Abstract:
A exercise ball device can include a ball and one or more panels supported by the ball. The ball can be substantially rigid and the at least one panel can be soft or resiliently deformable. The exercise ball can include a belt for guiding and positioning the one or more panels on the ball.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Non-Provisional Application, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/823,117, filed on May 14, 2013, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     An exercise device, in particular an exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball, a guide (e.g. belt or ribbon) connected to the ball, and a plurality of panels connected to the ball and guided or aligned into position by the guide, the guide and panels providing an exterior surface of the exercise ball device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, various types of balls are used as exercise balls. The exercise balls are typically deformable and filled with air. A person can exercise using the exercise ball in many different ways to exercise. 
     SUMMARY 
     An improved exercise ball device. 
     A composite exercise ball device. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball and one or more panels connected to the ball. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball, a panel positioning or guiding or aligning belt or ribbon connected to the ball, and a plurality of panels connected to the ball with the edges of the panels matching the edges of the panel positioning belt. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball, a guide connected to the ball, and a plurality of panels connected to the ball and positioned on the ball by the guide, the guide and panels fitting together like a puzzle to provide an outer surface of the exercise ball device. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball supporting multiple different size and shaped panels. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball supporting a wave-shaped panel positioning belt or guide, and multiple panels connected to the ball and aligned by the panel positioning belt. 
     An exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball supporting a three dimensional panel positioning guide, and multiple panels connected to the ball and positioned on the ball by the guide. 
     A method of making an exercise ball comprising or consisting of providing a ball, belt, and one or more panels, applying the belt onto the ball; and applying one or more panels onto the ball, wherein the belt guides and positions the panels when applying the panels onto the exercise ball device. 
     A method of making an exercise ball comprising or consisting of providing a ball, belt, and one or more panels, applying the belt onto the ball; and applying one or more panels onto the ball using the belt to guide or position the panels onto the ball. 
     A method of making an exercise ball comprising or consisting of providing a ball, belt, and one or more panels, applying the belt onto the ball; and applying one or more panels onto the ball with edges of the panels abutting edges of the belt, wherein the belt and one or more panels provide an outer surface of the exercise ball device. 
     A method of making an exercise ball comprising or consisting of providing a ball, belt, and one or more panels, adhering the belt onto the ball; and adhering one or more panels onto the ball, the belt and one or more panels providing an outer surface of the exercise ball device. 
     A method of making an exercise ball comprising or consisting of providing a substantially rigid ball, applying a belt to a surface of the ball to define multiple unique-shaped regions on the surface of the ball, and fitting multiple unique-shaped panels into the multiple unique-shaped regions on the surface of the ball edge-to-edge with the belt. 
     The exercise device can be an exercise ball device comprising or consisting of a ball and at least one panel. For example, the exercise ball device comprises or consists of a ball and multiple panels connected to the ball. The panels can be of the same size and shape, or can be of different size and/or shape. Alternatively, the shape of the exercise device can be spherical (i.e. ball shaped), or can be other shapes (e.g. pyramid, cube, cylindrical, rectangular, octahedron, torus, etc.). 
     In the exercise ball device, the ball can be a rigid or substantially rigid ball. For example, the ball is made of plastic, hard plastic, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, acrylic, composite material, fiberglass, carbon fiber, boron fiber, Kevlar. For example, the ball is a formed article (e.g. molded, injection molded, extruded). Alternatively, the ball can be machined from a plastic pre-form or block of plastic material. 
     The exercise ball device can comprise or consist of a ball and at least one panel supported by the ball. For example, the panel can be made separately and then applied to the ball (e.g. by adhering, taping, gluing, and/or mechanically coupling). Alternatively, the at least one panel can be formed on the ball (e.g. overmolded onto or around ball, for example, by insert molding). 
     The panel or panels can each be made as a single piece, or can be made of multiple pieces joined together (e.g. molded, adhered, taped, glued, mechanically coupled, or combination thereof). For example, the panels can each be made with a inner support panel (e.g. made of molded nylon) and an outer cover panel made of resilient soft or deformable material (e.g. thermoplastic elastomer). The panel or panels can be smooth or textured (e.g. grooved, bumps, raised pattern, projections, spikes). For example, the panel or panels can be molded from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. 
     The exercise ball device can comprise a ball, panel or panels, and a panel positioning guide (e.g. belt or ribbon). The belt, for example, can be ornamental (e.g. provided with a particular design and/or logo) and/or can be functional, for example, to act as a guide, positioning, or alignment device used when applying the panel or panels to the ball. The belt can be a single piece construction, or a multiple piece construction. 
     The belt can have a particular shape (e.g. wave-shaped). The belt, for example, can be a molded article (e.g. plastic injection molded). The belt can comprise or consist of a single belt, a plurality of separated belt portions, or a plurality of interconnected belt portions. 
     The belt can be configured to defined unique-shaped regions on the surface of the ball when the belt is applied (e.g. adhered) to the surface of the ball. The panels can be unique-shaped to match with the unique-shaped regions on the surface defined by the belt. For example, a particular panel can only fit into a particular region on the surface of the ball like a three dimension puzzle. Alternatively, there can exist repeating panel shapes matching repeating region shapes on the surface of the ball. 
     The belt and panels can fit together edge-to-edge on the surface of the ball. Further, the thickness of the belt and panels can be the same (i.e. flush fit edge-to-edge), or can be of a different thickness (e.g. panels thicker or thinner compared to thickness of belt). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled exercise ball device. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 4  is a top planar view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom planar view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 7  is a right side elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the panels removed showing the configuration of the belt. 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  with the belt and panels removed showing the configuration of the ball. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the belt only removed from the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the top panel of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bottom panel of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the lower side panel of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the middle panel of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  being constructed by providing the belt on the ball. 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  being constructed by providing the belt and the top panel on the ball. 
         FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  being constructed by providing the belt, top panel, and bottom panel on the ball. 
         FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  being constructed by providing the belt, top panel, bottom panel, and bottom side panel on the ball. 
         FIG. 18  is a front elevational view of the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  being constructed by providing the belt, top panel, bottom panel, bottom side panel, and middle panel on the ball. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagrammatic view of the user with the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  under the right thigh of the user. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagrammatic view of the user with the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  under the back of the user. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagrammatic view of a user with the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  under the left ankle of the user. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagrammatic view of the user with the exercise ball device shown in  FIG. 1  under the side of the right thigh of the user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exercise ball device  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1  thru  7 . The exercise ball device  10  comprises or consists of a ball  12  ( FIG. 2 ), a belt  14 , and four (4) panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . The ball  11  is rigid or substantially rigid. For example, the ball  11  can be an injection molded article made of nylon material. 
     The belt  14  can be a separate part or component made prior to being applied to the ball  11 . For example, the belt  14  is a plastic injection molded article, which is then bonded or adhered to an outer surface of the ball  11 . The thickness of the belt  14  can be less, the same, or more than the thickness of the panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . Alternatively, the belt  14  can be overmolded onto the ball  11 . 
     The belt  14  comprises wave-shaped portions connected together (i.e. interconnected) with loop shaped portions, and is continuous (i.e. no belt ends). Further, belt members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  ( FIGS. 2 and 7 ) can connect together at one or more belt nodes. Alternatively, the belt  14  can be a plurality of separate belt or belt portions (e.g. disconnected belt portions, connected belt portions, or other shapes and sizes). 
     The belt  14  once applied to the outer surface of the ball  11  serves as a positioning or alignment guide for application of the panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  onto the outer surface of the ball  11 , for example, by using adhesive material. The belt  14  defines unique-shaped regions on the surface of the ball  11  matching the unique-shaped panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . The belt  14  and panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  fit together like a three-dimensional puzzle on the outer surface of the ball  11 , and provide a composite outer ball surface or surface layer. The panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  are shown abutting the belt  14 ; however, the panels  16  can be made with edges that partially or completely overlap the belt  14 . As a further alternative, the panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  can be overmolded onto the ball  11  supporting the belt  14  (e.g. no layer or thin layer overmolded onto the belt  14  with the panels overmolded on portions of the exposed ball  11 ). 
     The panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  are of a different size and shape, and are unique-shaped (i.e. each panel  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  are different shaped). The panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  are textured by each being provided with a pattern of protrusions or spikes  24 . For example, the spikes can be 4 mm or less to facilitate demolding of the panels when being injection molded. The size and shape of the edges of the panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  match the size and shape of portions of the belt  14  so that the components or parts fit together like a three dimensional puzzle when applied to the outer ball surface of the ball  11 . 
     The panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  comprise base portions (e.g. layer or layers) supporting the spikes  24 . The thickness of the base portions can be the same or similar to the thickness of the belt  12  (e.g. flush fit). The spikes  24  extend upwardly from the base portions resulting in an outer surface elevated above the height of the belt  14  (i.e. the belt appears recessed into the surface of the ball due to the spikes  24 ). Thus, usually the spikes  24  only come into contact with the user or floor, and the belt does not usually make contact therewith. 
     Method of Making 
     The exercise ball device  10  can be made by first making the ball  11  ( FIG. 8 ) by forming, extruding, machining, molding, injection molding. The ball  11  can be made of plastic, plastic material, metal, composite, fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar. 
     The belt  14  is then adhered to the outer surface of the ball  11  using adhesive material or tape, as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The panels  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  are then applied to the outer surface of the ball  11  using adhesive material or tape, as shown in  FIGS. 15  thru  18 . Specifically, the panels  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  23  are fitted and guided into their particular positions dictated by the configuration and location of the belt  14  on the ball  11  like a three dimensional puzzle to complete assembly of the exercise ball device  10 . 
     The belt  14  can be plastic injection molded. The belt can be designed to that the mold can be split in 2-directions fairly cleanly (i.e. into two halves). Some undercut can be provided. 
     The ball  11 , for example, can be a 3.8 inch molded nylon ball. The panels should wrap less than 25-34% around the ball to allow demolding. The belt  14  can be overmolded onto the ball  11 .