FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention lies in the field of core training exercise equipment. More
specifically, the present disclosure relates to a "cage" or "enclosure" that is comprised
of widening rib-like elements (e.g., six) that radiate from the base of an exercise
stability ball and attach to a belt that surrounds the ball just below the ball's
center circumference. Protruding from each rib-like element is at least one constantly
widening inclined plane or wing that forces the enclosed ball back to its base position
and increases the resistance as the ball rolls away from that base position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Core training has developed into one of the most important concepts in fitness training.
Exercise scientists, biomechanists, physical therapists, strength and conditioning
coaches and personal trainers all realize the critical link that the central or "core"
muscles play in stabilizing the trunk (especially, the lower back) and transferring
force and power from the legs to the upper body musculature. One of the most important
and commonly used pieces of equipment employed during core training is the stability
ball, sometimes referred to as the "Swiss ball." Like the prior-art device shown in
FIG. 1A, stability balls provide a rolling or unstable surface on which exercises are performed.
The instability of the ball requires the exerciser to compensate during the exercise
using his or her musculature to maintain control of the ball throughout the exercise.
A primary benefit of exercise ball training, as opposed to exercising on a hard flat
surface, is that the body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced
thereby engaging many more muscles. Those muscles become stronger over time to keep
balanced. Most frequently, the "core" body muscles are the focus of exercise ball
programs.
[0003] However, the stability ball has two major flaws. The first, and perhaps the most
pressing because it prevents many persons from using the ball and more advanced users
from performing advanced exercises, is the tendency of the ball to roll away from
the user. This tendency adds an element of fear that precludes the utilization of
stability balls by many potential users. The second flaw is that the stability ball
offers no changes in resistance to movement throughout the range of motion of the
exercise. In addition, the resistance offered by the ball decreases as it becomes
increasingly unstable at the end ranges of an exercise.
[0004] Document
US 2011/0028291A1 of the same applicant discloses a cage for a stability ball, said cage having rib-like
structures.
[0006] Scientific literature has demonstrated the positive impact of stability ball training
on neuromuscular function over the past decade and the support in the literature has
increased significantly over the last five years. See, e.g.,
J.M. Willardson, Core stability training: applications to sports conditioning programs,
J Strength Cond. Res. 2007 Aug 21(3):979-985;
P.W. Marshall, B.A. Murphy, Increased deltoid and abdominal muscle activity during
Swiss ball bench press, J Strength Cond. Res. 2006 Nov 20(4):745-50;
P.W. Marshall, B.A. Murphy, Core stability exercises on and off a Swiss ball, Arch.
Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2005 Feb 86(2):242-249;
R. Stanton, P.R. Reabum, B. Humphries, The effect of short-term Swiss ball training
on core stability and running economy, J Strength Cond. Res. 2004 Aug 18(3):522-8. Currently, there are platforms that hold stability balls in place preventing them
from rolling (Aeromat Stability Ball Base, STACCA.com) or that are used for storage
(Power Systems Inc.), but no device or system exists that allows stabilization of
the stability ball while still permitting continued functional core exercising on
the ball.
[0007] Accordingly, a need exists to overcome the problems discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The device of the instant invention provides a unique control system that can maximize
the benefit of one of the most important core exercise apparatuses, the stability
ball. The above objects are solved by the subject-matter according to the independent
claims.
[0009] Embodiments may be found in the dependent claims.
[0010] Additional advantages and other features characteristic of the present invention
will be set forth in the detailed description that follows and may be apparent from
the detailed description or may be learned by practice of exemplary embodiments of
the invention. Still other advantages of the invention may be realized by any of the
instrumentalities, methods, or combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with
additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following
description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
[0011] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a stability
ball control device with radial control surfaces of increasing widths, it is not intended
to be limited to the details shown. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary
embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so
as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
[0012] Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth
in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which description should
be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1A is a prior-art device stability ball that is incorporated into an exercise
movement of the user;
FIG. 1 to 41 show background art for better understanding the invention;
FIG. 42 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device in
a fully assembled configuration, as it appears when not applied to a stability ball;
FIG. 43 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device
in a fully assembled configuration and after its application to a stability ball;
FIG. 44 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device
in a fully assembled configuration and after its application to a stability ball;
FIG. 45 is a top plan view of the exercise device of FIGS. 43 and 44;
FIG. 46 is a bottom plan view of the exercise device of FIGS. 43 and 44;
FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the topside of an exemplary embodiment of the exercise
device in a fully assembled configuration and after its application to a stability
ball, as well as the interior of the device made visible by the translucency of the
stability ball;
FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the topside of the exercise device of FIG. 47;
FIG. 49 is a side perspective view of the exercise device of FIGS. 47 and 48;
FIG. 50 is a perspective view of the topside of the exercise device of FIGS. 47 to
49, in a fully assembled configuration and as it appears when not applied to a stability
ball;
FIG. 51 is a perspective view of the underside of the exercise device of FIG. 50;
FIG. 52 is a top perspective view of the interior of the exercise device of FIGS.
50 to 51;
FIG. 53 is a bottom perspective view of the exterior of the exercise device of FIGS.
50 to 52;
FIG. 54 is a top plan view of the exercise device of FIGS. 50 to 53;
FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the topside of an exemplary embodiment of the exercise
device in a fully assembled configuration and as it appears when not applied to a
stability ball;
FIG. 56 is a fragmentary perspective and partially exploded view of a portion of the
exterior of the exercise device of FIG. 55, showing in close detail the inclined planes
or wings of the ribs of the device to which enhancer portions have been applied thereto;
FIG. 57 is an enlarged perspective view of an enhancer portion prior to being applied
to the inclined plane or wing of the exercise device of FIG. 56;
The examplary embodiments of FIG. 42-57 are not covered by the claims.
FIG. 58 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of the exercise device according
to the present invention;
FIG. 59 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inclined plane
or wing of the exercise device of FIG. 58; and
FIG. 60 is a side perspective and exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a removable
inclined plane or wing assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 58.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;
however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary
of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled
in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately
detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to
be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention
that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood
from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing
figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the
drawings are not drawn to scale.
[0015] Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that
the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments
only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are
defined as one or more than one. The term "plurality," as used herein, is defined
as two or more than two. The term "another," as used herein, is defined as at least
a second or more. The terms "including" and/or "having," as used herein, are defined
as comprising (i.e., open language). The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined
as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
[0016] Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used
solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily
requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities
or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof are
intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,
or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements
but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,
article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises ... a" does not, without
more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process,
method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
[0017] As used herein, the term "about" or "approximately" applies to all numeric values,
whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers
that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e.,
having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers
that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term "longitudinal"
should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction
of the object being described.
[0018] The device of the present invention provides a unique way to control the rollaway
movements of a stability ball while simultaneously increasing the resistance being
applied to the user's body musculature during exercises being performed by the user
with the stability ball. FIG.
1A provides an example of the type of stability ball 1, found in the prior art, that
would benefit from the inventive device described herein.
[0019] The background art for better understanding the invention incorporates a "cage" or
"enclosure" that is comprised of a plurality of flexible bands, or ribs, that lock
into or are integral with a connecting structure to form a radial configuration such
that when assembled together, the device partially, substantially, or fully cups or
encloses a bottom portion of the stability ball to control the stability ball's movement.
The flexible bands or ribs have at least one inclined plane or wing on their exterior
surface such that when the stability ball is rolled away from its base (i.e., resting)
position in any direction along a substantially flat surface, the inclined plane or
wing comes into contact with the substantially flat surface to provide an incremental,
counteracting or balancing resistance to movement of the ball away from its base position.
This resistance is beneficially transferred to the user while the user is performing
exercise movements with the stability ball.
[0020] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
FIGS. 1 to 6 thereof, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of the exercise device
according to the background art. The exercise device
2 is comprised of a plurality of flexible rib assemblies
10, bent into a semicircular arc or a bow to form a plurality of widening ribs
3 in a radial configuration, and held equal distances apart by a circular-shaped belt
4 or other connecting structure that surrounds, with a snug fit, the circumference
of a stability ball
1 at a height
7 that is, for example, just below or at the midline of the ball. This allows the device
to apply resistance and stability throughout the working surface of the ball during
most functional exercises. Depending upon the shape of the ball
1, it may be beneficial that the height 7 be above, or just slightly above, the midline
of the ball in order to provide a better grip on the ball. It is also envisioned for
the height to extend just past the middle plane of the ball and to have the uppermost
ball-receiving opening to curve slightly inward. In such an embodiment, with a flexible
exercise ball, the exercise device will slightly compress the ball to improve gripping
and inhibit the ball from rolling out of the exercise device
2 during use. Together, the rib assemblies
10 and the belt
4 form a concave-shaped, hemispherical "cage" or "enclosure" of approximately the lower
half of the stability ball
1 whereby the stability ball is securely seated inside the device
2. In this exemplary embodiment, the rib assemblies
10 are removably anchored or secured to the belt
4 at their radiating ends
8. Although three rib assemblies
10, resulting in six ribs
3, are shown in this particular embodiment, this is for purposes of a non-limiting illustration
only. Depending on the amount of desired resistance to the rollaway movement of the
stability
ball 1, a variable number of rib assemblies
10 may be used to form the device
2. The greater the number of rib assemblies used, the greater amount of resistance will
be provided to the ball's movements.
[0021] In this particular embodiment, the central base
11 of the device
2 is formed at the point where the rib assemblies
10 overlap and cross one another. When placed on a substantially flat surface, the central
base
11 of device
2 provides a base, or resting position for the stability ball
1 when the ball is present. The ribs
3 radiate from this central base
11 in a radial pattern that resembles the flower head of a daisy. In order to best form
the concave-shaped, hemispherical "cage" or "enclosure," which most suitably conforms
to the spherical shape of the lower half of the stability ball, the diameter of the
rib
3 is at its narrowest dimension at the point of the central base
11 and incrementally widens in a direction towards its radiating end
8 of the rib
3. However, it is contemplated by the present invention that the ribs
3 may alternatively be constructed to have any strip-like shape, including a strip
with a uniform diameter along its entire length, or, the ribs
3 may be replaced entirely by a single, molded cup-like dome (not shown) (i.e., is
not split into a plurality of rib assemblies
10) that encloses the entire lower half of the stability ball.
[0022] Incorporated into the exterior surface of each rib
3 (or, the exterior surface of any other structure forming the enclosure of the lower
half of the stability ball) is a pair
9 of inclined planes or "wings"
5 that extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rib and protrude
perpendicularly from the exterior surface of the rib. Each inclined plane or wing
5 steadily increases in its protruding distance, or angle of inclination, as it approaches
the radiating or anchoring end
8 of the rib
3 at the belt
4 of the device
2. The addition of these inclined planes or wings
5 to the ribs
3 of the inventive device
2 provides an incremental amount of resistance to the rolling movement of the stability
ball 1, thereby requiring a greater muscular effort to move the ball as it rolls further
from its base position (i.e., the upright, established position of the ball when it
is at rest).
FIGS. 30 and
31 graphically illustrate the counteractive or balancing relationship between the degree
of the rolling movement of the ball from its base position and the amount of resistance
created by the inclined planes or wings
5 of the ribs
3. During exercise movements, the stability ball
1 is naturally inclined to roll away from its base (i.e., resting) position, which
is desirable for the user when it is controllable in a stable manner. With the addition
of the inventive device
2, as the ball rolls away from its base position in any direction along a substantially
flat surface, the inclined planes or wings
5 of the ribs
3 come into contact with the substantially flat surface to provide an increasing, counteracting
or balancing resistance to movement of the ball away from its base position in an
incremental fashion. In other words, the greater the degree of rollaway motion of
the ball from its base position, the greater amount of surface area of the inclined
planes or wings
5 come into obstructive contact with the substantially flat surface thereby providing
an increased amount of resistance to the ball's movement. The resistance created by
the inclined planes or wings
5 of the ribs
3 drives or biases the ball back towards its original, base position. Thus, as the
user's exercise movements cause a rotation of the ball in one direction, the ribs
increase the resistance in the other direction, which stabilizes the ball's inherent
and uncontrolled movements and increases the effectiveness of the exercise. Inventively,
the exercise device
2 of the present invention stabilizes the ball while still allowing it to perform its
function and with increased resistance experienced by the user.
[0023] Referring back to
FIGS. 1 to
6, in this particular embodiment, the belt
4 of the device
2 has intermittent curves
6 along its length between the points at which the rib assemblies
10 are removably anchored or secured to the belt
4. In this way, the anchoring or securing points are clearly set apart so that they
are easily identifiable by the user and the resulting spatial footprint of the device
2 on the ball
1 is reduced.
[0024] The belt
4 and the rib assemblies
10 may be comprised of, but not limited to, heavy-duty nylon. However, other materials
including high-impact plastic are feasible.
[0025] Additionally, the device
2 may incorporate a supplementary elastic band exercise system (not shown), which allows
the user to attach elastic bands to the device thereby adding a resistance-training
component to the device.
[0026] In
FIGS. 7 to
17, there is shown a second exemplary embodiment of the exercise device according to
the background art. Similarly to the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS.
1 to
6, the exercise device
2 is comprised of a belt
4 that is shaped to tightly surround the circumference of a stability ball
1 just below the ball's midline, and four (as shown in
FIGS. 7 to
11
) or three (as shown in
FIGS. 12 and
13) rib assemblies
10a, 10b, and
10c, flexibly bent into semicircular arcs that are removably, and equidistantly, secured
or held in a register to the belt
4 at indentations or notches
13 of the interior surface
14 of the belt
4 (which are shown in detail in
FIGS. 13 and
14). Together, the rib assemblies
10a-c and the belt
4 form a radially-shaped "cage" or "enclosure" of the lower half of the ball
1. However, in this particular embodiment, the belt
4 does not have intermittent curves along its length and instead, the belt
4 has a constant width
12 along its entire length. As clearly shown in
FIGS. 11 and
12, the rib assemblies
10a-c come together centrally to form a central base
11, which when placed on a substantially flat surface, provides a base, or resting position
for the stability ball
1 when the ball is seated inside the device
2.
[0027] FIGS. 15 to
17 show, in close detail, any one of the rib assemblies
10a-c of
FIG. 12. Each rib assembly defines two ribs,
3a-b, 3c-d, and
3e-f that radiate from the central base
11 in a wheel-and-spokes pattern whereby the ribs increasingly widen in a direction
away from the central base
11. Each rib has a pair
9 of raised, inclined planes
5 that run substantially parallel along the rib's longitudinal axis. At each radiating
end
8 of the rib assembly, there lies a trapezoidal protrusion
17 and a linking pin
16 for securing the rib assembly to the belt
4. To secure each end
8 of the rib assemblies
10a-c to the belt
4, a corresponding number of trapezoidal indentations or notches
13, having keyhole slots
15, are formed in the interior surface
14 of the belt
4 (see
FIGS. 13 and
14). The trapezoidal indentations or notches
13 are shaped to have a corresponding, or mating fit to the trapezoidal protrusions
17 of the rib assembly and each keyhole slot
15 of the trapezoidal indentations or notches is shaped to retain the linking pin
16 of the rib assembly. By mating both the trapezoidal indentations or notches
13 of the belt with the trapezoidal protrusions
17 of the rib assembly, and the keyhole slots
15 of the belt with the linking pins
16 of the rib assembly, the rib assembly is removably secured to the belt.
[0028] To illustrate the sequential steps for assembling the exercise device
2 of
FIGS. 7 to
17, and applying the exercise device
2 to a stability ball 1 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present
invention,
FIGS. 25 to
29 provide a pictorial representation of the assembly-line process. In the first step,
as shown in
FIG. 25, the rib assemblies
10 are placed between the stability ball
1 and the belt
4 in a substantially flat, radial configuration with the ribbed surface of the rib
assemblies facing downwards towards the belt. In the second and third steps, as shown
in
FIGS. 26 and
27, in a fluid motion using the belt, the rib assemblies
10 are guided upwards into their semicircular arc or bow shape as permitted by the inherent
flexibility of the material comprising the rib assemblies
10. As a result, the rib assemblies form a concave-shaped seat, having a central base
11, in which the ball
1 is seated. In the next step, as shown in
FIG. 28, the ribs
3 of each rib assembly
10 are removably secured to the belt
4 at their ends
8 by sliding the linking pin
16 into the corresponding keyhole slot
15 (not shown) formed in the interior surface of the belt. Once the rib assemblies are
removably secured or anchored to the belt, the resulting device
2, as shown in
FIG. 29, tightly captures and encloses the lower portion of the ball
1.
[0029] The mechanism described above for anchoring or securing the rib assemblies to the
belt serves as just one illustration of a large number of mechanisms that are contemplated
by the present invention. For example,
FIGS. 18 to
20 illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the exercise device according to the background
art that is very similar to the embodiments of
FIGS. 1 to
17 except for the securing mechanism between the ends
8 of the rib assemblies
10 and the belt
4. As shown in detail in
FIG. 19, each rib 3 has a U-shaped hook or protrusion
19 at its radiating end
8. As depicted clearly in
FIG. 20, to secure the rib
3 to the belt
4, the belt has a corresponding number of U-shaped slots or notches
18 along the length of the belt's circumference that are shaped to matingly fit the
U-shaped hooks or protrusions
19 of the ribs
3 when the U-shaped hooks or protrusions
19 are slidingly inserted into the slots
18 of the belt in a buckle-like fashion.
[0030] Alternatively, it is contemplated by the present invention that any mechanism for
anchoring or securing the rib assemblies
10 to the belt
4 may be entirely omitted. For example,
FIGS. 21 to
24 illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the exercise device according to the
background art whereby the rib assemblies
10 and the belt
4 are formed as a single integral piece such that the rib assemblies cannot be removed,
but are permanently secured to the belt. This type of assembly for the exercise device
2 may be made by, for example, injection-type molding.
FIG. 22 illustrates on one rib
3, an alternative embodiment of the inclined planes or wings
5, which are shown as a single inclined wedge or wing
27. Thus, it should be noted that a number of alternative shapes and a variable number
of the inclined planes or wings
5 are possible with the invention and include, for example, a single inclined plane
5, a variable number of inclined planes
5, or one or more intermittent inclined tabs for any one or more of the ribs
3.
[0031] In
FIGS. 32 to
40, there is shown a fifth exemplary embodiment of the exercise device according to the
background art, which differs from the previously described embodiments in that the
plurality of rib assemblies
10 are cut in half into their constituent ribs
3, and a central hub
20 is used to interconnect the ribs
3 at the ends
26 of the ribs that are proximate the central base
11. By dividing the rib assemblies into their constituent ribs
3 and incorporating the central hub
20, the central base
11 of the device
2 is no longer formed by the.overlapping rib assemblies
10, and thereby provides a smooth rolling surface. Instead, both ends
8, 26 of the ribs
3 are now removably secured to the belt
4 or the central hub
20, respectively. For example, as shown in close detail in
FIGS. 39 and
40, the narrower end
26 of the rib
3 that is proximate to the central hub
20 when assembled, has two adjacent, vertically-aligned mounting holes
22. At the wider, radiating end
8 of the rib
3 that is proximate to the belt
4 when assembled, there are two adjacent, horizontally-aligned mounting holes
23. As best shown in
FIGS. 32 and
36, to secure the ribs
3 to the central hub
20, two locking pins
21 (shown in detail in
FIG. 41) are inserted into mounting holes
22 and through corresponding, recessed holes along the outer circumference of the central
hub
20 to securely attach the two pieces together. The locking pin may be of any suitable
type, such as an Allen-type pin. Similarly, as best shown in
FIG. 35, to secure the ribs
3 to the belt
4, two locking pins
24 are inserted into mounting holes
23 and through corresponding, recessed holes along the circumferential length of the
belt
4 from the interior surface or side
14 of the belt. The resulting device
2, in a fully assembled configuration, is shown in
FIG. 37. In this exemplary embodiment of
FIGS. 32 to
40, the central hub
20 is annular in shape, but has a surface area that closely approximates a solid, circular
plate. However, the central hub
20 can be of any shape or form that acts as a central meeting place for the ribs 3 and
sufficiently conforms to the circumference of the stability ball
1 seated therein such that the stability ball has a base, resting position, but is
also capable of being rolled during exercise. For example, despite the nearly plate-like
shape, the central hub
20 of the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 32 to
40 has an opening at its center (thereby, forming an annulus) and a slight concavity
that permits it to roll along a surface during exercise, but still maintains a default
base, or resting position for the stability ball
1 when the ball is seated inside the device
2.
[0032] Brackets
25 are molded onto the belt
4 at two points on the circumference of the exercise device that are 180 degrees apart.
These brackets
25 are used to attach resistance tubes to the device, for example, using nylon belts
with D-rings so that resistance-training exercises can be performed on the ball.
[0033] In
FIG. 42, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device. This sixth embodiment
differs in a number of respects from the previously described embodiments. For example,
in this embodiment, the central hub
20 is in the shape of an annular ring that encircles and seats the lower circumference
of the ball
1 and leaves a substantial part of the bottommost portion of the ball exposed and uncovered
by the central hub
20. The plurality of ribs
3 are held at equidistant points from one another in-between the central hub
20 and the belt
4. Together, the central hub
20, belt
4 and ribs
3 form a cage in which the ball
1 is seated. In addition, a secondary pedestal structure
30 is applied to the central hub
11 to create a stand for holding the exercise device
2 stationary when placed on a substantially flat surface. When viewing the overall
assembly of the device
2 and the secondary structure
30 together, its appearance resembles an hourglass shape. Due to the fact that the secondary
structure
30 prevents the exercise device
2 from moving, one or more rollers
35 are molded onto or otherwise secured around at least one of the central hub
20 and belt
4 to allow the ball to still move within the exercise device
2 for use in performing an exercise. Thus, the user is still able to take advantage
of the increased resistance that results from placing the ball
1 inside the exercise device
2. Due to their construction, the rollers
35 rotate about the tubular bars that form the central hub
20 and the belt
4 when brushed upwards or downwards by the ball's movement. Accordingly, the ball
1 is still able to move within the stationary exercise device
2.
[0034] In a similar manner to that shown in the embodiments of
FIGS. 32 to
40 and
42, that the central base
11 may be in the form of an annulus and/or an annular ring that interconnects or is
formed by the plurality of rib assemblies
10, rather than forming a substantially circular and/or solid hub, point, plate or base.
[0035] FIGS. 43 to 46 illustrate two exemplary embodiments of the exercise device. Like the embodiment
shown in
FIG. 42, an annular ring forms the central base
11 and is positioned along the lower circumference of the exercise device
2. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 43, the central base
11 is placed closer to the belt
4 in comparison to the position of the central base
11 that is shown in the embodiment of
FIG. 44. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 44, the central base
11 is placed at a much lower point (e.g., approximately 1" inch from the bottommost
point of the exercise device
2) along the lower circumference of the exercise device
2. These two embodiments differ from the embodiment of
FIG. 42 in that the plurality of ribs
3 do not radiate outwards to form a hemispherical cage with the central base
11 and the belt
4. By contrast, the ribs
3 extend vertically straight downwards from the belt
4 to the surface upon which the exercise device
2 rests. For example, if the exercise device
2 is resting on a horizontally flat floor, the ribs
3 extend from the belt
4 to the floor such that they are substantially perpendicular to the floor plane. As
a result, each rib
3 does not directly meet with the central base
11 as the central base
11 necessarily has a smaller diameter than the belt
4. Rather, the ribs
3 act as stilts that hold the exercise device
2 still when it is placed on a substantially flat surface. Each rib
3 is indirectly connected to the central base
11 by an intermediate, interconnecting structure
32 at some point along the length of rib
3. Feet
40, made of rubber or some other suitable high-friction material, may be applied to the
free ends of the ribs
3 to aid in stabilizing the exercise device
2 along the surface upon which it rests. In addition, each individual rib
3 may be made to be mechanically adjustable such that its vertical length can be adjusted
(i.e., shortened or lengthened). This allows the ribs
3 to accommodate the relative position (height) of the central base
11 and/or any angle present in the surface upon which the exercise device
2 is resting. For example, each individual rib
3 may be comprised of two telescoping pieces
33, 34 that may be adjustably slid within one another to change the combined, overall length
of the pieces
33, 34. Accordingly, the ribs
3 are able to maintain a substantially vertical stance along the entire circumference
of the exercise device
2 despite any variations in the surface upon which it stands.
[0036] Referring to
FIGS. 47 to
54, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device. This particular embodiment
is substantially similar to the embodiment of
FIGS. 32 to
40 in that each rib
3 is removably attached to a central hub
20 at one end
26, and is removably attached to a belt
4 at its opposite (radiating) end
8 to form a hemispherical cage for receiving the lower circumference of the stability
ball
1. Alternatively, the ribs
3, the central hub
20, and the belt
4 may be comprised of a single, molded piece such that ribs
3 are integral with the central hub
20 and belt
4. Unlike the embodiment of
FIGS. 32 to
40, the central hub
20 is in the shape of an annular ring such that the bottommost portion of the ball 1
is left exposed and uncovered by the large opening
50 of the central hub
20 (as best shown in
FIG. 49). As a result, the surface area of the central hub
20 is minimal and therefore, does not significantly impede the rolling movement of the
ball. In this way, the ball
1 directly touches the rolling surface making it possible for the user to roll the
ball during exercise. The advantageous resistance that counteracts the rolling movement
of the ball is still felt by the user, but is primarily created by and concentrated
at the inclined planes or wings
5.
[0037] An exemplary embodiment of the exercise device is provided and shown in
FIG. 55. There exists the possibility of the ball sliding along the floor due to the significant
decrease in the surface area in contact with the floor in the transition from the
central hub
20 to the wings. In this particular embodiment, resistance to sliding is provided by
the addition of one or more modular enhancers
45 that can be selectively applied to the outside perimeter of each inclined plane or
wing
5. The enhancers
45 increase the effective protruding distance, or angle of inclination, of the plane
or wing
5 and can be made to grip the floor by being of a skid-resistant material such as silicone
rubber. As shown in close detail in
FIG. 57, the enhancers
45 are crescent- or arc-like segments shaped to conform to the curvature of at least
a portion of the outside perimeter of the inclined planes or wings
5. At the inner arc of the enhancer segment is an interior groove
46 that is shaped to receive the edge of the outside perimeter of the inclined plane
or wing
5 such that the enhancer
45 can be securely applied to the edge of the inclined plane or wing
5, when desired. Thus, by selectively applying the enhancers
45 to the outside perimeters of one or more of the inclined planes or wings
5, skidding can be eliminated and/or the effective resistance provided by the enhanced
inclined plane(s) or wing(s) can be increased along the entire circumference of the
device
2 or, just a specific portion of the circumference of the device
2.
[0038] As shown in close detail in
FIG. 56, the inclined planes or wings
5 may also be structurally comprised of two or more partitions
41, 42, 43 that interlock or otherwise lie adjacent to one another to, together, form the entire
plane or wing
5. Accordingly, the enhancers
45 may also be partitioned into separate parts that correspondingly fit each of the
partitions
41, 42, 43. By splitting both the plane or wing
5 and the enhancers
45 into separate corresponding segments or parts, each plane or wing
5 can advantageously be divided into separate zones, each zone providing a different
or varying degree of resistance. For example, as shown in
FIG. 56, the inclined plane or wing
5 can be divided into three parts: a lower partition
41, an intermediate partition
42, and an upper partition
43, thereby creating three different discrete zones along the length of the inclined
plane or wing
5. Selectively, the user may only wish to increase the resistance felt at the very beginning
of the rolling movement of the ball away from its resting or base position and, therefore,
can apply an enhancer
45 only to the lower partition
41 of the device
2. Similarly, the user may wish to only increase the resistance felt at the mid-extension
point of the rolling movement of the ball away from its resting or base position and,
therefore, can apply an enhancer
45 only to the intermediate partition
42 of the device
2 and leave the lower partition
41 and upper partition
43 as is without the enhancers
45. By being able to vary the amount of resistance felt by the user at different points
along the route of the rolling ball, the user can uniquely and dynamically change
the intensity of the resulting exercise.
[0039] An embodiment of the exercise device according to the present invention is provided
and shown in
FIG. 58. In this embodiment, a plurality of inclined planes or wings
5 are directly attached to or integrally formed at the exterior surface of the ball
1 in a pattern that begins at a bottom portion, or, at any level from the bottom portion
to half way up the circumference of the ball
1, and radiates upwards along the spherical exterior surface of the ball to a desired
height. Each inclined plane or wing
5 begins at or near the bottom of the ball
1 at one end
51 and steadily increases in its protruding distance, or angle of inclination, as it
approaches its opposite, radiating end
52. The increase can continue all the way or partly up the wing
5. In the former exemplary configuration, the wing
5 continues extending outwardly away from the center of the ball
1 to create a wedge-shaped wing
5. In the latter exemplary configuration, the wing
5 continues extending outwardly away from the center of the ball
1 only up to an intermediate portion of the wing
5. The remainder can have a constant outside radius so that the upper portion of the
wing
5 is relatively cylindrical or it can decrease in radius until it merges back into
the outer surface of the ball
1.
[0040] Compared to above-described exemplary embodiments, the hemispherical cage or enclosure
formed by the ribs
3, belt
4, and central base or hub
11, 20 is omitted entirely as the inclined planes or wings
5 are directly applied to or formed integrally with the exterior surface of the ball
1. However, in the same manner as described above and as shown in
FIGS. 30 and
31, the addition of the inclined planes or wings
5 still provides an incremental amount of resistance to the rolling movement of the
ball
1.
[0041] Any suitable method of forming the ball
1 with the inclined planes or wings
5 or, applying the inclined planes or wing
5 to the ball's exterior surface, may be considered. For example, the inclined planes
or wings
5 may be initially molded onto or integrally formed with the ball
1 during manufacture. Where the inclined planes or wings
5 are initially formed separately from the ball
1 and, thereafter, are applied to the surface of the ball
1, the inclined planes or wings
5 are necessarily shaped to conform to the spherical exterior of the ball
1. For example, the inclined plane or wing
5 may be made of a flexible (or soft), molded plastic. To attach the inclined plane
or wing
5 to the ball
1, a number of temporary, permanent, or semi-permanent adhesive compounds may be used.
Alternatively, corresponding VELCRO® fasteners may be applied to adjacent surfaces
of the ball
1 and the inclined plane or wing
5. In a further example, a variety of mating mechanical attachments (e.g., a male pin
and matching female keyhole-slot) may be used to adjoin corresponding adjacent parts
of the ball
1 and inclined plane or wing
5.
[0042] Additionally, the inclined planes or wings
5 may be formed as one solid piece, or may be partially or fully hollow and shown,
for example, in
FIG. 59. Further, a combination of solid, hollow, and partially hollow inclined planes or
wings
5 may be formed onto or applied to a single ball
1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
FIG. 59, the inclined planes or wings
5 are initially formed as hollow pockets
53 either during or after manufacture of the ball
1. Each of the hollow pockets
53 is open at the bottom, the top, or an intermediate portion. A variable amount of
support may be added to the hollow pocket
53 by partially or fully filling it with a weighted substance
54, for example, by injecting plastic into the pocket
53. Then, the opening can be sealed so that the substance
54 is not able to escape from the pocket
53. In an injection method, only a small hole is made. After hardening, the substance
54 becomes too large to exit the injection orifice.
[0043] In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 60, the pocket
55 is akin to a typical pocket open at an intermediate slit
56. A variable amount of support is able to be added to the hollow pocket
55 by inserting removably a correspondingly shaped modular insert
57 within its hollow interior. As depicted in
FIG. 60, when desired by the user, the insert
57 is received through the opening or slit
56 of the inclined plane or wing
5 and is slid down into the hollow interior of the plane or wing
5. As the pocket
55 is at least partially elastic, the top portion
58 of the pocket
55 is stretched over the top end
59 of the insert
57 to capture the insert
57 therein and prevent it from falling out during use.
[0044] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred
embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should
not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional
variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art and the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative
rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to
those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Combinations of any number
of the various features from the various exemplary embodiments together are contemplated
within the scope of the invention.
[0045] The above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention
as defined by the following claims.