Abdominal exercise apparatus

Abstract

A multidirectional abdominal exercise apparatus is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the exercise apparatus includes a frame having an upright member, a bench or seat, and a pair of arm members connected to at least two pivoting members. The first pivoting member pivots in a first direction about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the floor. The second pivoting member is pivotally connected to the first pivoting member and pivots in a second direction about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially perpendicular to a forward direction. Thus, a user can pivot the arm members in the first direction, the second direction, and both the first and second direction concurrently.

1 . A multidirectional abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a frame configured to rest upon a floor surface, the frame including an upright member;    a bench connected to the upright member of the frame, the bench defining a forward direction;    at least two pivoting members, including a first pivoting member and a second pivoting member, wherein 
 the first pivoting member is pivotally connected to one of the bench and the upright member, the first pivoting member being configured to pivot in a first direction about a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the floor surface and  
 the second pivoting member is pivotally connected to the first pivoting member, the second pivoting member being configured to pivot in a second direction about a second axis that is substantially parallel to the floor surface, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and substantially perpendicular to the forward direction; and  
   a pair of arm members connected to the second pivoting member and configured to be engaged by a user, wherein the user can pivot the arm members in the first direction, the second direction, and both the first and second direction concurrently.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one resistance member that is connected to the upright member of the frame and the pair of arm members.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one resistance member includes at least one piston and cylinder assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second pivoting member includes a sleeve and the arm members are attached to a slideable member having spaced apart apertures configured to receive a locking mechanism, wherein the slideable member is configured to be moved to a plurality of different positions within the sleeve and locked into place by the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third pivoting member that is pivotally connected to the arm members and is configured to pivot in a third direction about a third axis that is parallel to the forward direction.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second pivoting member includes a sleeve and the third pivoting member has a plurality of spaced apart grooves configured to receive a locking mechanism, wherein the third pivoting member is inserted into the sleeve and is configured to be rotated within the sleeve and slideably moved to a plurality of different positions within the sleeve and locked into place by the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one foot support member connected to the forward member of the frame.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bench is configured to be connected to the upright member of the frame at a plurality of different heights, so as to accommodate users of different heights.  
   
   
       9 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a support assembly configured to support a user in at least a sitting position;    a pair of arm members connected to the support assembly via an omni-directional pivot such that the pair of arm members are pivotal in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground and in a transverse direction; and    a pair of resistance members having one end connected to the support assembly and one end connected to a respective arm member.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the omni-directional pivot includes at least two pivoting members, wherein a first pivoting member is configured to pivot in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground and a second pivot member is configured to pivot in a transverse direction.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the omni-directional pivot includes at least three pivoting members, wherein a first pivoting member is configured to pivot in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the ground, a second pivot member is configured to pivot in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and third pivoting member is configured to pivot in a third direction that is transverse to both the first and second direction.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the support assembly includes a frame and a seat.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of resistance members includes a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of resistance members includes a pair of elastic bands.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a resistance adjustment mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism includes: 
 a sleeve portion;    an elongated member slideably inserted into the sleeve portion, the elongated member having a plurality of spaced apart grooves; and    a locking member adapted to be received in a selected groove of the elongated member to lock the elongated member into a selected position.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve portion is connected to the omni-directional pivot and the elongated portion is connected to the pair of arm members.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve portion is connected to the pair of arm members and the elongated portion is connected to the omni-directional pivot.  
   
   
       19 . A multidirectional exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface; and    a pair of arms connected to the frame assembly via at least two pivotal connections, the at least two pivotal connections including at least a first pivotal connection configured to allow the arms to pivot in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the floor surface, and a second pivotal connection configured to allow the arms to pivot in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.    
   
   
       20 . The multidirectional exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of arms are connected to the frame assembly via a third pivotal connection configured to allow the arms to pivot in a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to both the first and second direction.  
   
   
       21 . The multidirectional exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the frame assembly includes a bench defining a forward direction.  
   
   
       22 . The multidirectional exercise machine of  claim 20 , wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the forward direction.  
   
   
       23 . The multidirectional exercise machine of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one resistance providing member provided between the frame assembly and the pair of arm members.  
   
   
       24 . The multidirectional exercise machine of  claim 23 , further comprising means for adjusting the resistance providing member.