Method and system for an exercise device

Abstract

A method and an exercise device for exercising the upper and the lower abdominal muscles and the lower back of a user are provided. The exercise device includes a first portion and at least one of a first extension hingedly coupled to a first end of the first portion and a second extension hingedly coupled to a second opposite end of the first portion, each of the first and second extensions including a flat bottom wall, a top surface, a pair of opposing side walls, and a resilient material extending between the bottom wall and the top surface.

1 . An exercise device for exercising the upper and the lower abdominal muscles and the lower back of a user, said exercise device comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a flat bottom wall; 
 a pair of opposing side walls; 
 a central section having a generally flat top surface, the plane of said top surface being generally parallel to the plane of said bottom wall; 
 a first end section attached to a first end of said central section, said first end section having a top surface inclined with respect to said bottom wall at a first angle; 
 a second end section attached to a second opposing end of said central section, said second end section having a top surface inclined with respect to said bottom wall at a second angle; and 
   at least one of a first extension hingedly coupled to a first end of said first portion and a second extension hingedly coupled to a second opposite end of said first portion, each of said first and second extensions comprising:
 a flat bottom wall; 
 a top surface; 
 a pair of opposing side walls; and 
 a resilient material extending between said bottom wall and said top surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second angles are equal. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said first angle is greater than said second angle. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , comprising only a first extension wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said first end section. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said first end section and said second extension is hingedly coupled to said second section. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said second end section and said second extension is hingedly coupled to said first section. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second extensions comprises a top surface that is inclined with respect to said flat bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second extensions comprises a top surface that includes a lateral ridge extending at least partially from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls of the extension to the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls of the extension. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lateral extension hingedly coupled to a first side of said first portion and a second lateral extension hingedly coupled to a second opposite side of said first portion, each of said first and second extensions comprising:
 a flat bottom wall;   a top surface;   a pair of opposing side walls; and   a resilient material extending between said bottom wall and said top surface.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second extensions comprises a top surface that includes a triangular cushion portion configured to receive a tailbone of a user. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming an exercise device, said method comprising:
 forming a first portion having a planar bottom surface and an arcuate cross-section, the arcuate cross-section having a first height at an apex of the arc, the first portion formed of a resilient material; and   forming a first extension hingedly coupled to a first edge of the first portion, the first extension having a planar bottom surface co-planar with the bottom surface of the first portion, the first extension formed of a resilient material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming a second extension hingedly coupled to a second edge of the first portion, the second extension having a planar bottom surface co-planar with the bottom surface of the first portion, the second extension formed of a resilient material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising folding the second extension about a hinged connection coupling the second extension to the second edge of the first portion such that the planar bottom surface of the second extension is adjacent to at least one of the planar bottom surface of the first portion and a top surface of the first extension. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising folding the first extension about a hinged connection coupling the first extension to the first edge of the first portion such that the planar bottom surface of the first extension is adjacent the planar bottom surface of the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise device comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a flat bottom wall; 
 a pair of opposing side walls; 
 a central section having an arcuate upper surface, the plane of said top surface being generally parallel to the plane of said bottom wall; and 
   at least one of a first extension hingedly coupled to a first end of said first portion and a second extension hingedly coupled to a second opposite end of said first portion, each of said first and second extensions comprising:
 a flat bottom wall coplanar with the flat bottom wall of the first portion when fully extended; 
 a top surface; 
 a pair of opposing side walls; and 
 a resilient material extending between said bottom wall and said top surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , comprising only a first extension wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said first end section. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , comprising only a first extension wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said second end section. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein said first extension is hingedly coupled to said first end section and said second extension is hingedly coupled to said second section. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said first and second extensions comprises a top surface that is inclined with respect to said flat bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said first and second extensions comprises a top surface that includes a lateral ridge extending at least partially from one of the pair of opposing sidewalls of the extension to the other of the pair of opposing sidewalls of the extension.