MULTI-MODAL PORTABLE EXERCISE 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. A multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises, comprising: matable first and second exercise half bodies that in mated condition cooperate to provide an exercise ball that can be used by said subject for said strength and other allied training exercises and that in unmated condition said first and second exercise half bodies are cooperative to provide freestanding exercise half bodies that can be used by said subject for said balance and other allied training exercises.

2. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 1, further including a skin adapted to removably receive said exercise ball and further including at least one (1) attachment member fixed to said skin for releasable attachment to an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band.

3. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 1, wherein said first and second exercise half bodies are generally hemispheric exercise half bodies and wherein said exercise ball is a generally spherical exercise ball.

4. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 3, wherein said generally hemispheric exercise half bodies are each constituted by a plurality of spherical caps adapted to fit in nested relation that when unpacked are cooperative to selectively provide freestanding spherical domes that can be used by said subject for said balance and other allied training exercises of different use difficulty.

5. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 2, wherein said skin is a generally spherical skin.

6. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 5, wherein said generally spherical skin adapted to receive said exercise ball is a generally spherical circumferentially zippered skin.

7. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 2, wherein said skin is a generally spherical skin and wherein said at least one (1) attachment member includes first and second antipodal attachment members respectively attached at opposing North and South poles of the generally spherical skin, and further including first and second force balancing strips, attached to the generally spherical skin, that respectively extend between the first and second antipodal attachment members in a common equatorial plane on opposing sides of the skin.

8. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 2, further including first and second antipodal attachment members attached to opposing sides of said skin.

9. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 8, further including first and second force balancing strips, attached to the skin, that respectively extend between and are attached to the first and second antipodal attachment members on opposing sides of the skin.

10. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 4, wherein the plurality of spherical domes adapted to fit in nested relation include a dome of a first type that is received by but does not receive another spherical dome, a spherical dome of a second type that receives but is not received by another spherical dome, and one of zero (0), one (1), and more than (1) domes of a third type that both receive and are received by another dome.

11. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 10, wherein the dome of the first type has a base and is provided with a flat surface face across its base to stand upon; and wherein the domes of the second and third types each have a base and are each provided with an annular portion in the same plane as its base and an opening that opens to a central hollow having walls defining an interior concave spherical cavity.

12. A portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises, comprising: a skin adapted to receive a ball therewithin; and at least one attachment member carried by said skin adapted to removably attach the skin to one of said exercise machine’s cable and resistance band.

13. The portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 12, wherein the skin is adapted to removably receive said ball therewithin.

14. The portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 13, wherein the skin is circumferentially zippered to removably receive said ball therewithin.

15. The portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 13, wherein the skin is a generally spherical skin adapted to receive a spherical ball therewithin and wherein the at least on attachment member includes first and second antipodal attachment members respectively attached at opposing North and South poles of the generally spherical skin, and further including first and second force balancing strips, attached to the generally spherical skin, that respectively extend between the first and second antipodal attachment members in a common equatorial plane on opposing sides of the skin.

16. The portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 13, further including first and second antipodal attachment members attached to opposing sides of said skin.

17. The portable exercise equipment that can be used by a subject with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 16, further including first and second force balancing strips, attached to the skin, that respectively extend between and are attached to the first and second antipodal attachment members on opposing sides of the skin.

18. The portable exercise equipment that can be used with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 12, wherein said ball is an ordinary sports ball.

19. The portable exercise equipment that can be used with an exercise machine’s cable or resistance band for strength and other allied training exercises of claim 12, further including said ball, wherein said ball is an exercise ball constituted by matable first and second exercise ball half bodies in mated condition and wherein said matable first and second exercise ball half bodies in unmated condition are cooperative to provide first and second freestanding exercise half bodies which may be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises.

20. A multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises, comprising: matable first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies that in mated condition provide a generally spherical exercise ball that can be used by said subject for said strength and other allied training exercises and that in unmated condition said first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies are cooperative to provide freestanding generally hemispheric exercise half bodies that can be used by said subject for said balance and other allied training exercises.

21. The multi-modal portable exercise equipment that in one exercise modality can be used by a subject for strength and other allied training exercises and in another exercise modality can be used by said subject for balance and other allied training exercises of claim 20, wherein said first and second generally hemispheric exercise half bodies in unmated condition are each constituted by a plurality of spherical caps adapted to fit in nested relation that when unpacked are cooperative to provide freestanding domes that can be used by said subject for said balance and other allied training exercises of selectably different use difficulty.

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; and

[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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] 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.”

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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

[0059] FIGS. 14A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted horizontal cable row exercise.

[0060] FIGS. 15A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted horizontal cable court twist exercise.

[0061] FIGS. 16A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squatted, single arm cable diagonal throw exercise.

[0062] FIGS. 17A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a horizontal cable press exercise.

[0063] FIGS. 18A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a single leg dead lift exercise.

[0064] FIGS. 19A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a squats exercise.

[0065] FIGS. 20A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a reverse lunge knee up exercise.

[0066] FIGS. 21 A-B illustrate a subject undergoing a half kneel cable rotation twist exercise.

[0067] 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.