Exercise device and method

Abstract

An exercise device includes an upper frame supporting a seat back, the seat back enabling support of a torso of a user. A lower seat includes a lower frame that is pivotally mounted to the upper frame. The lower frame includes front and rear support wheels for contact with a supportive surface; and an arcuate member is secured to the upper frame substantially opposite to the seat back. The device also includes a tension arm with a first end movably mounted to the upper frame and a second end movably supported on the supportive surface by a roller or wheel. A tension band is mounted at one end to the tension arm between the first and second ends of the tension arm and at its opposite end to the lower frame by an anchor bar, which is pivotally mounted to the lower frame.

1 . An exercise device comprising: 
 an upper frame;    a lower frame movably mounted to the upper frame and including a front support and a rear support adapted to contact a supportive surface;    a seat back secured to the upper frame;    a lower seat secured to the lower frame; and    an arcuate member mounted to said upper frame substantially opposite to said seat back to permit rolling of said exercise device on said arcuate member when a force is exerted on said seat back in a direction toward said arcuate member, whereupon said rear support is elevated from the supportive surface.    
   
   
       2 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a tension arm with a first end movably mounted to said upper frame and a second end adapted to be movably supported on said supportive surface.  
   
   
       3 . An exercise device as in  claim 2 , wherein said second end is adapted to be movably supported on the supportive surface by use of a rolling element.  
   
   
       4 . An exercise device as in  claim 3 , wherein said rolling element includes a roller selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a bushing roller and a ball bearing.  
   
   
       5 . An exercise device as in  claim 2 , further comprising a tension band releaseably mounted between said tension arm and said lower frame.  
   
   
       6 . An exercise device as in  claim 5 , further comprising an anchor bar pivotally mounted to said lower frame, for mounting said tension band to said lower frame.  
   
   
       7 . An exercise device as in  claim 6 , wherein said anchor bar includes a band receiver adapted to receive one end of said tension band.  
   
   
       8 . An exercise device as in  claim 5 , wherein said tension band is releaseably mounted to said tension arm at a position between said first end and said second end of said tension arm.  
   
   
       9 . An exercise device as in  claim 5 , further comprising a band receiver for mounting said tension band to said tension arm.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise device as in  claim 5 , further comprising a spring clip used to releaseably secure said tension band to said tension arm.  
   
   
       11 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a set of lower handles mounted to said upper frame adjacent to said lower frame.  
   
   
       12 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a set of upper handles mounted to said upper frame, distal ends of said upper handles positioned adjacent the head of the user positioned on the device.  
   
   
       13 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a headrest adjustably mounted to said upper frame.  
   
   
       14 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , wherein said arcuate member includes a pair of arcuate members spaced adjacent to one another and positioned such that there is a greater distance between the arcuate members farther away from said upper frame relative to nearer said upper frame.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plate receiver mounted to said upper frame for enabling weight plates to be received thereon.  
   
   
       16 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plate receiver mounted on said device and positioned near said lower frame.  
   
   
       17 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plate receiver positioned on a portion of said device that vertically moves during an exercise.  
   
   
       18 . An exercise device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover on a portion of said arcuate member, for providing a high friction contact between the supportive surface and said arcuate member.  
   
   
       19 . An exercise device comprising: 
 an upper frame supporting a seat back, the seat back enabling support of at least a portion of a torso of a user;    a lower frame supporting a lower seat, the lower frame being pivotally mounted to said upper frame and including a front support and a rear support adapted to contact a supportive surface; and    an arcuate member secured to said upper frame substantially opposite to said seat back to permit rolling of said exercise device on said arcuate member when a force is exerted on said seat back in a direction toward said arcuate member, whereupon said front support remains in contact with the supportive surface.    
   
   
       20 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a tension arm with a first end movably mounted to said upper frame and a second end adapted to be movably supported on said supportive surface.  
   
   
       21 . An exercise device as in  claim 20 , wherein said second end is adapted to be movably supported on the supportive surface by use of a rolling element.  
   
   
       22 . An exercise device as in  claim 20 , further comprising a tension band releaseably mounted between said tension arm and said lower frame.  
   
   
       23 . An exercise device as in  claim 22 , further comprising an anchor bar pivotally mounted to said lower frame, for mounting said tension band to said lower frame.  
   
   
       24 . An exercise device as in  claim 23 , wherein said anchor bar includes a band receiver adapted to receive one end of said tension band.  
   
   
       25 . An exercise device as in  claim 22 , further comprising a band receiver for mounting said tension band to said tension arm at a position between said first end and said second end of said tension arm.  
   
   
       26 . An exercise device as in  claim 22 , further comprising a spring clip used to releaseably secure said tension band to said tension arm.  
   
   
       27 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a set of lower handles mounted to said upper frame adjacent to said lower frame.  
   
   
       28 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a set of upper handles mounted to said upper frame, distal ends of said upper handles positioned adjacent the head of the user positioned on the device.  
   
   
       29 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a headrest adjustably mounted to said upper frame.  
   
   
       30 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , wherein said arcuate member includes a pair of arcuate members spaced adjacent to one another and positioned such that there is a greater distance between the arcuate members farther away from said upper frame relative to nearer said upper frame.  
   
   
       31 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a plate receiver mounted to said upper frame for enabling weight plates to be received thereon.  
   
   
       32 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a plate receiver mounted on said device and positioned near said lower frame.  
   
   
       33 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a plate receiver positioned on a portion of said device that vertically moves during an exercise.  
   
   
       34 . An exercise device as in  claim 19 , further comprising a cover on a portion of said arcuate member, for providing a high friction contact between the supportive surface and said arcuate member.  
   
   
       35 . For use with an exercise device including an upper frame and a lower frame movably mounted to one another, the upper frame having a seat back secured thereto, and the lower frame having a lower seat secured thereto, the lower frame including a front support and a rear support adapted to contact a supportive surface; and an arcuate member mounted to said upper frame substantially opposite to said seat back, an exercise method comprising the steps of: 
 seating a user on said lower seat with the back of the user against the seat back;    extending the legs and hip joints of the user, thereby pushing said seat back in a direction toward said arcuate member; and    rolling back on said arcuate member and elevating a lower portion of said upper frame while extending the body of the user.    
   
   
       36 . A method as in  claim 35 , wherein said device further includes a tension arm with a first end movably mounted to said upper frame and a second end movably supported on said supportive surface and a tension band releaseably mounted between said tension arm and said lower frame, said method further including the step of: 
 displacing said tension arm and elongating said tension band, thereby increasing work done by the user.