Abstract:
An exercise apparatus having a resilient band attachment assembly for use with an exercise ball. An exercise ball engagement ring provides multiple attachment points for resilient bands selectively and adjustably secured thereto. During use, a user rests a portion of their body on the exercise ball while pulling the resistant straps elongating same for varied resistance depending on strap length, diameter and attachment point within the ball engagement ring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention is related to the field of exercise devices for increasing strength and physical conditioning. Such exercise devices include a large exercise ball to provide a body engagement platform for a variety of physical exercises and resilient straps that provide resistance when pulled by the user from a fixed point. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    Prior art devices of this type can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,776, 5,810,700, 6,547,703, 6,835,168, 7,344,487, and 7,678,027. 
         [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,776 an isometric exercise ball with an attached loop strap is disclosed providing a pair of oppositely disposed attached loop straps for physical engagement during exercise. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,700 claims an exercise ball with stretchable straps wherein a pair of straps are secured around the exercise ball with a resistant member extending therefrom. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,168 discloses an exercise ball device having a ball and a pair of elastic cables with end hooks which can be retained on a treadle providing a base on which the user stands grasping the ball on the elastic cables. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,487 illustrates an exercise system having an inflatable exercise ball with a bore extending there through having a resilient exercise strap there within having handgrips on oppositely disposed ends extending from the ball. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,072 shows a ball exerciser for arms and torso having a dome like housing engageable on a ball. The housing has a restraint member attached thereto for receiving the hand of a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An exercise apparatus for use on a large fitness ball. The exercise device having a plurality of resilient band engagement slots for receiving and temporarily retaining resilient resistant bands with handgrips. The exercise apparatus provides a ring configuration which is engageable on a portion of the exercise ball defining an annular attachment platform thereabout for selectively receiving the independent resistant bands temporarily positioned anywhere there around by engagement within the engagement slots. A variety of exercises are enabled by the bands positioning relative the ball as well as modified exercise ball configurations. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a graphic representation of the exercise device of the invention in use on a fitness ball by a user. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the exercise device on the fitness ball prior to resistant band engagement placement. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial top plan view of the engagement retainment slots in the exercise device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a resilient adjustable resistant band and integrated handgrip. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged side elevational view of the resistant band slot engagement portion, temporarily retained in the exercise device slot. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the platform resistant band engagement ring of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a graphic perspective view of an alternate form of the invention with the user standing on a modified ball platform. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, the exercise device  10  of the invention can be seen having a ring platform  11  with a main body member  12  defining an outer annular perimeter edge  13  and an oppositely disposed ball engagement interior annular edge  14 . The ring platform  11  has a generally flat top surface  15  and correspondingly oppositely disposed flat bottom surface  16  in its preferred form chosen for illustration in this example. 
         [0019]    The ring platform  11  has a plurality of contoured band retaining slots  17  extending inwardly from its outer perimeter edge  13  as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The retainment slots  17  are in spaced annular relation to one another extending thereabout. Each of the contoured retaining slots  17  have a spaced parallel sidewalls  17 A and  17 B extending inwardly from the perimeter edge  13  with respective round corners  18 . The sidewalls  17 A and  17 B terminate and are intersected by an annular bore  19  extending through the ring platform  11  and is of a diameter greater than that of the spacing of the hereinbefore described retainment slots  17 . It will be seen that the contoured retainment slots  17  is therefore of a keyhole configuration which will provide for band adjustable retainment as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0020]    The ring platform  11  is of an interior open diameter less than that of the diameter of a fitness ball  20  on which it is frictionally positioned for use as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5  of the drawings, an exercise stretch band assembly  21  can be seen having an elongated cross sectional solid band  22  of resilient synthetic resin material well known within the art. The band  22  has a handgrip  23  attached to one end thereof. The handgrip  23  has a rigid gripping rod  24  with connector straps  23 A and  23 B extending from its oppositely disposed respective ends to a molded band attachment fitting  25  as best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The elongated band  22  has a plurality of longitudinally spaced enlarged retainment ring engagement fittings  26  formed integrally there along. Each of the ring engagement fittings  26  is of a foreshortened fusto-conical configuration defining a base dimension of an annular diameter greater than that of the cross section of the band  22  on which it is formed as best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
         [0022]    The exercise band assembly  21  can therefore be selectively engaged and retained within the respective contoured retainment slots  17  in the angular ring platform  11  by engagement of the correspondingly selected ring engagement fittings  25  thereon effectively varying the overall length of each of the bands  22  as may be required during use as seen, for example, in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0023]    This length adjustment factor is also dependent on the size of the fitness ball  20  which varies within the art. 
         [0024]    It will be evident that given the material nature of the stretch band  22  which are similar to a known typical rubber band having unique characteristics of elastic deformation. As such, it will be seen that expediential input force is required to effectively increase the length of the elastic material and the band  22 . A variety of different exercises may be achieved utilized by the repositioning of the stretch bands  22  to a different contoured retainment slot  17  positional registration about the ring platform  11  and the band length determined by the selective engagement of the stretch band ring engagement fittings  26  in combination, as required, with the user&#39;s orientation on the exercise ball  20 . Other variations in band constructional configurations can be achieved to impart additional elongation forced determination by the effective diameter of the basic band  22  and the selection of material, again well within the confines and understandings of those skilled within the art. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, a modified exercise device  27  can be seen in which an effective balancing platform  28  is configured on a half spherical exercise ball  29  forming a ground engagement support. 
         [0026]    In this example, the hereinbefore described ring platform  11  may also be used and engageable on the half exercise ball  28  as hereinbefore described. Accordingly, the exercise band assembly  21  is in this example adjustably engaged within the ring platform contoured slot  17  as before providing multiple use placement and effective length to accommodate the user U during use. Again, in this example, the user stands balancing on the platform  28  holding onto the oppositely disposed handgrips  23  of the resiliently positioned and selectively arranged bands  22  as previously described providing a unique and novel exercising opportunity utilizing essentially the same basic elements as the preferred form of the invention as described in the exercise device  10  previously. 
         [0027]    It will thus be seen that a new and novel multiple resistant stretch band ring for fitness balls and the like has been illustrated and described and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, therefore I claim: