Abstract:
A turn and burn exercise device comprising a frame assembly (including a periphery ring; and a plurality of frame rails); a rotation assembly (including at least one bushing and at least one bearing); a sphere having an inner volume; an inner surface; and an outer surface; and at least one ball. The turn and burn exercise device when operated during an exercise routine may or may not contact a ground surface. The turn and Burn exercise device allows users to burn calories and fat at relatively consistent rates throughout workout sessions. The longer the ball is in motion, the more calories and fat users may burn. The ball may also be used on the floor for push-ups and extensive core workouts. Different amounts of weight can be applied to the turn and burn exercise device as necessary to achieve desired results.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/410,996, filed Nov. 8, 2010 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise and more specifically relates to exercise devices. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Many individuals in modem society exercise to enhance or maintain physical fitness and overall health and wellness. Exercise may be performed for strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of enjoyment. Frequent physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent various diseases, obesity, and depression. Fitness centers and public gyms may be available for individuals to exercise in and may offer a host of equipment; however these facilities may be expensive to gain membership in and are not typically located near the individual&#39;s residence, making them potentially difficult to work into the exerciser&#39;s schedule/routine. 
         [0008]    As a result many consumers enjoy exercising in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. However, achieving a full-body workout at home may be difficult, and may require the use of several different types of equipment for targeting different areas of the body. Purchasing pieces of equipment for every area of the body can also be expensive, and may not be practical for many consumers due to space limitations. Finding places to store multiple pieces of equipment can also be a hassle. A readily storable multi-purpose exercising device is needed. 
         [0009]    Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,514,179; 6,500,102; 6,053,846; 4,150,580; 2006/0073952; and 6,527,675. This art is representative of exercise devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0010]    Ideally, an exercise device should be safe to use, user-friendly, multi-purpose to allow a host of exercises to be performed with it and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable exercise system to be readily usable, easily storable and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known exercise device art, the present invention provides a novel turn and burn exercise system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a readily storable, yet effective and efficient multi-purpose exercising device. The turn and burn exercise system allows users to burn calories and fat at consistent rates throughout their workout sessions. 
         [0012]    The turn and burn exercise system as disclosed herein comprises: a turn and burn exercise device comprising a frame assembly (including a periphery ring; and a plurality of frame rails); a rotation assembly (including at least one bushing and at least one bearing); a sphere (having an inner volume; an inner surface; and an outer surface); and at least one ball. The exercise device when operated during an exercise routine may or may not contact a ground surface, depending on the exercise and particular fitness application. 
         [0013]    The frame assembly is supported about the sphere via the rotation assembly. The periphery ring provides a handle that is hand engageable, with the periphery ring located an offset-distance from the outer surface of the sphere (such that there is room for the hand to engage the device.) The peripheral ring comprises about 1⅛ inch tubing in preferred embodiments. The peripheral ring may further comprise a grippable surface finish and is a (substantially) oval-shaped handle in most embodiments. 
         [0014]    The frame rails mountingly-receive the rotational assembly; the bushing(s) and the bearing(s) in combination allowing the sphere to rotate in relation to the frame assembly. Further, the bearing of the rotation assembly preferably comprises ball bearings to minimize friction. The frame rails comprise a flared portion wherein the flared portion allows the frame rails to circumvent the sphere, the flared portion with a means for receiving a fastener therethrough to connect the frame assembly to the sphere. The sphere may have receiving means for mounting the bushings therein or thereon, or studs may be welded to the sphere (sphere comprises ferrous material in this particular embodiment) and washers/nuts or the like be used to rotatably secure it to the frame assembly. In certain embodiments the sphere may be sealable to contain a fluid other than air (water or other liquid or solids.) 
         [0015]    The ball in preferred embodiments comprises an external rubber coating to minimize sound propagation and may be weighted in or out of balance. The ball may preferably comprise a ferrous material with a density of between about 7,750 and 8,050 kg/m 3 . The ball is located within the inner volume of the sphere such that the ball can be rotated on the inner surface in relation to the sphere. An action of rotating the ball about the inner surface in relation to the sphere provides an exercise whereby at least one user is able to burn calories. In this way the present invention may be used to exercise. The device may also be used to exercise in contact with the ground as explained subsequently. 
         [0016]    A kit is embodied herein for the turn and burn exercise systems comprising a plurality of balls with each ball comprising a different weight; the exercise device (which the balls may be inserted within as per user-preference); and a set of exercise instructions. 
         [0017]    A method of using an exercise device preferably comprising the steps of: gripping the exercise device via a periphery ring serving as a handle; and rolling a ball about an interior of a sphere to burn calories. In this method the device doesn&#39;t touch the ground surface such as a floor. In another method of use the exercise device is in contact with a ground surface such that a user is able to put weight of the user on the exercise device to perform at least one exercise. The balls may be inter-changed in certain embodiments for progressive difficulty (increased resistance) as the user manipulates the exercise device. 
         [0018]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a turn and burn exercise system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, turn and burn exercise systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view illustrating a turn and burn exercise device and the turn and burn exercise device in an in-use condition (contacting the floor) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view illustrating the turn and burn exercise device having a weighted ball contained within an outer ball (that is hollow) and the turn and burn exercise device in another in-use condition (user-upright) according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view illustrating the turn and burn exercise device with a gripped circumferential ring according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view illustrating a rotation assembly (bearings/bushings) of the turn and burn exercise device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view illustrating the turn and burn exercise device and a top view of a frame rail according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       
    
    
       [0025]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an exercise device and more particularly to turn and burn exercise device and system  100  as used to improve the fitness of users  190 . Turn and burn exercise device and system  100  provides user  190  with an efficient and convenient method for consistently burning calories and fat while exercising. 
         [0027]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a top perspective view illustrating turn and burn exercise device  110  and burn exercise device  110  in an in-use condition (contacting the floor) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Turn and burn exercise system  100  preferably comprises: turn and burn exercise device  110  comprising frame assembly  120 ; rotation assembly  140 ; sphere  160  (having inner volume  164 , inner surface  168 , and outer surface  172 ); and at least one ball  180 . Frame assembly  120  preferably includes periphery ring  124  and plurality of frame rails  128 . Rotation assembly  140  preferably includes at least one bushing  144  and at least one bearing  148  (two of each located on opposing sides as shown in preferred embodiments.) Frame assembly  120  may be supported about sphere  160  via rotation assembly  140 . 
         [0029]    Periphery ring  124  on frame assembly  120  provides handle  126  that is hand engageable and may be grooved for improved gripping. Handle  126  may be (substantially) oval-shaped such that it doesn&#39;t comprise sharp edges. Periphery ring  124  is preferably located an offset-distance from outer surface  172  of sphere  160 . Frame rails  128  mountingly-receive rotational assembly  140 , with bushing  144  and bearing  148  in combination which allow sphere  160  to rotate in relation to frame assembly  120 . Other equivalent rotating means may also be used and still be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Ball  180  is preferably located within inner volume  164  of sphere  160  such that ball  180  can be rotated on inner surface  168  (rolled) in relation to sphere  160 . An action of rotating (rolling) ball  180  about inner surface  168  in relation to sphere  160  provides an exercise whereby at least one user  190  is able to burn calories. The longer that user  190  is able to keep ball  180  in motion, the more calories and fat user  190  may burn. 
         [0031]    Sphere  160 , on turn and burn exercise device  110 , when operated during an exercise routine may contact a ground surface such as a floor (as shown.) Exercise device  110  is able to support a weight of user  190  (relative hand positioning shown for in-use condition  106 .) Other hand positioning are available (due to oval-shape) depending on user-preference for other exercises such as alluded to in  FIG. 2 . Sphere  160  may comprise a rubberized coating on outer surface  172  of sphere  160  such that the ground surface and sphere  160  are protected from contact-wear, other embodiments may not comprise any finish or different finishes. Exercises that may be performed using turn and burn exercise device  110  may include pushups and the like. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other exercises performed using turn and burn exercise device such as, for example, pikes; ab curls; dolphin poses; crunches, etc., may be sufficient. In this way the present invention is multi-functional. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 2  showing a top perspective view illustrating turn and burn exercise device  110  having ball  180  that is weighted contained within an outer ball (sphere  160  that is hollow) and turn and burn exercise device  110  in another in-use condition (user-upright) and  FIG. 5 , a side view of turn and burn exercise device  110  and a top view of one of frame rail  128  to indicate a relative profile both according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Turn and burn exercise device  110  when operated during an exercise routine may not contact a ground surface in all exercises and/or embodiments (unlike in  FIG. 1 .) Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other non-floor contact exercises such as, for example, curls, presses, clockwise-rotation/counter-clockwise rotation exercises etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0034]    Sphere  160  may comprise a fluid (air, liquid or solid) substantially contained within inner volume  164 . The fluid therein provides a resistance to movement of ball  180 . Overcoming the resistance to the air, to gravity, to maintaining momentum of ball  180  all provide exercising means whereby calories may be expended. Outer surface  172  of sphere  160  may comprise an access opening (not shown, but may be slidably incorporated into contour of outer surface  172 ) such that ball  180  can be removed and another ball of a different weight may be inserted for use. In this way different amounts of weight can be applied to turn and burn exercise device  110  as necessary to achieve desired results such as ball  180  that is heavier provides more resistance to user  190  when performing an exercise as compared to ball  180  that is lighter. 
         [0035]    Ball  180  comprises an external rubber coating in preferred embodiments to minimize sound propagation. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other coating arrangements such as, for example, plastic, foam, different types of rubber, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0036]    Ball  180  preferably comprises a ferrous material with a density of between about 7,750 and 8,050 kg/m 3 . Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other materials such as, for example, steel, stainless steel, alloyed materials, non-ferrous materials, composites, plastics, etc., may also be sufficient for us in ball  180 . 
         [0037]    Ball  180  preferably comprises a smaller volume than sphere  160  such that ball  180  is able to rotate in an orbit about an artificial node located at a center of sphere  160 , with ball  180  being able to travel on inner surface  168  within inner volume  164  of sphere  160 . Ball  180  may or may not comprise a heavier weight than sphere  160 . Ball  180  is weighted, and may or may not be balanced. 
         [0038]    Referring now to frame rails  128 ; frame rails  128  preferably comprise flared portion  130  wherein flared portion  130  allows frame rails  128  to circumvent sphere  160  with flared portion  130  preferably providing a means for receiving fastener  132  therethrough to connect frame assembly  120  to sphere  160  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top perspective view illustrating turn and burn exercise device  110  with gripped circumferential ring  114  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 . 
         [0040]    Peripheral ring  124  preferably comprises grippable surface finish  134  (also shown in  FIG. 4 ). Grippable surface finish  134  may be included to prevent hands of user from slipping off of turn and burn exercise device  110  when in in-use condition  106 , especially when slippery from sweat.) Grippable surface finish  134  may also comprise a rubberized material. 
         [0041]    Peripheral ring  124  also comprises about 1⅛ inch (steel) tubing in preferred embodiments (more or less in other embodiments.) Rotation assembly  140  comprises bearing(s)  148  with bearing(s)  148 ; bearing(s)  148  preferably comprising ball bearings. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other rotating (bearing) means such as, for example, roller bearings, fluid bearings, magnetic bearings, plain bearings or other non-bearing means for rotating, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top perspective view illustrating rotation assembly  140  (bearings  148 /bushings  144 ) of turn and burn exercise device  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 . 
         [0043]    A kit may comprise a plurality of balls  180  with each ball  180  comprising a different weight; turn and burn exercise device  110 ; and a set of exercise instructions. The kit may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different weight/exercise combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0044]    A method of using turn and burn exercise device  110  (method not shown) preferably comprises the steps of: step one gripping turn and burn exercise device  110  via a periphery ring  124  serving as handle  126 ; and rolling ball  180  about an inner surface  168  of sphere  160  to burn calories. In this method the device doesn&#39;t touch the ground surface such as a floor. In another method of use turn and burn exercise device  110  is in contact with a ground surface such that user  190  is able to put weight of user  190  on turn and burn exercise device  110  to perform at least one exercise. Other weighted balls  180  may be used progressively if more or less resistance is desired. 
         [0045]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0046]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.