Inertial weight for physical conditioning

An inertial weight for physical conditioning includes a hollow housing having an inner cavity with first and second spaced apart opposed ends and defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The inner cavity tapers transversely outwardly along the longitudinal axis from a mid section to each of the first and second spaced apart opposed ends. A viscous fluid mass is carried in the inner cavity, the viscous mass filling the inner cavity less than full to allow the viscous mass to move within the inner cavity. An attachment member is affixed to at last one of the opposed ends.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to apparatus for physical conditioning and more specifically to an inertial weight for physical conditioning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During exercising or physical training and therapy, static or fixed weights are traditionally used. One problem with these weights is that they do not stretch or expand the exercise but limit the exercise to the actual movements made by the person doing the exercise. Thus, for example, to further extend an exercise for rehabilitation, trimming, shaping, toning, or conditioning, the person must move farther, stretching the muscles and tendons.

Many different types of devices have been devised or proposed to perform this extending action. Generally, these devices include some type of dynamic or movable weight that shifts as the device is moved in one direction. Generally, the weights are either fluid or solid but in all known instances the device is designed so that the moving material strikes an end wall at the end of the movement to produce a sharp impact or pull in the moving direction. This sharp pull or impact can produce an undesirable strain on the muscles.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved inertial weight for physical conditioning.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved inertial weight that produces a cumulative pulling at the end of a movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objects and others are realized in an inertial weight for physical conditioning including a hollow housing having an inner cavity with first and second spaced apart opposed ends and defining a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The inner cavity tapers transversely outwardly along the longitudinal axis from a mid section to each of the first and second spaced apart opposed ends. A viscous mass is carried in the inner cavity, the viscous mass filling the inner cavity less than full to allow the viscous mass to move within the inner cavity. An attachment member is affixed to at least one of the opposed ends. The curved formation of the inner cavity of the housing and the viscous mass produce a smooth and gentle accumulation of weight at the end of the movement rather than the sharp pull or jar produced in prior art devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, attention is first directed toFIGS. 1 and 2which illustrate an inertial weight10in accordance with the present invention. Inertial weight10includes a hollow housing12defining an inner cavity13with first and second spaced apart opposed ends14and16. A longitudinal axis18is defined extending therebetween. Inner cavity13tapers transversely outwardly along longitudinal axis18from a mid section to each of the first and second spaced apart opposed ends14and16. In this preferred embodiment, inertial weight10includes housing12being generally ellipsoidal shaped with truncated opposed ends14and16. More specifically, longitudinal axis18extends from end14to the opposed end16thereof with the radius of the housing (direction transverse to longitudinal axis18) gradually tapering or decreasing in length from a midsection toward ends14and16.

Each end14and16is provided with an attachment member to allow various elements to be attached, such as bars, multiple weight elements, etc. In this specific embodiment, the attachment member at end14is a handle receiving cylindrical socket20extending longitudinally into housing12. The end of socket20within housing12is closed and the end of socket20outside of housing12is open. Radially outwardly extending fins22are attached to the outer surface of socket20within housing12and extend into engagement with the inner surface of housing12. In this embodiment additional fins24are also attached to the outer surface of socket20outside of housing12. Both fins22and fins24are also attached to an end wall26of housing12. Fins22and24provide stability and strength for socket20when a handle is inserted therein, as will be explained in more detail presently. An attachment member at end16, in this embodiment, includes a similar handle receiving socket28attached to end16which, because of its similarity will not be discussed in detail.

In this embodiment, housing12is formed in two halves12aand12bthat are joined at a midsection30by some convenient means, such as threadedly engaged, adhesives, snap fit, etc. Also, in this specific embodiment, an optional cylindrical insert32is positioned coaxially within housing12so as to extend substantially beyond midsection30in both longitudinal directions. Insert32is provided to aid in fastening halves12aand12btogether and strengthen midsection30.

Still referring toFIG. 2, a viscous mass34is carried within inner cavity13. The volume of viscous mass34will vary depending on the desired weight of inertial weight10. Illustrated is a smaller portion for less weight. Typically the weight can range from 1 pound (approximately the amount illustrated) to 15 pounds, which will less than fill one of halves12aand12b. More weight is typically undesirable for the beneficial exercises in which the device is employed. Viscous mass34is a mixture of a viscous fluid, such as oil and the like, and weight particles, such as lead pellets, steel shot and the like. Generally rounded shot of some dense material such as metal is employed. The desired characteristic of the weight particles employed is fluidity, wherein each particle separates readily from its neighbor and will flow. This fluidity is witnessed, for example, when shot is poured from a container in a stream of individual particles. In the present invention, weight particles are combined with viscous fluid to create viscous mass34. The desired characteristic of viscous mass34is a moderated flow characteristic of weight particles. The amount of viscous fluid employed is determined by the amount necessary to generally coat each particle so that a slight surface cohesion exists between particles. This produces viscous mass34which will generally flow but will be generally retained in a cohesive whole. Excessive viscous fluid will result in the fluid pouring from particles, and is again undesirable. As a specific example of viscous mass34, weight particles preferably include shot sizes from #8 shot to #6 shot as is a standard of measure for shot used in shot shells. For a pound of shot in this size range, approximately 1 table spoon or 16 ml of oil is required for the desired characteristics.

Referring additionally toFIG. 3, one end of a handle40is inserted into the open end of socket20and fixed in place by some convenient locking apparatus. Also, one end of a second handle42is inserted into the open end of socket28and fixed in place by some convenient locking apparatus. Either of handles40and42may be optional, depending upon the specific use or exercise being performed. Referring additionally toFIG. 4, one type of locking apparatus for fixing either handle40or handle42in socket20or28is illustrated. In this preferred embodiment, a spring loaded pin44is mounted adjacent the inner end of handle40. Spring loaded pin44is the well known type that extends radially outwardly through openings at opposed ends of a diameter of handle40. To engage or lock handle40in socket20, spring loaded pin44is pushed inwardly and the inner end of handle20is inserted coaxially into socket20. Pin44is then allowed to extend outwardly through openings formed in socket20to hold handle40in place.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, handle40has an end cap46associated therewith. End cap46fits coaxially over the outer end of handle40and is fixed in place, in this embodiment, by a spring loaded pin48that operates as described above for spring loaded pin44. Referring additionally toFIG. 6, an end cap50is associated with the outer end of handle42. End cap50fits coaxially over the outer end of handle42and is fixed in place, in this embodiment, by a spring loaded pin52that operates as described above for spring loaded pins44and48. While spring loaded pins44,48, and52are illustrated and described in this embodiment, it will be understood that many other types of locking apparatus can be devised for both locking handles40and42in sockets20and28and the locking pins are illustrated and described because of the ease of installation and convenience in use.

In the use of inertial weight10, inner cavity13is accessed. In this embodiment access is accomplished when the two halves12aand12bare separated. Viscous mass34, such as described previously, is introduced into inner cavity13. In this embodiment, to maximize the weight employed, one half of housing12is be substantially filled with the combination of viscous fluid and weight particles (viscous mass34), which, when the two halves are again united into a single unit, will result in slightly less than a half full inner cavity13. Thus, inner cavity13is filled with viscous mass34to somewhere less than half full, allowing viscous mass34to move within housing12.

In operation, as inertial weight10is moved in a direction parallel to its axis, the combination of fluid and weight particles moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement. When the movement stops (i.e. at the end of the movement) the combination of fluid and weight particles continue to move to the outermost end of inertial weight10. Thus, as a movement with inertial weight10is performed, at the end of the movement, the combination of fluid and weight particles continue for a split second pushing the movement past the stop point. Because of the curved formation of the inner cavity of housing12and characteristics of viscous mass34, a gentle accumulation of weight occurs at the end of the movement, rather than a sharp jarring impact of a weight against an end wall. Also, fins22within the inner cavity prevent whirling or other torque producing movement of the viscous mass so that very little or no twisting movement occurs as a result of the movement of the viscous fluid.

Many other embodiments or uses can be devised for inertial weight10. For example, in the embodiment described, a single handle (e.g. handle40) can be attached to inertial weight10. In this embodiment, inertial weight10could be swung, for example, as a ball bat or thrust similar to a sword. With both handles40and42attached inertial weight10could be moved from side to side horizontally across the body or raised and lowered vertically, etc. Also, more than one inertial weight can be used in tandem by affixing another inertial weight to the outer end of either handle40and/or handle42in place of end cap46or50.

Thus, a new and improved inertial weight has been disclosed that provides a smooth accumulation of weight at the end of a movement, thereby keeping the body expanding past its initial limits and pushing the movement past the stop point and pushing the body that increment further. Further, the new and improved inertial weight is constructed to prevent a solid jarring as the movement stops because the curved formation of the inner cavity of the housing and the viscous mass produce a smooth and gentle accumulation of weight at the end of the movement.