvation-n-Part application Ser. No, 11/030,420, fled on Jan. 5, 2005, now USS. Pat. No. 7.232, 10 404, jsued on un, 19,2007, af the subject matte of which fare herein incorporated by this reference thereto in their entirety forall purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field This invention relates to exercise machines for abdominal muscles and more, particularly to exercise machinesia which the lower legs are supported by alex support that wilizes a rolling, gliding or sling mechanism, 2. Description of Related Aa ‘Traditional abdominal exercises, suchas sit-ups are known, to cause overload tothe spine and neck and can easily cause injury whea siting up fom a prone positon to siting > position. To eomect this problem, many devices and exercises have boen created in an atempt to develop andl maintain the abdominal museles. 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 tothe lumbar spineareaadto the rear ofthe pelvis and hip bones. When such muscles contract not only does the rectus muscle ofthe abdomen work with litle effort but te other muscles rotate the pelvis forward thus ‘creating the occurrence of increased lower back pain which contributes to poor mechanical alignment and undesirable ‘Upright posture ofthe exerciser. Por example, abdominal exercises that use arm slings and ‘he person hanging fom bar are only beneficial to advanced. athletes that are able to perform te exercise effectively. How- ever even when performed effectively, the back is extremely coverlosied and the hip-lexors handle much of the load cre- ating a isk of jury. ‘Ako, lower abdominal exercises utilizing 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 lover abdominal muscles with tme strength conditioning to change the shape ofthe overall abdomen muscle structure without compromising safety or suppor for the back. It would be beneficial ithe apparatus could enable ‘user 10 execute the abdominal exercise in a biometsically ‘neutral position, minimizing or eliminating back and neck strain, It would also be beneficial if the user could perform an ‘upper abdominal crunch simultaneously with a controlled ‘and supported reverse cruach, would furer be beneficial it the apparatus could allow the user to hold ether the upper or lower crunch ina flly contracted “isometric” position while continuing with the opposite crunch eadering a dyamiclly ‘concentrated isolation ofthe abdominal muscles SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION “The abdominal exerciser of the present invention is aa exercise devi designed to work the abxbominal and oblique ‘muscle groups, The abdominal exerciser includes sled that ‘ssupportedby and sides or ols long at leastone track, The ‘upper body suppor is ergonomically positioned higher than the sled, and fixed toa crossbar supported by the tack. The crass bars designed rotate forward to simulate a“erunch” ‘motion when the knees are brought within proximity ofthe ‘upper body suppot. ‘To perform the abdominal exercise, a user frst positions {he forearms on the upper body sopportand then positions the shins onto the sled, The ser then sides the sed towards the ‘upper body suppor by using the abdominal muscles to bring the knees close tothe upper body suppor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ‘The nove features believed characteristic ofthe invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention iself, however as wellava preferred mode of use, further objectives andl advantages thereo, willbe best understood by reference to the following derailed description of illustative embod ‘menis when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. Tis a perspective view of one embodiment of an abominal exercise apparatus in accordance with the present FIG, 2 i a front view ofan alternate embodiment of an upper body support of an abdominal exercise apparatus accordance wih the present invention; FIG, 3is perspective view ofan allemate embodiment of ‘an abdominal exercise pparaus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. Aisa perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. inuse by a perso; FIG. 8A isa perspective view of another embodiment in agcordance with the present invention FIG, 53 is a perspective view of another embodiment ia ‘which the upper body support is rotated into a socand posi- tion FIG. 6 sa perspective view of another embodiment, FIG. 1A isaside view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 6; FIG. 1B isa side view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 6 in use by a persoa, FIG, isa bottom view ofthe leg support and tack.