Inflatable abdominal exercise apparatus

Abstract

An abdominal exercise apparatus has a seat operably disposed on a base. The base has an inflatable back wedge section and optionally an independently inflatable front wedge section. The seat has raised sides that form a shallow cavity that is adapted to support the body of a user therein. The seat resiliently flexes forward and backward along its length. At least one inflatable cushion, preferably profiled to accept the body contour of the user, provides a floor below the shallow cavity. Preferably, the floor is realized by three independently inflatable cushions including one that supports the upper legs, another that supports the lumbar section, and a third that supports the upper torso, neck and head. Hand grips are affixed to opposite sides of a top portion of the seat and to opposite sides of a bottom portion of the seat. The inflation level of the back wedge section and the front wedge section is adjustable; A wide variety of effective abdominal and other exercises can be performed with the apparatus.

1 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a base having an inflatable back wedge section; and    a flexible seat disposed on said base, said flexible seat having raised sides that form a shallow cavity therebetween, said cavity adapted to support the upper and lower body parts of a user therein; and    said inflatable back wedge section for adjusting an angle of said body parts relative to a horizontal direction.    
   
   
       2 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat includes an upper portion and a lower portion.    
   
   
       3 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said base further includes an inflatable front wedge section, wherein said back wedge section and said front wedge section are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       4 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises an outer support structure having a hinge coupling said upper portion to said lower portion.    
   
   
       5 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat further comprises at least one inflatable cushion that provides a floor below said shallow cavity.    
   
   
       6 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion is profiled to accept the body contour of the user.    
   
   
       7 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion comprises a first inflatable cushion that supports a lumbar section of the user.    
   
   
       8 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion further comprises a second inflatable cushion that supports the upper legs of the user.    
   
   
       9 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said first and second inflatable cushions are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       10 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises a front wedge section, and said second inflatable cushion is part of said front wedge section of said seat.    
   
   
       11 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said seat further comprises a third inflatable cushion that supports the upper back, neck and head of the user.    
   
   
       12 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first, second and third inflatable cushions are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       13 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a first set of hand grips affixed to opposite sides of said upper portion of said seat.    
   
   
       14 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a second set of hand grips affixed to opposite sides of said lower portion of said seat.    
   
   
       15 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pair of straps that removably attach said back wedge section to a part of said seat.    
   
   
       16 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said straps comprise hook and loop fasterners.    
   
   
       17 . A method of exercising comprising: 
 providing the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;     adjusting an inflation level of said back wedge section to vary a range of motion of the user's body up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said inflation level of said back wedge section is adjustable to vary a starting inclination angle of the user's body up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 performing at least one exercise with the abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 performing a variety of exercises with the abdominal exercise apparatus    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said variety of exercises are selected from the group comprising 
 i) conventional situps;  
 ii) twisting situps;  
 iii) elevated sitbacks;  
 iv) side leg lifts; and  
 v) oblique muscle exercises.  
   
   
   
       22 . A kit comprising: 
 the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;  and    an air-pump for inflating air chambers of said abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       23 . A kit according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a patch kit for patching said air chambers.    
   
   
       24 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a base; and    a seat having an upper surface with a profile that is substantially C-shaped, said seat having an upper portion and a lower portion with a pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said upper portion;    wherein at least one of said base and said seat has an inflatable air chamber disposed therein.    
   
   
       25 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said seat is removably attached to said base and is disposed on said base during use.    
   
   
       26 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said seat has raised sides that form a shallow cavity therebetween, said cavity adapted to support the upper and lower body parts of a user therein.    
   
   
       27 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said base comprises an inflatable back wedge section for adjusting an angle of body parts relative to a horizontal direction.    
   
   
       28 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises a hinge coupling said upper portion to said lower portion.    
   
   
       29 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said lower portion of said seat.    
   
   
       30 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises an inflatable air chamber for supporting the lumbar section of the user.    
   
   
       31 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a base; and    a seat attached to said base and having an upper surface that supports body parts of a user, said seat having an upper portion that is coupled to a lower portion by a hinge interface;    wherein at least one of said base and said seat has an inflatable air chamber disposed therein.    
   
   
       32 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said seat is removably attached to said base and is disposed on said base during use.    
   
   
       32 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said seat has raised sides that form a shallow cavity therebetween, said cavity adapted to support the upper and lower body parts of a user therein.    
   
   
       33 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said base comprises an inflatable back wedge section for adjusting an angle of body parts relative to a horizontal direction.    
   
   
       34 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a first pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said upper portion of said seat.    
   
   
       35 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a second pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said lower portion of said seat.    
   
   
       36 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises an inflatable air chamber for supporting the lumbar section of the user.    
   
   
       37 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of inflatable air chambers disposed in a resilient support structure, wherein at least one of said inflatable air chambers is adapted to provide a soft intermediary between the floor and the lower back of the user, and said resilient support structure is adapted to provide resistance to abdominal muscles of the user.    
   
   
       38 . The abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 said plurality of inflatable air chambers comprise at least three inflatable air chambers.    
   
   
       39 . The abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein: 
 said at least three inflatable air chambers are separately inflatable.    
   
   
       40 . The abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of at least one of said plurality of inflatable air chambers is adjustable to accommodate users of different sizes and shapes.    
   
   
       41 . The abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of at least one of said plurality of inflatable air chambers is adjustable to accommodate different levels of effort during use.    
   
   
       42 . The abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of at least one of said plurality of inflatable air chambers is adjustable to accommodate different body inclination angles during use.