SYSTEM FOR STORING STABILITY BALLS

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/755,892 filed Dec. 31, 2005 which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to the storage of exercise equipment and more particularly to the storage of stability balls.

2. Description of Related Art

The stability ball, also known as a swiss, physio, exercise, or birth ball which is essentially a large, vinyl ball with varying degrees of inflation, currently offers one of the best methods for strengthening the abdominals and core. The stability ball has had long-standing success in the world of clinical rehabilitation and due to their effectiveness in developing balance and core strength, athletic trainers, coaches, personal trainers and physical education teachers have begun to integrate them into their programs.

The instability of the support provided by the stability ball activates muscles that would normally not be stimulated by traditional, well-supported exercise positions. By introducing the concept of instability into an exercise or rehabilitation program, the stability ball forces the core muscles in the body to maintain balance and proper posture while doing an exercise.

The stability ball is a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment that offers a total body workout while also improving balance. There are literally hundreds of different exercises that can be used with the ball and both beginners and advanced exercises can benefit from it. In addition, almost all age groups from children to seniors can use it. For this reason, the stability ball has become mainstream and is found in fitness centers, birthing centers, and even many households.

However, one problem with the stability ball is that it is a relatively large piece of equipment and storing even a few of them can be difficult and take up valuable space. Often the balls are stored in a corner of a room or on large racks. The problem with such storage is that valuable floor space is taken up due to the relatively large diameter of the stability ball. In addition, if a rack is used, the rack or storage unit itself takes up more room as it must provide some support to secure the stability ball. What is needed is a way to store a stability ball that does not take up floor space yet still allows for relatively easy access to the stability ball. It would be beneficial if the device could store multiple stability balls of various sizes with sacrificing valuable floor space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a net capable of storing at least one stability ball wherein the net is secured above the floor. Because it is secured above the floor, the net allows for the storage of multiple stability balls of various sizes and does not take up valuable floor space. The net may be round, square, rectangular, or any other polygon and in one embodiment is triangular in shape.

For example if a triangular shaped net is used, the net will have a first corner, a second corner, and a third corner. The first corner is secured proximate to the corner of a room such that the net is suspended above the floor of the room. The second and third corners of the net are then secured on the walls extending from the corner where first corner was secured. Preferably, the first corner is secured about 7 feet above the floor and the second and third corners are secured about 7.5 feet above the floor. However, the first corner, second corner, and third corner may be secured at any height that would still allow access to floor space yet still allow access to a stability ball contained within net. By making the second and third corner higher that the first corner secured to a corner of the room, the net has a slight incline towards the corner of the room and proximate walls and this helps keep a stability ball contained within net.

To remove a stability ball from the net, force may be applied to the bottom of the stability ball such that the stability ball may be bounced or rolled out of the net relatively easy. The net is somewhat elastic and the weight of the stability ball causes net to sag such that the bottom of the stability ball may be relatively easy to access.

The net may be almost any size and depends on the size of the stability ball, amount of stability balls to be stored and the size of the room. By way of example and not of limitation, to store about 10 to about 20 stability balls of various sizes, the distance from the first corner to the second and third corner would be about 12 feet 6 inches from each other. The distance from second corner to third corner would be about 8 feet 10 inches. However, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that difference dimensions may be used.

The webbing that comprises the net may be a relatively wide webbing but not so wide as to cause the smallest stability ball to be stored to fall through the webbing. The webbing should capable of supporting a stability ball at least 15.5 inches in diameter. In one embodiment, rope or cord may be used around the perimeter of the web to add support to the web.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a profile view depiction of an embodiment of the present invention in use in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front view depiction of an embodiment of the invention in use in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is a net 100 capable of storing at least one stability ball 110 wherein net 100 is secured above floor 112. Net 100 may be round, square, rectangular, or any other polygon but is preferably triangular in shape as shown in FIG. 1. If a triangular shaped net is used, net 100 will have a first corner 102, a second corner 104, and a third corner 106. First corner 102 is secured proximate to corner of room 108 such that the net is suspended above the floor of the room. In one embodiment, first corner 102 is secured about 7 feet above the floor however, the height can be almost any height that would elevate stability ball 110 off floor 112 and still allow access to stability ball 110.

First corner 102 is secured proximate to corner of room 108 using a bolt, screw, eye-bolt, nail, adhesive, magnets, or one part of a mechanical attachment means such as one or more snaps, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro®, or any other mechanical fastener that requires the mating of two parts. After first corner 102 is secured proximate to corner of room 108 second 104 and third corner 106 of the net are secured on the walls extending from the corner where first corner 102 is secured. In one embodiment, if first corner 102 is secured about 7 feet above the floor, then second corner 104 and third corner 106 are secured about 7.5 feet above the floor. However, first corner 102, second corner 104, and third corner 106 may be secured at almost any height that is about or higher than the same height of first corner 102 and would still allow access to floor space yet still allow access to stability ball 110 contained within net 100. For example, first corner 102, second corner 104, and third corner 106 may be secured as low as 1 inch from the floor wherein equipment such as an aerobic step can be stored under net 100. By making second corner 104 and third corner 106 higher than first corner 102, net 100 has a slight incline towards corner 108 and proximate walls and this helps keep stability ball 110 contained within net 100.

The webbing that comprises net 100 may be a relatively wide webbing but not so wide as to cause the smallest stability ball to be stored to fall through the webbing. The webbing should capable of supporting a stability ball at least 15.5 inches in diameter. In one embodiment, rope or cord may be used around the perimeter of the webbing to add support. In one embodiment, the webbing is an elastic or semi-elastic material such that the weight of stability ball 110 causes net 100 to sag so that the bottom of stability ball 110 may be relatively easy to access. To remove stability ball 110 from net 100, force may be applied to the bottom of stability ball 110 such that stability ball 110 may be bounced or rolled out of net 100 relatively easy.

Net 100 may be almost any size and depends on the size of stability ball 110, amount of stability balls to be stored and the size of the room where stability ball 110 is to be stored. By way of example and not of limitation, to store about 10 to about 20 stability balls of various sizes, the distance from first corner 102 to second 104 and third corner 106 may be about 12 feet 6 inches from each other. The distance from second corner 104 to third corner 106 may be about 8 feet 10 inches. However, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that difference dimensions may be used.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, net 200 is square in shape. If net 200 has a square shape, then similar to the triangular shaped net described in FIG. 1, first corner 202 is secured proximate to corner of room 108 using a bolt, screw, eye-bolt, nail, adhesive, magnets, or one part of a mechanical attachment means such as one or more snaps, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro®, or any other mechanical fastener that requires the mating of two parts. After first corner 202 is secured proximate to corner of room 108, second 204 and third corner 206 of net 100 are secured on the walls extending from the corner where first corner 202 is secured. Next, fourth corner 208 is secured to support 210. Support 210 may be the ceiling, a building support member, or a free standing support member as shown in FIG. 2. The purpose of support 210 is to provide support for fourth corner 208 of net 200 and any such device that provides support may be used.

Similar to the triangular shaped net 100 described above, first corner 202, second corner 204, third corner 206, and fourth corner 208 may be secured at almost any height that would still allow access to floor space yet still allow access to a stability ball contained within net 200. In one embodiment, second corner 204, third corner 206, and fourth corner 208 are secured about or higher than the same height of first corner 102. By making second corner 104, third corner 106, and fourth corner 208 higher, the net has a slight incline towards corner of the room 108 and proximate walls and this helps keep the stability ball contained within net 200.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.