Abdominal exercise device

Abstract

A progressive resistance exercise device is provided. The progressive resistance exercise device includes a vacuum chamber of the progressive resistance device having a size to span an abdomen of the user from approximately just below a breastbone to approximately just above a pelvic bone of the user and a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum chamber, said vacuum source and vacuum chamber together being operable to provide progressive resistance to abdominal contractions of the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A progressive resistance exercise device comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber of the progressive resistance device having a size to span an abdomen of the user from approximately just below a breastbone to approximately just above a pelvic bone of the user; and    a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum chamber, said vacuum source and vacuum chamber together being operable to provide progressive resistance to abdominal contractions of the user.    
     
     
         2 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  further comprising a gauge in communication with the vacuum chamber to report negative pressure created by the vacuum source.  
     
     
         3 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source further comprises a hand operated pump.  
     
     
         4 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  wherein the vacuum source further comprises a powered pump.  
     
     
         5 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  further comprising an adjustable flap controllable by the user for varying the amount of progressive resistance by selectively varying a flow of air from the vacuum chamber into the vacuum source.  
     
     
         6 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 5  wherein the adjustable flap controllable by the user for varying the amount of progressive resistance further comprises an aperture formed in the vacuum chamber and a door slidably mounted to the chamber to selectively block the aperture for varying the level of vacuum in the vacuum chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  wherein the vacuum chamber further comprises at least one finger aperture which may be selectively blocked by fingers of a user thereby providing a vacuum release mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The progressive resistance exercise device as in  claim 1  further comprising means within the vacuum chamber for measuring a position of a surface of the abdomen of the user relative to the vacuum chamber, and varying an amount of progressive resistance in response to said measurement.