Wheeled abdominal exerciser

Abstract

An abdominal exercise device, comprising a strut, at least one wheel attached to one end of the strut, a handle attached to the other end, and a leg pivotally attached to the strut in between. The distal end of the leg rests on a flat surface. In one embodiment, the strut may further comprise a semi-flexible region with the benefit, among other things, of causing the handle to move in an arc-like path and thereby facilitate the abdominal exercise. A further embodiment may additionally comprise one or more resistive elements attached to the strut and the leg to provide additional resistance during the abdominal exercise.

1 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising: 
 a strut having a first end, a second end, and a semi-flexible region in between;    at least one wheel rotatably attached to the first end of the strut;    a handle formed on or attached to the second end of the strut; and    a leg pivotally attached to the strut between said first and second ends of the strut and having a distal end that rests on a flat surface.    
     
     
         2 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the leg further comprises at least one foot member that may be held in place by the user during an exercise.  
     
     
         3 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a resistive element attached at one end to the strut and attached at another end to the leg.  
     
     
         4 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 3  wherein said resistive element further comprises a variable locking block that attaches to one of more than one positions along a portion of the strut or leg to provide a predetermined amount of resistance during an exercise.  
     
     
         5 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the leg further comprises at least a first length and a second length, the first length being attached to the strut and extending in a first direction, and the second length extending from the first length in a second direction that is substantially different than the first direction so that the device is sufficiently slender in profile to be used by a user while sitting on a stationary chair or bench.  
     
     
         6 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the leg is attached to the strut below the semi-flexible region of the strut.  
     
     
         7 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising: 
 a strut having a first end and a second end;    at least one wheel rotatably attached to the first end of the strut;    a handle formed on or attached to the second end of the strut; and    a leg having a pivot attachment end and a foot end,    wherein said pivot attachment end is pivotally attached to the strut between said first and second ends of the strut, and    wherein said foot end is held stationary at one place on a flat surface during an exercise.    
     
     
         8 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 7  wherein the leg further comprises at least one foot member that may be held in place against a flat surface by the user during an exercise.  
     
     
         9 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 7  further comprising a semi-flexible region between the first and second ends of the strut to facilitate the abdominal exercise.  
     
     
         10 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 9  wherein the leg is attached to the strut below the semi-flexible region of the strut.  
     
     
         11 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 7 , further comprising a resistive element attached at one end to the strut and attached at another end to the leg.  
     
     
         12 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 11  wherein said resistive element further comprises a variable locking block that attaches to one of more than one positions along a portion of the strut or leg to provide a predetermined amount of resistance during an exercise.  
     
     
         13 . An abdominal exercise device of  claim 7  wherein the leg further comprises at least a first length and a second length, the first length being attached to the strut and extending in a first direction, and the second length extending from the first length in a second direction that is substantially different than the first direction to facilitate the use of the device by a user while sitting on a stationary chair or bench.  
     
     
         14 . A method for exercising the abdominal muscles, comprising the steps of: 
 sitting on a stationary chair or bench;    holding a strut by the upper torso, hands or arms of the user, said strut comprising a first end; a second end; at least one wheel rotatably attached to the first end; a handle formed on or attached to the second end; and a leg pivotally attached between said first and second ends;    bending forward from the waist up to a crunch position causing the wheel of the strut to roll forward;    returning to an at least partially upright position, and    alternating between the crunch position and the at least partially upright position thereby performing one or more abdominal crunches.    
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of holding a portion of the leg in place against a flat surface during the abdominal exercise.  
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of causing a semi-flexible region between the first and second ends of the strut to bend during the abdominal exercise.  
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 16  wherein the leg is attached to the strut below the semi-flexible region of the strut.  
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of exerting a tensile force on a resistive element attached at one end to the strut and at another end to the leg.  
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of first adjusting a variable locking block at one end of said resistive element to cause the device to exert a predetermined amount of resistance during an exercise.  
     
     
         20 . A method for exercising the abdominal muscles, comprising the steps of: 
 leaning forward on a wheeled strut to a forward position using the upper torso, hands or arms of the user such that the wheeled strut itself rolls forward, said wheeled strut comprising a first end; a second end; at least one wheel rotatably attached to the first end; a handle formed on or attached to the second end; and a leg pivotally attached between said first and second ends;    returning to an at least partially upright position, and alternating between the forward position and the at least partially upright position thereby performing one or more abdominal crunches.    
     
     
         21 . A method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of holding a portion of the leg in place against a flat surface during the abdominal exercise.  
     
     
         22 . A method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of causing a semi-flexible region between the first and second ends of the strut to bend during the abdominal exercise.  
     
     
         23 . A method of  claim 22  wherein the leg is attached to the strut below the semi-flexible region of the strut.  
     
     
         24 . A method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of exerting a tensile force on a resistive element attached at one end to the strut and attached at another end to the leg.  
     
     
         25 . A method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of first adjusting a variable locking block at one end of said resistive element to cause the device to exert a predetermined amount of resistance during an exercise.