Abdominal exercise device for inverted abdominal exercises

Abstract

An exercise device allowing a user to exercise his abdominal region by lying on his back while extending his arms generally upwards is disclosed. The device has a hand-gripping member positioned generally above the user's head for the user to grip while exercising. The hand-gripping member allows for a wide range of motion which may include side-to-side, front-to-back, diagonal, and/or rotational motion. This enables the user can exercise his abdominal region by moving in a variety of different directions, while keeping his arms extended.

1 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 a bench;    an inverted U-shaped frame coupled to the bench, wherein the frame comprises at least one vertical member coupled to a horizontal frame member, wherein the horizontal frame member is generally parallel to the bench; and    a hand-gripping assembly slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise device of  claim 2  wherein the bench further comprises a plurality of legs coupled to a bottom of the bench.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise device of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of legs are collapsible.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the inverted U-shaped frame is rotatably coupled to the bench.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical members including an adjustment means.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises two vertical members.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the hand gripping assembly comprises a slideable member slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member and a coupling means securing a hand-gripping member to the slideable member.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise device of  claim 7  wherein the coupling means is a rope, a chain, or a cable.  
   
   
       9 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 a bench having a top and a bottom, wherein a plurality of legs coupled to the bottom of the bench;    a frame coupled to the bench, the frame comprising a first frame member coupled to a first end of the bench, a second frame member coupled to a second end of the bench, and a horizontal frame member coupled to the first frame member and the second frame member; and    a hand-gripping assembly slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member.    
   
   
       10 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of legs are collapsible.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the first and second frame members include an adjustment means.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the hand gripping assembly comprises a slideable member slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member and a coupling means securing a hand-gripping member to the slideable member.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise device of  claim 13  wherein the coupling means is a rope, a chain, or a cable.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 a bench having a top and a bottom, wherein a plurality of legs coupled to the bottom of the bench;    a frame coupled to the bench, the frame comprising a first frame member coupled to a first end of the bench, a second frame member coupled to a second end of the bench, and a horizontal frame member coupled to the first frame member and the second frame member, wherein the first and second frame members include an adjustment means; and    a hand-gripping assembly slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member, wherein the hand-gripping assembly comprises a slideable member slideably coupled to the horizontal frame member and a coupling means securing a hand-gripping member to slideable member.    
   
   
       16 . The exercise device of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of legs are collapsible.  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The exercise device of  claim 15  wherein the coupling means is a rope, a chain, or a cable.  
   
   
       19 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 a hand-gripping member,    said hand-gripping member being positioned generally above a user's head when the user lies on his back, said hand-gripping member further being capable of side-to side motion, front-to-back motion, diagonal motion, rotational motion, or a combination thereof, relative to the user, said motion being substantially confined to a plane parallel to a surface on which the device is supported.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the user exercises by moving his upper body from a first position to a second position, the user's arms being kept extended while gripping the hand-griping member, wherein 
 in said second position the user's body is raised relative to said first position.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the user exercises by moving his upper body in a side-to-side motion, front-to-back motion, diagonal motion, rotational motion, or a combination thereof, the user's arms being kept extended while gripping the hand-gripping member.  
   
   
       22 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 a frame, and    a movable hand-gripping member mounted on said frame,    said hand-gripping member being positioned generally above a user's head when the user exercises on the device, said hand gripping member further being capable of side-to-side motion, front-to-back motion, diagonal motion, rotational motion, or a combination thereof, relative to the user, while the frame remains stationary, wherein    the user exercises by moving his upper body in a side-to-side motion, front-to-back motion, diagonal motion, rotational motion, or a combination thereof, the user's arms being kept extended while gripping the hand-gripping member.    
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said hand-gripping member is mounted to said frame via a slideable, spring, pivot, ball, or pendulum attachment, or combination thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 at least one guiding member supported on said frame, and    a slideable member slideably coupled to said guiding member, wherein    said hand-gripping member is coupled to said slideable member.    
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 23  wherein said guiding member is coupled to said frame via a pivot attachment, ball attachment, or spring attachment.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 first and second guiding members oppositely mounted on said frame, and    a third guiding member slideably mounted on said first and second guiding members, and having opposite first and second ends supported on said first and second guiding members respectively, wherein    said hand-gripping member is slideably mounted on said third guiding member.    
   
   
       28 . A method of exercise for a person comprising: 
 laying on a substantially flat surface,    gripping handles positioned above the person's head, said handles being mounted on a stationary frame, said handles further being capable of front-to-back, side-to-side, diagonal, circular, or semi-circular motion, or a combination thereof, and    moving the upper body according to a pattern comprising front-to-back, side-to-side, diagonal, circular, or semi-circular motion, or a combination thereof, while keeping the arms extended.    
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said motion of said gripping handles is substantially confined to a plane parallel to said surface.  
   
   
       31 . An exercise device, comprising: 
 support means, and    band-gripping means mounted on said support means,    said hand-gripping means being positioned generally above a user's head when the user lies on his back, said hand gripping member further comprising means for movement including side-to-side, front-to-back, diagonal, or rotational movement, or a combination thereof, the user's arms being kept extended while gripping the hand-gripping means.