SIT-UP EXERCISE STATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/732,651 filed November 3, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a game and an exercise device for exercising an individual's abdominal muscles.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] In recent years, the general public has become more concerned with health issues. Increased pollution and recent awareness regarding heart disease now make aerobic exercise in a clean environment a necessity. Some common forms of aerobic exercise include running, jogging, walking, and choreographed movements referred to as "aerobics". Aerobic exercise enhances the heart and lungs and, with a proper diet, may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

[0004] Unfortunately, exercise is often perceived by children and others as either boring or as an uncomfortable or painful form of punitive activity. Traditional fitness equipment has done little to engage the youthful couch potato, while video games, movies, television and other sedentary activities continue to dominate the marketplace of ideas in youth culture. [0005] There is a need, therefore, for a fun fitness system and method that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The exercise system of the present invention is preferably used to exercise both the lower and upper abdominal muscles by encouraging children, for example, to do a crunch or sit-up exercise. The exercise system is an inexpensive, adjustable exercise system for use in fun fitness exercises. The exercise system generates fun and fitness activity at the same time, especially for anyone older than 7 years of age. The exercise device provides a means for mastering a challenge without focusing the user's awareness on the strenuous workout. Most importantly, the exercise system provides a means for having fun while engaging in a task

that develops cardiovascular fitness. The exercise system may also provide a means for motivating competition against others and against a personal score. [0007] The exemplary embodiment of the exercise system includes one or more balls, a platform and a ball transporting tube with an open inlet end located above and near a first or foot region of the platform. The tube has an open outlet end located near a second or head region of the platform. The outlet end of the tube is positioned at a lower height than the inlet end of the tube so that balls deposited into the inlet end are channeled or returned to a ball return corral area near the second or head region of the platform. In a preferred embodiment, at least one tube is secured to a faceplate at a ball-receiving hole, and this faceplate and ball- receiving inlet or hole define a target area for the balls. In another preferred embodiment, the faceplate includes three ball-receiving holes adapted to receive the inlet end of three separate tubes. The second region of the platform may include a corral or confined area for receiving balls or other manipulable objects that are placed into the inlet end of the tube and discharged from the outlet end of the tube. [0008] The exercise system is preferably used as a sit-up exercise apparatus for exercising both the lower and upper abdominal muscles of the user. The user positions him or herself on the platform and places a ball or other suitable object into the inlet end of the tube located above and near the first region of the platform. The ball or other suitable object rolls through the tube and is discharged from the outlet end of the tube near the second region of the platform. The ball or other suitable object is preferably moved from the inlet end of the tube to the outlet end of the tube using gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of the exercise system of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a preferred embodiment of the first region of the exercise system;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a preferred embodiment of the first region of the exercise apparatus showing the telescoping tubes; [0013] FIG. 4 shows a first preferred use of the present invention; and [0014] FIG. 5 shows a second preferred use of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring now to FIGS 1-5, FIG. 1 shows a preferred exercise system 2 in accordance with the present invention. The exercise system 2 includes a substantially planar platform 4 having a first region 6 and a second region 8. By way of example, the first region 6 is distal to and directly opposite the second region 8 of the platform 4. In a preferred embodiment, the platform 4 provides a releasably adjustable horizontal surface that can be configured at a user selected slope. In another preferred embodiment, the platform 4 is adjusted or sloped such that the first (e.g., foot) region 6 is positioned higher than the second (e.g., head) region 8. The platform 4 may preferably extend such that the first region 6 and the second region are 2-6 feet apart. Additionally, the platform 4 may comprise a padded planar platform supported within a steel frame. At the first region 6 of the platform 4, a foot plate 10 with a foot strap 12 may be optionally positioned. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a first region 6 of the platform 4 with the optional foot plate 10 and foot strap 12. [0016] Platform 4 preferably includes a rectangular steel frame having a long dimension selected to receive a user's body (e.g., as shown in Figs 4 and 5) and has what may arbitrarily be referred to as a head end adjacent to the second region 8 and opposite the faceplate frame 18 as well as a foot end adjacent the first region 6 and near the faceplate frame 18. The foot end of platform 4 optionally includes projecting support members, hangars or cantilevered projections adapted to engage a short vertically aligned ladder frame 30 a selected one of two or more horizontal crossbars 32 that span between the short support columns carrying the support sockets 20, as shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3. By selecting a higher crossbar for engagement of the foot end hangars of platform 4, a greater platform slope is selected. [0017] A target area or faceplate 14 is preferably supported above and near the first region 6 of the platform 4. The faceplate 14 preferably includes at least one manipulable object or ball receiving aperture or hole 16. In a preferred embodiment, the faceplate 14 includes first, second and third ball-receiving holes 16 spaced approximately 12 inches apart in the faceplate or target area. Most preferably, the ball-receiving holes 16 are positioned on the faceplate 14 in an angled plane and are oriented such that left and right side or outer ball- receiving holes are at a slightly lower position than a center ball-receiving hole. The faceplate 14 may be formed from any durable building material, including, but not limited to, ³ A in. plywood or laminate covered fϊberboard. The faceplate 14 is preferably supported above the platform 4 by a faceplate frame 18 preferably comprising a continuous tube member. In a first embodiment of the faceplate frame 18, the faceplate frame 18 has a first end and a second end that are connected by a curved mid-section. A first portion of the

faceplate frame 18 located at a first end 42 and a second portion of the faceplate frame 18 located at the second end 44 are preferably spaced apart and lie substantially parallel to one another. The curved mid-section of faceplate frame 18 is preferably configured to carry and orient the faceplate 14 and lies in an angled plane that is not parallel to the lower first and second portions of the faceplate frame 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the first end 42 and the second end 44 of faceplate frame 18 project along aligned axes, and each faceplate frame end is spaced and oriented to be, preferably, coaxially aligned with and telescopically inserted into one of a series of horizontal open cylinder-shaped receiving sockets 20 that are located near the first region 6 of the platform 4. Each of the horizontal receiving sockets 20 is preferably located parallel to the platform 4 at a different respective height in order to provide height adjustability to the faceplate 14. In order to provide a firm structural support for faceplate frame 18, the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall of each support socket 20 is dimensioned to snugly receive and hold an inserted frame end (e.g., 42 or 44). [0018] The exercise system 2 includes at least one ball return tube 22 having an open inlet end 24 located above and near the first region 6 of the platform 4 and an outlet end 26 located near the second region 8 of the platform. The outlet end 26 of the tube 22 is preferably positioned at a lower height than the inlet end 24, so that a ball 50 or other manipulable object inserted into the inlet end 24 falls or is urged by gravity to the outlet end 26. Tube 22 may also be characterized as a duct or channel having a proximal open inlet end 24 in a target area. The inlet end 24 is in communication through a lumen or confining interior with the open outlet end 26, such that any ball 50 or manipulable object inserted into the inlet end 24 is transported or passes only to the outlet end 26. Although the tube 22 may be positioned in a number of configurations, the tube 22 preferably curves away from the exercise system 2 and returns underneath the platform 4, reappearing near the second region 8 of the platform 4. Additionally, although the preferred embodiments shown in the Figures include a tube 22 having a circular cross-section, it should be understood that the tube 22 may have a cross- section of any suitable shape. In a preferred embodiment, at least one tube 22 is secured to the faceplate 14 at a target area including the ball-receiving hole 16. [0019] In another preferred embodiment wherein three ball-receiving holes 16 are used, the inlet end 24 of three separate tubes 22 are connected to each of three ball-receiving holes 16. The tube 22 may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to corrugated plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the tube 22 is an 8 ft. long x 5 inch diameter corrugated plastic tube. A confined area 28, also referred to as a corral area, for receiving objects from the outlet end 26 of the tube 22 may be located near the second region 8 of the

platform 4. In a preferred embodiment, the confined area 28 is defined by a band of flexible material positioned near the second region 8 of the platform 4.

[0020] The exercise system 2 is preferably used as a sit-up exercise apparatus. The exercise system 2 is adapted to exercise both the lower and upper abdominal muscles and similarly related muscles of the user. However, it should be understood that other exercises may be performed using this apparatus. The user positions himself on the platform 4 and places a ball or other suitable object into the inlet end 24 of the tube 22 located above and near the first region 6 on the platform 4. The ball 50 or other suitable object rolls through the tube 22 and is discharged from the outlet end 26 of the tube 22 near the second region 8 of the platform 4. Although specific reference is made to the use of a ball 50, it should be understood that other spherical and non-spherical objects may likewise be used in accordance with the present invention. Therefore, any mention of the use of a ball 50 is also an express reference to the use of other spherical and non-spherical objects. [0021] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show two preferred uses of the exercise system 2 in accordance with the present invention, hi the first preferred use illustrated in FIG. 4, the user lays on his back with his feet on the foot plate 10, under the foot straps 12 and knees bent. Using both hands to reach overhead to retrieve a ball 50 from near the second region 8, the user inserts one of the balls 50 into the inlet end 24 of the tube 22 located near and above the first region 6. In a second preferred use illustrate in FIG. 5, the user lays on his back with his head near the first region 6 of the platform 4 below the faceplate 14 and his feet on the floor straddling the platform 4. To retrieve a ball 50, the user sits up, grabs a ball 50 near the second region 8 of the platform 4, lays down and places the ball 50 into the inlet end 24 of the tube 22 overhead. Doing a sit-up with a reaching motion is required to perform both of these preferred exercises. In the preferred embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, three tubes 22 are used such that the inlet end 24 of each tube 22 is attached to a ball-receiving hole 16 of the faceplate 14. When using the preferred embodiment having a faceplate 14 with three ball-receiving holes 16 adapted to receiving the inlet end 24 of three separate tubes 22, the sequence of ball entries into the inlet end 24 of the tubes 22 can be modified, depending on established sequences between left, right and center holes. Or, the user can modify the exercise by using either the left or right hand to reach for opposite holes. In order to improve one's decision-making abilities, the balls 50 may be provided with different colors which correspond to a specific hole in the target area or faceplate 14. A user's performance may be measured by counting the number of ball entries within a specific amount of time, such as 20 or 30 seconds.

[0022] It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the present invention makes a new method of exercise available, wherein a user is provided with one or more balls or other manipulable objects and the balls are constrained in a corral area so that the user can perform a sit-up or crunch like abdominal exercise that involves reaching, grasping and then moving the balls to a target area that preferably includes at least one ball return tube, whereupon the ball(s) are returned to the corral area for continuation of the exercise.

[0023] Although the present invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims :