Abdominal exerciser

Abstract

An abdominal exercise device is disclosed that includes a frame and a knee support configured to support both of a user's knees when the user is in a kneeled position. In one embodiment, the knee support is pivotally mounted to the frame. In another embodiment, the knee support swings with respect to the frame. A hand grip is attached to the frame. A user will kneel on the pivotally mounted knee support and grip the hand grip with their hands. By holding the hand grip, the user holds their upper body in a relatively stationary position with respect to the frame. Then, by contracting their abdominal muscles, the user can pivot the knee support upon which their knees rest up toward the can support, thereby providing their abdominal muscles with a work out.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 3 , said frame comprising:
 a first frame; and   a second frame adjustably mounted to the first frame.   
   
   
       3 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising:
 a pivoted user support configured to support both knees and/or shins of a user when kneeling thereon, the user support being pivotally mounted to the frame to enable both of the user's knees and shins to be pivotally moved in unison;   a hand support mounted to the frame; and   a resistance enhancer that increases an amount of force required to pivot the user support with respect to the frame.   
   
   
       4 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the resistance enhancer comprises a flexible cable that extends across the frame and engages the user support. 
   
   
       5 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the user support further comprises a pulley that engages the flexible cable. 
   
   
       6 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the resistance enhancer comprises a rod that laterally extends from the pivoted user support and configured to receive a weighted plate. 
   
   
       7 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoted user support comprises a knee pad that is rotatably mounted to the pivoted user support. 
   
   
       8 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising: a frame, comprising:
 a first “U” shaped frame having a top portion; and   a second “U” shaped frame having a top portion, wherein the top portion of the first “U” shaped frame is pivotally mounted to the top portion of the second “U” shaped frame;   a user support configured to support a user when kneeling, the user support being pivotally mounted to the frame; and   a hand support mounted to the frame, wherein the user support pivots toward the hand support.   
   
   
       9 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 8 , said user support comprising:
 a third frame; and   a padded platform attached to the third frame.   
   
   
       10 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 8 , further comprising a resistance enhancer that increases an amount of force required to pivot the user support with respect to the frame. 
   
   
       11 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the resistance enhancer comprises a flexible cable that extends across the frame and engages the user support. 
   
   
       12 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the user support further comprises a pulley that engages the flexible cable. 
   
   
       13 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising
 a frame, wherein said frame is comprised of two secondary frames that can be adjustably positioned with respect to each other;   a pivoted user support configured to support both knees and/or shins of a user when kneeling thereon, the user support being pivotally mounted to the frame to enable both of the user's knees and shins to be pivotally moved in unison; and   a hand support mounted to the frame.   
   
   
       14 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising:
 a pivoted user support configured to support both knees and/or shins of a user when kneeling thereon, the user support being pivotally mounted to the frame to enable both of the user's knees and shins to be pivotally moved in unison;   a hand support mounted to the frame; and   a forearm support positioned adjacent to the hand support.   
   
   
       15 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , further comprising a resistance enhancer that increases an amount of force required to swing the knee support with respect to the frame. 
   
   
       16 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , further comprising a flexible cable extending across the frame and engaging the knee support, wherein the flexible cable increases an amount of force required to swing the knee support with respect to the frame. 
   
   
       17 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , further comprising a hand support attached to the frame at a location where a user kneeling on the knee support can grip the hand support and pull their body towards the hand support using their abdominal muscles. 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , further comprising a resistance enhancer that increases an amount of force required to swing the knee support with respect to the frame. 
   
   
       20 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , further comprising a flexible cable extending across the frame and engaging the knee support, wherein the flexible cable increases an amount of force required to swing the knee support with respect to the frame. 
   
   
       21 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , wherein said frame is comprised of two secondary frames that can be adjustably positioned with respect to each other. 
   
   
       22 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoted user support comprises a padded surface provided with a pair of spaced depressions to support the knees and/or shins of the user. 
   
   
       23 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoted user support comprises a padded surface provided with a pair of elongated channels to support the knees and/or shins of the user. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . An abdominal exercise device, comprising:
 a frame;   a user support pivotally connected to the frame, the user support including at least one pad structure arranged to support knees or shins of a user, the user support enabling the knees or shins of the user to be moved in unison while resting thereon;   an upper body support joined with the frame and arranged to be grasped by the hands or arms of the user; and   a damper mechanism operatively connected with the user support, the damper mechanism arranged to dampen pivotal movement of the user support.   
   
   
       27 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , wherein the frame is in the form of an “A-frame” configuration. 
   
   
       28 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , where the user support has a “U”, shape. 
   
   
       29 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , wherein the upper body support comprises a torso support region. 
   
   
       30 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , wherein the pad structure comprises a single pad. 
   
   
       31 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , wherein the damper mechanism comprises a pair of elastic chords. 
   
   
       32 . The abdominal exercise device of  claim 26 , further comprising a damping adjuster that adjusts the amount of damping applied by the damper mechanism. 
   
   
       33 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a frame, the frame having a hand support thereon;   a pivoted support pivotally connected to the frame, the pivoted support comprising an inverted, generally U-shaped structure including a pair of spaced elongated portions and a cross portion, the elongated portions having upper ends thereof forming the pivotal connection with the frame, the cross portion providing support for a pad, the pad having a pair of channels for receiving the knees and/or shins of a user, the pad being pivotally mounted on the cross portion to enable pivoted movement of the pad relative to the cross portion.   
   
   
       34 . The exercise device of  claim 33 , further comprising an adjustable damper that increases an amount of force required to pivot the pivoted support. 
   
   
       35 . The exercise device of  claim 33 , further comprising an adjustable resistor that increases an amount of force require to pivot the pivoted support.