Sliding abdominal exercise device

Abstract

A compact, easily storable abdominal exercise device is described that provides a sliding (to-and-fro) form of exercise for a seated user. In addition, the cushion may rotate so that it can also allow a swinging/twisting motion. Consequently, the sliding and/or the sliding+twisting modes of the exercise device allow a greater range of motions for exercising the muscles of the waist and help to stimulate firming and toning of the waist areas more effectively.

1 . A sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising:
 at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section;   at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand;   at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; and   a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail.   
     
     
         2 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping section is covered with an anti-slip material. 
     
     
         3 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of stands, brackets and arc-shaped slide rails, the arc-shaped slide rails being positioned substantially in parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the sliding member is a wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the slide seat is substantially “H”-shaped and the anti-derailing member is positioned on an end of the slide seat. 
     
     
         6 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a swivel between a cushion coupled to the slid seat and a portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail. 
     
     
         7 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the swivel comprises:
 a spindle coupled to the cushion; and   a spindle sleeve coupled to a portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail, wherein the spindle is rotationally set in the spindle sleeve enabling the cushion to swivel about the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail.   
     
     
         8 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising a cushioning member positioned on a top of the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail. 
     
     
         9 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising a spacer positioned at a bottom of the cushion, operating to limit a range of rotational motion of the cushion about the portion of the slide seat contacting the arc-shaped slide rail, wherein at the limited range of rotational motion the spacer contacts the cushioning member. 
     
     
         10 . A sliding abdominal exercise machine, comprising:
 means for supporting a user in a sitting position;   means for gripping the means for supporting;   means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the means for supporting;   means for sitting;   means for sliding coupled to the means for sitting; and   means for providing an arced bi-directional travel motion to a user sitting in the means for sitting, being coupled to at least one of the means for supporting and means for providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway.   
     
     
         11 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the means for gripping is covered with an anti-slip material. 
     
     
         12 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the means for sliding uses a wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a means for anti-derailment for the means for sliding. 
     
     
         14 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a means for swiveling coupled to the means for sitting and the means for sliding. 
     
     
         15 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the means for swiveling comprises:
 a spindle coupled to the means for sitting; and   a spindle sleeve coupled to the means for sliding.   
     
     
         16 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising a means for cushioning positioned on a top of the means for sliding. 
     
     
         17 . The sliding abdominal exercise machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising a means for contacting positioned at a bottom of the means for sitting, operating to limit a range of rotational motion of the means for sitting about the means for sliding, wherein at the limited range of rotational motion the means for contacting contacts the means for cushioning. 
     
     
         18 . A method for a seated form of exercising, comprising:
 sitting on a seat of an exercise device comprising:
 at least one stand having an arc-like shape with end portions of the stand forming supporting feet and a middle portion of the stand forming a gripping section; 
 at least one bracket coupled to a first and second portion of the at least one supporting stand, providing at least one of structural rigidity and anti-sway to the stand; 
 at least one arc-shaped slide rail with end portions coupled to the at least one bracket and the at least one stand, a middle portion of the arc-shaped slide rail being lower than end portions of the arc-shaped slide rail; and 
 a slide seat mountable on the at least one arc-shaped sliding rail, having an anti-derailing member and a sliding member to allow the slide seat to slide along the arc-shaped sliding rail; 
   gripping the gripping section;   first engaging at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat upward in a first direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail; and   second engaging the at least abdominal muscles to force the slide seat in a second, opposite direction of the arc-shaped sliding rail.   
     
     
         19 . The method for a seated form of exercising of  claim 18 , wherein the exercise device further comprises a swiveling mechanism between the cushion coupled to the slide seat and the slide seat, and the user further engages the at least abdominal muscles to force the cushion to swivel.