Exercise Device

Abstract

An improved exercise device is used for a variety of exercises. In one embodiment, the exercise device has an upper portion having a contact surface. The contact surface has a partially hemispherical shape.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and more specifically to exercise devices with a partially hemispherical shape.

With the continued interest in personal health and fitness, there is an increased interest in improved methods and devices for conventional exercises. For instance, push-ups have typically been carried out without exercise devices. However, drawbacks to the conventional push-ups include a limited range of motion as well as other drawbacks. For example, some conventional exercise devices make it difficult to have a full range of motion when performing a push-up while maintaining proper form.

Devices have been developed to overcome such drawbacks to the conventional push-up. Such devices may improve the range of motion available for the push-up. Drawbacks to such developed devices include increased force and strain on the wrists, hands and fingers of the user. Such increased force may cause pain and/or injury. In addition, other devices may also have limited stability which can also increase the risk of pain and/or injury.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved exercise device. Further needs include an improved exercise device that allows performance of exercises with increased range of motion. Additional needs include an improved exercise device that reduces strain and force (e.g., pressure) on the hands and fingers of a user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by an exercise device. The exercise device has an upper portion having a contact surface. The contact surface has a partially hemispherical shape.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise device with a partially hemispherical upper portion;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of an exercise device showing the bottom side;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise device showing the bottom side;

FIG. 5 illustrates a person using an embodiment of an exercise device;

FIG. 6 illustrates another view of a person using an embodiment of an exercise device;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an exercise device having a hollow interior; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise device in which the contact portion has the bottom side;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an exercise device having a hollow device interior;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an exercise device with a contact surface;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an exercise device having an outwardly protruding contact surface;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of an exercise device having a rotation base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of exercise device 5 having base 15 and upper portion 70, with upper portion 70 having contact surface 10. In such an embodiment, upper portion 70 and contact surface 10 have a partially hemispherical shape. Upper portion 70 and contact surface 10 may have a shape of any portion of a hemisphere. For instance, without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape may be more or less than half of a hemisphere. In embodiments as shown, the partially hemispherical shape is a semi-sphere. It is to be understood that a semi-sphere is about half a sphere. Without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape of contact surface 10 may allow a comfortable and stable leverage point. In embodiments, the base 15 may be integral with the upper portion 70. Exercise device 5 may be used for any of a variety of exercises such as muscle building and stretching movements. Examples of muscle building exercises include push-ups, tricep bends, dips, straight aim planks, straight arm side planks, mountain climbers, and the like. Device 5, through increased range of motion comfort and stability, allows for a variety of modifications to the traditional pushup including triangle pushups, handstand pushups, and others. For stretching one can use device 5 as an object of stability and lean against it with hands or feet. Additional exercises such as squats, lunges, and calf stretches, for example, may be performed if the exercise device 5 is used to support a user's feet.

Exercise device 5 may be composed of any material suitable for exercise. In an embodiment, contact surface 10 is composed of a different material than base 15 and/or body 80 of upper portion 70. In embodiments, contact surface 10 has a softer material than base 15 and/or body 80. In such embodiments, contact surface 10 may be elastically deformable (i.e., may undergo elastic deformation), and base 15 and/or body 80 may be substantially rigid. As used herein, the contact surface 10 may be considered to be substantially rigid if it is unable to bend or be forced out of shape under standard exercise conditions, such as during performance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. As used herein, the contact surface 10 may be considered to be elastically deformable if it undergoes elastic deformation under standard exercise conditions, such as during performance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. In embodiments, contact surface 10 comprises any elastically deformable materials suitable for use with exercise device 5. Contact surface 10 may be composed of leather, cloth (i.e., cotton, synthetic material, and the like), foam, urethane, rubber, or any combinations thereof. Base 15 and/or body 80 may be composed of rubber, plastic, wood, metal, glass, ceramic, urethane, foam, or any combinations thereof.

FIG. 11 shows a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 in which contact surface 10 is composed of different material than body 80. In some embodiments, contact surface 10 and body 80 are composed of the same materials. Contact surface 10 covers all or a portion of body 80. In embodiments, contact surface 10 is attached to body 80. Contact surface 10 may be attached to body 80 by any suitable method. In some embodiments, contact surface 10 has a textured surface (i.e., textured surface features). Without limitation, the textured surface features hinder the slipping of a person's hands or feet. Any textured surface features may be used that are suitable for use with exercise device 5. In embodiments, the textured surface features include dimples, protrusions, adhesives, or any combinations thereof.

Exercise device 5 may have any height suitable for the desired exercise. In embodiments, the height is from about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. Without limitation, the height may provide a larger range of motion to a person e.g., for push-ups or tricep bends, dips, etc.) while allowing for maintenance of better form. Additionally, exercise device 5 may be placed in any width suitable for the desired exercise. In embodiments, the width at a widest point is from about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. For example, the base 15 may have a width of about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches.

In embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, exercise device 5 has bottom side 20. In embodiments, bottom side 20 is on the opposing side of exercise device 5 from contact surface 10. FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of exercise device 5 showing bottom side 20, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of exercise device 5 having bottom side 20. In embodiments as shown, bottom side 20 is substantially flat. Without limitation, bottom side 20 is substantially flat to provide a stable contact surface with flooring and the like. As shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, bottom side 20 may be generally circular shape. Bottom side 20 is not limited to a generally circular shape but in alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may have any shape suitable for use with exercise device 5, such as elliptical, for example. In some embodiments, bottom side 20 has a friction increasing substantially flat surface. Without limitation, such a friction increasing substantially flat surface may facilitate movement of exercise device 5 along the flooring or the like when in use. Any method of increased friction suitable with an exercise device may be used such as, without limitation, ridges, adhesives, suction devices, and the like. The substantially flat bottom side 20 provides a stable contact with the flooring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, base 15 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Base 15 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape but in alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may have any shape suitable for use with exercise device 5.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of a person 30 using exercise device 5. As shown, person's hands 35 are disposed on contact surface 10 with fingers 40 of person 30 also disposed on contact surface 10. Without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape of contact surface 10 may allow person's 30 body weight to be distributed throughout hands 35, which may facilitate avoidance of a concentrated weight load on a portion of hand 35. Further, the partially hemispherical shape allows for hands 35 to be positioned in a variety of locations on contact surface 10, for example, to increase use comfort and minimize wrist strain. FIGS. 5 and 6 show two exercise devices 5 being used but embodiments include any desired number of exercise devices 5 may be used. For instance, alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may include only one exercise device 5 being used with one hand 30 or four exercise devices 5 being used, one exercise device 5 for each foot 75. In some embodiments (not illustrated), exercise device 5 may be used with one or two feet of person 30 and without hands 35. For instance, person 30 may stand with one foot 75 on an exercise device 5 or with each foot 75 on a different exercise device 5. Person 30 may then do exercises such as squats, lunges, calf stretches, and the like. The shape of the contact surface and overall rigid stricture can add increase balance and stability to the exercise.

Exercise device 5 may have a solid interior or may have a hollow interior. FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 in which base 15 has a hollow interior 45. Hollow interior 45 may comprise any portion of the interior of base 15 and may have any configuration that is suitable for exercise device 5. In embodiments as shown, hollow interior 45 has a configuration in which interior sides 50 are about perpendicular to bottom side 20.

It is to be understood that exercise device 5 is not limited to embodiments comprising base 15. For instance in an embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, exercise device 5 includes upper portion 70 with contact surface 10 but without base 15. In such an embodiment, contact surface 10 has bottom side 20. In such an embodiment, the interior of exercise device 5 may be hollow or solid.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 in which exercise device 5 has device interior 55. As shown, device interior 55 provides exercise device 5 with a hollow interior. In such an embodiment, device interior 55 is an open section of exercise device 5 that is disposed in a portion of both upper portion 70 and base 15.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 in which contact surface 10 covers a portion of upper portion 70. In embodiments as shown, contact surface 10 has an exterior that is in about the same plane with a portion or all of the exterior of upper portion 70 on which contact surface 10 is not disposed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 in which contact surface 10 extends outward beyond a plane in which a portion or all of the exterior of upper portion 70 is disposed.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device 5 having rotation base 60. In such an embodiment, rotation base 60 has bottom side 20. Rotation base 60 allows device body 65 to rotate radially. Device body 65 includes upper portion 70 and base 15. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated) in which exercise device 5 does not include base 15, device body 65 includes upper portion 70 that rotates. In embodiments as shown in FIG. 12, device body 65 rotates in relation to rotation base 60, which remains stationary. In alternative embodiments, a portion of rotation base 60 rotates. In embodiments, device body 65 rotates about a center point 25 of rotation base 60. Rotation base 60 may allow for rotation of device body 65 by any suitable means such as by ball bearings and the like.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Although individual embodiments are discussed, the invention covers all combinations of all those embodiments.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

an upper portion comprising a contact surface, wherein the contact surface comprises a partially hemispherical shape.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the partially hemispherical shape comprises a semi-spherical shape.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface is elastically deformable.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface comprises leather, cloth, foam, rubber, or any combinations thereof.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface comprises a textured surface.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises a body, and wherein the body is substantially rigid.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise device has a height from about 4 inches to about 8 inches and a width at a widest point from about 4 inches to about 8 inches.

8. The exercise of device of claim 1, further comprising a bottom side.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom side is disposed on an opposing side of the exercise device from the contact surface.

10. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom side is substantially flat.

11. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the bottom side comprises a friction increasing substantially flat surface.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a base.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a substantially cylindrical shape.

14. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a hollow interior.

15. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the exercise device comprises a device interior, and wherein the device interior comprises an open section, further wherein the open section is disposed in a portion of the upper portion and a portion of the base.

16. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a solid interior.

17. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface has an exterior that is in about a same plane with a portion or all of an exterior of the upper portion on which the contact surface is not disposed.

18. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the contact surface extends outward beyond a plane in which a portion or all of an exterior of the upper portion is disposed.

19. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a rotation base.

20. The exercise device of claim 19, wherein the upper portion rotates in relation to the rotation base.