Abstract:
The present invention relates to exercise equipment, which is used during exercising in a small space, e.g., stretching before sports activities or finishing-up exercises after sports. It relates to portable discoid exercise equipment, which uses rotation weights to allow exercises by way of lightly swinging one or two hands. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according to the present invention comprises a body of hollow discoid; a support axis fixed to the center of said body; and two or more of rotation means comprising respectively a rotation weight, rotating around the rim of the body along with the rotator, which is fixed to the end of the arm extending from the end of the rotator fixed to the support axis for rotation toward the rim of the body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to exercise equipment, which is used during exercising in a small space, e.g., stretching before sports activities or finishing-up exercises after sports. It relates to portable discoid exercise equipment, which uses rotation weights to allow exercises using the rhythm of movement of the rotation weights, wherein said exercising involves rotation by using one or two hands, shoulder, etc.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    To help dieting or simply to keep fit many a person exercises, especially doing the aerobics, moving all his or her muscles in various ways, in the hope of maintaining a normal heartbeat.  
           [0003]    Aerobic exercises convert quite a high percentage of fats into energy and are good for keeping ideal functions of the heart and lung. They help combustion of fats and stimulate the basic metabolism of a person to increase disposal of fats through brisk movement of muscles, heightening good effects thereby on dieting and resulting in maintenance of good health.  
           [0004]    For aerobic exercises people formerly have had to be content only with gymnastic exercises with no particular equipment in a small space or just with light movement of the limbs or turning necks or waists, while seated, while before or after exercises they have had recourse merely to light stretching or finish-up to ease off the rigidity of body for prevention of accidents which might accompany the more vigorous exercises.  
           [0005]    However, such simple exercises with no equipment in a small space are apt to be tedious, and people are not easily led to continue long enough to achieve the purposes. Meanwhile, the stretching or simple finish-up exercises have no particular established methods but people are left to swing, turn, or otherwise move the limbs and the other parts of their bodies, resulting in failure to secure sufficient relief of the bodily rigidity or tension.  
           [0006]    To overcome all such problems as have been described above there are of course quite a few equipment of a variety are proffered and are actually on the market, but most of them are not sufficiently portable, their uses quite limited, making people easily tired of them.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    An objective of the present invention is truly to solve all these problems and overcome the drawbacks by providing an easily portable discoid exercise equipment using one or more rotation weights, which allows people freely to exercise all parts of their bodies by the use of both arms even in a small space.  
           [0008]    Another objective is to provide an easily portable exercise equipment comprising one or more rotation weights, which admits of various ways of use, whereby exercises are not rendered tedious even when it is used for a long time.  
           [0009]    Still another objective is to provide an easily portable exercise equipment comprising one or two rotation weights, which allows persons to do the simple preparatory or finish-up exercises by stretching the muscles of their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, chests, abdomens, waists, etc., to the rhythm of its rotation weights, even while they are seated in their seats.  
           [0010]    To attain all these purposes the easily portable exercise equipment comprising one or more rotation weights, the present invention, is characterized in that it comprises a streamlined, hollow, discoid body; a support axis fixed in the center of said body; and two or more rotation means, each formed in a combination of a stretching arm which extends from an end of a rotator fixed rotatably on said support axis towards the rim of the body and has a rotation weight formed on its outer end, said arm being to rotate round along the rim of said discoid body.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    FIG. 1 is a rough sketch of the general cross-sectional view of a preferable embodiment example of the portable discoid exercise equipment using a rotation weight, of the present invention.  
           [0012]    FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a preferable example of the present invention.  
           [0013]    FIG. 3 is a rough sketch of the enlarged vertical sectional view of a preferable example.  
           [0014]    FIG. 4 roughly shows Example 1 of the rotation weight.  
           [0015]    FIG. 5 roughly shows Example 2 of the rotation weight.  
           [0016]    FIG. 6 roughly shows Example 3 of the rotation weight.  
           [0017]    FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 6.  
           [0018]    FIG. 8 is a rough sketch of the general cross-sectional view of another preferable embodiment example of the present invention.  
           [0019]    FIG. 9 shows an embodiment example of the present invention, wherein it is designed to be easy to grip with both hands and in a streamlined fashion to look good.  
           [0020]    FIG. 10 is an enlargement in the rough of a preferable means for deceleration of the rotation.  
           [0021]    FIG. 11 roughly shows a preferable example of the hand protectors in the present invention.  
           [0022]    FIG. 12 roughly shows another example of the rotation weight.  
           [0023]    FIG. 13 roughly shows an example of the magnetic body attracting the rotation weight towards the inside of the rim of the body of the present invention.  
           [0024]    FIG. 14 a general cross-sectional view of the present invention, showing a preferable example of the protuberances, which slightly rub against the rotation weight when the latter rotates inside the rim of the body.  
           [0025]    FIG. 15 is a rough general cross-sectional view of a ball revolving inside the rotation weight. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Below, the easily portable exercise equipment making use of one or more rotation weights, of the present invention, is described in detail, making reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0027]    A preferable embodiment example of the easily portable exercise equipment  1  of the present invention consists of, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a discoid hollow body  2 , a support axis  3  fixed in the center of said body  2 , and a rotation means  4 , rotatably fixed to said support axis  3 .  
         [0028]    As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discoid body  2 , with said support axis  3  fixed in the center, has many protuberances  22  along its rim  21 , intended to give effects of therapeutic finger-pressure treatment on the palm when said rim  21  is held with a hand.  
         [0029]    The body  2  can be held with one hand anywhere on said rim  21 , but when two handles  21   a  are formed along said rim  21 , as is shown in FIG. 9, each symmetrically on opposite sides, said body  2  can be held with both hands, one each by one of said two handle  21   a . As are seen in FIG. 9, the handles can be made to have curves to fit in a user&#39;s fingers when he holds them with both hands.  
         [0030]    The rotation means  4 , rotatably fixed to said support axis  3  in the center of said body  2 , whose rim has said acupressure protrusion s  22  for holding with hands, rotatably fixes rotators  41  on said support axis  3 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0031]    Between said rotator  41  and said support axis  3  bearings B are formed, so that the friction of the rotation means  4  and said support axis  3  against each other can be lessened as much as possible to secure a smooth rotation of said rotator  41  on said support axis  3 .  
         [0032]    On the free end of said rotator  41  rotatably fixed on said support axis  3  via said bearing B, is formed an arm  42  to extend to said rim  21  of said body  2 , as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0033]    On the outer end of said arm  42  is formed a rotation weight  43  of a certain weight, and the rotation weight  43  rotates together with said arm  42  and said rotator  41  along said rim  21  of said body  2 , because said rotation weight  43  is connected with said arm  42 , and said arm  42 , in turn, is connected with said rotator  41 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 2, the arm  42  extending from said rotator  41  can be made in various shapes according to those of said body, as, for instance, seen in FIG. 9, where said body  2  is streamlined and so is said arm  42  formed in a fit corresponding shape.  
         [0035]    The arm  42  can be so made to have an auxiliary weight  43   a  formed on it away from the rotation weight  43 , as shown in FIG. 4, that the rotation of said rotation weight  43  can be kept smooth, while a balance weight  43   b  can be formed on the opposite end of said arm  42 , extending on the converse side to secure a well balanced rotation of said rotation weight  43 , as is seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0036]    Also as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to separate said arm  42  in two parts, one to be rotatably fastened to said rotator  41  and the other having said rotation weight at its far end, and both rotatably joined together by a hinge  42   a , so that when said rotator  41  rotates, the part of said arm  42  extending outward from said hinge  42   a  may perform its own rotation upon said hinge  42   a.    
         [0037]    In this case it is preferable, however, that the part of said arm  42  having said rotation weight  43  at its end be made shorter than the other part, that is, rotatably fixed on said rotator  41 , so that when the former part rotates upon said hinge  42   a  it may not run into any other part of the device.  
         [0038]    It is preferable, as shown in FIG. 3, to have two or more such rotation means  4 , consisting of said rotator  41  rotatably fixed on said support axis  3 , the arm  42 , and said rotation weight  43 , but in such a case it is required that one or two spacers  6  be fastened on said support axis  3  and between said rotators  41  so that said rotators  41  can be kept at an established distance from each other.  
         [0039]    The rotation weights  43  in the case that there are more than two of them, are each to have, as shown in FIG. 12, a magnetic body  45  placed inside, and these magnetic bodies  45  are each to be either of the same or different polarity to attract or repel each other so that said rotation weights  43  can be made to move in the same direction or cross each other in rotation.  
         [0040]    Also, as shown in FIG. 13, it is possible to fix a second magnetic body  25  or bodies on a part or parts of said rim  21  of said body  2  so that it or they can either attract or repel said first magnetic body  45  or bodies.  
         [0041]    On said rim  21  of said body  2  are formed hand protectors  23  of soft rubber or the like so that hands are well protected from undue injury when said rim  21  is held with hands, and, moreover, the hand protectors are also to have acupressure protrusion s formed similarly to those  22  along said rim  21 , as shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0042]    Also, as shown in FIG. 14, a number of suspension protrusion s  24  are so formed along the inside of said rim  21  of said body  2  that the nails of said suspension protrusion s  24  softly touch said rotation weight(s)  43  in order that the user may sense their touch while using the equipment.  
         [0043]    FIG. 15 shows another embodiment example of the present invention, in which a ball  44  is placed inside said rotation weight  43  and so said ball  44  rotates inside, when said rotation weight  43  rotates on said support axis  3 .  
         [0044]    As seen in FIG. 10, decelerating means  5  are formed on one side of said rotation means  4  rotatably fixed on said support axis  3  to decelerate the rotation speed of said rotator  41 .  
         [0045]    The decelerating means  5  form covers  51  to be fixed, as seen in FIG. 10, to said body  2  in the direction of said support axis  3 ; said covers  51 , in turn, have elastic members  52  formed toward said support axis  3  to come into contact with it via a presser  53 ; and according to the degree of the pressure of said presser  53  applied to said rotator  41  the rotation speed of the latter can be decreased, or otherwise adjusted.  
         [0046]    The pressers  53  each have a roller  53   a  in the shape of a ball formed on the forward end, as seen in FIG. 10, which ball-like roller  53   a , rolling in close contact with said rotator  41 , applies pressure to said rotator  41 .  
         [0047]    The exercise equipment of the present invention, constructed as described above, is held with a hand of both hands by said rim  21  of said body  2  or by said handle[s]  21   a , shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, or 8, to have its body  2  swung or flourished up and down or left and right.  
         [0048]    The acupressure protrusion s, shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 formed at the spot where said rim  21  is held or on said handle[s] automatically give a sort of chiropractic treatment to the palms of hands throughout the time the equipment is held with the hand for an exercise.  
         [0049]    Because there are hand protectors  23  of rubber or similar soft material formed on the parts where the equipment  1  is held with a hand or hands, little fatigue results even if the equipment  1  is held for a considerable length of time.  
         [0050]    When a user holds said body  2  where said acupressure protrusion s  22  are and swing or flourish said body  2  up and down or left and right, the rotator  4  of said rotation means  4  rotatably fixed on said support axis  3  smoothly rotates as said body  2  shakes, because it is fixed easily to rotate by virtue of said bearing B, and said rotator  41  rotates all the more easily because even of the sheer weight of said rotation weight  43  which is placed on the outer end of said arm  42  extending from said rotator  41  toward said rim  21 .  
         [0051]    The rotation weight  43  connected with said rotator  41  of said rotation means  43  via said arm  42  continues rotating by the centrifugal force once it starts rotation, and, as shown in FIG. 15, it rotates all the better because of said ball  44  placed inside said rotation weight  43 , the shake of said ball  44  being tactually perceived by the user.  
         [0052]    The rotation weight  43  is not limited to one in number, but two or more of them  43  can be fitted, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one placed at a given interval from another via a spacer  6 , and for this reason they can be rotated in the same direction or made to cross paths.  
         [0053]    Because the two or more rotation weights  43  on the two or more rotation means  4  each have a magnetic body, as shown in FIG. 12, they can rotate all the more easily on said support axis  3  thanks to the attracting or repelling force of said magnetic bodies of different polarity placed inside; while said second magnetic bodies  25  formed of magnetic material or metal reacting to magnetism and fixed on the inside of said rim  21  of said body  2  help the rotation of said rotation weights  43  the better.  
         [0054]    Over the rotation weight  43  there is an auxiliary weight  43   a , as shown in FIG. 4, on said arm  42 , and because of this auxiliary weight  43   a  the centrifugal force increases when the rotation weight  43  rotates within said body  2 , while, as shown in FIG. 5, a balance weight  43   b  is formed on the opposite end of said arm  42  over said rotator  41 , which helps the rotation weight  41  to rotate so much better.  
         [0055]    Meanwhile, as there are a number of suspension protrusion s  24  formed on the inside of said rim  21  of said body  2 , and as it is so arranged that these protuberances  24  slightly and softly rub against said rotation weight  43  when the latter rotates, the user of the equipment  1  can feel the delicate friction of these when he exercises swinging or flourishing the equipment  1 .  
         [0056]    When it is desired to adjust the rotating speed of said rotator  41  of said rotation means  4  which rotates on said support axis  3  via said bearing B, a user needs only to turn, to one side, said cover  51  of said decelerating means  5 , fixed on either side of the center of said body  2 , where said support axis  3  is fixed, as shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0057]    When the cover  51  of said decelerating means  5  is turned to one side, it  51  moves toward, or away from, the center of said body  2 .  
         [0058]    If the cover  51  is turned to move toward the center, pressure is applied to said elastic member  52  fixed on its inside.  
         [0059]    If the elastic member  52  is pressed, the roller  53   a  of said presser  53  formed on the end of said elastic member  52  comes in close contact with said rotator  41  of said rotation means  4  to decelerate the rotation of said rotator  41 .  
         [0060]    The force of the friction which decelerates the rotation of said rotator  41  depends upon how much or how far said cover  51  of said decelerating means  5  is turned, and as the pressure applied by the friction from the close contact of said elastic member  52  and said rotator  41  varies, this can be made use of for adjustment of the rotation speed of said rotator  41 .  
         [0061]    FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment example of said arm  42 , in which said arm  42  is divided in two parts but are joined together by said hinge  42   a , viz. the part extending from said rotator  41  to said hinge  42   a  and the other part extending from said hinge  42   a  to the outer end, where the rotation weight is fixed, whereupon the part with the rotation weight attached to rotates on said hinge  42   a  when said rotator  41  rotates.  
         [0062]    Although only the preferable embodiment examples of the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention were described above, it is not to be construed to mean that the present invention shall be confined to these embodiment examples, but a number of variations can be made on the bases, and within the range, of the patent claims postulated, the detailed descriptions in the specification, and the attached drawings, which all shall duly fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0063]    As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention makes it possible for persons to take aerobic exercises holding it in both hands even in a limited space, it thereby helps the users to maintain the right postures and good health.  
         [0064]    As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention is rendered capable of rotating the rotation weight[s] in the same or alternating directions in various ways, the users can enjoy exercising for an extended time without easily getting tired or wearied of it.  
         [0065]    The easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention has effects of maximizing the benefits of stretching limbs and muscles, because one can take light exercise holding it with a hand[s] and stretching the arms forward or bending them to right, left, up or down, rotating the rotation weight[s] in repetition, thereby working the muscles of one&#39;s hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, chest, waist, and all.