Exercise device

Abstract

A skeletal frame is pivotally mounted on a support frame to enable a user in a supine position to conduct an abdominal exercise. The skeletal frame includes a padded rest in which the user may rest his/her head. A pair of elastic members are secured to and between these skeletal frame and the support in one mode of operation to assist the user in conducting the abdominal exercise. In another mode of operation, the elastic members dynamically resist the exercise routine. The exercise device may be employed to conduct a “push-up” exercise routine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising 
 a support frame;    a skeletal frame mounted on said support frame for rocking back and forth under a manually applied force from a user between a first position and a second position;    a rest mounted on said skeletal frame for receiving a body part of a user positioned within said skeletal frame; and    means for dynamically resisting rocking of said skeletal frame relative to said support frame from said first position to said second position.    
     
     
         2 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said rest is disposed on said skeletal frame to receive a head of a user lying in a supine position within said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         3 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said rest is raised during rocking of said skeletal frame from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         4 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said means includes a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame whereby rocking of said skeletal frame on said support frame from said first position to said second position causes stretching of said members.  
     
     
         5 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said means includes a pair of shock absorbers.  
     
     
         6 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said rest is lowered during rocking of said skeletal frame from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said means includes a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame whereby rocking of said skeletal frame on said support frame from said first position to said second position causes stretching of said members.  
     
     
         8 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said rest is disposed on said skeletal frame to receive a torso of a user lying within said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         9 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said rest is lowered during rocking of said skeletal frame from said first position to said second position to facilitate a user conducting a push-up exercise.  
     
     
         10 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a pair of handles secured to said skeletal frame, each said handle being disposed adjacent said rest for manual grasping thereof during rocking of said skeletal frame on said support frame.  
     
     
         11 . An exercise device comprising 
 a support frame;    a skeletal frame mounted on said support frame for rocking back and forth under a manually applied force from a user between a lowered first position and a raised second position;    a head rest mounted on said skeletal frame for receiving a head of a user positioned within said skeletal frame; and    means for dynamically assisting rocking of said skeletal frame relative to said support frame from said lowered first position to said raised second position.    
     
     
         12 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said means includes a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame whereby rocking of said skeletal frame on said support frame from said second position to said first position causes stretching of said members.  
     
     
         13 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said means includes a pair of shock absorbers.  
     
     
         14 . An exercise device comprising 
 a support frame;    a skeletal frame pivotally mounted on said support frame on a pivot axis;    a head rest mounted on said skeletal frame for receiving a head of a user lying in a supine position within said skeletal frame; and    a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame whereby pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame from a first position to a second position causes stretching of said members.    
     
     
         15 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  which further comprises two pairs of telescoping tubes, each said pair of telescoping tubes being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame and having a respective one of said elastic members disposed therein.  
     
     
         16 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein each said elastic member is secured to said support frame on the same side of said pivot axis as said head rest to dynamically increase the resistance to pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame during pivoting of said skeletal frame from a lowered first position to a raised second position.  
     
     
         17 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein each said elastic member is secured to said support frame on a side of said pivot axis opposite said head rest to dynamically assist pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame during pivoting of said skeletal frame from a lowered position to a raised position.  
     
     
         18 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said support frame includes a pair of parallel rails for receiving a user therebetween and at least one cross-bar secured to and between said rails.  
     
     
         19 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said skeletal frame includes a pair of upstanding rails opposite said head rest and a cross-bar extending between said rails for manual grasping thereof.  
     
     
         20 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 19  wherein each said elastic member is secured at one end to a respective one of said rails.  
     
     
         21 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  which further comprises a back rest secured to and across said skeletal frame for receiving a back of a user lying in a supine position within said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         22 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said back rest is a cloth strip having adjustable means thereon for adjusting said strip to and across said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         23 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  which further comprises a pair of handles secured to said skeletal frame, each said handle being disposed adjacent said head rest for manual grasping thereof during pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame.  
     
     
         24 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said skeletal frame is made of multiple interfitting pieces and is releaseably connected to said support frame.  
     
     
         25 . An exercise device comprising 
 a support frame;    a skeletal frame pivotally mounted on said support frame on a pivot axis;    a padded rest mounted on said skeletal frame; and    a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame whereby pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame from a first position to a second position causes stretching of said members.    
     
     
         26 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 25  which further comprises two pairs of telescoping tubes, each said pair of telescoping tubes being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame and having a respective one of said elastic members disposed therein.  
     
     
         27 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 25  wherein each said elastic member is secured to said support frame on the same side of said pivot axis as said padded rest to dynamically increase the resistance to pivoting of said skeletal frame on said support frame during pivoting of said skeletal frame from a lowered first position to a raised second position and wherein said padded rest is in a lowermost position with said skeletal frame in said first position and a raised position with said skeletal frame in said second position.  
     
     
         28 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 25  wherein each said elastic member is secured to said support frame on a side of said pivot axis opposite said padded rest and wherein said padded rest is in a raised position with said skeletal frame in said first position and a lowered position with said skeletal frame in said second position.  
     
     
         29 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 28  wherein said padded rest is sized to receive a torso of a user performing a push-up while lying face down within said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         30 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 29  which further comprises a cloth strip secured to and across said skeletal frame adjacent said padded rest for receiving a torso of a user performing a push-up while lying face down within said skeletal frame.  
     
     
         31 . The combination comprising 
 a skeletal frame mounted for rocking back and forth on a support surface under a manually applied force from a user disposed within said frame between a first position and a second position;    a rest mounted on said skeletal frame for receiving a body part of a user positioned within said frame; and    means for dynamically increasing the resistance to rocking of said skeletal frame relative to the support surface from said first position to said second position.    
     
     
         32 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said means comprises a pair of elongated elastic members, each said member being secured to and between said skeletal frame and the support surface whereby rocking of said skeletal frame on the support surface from a first position to a second position causes stretching of said members.  
     
     
         33 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 32  which further comprises two pairs of telescoping tubes, each said pair of telescoping tubes being secured to and between said support frame and said skeletal frame and having a respective one of said elastic members disposed therein.  
     
     
         34 . An exercise device as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said skeletal frame has a pair of rails opposite said rest and a cross-bar extending between said rails for manual grasping thereof.