Dynamic Variable Weight Exercise Device and Method
A hand held ring exercise device and method of use with an internal channel containing a weighted flowable particulate media. By moving the ring device a user exercises against a flowing mass of particulate within the ring which is subject to continuous change. Variable center of weights allows a user to exercise against different apparent weights.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of provisional Application Ser. No. 60/877,122 entitled “Variable Weight Inertial Dampened Exercise Loop Device and Method” filed Dec. 26, 2006 which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to dynamic variable weight (DVW) exercise device and method of use. More specifically, to a continuous body, such as a closed loops, containing at least a flowable particulate to provide forces to exercise with.
2. Background Art
Tai Chi is a system of controlled movements which when properly executed is believed by practitioners to develop the internal life energy or “Chi” of the practitioners. Tai Chi is suitable for all age groups, is non-jarring and can build stamina and strength. Tai Chi movements derive from a concept of “yin” and “yang” which roughly means opposing forces, smooth fluid controlled movements are a hallmark of Tai Chi Learning the controlled Tai Chi movements is accomplished through repetitive practice.
Benefits of Tai Chi are said to include greater muscle tone, balance and energy. Tai Chi also provides aerobic exercise, strengthening and muscle development.
Moving with or against the inertia of an element, opponent or device, is a practice to develop balance and core strength. In Tai Chi, the activity is also known as “Push Hands”. Hand held free weights, linear sticks, or other weighted devices have fixed weight do not vary in response to movement of the user. Linear bars and with falling weighted interior parts have ends that limit the weight movement.
It is therefore a desideratum to have an exercise method and device which encourages at least dynamic variable weight (DVW) exercise.
DefinitionsThe term “dynamic” as used in “dynamic variable weight (DVW)” means “subject to continuous change, activity, or progress”.
The phrase “dynamic variable weight (DVM)” means “a movable mass (weight) subject to continuous change, activity, or progress”.
The phrase “flowable particulate media (FM)” means an aggregate of particles each particle having mass and the particles capable of moving together as a group in which the movement together promotes friction, impacts, collisions, destructive and/or constructive interferences between the particles which affects the group movement of the particles.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA hand held continuous channel device having dynamic variable weight (DVW) center of weight.
A hand held continuous channel device having DVW via the movement of weighted flowable particulate media.
A hand held continuous channel device having DVW via the movement of weighted flowable particulate media in response to the movement of the device.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media, releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation and then catching the device.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media, releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation, catching (regrasping) the device and holding the device allowing the flowable particulate media to flow in the continuous channel thereby altering the apparent center of weight of the device.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media, releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation, catching (regrasping) the device and holding the device allowing the flowable particulate media to flow in the continuous channel whereby the rotation repositioned the DVW flowable particulate media within.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media, releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation, catching (or grasping) the device and holding the device allowing the DVW flowable particulate media to flow in the continuous channel whereby the rotation repositioned the flowable particulate media from a higher potential to a lower potential.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media with a first hand, tossing and releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation, catching (regrasping) the device with a second hand and holding the device allowing a flowable particulate media with DVW to flow in the continuous channel altering the apparent center of weight of the device.
A method of exercise including at least the steps of hand grasping a continuous channel device containing a DVW flowable particulate media with a first hand, tossing and releasing the device in mid-air while imparting rotation, catching (regrasping) the device with a second hand and holding the device allowing the flowable particulate media to flow in the continuous channel whereby the rotation repositions a particulate flowable media with DVW which flows from a higher potential to a lower potential.
An hand held exercise body of one or more of rigid, semi-rigid, flexible, body sections forming a continuous channel or track.
An hand held exercise body of one or more of rigid, semi-rigid, flexible, body sections forming a closed channel wherein a particulate flowable media with DVW can flow.
A hand held exercise device with at least one of a guide, track and channel wherein a DVW flowable particulate media is placed.
A hand held exercise device with at least one of a guide, track and channel wherein a DVW particulate media is placed. The media flow being reactive at least in part to the movement of the device.
A hand held exercise device with at least one of a guide, track and channel in which a DVW flowable particulate media flows over a surface of the interior of the guide and that interior surface affects the flow.
In one aspect, the flow of a DVW particulate media within a closed channel device alters the apparent center of weight of the device, relative to a selected point.
In one aspect, the flow of a DVW particulate media within a closed channel device alters the apparent center of weight of the device, relative to a selected point, via the interior diameter of one or more regions in the closed channel of the device.
In some exemplary implementations the flow of a DVW particulate media within a closed channel device alters the apparent center of weight of the device, relative to a selected point, via the interior features of the inside of the channel which include but are not limited to plastic and/or fiber texture, ribs, wells, dimples, bumps, walls, slots, coils, gaps, tracks, coils, ledges, guides and the like.
The flowable media is a weighted particulate that maybe homogenous or non-homogeneous in composition, size, weight and shape.
In one aspect the flowable particulate media may be combined with granules, powder, powdered graphite, powdered lubricants, dehydrating compounds, desiccant material and/or anti-clumping material.
In one aspect, the particulate flowable media within the exercise device may be combined with viscous fluid and/or lubricants.
In some exemplary implementations exercise is achieved by using at least one hand and arm to impart rotation to a hand held ring-like device whereby the center of weight of the device is altered corresponding to at least in part the location and or movement of the weighted flowable particulate media therein.
In some exemplary implementations exercise is achieved by at least waist twisting, hand to hand passing, and rotating of a hand held ring-like device wherein the movement of the flowable media varies and revaries the apparent center of weight of the device during use.
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth, in part, in the descriptions which follow and the accompanying drawings, wherein embodiments and some exemplary implementations are described and shown, and in part, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. Advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations of elements and instrumentalities particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been eliminated on repeated elements, or in some case repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONSDetailed exemplary implementations are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed items are merely exemplary implementations of the disclosure. The disclosure may be embodied in various forms and combination of forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
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Constructions options may include molding, milling, blow molding, injection molding, vacuum forming, layering, vulcanizing rubber, and extruding. Inside the loop channel 16 is the flowable particulate media “FM” which is in contact with the channel layer 18. The flowable media is a non-aqueous weighted particulate. The flowable particulate media “FM” may be homogenous and/or non-homogeneous in composition, size, weight and shape. Beads or balls of about 1/16 to 1 and ¼ inch diameter may be suitable particulate depending on the channel size. Balls or beads in the ¼ inch to ¾ inch are more preferred. Particulate which is too small tends to pack and bind within a flow channel.
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The flowable particulate media “FM” can alter the center of weight (CW) of a device relative to a selected position of a user. Examples are movements of the center of weight, relative to the user's position, indicated in
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Repositioning the flowable particulate media “FM” changes the relative center of weight “CW” of the device. For example, the center of weight shown as the center of weight one “CW1” in
The apparent weight of the device (at any give point during movement) is derived from sum of the mass of the flowable media “mFM” and the distance of the center of weight dCW (apparent weight=mFM×dCW) from a pivot such as the user's, hand, wrist, arm, elbow, shoulder, back, legs, hip etc. Other aspects of the loop-like device such as rigidity or flexibility can alter the flow of the media within the device. Selected features inside the device channel, as discussed above, may be used to impact the flow of the DVW particulate media. The internal structures, coefficient of friction, size and shape of the closed channel as well as the characteristics of the media can be used to enhanced or dampened the device's DVW via the flow of the flowable particulate media “FM”.
Examples of a sequences of exercise is illustrated in
Called out as a positional identifier, in some figures, are an “X” or an “X” and “Y” indications on the device. To aid understanding the disclosure the positional identifier indicates relative positions of the device to the user's hand 320/320′ and body, the flowable particulate media “FM” within a device. The flowable particulate media “FM” has inertia and depending on the variables such as flowable particulate media “FM” size, shape, contours and composition (such as particulate, granular, metal, stone, plastic, bead, pellet, BB, ball bearing, pebble and sand) and the surface features and sizes of the channel or channels inside the device, the flowable particulate media “FM” will not necessarily move linearly with the swinging, spinning, rotating or rolling of the device.
Rotation relocates the body of the loop-like device (as shown by the location of identifiers “X”). The position the flowable particulate media “FM” within the device is repositioned as the loop-like device is rotated. A flick of the user's grasped hand upward or downward can be used to urge or toss the device upward, forward and/or backward to reposition the device as shown by the movement off “X” in
Movements includes all around the user. Movements may come from the front of the user 331 to back of the user 332 along the line of arrow 1010, or from the back of the user 332 to the front of the user 331 along the line of arrow 1020. By swinging the device (
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During a use, the center of weight “CW” is adjustable through one or more of the movement of the loop device. The center of weight “CW” is also altered by the movement and position of the parts making up the DVW of the flowable particulate media “FM”. Any of the exercise illustrated herein may be repeated on either side of the body with the flowable particulate media “FM” moving within the device (such as along the line of arrows 500, 510, 520, 530 and 540) resulting in a change in the apparent weight of the device relative to the user.
The flowable particulate media “FM” has weight and therefore it has potential. The repositioning of the flowable particulate media “FM” can change the potential of the loop-like device. As the flowable articulate media “FM” seeks a lower potential, the user, by repositioning the mass of flowable particulate media “FM” rotation of the body, can raise the inertial mass from low to higher potential—the DVW results from the mass of flowable particulate media “FM” moving between states of potential.
Many of the exercise movements shown in
Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and in the appended claims shall be interpreted in an illustrative, and not a limiting sense.
While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of dynamic variable weight exercise comprising:
- a user grasping in a hand a ring with an internal channel containing a weighted flowable particulate media comprising the steps of:
- A. swinging the ring along the side of the user's body;
- B. ungrasping the ring in mid air and spinning the ring and weighted flowable particulate media within towards the user's body;
- C. catching the ring in mid air; and,
- D. grasping the ring and allowing the weighted flowable particulate media, that was relocated during the rotation, to flow.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user repeats steps A-D.
3. The method of claim 1 the method further comprising the user moving at least one leg forward or back during at least one of steps A-D.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user ungrasps and catches the ring using different hands.
5. A method of dynamic variable weight exercise the method comprising:
- a user grasping in a hand a weighted ring with a channel containing a weighted flowable particulate media;
- the user rotates the ring containing the weighted flowable particulate media backwards towards the user's body;
- the user releases the ring in mid air;
- the user allows the ring to rotate in mid air, thereby raising the potential of the weighted flowable particulate media within;
- the user catches the ring, after the ring has rotated; and, while grasping the caught ring the weighted flowable particulate media moves inside the ring to a lower potential.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user ungrasps and catches the ring with different hands.
7. A method of dynamic variable weight exercise comprising the steps of:
- A. a user holds a weighted ring with a closed channel containing a weighted flowable media in each hand;
- B. the user swings each ring front to back along the user's sides;
- C. the user tosses one ring while imparting a rotation to the ring;
- D. the user catches the tossed ring and continues to swing the ring as the flowable particulate media within flows;
- E. the user tosses the other ring while imparting a rotation to that ring; and,
- F. the user catches the other tossed ring and continues to swing that ring as the flowable particulate media within flows.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user swings the rings out of phase with each other.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the user swings the rings in phase with each other.
Type: Application
Filed: May 3, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2008
Inventor: Mark H. Krietzman (Palos Verdes Estates, CA)
Application Number: 11/744,194
International Classification: A63B 21/06 (20060101);