Patent Publication Number: US-2015072842-A1

Title: Exercise Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and more specifically to exercise devices with a partially hemispherical shape. 
     With the continued interest in personal health and fitness, there is an increased interest in improved methods and devices for conventional exercises. For instance, push-ups have typically been carried out without exercise devices. However, drawbacks to the conventional push-ups include a limited range of motion as well as other drawbacks. For example, some conventional exercise devices make it difficult to have a full range of motion when performing a push-up while maintaining proper form. 
     Devices have been developed to overcome such drawbacks to the conventional push-up. Such devices may improve the range of motion available for the push-up. Drawbacks to such developed devices include increased force and strain on the wrists, hands and fingers of the user. Such increased force may cause pain and/or injury. In addition, other devices may also have limited stability which can also increase the risk of pain and/or injury. 
     Consequently, there is a need for an improved exercise device. Further needs include an improved exercise device that allows performance of exercises with increased range of motion. Additional needs include an improved exercise device that reduces strain and force (e.g., pressure) on the hands and fingers of a user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by an exercise device. The exercise device has an upper portion having a contact surface. The contact surface has a partially hemispherical shape. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise device with a partially hemispherical upper portion; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of an exercise device showing the bottom side; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise device showing the bottom side; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a person using an embodiment of an exercise device; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another view of a person using an embodiment of an exercise device; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an exercise device having a hollow interior; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of an exercise device in which the contact portion has the bottom side; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an exercise device having a hollow device interior; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an exercise device with a contact surface; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of an exercise device having an outwardly protruding contact surface; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of an exercise device having a rotation base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of exercise device  5  having base  15  and upper portion  70 , with upper portion  70  having contact surface  10 . In such an embodiment, upper portion  70  and contact surface  10  have a partially hemispherical shape. Upper portion  70  and contact surface  10  may have a shape of any portion of a hemisphere. For instance, without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape may be more or less than half of a hemisphere. In embodiments as shown, the partially hemispherical shape is a semi-sphere. It is to be understood that a semi-sphere is about half a sphere. Without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape of contact surface  10  may allow a comfortable and stable leverage point. In embodiments, the base  15  may be integral with the upper portion  70 . Exercise device  5  may be used for any of a variety of exercises such as muscle building and stretching movements. Examples of muscle building exercises include push-ups, tricep bends, dips, straight aim planks, straight arm side planks, mountain climbers, and the like. Device  5 , through increased range of motion comfort and stability, allows for a variety of modifications to the traditional pushup including triangle pushups, handstand pushups, and others. For stretching one can use device  5  as an object of stability and lean against it with hands or feet. Additional exercises such as squats, lunges, and calf stretches, for example, may be performed if the exercise device  5  is used to support a user&#39;s feet. 
     Exercise device  5  may be composed of any material suitable for exercise. In an embodiment, contact surface  10  is composed of a different material than base  15  and/or body  80  of upper portion  70 . In embodiments, contact surface  10  has a softer material than base  15  and/or body  80 . In such embodiments, contact surface  10  may be elastically deformable (i.e., may undergo elastic deformation), and base  15  and/or body  80  may be substantially rigid. As used herein, the contact surface  10  may be considered to be substantially rigid if it is unable to bend or be forced out of shape under standard exercise conditions, such as during performance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. As used herein, the contact surface  10  may be considered to be elastically deformable if it undergoes elastic deformation under standard exercise conditions, such as during performance of a push-up by a 150-pound user. In embodiments, contact surface  10  comprises any elastically deformable materials suitable for use with exercise device  5 . Contact surface  10  may be composed of leather, cloth (i.e., cotton, synthetic material, and the like), foam, urethane, rubber, or any combinations thereof. Base  15  and/or body  80  may be composed of rubber, plastic, wood, metal, glass, ceramic, urethane, foam, or any combinations thereof. 
       FIG. 11  shows a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  in which contact surface  10  is composed of different material than body  80 . In some embodiments, contact surface  10  and body  80  are composed of the same materials. Contact surface  10  covers all or a portion of body  80 . In embodiments, contact surface  10  is attached to body  80 . Contact surface  10  may be attached to body  80  by any suitable method. In some embodiments, contact surface  10  has a textured surface (i.e., textured surface features). Without limitation, the textured surface features hinder the slipping of a person&#39;s hands or feet. Any textured surface features may be used that are suitable for use with exercise device  5 . In embodiments, the textured surface features include dimples, protrusions, adhesives, or any combinations thereof. 
     Exercise device  5  may have any height suitable for the desired exercise. In embodiments, the height is from about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. Without limitation, the height may provide a larger range of motion to a person e.g., for push-ups or tricep bends, dips, etc.) while allowing for maintenance of better form. Additionally, exercise device  5  may be placed in any width suitable for the desired exercise. In embodiments, the width at a widest point is from about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. For example, the base  15  may have a width of about 4 inches to about 8 inches, alternatively from about 5 inches to about 7 inches, and alternatively about 6 inches. 
     In embodiments as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , exercise device  5  has bottom side  20 . In embodiments, bottom side  20  is on the opposing side of exercise device  5  from contact surface  10 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of exercise device  5  showing bottom side  20 , and  FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of exercise device  5  having bottom side  20 . In embodiments as shown, bottom side  20  is substantially flat. Without limitation, bottom side  20  is substantially flat to provide a stable contact surface with flooring and the like. As shown by  FIGS. 3 and 4 , bottom side  20  may be generally circular shape. Bottom side  20  is not limited to a generally circular shape but in alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may have any shape suitable for use with exercise device  5 , such as elliptical, for example. In some embodiments, bottom side  20  has a friction increasing substantially flat surface. Without limitation, such a friction increasing substantially flat surface may facilitate movement of exercise device  5  along the flooring or the like when in use. Any method of increased friction suitable with an exercise device may be used such as, without limitation, ridges, adhesives, suction devices, and the like. The substantially flat bottom side  20  provides a stable contact with the flooring. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , base  15  has a substantially cylindrical shape. Base  15  is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape but in alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may have any shape suitable for use with exercise device  5 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an embodiment of a person  30  using exercise device  5 . As shown, person&#39;s hands  35  are disposed on contact surface  10  with fingers  40  of person  30  also disposed on contact surface  10 . Without limitation, the partially hemispherical shape of contact surface  10  may allow person&#39;s  30  body weight to be distributed throughout hands  35 , which may facilitate avoidance of a concentrated weight load on a portion of hand  35 . Further, the partially hemispherical shape allows for hands  35  to be positioned in a variety of locations on contact surface  10 , for example, to increase use comfort and minimize wrist strain.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show two exercise devices  5  being used but embodiments include any desired number of exercise devices  5  may be used. For instance, alternative embodiments (not illustrated) may include only one exercise device  5  being used with one hand  30  or four exercise devices  5  being used, one exercise device  5  for each foot  75 . In some embodiments (not illustrated), exercise device  5  may be used with one or two feet of person  30  and without hands  35 . For instance, person  30  may stand with one foot  75  on an exercise device  5  or with each foot  75  on a different exercise device  5 . Person  30  may then do exercises such as squats, lunges, calf stretches, and the like. The shape of the contact surface and overall rigid stricture can add increase balance and stability to the exercise. 
     Exercise device  5  may have a solid interior or may have a hollow interior.  FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  in which base  15  has a hollow interior  45 . Hollow interior  45  may comprise any portion of the interior of base  15  and may have any configuration that is suitable for exercise device  5 . In embodiments as shown, hollow interior  45  has a configuration in which interior sides  50  are about perpendicular to bottom side  20 . 
     It is to be understood that exercise device  5  is not limited to embodiments comprising base  15 . For instance in an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 8 , exercise device  5  includes upper portion  70  with contact surface  10  but without base  15 . In such an embodiment, contact surface  10  has bottom side  20 . In such an embodiment, the interior of exercise device  5  may be hollow or solid. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  in which exercise device  5  has device interior  55 . As shown, device interior  55  provides exercise device  5  with a hollow interior. In such an embodiment, device interior  55  is an open section of exercise device  5  that is disposed in a portion of both upper portion  70  and base  15 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  in which contact surface  10  covers a portion of upper portion  70 . In embodiments as shown, contact surface  10  has an exterior that is in about the same plane with a portion or all of the exterior of upper portion  70  on which contact surface  10  is not disposed. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  in which contact surface  10  extends outward beyond a plane in which a portion or all of the exterior of upper portion  70  is disposed. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of exercise device  5  having rotation base  60 . In such an embodiment, rotation base  60  has bottom side  20 . Rotation base  60  allows device body  65  to rotate radially. Device body  65  includes upper portion  70  and base  15 . In alternative embodiments (not illustrated) in which exercise device  5  does not include base  15 , device body  65  includes upper portion  70  that rotates. In embodiments as shown in  FIG. 12 , device body  65  rotates in relation to rotation base  60 , which remains stationary. In alternative embodiments, a portion of rotation base  60  rotates. In embodiments, device body  65  rotates about a center point  25  of rotation base  60 . Rotation base  60  may allow for rotation of device body  65  by any suitable means such as by ball bearings and the like. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Although individual embodiments are discussed, the invention covers all combinations of all those embodiments.