Portable Erercise Equipment

Abstract

The multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention includes matable first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies that in mated condition provide a generally spherical exercise ball that in one exercise modality of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention is attached to external exercise equipment such as the cable of an exercise machine or resistance band and can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and that in another exercise modality thereof the first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in unmated condition each provide a freestanding generally hemispheric exercise half body and can be used by a subject for balance and other allied training exercises. The first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in unmated condition are each constituted of a plurality of spherical caps in nested relation that may be unpacked and used by a subject for balance and other allied training exercises of low, medium and high use difficulty.

Claims

1. Portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band, comprising: a member shaped as an oversized basketball so cut around its center plane as to substantially provide two halves each having a peripheral edge; a zipper attached to the peripheral edges of said two halves that extends substantially therearound and releaseably joins the two halves; each half has a wall defining at inside and an outside wherein the wall of each half is provided with two slots that open thereinthrough in such a way that the two slots of each half are aligned and face each other on opposing sides thereof and are each proximate to and spaced from the peripheral edge thereof; an elongated strap having ends and an O-ring on each end is inserted into and attached to the inside wall of each half such that one end with its O-ring extends out one slot and the other end with its O-ring extends out the other slot of each half.

2. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, wherein the member sized as an oversized basketball is an oversized basketball one which is substantially (1.5) inch radius larger than a standard sized basketball.

3. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, wherein the member shaped as an oversized basketball is cut around its central plane all around into two separate and independent halves.

4. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, wherein the slots are each elongated slots sized to admit an O-ring thereinthrough.

5. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, wherein the O-rings are threadably attached to each said strap end.

6. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, further including a liner the fixed to the inside wall of each said half.

7. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 6, wherein each said liner is segmented.

8. The portable exercise equipment to enable a subject to exercise against an exercise machine's cable or resistance band of claim 1, where said member is partially cut around its center plane so as to provide two halves, each having a peripheral edge, said halves joined about the portion that remains uncut that connects the two halves and serves as a pivot hinge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] These and other objects, advantageous features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art by having reference to the following, solely exemplary, detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof, and to the drawings, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of one constitutive generally hemispheric exercise half body of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded pictorial view of one constitutive generally hemispheric exercise half body of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 respectively are pictorial views of the free-standing spherical domes of different height and correspondingly easy, medium and hard use difficulty into which the generally hemispheric exercise half bodies of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention may be selectively configured;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a pictorial view and FIG. 8 is a partial pictorial view showing the generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin adapted to receive the first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in mated condition that includes an attachment member to releasably attach to a weight machine's cable or resistance bands of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a pictorial view useful in explaining the manner of use of the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8;

[0030] FIGS. 10, 11 are pictorial views respectively showing a generally oval skin adapted to receive first and second generally semioval exercise half bodies in mated condition and/or a standard football that includes multiple attachment members of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a pictorial view showing the generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin adapted to receive the first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in mated condition that includes first and second antipodal attachment members to releasably attach to a weight machine's cable or resistance band of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 13 is pictorial view useful in explaining the manner of use of the embodiment of FIG. 12;

[0033] FIGS. 14A-B through FIGS. 21A-B are pictorial diagrams of a subject undergoing different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed using the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 22 is a pictorial view from the front and to the right of the outside of another embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 23 is a front elevational view of the outside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 24 is a back elevation of the outside of the same embodiment of portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 25 is a top elevation of the outside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 26 is an elevational view of the right side of the outside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 27 is a pictorial view from the front of the outside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention in open condition;

[0040] FIG. 28 is a pictorial view from the front of the inside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention in open condition; and

[0041] FIG. 29 is a pictorial view from the front of the inside of the same embodiment of the portable exercise equipment of the present invention with a basketball received therewithin and showing the liner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 1, generally designated at 10 is a pictorial view showing the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment 10 includes mating first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies generally designated 12, 14. The generally hemispheric exercise half bodies 12, 14 each include matable spherical caps to be described that in mated condition define each said generally hemispheric exercise half body and that are cooperative to selectively provide free-standing spherical domes to be described of different height and correspondingly easy, medium and hard use difficulty. As used herein, spherical cap and spherical dome are interchangeable terms that refer to the geometrical shape defined as a spherical segment of one base.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 2, generally designated at 20 is a pictorial view of one constitutive generally hemispheric exercise half body of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. The generally hemispheric exercise half body 20 has a generally circular top face generally designated 22 to be described at the equatorial plane thereof.

[0044] The generally hemispheric exercise half body 20 includes a plurality of spherical caps 24, 26, 28 that are adapted to fit together in interfitting nested relation to provide the generally hemispheric exercise half-body 20, as shown, and that when unpacked are cooperative to provide freestanding spherical domes of different use difficulty to be described.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 3, generally designated at 30 is an exploded pictorial view of one constitutive generally hemispheric exercise half body of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. The generally hemispheric exercise half body 30 is comprised of spherical caps generally designated 42, 52, 72 that are adapted to fit together in nested relation such that the spherical cap 42 is received by the spherical cap 52, but itself does not receive another spherical cap; whereas the spherical cap 72 receives the spherical cap 52 but is not received by another spherical cap; and the spherical cap 52 both receives the spherical cap 42 and is received by the spherical cap 72.

[0046] The spherical cap 42 is shaped as a spherical segment of one base. As shown, the cap 42 has a body 44 defining a spherically convex outer surface. A flat top 46 adapted to stand upon is provided at and across its base.

[0047] The spherical cap 52 likewise is shaped as a spherical segment of one base. As shown, the cap 52 has a body 54 defining a spherically convex outer surface. A top face generally designated 56 to be described is provided at its base. The top face 56 includes an annular portion 58 in the same plane as its base surrounding a circular, central opening generally designated 60, also in the same plane as its base. The circular, central opening 60 opens to an inner concave spherical cavity generally designated 62 defined by the interior walls of the body 54.

[0048] The radius of the opening 60 matches in size the radius of the face 46 of the spherical cap 52, and the depth and concavity of the inner concave spherical cavity 62 defined by the inside walls of the body 54 match in size the height and in curvature the spherically convex outer surface of the body 44 of the spherical cap 42.

[0049] The spherical cap 72 is shaped as a spherical segment of one base. As shown, the cap 72 has a body 74 defining a spherically convex outer surface. A top face generally designated 76 to be described is provided at its base. The top face 76 includes an annular portion 78 in the same plane as its base surrounding a circular, central opening generally designated 80, also in the same plane as its base. The circular, central opening 80 opens to an inner concave spherical cavity generally designated 82 defined by the interior walls of the body 74.

[0050] The radius of the opening 80 matches in size the radius of the face 56, and the depth and concavity of the inner concave spherical cavity 82 defined by the inside walls of the body 74 respectively match in size and curvature the height and the spherically convex outer surface of the body 54 of the spherical cap 52.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, generally designated at 90, 100, and 110 respectively are pictorial views of the freestanding spherical domes of different height and correspondingly easy, medium and hard use difficulty into which the hemispheric exercise half bodies of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention may be selectively configured.

[0052] Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, generally designated at 90 is the spherical dome of easy use difficulty. The spherical dome of easy use difficulty 90 is constituted by the spherical caps of the generally hemispheric half bodies of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention of the type, as described above, that are received by but do not receive another spherical cap. As appears more fully hereinbelow, used to stand thereupon enables a subject to balance thereon and undergo different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed thereon of easy use difficulty.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 5, generally designated at 100 is the spherical dome of medium use difficulty. The spherical dome of medium use difficulty 100 is constituted by the spherical caps of the generally hemispheric exercise half bodies of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention of the type, described above, that are received by but do not receive another spherical cap, in nested relation with the spherical caps of the type, described above, that both receive another spherical cap and are received by another spherical cap. As appears more fully hereinbelow, used to stand thereupon enables a subject to balance thereon and undergo different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed thereon of medium use difficulty.

[0054] Referring now to FIG. 6, generally designated at 110 is the spherical dome of hard use difficulty. The spherical dome of hard use difficulty 110 is constituted by the spherical caps of the generally hemispheric exercise half bodies of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention of the type, described above, that receive but are not received by another spherical cap, in nested relation with the spherical caps of the type, described above, that both receive another and are received by another spherical cap, in nested relation with the spherical caps of the type, described above, that are received by but do not receive another spherical cap. As appears more fully below, used to stand thereupon enables a subject to balance thereon and undergo different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed thereon of hard use difficulty.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 7, generally designated at 120 is a pictorial view and generally designated at 122 in FIG. 8 is a partial pictorial view showing the generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin adapted to receive the first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in mated condition that includes an attachment member to releasably attach a weight machine's cable of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. As seen therein, circumferentially zippered skin 124 of nylon rip stop material or other thin, flexible and substantially inelastic material or other materials such as leather is sized to removably receive the generally spherical exercise ball of the present invention.

[0056] A pair of O-rings 126, 128 are threadably attached to the skin 124. A strip 130, rectangular in shape, is first folded on itself to form a loop end; one of the loose ends of the strip 130 is next inserted into the O-ring 126, such that the loop end of the strip 130 rests against the O-ring 126, and the free ends thereof are brought into confronting relation and threadably fastened together, thereby attaching the strip 130 to the O-ring 126; then the strip 130, with the O-ring 126 attached thereto, is threadably fastened to an anchor patch 132, itself threadably fastened to the generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin 124, whereby the O-ring 126 and skin 124 are fastened together via the strip 130 and anchor patch 132. The O-ring 128 is attached to the skin 124 in the same way as the O-ring 126, but is not separately described again herein for the sake of brevity of explication. The attachment member may also be a single O-ring, not shown, attachment member.

[0057] The O-rings 126, 128 in the illustrated embodiment are located on the skin 124 on opposite sides of zipper 134, although in alternate embodiments, the O-rings 126, 128 could be located elsewhere on the skin 124 and a different releasable attachment than a circumferentially extending zipper could be employed without departing from the inventive concepts.

[0058] In an alternate embodiment, the circumferentially zippered generally spherical skin 124 may advantageously be sized to receive an ordinary sports ball such as a basketball, not shown, without departing from the inventive concepts.

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 9, generally designated at 140 is a pictorial view useful in explaining the manner of use of the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8. A carabiner 142 of a weight machine cable 144 is first attached to the skin 146 via the O-rings generally designated 148, and therewith to the generally spherical exercise ball it envelopes, not shown. When the skin enveloped exercise ball is gripped by the palm of the hand so as to straddle the O-rings 148, a subject is enabled to manipulate the ball and undergo different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed thereby as appears more fully hereinbelow.

[0060] Referring now to FIGS. 10, 11, generally designated at 160 in FIG. 10 and at 170 in FIG. 11 are pictorial views respectively showing a generally oval shaped zippered skin 162, 172 adapted to receive first and second generally semioval exercise half bodies in mated condition, not shown, or a standard football, not shown, that includes multiple attachment members generally designated 164, 174 of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. Preferably the plurality of attachment members 164, 174 are threadably attached to the skin, although they may be adhesively, laser welded or otherwise attached to the oval shaped, circumferentially zippered skin without departing from the inventive concepts.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 12, generally designated at 180 is a pictorial view showing a generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin adapted to receive first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in mated condition and/or a standard spherically shaped sports ball such as a basketball, both not shown, that includes first and second antipodal attachment members to releasably attach to a weight machine's cable of the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention. At the antipodes generally designated 182, 184 of the generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin 186, first and second pairs of O-rings 188, 190 and 192, 194 are respectively attached to the skin 186 in the manner described above in connection with the description of FIGS. 7, 8, not described again herein for the sake of brevity of explication.

[0062] A first force balancing strip of fabric or other strong, flexible material 196, such as nylon, is threadably attached along its length to the confronting inside arcuate surface of the skin 186, and, at each of its ends, is threadably attached to respective ones of the anchor patches to which the antipodal O-rings 190, 194 are attached. A second force balancing strip of fabric or other strong, flexible material, such as nylon, not shown, is threadably attached along its length to the confronting inside arcuate surface of the skin 186, and, at each of its ends, is threadably attached to respective ones of the anchor patches to which the antipodal O-rings 188, 192 are attached. The first and second force balancing strips are fastened to the skin in the same equatorial plane on opposing sides of the skin 186.

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 13, generally designated at 200 is a pictorial view useful in explaining the manner of use of the embodiment of FIG. 12. When the first and second antipodal O-rings generally designated 202, 204 are attached via a strap 206 to the cable end of exercise equipment, not shown, and the exercise ball generally designated 208 is gripped by the palm of the hand between the antipodal O-rings 202, 204 and manipulated, a subject is thereby enabled to undergo different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed thereby as appears more fully below.

[0064] The cable end of the exercise equipment thereby produces forces on the antipodal O-rings 202, 204, schematically illustrated by arrows 210. The forces 210 act to tear the first and second antipodal O-rings 202, 204 from off of the skin 186; however, the force balancing strip, not shown, on the side of the ball 208 opposite the side facing the cable end of the exercise equipment, reacts to the forces 210 exerted on the O-rings 202, 204 and produces counteracting balancing forces, schematically illustrated by arrows 212, which substantially prevent the antipodal O-rings 202, 204 from tearing off of the skin 214.

[0065] The force balancing strips and antipodal attachment members could advantageously be incorporated in any skin embodiments in accord with the present invention, such as the generally oval skins of the FIGS. 10, 11.

[0066] FIGS. 14A-B through FIGS. 21A-B are pictorial diagrams of a subject undergoing different exemplary exercises that can be able to be performed using the multi-modal portable exercise equipment of the present invention.

[0067] FIGS. 14A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted horizontal cable row exercise. FIGS. 15A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted horizontal cable court twist exercise.

[0068] FIGS. 16A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted, single arm cable diagonal throw exercise.

[0069] FIGS. 17A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a horizontal cable press exercise.

[0070] FIGS. 18A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a single leg dead lift exercise.

[0071] FIGS. 19A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squats exercise.

[0072] FIGS. 20A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a reverse lunge knee up exercise.

[0073] FIGS. 21A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a half kneel cable rotation twist exercise.

[0074] Another presently preferred embodiment of the portable exercise equipment in accord with the present invention will now be described in reference to the FIGS. 22-29, where the same parts are designated by the same reference numbers throughout.

[0075] The portable exercise equipment of the present invention generally designated 300 includes a slightly larger than regular sized basketball (or other member similarly sized and shaped) generally designated 302, (1.5) inches radius larger than the men's standard (29.5) inch circumference basketball in the presently preferred embodiment, that has been partially cut around its center plane so as to provide two halves 304, 306. (For a women's version, for example, a slightly larger than standard size has a (30) inch circumference, (1.5) inches radius larger than the women's standard (28.5) inch circumference basketball.) The halves 304, 306 are interconnected about an portion left uncut 308, best seen in FIGS. 27-28, that functions as a pivot hinge. Although the basketball 302 could be entirely cut around it's center plane into two separate and independent halves the uncut portion 308 left therebetween not only functions as a pivot hinge but also facilitates the installation of a zipper to be described.

[0076] Each half 304, 306 has peripheral edges generally designated 310, 312 best seen in FIG. 28 that extends substantially around each of the halves. A zipper 314 that releasably joins the two halves 304, 306 extends substantially around and is attached to the peripheral edges 310, 312 thereof.

[0077] Each half 304, 306 is provided with two aligned slots generally designated 316, best seen in FIGS. 24, 26, 27, that go completely through the wall of each half 304, 306 and are elongated to accommodate an O-ring thereinthrough is a manner to be described (or other seamless or member of other construction that would prevent unintentional release when attached to the weight machine cable and/or resistance band). The two aligned slots 316 face each other on opposite sides of each half 304, 306, as best seen in FIG. 26. Each slot 316 is proximate but spaced from the peripheral edges 310, 312 of each half 304, 306, as best seen in the FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25.

[0078] An elongated strap 318 having ends 320 and an O-ring 322 threadably fastened on each end, as best seen in FIG. 28, is inserted into the aligned slots 316 provided therefor on opposing sides of each half 304, 306, such that one end with its attached O-ring extends out one slot and the other end with its O-ring extends out the other slot as best seen in FIG. 26. Each strap 318 is affixed to the inside wall of each half 304, 306 schematically illustrated by stitch lines 323, as best seen in FIGS. 26, 27 and 28.

[0079] As seen in FIG. 29, a segmented liner generally designated 326 is inserted in and adhesively affixed to the inside wall of each half 304, 306.

[0080] As will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art, a basketball 328 is inserted into the portable exercise device 300, the two halves 304, 306 are pivoted from their open to their closed condition, and zippered closed, whereby the ball 328 is retained within the ball 302. An exercise machine cable or elastic band, not shown, is connected to the O-rings, via a V-strap, as best seen in FIGS. 14, 15, and manipulated to perform exercises as best seen in FIGS. 14-17, 21.

[0081] Of course, the ball 302 can also serve as a basketball carrier, when not in use to enable a subject to perform exercise.

[0082] The presently preferred embodiment of the portable exercise device 300 of the present invention, as will be appreciated, is substantially of the same size and weight as a basketball. When manipulated using movements that emulate the movements typical to basketball play against the resistance provided by a selected weight machine level and/or selected resistance band strength, the device of the invention enables to provide specialized exercise training that improves performance specifically tailored to the sport of basketball, although, as we will be appreciated, it is of general utility for exercise training purposes. The advantage thereby gained makes one a better competitor.

[0083] As will be readily appreciated, the principles of the present invention apply to other sports, that use a ball, such as a football, as best seen in the embodiment of FIG. 11, which may be manipulated using the movements that emulate the movements typical to football play against the resistance provided by a selected weight machine level and/or selected resistance band strength so as to improve performance and to make one a better competitor in one's chosen sport(s).

[0084] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art the forces involved could be considerable ranging from tens to hundreds of pounds of force. The seamless loop construction of the O-rings prevents their unintended release from the exercise machine cable and/or from the resistance band from strains induced thereon by the forces of the exercise machine cable and/or from the resistance band, that might otherwise result in physical and/or property damage were the O-rings (or other cable/band/ball attachment member equivalent in purpose and function thereto) to unintentionally release.

[0085] The forces applied to opposing ends of each strap produce at least partially self-canceling strains induced thereon by the forces of the exercise machine cable and/or from the resistance band that act in opposing directions therealong, which substantially eliminates unintended dis-attachment of the straps from the ball that might otherwise result in physical and/or property damage were the straps (or other strap/ball attachment member equivalent in purpose and function thereto) where the straps to unintentionally release.

[0086] Many modifications, alternative constructions and/or different embodiments will become apparent to those of skill in the art having had the benefit of the instant disclosure. In different embodiments and modifications the shape of its constitutive half bodies in mated condition may be other than spherical or oval so long as it is hand-holdable; the enveloping skin with provision for band or cable attachment may be other than spherical or oval shaped to receive a football or other shape to receive other sports ball; the first and second force balancing strips may be a single stripe (or another arrangement) that extends between the antipodal attachment members around the skin in an equatorial plane; the constitutive freestanding half bodies of the exercise ball in their unmated condition may be other than hemispherical so long as each half body has opposing stable and metastable surfaces for use in balance training; and the attachment member for releasably hooking the generally spherical exercise ball to external bands and cables may be other than carried on an enclosing skin and may be individually provided on each constitutive exercise half body thereof without departing from the inventive concepts.