Patent Publication Number: US-10307635-B1

Title: Low-profile rolling exercise device underlying and supporting user&#39;s foot while doing body exercise

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part application which claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/077,739, filed Nov. 12, 2013, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to exercise devices and, more particularly, is concerned with a rolling exercise device having a modular construction with a low profile for underlying and supporting a foot of a user in order to support at least a portion of the user&#39;s weight while doing body exercises using the device on a supporting surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many exercise devices are known in the prior art. There are specific ones designed to assist users in performance of upper body exercises on support surfaces, such as a floor. These devices have several different designs. 
     One prior art design, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,379, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0238420, and U.S. Des. Pat. Nos. D653,714, D654,544 and D666,684, employs a solid base, a plurality of rollers, balls or wheels rotatably mounted to and extending below a bottom side of the solid base so as to movably support the base on the support surface, and a handle affixed on and extending above an upper side of the solid base such that the gripping portion of the handle is spaced above the solid base where it can be gripped by a user to guide the movable base across the support surface. One potential drawback of this design might be that the weight of the solid base could be excessive such that it tends to increase the resistance or drag of the device thus impeding it from moving freely across the support surface. Another potential drawback might be the height of the handle above the floor could be excessive due to its mounting arrangement which necessarily spaces it above the solid base in order to allow for insertion of fingers about the handle in order to grip it. The excessive height of the handle might cause tilting of the device from skewing or bias the force applied by the user more toward one set of the balls, rollers or wheels than the other during performance of exercises so as to further increase the resistance or drag of the device to moving freely across the surface. 
     Another prior art design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,393 employs separate plate-like support members at opposite ends of a handle that are in turn supported by swivel casters. The provision of separate support members might reduce at least a portion of the excessive weight of a solid base as used in the prior art design discussed above. However, the employment of swivel casters might be a potential drawback that offsets the benefit from any weight savings in that the swivel casters might increase the resistance or drag of the device to moving freely across the surface. Also, another potential drawback might be the techniques of construction utilized in making the device of the cited patent. In one embodiment, the opposite end portions of the handle are rabbeted or notched in order to form joints between the handle and the separate support members. In the other embodiment, bores that receive the opposite end portions of the handle are formed completely through the middle of the separate support members in order to form joints between the handle and separate support members. These techniques of construction might result in weakening the structural integrity of either the handle or support members when the device is called on to support the upper body weight of the user during use of the device. 
     In addition to the aforementioned drawbacks, these prior art exercise devices have handles intending them for hand use. Accordingly, there remains a need for an innovation that will overcome these potential drawbacks of the known prior art and any problems that remain unsolved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an innovation that overcomes the potential drawbacks of the known prior art and any problems that remain unsolved by providing a rolling exercise device having a modular construction and with a low profile relative to a surface supporting the device. The modular construction of the rolling exercise device reduces its overall height and weight, facilitates ease of manufacture and assembly of the device, and augments its structural integrity during use. The low profile of the rolling exercise device together with its reduced height and weight and augmented structural integrity enhance its stability in supporting at least a portion of the weight of a user and minimize its resistance or drag, and thus maximize its glide capability such that as a foot of the user is underlain and supported by the device the user is enabled to perform exercises using upper body muscles as the device moves more freely in any direction on the supporting surface. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a rolling exercise device includes:
         a support body having
           a lower body portion forming at least four recessed corners spaced apart from one another and having respective recesses open from below and around the exterior of the at least four recessed corners,   an upper body portion forming at least four corner segments interconnected to one another and overlying the at least four recessed corners of the lower body portion, and   a cavity recessed in the upper and lower body portions and extending from a top opening defined by a continuous interior rim of said upper body portion to and including an interior concave bottom wall surface of the lower body portion;   
           a plurality of mounting seats each being supported in a respective one of the recesses of the at least four recessed corners of the lower body portion of the support body; and   a plurality of rollers each being rotatably mounted in a respective one of the mounting seats and extending below the lower body portion of the support body so as to adapt the support body to be freely rolled by the rollers across a surface supporting the rolling exercise device with at least a portion of a foot of a user extending into the cavity of the support body to support at least a portion of the body weight of the user on the rolling exercise device as the user performs exercises on the surface.       

     In another aspect of the present invention, a rolling exercise device includes:
         a support body having
           a lower body portion forming a square cross having a central segment and four radial leg segments terminating at exterior end surfaces, and four recessed corners spaced apart from one another and having respective recesses formed by the central segment and the four radial leg segments of the square cross and being open from below and around the exterior of the four recessed corners,   an upper body portion forming a square platform having four corner segments interconnected to one another and overlying the four recessed corners of the lower body portion, and a continuous exterior sidewall extending about the four corner segments and merging with the exterior end surfaces of the four radial leg segments of the lower body portion, and   a concave cavity formed in the upper and lower body portions and having a top opening defined by a continuous interior top surface proximate a continuous interior rim of the square platform of the upper body portion, an interior concave bottom wall surface defined in the central segment of the square cross of the lower body portion, and a continuous interior sidewall surface extending in the upper and lower body portions so as to interconnect the continuous interior rim of the upper body portion and the interior concave bottom wall surface of the lower body portion;   
           a plurality of mounting seats each being supported in a respective one of the recesses of the four recessed corners of the lower body portion of the support body; and   a plurality of rollers each being rotatably mounted in a respective one of the mounting seats and extending below the square cross of the lower body portion of the support body so as to adapt the support body to be freely rolled by the rollers across a surface supporting the rolling exercise device with at least a portion of a foot of a user extending into the cavity of the support body to support at least a portion of the body weight of the user on the rolling exercise device as the user performs exercises on the surface.       

     In still another aspect of the present invention, a rolling exercise device includes:
         a support body having
           a lower body portion forming a square cross having a central segment and four radial leg segments terminating at exterior end surfaces, and four recessed corners having respective recesses formed by the central segment and four radial leg segments of the square cross and being open from below and around the exterior of the four recessed corners,   an upper body portion forming a square platform having four corner segments interconnected to one another and overlying the four recessed corners of the lower body portion, and a continuous exterior sidewall extending about the four corner segments and merging with the exterior end surfaces of the four radial leg segments of the lower body portion, and   a concave cavity formed in the upper and lower body portions and having a top opening defined by a continuous interior top surface proximate a continuous interior rim of the square platform of the upper body portion, an interior concave bottom wall surface defined in the central segment of the square cross of the lower body portion, and a continuous interior sidewall surface extending in the upper and lower body portions so as to interconnect the continuous interior top surface of the upper body portion and the interior concave bottom wall surface of the lower body portion;   
           a plurality of mounting seats each being supported in a respective one of the recesses of the four recessed corners of the lower body portion of the support body, each of the mounting seats including
           a socket affixed to and extending below a bottom side of a respective one of the four corner segments of the upper body portion of the support body, the socket being of a hollow configuration and having a cylindrical sidewall with a lower open end and an upper wall across and affixed to an upper end of the cylindrical sidewall, and   a sleeve of a spherical configuration with opposite top and bottom truncated ends, the sleeve having an outside diameter matched with an inside diameter of the cylindrical sidewall of the socket such that the sleeve snugly fits, via the lower open end of the socket, into the socket; and   
           a plurality of rollers each being rotatably mounted in a respective one of the sleeves of the mounting seats and extending above and below the top and bottom truncated ends of the respective one of the sleeves and below the square cross of the lower body portion of the support body so as to adapt the support body to be freely rolled by the rollers across a surface supporting the rolling exercise device with at least a portion of a foot of a user extending into the cavity of the support body to support at least a portion of the body weight of the user on the rolling exercise device as the user performs exercises on the surface.       

     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a top isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a low profile rolling exercise device in accordance with the invention of the patent application cross-referenced above, the view showing the device in a fully assembled form; 
         FIG. 2  presents a bottom isometric view of the device originally introduced in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  presents a top isometric view of the device, the view showing the device in an exploded form and on a reduced scale compared to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  presents a side elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  presents a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 , the view showing the device on a slightly reduced scale compared to that of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  presents a transverse sectional view of the device taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 , the view showing the device on an enlarged scale compared to that of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  presents a top isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a low profile rolling exercise device in accordance with the present invention, the view showing the device in a fully assembled form; 
         FIG. 8  presents a bottom isometric view of the device originally introduced in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  presents a top isometric view of the device, the view showing the device of  FIGS. 7 and 8  in an exploded form; 
         FIG. 10  presents a cross-sectional view of the device taken along section line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 7 , the view showing the device on an enlarged scale compared to that of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 11  presents another cross-sectional view of the device taken along section line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 , the view showing the device on an enlarged scale compared to that of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “inside”, “outside”, “end”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a rolling exercise device, generally designated  100 , having a modular construction and a low profile in accordance with the invention of the patent application cross-referenced above. The device  100  basically includes an elongated handle  102 , a pair of support bodies  104  each being a single unit separate from, but substantially identical to, one another, and connections  106  securing the support bodies  104  to the opposite ends of the handle  102  in a fixed relationship with respect to each other such that only the elongated handle  102  extends between and interconnects the two single units. Each of the support bodies  104  includes a beam  107  and a pair of mounting seats  108  provided beneath the beam  107  of each of the support bodies  104 . Each of the support bodies  104  also includes a pair of rollers  110  rotatably mounted in the mounting seats  108  so as to adapt the support bodies  104  to be freely rolled by the rollers  110  across a support surface or floor as a user gripping the handle  102  supports his or her weight on the handle. A modular construction is provided in the sense that the support bodies  104  are mirror images of each other and thus are interchangeable with one another with respect to their positional relationships at the opposite ends of the handle  102 . Furthermore, the beams  107  of the support bodies  104 , which may be solid structures, span over and are supported by the mounting seats  108  and rollers  110  of the support bodies  104  so as to provide the overall device  100  with a relatively low profile. The components of the device  100  may be made by application of well-known fabrication techniques using various materials, such as metals or plastics. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1-5 , the elongated handle  102  has opposite ends  112  and a grip portion  114  extending between and merging with the opposite ends  112 . The handle  102  also has a uniform cylindrical cross-sectional configuration from end to end and a longitudinal axis  115  extending lengthwise of the handle  102  through the opposite ends  112  and the grip portion  114 . Alternatively, the handle  102  may have other suitable cross-sectional configurations. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-6 , each of the support bodies  104  includes opposite end portions  116  and a middle portion  118  extending between and merging into the opposite end portions  116 . The opposite end portions  116  are mirror images of, and substantially identical to, one another. Each of the support bodies  104  also includes opposite inner and outer sides  120 ,  122 , opposite bottom and top sides  124 ,  126 , and opposite ends  128 . Each of the support bodies  104  further has a width  130  extending between the opposite inner and outer sides  120 ,  122 . The width  130  of each of the support bodies  104  at the middle portion  118  is substantially the same as at the opposite end portions  116 . Each of the support bodies  104  also has a height  132  extending between the bottom and top sides  124 ,  126  that, as can be readily seen in  FIG. 6 , is at a maximum at the middle portion  118  and decreases by tapering down to a minimum at opposite ends  128  of the support body  104  on the opposite end portions  116 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , each of the support bodies  104  also has a cavity  134  of a cylindrical configuration and being recessed into the middle portion  118  of each of the support bodies  104  at the inner side  120  thereof to a depth  136  less than the width  130  of the middle portion  118 . By way of example, but not of limitation, the depth  136  may be about fifteen percent of the width  130 . The cavity  134  is located between and spaced from the bottom and top sides  124 ,  126  of the support body  104 . Being of cylindrical configuration, the cavity  130  is thereby configured to receive one of the opposite ends  112  of the cylindrical handle  102  so as together with the connections  106  provide a snug fitting fixed relationship between the support bodies  104  and the elongated handle  102 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the connections  106  that secure the support bodies  104  to the handle  102  in the fixed relationship with respect to each other are provided respectively in and extend between the opposite ends  112  of the handle  102  and the middle portions  118  of the support bodies  104  and in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis  115  of the handle so as to retain the support bodies  104  and elongated handle  102  in a secured snug fitting fixed relationship with respect to each other. More particularly, the connections  106  including first bores  138 , second bores  140 , and threaded fasteners  142 . The first bores  138  are respectively threadably formed in at least opposite end portions  144  of the handle  102  so as to extend through the opposite ends  112  of the handle  102  in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis  115  thereof. The second bores  140  are respectively formed in the middle portions  118  of the support bodies  102  so as to extend between the recessed cavities  134  and the outer sides  122  of the support bodies  102  and align with the first bores  138  of the handle  102  and in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis  115  of the handle. The threaded fasteners  142  are inserted through the second bores  140  of the support bodies  102  and threaded into the first bores  138  of the handle  102  in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis  115  of the handle so as to securely connect the handle  102  to the support bodies  104  in a fixed relationship with each other, thereby providing the device  100  with a rigid structural framework. 
     More specifically, by way of example, but not of limitation, the first bores  138  may be threadably formed completely through the handle  102  from one of the opposite ends  112  to the other of the opposite ends  112 . Also, the support bodies  104  have countersunk rims  146  recessed into the outer sides  122  of the support bodies  102  and extending about the second bores  140  such that enlarged heads  148  on the fasteners  142  abut against the countersunk rims  146  when the fasteners  142  are threaded sufficiently into the first bores  138  of the handle  102  to securely connect the handle  102  to the support bodies  104 . 
     As mentioned above and seen in  FIGS. 1-6 , the mounting seats  108  are provided on and extend below the bottom sides  124  of the beams  107  of the support bodies  104  at their outer end portions  116 . For example, there are two mounting seats  108  below the beam  107  of each of the support bodies  104  with each mounting seat  108  being below a respective one of the opposite end portions  116  of the beam  107 . More particularly, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the mounting seats  108  include respective sockets  150  and sleeves  152 . Each socket  150  has a hollow cylindrical configuration and a lower open end  154 . The sockets  150  may be affixed on and extend below the bottom side  124  of the beam  107  of each of the support bodies  104  at the opposite end portions  116  thereof such that each of the support bodies  104  forms the single unit, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in which the beam structure  107  and the two mounting seats  108  are integrally formed with one another. Alternatively, the two mounting seats  108  of each of the support bodies  104  may be separate and independent components from the beam  107  of each of the support bodies  104  that are fastened to the beam  107  to form the single unit therewith. Thus, each of the support bodies  104  forms a single unit that is separate and independent from one another such that only the elongated handle  102  extends between and interconnects the two single units. 
     Each of the sleeves  152  has a spherical configuration with opposite top and bottom truncated ends  156 ,  158 . The sleeves  152  have outside diameters matching the inside diameters of the sockets  150  such that each of the sleeves  152  snugly fits through the lower open end  154  and into a respective one of the sockets  150 . The sleeve  152  at its top truncated end  156  is brought into contact with the bottom side  124  of the respective support body  104  at the respective opposite end portion  116  thereof. Furthermore, the bottom side  124  of each of the support bodies  104  at each of the opposite end portions  116  thereof has a concave depression  158  defined thereon being centered relative to one of the sockets  150 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 6 , each of the rollers  110  has an outside diameter matching an inside diameter of a respective one of the sleeves  152  such that each roller  110  snugly fits with the one sleeve  152 , and with a portion of the roller  110  protruding from the top truncated end  156  of the sleeve  152  also protruding into the respective concave depression  158 . The sleeves  152  have substantially frictionless inside surfaces  160  and protrude from the lower open ends  154  of the sockets  152  with the rollers  110  protruding from the bottom truncated ends  158  of the sleeves  152  so as to enable free wheeling rotation of the rollers  110  in the sleeves  152  and in contact with the support surface. In such manner, the support bodies  104  are adapted to be freely rolled by the rollers  110  across the support surface as a user gripping the handle  102  performs exercises and supports a portion of his or her body weight on the handle  102 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 7-11 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a rolling exercise device, generally designated  200 , having a modular construction and a low profile in accordance with the present invention. The rolling exercise device  200  basically includes a support body  202 , a plurality of mounting seats  204 , and a plurality of rollers  206 . 
     The support body  202  of the device  200  has a lower body portion  208  and an upper body portion  210 . More particularly, the lower body portion  208  of the support body  202  forms at least four recessed corners  212  being spaced apart from one another and having respective recesses  214  open from below and around the exterior of the corners  212 . As best seen in FIG.  8 , in the exemplary embodiment the lower body portion  208  forms a square cross  216  having a central segment  218  and four radial leg segments  220  terminating at exterior end surfaces  222 . The central segment  218  and four radial leg segments  220  form four recessed corners  212  of the lower body portion  208 . The respective recesses  214  of the four recessed corners  212  are formed by the central segment  218  and four radial leg segments  220  of the square cross  216 . 
     More particularly, the upper body portion  210  of the support body  202  forms at least four solid corner segments  224  being interconnected to one another and overlying the at least four recessed corners  212  of the lower body portion  208 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , in the exemplary embodiment the upper body portion  210  forms a square platform  226  providing four solid corner segments  224  overlying the four recessed corners  212  of the lower body portion  208 . The square platform  226  also provides a continuous exterior sidewall  228  extending about the four solid corner segments  224  and merging with the exterior end surfaces  222  of the four radial leg segments  220  of the lower body portion  208 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 7, 10 and 11 , the support body  202  of the device  200  also has a concave cavity  230  in the lower and upper body portions  208 ,  210 , being recessed from the upper body portion  210  into the lower body portion  208 . More particularly, the concave cavity  230  has a top opening  232  in the upper body portion  210 , being defined by a continuous interior top surface  234  on or proximate to a continuous interior rim  236  of the upper body portion  210 , an interior concave bottom wall surface  238  in the lower body portion  208 , and a continuous interior sidewall surface  240  in the upper and lower body portions  210 ,  208  that interconnects the continuous interior top surface  234  and the interior concave bottom wall surface  238 . The concave cavity  230  has a depth extending from the top opening  232  to the concave bottom wall surface  238  which is at a maximum at a central location of the cavity  230  in the upper and lower body portions  210 ,  208  of the support body  202 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 , each of the mounting seats  204  of the device  200  is supported in a respective one of the four recessed corners  212  of the lower body portion  208  of the support body  202 . The mounting seats  204  are interchangeable with one another with respect to their relationships to the corners  212  of the lower body portion  208 . Each mounting seat  204  includes a socket  242  and a sleeve  244 . 
     More particularly, each socket  242  of a respective mounting seat  204  is affixed on and extends below a bottom side  246  of a respective one of the four corner segments  224  of the upper body portion  210  of the support body  202 . Each socket  242  is of a hollow configuration and has a cylindrical sidewall  248  with a lower open end  250  and an upper wall  252  extending across and affixed to an upper end  254  of the cylindrical sidewall  248 . Each socket  242  has an upstanding tab  256  affixed to and extending upwardly from the upper wall  252  and snugly fitted into a corresponding slot  258  defined in a respective one of the four corner segments  224  of the upper body portion  210  overlying the four recessed corners  212  of the lower body portion  208 . 
     Each sleeve  244  of a respective mounting seat  204  has a spherical configuration with opposite top and bottom truncated ends  260 ,  262 . Each sleeve  244  has an outside diameter matched with an inside diameter of a respective one of the sockets  242  such that each sleeve snugly fits through the lower open end  250  and into the respective one socket  242 . Also, each sleeve  242  at the top truncated end  260  is spaced below the upper wall  252  of the respective one socket  242 . Further, each sleeve  242  at an end portion adjacent to the bottom truncated end  262  thereof respectively protrudes downward from the lower open end  250  of the cylindrical sidewall  248  of the respective one socket  242 . 
     Each roller  206  is rotatably mounted in a respective one of the sleeves  244  of a respective mounting seat  204  and extending below the square cross  216  of the lower body portion  208  of the support body  202  so as to adapt the support body to be freely rolled by the rollers  206  across a surface supporting the rolling exercise device  200  with at least a portion of a foot of a user extending into the concave cavity  230  of the support body  202  to support at least a portion of the body weight of the user on the rolling exercise device  200  as the user performs exercises on the surface. A lower portion  264  of each roller  206  protrudes from and to below the bottom truncated end  262  of a respective one of the sleeves  242 . An upper portion  266  of each roller  206  protrudes from and to above the top truncated end  260  of the respective one sleeve  242  and into a depression  268  in the upper wall  252  of the respective one socket  242 . Each sleeve  242  has a substantially frictionless inside surface  270  so as to enable free-wheeling rotation of the rollers  206  in the sleeves  242  and in contact with the support surface. 
     In summary, the above-described components of the rolling exercise devices  100 ,  200  provide each of them with a modular construction and a low profile that reduces its overall height and weight, facilitates its ease of manufacture and assembly, and augments its structural integrity during use. 
     The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.