FITNESS TRAINING AID

Abstract

A fitness training aid including a flexible, impermeable membrane defining a chamber fillable at least in part with a first flowable material and at least in part with a second flowable material, at least closure coupled to the membrane, at least one gripping member coupled to the membrane, and at least one wall positioned within the chamber. The closure positionable between at least one open position enabling the first and/or second flowable materials to be introduced within the chamber, and a closed position that seals the first and/or second flowable materials within the chamber. The at least one wall and the membrane define at least first and second compartments within the membrane. The at least one wall enables fluid communication of the first and/or second flowable materials between the first and second compartments.

Claims

1. A fitness training aid comprising: a flexible, impermeable membrane defining a chamber Tillable at least in part with a first flowable material and at least in part with a second flowable material; at least one closure coupled to the membrane, the closure positionable between at least one open position enabling the first and/or second flowable materials to be introduced within the chamber, and a closed position that seals the first and/or second flowable materials within the chamber; at least one gripping member coupled to the membrane; and at least one wall positioned within the chamber, the at least one wall and the membrane defining at least first and second compartments within the membrane, the at least one wall enabling fluid communication of the first and/or second flowable materials between the first and second compartments.

2. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the at least one wall is attached to an inner surface of the membrane.

3. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall includes at least one opening for facilitating the transfer of the first and/or second flowable materials from one compartment to another.

4. The fitness training aid of claim 3, wherein the at least one opening is circular in shape.

5. The fitness training aid of claim 3, wherein the at least one opening is at least first and second openings.

6. The fitness training aid of claim 3, wherein the first and second opening are substantially the same size.

7. The fitness training aid of claim 3, wherein the first and second openings have are of different sizes.

8. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall defines a fluid passageway area and a fluid passageway ratio, wherein the fluid passageway ratio of is within the range of 0.5 and 3.

9. The fitness training aid of claim 8, wherein the fluid passageway ratio is within the range of 0.7 and 2.

10. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall is at least first and second walls.

11. The fitness training aid of claim 10, wherein the first and second walls are substantially parallel to each other.

12. The fitness training aid of claim 10, wherein the first and second walls are angled with respect to each other.

13. The fitness training aid of claim 10, wherein the at least first and second walls is at least first, second and third walls.

14. The fitness training aid of claim 13, wherein the first and second walls are substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the third wall is substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first and second walls.

15. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the membrane has a cylindrical shape.

16. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the membrane has spherical shape.

17. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the membrane is flexible.

18. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the first flowable material is a liquid.

19. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the first flowable material is a plurality of small solid particles.

20. The fitness training aid of claim 1, wherein the second flowable material is a gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a training aid in accordance with one implementation of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the training aid of FIG. 1, and taken along line A-A of FIG. 2B.

[0023] FIG. 2B is a transverse cross-sectional view of the training aid taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a training aid in accordance with another implementation of the present invention shown with a portion of the membrane removed.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a training aid in accordance with another implementation of the present invention shown with a portion of the membrane removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the training aid indicated as a whole by the number 10 comprises a membrane 11 delimiting or defining a chamber 12 on the inside of the membrane. The membrane 11 is body having a wall that is made of a material impermeable to fluids. In one implementation, the membrane is made of a flexible material, such as a plastic. In other implementations, the membrane may be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (TPU), synthetic rubber (CSM), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CPSE), other polymeric materials or combinations thereof. In other implementations, the membrane 11 can be formed as a rigid, non-flexible body. The chamber 12 can be filled at least in part with a liquid L or small particles. The liquid can be water or other liquids with a similar viscosity. In other implementations, the liquid can have a higher viscosity and/or density than water. The small particles can be sand, or beads, pellets, balls, flakes, and/or pieces formed of a plastic material, a metal, a polyurethane, stone, glass, an elastomeric material, a thermoset material, and combinations thereof. The aid 10 can include a re-closable opening 13 to enable the liquid, the small particles, or combinations thereof to be added or removed from the chamber 12 of the membrane 11. Preferably, the remaining volume of the chamber 12 is filled with a gas G, for example compressed air. In other implementations, the gas may be ambient air, nitrogen or combinations thereof. The opening 13 is associated with a closure 14 positionable between a closed position and at least one open position. When closed, the closure 14 assists in sealing the chamber 12. When opened, the liquid or particles can be added to or removed from the chamber 12.

[0027] Preferably, the closure 14 is configured to be reclose-able so as to be opened and closed so as to allow the chamber to be filled or emptied several times. Advantageously, the closure 14 can also be used to allow pressurized gas to be inserted into the chamber. In other implementations the closure 14 can be first and second spaced apart closures with the first closure configured for the adding or removal of the liquid or particles, and the second closure configured for adding or releasing gas into the chamber 12. In one implementation, the membrane 11 is formed of a flexible material and can be shaped in such a way that, once the chamber 13 has been filled and sealed, the training aid takes on a specific shape for use. In the implementations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the training aid can have, for example, an elongated tubular shape, more precisely a cylindrical shape. In other implementations, the aid 10 can be formed in other shapes, such as, for example, spherical, hemispherical, irregular, generally polygonal or combinations thereof.

[0028] According to the invention, the membrane 11 is shaped in such a way that, once the chamber 12 has been filled and sealed, the training aid takes on a specific shape for use. In the implementations of FIGS. 1 and 3, the training aid 10 has, for example, an elongated tubular shape, more precisely a cylindrical shape. The tension of the membrane 11, and therefore the stiffness of the training aid 10, can be regulated by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the gas in the chamber 12. The tension of the membrane 11, and therefore the stiffness of the training aid, can be regulated by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the gas in the chamber 12.

[0029] According to the invention, the chamber 12 comprises at least two compartments in fluid communication with one another. In the implementation of FIG. 1, the chamber 12 comprises three compartments 12a, 12b, 12c, with the compartments separated by one or more walls 15 having one or more openings 16 to allow the liquid L to flow from one compartment 12a, 12b or 12c to an adjoining compartment 12a, 12b or 12c. In other implementations, the aid 10 may include 3, 4, 5 or more walls to defining 3, 4, 5 or more compartments.

[0030] In practice, the wall 15 serves to limit the speed with which the fluid moves between the ends of the chamber, especially when the aid is moved quickly. In the implementation illustrated, the wall 15 comprises a lamina, the perimeter 15a of which is connected to the inner surface 11a of the membrane 11.

[0031] The lamina or wall 15 may be made of the same material as the membrane 11 or in another material. In the first case, the wall 15 or lamina can be thicker than the membrane 11 so as to have less flexibility and to give the aid greater stability when in use. Alternatively, the lamina may be substantially rigid. Suitable materials for the wall 15 include, for example, polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Polycarbonate, other polymeric materials or combinations thereof.

[0032] The one or more openings 16 in the wall 15 enable the liquid to pass through the opening from one of the chambers 12, 12b or 12c to another of the chambers 12a, 12b or 12c. The openings 16 act as passages for the transfer of the liquid L between compartments. The size, number, and or position of the openings 16 in the wall 15 enable the flow of the liquid or particles to be controlled or governed. The total area of the openings with respect to the cross-section of the aid at the point where the wall is attached determines the speed at which the liquid can flow from one compartment of the chamber to another. The number of openings 16 and their size is chosen based on the damping effect one wishes to achieve on the liquid L inside the chamber 12.

[0033] In one implementation, each wall 15 defines a fluid passageway area that is composed of the collective area of the one or more openings 16 in the wall 15 or the porosity or permeability of the wall 15. In one implementation, the fluid passageway ratio of the wall is the fluid passageway area over the surface area occupied by the wall 15. In one implementation, the fluid passageway ratio is within the range of 0.5 and 3. In another implementation, the fluid passageway ratio is within the range of 0.7 and 2. The openings 16, preferably, are circular in shape so as to avoid forces being concentrated on the edge of the openings, which could cause lacerations to the lamina. In other implementations, the openings can be form of other shapes such as polygonal, oval, irregular, or combinations thereof. Advantageously, said openings 16 are distributed on the surface of the wall in such a way that the passage of the fluid is homogeneous and independent of the orientation of the aid in space.

[0034] In the implementation illustrated, the openings 16 are arranged in a circular series around the axis of the tubular body. In alternative implementations, the wall 15 may be connected to the inner surface of the membrane only by one part of its perimeter. The passage of liquid may therefore be in the space between the wall and the inner surface of the membrane 11. The wall may also comprise several separate laminas connected independently to the inner surface 11a of the membrane 11.

[0035] In another implementation, the wall 15 may comprise a permeable, fibrous, natural or synthetic fabric. In this case also, by adopting a more or less permeable fabric, it is possible to vary the speed at which the liquid passes through the wall 15 to move from one compartment to another adjacent compartment. In another implementation, the wall may be formed partially of a permeable material and partially of a non-permeable material with or without openings.

[0036] According to the invention, the chamber 12 may be provided with several walls 15. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the walls 15 are arranged next to one another along the axis of the tubular body and parallel to one another. In his way, the damping effect on the inertia of the liquid is felt when the movement of the liquid L inside the chamber 12 takes place in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the tubular body.

[0037] In one implementations, the aid can include one or more handles or gripping members. In one implementation, there may be reinforcing strips 17 on the outer surface of the membrane 11. Preferably, said strips are placed on the membrane in the zone where the walls 15 are connected to the inner surface 11a. The function of the strips is to make the membrane less deformable underneath as a result of the forces exerted on it by the walls when they are struck by the moving liquid.

[0038] The training aid according to the invention is provided with gripping members 18, such as handles or similar, for example, so that the aid can be grasped and moved when performing training exercises. In one implementation, the gripping members 18 can be a pair of spaced-apart handles to facilitate the grasping and maneuvering of the aid 10.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates another implementation of the fitness training aid 10. The chamber 11 can be provided with two spaced-apart transversely extending walls 15 within the chamber 12, and a third wall 15 longitudinally extending between the first and second spaced apart walls 15. The walls 15 can substantially perpendicular to one another. The training aid configured in such a way makes it possible to dampen the inertia of the liquid L when it moves around the chamber 12, in different directions. Starting from this implementation, it is possible to vary the number of walls 15, arranging them partly parallel and partly transversal to one another. In other implementations, other numbers of walls or configurations of walls can be used to provide different properties, flow-rates, etc. of the liquid or particles within the membrane 11.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a training aid 10 where the membrane 11, once it has been filled with the liquid L and the gas G, takes on a substantially spherical shape. In this implementation also, it is preferable to arrange at least two walls 15 transversal and intersecting with one another, so as to obtain a response from the aid that is as uniform as possible and independent of the grip position. The remaining characteristics of the training aid are the same as those described for the implementation shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of skill in the art will understand that the invention may also be practiced without many of the details described above. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to include all such alternatives, modifications and variations set forth within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Further, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail because such structures or functions would be known to one skilled in the art. Unless a term is specifically and overtly defined in this specification, the terminology used in the present specification is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though may be used conjunction with the description of certain specific embodiments of the present invention.