US4372553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weight lifting device and method of exercising
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-11-03
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Granted: 1983-02-08
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Expires: 2000-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An exercising system for exercising the abdominal muscles in which the abdominal muscles are isolated and placed "on stretch" prior to contracture comprising an exercising device having a seat with a posteriorly curved, firm back in which the user sits and secures himself and bends forward working against a progressive force resistance system using weights supported on a pulley system (three exemplary pulley systems being illustrated in FIGS. 1-3) or using a resilient, stretch material (FIGS. 4 and 5) connected by means of shoulder harness with straps to the upper shoulder portions of the user, with the user strapped into place with a seat belt. In use, the exerciser simply straps himself into the seat, puts the shoulder harness on and lies back against the posteriorly curved back which puts the abdominals in stretch. Then, by "crunching" the entire upper torso forward (as though an attempt were being made to put the face on the knees), the resisting weights are moved or the material stretched and the abdominals are exercised in isolation, with the exercise repeated as long as desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick C. Hatfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:05
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B23/00; A63B23/02; A63B23/0205; A63B23/0211; A63B21/00; A63B21/40; A63B21/4001; A63B21/4005; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/02; A63B2208/0228; A63B2208/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An exercising device for exercising the abdominal muscles of the user by causing the user to contract them, comprising: a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame and against which the user sits and is supported for putting the abdominals on stretch before contracture of the abdominals which occurs during the exercising, said seat back means comprising a posteriorly curved, firm seat back which is substantially curved in the area where the user's spine is located causing the user's back to be hyperextended by being curved backwardly a significant amount when seated in the device; force resistance means associated with said support frame for resisting but allowing the forward movement of the user in said seat when the user moves forwardly away from said seat back means to cause the abdominals to be contracted; and moveable shoulder area connection means directly connected to said force resistance means for directly connecting the upper body, shoulder areas of the user to said force resistance means and for applying the force resistance of said force resistance means directly to the upper body, shoulder areas of the user in a direction opposite to the user's movement away from said seat back means but allowing the user to move forwardly against the force resistance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An exercising device for exercising the abdominal muscles of the user by causing the user to contract them, comprising: a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame and against which the user sits and is supported for putting the abdominals on stretch before contracture of the abdominals which occurs during the exercising, said seat back means comprising a posteriorly curved, firm seat back which is substantially curved in the area where the user's spine is located causing the user's back to be hyperextended by being curved backwardly a significant amount when seated in the device; force resistance means associated with said support frame for resisting but allowing the forward movement of the user in said seat when the user moves forwardly away from said seat back means to cause the abdominals to be contracted; and moveable shoulder area connection means directly connected to said force resistance means for directly connecting the upper body, shoulder areas of the user to said force resistance means and for applying the force resistance of said force resistance means directly to the upper body, shoulder areas of the user in a direction opposite to the user's movement away from said seat back means but allowing the user to move forwardly against the force resistance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The exercising device of claim 1, wherein there is further included restraining strap means associated with said support frame and said seat back means for strapping the user firmly back toward the base of said curved seat back assuring that the abdominals are at least generally isolated from the hip flexor muscles during the exercising.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The exercising device of claim 1, wherein said shoulder area connection means includes a shoulder harness with at least one force resistance line connected to it, said line extending upwardly and backwardly with respect to said shoulder harness causing the force resistance to be applied from above and behind the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The exercising device of claim 3, wherein said support frame includes an upwardly and backwardly extending, curved support member serving as a support for said seat back and extending higher than said seat back, and wherein there is further included a guide mounted at the top of said curved support member, said line extending from said shoulder harness up to said guide and then down to said force resistance means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The exercising device of either claims 1 or 4, wherein at least most of said force resistance means is mounted on said support frame and is located behind said curved seat back.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The exercising device of claim 1, wherein said support frame includes at least three support legs, and wherein said seat has a bottom which is at least generally horizontally disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The exercising device of claim 1, wherein said force resistance means comprises a pulley-and-weight system in which the movement of said shoulder area connection means moves a weight in at least a generally vertical direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The exercising device of claim 1, wherein said force resistance means comprises a resilient, stretchable material in which the movement of said shoulder area connection means away from said seat back stretches said material, resisting the movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The exerciser of claim 1, wherein the radius of the curvature of said posteriorly curved seat back is in the range of one to eight feet for a one to three foot range in the segment of the curve.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
244 words
The method of exercising the abdominal muscles of the body, comprising the following steps: (a) providing an exercising device, including a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame, said seat back means comprising a posteriorly curved, firm seat back in the area where the user's spine is located during use; restraining strap means associated with said support frame and said seat back means; force resistance means associated with said support frame; and shoulder area connection means connected to said force resistance means; (b) sitting in said seat and strapping said restraining strap means to firmly hold the user's posterior back against said curved seat back and toward its base at least generally isolating the abdominals from the hip flexor muscles, and directly connecting said shoulder area connection means directly to the shoulder area of the upper body to apply the force resistance of said force resistance means in a direction directly opposite to any movement away from said seat back means; (c) leaning back against said curved seat back putting the abdominals in stretch before exercising; and (d) cyclically moving the upper torso forwardly away from said seat back against the resisting force of said force resistance means and then back again, thereby exercising the abdominals, the abdominal muscles contracting concentrically to move the spine from spinal hyperextension, through extention, to flexion, then contracting eccentrically to move the spine from flexion, back through extention and back to hyperextension.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
244 words
The method of exercising the abdominal muscles of the body, comprising the following steps: (a) providing an exercising device, including a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame, said seat back means comprising a posteriorly curved, firm seat back in the area where the user's spine is located during use; restraining strap means associated with said support frame and said seat back means; force resistance means associated with said support frame; and shoulder area connection means connected to said force resistance means; (b) sitting in said seat and strapping said restraining strap means to firmly hold the user's posterior back against said curved seat back and toward its base at least generally isolating the abdominals from the hip flexor muscles, and directly connecting said shoulder area connection means directly to the shoulder area of the upper body to apply the force resistance of said force resistance means in a direction directly opposite to any movement away from said seat back means; (c) leaning back against said curved seat back putting the abdominals in stretch before exercising; and (d) cyclically moving the upper torso forwardly away from said seat back against the resisting force of said force resistance means and then back again, thereby exercising the abdominals, the abdominal muscles contracting concentrically to move the spine from spinal hyperextension, through extention, to flexion, then contracting eccentrically to move the spine from flexion, back through extention and back to hyperextension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
213 words
An exercising device for exercising the abdominal muscles of the user by causing the user to contract them, comprising: a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame and against which the user sits and is supported; force resistance means associated with said support frame for resisting but allowing the forward movement of the user in said seat when the user moves forwardly away from said seat back means to cause the abdominals to be contracted; and moveable shoulder area connection means directly connected to said force resistance means for directly connecting the upper body, shoulder areas of the user to said force resistance means and for applying the force resistance of said force resistance means directly to the upper body, shoulder areas of the user in a direction opposite to the user's movement away from said seat back means but allowing the user to move forwardly against the force resistance; said force resisting means including at least one force resistance line connected to said shoulder area connection means, said line extending initially upwardly and backwardly with respect to said shoulder area connection means causing the force resistance to be applied from above and behind the back of the user directly against the shoulder area of the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
213 words
An exercising device for exercising the abdominal muscles of the user by causing the user to contract them, comprising: a support frame; a seat having seat back means mounted on said support frame and against which the user sits and is supported; force resistance means associated with said support frame for resisting but allowing the forward movement of the user in said seat when the user moves forwardly away from said seat back means to cause the abdominals to be contracted; and moveable shoulder area connection means directly connected to said force resistance means for directly connecting the upper body, shoulder areas of the user to said force resistance means and for applying the force resistance of said force resistance means directly to the upper body, shoulder areas of the user in a direction opposite to the user's movement away from said seat back means but allowing the user to move forwardly against the force resistance; said force resisting means including at least one force resistance line connected to said shoulder area connection means, said line extending initially upwardly and backwardly with respect to said shoulder area connection means causing the force resistance to be applied from above and behind the back of the user directly against the shoulder area of the user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The exercising device of claim 11, wherein said shoulder area connection means includes a shoulder harness, and wherein said support frame includes an upwardly and backwardly extending, curved support member serving as a support for said seat back and extending higher than said seat back, and wherein there is further included a guide mounted at the top of said curved support member, said force resistance line initially extending from said shoulder harness up to said guide and then down to said force resistance means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The exercising device of claim 12, wherein said force resistance means comprises a pulley-and-weight system in which the movement of said shoulder area connection means moves a weight located below said guide in at least a generally vertical direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3072400A
Cited
DE2211551A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-07 | 1986-08-09 | 1987-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-07 | 1990-08-09 | 1991-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-07 | 1994-08-09 | 1995-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |