Exercise bench

Abstract

An exercise bench has a main support frame with a floor engaging member at one end and a folding front leg assembly at the other end which can be locked in a deployed position or a folded position. A user engaging foot stabilizer is pivotally associated with the front leg, and a thigh support is adjustably mounted on the front leg assembly or main support frame for engaging the thighs of a user when performing exercises while supported on the bench. The thigh support may be separate from or form part of a seat pad mounted on the frame. The bench is adjustable between positions for performing abdominal crunch or lower back exercises and is adjustable in both positions to allow different users to perform exercises effectively.

1 . An exercise bench, comprising: 
 a main frame having a first end which engages the ground and a second end raised above the ground in an exercise position;    a front leg secured to the main frame and having a foot portion which engages the ground in the exercise position to hold the second end of the main frame in the raised position;    a support pad which supports part of the user's body mounted on one of said front leg and said main frame;    at least one of the support pad and the front leg being adjustable to adjust the height of the support pad;    a user engaging foot stabilizer; and    a pivot mount pivotally associating the foot stabilizer with the front leg whereby adjustment of the height of the support pad adjusts the distance between the foot stabilizer pivot mount and the support pad.    
   
   
       2 . The bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a forward part of the main frame is inclined upwardly towards the second end in an exercise position of the bench, and the support pad comprises a thigh support which engages the thighs of a user when performing exercises while supported on the bench, the spacing between the user engaging foot stabilizer and the thigh support being adjustable by adjusting the position of the thigh support on the respective one of the front leg and main frame.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the front leg has an upper end and the thigh support is adjustably mounted in the upper end of the front leg.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a seat pad mounted on the forward part of the main frame for supporting a seated user in a first position for performing abdominal crunch exercises, the thigh support being moveable between a first position for engaging behind the user's knees when seated on the seat pad with their feet engaging the foot stabilizer, and a second position for supporting the thighs of a standing user facing the rear end of the bench in a second position for performing back hyper-extension exercises.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the thigh support is adjustable independent of the seat pad and is adjustably mounted at an upper end of the front leg.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the front leg is pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a deployed position in which the foot portion engages the ground and a folded, storage position.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the seat pad has a rear end pivotally associated with the main frame and a forward end, the forward end of the seat pad being enlarged and comprising said thigh support.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the front leg has a lower tubular portion and an upper portion having a lower end telescopically associated with the lower tubular portion of the front leg, the front leg further comprising releasable locking means for releasably securing the upper portion of the leg at a selected position relative to the lower portion, the lower portion of the front leg being pivotally secured to the main frame, and the upper portion being pivotally secured to the forward end of the seat pad.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least a forward part of the seat pad has a forward end pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a lowered position and a raised, forwardly facing position, the forward part of the seat pad in said raised position comprising said thigh support for supporting a user's thighs when performing back hyper-extension exercises.  
   
   
       10 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the front leg has an upper end secured to the main frame and is adjustable in length to adjust the position of the thigh support.  
   
   
       11 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the seat is split into said forward part pivotally secured to the main frame and a rear part rigidly secured to the main frame, the forward part being aligned with said rear part in said lowered position to form a continuous support pad for a seated user performing abdominal crunch exercises.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user engaging foot stabilizer is pivotally mounted on the front leg so as to extend in front of the leg, and a stop device is provided for limiting the pivotal range of motion of the foot stabilizer in at least one direction.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the user engaging foot stabilizer comprises an arm pivotally associated with the leg, and a pair of foot engaging pads secured to the arm, and the stop device is positioned to prevent the foot stabilizer from pivoting to a position in which the foot engaging pads are at a lower elevation than the pivot mounting.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main frame has a lower surface, and the front leg is pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a deployed position in which the foot portion engages the ground and a folded, storage position in which the front leg is located adjacent the lower surface of the main frame.  
   
   
       15 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the front leg has a front wall which faces forwardly in the deployed position, and the foot stabilizer is foldable into a storage position in which at least part of the foot stabilizer swings past the front wall of the front leg.  
   
   
       16 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 14 , including a locking assembly for locking the front leg in the deployed and storage positions.  
   
   
       17 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the foot portion of the front leg comprises a cross member at the lower end of the front leg for providing a foot support for the user to stand on when performing back hyper-extension exercises.  
   
   
       18 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front leg comprises a first tube and an adjuster member telescopically associated with the first tube and releasably lockable in a series of different extended positions relative to the first tube.  
   
   
       19 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the first tube has an upper end secured to the forward end of the first frame portion, the adjuster member is telescopically mounted in the upper end of the first tube, and the support pad is secured to the upper end of the adjuster member.  
   
   
       20 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the support pad comprises a pair of roller pads projecting in opposite directions from the upper end of the adjuster member.  
   
   
       21 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a seat pad having a rear end pivotally associated with the main frame, the seat pad having an enlarged forward end comprising said support pad, and the upper end of the adjuster member being pivotally secured to the forward end of said seat pad, whereby extension of the adjuster member will increase the angle of the seat pad and raise the height of the support pad.  
   
   
       22 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the upper end of the adjuster member is pivotally secured to the main frame, and a pad is pivotally mounted on the forward part of the main frame for movement between a lowered position to act as a seat pad for a user performing abdominal exercises and a raised, forwardly facing position to act as a thigh support for a user performing abdominal exercise, whereby adjustment of the extension of said adjuster member from said first tube varies the height of said pad in both the lowered and raised positions.  
   
   
       23 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the thigh support is adjustable in height between positions for engaging behind a user's knees when seated on the main frame in a first, forwardly facing abdominal exercise position and different height positions for engaging in front of a user's thighs when standing in a second, rearwardly facing lower back exercise position.  
   
   
       24 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the front leg is adjustable in length to adjust the height of the thigh support.  
   
   
       25 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the thigh support is mounted at the upper end of the front leg.  
   
   
       26 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising a seat pad mounted on the forward part of the first frame portion for supporting a seated user in the first exercise position.  
   
   
       27 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the thigh support comprises a part of said seat pad.  
   
   
       28 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the seat pad is pivotally associated with said first frame portion and linked to an upper end of the front leg, whereby adjustment of the length of said front leg will adjust the height of said thigh pad.  
   
   
       29 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the front leg has an upper end pivotally associated with the forward part of the first frame portion, whereby adjustment of the length of said front leg will adjust the height of the forward part and thereby adjust the height of said thigh support.  
   
   
       30 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user engaging foot stabilizer is slidably mounted on said front leg for adjustment of the location of said stabilizer relative to said leg.  
   
   
       31 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the foot stabilizer comprises a bracket slidably mounted on said front leg, a releasable locking device for securing the bracket in a selected position on said leg, an arm pivotally associated with said bracket, and a pair of foot engaging pads secured to said arm.  
   
   
       32 . The bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front leg comprises part of a folding assembly pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a deployed position for supporting the main frame in an exercise-ready position for supporting a user in a seated position for performing abdominal exercise and a standing position for performing low back exercise, and a folded position, the folding assembly being foldable into the folded, storage position without the dismantling of any component of the bench, and a securing device for securing the folding assembly in at least one of said deployed and folded positions.  
   
   
       33 . The bench as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the folding assembly has a front edge which faces forwards in the deployed position, the foot stabilizer being pivotal into a storage position when the folding assembly is moved into the folded position, at least a portion of the user engaging section of the foot stabilizer swinging past the front edge of the folding assembly in the storage position.  
   
   
       34 . The bench as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main frame has a seat pad for supporting a seated user in a first, abdominal exercise position facing in a first direction, the frame further comprising means for supporting a standing user in a second, low back exercise position facing in a second, opposite direction, the foot stabilizing device being engageable over the feet of a seated user in the first exercise position and engageable behind a standing user's ankles in the second exercise position.  
   
   
       35 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the foot stabilizing device has a limit or stop member to restrict its range of motion in at least one direction.  
   
   
       36 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the foot stabilizing device is freely pivoting so as to self-align to the feet of the user in each exercise position,  
   
   
       37 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the frame has a front portion, and the foot stabilizing device comprises a cross member extending transversely across the front portion of the frame, oppositely directed pads secured to opposite ends of the cross member, and a pivot bracket assembly pivotally securing the cross member to a portion of the frame, the cross member comprising means for restricting pivoting motion of the foot stabilizing device in a first direction.  
   
   
       38 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising a stop member mounted on the frame for restricting pivoting motion of the foot stabilizing device in a second direction.  
   
   
       39 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 37  further comprising a stop member mounted on the foot stabilizing device for engaging the frame to restrict pivoting motion of the foot stabilizing device in a second direction opposite to the first direction.  
   
   
       40 . A bench for exercising the low back of a user, comprising: 
 a main frame; and    a folding assembly pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a deployed position for supporting the main frame in an exercise-ready position for supporting a user in a standing position for performing low back exercise, and a folded position for storage purposes.    
   
   
       41 . The bench as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the folding assembly has a front wall which faces forwardly in the deployed position; a locking device for locking the folding assembly in at least one of said deployed and folded positions; a user engaging foot stabilizer pivotally associated with the folding assembly and having a user engaging section for engaging the feet of a user in the deployed position; and the foot stabilizer being foldable into a storage position when the folding assembly is moved to the folded position, at least a portion of the user engaging section of the foot stabilizer swinging past the front wall of said folding assembly in the storage position.  
   
   
       42 . The bench as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the folding assembly is foldable into the folded, storage position without the dismantling of any component of the bench.  
   
   
       43 . The bench as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the main frame has a first end for engaging the ground and a second end, and the folding assembly comprises a folding front leg pivotally associated with the second end of the main frame and having a lower end for engaging the ground.  
   
   
       44 . The bench as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the front leg is adjustable in length.  
   
   
       45 . The bench as claimed in  claim 44 , further comprising a support pad for supporting a part of user's body when using the bench, the support pad being mounted on one of said front leg and said main frame.  
   
   
       46 . The bench as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the support pad is mounted on an upper end of said front leg, whereby adjustment of the length of said front leg adjusts the height of the support pad.  
   
   
       47 . The bench as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the support pad is mounted on the main frame, and the front leg has an upper end pivotally associated with the forward end of the main frame, whereby adjustment of the length of said front leg will adjust the height of the forward end of the main frame and thereby adjust the height of said support pad.  
   
   
       48 . The bench as claimed in  claim 45 , further comprising a seat pad having a rear end pivotally associated with the main frame and a forward end comprising said support pad, the front leg having an upper end associated with the forward end of said seat pad, whereby adjustment of the length of said front leg will pivot the forward end of said seat pad upwardly, thereby adjusting the height of said support pad.  
   
   
       49 . A bench for exercising the abdominals of a user, comprising: 
 a main frame having a first end for engaging the ground and a second end raised above the ground in an exercise position;    a folding assembly pivotally secured to the main frame for movement between a deployed position for supporting the main frame in an exercise ready position for supporting a user in a seated position for performing abdominal crunch exercise, and a folded position;    a support pad for supporting part of the user's body mounted on one of said main frame and said folding assembly; and    a user engaging foot stabilizer device for engaging the feet of a seated user, pivotally associated with said folding assembly.    
   
   
       50 . The bench as claimed in  claim 49  wherein the folding assembly has a front wall which faces forwardly in the deployed position, a locking device for locking the folding assembly in at least one of said deployed and folded positions, a user engaging foot stabilizer pivotally associated with the folding assembly and having a user engaging section for engaging the feet of a user in the deployed position; and the foot stabilizer being foldable into a storage position when the folding assembly is moved to the folded position, at least a portion of the user engaging section of the foot stabilizer swinging past the front wall of said folding assembly in the storage position.  
   
   
       51 . The bench as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the folding assembly is foldable into the folded, storage position without the dismantling of any component of the bench.  
   
   
       52 . The bench as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the main frame has a first end for engaging the ground and a second end, and the folding assembly comprises a folding front leg pivotally associated with the second end of the main frame and having a lower end for engaging the ground.  
   
   
       53 . The bench as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the front leg is adjustable in length.  
   
   
       54 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 49 , further comprising a pivot mount pivotally associating the foot stabilizer with the folding assembly and a stop member for limiting the range of motion of said foot stabilizer relative to its pivot mount.  
   
   
       55 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the front leg has a front wall and a pivot mount pivotally associating the foot stabilizer with the front leg, and the foot stabilizer comprises a cross member extending transversely across the front wall, oppositely directed pads secured to opposite sides of the cross member, and a pivot bracket assembly extending from the cross member and pivotally securing the cross member on said pivot mount, the cross member comprising means for restricting pivoting motion of the foot stabilizer in a first direction.  
   
   
       56 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the front leg has a rear wall, the pivot mount is located on the rear wall, and the pivot bracket assembly comprises a pair of plates extending on opposite sides of said front leg to engage said pivot mount, the stop member comprising a stop pin secured between said plates at a location rear of said rear wall, whereby the stop pin engages the rear wall of the front leg to restrict pivoting motion of the foot stabilizer in a second direction.  
   
   
       57 . The exercise bench as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the foot stabilizer comprises a channel member having a first end pivotally connected to said front leg and a second end, and oppositely directed foot engaging pads secured to the second end of the channel member, the channel member having an inner face facing the front leg, the first end of the channel member comprising a first stop member for engaging the front wall of the front leg to restrict pivoting motion of the foot stabilizer in a first direction and the inner face of the channel member comprising a second stop member for engaging the front wall of the front leg to restrict pivoting motion of the foot stabilizer in a second direction.