Exercise apparatus and method

Abstract

An exercise apparatus, including a lower structure, an upper structure, wherein an end region of said upper structure is pivotably connected to an end region of said lower structure, wherein said upper structure is rotatable relative to said lower structure, and at least one resistance element. The at least one of said at least one resistance element is at least one of attached to and connected to said upper structure and to said lower structure. The at least one resistance element provides resistance to at least one of a rotational movement and an upward movement of said upper structure away from said lower structure. A method for utilizing an exercise apparatus, including mounting the apparatus by placing oneself on a lower structure and by placing one's back against an upper structure, pushing against the upper structure so as to cause the upper structure to rotate away from the lower structure against a biasing resistance, and reaching a desired angle of rotation between the upper structure and the lower structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a lower structure;    an upper structure, wherein an end region of said upper structure is pivotably connected to an end region of said lower structure, wherein said upper structure is rotatable relative to said lower structure; and    at least one resistance element, wherein at least one of said at least one resistance element is at least one of attached to and connected to said upper structure and to said lower structure, and further wherein said at least one resistance element provides resistance to at least one of a rotational movement and an upward movement of said upper structure away from said lower structure.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower structure further comprises: 
 a frame; and    at least one of a seat and a pad, wherein said at least one of a seat and a pad is attached to said frame.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said upper structure further comprises: 
 a frame; and    at least one of a pad and a back pad, wherein said at least one of a pad and a back pad is attached to said frame.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one handle, wherein said at least one handle is attached to at least one of said lower structure, said upper structure, and a frame.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one extension element at least one of attached to and extending from said lower structure, wherein said at least one resistance element is at least one of received by, attached to, and connected to, said at least one extension element.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one extension element at least one of attached to and extending from said upper structure, wherein said at least one resistance element is at least one of received by, attached to, and connected to, said at least one extension element.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of extension elements, wherein at least one extension element is located on said lower structure, and wherein at least one extension element is located on said upper structure, and further wherein a region of at least one of said at least one resistance element is at least one of attached to and received by said at least one extension element located on said lower structure, and further wherein a region of at least one of said at least one resistance element is at least one of attached to and received by said at least one extension element located on said upper structure.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one leg attached to the bottom of said lower structure, wherein said at least one leg elevates said lower structure above at least one of a floor and the ground.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a stopping mechanism for limiting the angle of rotation of said upper structure relative to said lower structure, wherein said stopping mechanism is located on at least one of said lower structure and said upper structure.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said stopping mechanism further comprises: 
 a stopping element, wherein said stopping is connected to said lower structure; and    an actuation device, where said actuation device is attached to said stopping element, and further wherein said actuation device can control a movement of said stopping element from a first position whereat said stopping element prevents a movement of said upper structure relative to said lower structure to a second position whereat said stopping element does not prevent a a movement of said upper structure relative to said lower structure.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one stopping element for preventing a movement of said upper structure relative to said lower structure.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resistance element is at least one of a rubber resistance element and an elastic resistance element.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resistance element has at least one of a constant resistance, a fixed resistance, and a variable resistance.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a stopping device for limiting the angle of movement of said upper structure relative to said lower structure, wherein said stopping device is located at a region wherein said upper structure and said lower structure are pivotably connected to one another.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said stopping device further comprises: 
 hardware attached to at least one of said lower structure and said upper structure; and    an adjustment element for adjusting the angle between said upper structure and said lower structure.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said hardware is a bracket containing a plurality of adjustment holes, and wherein said adjustment element is at least one of a pin, a bolt, and a rod, wherein said adjustment element is at least one of insertable into and removable from at least one of said plurality of adjustment holes.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of an angle of rotation and a range of motion of said upper structure from said lower structure is from zero degrees to one hundred and eighty degrees.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of an angle of rotation and a range of motion of said upper structure from said lower structure is at least one of from an angle greater than zero degrees and to at least one of an angle less than one hundred and eighty degrees n an angle equal to one hundred and eighty degrees.  
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a lower structure;    an upper structure, wherein an end region of said upper structure is pivotably connected to an end region of said lower structure, wherein said upper structure is rotatable relative to said lower structure; and    at least one resistance element, wherein at least one of said at least one resistance element is at least one of attached to and connected to said upper structure and to said lower structure, and further wherein said at least one resistance element provides resistance to at least one of a rotational movement and an upward movement of said upper structure away from said lower structure, and further wherein said lower structure is longer in length than said upper structure.    
     
     
         20 . A method for utilizing an exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 mounting the apparatus by placing oneself on a lower structure and by placing one's back against an upper structure;    pushing against the upper structure so as to cause the upper structure to rotate away from the lower structure against a biasing resistance; and    reaching a desired angle of rotation between the upper structure and the lower structure.