Foam exercising roller

Abstract

An exercise foam roller having a plurality of elongated tube sectors where each sector has first and second longitudinal edges with at least a portion of the outer surface covered with foam and hinges interconnecting the tube sectors along their first longitudinal edges and fasteners detachably interconnecting the tube sectors along their second longitudinal edges.

Claims

1. An exercise roller, comprising, a pair of elongated cylindrical tube halves each having, terminal ends, a longitudinal center section and first and second end portions, first and second longitudinal edges, hinge means for interconnecting the tube halves along their first longitudinal edges, means for detachably interconnecting the tube halves along their second longitudinal edges to form a cylinder, a smooth surface low density foam covering the longitudinal center section of each tube half, and a higher density foam surface covering the first and second end portions of each tube half.

2. The exercise roller of claim 1 and further including semi-circular end caps disposed at the terminal ends of each tube half.

3. The exercise roller of claim 1 where the hinge means allow the cylindrical tube halves to be rotated one hundred eighty degrees with respect to each other forming adjacent similarly oriented cylindrical tube halves.

4. The exercise roller of claim 3 and further including at least one removable accessory compartment within one of the tube sectors.

5. An exercise foam roller, comprising, a pair of elongated rigid cylindrical tube sectors, each having, first and second terminal ends, an integral semi-circular end-enclosure cap disposed at each of the first and second terminal ends, first and second longitudinal edges, an outer surface, and foam covering at least a portion of the outer surface, hinge means for interconnecting the tube sectors along their first longitudinal edges where the hinge means allow the cylindrical tube halves to be rotated one hundred eighty degrees with respect to each other forming adjacent similarly oriented cylindrical tube halves that when the longitudinal edges are placed on a floor the tube sectors form an exercise fulcrum, means for detachably interconnecting the tube sectors along their second longitudinal edges to form an enclosed cylinder for the storage of exercise accessories.

6. The exercise foam roller of claim 5 and further including, a pair of opposed arcuate arms pivotally attached to the respective first longitudinal edges of the tube halves for securing exercising accessories disposed within the interconnected tube halves.

7. An exercise roller, comprising, first and second rigid semi-cylindrical base members, each having, first and second coplanar longitudinal edges, first and second terminal ends, end-enclosing flat semi-circular caps disposed at each of the terminal ends, hinge means for interconnecting the base members along their first longitudinal edges where the hinge means allow the base members to be rotated to a position where the first and second longitudinal edges of the first and second base members are co planar when open, means for detachably interconnecting the base members along their second longitudinal edges to form an enclosed cylinder when closed for storage of exercise accessories.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the foam roller of the present invention showing an individual using the roller for back massage.

(2) FIG. 2 is an end view of the roller in an open position with the longitudinal edges of the tube halves in contact with the floor and a person performing core exercises or sit-ups using the roller as a fulcrum.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the foam roller of the present invention in an open position revealing the interior storage space.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the roller in an open position and showing a rolled up exercise mat contained within the interior storage space.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the roller with the tube halves closed.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention in an open position and with mat retaining clasps in a retracted position against the inside surface of the tube halves.

(7) FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 except the mat retaining clasps are in a raised position ready to receive and retain a rolled exercise mat.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment with the tube halves is a partially closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The preferred form of the foam exercise roller 2 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The roller includes two identical tube halves 4 and 6, each having a longitudinal hinge edge 8 and 12 and each having a longitudinal closure edge 10 and 14. The tube halves 4 and 6 are pivotally interconnected along their longitudinal hinge edges 8 and 12 by hinges 16. The closure edges 10 and 14 of the tube halves are selectively interconnected by fastening bands 18. The roller 2, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, is formed when the tube halves are closed, that is, one or both halves are pivoted about hinges 16 until the closure edges 10 and 14 come into contact with each other. Closure of the tube halves is maintained by the circular bands around the roller whose ends are interlocked to secure the tube halves together in a cylindrical configuration. Conversely, the roller 2 is opened when the circular bands are disconnected and the tube halves are pivoted about the hinges 16 to the positions shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

(10) The open position of the roller reveals the hollow interior of the tube halves 4 and 6 being utilized for storage space, generally indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 3. The primary use for the storage space is to accommodate a rolled up exercise mat 22 secured in place by retaining straps 24 anchored to the tube half 6. The storage space can also include a removable compartment 26 in tube half 6 for keeping keys, credit cards and the like. A space in tube half 4 opposing the compartment 26 can be occupied by a number of other accessories such as an audio speaker 27. Each of the interior surfaces of the tube halves may be lined with netting to enclose various other items to be stored during use of the roller.

(11) Semi-circular end caps 28 are disposed at the terminal ends of each tube half to complete the enclosure of the interior of the roller when the tube halves are closed. The end caps may be perforated with one or more apertures to allow for the passage of air through the interior of the roller.

(12) The outer surface of each tube half is covered with one or more arrangements of foam. For most foam configurations ethylene-vinyl acetate is preferred. In the preferred embodiment there are multiple sections of foam covering, each of which may be covered with different kinds or densities of foam or different foam surface configurations to effect different kinds of muscle pressure. The center section 30 of the roller 2, that is, the combination of short sections on both sides of the circumferential groove 32 of the tube halves, is covered with a smooth surface variety of foam having broad grooves 34 angularly disposed to the longitudinal edges of the tube halves and traversing across the outer surface of the center section of foam, as shown in FIG. 5. The short sections are slightly spaced apart to accommodate the slight protrusion of portions of the human spine, as shown in FIG. 1.

(13) The end portions 40 and 42 of each tube half are preferably covered with a higher density and roughly textured foam, including dimples, flexible bumps and narrow grooves adapted to apply the necessary local pressure to achieve the desired myofascial and trigger point release.

(14) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a different kind of massage is achieved by planting the open sides of the tube halves 4 and 6 on a floor surface where they remain relatively stationary while the one exercising moves over or around the textured grid surface to stimulate a broader area muscle such as the gluteus maximus. The stationary tube halves also act as a fulcrum for sit-ups.

(15) FIGS. 6 through 8 depict an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the roller 50 is shorter in length than that of the preferred form but still provides apparatus for storing an exercise mat. Tube halves 54 and 56 are pivotally attached along inside longitudinal edges 55 and 57 by hinges 58. The roller 50 is formed by pivoting the tube halves to a position where the outer longitudinal edges 62 and 64 come into contact with each other. The contact between the outer edges is maintained by a latch 66, magnets or other form of fastener.

(16) Pivotally hinged to the respective inside longitudinal edges are arcuate grasping arms 72 and 74 which are provided to hold an exercise mat 80 in storage within the roller 50 when the roller is not in use or in transit. Each of the arms carries extensible pressure nubs 76 that engage the body of the rolled exercise mat 80 to retain the mat within the arms when the tube halves are closed, as shown in FIG. 8.

(17) Each of the tube halves of the alternative embodiment are preferably covered with ethylene-vinyl acetate foam 82 that carries broad angular grooves 84 or some other desired texture or a grid pattern which produces the local pressures that the roller applies to muscles of the body.