Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus configured to combat postural maladaptations is provided. The exercise apparatus includes a rigid central spherical body having a channel passing through the center thereof through which a resilient band may be passed. The resilient band is removable and may be made of any suitable resilient material, such as, for example, a rubber material. The central spherical body may be formed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material that resists deformation.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a spherical body having a channel running through a central axis thereof; and at least one resilient band having first and second ends and a resilient band length disposed therebetween and configured to pass through the channel such that the first and second ends extend beyond the outer circumference of the spherical body.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spherical body is one of either rigid or semi-rigid.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spherical body is formed of a semi-rigid foam material.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spherical body is from 6 to 8 inches in diameter.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient band is from 0.4 to 1.6 mm thick.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient band is from 10 to 18 inches long.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient band is formed of a rubber or a latex material.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient band has a loop disposed at the first and second ends thereof.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient band is formed of a single loop.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least two resilient bands having at least two different lengths and two different tensile strengths.

11. A method of exercising comprising: providing an exercise apparatus comprising: a spherical body having a channel running through a central axis thereof, and at least one resilient band having first and second ends and a resilient band length disposed therebetween and configured to pass through the channel such that the first and second ends extend beyond the outer circumference of the spherical body; attaching a first end of the at least one resilient band to one of either a first limb of a user; attaching a second end of the at least one resilient band to one of either a second limb of a user; expanding the resilient band by moving the first and second ends of the resilient band away from each other such that the first and second limbs move away from the spherical body; contracting the resilient band by moving the first and second ends of the resilient band toward each other such that the first and second limbs contact and compress against the spherical body; and repeat the expanding and contracting

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band has a tensile strength and length such that the first and second ends of the resilient band are under tension throughout the expanding and contracting.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spherical body is one of either rigid or semi-rigid.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spherical body is from 6 to 8 inches in diameter.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band is from 0.4 to 1.6 mm thick.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band is from 10 to 18 inches long.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band is formed of a rubber or a latex material.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band has a loop disposed at the first and second ends thereof.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the resilient band is formed of a single loop.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, comprising at least two resilient bands having at least two different lengths and two different tensile strengths.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying data and figures, wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 provides an image of an exercise apparatus in accordance with embodiments;

[0038] FIG. 2 provides an image of a central spherical body in accordance with embodiments;

[0039] FIGS. 3A and 3B provide images of an exercise apparatus in use for shoulder exercises in an expanded and contracted state in accordance with embodiments;

[0040] FIG. 4 provides an image from above of an exercise apparatus in use for shoulder exercises in an expanded state in accordance with embodiments;

[0041] FIGS. 5A and 5B provide images of an exercise apparatus in use for leg exercises in an expanded and contracted state in accordance with embodiments; and

[0042] FIGS. 6A and 6B provide images from above of an exercise apparatus in use for leg exercises in an expanded and contracted state in accordance with embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.

[0044] Turning to the drawings, exercise apparatus configured to combat postural maladaptations are provided. In many embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exercise apparatus (10) comprises a rigid central spherical body (12) having a channel (14) passing through the center thereof through which a resilient band (16) may be passed. In many such embodiments the resilient band (16) is removable and may be made of any suitable resilient material, such as, for example, a resilient woven material (such as, for example, a spandex or latex material), or a polymeric material (such as, for example, a rubber or other material). In various such embodiments the central spherical body (12) may be formed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material that resists deformation, such as, for example, a high-density foam. Alternatively, the central spherical body may be formed of a solid resilient material, such as in the form of a rubber or other polymeric material. In many embodiments a separate threading device (not shown) may be provided to insert the resilient band through the channel of the spherical body such that differently sized resilient bands may be used for suitable for various exercises (e.g., shorter for the upper body (i.e., shoulders) and longer for the lower body (i.e., hips/legs)). In either such embodiment the resilient band (16) must be of a length suitable such that opposite ends (18a & 18b) extend from either side of the central spherical body (12).

[0045] During operation, the exercise apparatus in accordance with embodiments maintains tension on a user's muscles that do external rotation and abduction, specifically to combat the postural adaptations that happen for sitting at a desk too long. Embodiments of the exercise apparatus are configured to maintain tension externally through a latex band (16), up until the point the user squeezes the hard foam ball (12) in the middle. The action is designed to alleviate tension from the muscles that do external rotation and adduction. In many embodiments, the user would move their elbows and hips in a pattern of horizontal abduction, in a desired position, such as seated, standing or squatting, for example.

[0046] The design and materials used in the construction of the various elements are selected to ensure tension is maintained on user's muscles once the tension on the resilient band is released. In many embodiments the spherical portion (12) of the exercise apparatus may be formed of a hard or low resilient material, such as a hard foam. In many other embodiments, the sphere is formed of a resilient material having a considerable amount of give such that once the user's limbs are moved inward past the extent of tension the sphere then serves as an exercise for the internal rotators/adductors. In such embodiments, there can be different densities of the sphere depending on how much pressure is required by the internal rotators to deform the sphere, however, memory foam would not be an acceptable substance as it would not allow resilient recovery of the spherical shape once the pressure form the user is released. Likewise, inflatable spheres are not capable of providing tension on the adductors/external rotators of the ball and socket joints and therefore would be less effective as an exercise tool. In many embodiments, the sphere may be from 5 to 8 inches in diameter, and in many embodiments around 6 inches in diameter. In various other embodiments, the sphere may have a channel from 0.5 to 3 inches and, in many embodiments 1 to 2 inches, in diameter, running through the center of the sphere through which the resilient band may be threaded. It will be understood that in embodiments these dimensions can be critical in ensuring the appropriate tension is applied to the desired muscle groups throughout the operation of the exercise apparatus.

[0047] In many embodiments the resilient band is removable from the spherical body of the exercise apparatus and may be formed of any suitable resilient material, including a woven fabric or polymeric material, such as, for example, a stretch fabric including spandex or lycra, or a resilient polymer material including rubber, latex, etc. In various embodiments the exercise apparatus may comprise multiple resilient bands of various sizes. In some such embodiments, the resilient band may have a length from 12 to 18 inches, and may be from 0.5 to 3 inches in width, and in some embodiments from 1 to 2 inches wide. In some embodiments, the resilient bands may be configured to have a length suitable for a range of motion for a user's upper body, which in many embodiments may be from 10 to 13 inches long. In other embodiments, the resilient bands may be configured to have a length suitable for range of motion for a user's lower body, which in many embodiments may be from 13 to 18 inches long. It will be understood that in embodiments these dimensions can be critical in ensuring the appropriate tension is applied to the desired muscle groups throughout the operation of the exercise apparatus. In either such embodiment the band may be circular, or may be formed with circular ends (18a & 18b, for example) such that the resilient band may be fitted around the arms of the user. In addition, the tensile strengths of the bands may be adjusted depending on the usage to provide sufficient tension for the proposed use, e.g., upper or lower body. In many embodiments the tensile strength may be modified by altering the thickness of the resilient band. In some such embodiments the thickness of the resilient band may be from 0.4 to 1.6 mm in thickness. In some embodiments the resilient band may be provided with a sleeve, such as a cloth or other fiber sleeve (not shown) that runs through the channel of the spherical body and covers at least a portion of the length of the resilient band to prevent chafing of the user from the resilient band material. In various such embodiments the cloth sleeve only covers those portions of the resilient band configured to be engaged by the user.

[0048] Various embodiments are also directed to methods of exercising using an exercise apparatus according to embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. In many such embodiments, a user slides their arms (FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4) or legs (FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6A, 6B) through loops (18a & 18b) created by a resilient band (16) traveling through the center channel of the spherical body (12) of the exercise apparatus. While in a desired posture (e.g., sitting, standing, squatting, etc.), they spread their elbows or knees as far as they can (FIGS. 3A, 4, 5A and 6A), then come to center, squeeze the spherical body (FIGS. 3B, 5B and 6B) and repeat. The fixed range of motion from the resilient bands allows for comfortable abduction/external rotation and the shut-off mechanism that the spherical body provides resets the exercise and allows for a greater level of difficulty than a device focused on just external rotation.

[0049] In various embodiments, the users places the hands together on the head when using it for an upper body exercise, and places their feet together when using it for a lower body exercise to center the movement where it needs to be.

[0050] In other embodiments the resilient band may form one large loop such that the spherical body may be positioned within the larger loop of the resilient band without requiring the resilient band to be disposed within the channel of the spherical body for operation.

[0051] Once the user is in the center position, squeezing the spherical body effectively helps shut off the muscles that do external rotation by activating the internal rotators. Specifically, in the human body, the shoulders and hips are both ball and socket joints, so the pec minor and subscapularis activate when you squeeze the spherical body. As a result, it makes the external rotation, handled by the rear delt, teres minor, and infraspinatus (i.e., back of the shoulder and rotator cuff), much harder and more effective. Likewise, in the lower body, squeezing the spherical body with the adductors makes the glutes, TFL, and fibers of the user's lumbar spine activate harder.

[0052] Accordingly, in many embodiments the juxtaposition of the ends of the resilient band and the central spherical body helps to rotate structures of a user's body backwards, alleviate pain, align posture, and tone up.

DOCTRINE OF EQUIVALENTS

[0053] This description of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications. This description will enable others skilled in the art to best utilize and practice the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to a particular use. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.