Abdominal squat machine

Abstract

An apparatus for performing abdominal and squat exercises is provided with a frame having a support member, a first end and a second end that operate to provide horizontal stabilization, and at least two leg securing bars extending substantially transversely from the frame of the apparatus. A first leg securing bar may be disposed at a first location along the frame, and a second leg securing bar may be disposed at a second location along the frame such that the arrangement of the leg securing bars in the first and second locations permits the apparatus to operate as an exercise device for abdominal and squat exercises. A user of the apparatus may position one or more legs in between the leg securing bars and perform abdominal and squat exercises without having to readjust the leg securing bars and without having to move one or more feet thereof in between routines.

1 . An apparatus for performing abdominal and squat exercises, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a support member, a first end and a second end, the support member extending between the first and second ends a predetermined length, the first and second ends being sized and shaped such that the first and second ends operate to provide horizontal stabilization to the frame; and   at least two leg securing bars extending substantially transversely from the frame, a first leg securing bar of the at least two leg securing bars being disposed at a first predetermined location along the frame and a second leg securing bar of the at least two leg securing bars being disposed at a second predetermined location along the frame such that the arrangement of the at least two leg securing bars in the first and second predetermined locations permits the apparatus to operate as an exercise device for both one or more abdominal exercises and one or more squat exercises.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two leg securing bars operate to: (i) permit a user of the apparatus to position one or more legs of the user in between the at least two leg securing bars and to perform the one or more abdominal exercises and the one or more squat exercises without having to readjust or modify the position of the at least two leg securing bars; and (ii) retain one or more feet of the user in substantially the same position when the user is performing the one or more abdominal exercises and the one or more squat exercises. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
 (i) the first leg securing bar operates to support one or more calf muscles and/or one or more knees of the user, and the second leg securing bar operates to support the one or more feet, one or more shins and/or one or more ankles of the user;   (ii) the first leg securing bar and second leg securing bar operate to retain the one or more feet of the user at least one of: substantially flat on the floor, substantially on the floor, substantially on the floor and partially on a portion of the first end, and substantially on the floor and partially on a portion of the second end;   (iii) the first and second leg securing bars operate to prevent movement of the one or more legs of the user during operation, focusing the exercise resistance on the targeted muscles; and   (iv) the frame operates to direct resistance to the abdominal muscles and leg muscles of the user by focusing the body mass of the user into a training resistance routine.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second ends each have a substantially transverse member extending laterally therefrom and being sized and shaped such that the respective transverse members of the first and second ends operate to provide further horizontal stabilization to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is tubular such that the support member and the first and second ends include top, bottom and side surfaces and at least one of the first and second ends is angled outwardly in relation to the support member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first leg securing bar: (i) is disposed on the support member proximately to where the second end is joined to the support member; (ii) extends outwardly from each side surface of the support member in opposite directions; and (iii) includes opposite free ends and has mounted on the opposite free ends thereof a pair of foam or vinyl pads each having a central bore that operates to receive the first leg securing bar therein. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second leg securing bar: (i) is disposed on a lower portion of the second end; (ii) extends outwardly from each side of the second end in opposite directions; and (iii) includes opposite free ends and has mounted on the opposite free ends thereof a pair of foam or vinyl pads each having a central bore that operates to receive the second leg securing bar therein. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of: (i) the first leg securing bar is permanently affixed to the support member in the predetermined first location; and (ii) the second leg securing bar operates to be freely slideably engaged with the second end of the frame when no lateral force or pressure is applied thereto and operates to be retained in the predetermined second location when a lateral force or pressure is applied by the one or more legs of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 (i) the second end includes a telescoping member extending substantially collinearly therefrom, the telescoping member having a member extending substantially transverse therefrom such that the telescoping member and the substantially transverse member are substantially L-shaped or substantially T-shaped; and   (ii) the telescoping member is sized and shaped to fit into the tubular second end and the tubular second end operates to telescope over the telescoping member as the telescoping member slides into the tubular second end, thereby decreasing a height of the frame, and out of the tubular second end, thereby increasing the height of the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the height of the frame is adjustable to dispose a center of gravity of the user of the apparatus inwardly of the first end such that the second end of the apparatus will remain on the floor during the exercise routine(s) of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 (i) the height of the frame and/or a height of the apparatus is at least: about 15 inches; 15 inches-about 17⅝ inches; about 17⅝ inches; and   (ii) a length of the frame and/or a length of the apparatus is at least: about 28⅞ inches; about 28⅞ inches-about 40¼ inches; about 40¼ inches.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the telescoping member and the tubular second end operate to be releasably coupled together and/or disengaged with an engaging pin being disposed in and/or removed from at least one hole of the telescoping member and at least one hole of the second end when the at least one holes are aligned and the pin extends into and/or is removed from an internal bore of the second end of the tubular frame and an internal bore of the telescoping member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a handle locking mechanism disposed on the telescoping second end, the handle locking mechanism having a handle pivotally attached to a pair of mounting posts extending substantially perpendicularly from the telescoping second end and to a pin extending between the mounting posts, the pin operating to couple the handle to the mounting posts and to a spring that operates to bias a first end of the handle away from, and a second end of the handle towards, the telescoping second end such that a locking pin disposed on, and extending substantially perpendicularly from, the second end of the handle is similarly biased towards the telescoping second end of the frame and operates to selectively engage one of a plurality of spaced apart holes collinearly positioned along a surface of the telescoping member and an engagement hole of the telescoping second end of the frame,
 wherein the handle locking mechanism operates to couple the telescoping second end of the frame with the telescoping member, thereby limiting extension and/or retraction of the telescoping member when the locking pin is engaged with the one of the plurality of holes and the engagement hole of the telescoping second end of the frame, and to decouple the telescoping member and the telescoping second end of the frame when a downward pressure is applied to the first end of the handle to overcome the force of the spring and to remove the locking pin from the engagement hole of the telescoping second end of the frame and the one of the plurality of holes of the telescoping member.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg securing bar operates to be slideably adjustable along a track portion of the support member and the second leg securing bar operates to be slideably adjustable along a second track portion of the telescoping member, the track portion of the support member being formed along the length of the support member and having at least one hole in the support member and the second track portion of the telescoping member being formed along the length of the telescoping member and having at least one hole in the telescoping member. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 (i) the first and second leg securing bars are each affixed to respective adjustment brackets each having a space therethrough and a central bore therein, the adjustment bracket of the first leg securing bar operating to receive the support member therein and to be slideably engaged with the track portion of the support member, the adjustment bracket of the second leg securing bar operating to receive the telescoping member therein and to be slideably engaged with the second track portion of the telescoping member;   (ii) the first leg securing bar and the track portion of the support member operate to be releasably coupled together and/or disengaged with an engaging pin being disposed in and/or removed from the at least one hole of the track portion and the central bore of the adjustment bracket of the first leg securing bar such that the pin extends into and/or is removed from an internal bore of the support member of the tubular frame; and   (iii) the second leg securing bar and the second track portion of the telescoping member operate to be releasably coupled together and/or disengaged with another engaging pin being disposed in and/or removed from the at least one hole of the second track portion and the central bore of the adjustment bracket of the second leg securing bar such that the pin extends into and/or is removed from an internal bore of the telescoping member.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a seat disposed on the support member such that the seat operates to support the user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the seat is affixed to an adjustment bracket having a space therethrough for receiving the support member and being slideably engaged with the track portion of the support member, the adjustment bracket having a central bore therein, wherein the seat and the track portion operate to be releasably coupled together and/or disengaged from each other with an engaging pin being disposed in and/or removed from the at least one hole of the track portion and the central bore of the adjustment bracket such that the pin extends into and/or is removed from an internal bore of the support member of the tubular frame. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first end of the frame is shorter in length than the second end of the frame and the first and second ends of the frame are angulated such that the support member is oriented in a slightly declined manner in a direction from the second end of the frame to the first end of the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a seat disposed on the support member such that the seat operates to support the user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the seat is affixed to an adjustment bracket having a space therethrough for receiving the support member and being slideably engaged with a track portion of the support member, the track portion of the support member being formed along the length of the support member and having at least one hole in the support member, the adjustment bracket having a central bore therein, wherein the seat and the track portion operate to be releasably coupled together and/or disengaged from each other with an engaging pin being disposed in and/or removed from the at least one hole of the track portion and the central bore of the adjustment bracket such that the pin extends into and/or is removed from an internal bore of the support member of the tubular frame.