MODIFIED ELASTIC GYM BALL

Abstract

A modified elastic gym ball includes a hollow spherical body, a plurality of first polygonal column bumps and a plurality of second polygonal column bumps. The hollow spherical body has an outer surface. The plurality of first polygonal column bumps and the plurality of second polygonal column bumps are individually protruded from the outer surface by a first protrusive height and a second protrusive height different from the first protrusive height, respectively.

Claims

1. A modified elastic gym ball, comprising: a hollow spherical body, having an outer surface; a plurality of first polygonal column bumps, protruding individually from the outer surface by a first protrusive height; and a plurality of second polygonal column bumps, protruding individually from the outer surface by a second protrusive height different from the first protrusive height.

2. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first polygonal column bumps and the plurality of second polygonal column bumps is shaped to be a hexagonal column bump.

3. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first polygonal column bumps and the plurality of second polygonal column bumps are all protruded from the outer surface as a unique piece.

4. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 1, wherein the first protrusive height is smaller than the second protrusive height.

5. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 4, wherein the first protrusive height is between 1 mm and 8 mm

6. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 5, wherein a difference between the first protrusive height and the second protrusive height is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

7. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first polygonal column bumps and the plurality of second polygonal column bumps are evenly distributed on the outer surface.

8. The modified elastic gym ball of claim 7, wherein a number ratio of the plurality of first polygonal column bumps to the plurality of second polygonal column bumps is between 1:2 and 1:4.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematically perspective view of a first embodiment of the modified elastic gym ball in accordance with the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematically enlarged view of area A of FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematically cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 along line B-B; and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows schematically another embodiment of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] The invention disclosed herein is directed to a modified elastic gym ball. In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

[0029] Refer now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3; where FIG. 1 is a schematically perspective view of a first embodiment of the modified elastic gym ball in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematically enlarged view of area A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematically cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 along line B-B. As shown, the modified elastic gym ball 1 (the gym ball thereafter) is structured to have a hollow spherical body 11 having an outer surface 111, a plurality of first polygonal column bumps (12 and 19 in the figures) and a plurality of second polygonal column bumps (13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 in the figures). Each of the first polygonal column bumps 19 are surrounded by six of the second polygonal column bumps 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

[0030] In this embodiment, the hollow spherical body 11 can be made of an ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin, which is a thermoplastic polymer material featured in high strength, satisfied toughness and good workability. Also, explosion-proof ability is further provided to the gym ball 1, by which the gym ball 1 would shrink inward, instead of exploding outward, upon being pierced by a sharp object. Thereupon, safety of the user can be ensured. Alternatively, the hollow spherical body 11 can be made of a PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) material or a TPE (Thermoplastic elastomer) material the like, so that the gym ball 1 can have sufficient elasticity and heavy load capacity. In addition, small explosion-proof bubbles can be added into the material for producing the hollow spherical body 11, such that the gym ball 1 could present considerable explosion-proof ability. Further, a pearl powder can be added into the material for producing the hollow spherical body 11, such that the outer surface 111 of the gym ball 1 can thus present smoothness and higher light reflectivity.

[0031] In addition, a diameter of the hollow spherical body 11 can be, but not limited to, 45 cm, 55 cm, 65 cm, 75 cm, or a proper scale according to specific users.

[0032] Though the first polygonal column bump 12 and the second polygonal column bump 13 of this embodiment are both structured to be respective hexagonal column bumps, yet they both can also be constructed to be cylindrical column bumps, triangular column bumps, quadrangular column bumps, or any other polygonal column bumps the like according to users' needs.

[0033] When the gym ball 1 of the present invention is applied, since the contact area between each of the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 and the user is broader than that between the aforesaid conventional conical bump and the user, so the forcing upon the user by the first polygonal column bump 12 or the second polygonal column bump 13 would present a distributed pattern, such that user's painfulness would be significantly reduced. Upon the reduced painfulness, the user can thus relax himself/herself completely while in exercising with the gym ball 1, also the spiritual concentration of the user can be enhanced, and thus various postures can be tried without body pain to obtain respective expected functions.

[0034] While the user applies the gym ball 1 to perform rolling, sitting up, lying down, or any the like, the first polygonal column bump 12 and/or the second polygonal column bump 13 would contact the user to proceed massage or stimulus upon the specific contact portion. Thereupon, specific muscle groups of the user can be stretched, and the blood circulation of the user can be promoted. Importantly, the application of the gym ball 1 provided by the present invention won't be accompanied by excessive pain that usually happens to the conventional gym ball having conical bumps, due that the contact area between each of the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 and the user is broader than that between the aforesaid conventional conical bump and the user.

[0035] In the present invention, when the gym ball 1 is to be stored after the user finishes his/her workout, since the contact area between each of the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 and the ground is broader than that between the aforesaid conventional conical bump and the ground, so the gym ball 1 of the present invention is much easier to be settled stationary without arbitrary rolling at a fixed location, than the conventional gym ball can do. Thereupon, the aforesaid storage problem for the gym ball can thus be resolved.

[0036] As shown, in this embodiment, the first polygonal column bump 12 protrudes from the outer surface 111 by a first protrusive height H1, and the second polygonal column bump 13 protrudes from the outer surface 111 by a second protrusive height H2 different from the first protrusive height H1.

[0037] Preferably, the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 are all protruded from the outer surface 111 as a unique piece, as shown in FIG 3. Alternatively, the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 can be fixed onto to the outer surface 111 by heat molding and then cold forming processes, or can be attached onto the outer surface 111 by firmly adhering.

[0038] In the present invention, a first protrusive height H1 of the first polygonal column bump 12 is smaller than a second protrusive height H2 of the second polygonal column bump 13. Preferably, the first protrusive height H1 can be between 1 mm and 8 mm, and a difference between the first protrusive height H1 and the second protrusive height H2 can be between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0039] In addition, in this present invention, the first polygonal column bumps 12 and the second polygonal column bumps 13 are evenly distributed over the outer surface 111 of the gym ball 1, so as thereby to exert massage and stimulus regularly upon the user.

[0040] Preferably, a number ratio of the first polygonal column bumps 12 to the second polygonal column bumps 13 is between 1:2 and 1:4.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of FIG. 3 is schematically shown. The modified elastic gym ball 1 (the gym ball thereafter) is structured to have a hollow spherical body (not labeled in the figure) having an outer surface 111a, a plurality of first polygonal column bumps (12a and 19a in the figure) and a plurality of second polygonal column bumps (13a and 16a in the figure).

[0042] In this embodiment, each of the first polygonal column bumps and the second polygonal column bumps is formed as a tapered polygonal column bump, namely a polygonal column bump with a sidewall thereof not perpendicular to a top surface thereof. In addition, the first polygonal column bump protrudes from the outer surface 111a by a first protrusive height H1a, and the second polygonal column bump protrudes from the outer surface 111a by a second protrusive height H2a different from the first protrusive height H1a. In this embodiment, the only difference thereof to the aforesaid embodiment shown from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 is the construction of the first polygonal column bump and the second polygonal column bump, while the rest of elements in both embodiments are all formed identically.

[0043] In summary, since the conventional gym ball is furnished with the conical bumps, painfulness to the user is highly possible, and thereby satisfied body relaxation would be impossible. Also, ill yoga postures would be expected due to a human instinct for lessening painfulness. Definitely, expected functions from practicing yoga would be away to be obtained, and even worse a risk in sports injuries can be foreseen. In addition, also because of the conical bumps of the conventional gym ball, the gym ball in storage would be hard to be positioned stationary, and arbitrary rolling of the gym ball within the storage room can be expected. Therefore, either the storage by deflating the gym ball (and being inflated lately for the next usage) or that by keeping inside the net bag (further fixed onto a wall or a roof) may waste time and labors of the user or related personnel, and will definitely cause inconvenience to some degree.

[0044] By providing the modified elastic gym ball of the present invention to include a hollow spherical body having an outer surface, a plurality of first polygonal column bumps and a plurality of second polygonal column bumps, since a contact area between each the polygonal column bump and the user is broader than that between the conventional conical bump and the user, and further since a contact area between each the polygonal column bump and the ground is broader than that between the conventional conical bump and the ground, so the aforesaid problems in usage painfulness and storage rolling, caused by the conventional conical bumps, can be substantially resolved.

[0045] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.