Device for Strengthening Inner Abdominal Muscles

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for effecting transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise, includes a back support and an arm exercising assembly. The arm exercising assembly comprising a gripping bar having gripping portions for gripping by the user's hands, and which is coupled to a resistance assembly. The gripping bar is reciprocally movable against the biasing force from a first raised position, where said gripping bar is forward and outwardly above said user's shoulders, and a second lowered position spaced forwardly outwardly above the user's torso. The resilient biasing force is selected on multidirectional force having an upward biasing component, a downward biasing component independent thereof, and a resilient rearward biasing component all acting in concert.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus operable to effect transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscle exercise, the apparatus comprising, a back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine juxtaposed thereagainst, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, an elongated gripping bar having gripping portions for gripping by a respective one of said user's hands, and a resistance assembly coupled to the gripping bar and providing a resilient biasing force thereon, the gripping bar being selectively reciprocally movable by said user against the resilient biasing force along a path between a first raised position, wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's shoulders, and a second lowered position wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's torso or abdomen, the resilient biasing force comprising a multidirectional force which includes a resilient upward biasing component, optionally a resilient downward biasing component independent of said upward biasing component, and a resilient rearward biasing component independent of said upward biasing component, and said downward biasing component, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the first raised position, the resistance mechanism resiliently biasing the gripping bar simultaneously at least rearwardly and upwardly.

2. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the second lowered position, the resistance mechanism resiliently simultaneously biasing the gripping bar rearwardly and upwardly.

3. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the first position, the resilient rearward biasing component resiliently simultaneously biases the gripping bar downwardly in a direction away from said user's head, and the resilient downward component simultaneously resiliently biases the gripping bar towards a lowered position spaced towards the user's lower abdomen.

4. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure a deflection of at least one of said user's abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said gripping bar is moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to display and/or effect output of at least one of a visual indication, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of at least one of a measured abdominal deflection and a target degree of abdominal deflection.

5. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said deflection gauge includes a contact member provided for engaging contact with said user's torso or abdomen, the contact member being selectively displaceable in movement with the compression and decompression of said user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles, and wherein a measured distance of contact member displacement is correlated the deflection of the user's abdominal cavity and/or the user's diaphragm.

6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gripping bar includes an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal each of said target degree of abdominal deflection and said measured abdominal deflection.

7. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflection gauge is a self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured degree of abdominal cavity deflection to said target abdominal deflection.

8. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back support comprises a generally horizontal support and/or said gripping bar is moveable reciprocally along a generally arcuate path of movement, said arm exercising assembly being operable to exercise said user's deltoid and/or pectoral muscles by reciprocally moving said gripping bar along said arcuate path with said user gripping said gripping portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended.

9. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping portions are spaced towards respective opposed ends of the gripping bar.

10. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said back support comprises a generally horizontal support, said gripping bar is moveable reciprocally along a generally arcuate path of movement, said arm exercising assembly being operable to exercise said users deltoid muscles by reciprocally moving said gripping bar along said arcuate path with said user gripping said gripping portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended.

11. An exercise apparatus assembly for exercising transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine resting substantially horizontally thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, a gripping bar having a pair of spaced handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user, a resistance assembly coupling the gripping bar for movement relative to the back support, the resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing a multidirectional biasing force on said gripping bar, the gripping bar being selectively movable by said user along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said gripping bar is moved forwardly outward a distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position wherein said gripping bar is pivoted downwardly to a position spaced vertically above said user's abdomen, wherein when said gripping bar is in said first position, a first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force thereon to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards upward and rearward movement, and a second said resiliently deformable member providing a second resilient biasing force thereon independent of the first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards vertically rearward movement.

12. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 11 further including a third said resiliently deformable member, wherein when the gripping bar is in said first position the third resiliently deformable member providing a third resilient biasing force independent from said first resilient biasing force and said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in downward movement towards a lower portion of said user's abdomen.

13. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure an inward deflection distance of said user's abdominal cavity during said transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscle exercise, and when said gripping bar is moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to effect output to said user at least one of a visual display, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of a measured abdominal deflection and a target degree of abdominal deflection.

14. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said gripping bar includes an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal each of said measured abdominal deflection and said target degree of abdominal deflection.

15. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said deflection gauge is a self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of a substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and a substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured abdominal deflection to target degree of abdominal deflection.

16. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said deflection gauge includes a contact member configured to resiliently maintain engaging contact with said user's abdomen, the contact member being reciprocally displaceable in vertical movement with the compression and decompression of said user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles, and wherein a measured distance of contact member displacement is correlated to the deflection distance of the user's abdominal cavity.

17. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein when said gripping bar is moved to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in said upward and rearward movement, and the second resiliently deformable member simultaneously providing said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in at least said rearward movement.

18. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said resiliently deformable members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable members being at least partially housed within an associated positioning support, wherein each associated positioning support extends forwardly from said seat back support to an end position spaced above said user in said exercising position.

19. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein each positioning support is selected from the group consisting of a substantially rigid sheath, a tube and a guide channel, the positioning supports being mounted for pivotal movement relative to said back support with said gripping bar.

20. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein in said second position the second resilient biasing force further resiliently biases the gripping bar towards upward movement.

21. An exercise apparatus operable to effect internal abdominal muscle exercise in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in a substantially horizontal exercising position thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including a pair of spaced handle grip portions, the handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user with his or her arms in a substantially outstretched position, a resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing independently a respective multidirectional biasing force on said handle grip portions, wherein said handle grip portions are selectively movable by said user against said biasing force along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved forwardly an outward distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved downwardly to a position vertically above said user's abdomen or torso, and the resistance assembly including first and second resiliently deformable members wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said first position, the first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in upward and rearward movement, and the second said resiliently deformable member providing a second independent resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in rearward movement, and wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in said upward and rearward movement, and the second resiliently deformable member providing said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in at least said rearward movement.

22. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein said resiliently deformable members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable members being at least partially housed within an associated positioning sheath.

23. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein each associated positioning sheath extends forwardly from said back support to an open end spaced above said user in said exercising position.

24. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure a rearward deflection of at least one of said user's abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said handle grip portions are moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to display and/or effect an output of at least one of a visual indication, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of at least one of a measured degree of abdominal and/or a time of abdominal deflection occurring and/or a target degree of abdominal deflection.

25. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said deflection gauge includes a vertically displaceable contact member positioned for engaging contact with a portion of said user's abdomen or torso in said exercising position, whereby the selective compression and decompression of said user's internal abdominal muscles effect reciprocal displacement of the contact member a respective distance rearwardly and forwardly, and wherein the measured abdominal deflection is correlated to at least one respective distance.

26. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further including an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal said target degree of deflection of said user's abdominal cavity.

27. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further including a third said resiliently deformable member, in said first position, the third resiliently deformable member providing a third resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in downward movement towards the user's lower abdomen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows schematically an exercise apparatus in use to exercise a user's transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows schematically the back support and arm exercising assembly used in the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1, in an initial rest position;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows schematically the back support and arm exercising assembly of FIG. 2, with the arm exercising assembly gripping bar positioned in a lowered position relative to the back support;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows schematically the positioning of a deflection gauge assembly used in the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 in a mounted position, secured about the user's abdomen;

[0053] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly, in the measurement of the user's abdominal cavity deflection;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows schematically the deflection movement of the user's abdominal cavity during transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercising;

[0055] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate schematically an output display used in the deflection gauge assembly of FIG. 4;

[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly shown in FIG. 4 in displaying the user's measured abdominal deflection to the user in operation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates schematically the user's movement of the arm exercising assembly gripping bar in use of the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 10 shows schematically the initial activation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 with the arm exercising assembly gripping bar in the initial start position;

[0059] FIGS. 11 to 13 show schematically the movement of the arm exercising assembly gripping bar first raised and second lowered positions during operation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 transverse abdominis and abdominal muscle exercising;

[0060] FIG. 14 illustrates schematically a back support and deflection gauge assembly for use in the exercise apparatus of the present invention in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention:

[0061] FIG. 15 illustrates schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly shown in FIG. 16, in the measurement of the deflection of the user's abdominal cavity;

[0062] FIG. 16 illustrates a back support and deflection gauge assembly for use in the exercise apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; and

[0063] FIG. 17 illustrates schematically the operation of the exercise apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Reference may be had to FIG. 1 which illustrates an exercise apparatus 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention with a user 8 lying in an exercising position thereon, in effecting the exercise of the user's transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles. The exercise apparatus 10 includes a back support 12 for supporting the user 8 in a reclined position thereon, an arm exercising assembly 14 which as will be described, is provided to facilitate the user's upper body and arm exercise, and a deflection gauge assembly 16 which is adapted to measure and output to the user 8 the degree of deflection of the user's torso during actuation of the arm exercising assembly 14.

[0065] FIGS. 2 and 3 show best the back support 12 and arm exercising assembly 14. The back support 12 includes a seat back portion 22 for supporting the user's spine in a substantially horizontal juxtaposed position thereagainst, and which is integrally formed at an upper portion thereof with a moulded head rest 24.

[0066] The arm exercising assembly 14 is provided with a pair of elongated side frame members 26a, 26b which extend in parallel along each side of the back support 12, an elongate gripping bar 28 and a resistance assembly 30 coupling the gripping bar 28 to each side frame member 26. The side frame members 26a, 26b optionally may further be provided at their forwardmost ends with a respective cradle recess 36 sized to supportingly receive the gripping bar 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle recess 36 advantageously provides a storage position for the gripping bar 28 prior to the user 8 assuming the exercising position and the commencement of transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise in use of the apparatus 10.

[0067] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the gripping bar 28 as extending laterally the width of the back support 12 and having at each end thereof a handle grip 32a, 32b positioned for gripping by each of the user's hands. Although not essential, the gripping bar 28 further may be provided with a display 34 which is provided in electronic communication with the deflection gauge assembly 16. The deflection gauge assembly 16 is operable to output to the user 8 a visual indication of both a measured time and/or degree of the distance or value of deflection of the user's abdominal cavity during use of the apparatus 10, as well as a preselected target time and/or degree of deflection.

[0068] The resistance assembly 30 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as three pairs of support members 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, and 42a, 42b. Each support member 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b is respectively hingedly connected at one end to a respective frame member 26a, 26b by an associated pivot connection 44, and which are coupled at their other ends to an associated respective end of the gripping bar 28.

[0069] Although not essential, the side frame members 26a, 26b may be provided with a number of spaced pivot connection mountings 45. The pivot connection mountings 45 are positioned with a selected mounting socket 47, formed along the side frame members 26a, 26b. The mounting sockets 47 allow the pivot connection mountings 45 to be secured in a number of selected positioned, depending on the user's 8 size and/or build, to allow for optimum positioning and resistance tension on the gripping bar 28.

[0070] In the preferred embodiments shown, the pivot connections 44 secure the end of each support member 38a, 38b, at a respective location spaced vertically forwardly above the surface of the back support 22 and raised about the head of the user 8 when positioned in the exercising position. The pivot connections 44 secure the ends of each support member 40a, 40b about each side head rest 24 raised at or above the user's shoulders; and the pivot connections 44 secure each end of the support members 42a, 42b along the sides of the seat back portion 22 adjacent the user's abdomen. It is to be appreciated, however, that other mounting positions for the support members 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b are also possible.

[0071] As shown best in the enlarged partial view of FIG. 3, each support member 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b includes an elastically deformable cord or elastomeric member 46 which in a preferred construction is received at least partially within a semi-rigid or rigid plastic or elastomeric supporting sheath 48. Although not essential, the supporting sheath 48 advantageously may assist in maintaining the positioning the gripping bar 28 spaced a forward distance vertically above the surface of the back support 12 and above the user 8 in resting thereon in the exercise position, for increased comfort.

[0072] As will be described, the support members 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b act concert to provide a multi-directional resistance force on the gripping bar 28 in use of the exercise apparatus 10 to perform arm exercises by the user 8.

[0073] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the deflection gauge assembly 16 used in the exercise apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 as including a compression/extension belt 50 which, as shown, is adapted for placement circumferentially about the user's lower torso or abdomen, and a measuring gauge 52 which is operable to output a signal or display indicative of the degree of the retraction or extension of the belt 50. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, as the user 8 performs vacuum exercises and contracts his/her abdominal muscles, the user's stomach and abdomen will deflect from the relaxed distended position 100 to the contracted position 102. This contraction will result in the user's abdominal cavity drawing inwardly in diameter and front abdominal surface moving rearwardly downward towards the back support 12 from a first rest position P.sub.1 to a contracted position P.sub.2 deflecting a measured distance D.sub.f. With the contraction of the abdomen, the circumference of the user's torso concurrently reduces from the undeformed diameter shown in FIG. 5A to the constricted diameter shown in FIG. 5B.

[0074] Although not essential, most preferably the apparatus 10 provides for the pre-setting of a target degree of abdominal deflection which is to be achieved during transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise. The deflection gauge assembly 16 provides a visual output of the actual measured abdominal deflection relative to the pre-selected target deflection, enabling a user 8 to visually determine whether the desired degrees of abdominal exercise is being maintained.

[0075] In this manner as shown schematically in FIG. 8, the deflection gauge assembly 16 outputs by way of the measuring gauge 52 an indication to the user 8 of the measured degree of deflection of his/her abdominal cavity and diaphragm. In a most preferred construction, as shown in FIG. 8, the measuring gauge 52 is provided in either wired or wireless communication with the gripping bar display 34 enabling the user 8 to visually monitor the degree abdominal deflection simultaneously with gripping bar 28 movement in undertaking arm exercises.

[0076] Reference may be had to FIGS. 9 to 13 which illustrate schematically the operation of the exercise apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with a preferred mode of effecting the exercise of the transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles of the user 8.

[0077] As will be described, the gripping bar 28 of the apparatus 10 is moved reciprocally in pivotal movement above the user 8 in the direction of arrow 200, whilst the user concurrently selectively contracts and releases abdominal muscles to effect the deflection of his or her abdominal cavity. As shown in FIG. 10, in performing exercises, the user 8 reclines against the back support 12 with his/her head resting on the head rest 24 and spine oriented generally horizontally against the seat back portion 22. While the gripping bar 28 the user 8 fully extends his/her arms upperwardly to grasp the handle grips 32a, 32b, and raises the gripping bar 28 to lock the arms fully extended with the gripping bar 28 in the initial first raised position shown in FIG. 11. In the first raised position the gripping bar 28 is spaced a forward distance above the back support 12 with the user's arms outstretched and raised slightly above the shoulders. It is to be appreciated that in this position, each of the elastically deformable cords 46 of each of the support members 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b are placed under tension. The resistance assembly 30 thus acts to provide a multi-directional biasing force (F.sub.8) on the gripping bar 28. Most preferably the support members 38a, 38b resiliently bias the gripping in both an upward direct towards the cradle recess 36 and rearwardly in a vertically downward direction toward the back support 12. The support members 40a, 40b resiliently bias the gripping bar 28 substantially vertically rearward toward the back support 12, with or without an upward or downward biasing component; and the support members 42a, 42b resiliently bias the gripping bar 28 both downwardly towards the user's abdomen and vertically rearward towards the seat back portion 22.

[0078] The user 8 exhales and pivots the gripping bar 28 downwardly in arcuate movement of the direction of arrow 200 whilst exhaling or holding an exhaled breath to contract the abdominal cavity to position P.sub.2 until the gripping bar is moved to the lowered second position shown in FIG. 13. In the second lowered position the gripping bar 28 is spaced above the user's abdomen with the resistance assembly 30 providing a multidirectional force F.sub.B thereon. The support members 38a, 38b continue to provide a multi-directional force on the gripping bar 28 in the upward and vertically rearward directions. The support members 40a, 40b operate to similarly provide a resilient biasing force on the gripping bar 28 with both upward and vertically rearward components; and the support members 42a, 42b provide a resilient biasing force on the gripping bar 28 rearwardly towards a lowered position spaced towards the seat back portion 22, either with or without an upward or downward biasing component. As the gripping bar 28 is moved to the second position shown in FIG. 13, the user 8 preferably effects and maintains the full inward deflection of his/her abdominal cavity either towards or at a preselected target deflection for a selected period of time, and most preferably for a period of between about 5 and 30 seconds, and preferably 10 to 20 seconds.

[0079] In a preferred mode, the user 8 may monitor the display 34 during movement and positioning of the gripping bar 28 to view in real time both the target and actual measured degree of abdominal deflection. In this manner, any vacuum condition and exercise of the user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles may be optimized. After the preselected time and/or achieving the desired degree of abdominal deflection, with the user's arms fully outstretched, the gripping bar 28 is returned to the first position shown in FIG. 11 whilst inhaling and returning the abdominal cavity to the distended orientation and the movement and abdominal deflection is then repeated.

[0080] Although FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate a deflection gauge assembly 16 which incorporates a compression/extension belt 50 and measuring gauge 52 used to measure abdominal cavity deflection, the invention is not so limited. Reference may be had to FIGS. 14 and 15 which illustrate a back support 12 for use in the exercising apparatus 10 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference numerals may be used to identify like components.

[0081] In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the deflection gauge assembly 16 is provided with a rigid contact arm 80 which is mounted for sliding vertical movement on a pair of guide supports 82a, 82b. The guide supports 82a, 82b support the contact arm 80 in a position spanning the seat back portion 22 over the user's abdomen. The contact arm 80 is provided to resiliently contact the user's stomach/abdomen during use of the exercise apparatus 10 and provide a vertical measurement of its displacement relative to the surface of the seat back portion 22 between distended and contracted positions as transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise is effected.

[0082] Reference may be had to FIG. 16 which illustrates a further embodiment of a deflection gauge assembly 16 for use with a seat back support 12 in the exercise apparatus 10, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like components. In FIG. 16, the deflection gauge assembly 16 is provided to optically measure the degree of the user's abdominal deflection. In the embodiment as shown, the deflection gauge assembly 16 includes an optical emitter 90 and an optical receiver 92 provided on opposing sides of the seat back portion 22. The optical emitter 90 operates to transmit optical signals such as coherent or infrared light signals which when not occluded by the user's abdomen, are received and detected by the optical receiver 92. By measuring un-occluded optical signals, the receiver 92 may provide a measured degree of abdominal cavity deflection relative to the back support 12.

[0083] Although the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the exercise apparatus 10 as including a back support 12 adapted to support a user 8 in a fully horizontal reclined position thereon, the invention is not so limited. Reference may be had to FIG. 17 which illustrates a further embodiment of the exercise apparatus, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like components. As shown, the embodiment of the exercise apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 17 is adapted for use by the user 8 in a seated fully in a 90 upright position or alternately partially reclined.

[0084] In the construction shown in FIG. 17, a pair of elastomeric deformable support members 38a,40a (together with corresponding members 38b,40b, not shown) are shown as respectively coupling the gripping bar 28 to upper and mid-portions of a vertical back supporting portion of the side frame member 26a. The support members 30a,30b,40a,40b resulting bias the gripping bar 28 rearwardly and upwardly towards the back support portion of the frame 26.

[0085] It is to be appreciated that while FIG. 17 illustrates the gripping bar 28 as being multidirectional biased horizontally and upwardly by support members 38,40, in an alternate construction further resiliently deformable support members (not shown) may be provided coupling the gripping bar 28 to the frame 26 at connection mountings 45 to provide a downward biasing force component.

[0086] Although the detailed description describes and illustrates various preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the appended claims.