Abdominal Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides for abdominal exercise apparatus arranged generally to be arranged to worn over the user's shoulders and to be secured thereto in a comfortable manner by way of front support portions and back support portion which extend respectively downwardly from central region. Extending laterally and forwardly from the central region are a pair of arms which are arranged to be gripped by a user when wearing the apparatus and to which weights can be releasably mounted so as to control the weight against which the user works when performing an exercise routine.

1 . An abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a pair of arms each extending from a central region and each having weight engaging formations towards the ends thereof the said central region being arranged to extend over a user's shoulders and having a front portion arranged to extend in the direction of a user's breast region, and a back portion arranged for provision of a back support arranged to extend at least partially along a user's back. 
   
   
       2 . Exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said front portion is arranged for the provision of weighting means in the region of a user's chest. 
   
   
       3 . Exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes an engagement formation for a front support member arranged to extend over a user's chest region. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the front support member comprises a chest plate. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the front support member is arranged to support weighting means in the region of a user's chest. 
   
   
       6 . Exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back portion includes an engagement formation for the mounting of a back support thereon. 
   
   
       7 . Exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the front portion is integral with a front support member and/or the back portion is integral with a back support member. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the back support is arranged to extend from the said central region. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a unitary back support member. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back support has an inner back supporting surface arranged to engage with the user's back. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the said back supporting surface exhibits a curvature substantially similar to that of a human spine. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back support is configured to support the user's back when lying supine thereon. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back support comprises a flexible member. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the back support comprises a resilient member. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back support has an outer surface arranged to engage a floor surface when the user is lying supine thereon. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the said outer surface has at least one region configured for ease of movement over the said floor surface. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one region includes bearing means. 
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the at least one region exhibits a curved surface protrusion. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the protrusion comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical protrusion. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one region includes a rotatable member. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the said rotatable member comprises a castor/wheel. 
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one front support member extends from the said central portion. 
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further including respective left and right front support members. 
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said at least one front support member includes a weight engaging formation. 
   
   
       25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the weight engaging formation is arranged for releasable mounting of weighting means thereon. 
   
   
       26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the weight engaging formation comprises a plurality of hollow members arranged to receive fluid and/or particulate matter as the said weighting means. 
   
   
       27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the weight engaging formation is arranged to releasably receive a plurality of hollow members each arranged to receive fluid and/or particulate material. 
   
   
       28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the said hollow members are pivotally mounted to the apparatus. 
   
   
       29 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the said pair of arms is arranged to flex relative to the said central region. 
   
   
       30 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said central region is arranged to extend behind the user's back. 
   
   
       31 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further including handgrip members at each of the end regions of the arms. 
   
   
       32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the handgrip means are pivotable relative to the arms. 
   
   
       33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , and arranged such that the pivotal motion has at least one of a vertical and a horizontal extent. 
   
   
       34 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the handgrip means are pivotable through substantially ninety degrees between substantially vertical and horizontal planes and/or within a substantially horizontal plane.