PORTABLE ABDOMINAL EXERCISE SEAT

Abstract

This is an exercise device that sits on the floor used for sit-ups/crunches and core body exercise twists. Handles affixed to the stationary base plate of the device allow user to grasp and pull up body for easier, modified crunches/sit-ups, as well as to turn the body to the right and left on a rotatable seat plate during abdominal twist exercises. The seat of the device rotates on a fixed axis pin or be secured on its perimeter in a manner to still allow rotation. An optional waist/knee strap-belt secured to the stationary base plate allows the user to anchor his body down while exercise allowing greater leverage to lift body weight and/or external weights while and reducing unwanted leg lift. The device also has optional front and lumbar cushion support. The device is small enough to easily carry to gym or on trips.

Claims

1. A portable abdominal exercise device comprising: a legless seat for doing sit-ups, crunches, and body twists; wherein the seat comprises a bottom surface base plate for engaging a ground surface; wherein a top surface of the seat is from 0.25 to 7 inches above the bottom surface; and wherein the seat comprises at least one of the following additional features: fixed handles on each side to assist the user to pull himself up during sit-up type exercises; and a rotatable seat plate on the stationary seat base configured to rotate axially around a central axis point disposed centrally on the seat base; whereupon the user places his buttocks during exercise; whereupon the user can twist his body in either direction about a z-axis while holding onto the fixed side handles, while exercising the oblique muscles of the torso.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat comprises a waist belt-strap connectable to the sides of the seat base to wrap over and secure and stabilize the waist and thighs of the user in relation to the base, to increase leverage and enable the user greater leverage to more efficiently pull the body up during sit-up type exercises.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat comprises a knee belt-strap connectable to the sides of the seat base to wrap over and secure and stabilize the knees in relation to the seat base, to increase leverage and enable the user greater leverage to more efficiently pull the body up during sit-up type exercises.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a raised cushion surface for supporting the tailbone and buttocks of the user.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a raised cushion section on a top surface for supporting the rear lumbar and front gluteus regions of the user.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the seat base is constructed of at least one of the following: a rigid polymer material, an elastic polymer material, a combination of polymers, metal, and wood.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the cushion pad is comprised of a single molded polymer material, an inflatable polymer bladder, a combination of elastic polymers such as a gel and elastic foam, elastic foam core covered with polymer skin.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is employed to do sit-ups, crunches, and body twists to strengthen muscles and tendons in the abdominal region.

9. A portable abdominal exercise device comprising: a circular base plate for engaging a ground surface, the circular base plate having a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface; a circular top plate whereupon the user places his buttocks during exercise, the circular base plate having a planar bottom surface, the circular top plate rotatable affixed to be able to rotate on a central axis point on the base plate; and fixed handles on each side to assist the user to twist and lift his legs and torso during exercises; and a plurality of cushions affixed to the top surface; and a belt for securing a body of a user into the seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is an elevated side-top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat with fixed handles on each side in accordance with the present invention, a seat plate which in this embodiment can rotate, and a stationary base plate beneath the rotatable seat plate;

[0021] FIG. 2 is an elevated side-top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat with fixed handles on each side in accordance with the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat with fixed handles on each side, a stationary base plate and a seat plate that can rotate in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases in one embodiment, in an embodiment, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 1 is an elevated side-top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat 100 with fixed handles 101a-b on each side in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] The exercise seat 100 comprises a handle 101a, a handle 101b, a seat plate 102a, which in this embodiment is rotatable, and a stationary base plate 103.

[0026] The handles 101a-b may be fastened as independent pieces to the stationary base plate 103 or molded all as one unit with the base plate 103.

[0027] The handles 101a-b may be fastened as independent pieces to the seat plate 102 or molded all as one unit with the seat plate 102a-b.

[0028] The handles 101a-b will protrude from the device sufficiently to allow the user to get hands around them for gripping purposes.

[0029] The handles 101a-b may consist of metal or plastic or any form of polymer.

[0030] The stationary base plate 103 may be round or of any other shape, and consist of metal, wood or polymer materials.

[0031] The seat plate 102a-b may be round or of any other shape and consist of metal, wood or polymer materials.

[0032] The seat plate 102a may rotate on an actual axis pin at its center or rotate on a virtual central axis point but not be actually fastened to the stationary base plate at that center point; it may be kept in place by some other means such as by being contained at its perimeter in a manner that still allows it to move freely in rotation around the virtual axis.

[0033] FIG. 2 an elevated side-top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat 200 with fixed handles 101a-b on each side, a seat plate 102b which in this embodiment is fixed to the stationary base plate in a manner that it does not rotate, and an attached belt 105 to secure the waist (also called a waist belt strap or a knee belt-strap), thighs, or knees to the seat in accordance with the present invention.

[0034] The waist belt strap or knee belt-strap 105 can be attached to the sides of the stationary base plate or the seat plate, be adjustable in length, and be removable.

[0035] The waist belt strap or knee belt-strap 105 may use a standard buckle mechanism, a Velcro type mechanism, a clipping mechanism or any other type of mechanism to attach around the user's knees, waist or thighs.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an abdominal exercise seat 100 with fixed handles 101a-b on each side, a rotatable seat plate 102a, a stationary base plate 103, and a rotation axis connection 104 between the stationary and rotating plates 102a and 103.

[0037] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.