Hand-held fitness device for promoting exercise

A hand-held fitness device for promoting exercise includes first and second fluid-containing and transparent body members. A threaded coupling is located between the first and second body members for fluidly connecting the first and second body members. The threaded coupling defines a handle for which the fitness device may be gripped. Colored glitter and foam pellets cooperate with the fluid in the first and second body members to produce a turbulent and varying decorative appearance as the fitness device is manipulated.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a hand-held fitness device for promoting 
exercise. The invention is useful for all ages, and is particularly 
designed for exercising the muscles in the arms and upper body. The 
invention produces a varying decorative appearance when handled, and thus 
encourages use. Because of its unique and interesting appearance, the 
invention may be used and sold as a toy for children and adults alike. For 
some of the elderly and handicapped, the mere handling of the fitness 
device may be sufficient exercise for strengthening muscles and 
maintaining proper blood flow. 
Exercise and fitness have become quite popular in recent years. Fitness 
devices, such as hand-held weights and dumbbells, are used in aerobic 
classes, for jogging or walking, or simply to tone and strengthen muscles 
in the arms and upper body. Often times, people find it difficult to 
routinely use a particular fitness device and maintain a regular fitness 
program. This typically results from boredom. Others are intimated by the 
idea of using cast-iron weights to strengthen their body. Thus, the 
present invention provides a fitness device which captures the attention, 
and which stimulates and encourages its use in exercise. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an exercise device 
which is decorative to encourage handling, and to promote its use in 
exercise. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise device which 
is hand-held. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise device which 
may be used and sold as a toy for both children and adults. 
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the 
preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a hand-held fitness 
device for promoting exercise. The fitness device includes first and 
second fluid-containing and transparent body members. A connecting means 
is located between the first and second body members for fluidly 
connecting the first and second body members. The connecting means defines 
a handle for which the fitness device may be gripped. A decorative means 
cooperates with the fluid in the first and second body members to produce 
a turbulent and varying decorative appearance as the fitness device is 
manipulated. 
Preferably, the first and second body members are constructed of a 
light-weight plastic material. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and 
second body members are substantially spherical. 
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and 
second body members are substantially cylindrical. 
Preferably, the fluid is water. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the decorative 
means comprises colored glitter. 
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the decorative 
means comprises foam pellets. 
Preferably, the first and second body members are of a substantially 
identical shape. 
Preferably, the first and second body members are disposed in substantial 
alignment. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting 
means comprises a threaded coupling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE 
Referring now specifically to the drawings, a hand-held fitness device for 
promoting exercise according to the present invention is illustrated in 
FIG. 1 and shown generally at reference numeral 10. The fitness device 10 
preferably weighs between 1-8 pounds, and may be used to exercise various 
muscles of the upper body, particularly the arms. 
The fitness device 10 includes first and second substantially identical and 
transparent body members 11 and 12 for containing a fluid 16, colored 
glitter 17, and foam pellets 18. As shown in FIG. 2, each body member 11, 
12 includes a respective threaded neck portion 14 and 15 extending to 
respective openings 20 and 21. According to an alternate embodiment (not 
shown), the body members 11 and 12 are not substantially identical. 
Preferably, a threaded coupling 22 (See FIG. 1) mates with the respective 
neck portions 14, 15 of the first and second body members 11, 12 to attach 
the first and second body members 11, 12 to each other. Alternately, the 
first and second body members 11, 12 may be connected by a "snap-on" 
coupling, by fusing, or by gluing respective body members 11 and 12 to 
each other at the periphery of the openings 20 and 21. 
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the body member 11 illustrating the relative 
diameters of the neck portion 14 and the body member 11. When assembled, 
the neck portions 14, 15 and the coupling 22 form a handle 23 for which 
the fitness device 10 may be handled for exercise. 
The fluid 16, colored glitter 17, and foam pellets 18 are inserted through 
the respective openings 20, 21 in the body members 11, 12 before 
attachment. As the fitness device 10 is manipulated, the glitter 17 and 
foam pellets 18 cooperate with the fluid 16 to create a decorative, 
turbulent array of colors. The resulting appearance of the fitness device 
10 captures attention, and encourages handling and exercise. This degree 
of exercise may be substantial and necessary for maintaining proper blood 
flow for those who are handicapped, or for the elderly. 
Preferably, the foam pellets 18 have a density less than the fluid 16. This 
helps drive the foam pellets 18 from one end of the fitness device 10 
through the handle 23 to the opposite end of the fitness device 10 as it 
is manipulated. As shown in FIG. 4, when wholly or partially inverted, the 
fitness device acts essentially like an hour glass in reverse, moving foam 
pellets 18 from the first body member 11 to the upper portion of the 
second body member 12. Thus, the buoyancy of the foam pellets 18 urges the 
pellets 18 upwardly from the first body member 11 through the handle 23 to 
an uppermost portion of the second body member 12 as the fitness device 10 
is manipulated to position the second body member 12 above the first body 
member 11, and upon inverting the fitness device 10 to reverse the 
position of the first and second body members 11 and 12, the buoyancy of 
the foam pellets 18 urges the pellets 18 upwardly from the second body 
member 12 through the handle 23 to an uppermost portion of the first body 
member 11. The foam pellets 18 are spherical, and are preferably 
constructed of polystyrene foam. The diameter of the foam pellets 18 may 
range from 1/16 to 1/8 inch. 
The colored glitter 17 preferably comprises bits of torn foil which reflect 
light. According to one embodiment, the density of the colored glitter 17 
is equal to or slightly greater than the fluid 16. 
According to one embodiment, the fluid 16 is water. However, other fluids 
of various densities may be substituted for achieving a similar effect. 
According to another embodiment of the invention, glycerine is added to 
the water to provide a higher density fluid 16. 
The respective body members 11, 12 are preferably constructed of a 
light-weight plastic material. The body members 11, 12 may be formed of 
polyester plastic soda bottles with their respective base caps removed. 
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the body members 11 and 12 of 
the fitness device 10 are substantially cylindrical. According to another 
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the body members 41 and 42 of the fitness 
device 40 are substantially spherical. Like fitness device 10, the fitness 
device 40 includes a threaded coupling 43, fluid 46, colored glitter 47, 
and foam pellets 48. 
Other various shapes, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, may be formed to 
enhance the overall exercise-stimulating appearance of the fitness device. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the fitness device 50 has body members 51 and 52 
having tapered ridges on each end. Like fitness devices 10 and 40, the 
fitness device 50 includes a threaded coupling 53, fluid 56, colored 
glitter 57, and foam pellets 58. 
A hand-held fitness device for promoting exercise is described above. 
Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its 
scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment 
of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are 
provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of 
limitation--the invention being defined by the claims.