Elliptical abdominal exercise apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION One objective of the present invention is to provide a pair of foot contacts that can be pulled by the abdominal muscles towards the recumbent operator.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide means whereby either the instep or the bottom of the foot can be used by the prone operator to rotate a flywheel.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a heel support while the foot contact follows an elongate path during exercise.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide handles for the hands during operation of the exercise apparatus.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable bench to vary the incline of the back of the operator.
The present invention is intended for a recumbent operator having back downward with knees bent where the feet move along a closed elongate curve path located above the torso of the operator.
An adjustable bench is provided to support the back while the hip area is supported by a seat.
A framework supports the seat, bench and a crank.
The feet are positioned in a pair of foot contacts guided by a linkage to drive a flywheel through the crank, pulleys and a belt.
An adjustable load resistance is imposed upon the flywheel.
The foot contacts are configured to allow the abdominal muscles to pull one foot towards a recumbent operator against the load resistance as the knee bends while the other foot pushes away from the operator as the leg extends.
The feet alternately pull and push the foot contacts to exercise the leg muscles as well as the abdominals.
In the preferred embodiment, the foot contacts are pedals with foot straps located at one end of a foot engaging member that is pivotally connected to a crank intermediate the ends.
The other end of the foot engaging member is pivotally connected to a rocker link which is pivotally connected to an adjustment arm.
An actuator is connected to the adjustment arm and framework to allow the rocker pivot to be moved in order to change the motion of the foot contacts