Abstract:
A flexible fitness and rehabilitation exercising and massaging apparatus formed from tubular, flexible, web-like material and having a plurality of internal pockets. The pockets may hold objects such as resilient balls that aid in gripping the apparatus, and which have also been found to be conducive to self-massage therapy. The objects may be removed, and alternative objects inserted, through openings that allow access to preselected pockets. The openings may include resealable fastener means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to fitness and rehabilitation devices, and more specifically to a simple, compact stretching and exercise device that can be used by persons of all ages and skills levels to improve athletic performance, reduce recovery time and minimize risk of injury. The device may also be arranged to be used for accupressure and massage therapy.  
           [0002]    Exercise helps people live longer and healthier lives. Doctors recommend that people of all ages try to get regular exercise, and to stay active whenever possible. Experts also recommend a warm-up routine before an intense workout and a cool down routine afterward. Both warm-up and cool down routines often include stretching and slow, controlled movements as an intermediary stage between at rest and highly active stages.  
           [0003]    Unfortunately, proper exercise techniques can be difficult to practice. The proper stretching forms and techniques that are recommended during a warm up or cool down can be especially difficult to accomplish correctly. Young children may not possess the skill and coordination to stretch properly. Adults engaged in a proper stretching routine often find many of the required bodily positions awkward and difficult to maintain long enough to be effective. Elderly persons often find difficulty in simple stretching techniques. Injured persons in rehabilitation programs may also have similar trouble in accomplishing proper stretching and range of motion exercises.  
           [0004]    Therefore, many people utilize an exercising and stretching aid in their fitness routine. Unfortunately, stretching aids are often a simple piece of rope or elastic cord, chosen for low cost and convenience of mobility. When using such nonspecialized equipment, problems can arise for a number of reasons. The cord is rarely the ideal length for the user, as people tend to find an oversized length. To compensate for the added length, users continuously change the location of their grip, which may affect the magnitude of the stretch. The cord may be too thin for the user to form a secure grip, causing the users to wrap the cord around their hand or wrist, which can be uncomfortable and may cause injury. A thin cord will also cause discomfort in the areas of bodily contact, as the pressure around the contact patch will be high. Additionally, the material of the aid may be slippery and difficult to grip or to position on the body, especially during a cool down routine when perspiration is present.  
           [0005]    It is important that an exercise or therapy routine be motivational. The present invention and its intended uses have been designed to not only to motivate the user but also to help maintain compliance with a selected or designated exercise or therapy routine.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a device is desired that will aid in stretching and exercising that is comfortable and safe to use, while also being inexpensive and easily portable. The device would preferably be comprised of a material capable of absorbing perspiration and be easily washable by machine.  
           [0007]    Additionally, many people enjoy the benefits of massage and accupressure therapy, which teaches the application of pressure to known points of the body to treat various ailments. Accupressure may also be used to help the body relax. An ideal time for accupressure and general massage therapy may be after a workout, during a cool down session. It is desirable that a stretching and exercise may also function as a therapeutic massaging apparatus. Thus, the terms “exercise” or “exercising” used throughout the Description and Claims presented herein is intended to include references to fitness and rehabilitation devices and apparatus often recommended for use in the fields of massage and acupressure therapy, or the like.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a stretching and exercise device that is comfortable to use and conveniently portable.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a device capable of absorbing perspiration and that is easily washable.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to increase the effectiveness of stretching, flexibility, range of motion, balance and strengthening exercises.  
           [0011]    A still further object of the invention is to decrease rehabilitation time and quicken recovery.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be used for massage and accupressure therapy.  
           [0013]    The present invention comprises a web of flexible material formed into a tubular structure. Each tube end is sewn shut, and a number of internal pockets are formed within the tubular structure. Multiple openings are formed along the tube, each allowing access to a preselected internal pocket. Accessible pockets may then receive therapeutic orbs or other internally located objects that may perform various functions, such as to aid in gripping the device. A resealable fastener device, such as hook and loop fasteners, a zipper, snap fasteners, or even common button/button hole fasteners may be used to close each opening. The openings are preferably formed near each end of the tube and in a substantially centrally located portion of the tube. A selected orb, such as a conventional tennis ball, or other resilient object may be inserted into each pocket through the appropriate opening, and the opening is then closed.  
           [0014]    The invention can be constructed from any suitable web-like material. The insertable objects can be any type of spherical or non-spherical structure that properly accomplishes the intended purpose of the object, The intended purpose may change according to the location of the pocket in which the object will reside. Some examples are to provide a comfortable gripping means for the user, and to provide pressure to certain points of the user&#39;s body. The weight of the elements may vary depending upon the specific use of the apparatus. The overall length of the apparatus may vary depending upon the specialized application or the user. For example a male adult would most likely use a relatively long apparatus, a female adult a medium length apparatus and a child a short apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially exploded, of an exercise device constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the present invention illustrating two laterally spaced pressure points on the neck of a user to which an orb may be placed in contact during an acupressure procedure.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the present invention when used in connection with a stretching exercise conducted by a user while in a standing position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment  10  of the present invention is depicted. The present invention comprises a substantially tubular structure  12  having at least one internal pocket  14  and at least one internal resilient object  20 . As disclosed in the view of FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment utilizes three objects or orbs  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c , located in the left end pocket  14   a , the right end pocket  14   b  and the centrally located pocket  14   c , respectively. The opening or openings  22  are of a size permitting access of an orb  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  to a respective internal pocket  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c . The openings  22  may further include resealable fasteners  24  for retaining the resilient object  20  within a respective pocket  14  during use.  
         [0021]    The tubular structure  12  may be constructed from any suitable web-like material  26  including, but not limited to, cloth, silk, canvas or mesh. The web-like material  26  is preferably strong but soft, flexible, absorbent and able to provide some amount of friction to aid in grip. The material  26  will preferably be an absorbent material, such as “terry cloth” commonly used in the manufacture of toweling and capable of being washed and dried by machine. The apparatus  10  may be made from a single web  26  folded lengthwise to provide an enclosing crease  13  substantially coextensive with the length of the structure  12 . The fold is preferably sewn shut at spaced intervals  17  along the side  19  opposite the crease  13 .  
         [0022]    The end portions  30  of the tubular structure  12  are closed to provide at least one internal pocket  14  formed within the structure  12 . The pockets  14  are each formed by conventional sewing thread stitching  32 , or by adhesive or heat fusion techniques to join the facing internal surfaces of the folded web  26  surfaces at longitudinally spaced intervals, and lying transversely relative to the lengthwise crease  13  to defined pocket dividers  32 . Various embodiments of the present invention may contain different numbers and arrangements of the internal pockets  14 . The preferred embodiment  10  includes three internal pockets  14 , including two end pockets  4   a ,  14   b  and a centrally located pocket  14   c.    
         [0023]    Contained within at least one of said internal pockets  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  is at least one resilient object or orb  20 . The object  20  may serve multiple purposes, such as providing a means of gripping the device and providing a substantially rigid shape that is conducive to massage and accupressure therapy. A preferred object or orb  10  is in the form of a conventional tennis ball.  
         [0024]    The primary purpose of the centrally located object  20   c  is to provide a fairly rigid, but flexible localized area to aid in the transfer of pressure to a pressure point region. A secondary function of the centrally located object  20   c  is to provide a gripping area for use when manipulating the invention  10 . Although these resilient objects  20  have preferred functions, based on location, each is capable of performing either function.  
         [0025]    Because the preferred function of any given resilient object  20  may change with its location along the length of the tubular structure  12 , different objects  20  may be chosen for having different properties. Properties that may affect the choice may be size, shape, hardness, resilience or flexibility. For example, in the preferred embodiment  10 , the end objects  20   a  and  20   c  may be fairly large, but somewhat soft, capable contouring to a user&#39;s hand quickly during a given exercise. The central object  20   c  may be a smaller, harder, spherical object that transfers pressure more effectively.  
         [0026]    It should be noted that no two objects  20  are required to be substantially alike. The objects  20  may also be custom selected for the individual user. Additionally, individual pockets  14  may or may not contain an object  20 . Individual pockets  14  may also contain multiple objects.  
         [0027]    The invention preferably utilizes at least one pocket opening  22 . Each opening  22  provides reclosable access to an internal pocket  14 , and may be located anywhere on the device. The openings  22  allow the resilient objects  20  to be removed and exchanged, permitting the device to more easily serve multiple functions. The objects  20  may also be removed while the device is being washed.  
         [0028]    Each opening  22  preferably includes a resealable fastener  24  to secure an object, or objects  20  within a respective pocket  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  during use. The resealable fasteners  24  may be of any appropriate type, such as zippers, buttons or snaps. The fasteners  24  will preferably be fairly soft, flexible, and allow an internal connection. The preferred embodiment  10  uses a hook and loop style fastener  24  of the variety commonly known as “VELCRO”®.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 4, the device is shown in muscle stretching exercising usage. The length of the structure  12  is essential to achieving the proper stretching and motion techniques. Therefore, various users require a structure  12  of various lengths.  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, the device  10 , including an object  20   c , provides a useful, and comfortable, acupressure apparatus. As will be observed, a person being treated for headaches or stiff neck, or difficulty turning the head, merely grips the end portions  30 , containing orbs  20   a  and  20   b , and longitudinally stretches the material of the web structure  12  to tighten the area of the orb  20   c  and press the orb  20   c  against a selected acupressure treating area  35   a  or  35   b , known respectively as “Anmian Points”, in the case of treatment for emotional stress which may cause restlessness, tight muscles of the neck, and headaches, or at a centrally located neck muscular area (not specifically shown), commonly known as the “Ashi Point.” Acupressure and massage of a respective Anmian or Ashi Point has been found to reduce tense muscles and also helps to soothe stressful emotions.  
         [0031]    Another use for the device is rotational exercise techniques. Such techniques are used to strengthen, stabilize and challenge pre-selected muscle groups that are used in various activities. Rotational exercise techniques also increase joint health, muscle flexibility and agility, as well as eye hand coordination. One or more gripping portions of the device are grasped by the user and moved in a predetermined pattern.  
         [0032]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.