Isometric exercise ball

This application is a continuation International Application PCT/US98/06714 (filed on Apr. 2, 1998), which designated the U.S. and which is a continuation of U.S. Ser No. 08/509 144, filed Jul 31, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,776.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of exercise devices and more particularly a ball-shaped exercise device for performing site-specific isometric exercises directed to overall body strengthening and protection against the effects of osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need for exercise has been increasingly recognized. In addition to the benefits of better overall health and fitness, the strengthening of muscles and bones reduce the risk of fractures of the spine and hips as a major consequence of osteoporosis. Strong muscles stimulate the formation of stronger bones, provide the muscle control that helps to keep one's balance and prevent falls, help maintain an upright posture and prevent the “dowager's hump” of osteoporosis, and provide shock-absorbing fracture protection to the skeleton when an unavoidable fall occurs.

The present invention addresses isometric exercise, wherein, with little or no movement, one set of muscles is tensed for a period of seconds in opposition to another set of muscles or to an immovable object. Such isometric exercises are thus distinguished from isokinetic exercises wherein a muscle force is applied to a constant velocity of motion, as for example in pulling the handles of a rowing machine, or isotonic exercise when a constant weight is lifted through a range of motion.

Many isometric exercises require or are enhanced by the use of an exercise device providing force(s) that counterbalance the muscular force(s) applied by the exercising person. Amongst a recommended set of isometric exercises, some will require muscles to contract concentrically under uniform fiber tension, while others will require excentric muscular expansion. Accordingly, in the field addressed by present invention, the exercise device must be bidirectional, as distinguished from unidirectional devices, e.g. those utilizing stretch cords or bands, or long thin coil springs that can operate only in tension and cannot operate in compression.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED KNOWN ART

Examples of unidirectional isometric exercise devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,808 to Hebert for a RESILIENT FORCE RESISTOR TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE and U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,874 to Sleichtser III et al for a PORTABLE ISOKINETIC EXERCISING DEVICE: these utilize elastic stretch band loops as resistance elements.

Examples of bidirectional isometric exercise devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,533 to Kolbel for a PUSH AND PULL TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE and U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,453 to Herzfeld for a PORTABLE EXERCISER: these utilize metal springs as resistance elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,115,926 by Hatton for HANDLE FOR INFLATED BALLS AND THE LIKE is of interest in showing an inflated ball with a pair of solid hand grips recessed at diametrically opposite locations of the ball; however the ball is for athletic game purposes only and is not intended or suitable for use as an isometric exercise device as addressed by the present invention.

In the above mentioned examples of known art exercise devices, the handles provided are intended for two-handed operation only, and do not accommodate feet or legs, furthermore they fail to provide a sort accommodating surface that can be applied against various body surfaces.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a versatile bidirectional isometric exercise device that can be utilized in conjunction with various body parts such as hands, legs, knees, feet, etc., for exercising muscles in both opposite directions, i.e. not restricted to isotonic exercises.

It is a further object to provide an exercise device directed to overall body and paraspinal strengthening particularly for persons prone to or desiring protection from the effects of osteoporosis.

It is a further object that the exercise device permit soft accommodation to various body surfaces for a broad array of isometric exercises.

It is a further object to realize an exercise device meeting the foregoing objects in a very simple structure that does not require metal springs, stretch cords or the like, or mechanisms such as lever arms.

It is a further object to realize an inflatable exercise device that can be deflated for easy carrying and convenient storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The abovementioned objects have been accomplished in the present invention of an inflatable isometric exercise ball, about 46 CM (18″) in diameter, fitted with a pair of strap-like handles, that can also serve as stirrups, located at diametrically opposite regions of surface of the main ball portion. The ball is less than fully inflated so as to interface comfortably with various regions of the body. In a recommended sequence of isometric exercises directed to particular different body regions, some of the exercises utilize the ball in a tension mode with the user's arms or legs inserted through the handles, while other exercises utilize the ball in a compression mode, squeezed between body parts or between a body part and a wall or floor.

A recommended sequence of exercises may be depicted by graphic illustrations printed directly on the surface of the exercise ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an exercise ball of the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an exercise ball of the present invention.

FIG. 3

is an exploded view of a third embodiment of an exercise ball of the present invention illustrating a pre-assembled condition.

FIG. 4

is a bottom view of the exercise ball embodiment of

FIG. 3

in an assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an exercise ball

10

A, in a first embodiment of the present invention equipped with a pair of diametrically-opposed strap-like handles

12

A attached to the main portion of ball

10

A by a sonic weld

14

at each end of each handle

12

A.

FIG. 2

is a perspective view of an exercise ball

10

B, in a second embodiment of the present invention wherein each of the diametrically opposed pair of handles

12

B consists of a hand grip

16

made from flexible tubing surrounding a flat loop of cord

18

extending as an eye at each end where the cord is threaded through a grommet

20

set in a tab

22

. Each of the four tabs

22

is attached to the main portion of ball

10

B by a sonic weld

14

. The hand grips

16

may be round or oval in cross section.

In either embodiment the handle is made long enough that it forms an arched loop that can be placed over the foot and onto the leg of the person exercising.

The main ball portion

10

A/B and the handles

12

A/B are of flexible material, and may enclose a bladder portion; in a deluxe version of either embodiment, the outer surface of the main ball portion

10

A/B may be covered with a fabric such as nylon or lycra.

FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of an exercise ball

10

C of the present invention illustrating a pre-assembled condition. The main bladder portion

24

, preferably made from vinyl, may be fitted with a pressure sensor

26

, which may include a pressure indicator such as a digital readout or analog display.

Shown above and below bladder

24

, a fabric cover is made in two hemispheric portions

28

A and

28

B. The upper cover portion

28

A is fitted with a handle

30

A at the end of a long strap

30

B. The lower cover portion

28

B is fitted with a handle

30

C at the end of a short strap

30

D. The main lower cover portion

28

B is fitted with a pair of similar handle pass-through slots, slot

30

E located at the beginning of strap

30

D, and slot

30

F located at the edge of lower cover portion

28

B diagonally opposite slot

30

E. Handle

30

A of the upper cover portion

28

A is shown having been inserted through slot

30

E as the first step in assembly. In subsequent assembly, handle

30

A will be moved around cover portion

28

B as indicated by arrow

32

, passed through slot

30

F as indicated by arrow

34

, passed through a similar slot in upper cover portion

28

A (not visible in this view) and directed outwardly, pulling the two cover portions

28

A and

28

B toward each other and securing them in place, fitting snugly over bladder

24

. Additional fastening means, such as Velcro fastenings, may be used to fasten the cover portions

28

A and

28

B to the bladder

24

so as to effectively join them together around their peripheral region.

An opening

38

may be provided in the upper cover portion

28

A at the location of pressure sensor

26

for visibility of a pressure indicator, when such is provided at that location.

FIG. 4

is a bottom view of the exercise ball

10

C of

FIG. 3

in an assembled condition. Strap

30

B, seen laying against the surface of the lower cover portion

28

B, is dimensioned in length to space handles

30

A and

30

C equal distances outwardly from the spherical main body of ball

10

C thus simulating a pair of identical handles attached at diametrically opposite points in a like manner. This enables the ball

10

C to act as a tension device for isometric exercise involving pulling outwardly on handles

30

A and

30

C in the same manner as described previously in connection with

FIGS. 1 and 2

. An opening

40

is shown for access to a bladder inflation valve; alternatively this could be located at any other location, as could sensor

26

and opening

38

.

In the case where sensor

26

drives a separate pressure indicator, possible alternative locations for the indicator are shown in

FIG. 3

at location

36

on the top side of strap

30

D, and in

FIG. 4

at location

39

on the bottom side of strap

30

D. The pressure indicator can be of known art such as a mechanical gauge or an electronic digital or analog indicator implemented as and LED or LCD display panel.

Force applied to the exercise ball in either in tension via the handles, tending to distort the ball shown by dashed lines in

FIG. 4

, or in compression by squeezing the ball, increases the air pressure within the ball, thus the air pressure as sensed and indicated is generally proportional to the applied force.

As a further refinement, either as an addition to a pressure gauge or as an alternative thereto, the pressure sensor may be made to produce a visible or audible indication upon reaching a predetermined pressure level; the predetermined pressure level may be made variable with provision for adjustment by the individual using the ball, so that different muscular forces may be specified for various exercises and monitored accordingly. As a further alternative, a keypad may be provided separately or built in, for the purpose of enabling a user to enter muscular force and/or other data.

As optional variations to the structure shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, portions

28

A and

28

B could be made identical, at least with regard to the straps and handles:

(a) if both portions were made in the form of portion

28

B, then each handle, being on a short strap

30

D, would thread through the pass-through slot

30

F of the opposite portion; there would be no need for the pass through slot

30

E in the handle

30

D; or

(b) if both portions were made in the form of portion

28

A with a long strap

30

B on each handle and provided with a pass-through slot

30

F at the opposite edge, then the straps would each pass through a slot

30

E, make a half turn around opposite sides of the ball and then pass through slots

30

F, extending therefrom to the respective handles.

For exercise use, the main ball portion

10

A/B/C is inflated, via the valve in the manner of beach balls or basketballs, only to a somewhat underinflated condition about two-thirds to three-quarters of its fully distended capacity, so as to allow it to provide a firm accommodating even resistance to body regions of the person exercising.

There are two basic modes of using the ball for exercise:

(1) utilizing the ball as a tensile load by pulling apart on the handles, e.g. with hands or legs, so to effectively stretch the ball, and

(2) utilizing the ball as a compressive load by squeezing it between user body regions or between a user body region and an immovable object such as a floor, bed or wall.

A special sequence of recommended exercises may be illustrated by graphics printed on the ball as indicated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. An instruction booklet describing these exercises in detail may be provided in a marketing package with the exercise ball. Each exercise is directed to different areas of the body and utilizes the ball in an appropriate mode. Generally in each exercise, a steadily increasing muscular force is applied to the ball over a given time period, typically five seconds, then the force is released steadily over a similar time period.

When provided, the pressure readout, can be utilized in connection with tabulated data providing recommended muscular force in the various exercises according to individual characteristics such as age, weight, etc.

The invention may be embodied and practiced in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all variations, substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.