Ab spinner abdominal exerciser

Abstract

An exercise device having a seat, a spine, a hoop, a connector, and preferably at least one flexible rod. The spine extends upward from the rear edge of the seat, and the hoop is connected to the spine by way of a connector at a circumferential portion of the hoop. The connector permits the hoop to rotate or pivot relative to the spine. At least one flexible rod extends outward from the hoop proximate the connector and is attached to a tensioning mechanism via a resistance cable at a second end of the flexible rod. The tensioning mechanism provides a tensile force in the resistance cable, permitting the flexible rod to provide a force to oppose the pivoting of the hoop. By sitting on the seat, enclosed by the hoop, and grasping the hoop with both hands, a person may perform a number of exercises, including an oblique twist, an abdominal crunch, a radial abdominal crunch, and an infinity abdominal crunch.

1 . An exercise device for exercising the abdominal muscles of a human user, the exercise device comprising:
 (a) a seat, the seat having a front edge and a rear edge, and the seat having legs to support the seat above a support surface;   (b) a spine, the spine extending upward from the rear edge of the seat, the length of the spine being adjustable by telescoping a first portion of the spine within a second portion of the spine;   (c) a hoop, the hoop being connected to the spine and being generally parallel to the support surface, the hoop having a diameter of about twenty-eight inches and having a generally circular cross-section;   (d) a connector between the hoop and the spine, the connector comprising a dual-axis joint, the dual-axis joint permitting the hoop to pivot about a first axis through the connector that is tangential to the hoop and a second axis through the connector, the second axis being orthogonal to the first axis and being generally vertical;   (e) a pair of flexible rods, each flexible rod extending outward from the hoop proximate the connector at a first end of the flexible rod, each flexible rod being attached to a tensioning mechanism via a resistance cable at a second end of the flexible rod, the tensioning mechanism providing a tensile force in each resistance cable, each flexible rod providing a force to oppose the pivoting of the hoop, the force being adjustable between a low level of resistance and a high level of resistance, the adjustment being by way of a resistance selector to increase and decrease the force opposing the pivoting;   (f) a slider mechanism on the hoop, the slider mechanism comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being shaped and dimensioned to slide around at least a portion of the hoop, each of the first portion and the second portion being able to slide around the hoop independently of the other portion and also being able to slide around together as a single unit;   (g) a first resistive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first portion of the slider mechanism, and the second end being connected to the spine, the first resistive band residing within the hoop and providing resistance to sliding of the first portion around the hoop; and   (h) a second resistive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the second portion of the slider mechanism, and the second end being connected to the spine, the second resistive band residing within the hoop and providing resistance to sliding of the second portion around the hoop.   
     
     
         2 . An exercise device comprising:
 (a) a seat, the seat having a front edge and a rear edge;   (b) a spine, the spine extending upward from the rear edge of the seat;   (c) a hoop, the hoop being connected to the spine and being generally parallel to the support surface; and   (d) a connector between the hoop and the spine at a circumferential portion of the hoop, the connector permitting the hoop to pivot relative to the spine.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2  further comprising at least one flexible rod, the flexible rod extending outward from the hoop at a first end of the flexible rod, the flexible rod being attached to a tensioning mechanism via a resistance cable at a second end of the flexible rod, the tensioning mechanism providing a tensile force in the resistance cable, and the flexible rod providing a force to oppose the pivoting of the hoop. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the length of the spine being adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the hoop having a diameter of between about twenty-four inches and thirty-four inches. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the hoop having a diameter of about twenty-eight inches. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the hoop having a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the connector comprising a dual-axis joint permitting the hoop to pivot about a first axis, the first axis being through the connector and generally tangential to the hoop, and a second axis through the connector, the second axis being generally orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , the at least one flexible rod being a pair of flexible rods, each being attached to the tensioning mechanism via a resistance cable. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , the force produced by the flexible rod being adjustable between a low level of resistance and a high level of resistance. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , the adjustment being by way of a resistance selector to increase and decrease the force opposing the pivoting. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , the exercise device further comprising a slider mechanism on the hoop, the slider mechanism being shaped and dimensioned to slide around at least a portion of the hoop. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 12 , the exercise device further comprising a resistive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the slider mechanism, and the second end being connected to the spine, the resistive band providing resistance to sliding of the slider mechanism around the hoop. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 12 , the slider mechanism further comprising a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion being able to slide around the hoop independently of the other portion and also being able to slide around together as a single unit. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , the exercise device further comprising a first resistive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first portion of the slider mechanism, and the second end being connected to the spine, the first resistive band providing resistance to sliding of the first portion around the hoop. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , the first resistive band residing within the hoop. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , the exercise device further comprising a second resistive band having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the second portion of the slider mechanism, and the second end being connected to the spine, the second resistive band residing within the hoop and providing resistance to sliding of the second portion around the hoop. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 17 , the second resistive band residing within the hoop. 
     
     
         19 . A method of exercising the core muscles of a person, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an exercise device resting on a generally horizontal surface, the exercise device having a seat, the seat having a front edge and a rear edge; a spine, the spine extending upward from the rear edge of the seat; a hoop, the hoop being connected to the spine and being generally parallel to the support surface; a connector between the hoop and the spine at a circumferential portion of the hoop, the connector permitting the hoop to pivot relative to the spine; and at least one flexible rod, the flexible rod extending outward from the hoop at a first end of the flexible rod, the flexible rod being attached to a tensioning mechanism via a resistance cable at a second end of the flexible rod, the tensioning mechanism providing a tensile force in the resistance cable, and the flexible rod providing a force to oppose the pivoting of the hoop.   (b) the person sitting on the-seat, the hoop encircling the upper body of the person; and   (c) the person grasping the hoop with both of the person's hands.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the step of grasping the hoop further comprising the steps of grasping the hoop with the person's left hand on a first portion of the hoop and grasping the hoop with the person's right hand on the second portion of the hoop, the first portion and the second portion each being able to slide around the hoop independently of the other portion and also being able to slide around together as a single unit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of performing an oblique twist by the person laterally twisting their upper body about their waist while maintaining their grasp on the hoop. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of performing an abdominal crunch by the person bending forward about the person's waist while pivoting the hoop about a generally horizontal axis through the connector. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of performing a radial abdominal crunch to the person's right by:
 (a) pivoting the hoop about the connector such that the hoop is oblique to the horizontal and a portion of the hoop to the person's left is higher than a portion of the hoop to the person's right; and   (b) the person twisting down and to the right about the person's waist while maintaining the grasp on the hoop, the person's hands passing from the person's upper left side to the person's lower right side.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of performing a radial abdominal crunch to the person's left by:
 (a) pivoting the hoop about the connector such that the hoop is oblique to the horizontal and a portion of the hoop to the person's right is higher than a portion of the hoop to the person's left; and   (b) the person twisting down and to the left about the person's waist while maintaining the grasp on the hoop, the person's hands passing from the person's upper right side to the person's lower left side.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of performing an infinity abdominal crunch by:
 (a) pivoting the hoop about the connector such that the hoop is oblique to the horizontal and a portion of the hoop to the person's left is higher than a portion of the hoop to the person's right;   (b) the person twisting down and to the right about the person's waist while maintaining the grasp on the hoop, the person's hands passing from the person's upper left side to the person's lower right side;   (c) the person unbending from the person's waist while pivoting the hoop about a horizontal axis through the connector such that the person is in a generally upright position;   (d) pivoting the hoop about the connector such that the hoop is oblique to the horizontal and a portion of the hoop to the person's right is higher than a portion of the hoop to the person's left;   (e) the person twisting down and to the left about the person's waist while maintaining the grasp on the hoop, the person's hands passing from the person's upper right side to the person's lower left side; and   (f) the person unbending from the person's waist while pivoting the  0  hoop about a horizontal axis through the connector such that the person is in a generally upright position.   
       whereby the person's hands trace a generally sideways figure-eight pattern.