Inflatable abdominal exercise apparatus

Abstract

An abdominal exercise apparatus has an inflatable seat, which includes at least one air chamber, adapted to resiliently support at least the buttocks, torso and neck of a user. An inflatable wedge section includes at least one air chamber that is inflatable to different inflation levels to adjust position of a portion of the seat so as to adjust an angle of the torso and neck of the user relative to a horizontal direction. The at least one air chamber of the seat is independently inflatable with respect to the at least one air chamber of the wedge section. The seat preferably has raised sides that form a shallow cavity that is adapted to resiliently support the body of a user therein. Preferably, the seat is realized by three independently inflatable cushions including one that supports the upper legs, another that supports the lumbar section, and a third that supports the upper torso, neck and head. Hand grips may be affixed to opposite sides of a top portion of the seat and/or to opposite sides of a bottom portion of the seat. A wide variety of effective abdominal and other exercises can be performed with the apparatus.

1 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable seat having raised sides that form a shallow cavity therebetween, said seat being adapted to resiliently support at least the buttocks, torso and neck of a user, said seat including a first portion that resiliently supports the torso and neck of the user; and    an inflatable first wedge section that includes a substantially flat surface that is adapted to rest on a floor, said first wedge section being is inflatable to different inflation levels to adjust position of said first portion so as to adjust an angle of the torso and neck of the user relative to a horizontal direction.    
   
   
       2 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 wherein said seat and said first wedge section are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       3 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said shallow cavity is formed by at least one inflatable air chamber that supports said raised sides.    
   
   
       4 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an inflatable second wedge section coupled to said first wedge section, wherein said first and second wedge sections are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       5 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said first portion of said seat resilient supports the head, neck torso and lower back of the user, and said seat further includes a second portion that resiliently supports at least the buttocks of the user and a hinge coupling said first portion to said second portion.    
   
   
       6 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises at least one inflatable cushion.    
   
   
       7 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion is profiled to accept the body contour of the user.    
   
   
       8 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion comprises a first inflatable cushion that supports a lumbar section of the user.    
   
   
       9 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said at least one inflatable cushion further comprises a second inflatable cushion that supports the upper legs of the user.    
   
   
       10 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said first and second inflatable cushions are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       11 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises a front wedge section, and said second inflatable cushion is part of said front wedge section of said seat.    
   
   
       12 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said seat further comprises a third inflatable cushion that supports the upper back, neck and head of the user.    
   
   
       13 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first, second and third inflatable cushions are independently inflatable.    
   
   
       14 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat includes a second portion that resiliently supports at least the buttocks of the user and a first set of hand grips affixed to opposite sides of said second portion of said seat.    
   
   
       15 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a second set of hand grips affixed to opposite sides of said first portion of said seat.    
   
   
       16 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat is removably attached to said first wedge section and is disposed adjacent said first wedge section during use.    
   
   
       17 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a pair of straps that removably attach said first wedge section to a part of said seat.    
   
   
       18 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said straps comprise hook and loop fasteners.    
   
   
       19 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said raised sides have a central bulbous region.    
   
   
       20 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises at least inflatable air chamber having multiple compartments that are in fluid communication with one another.    
   
   
       21 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said multiple compartments extend horizontally with respect to said raised sides.    
   
   
       22 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the upper body parts of the user include the upper back, neck and head of the user.    
   
   
       23 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the lower body parts of the user include the lower back and buttocks of the user.    
   
   
       24 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat and said first wedge section have flocked surfaces that are adapted to provide resistance to sliding of both said seat and said first wedge section on the floor.    
   
   
       25 . An abdominal apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first wedge section is adapted to vary a range of motion of the user's body up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       26 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of said seat is adjustable to accommodate users of different sizes and shapes.    
   
   
       27 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of said first wedge section is adjustable to accommodate different levels of effort during use.    
   
   
       28 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of said first wedge section is adjustable to accommodate different body inclination angles during use.    
   
   
       29 . A method of exercising comprising: 
 providing the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;  and    adjusting an inflation level of said first wedge section to vary a range of motion of the user's body up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein 
 said inflation level of said first wedge section is adjustable to vary a starting inclination angle of the user's body up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 performing at least one exercise with the abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 performing a variety of exercises with the abdominal exercise apparatus    
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said variety of exercises are selected from the group comprising 
 i) conventional sit-ups;  
 ii) twisting sit-ups;  
 iii) elevated sit-backs;  
 iv) side leg lifts;  
 v) oblique muscle exercises; and  
 vi) buttocks exercises.  
   
   
   
       34 . A kit comprising: 
 the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;  and    an air-pump for inflating air chambers of said abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       35 . A kit according to  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 a patch kit for patching said air chambers.