Inflatable abdominal exercise apparatus

Abstract

An abdominal exercise apparatus has an inflatable seat that resiliently supports at least the buttocks, torso and neck of a user. The upper support surface of the seat and the bottom surface of the seat have profiles that are substantially C-shaped. The seat preferably has raised sides that form a shallow cavity that is adapted to resiliently support the body of the user therein. 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. The apparatus may also include an inflatable back wedge section whose inflation level is adjustable to accommodate different levels of effort. A wide variety of effective abdominal and other exercises can be performed with the apparatus.

1 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable seat that is adapted to resiliently support at least the buttocks, torso and neck of a user, said seat having an upper surface and a bottom surface with profiles that are substantially C-shaped, wherein said seat comprises an inflatable air chamber having multiple compartments that are in fluid communication with one another, said compartments spaced apart from one another along length of said seat and extending transversely between sides of said seat.    
   
   
       2 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the sides of said seat are raised to form a shallow cavity therebetween, said cavity adapted to support the upper and lower body parts of the user therein.    
   
   
       3 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an inflatable back wedge section, operably disposed adjacent said seat, for adjusting an angle of the torso and neck of the user relative to a horizontal direction.    
   
   
       4 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said inflatable back wedge section is removably attached to said seat.    
   
   
       5 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said seat and said inflatable back wedge section have flocked surfaces that are adapted to provide resistance to sliding of said seat and said inflatable back wedge section on the floor.    
   
   
       6 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said back wedge section is adapted to vary a range of motion of the user's torso and neck up to at least 30 degrees.    
   
   
       7 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat has a lower portion that supports the buttocks of the user and a first pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said lower portion of said seat.    
   
   
       8 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said seat has an upper portion that supports at least the neck of the user and a second pair of hand gripping mechanisms affixed to said upper portion of said seat.    
   
   
       9 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said seat comprises at least inflatable air chamber that is adapted to provide resilient support to the lower back of the user and to provide a soft intermediary between the floor and the lower back of the user.    
   
   
       10 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said raised sides have a central bulbous region.    
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said multiple compartments extend horizontally with respect to said raised sides.    
   
   
       13 . 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.    
   
   
       14 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of said back wedge section is adjustable to accommodate different levels of effort during use.    
   
   
       15 . An abdominal exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 an inflation level of said back wedge section is adjustable to accommodate different body inclination angles during use.    
   
   
       16 . A method of exercising comprising: 
 providing the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;  and    inflating the seat to provide a resilient support structure for supporting the user's body parts during use.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 performing at least one exercise with the abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 performing a variety of exercises with the abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , 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.  
   
   
   
       20 . A kit comprising: 
 the abdominal exercise apparatus of  claim 1;  and    an air-pump for inflating air chambers of said abdominal exercise apparatus.    
   
   
       21 . A kit according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a patch kit for patching said air chambers.