WO2011007037A1

WO2011007037A1 - Apparatus for abdominal exercise

Info

Publication number: WO2011007037A1
Application number: PCT/ES2010/070485
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xavier Franquès Garcia
Original assignee: Franques Garcia Xavier
Priority date: 2009-07-16
Filing date: 2010-07-13
Publication date: 2011-01-20
Also published as: US20120115693A1; ES2335182B1; EP2455136A1; ES2335182A1

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for abdominal exercise, comprising a base (1) and means (2) for supporting the legs of a user. The base (1) comprises at least one suction element (3) for fixing said apparatus onto a smooth surface, and the support means (2) comprise holding means (4) for securely holding the legs of the user.

Description

APPLIANCE FOR ABDOMINAL GYM

DESCRIPTION Field of the invention

The invention is located in the sector of the apparatus intended to correctly exercise the abdominal musculature. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for abdominal gymnastics comprising a base and support means for the legs of a user.

State of the art The abdominal muscles extend from the lower part of the ribs to the upper part of the pelvis, protecting the internal organs. But its functions go further, since coordinated with the paravertebral muscles of the back and the psoas muscle of the hip, they contribute to keeping the spine straight. The abdominal muscles together with these muscles of the hip and back form a nucleus where the center of gravity of the body is located. From this nucleus, most of the routine movements that we carry out every day are repeated. A strong core contributes to greater power, stability, balance and also prevents injuries especially due to overloads

As a general rule, the abdominal muscles are usually weak compared to the lumbar muscles. This happens because the latter is involuntarily exercised just by standing. However, abdominal muscles must be exercised voluntarily with specific exercises. This mismatch causes decompensations in the pelvic region that often end in hyperlordosis, an abnormal curvature of the back, and its dangerous consequences (sciatica, spondylolysis, etc.). Beyond aesthetic criteria, it is necessary to regularly exercise the abdominal muscles to maintain a correct body alignment and compensate for the natural imbalances of the spine as the years go by. There is much literature about the most recommended exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles. However, many of the most commonly used exercises, in addition to not achieving the desired effect, cause injuries, especially in the back. It is necessary to remember that a physiologically healthy musculature is that which balances the abdominals with the dorsals and the hip. The more intensive the practice of sport in an individual, the more necessary the exercise of the abdominal muscles to compensate for mismatches. As a general rule, and unless there are specific medical contraindications for certain individuals with specific ailments, it is necessary to highlight the following aspects to be taken into account to increase performance and reduce the risk of injury when performing abdominal exercises: it is based on The ideal or neutral position, this is lying up. Head relaxed so as not to force the muscles of the neck, the chin separated from the body and the hands at the height of the neck. This position is known as supine. The back rests relaxed on the mat. The knees are flexed to prevent the lower back from arching. Then, with the knees bent, the upper part of the trunk is raised to a maximum of 30 °. From that inclination, the spine no longer flexes and hip flexors (psoas iliac) and pelvis are required for lifting. Exceeding the 30 ° limit means considerably increasing the risk of injury and does not achieve the objective pursued. Finally, the raised trunk is maintained for a few moments and slowly descends. It is advisable to perform no more than three or four series, with a maximum of twenty to thirty repetitions per series. It should be noted that to exercise the abdominal musculature in a physiologically healthy way, it is not convenient to request in excess the psoas (hip) muscle since the inconveniences outweigh the benefits. That is why it is not convenient to carry out series of many repetitions since bounces and impulses are introduced that reduce effectiveness.

In the state of the art there are three usual ways to perform abdominal exercises.

Perform the exercise in pairs. When one holds the other exercises and vice versa. But there is not always a person available, especially at home. In addition, it is difficult for the couple to counteract the mass of the one who is performing the exercise and it is easy for the legs to move. This task is further complicated when the exercise is desired with the legs raised.

The trellis Very few are those who can have this device at home. But in the case that this is the case, or for example, for those who use the gym, the trellis represents more a difficulty than an advantage. This is because the muscles of the legs, starting with the muscles of the feet, tibiae, peroneum, triceps sural and quadriceps, and ending with the psoas itself, are subjected to great tension since they must keep the feet between the bars of wood. From the second series is so much effort, that the tension is concentrated more in that area than in the abdominals themselves.

The abdominal benches. They have been used for a long time, and will continue to be used, but they have two problems, especially for those with back problems. In the first place, the legs are held so that they are below the pelvis. Second, they are more designed for incorporation exercises than bent. It should be remembered that to perform a healthy and efficient exercise, the spine only bends up to 30 °.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the performance of abdominal muscle strengthening exercises, in order to maintain a balanced muscular structure and especially for therapeutic purposes, requires more regularity than intensity. In other words, it is more effective and beneficial to regularly perform few abdominal series than not to carry out a large number of series on time. - TO -

There are people who perform hundreds of repetitions and introduce rebounds that involve other unwanted muscle groups, subtracting effectiveness. This leads to the need to have an apparatus that, in addition to allowing the user to perform the exercises in a physiologically correct way, can be transported simply and used anywhere.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to propose an apparatus for abdominal gymnastics that facilitates the performance of abdominal exercises in a physiologically optimal way, reducing to the maximum any effort not directly intended to reinforce the abdominal muscles and that simultaneously is compact, lightweight, transportable and facilitates the user Ia Performing the exercises anywhere. This purpose is achieved by means of an apparatus for abdominal gymnastics of the type indicated at the beginning, characterized in that the base comprises at least one suction cup suitable for fixing said apparatus on a smooth surface and because said support means comprise fastening elements suitable for holding firmly The user's legs. The suction cup ensures that the apparatus according to the invention can be fixed to any smooth surface. This is important since, as mentioned, the strengthening of the abdominal muscles in a physiologically healthy way, requires regular exercise. That is, the suction cup allows the user to fix the device to any smooth surface, so that it can be installed in any place that requires it. Thus, the user is not obliged to have several devices permanently installed in different places where he wishes to perform the exercises.

On the other hand, the suction cup or suction cups have the additional advantage that by allowing the apparatus to be transportable, they reduce the weight of the apparatus to the maximum, without thereby losing versatility in the fixation. Any lightweight alternative anchoring system would always require some type of pre-installation. Alternatively, the base could be heavy enough to counteract the ascending force made by the user when descending during the exercise completion However, this would automatically increase the weight of the device and impair its portability.

On the other hand, the means for securing the legs facilitate the performance of the exercises in an especially efficient and physiologically optimal way. The devices known in the state of the art that do not guarantee a firm support of the legs reduce the effectiveness of the exercises. This is due to the fact that the user must compensate the displacement of the center of body mass during the ascent or descent by means of corrective efforts with the legs that reduce the real effort made directly on the abdominal area and therefore the optimal use of the exercise.

Preferably said suction cup comprises active vacuum generating means capable of extracting the air contained between said suction cup and said smooth surface. This facilitates the assembly and especially the disassembly of the device. In the invention, the active means of generating vacuum refer to any form to generate the vacuum in the suction cup that does not consist in compressing it manually against a surface. In the case of suction cups that work simply by compression against the ground, it may be difficult to disassemble the apparatus from the surface on which it is mounted and may require a force that certain users may not be able to exert.

Preferably each of said fasteners comprises adjustable length bands suitable for accommodating and securing the wearer's legs by the ankle area and especially preferably said bands fasten the user's ankle area above the articulation of the user's ankle. The bands have the advantage of comfort for the user, but it is especially advantageous to hold the user's legs by the ankle area, since when performing the exercise, the latter is not obliged to perform a compensatory force of the eventual movement relative between the foot and the leg. This allows the effort to be concentrated even more optimally in the abdominal region. Preferably said bands are rotatably mounted around the longitudinal direction of said support means, in order to increase the comfort of the apparatus when holding the ankle area. Preferably the apparatus comprises means for regulating the height of said support means with respect to the ground, to offer versatility to the apparatus and allow exercises in different leg positions.

Especially preferably, the height between the floor and the support point of the user's legs on said fasteners is adjustable by said means of regulation in a range between 10 and 65 cm. This ensures that the legs are held at a height that is above the pelvis and improve the quality of the exercises performed. Preferably said support means and said base are removable from each other.

Likewise, the invention also encompasses other advantageous features illustrated in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and in the accompanying figures.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention can be seen from the following description, in which, without any limitation, a preferred embodiment of the invention is mentioned, mentioning the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

Fig. 1, a front view of the apparatus for abdominal gymnastics according to the invention. Fig. 2, a longitudinal section along one of the support means of the apparatus. Figs. 3A and 3B, side views of a first mode of use of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figs. 4A and 4B, side views of a second mode of use of the apparatus according to the invention. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

As can be seen in Figure 1, the abdominal gymnastics apparatus according to the invention mainly comprises a base 1 for supporting the apparatus on the floor 5 and support means 2 for the user's legs. In the assembled state of the apparatus for performing the exercises said support means rigidly attached to said base to avoid significant relative movements of the legs with respect to the ground.

The apparatus can be fixed to a smooth surface by means of two suction cups 3 or suction bells. Preferably, the suction cups 3 comprise reversible generating means 6 reversible as a drive lever acting on the respective suction cup. These levers allow to remove the air under the corresponding suction cup 3 by tilting the lever or letting it in to disassemble the apparatus in a simple way for the user. In a more basic embodiment, the suction cups 3, can be simple suction cups that adhere when compressing the apparatus against the ground and that do not have specific means to eliminate the vacuum created. In a more sophisticated alternative form, the apparatus could also incorporate, for example, a mechanically actuated suction pump. It is also important to note that the number of suction cups 3 may vary depending on the configuration. Thus, optionally, an apparatus with a single suction cup or with more than two is conceivable. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the support means 2 for the legs comprise a horizontal support 7 as a cylindrical cross-sectional bar. In Figure 2 the configuration of the support means 2 can also be observed in greater detail, which also include fasteners 4 suitable for firmly holding the user's legs. At each of its ends, the horizontal support 7 has a pad 8 on which the user can comfortably support the legs, and in particular the ankle area. At the outer end the horizontal support 7 has a bushing 10 attached to the horizontal support 7, for example, by means of a thread screwed on its inner diameter. The bushing 10 also has a retaining disk 11 that prevents the pads 8 from being able to leave the support 7. On the other hand, thanks to the bushing 10 the pads 8 can be disassembled for replacement in case of excessive wear and tear.

The fastening elements 4 are, in this case, adjustable length bands 14 suitable for accommodating and securing the user's legs through the ankle area. As seen in Figure 2, the first end 12 of the band 14 is connected via a clamp 16 to an axis 11 that is threaded integral with the bushing 10. Thus, the band 14 can freely rotate with respect to horizontal support 7. The second end 13 is connected to the horizontal support 7 through the ring 15, being able to rotate freely with respect to the horizontal support 7. In this way each of the bands 14 can freely rotate at its ends 12, 13 around the longitudinal direction defined by the support horizontal 7 of the support means 2.

On the other hand, the bands 14 have corresponding Velero® strips 21 that allow their length to be adjusted at the time of attaching the user's ankles to the support means 2. In Figure 1, it is also appreciated that the support means 2 are joined to the base 1 by means of a telescopic vertical support 9. The height of the vertical support 9 with respect to the floor can be adjusted by means of adjustment means 18. Preferably, the height between the floor 5 and the support point 17 is adjustable in a range between 10 and 65 cm. In this way, any user can perform exercises with the tibia-fibula set arranged horizontally, according to figures 3A and 3B, or in an acute angle position according to figures 4A and 4B. As can be seen in the figures, the support point 17 is moving around the perimeter of the pads 8 as the acute angle between the tibia and the floor 5 increases.

In Figure 1, it is also appreciated that the apparatus according to the invention can be disassembled into parts to be able to transport it more comfortably. In particular, between the base 1 and the vertical support 9 a first detachable joint is provided 19, while between the vertical support 9 and the horizontal support 7 a second detachable joint 20 is provided. This first and second removable joints 19, 20 may be, for example, a pin with a spring or a screwed joint.

Next, on the basis of Figures 3A to 4B, the operation and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail.

In figures 3A and 3B it is appreciated that for the embodiment in a physiologically optimal way, the user starts from the supine position shown in Figure 4A, that is, lying on his back, while the back and the head rest fully supported on the floor 5. The hands should be at neck height but not held. The user bends the knees at a preferred angle of approximately 45 ° and the legs rest on the pads 8 of the support means 2 by the ankle area, with the tibia and the fibula in a horizontal position. In turn, a band 14 holds each ankle to prevent it from moving either vertically or laterally during the exercise. This is a remarkable advantage in the invention because it ensures that the user must not make any unreasonable effort to compensate for the imbalance in the center of gravity during the ascent or the relative movement of the ankle with respect to the leg.

From this resting position the contraction known by the "crunch" anglicism begins, and which consists in raising the upper part of the trunk to an angle β of approximately 30 °, directing the head towards the knees, but not to the knees. In this position, the user must maintain the contraction for a few moments and then slowly descend. Thus, a repetition consists of 3 distinct phases: ascent phase, contraction phase and finally the descent phase. During the first phase of ascent, the trunk leans towards the knees so that the legs push against the ground. At this time the user's legs find a stable support on the support means 2 and in particular on the pads 8 that facilitate movement. Once the maximum contraction position is reached, the user must hold in the position for a few moments, as shown in Figure 3B. Without the rise inertia and the center of gravity altered, in this second phase the whole body tends to fall down. This must be compensated by forcing a new distribution of weights towards the legs, using the muscles of the hip. Thanks to bands 14, the legs are deprived of any vertical movement. The trunk does not fall down and the user can hold in contraction at 30 ° concentrating the force totally on the abdominal musculature. This makes the exercise much more intense and helpful with the same number of repetitions. At this point it should be noted that thanks to the bands 14 holding the legs by the ankle area, instead of the feet, the user should not make compensatory efforts of the ankle joint, which would impair the effectiveness of the exercise, which It is especially advantageous with respect to other devices known in the state of the art, in which the fastening is carried out at most by the feet.

Finally, the user makes the descent that is as important as the ascent or the contraction. This third phase tends to be obviated by the difficulty of maintaining the tension in the abdominal area while the whole body sways towards the trunk. The imbalance produces a sharp and therefore sterile descent. It is necessary to descend slowly, also concentrating the force in the abdominal muscles until resting again the shoulder blades on the floor. Again the bands 14 securely secure the user's legs so that he can perform the exercise in a physiologically optimal way, that is, slowly descending and making the most of the exercise.

Therefore, thanks to the apparatus according to the invention, the resistance can also be intensified during the descent, taking full advantage of each repetition.

In figures 4A and 4B an alternative way of performing the abdominal exercise is seen, in which the difference with the previous example consists of the tibia and fibula position with respect to the floor 5. In this case, the support means 2 is they find themselves in a lower position, so that the lukewarm lump forms an acute angle to the ground. Thanks to the fact that the bands 14 are mounted rotating around the longitudinal direction of the support means 2, the user can perform the exercise without causing harmful stresses on the ankles. In Figures 4A, 4B it can be seen how the bands 14 form approximately a right angle with the longitudinal direction of the tibia and fibula.

The reasoning set forth above is further reinforced when it is desired to increase the intensity of the exercise, for example, with weights. If a certain weight is taken with the hands to intensify the execution of the crunch, the center of gravity moves towards the neck area, and without the fixed legs this displacement must be corrected in some way, for example, stretching the legs or looking for a balance point compromised with the back, which is very uncomfortable and can be harmful to lumbar health. In contrast, in the invention, the firm support of the user's ankle area guarantees that the exercise can be performed more physiologically and profitably more optimally.

Claims

1.- Apparatus for abdominal gymnastics comprising a base (1) and support means (2) for the legs of a user, characterized in that said base (1) comprises at least one suction cup (3) suitable for fixing said apparatus on a smooth surface and because said support means (2) comprise fasteners (4) suitable for firmly holding the user's legs.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said suction cup (3) comprises active means for generating vacuum (6) capable of extracting the air contained between said suction cup (3) and said smooth surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said fastening elements (4) comprise bands (14) of adjustable length suitable for accommodating and securing the user's legs through the ankle area.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said bands (14) are rotatably mounted around the longitudinal direction of said support means (2).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said (14) bands hold the user's ankle area above the user's ankle joint.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises means for regulating (18) the height of said support means (2) with respect to the ground.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the height between the ground and the support point (17) of the user's legs on said elements of clamping is adjustable by means of said regulation means (18) in a range between 10 and 65 cm.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said support means (2) and said base (1) are removable from each other.