Stability exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise bench with a fillable bladder or other resilient member which provides a support surface for a user exercising thereon. The exercise bench providing many of the benefits of a traditional weight bench, while also providing the potential upside of engaging the user's core during exercise. The resilient member can be shaped according to the needs of the exercise to be performed. The resilient nature of the cushion limits bottoming out providing a true cushion support rather than laying on a hard surface.

1 . A stability cushion exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame having one or more upright support members, the frame being adapted to provide stability to the additional components of the stability cushion exercise machine; and    a cushion component secured to the frame, the cushion component providing a support surface for one or more portions of a user's body when the user is exercising in connection with the exercise machine wherein the cushion component is configured to provide a desired degree of instability to encourage use of core muscles and other stabilizing muscles to maintain the user's desired stability while exercising on the cushion component.    
     
     
         2 . The stability cushion exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame raises the cushion and exercise surface above the floor on which the frame is positioned.  
     
     
         3 . The stability cushion exercise machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the cushion comprises an inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         4 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein the inflatable bladder provides a desired degree of resiliency and also resistance to support a user exercising thereon while also providing a desired degree of instability to encourage the use of core muscles during exercise.  
     
     
         5 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein the inflatable bladder provides an upper contact surface for supporting a user exercising thereon.  
     
     
         6 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein the inflatable bladder is covered by an upper contact member, such that the inflatable bladder is one of several components comprising the cushion.  
     
     
         7 . A stability cushion exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to provide a desired support surface which is raised from the floor; and    a non-spherical cushion component secured to the frame, the non-spherical cushion component providing a support surface for one or more portions of a user's body when the user is exercising in connection with the exercise machine wherein the non-spherical cushion component provides a greater contact surface than a spherical contact surface having the same radius.    
     
     
         8 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 7 , wherein the contact surface of the non-spherical cushion component is adapted to conform to the portion of the user's body to be supported by the cushion during exercise.  
     
     
         9 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 7 , wherein the contact surface of the non-spherical cushion component is selected based on the type of exercise to be performed.  
     
     
         10 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 7 , wherein the contact surface of the non-spherical cushion has an elongate configuration such that a substantially elongate contact surface is provided to support various portions of a user's body.  
     
     
         11 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein the contact surface of the non-spherical cushion is adapted to support the user's torso, buttocks and head.  
     
     
         12 . A stability cushion exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to provide a desired support surface which is raised from the floor; and    an air filled resilient member secured to the frame, the air filled resilient member providing a support surface for one or more portions of a user's body when the user is exercising in connection with the exercise machine wherein the resiliency of the air filled resilient member is selected to minimize bottoming out of the air filled resilient member when the user is positioned on the air filled resilient member during exercise.    
     
     
         13 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 12 , wherein the frame provides a configuration which is similar in height weight and size to traditional exercise machines.  
     
     
         14 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 13 , wherein the frame allows a user to place themselves in a multitude of exercise positions similar to traditional exercise machines while simultaneously laying or sitting on an air filled surface provided by air filled resilient member.  
     
     
         15 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 12 , wherein combination of the frame and the air filled resilient member in combination provide an improved which are superior to other methods of building core strength.  
     
     
         16 . A stability cushion exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to provide a support to the other components of the exercise machine; and    an air filled resilient member secured to the frame, the air filled resilient member having a first axis and a second axis wherein the dimensions of the first axis are different from the dimensions of the second axis and wherein the differences between the dimensions of the first axis and the second axis provide differing levels of instability of the air filled resilient members in the direction of the first axis and the second axis to provide an improved support surface on which to exercise.    
     
     
         17 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 16 , wherein the air filled resilient member first axis has a dimension that is shorter than the dimension of the second axis.  
     
     
         18 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 16 , wherein the air filled resilient member first axis has a dimension that is wider than the dimension of the second axis.  
     
     
         19 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 16 , wherein the air filled resilient member first axis has a dimension which is selected to provide a greater degree of stability and dimension of the second axis is selected to provide a lesser degree of stability to provide a controlled and carefully selected engagement of the user's core muscles.  
     
     
         20 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the air filled resilient member includes a securement portion for securing the air filled resilient member to the frame.  
     
     
         21 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the frame includes a securement member for securing the air filled resilient member to the frame.  
     
     
         22 . The stability cushion exercise machine of  claim 19 , wherein the air filled resilient member includes a flange and a support ring is provided to secure the flange relative to components of the frame.