Patent Abstract:
An apparatus ( 1 ) for making figures or body exercises in rotation, includes: a lower part ( 20 ) having non-skipping elements ( 22 ) on an exercise surface (S); a mobile upper part ( 10 ) rotating relatively to the lower part ( 20 ), and elements ( 30 ) for coupling in rotation the respectively upper and lower parts ( 10, 20 ). The upper part ( 10 ) comprises a gripping piece ( 100 ) conformed to receive a part (M) of a user&#39;s (U) body.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for making figures or body exercises in rotation. It also concerns a gripping organ of the type equipping said apparatus. 
   New forms of dances and urban body expression such as hip-hop include rotation figures wherein the male or female dancer turns on himself or herself, by being supported on one hand directly put on a surface or a carpet or a piece of cloth placed on said surface which must be flat. The possible irregularities of the holding surface can cause theses rotation exercises to be particularly tough and sometimes hazardous. Furthermore, the dancers may have their artistic demonstration limited by their physical resistance and their ability to counter the frictions at the interface between their hand and the contact surface. Moreover, the dancers can be led to make figures in rotation by being supported on a part of the body other than the hand, for example, the back, the ass, the head, a knee or a foot. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   A training apparatus for the swing in golf is already known by document US5810673, comprising a disk coupled in rotation relatively to a basis and provided for receiving a user&#39;s foot maintained by a strap. The basis in said apparatus is fixed to a removable ground carpet. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aim of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for making figures or body exercises in rotation, which provides anybody using said apparatus an ability to make figures in rotation in better conditions than those met in the present context of figures in rotation. 
   This aim is met with an apparatus for making figures or body exercises in rotation, comprising:
         a lower part comprising non-skipping means on an exercise surface,   a upper part rotatively mobile relatively to said lower part, and   means for rotatively coupling said respectively upper and lower parts.       

   According to the invention, the upper part comprises a gripping piece conformed for receiving a part of a user&#39;s body. 
   In a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, adapted to receive a user&#39;s hand, the gripping piece includes a hollow central part conformed to receive the palm of the user&#39;s hand, and a plurality of recesses extending beyond said central part for receiving said user&#39;s fingers. 
   Thus there is provided an apparatus which is compact, portable and particularly efficient for figures in rotation. 
   In a variant of the invention, the gripping piece may furthermore include means for braking the mobile upper part. These braking means comprise for example braking control means which can be actuated by a thumb of the user. 
   It is to be noted that models of the apparatus according to the invention can be specifically provide for right-hand or left-hand users, with for example a displacement of the brake from left to right or from right to left depending on the fact that the user is right-hand or left-hand. 
   Preferably, the gripping piece has a structure which is substantially symmetrical for indifferently receiving the user&#39;s left hand or right hand. 
   The gripping piece can advantageously include two main protrusions placed on one side and the other side from the central part and three inter-digit protrusions placed substantially in circle arc between the two main protrusions. 
   Numerous techniques can be used for making the gripping piece. For example, as a way of non limitative example, a making process by resin moulding can be used. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a gripping organ is proposed, of the type equipping the upper part of an apparatus according to the invention, characterized in that it includes a hollow central part conformed to receive the palm of a user&#39;s hand, and a plurality of recesses extending beyond said central part for receiving said user&#39;s fingers. 
   This gripping organ can be advantageously attached to an accessory able to be actuated or hand-held, such as a projectile launcher, a racket for ball or shuttlecock games, or to a paddle for nautical activity, or to a neutralizing filet launcher. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood with regards to the following description, in reference to the attached figures: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment example of an apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of an apparatus of the type featured in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  respectively feature the insertion of resp. left and right hands of a user in an apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment example of an apparatus according to the invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of use for an apparatus according to the invention; and 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D feature four specific applications of a gripping organ according to the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   An apparatus  1  according to the invention comprises, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lower part  20  equipped with a lower anti-skidding or non-slipping or anti-sliding coating and provided for being put on an exercise surface, a ball-bearing device  30 , and a mobile upper part  10  supporting a gripping piece  100  made by moulding in a material such as resin. This gripping piece  100  comprises a hollow central part  16  conformed to receive in a ergonomic way a user&#39;s palm and, in one side and another of said central part, two central protrusions  11 ,  15  substantially curved towards the interior on their upper part, and three inter-digit protrusions  12 ,  13 ,  14  substantially placed in circle arc around said two main protrusions  11 ,  15 . The gripping piece constitutes a relatively compact ensemble and can be advantageously decorated particularly in function of its use or for commercial or advertising aims. The mobile upper part  10  can be provided with a mechanical brake (non represented). 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the gripping piece  100  can be designed so as to present a symmetry permitting an ambidexter use of the apparatus according to the invention. Thus, the user can indifferently place his left hand MG or his right hand MD in the gripping piece  100 . 
   In the first embodiment example illustrated by  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower part has a discoid shape and diameter of the ball bearing  30  is substantially smaller than the diameter of the upper and lower parts. In another embodiment example illustrated by  FIG. 4 , the apparatus according to the invention comprises an upper part  110 , a lower part  120  and ball bearing  130  with substantially identical external diameters. 
   With an apparatus according to the invention, a user U dancing hip-hop, inserting his hand into the gripping piece of said apparatus that he has previously placed on an exercise surface S, can then make numerous figures in rotation with exceptional speed conditions. The non-skidding coating  22  placed between the lower part  20  and the ground S ensures the immobility of the apparatus  1  during the exercise. 
   A gripping organ with a structure identical to the gripping piece equipping an apparatus according to the invention can be used for making original devices, when said gripping organ is attached to usually hand-held accessories. The sought main objective is to provide the user with a grip as efficient as possible. 
   Thus, with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6D , several applications can be provided for a same gripping organ  40  made with moulded resin and comprising two main protrusions  411 ,  415  and three inter-digit protrusions  412 ,  413 ,  414 , in such different domains as diving, swimming, defense or security, hunting or ball and shuttlecock games. 
   A first example of application concerns, with reference to  FIG. 6A , making nautical ambidexter paddle  6 A including a glove  43  provided with an opening  44  for the wrist and openings for the user&#39;s fingers. 
   A second embodiment example concerns, with reference to  FIG. 6B , an application of the gripping organ  40  to a projectile launcher  6 B, for example for sharp projectiles, suction cup projectiles, magnet projectiles or projectiles equipped with Velcro®, said launcher being provided for example with a mechanism of bow or arbalest  51  and with a glove  53 . 
   In a third embodiment example illustrated by  FIG. 6C , the gripping organ  40  according to the invention is coupled to a device  6 C for launching a filet F used for neutralizing persons or animals, said device being provided with a glove  63  and with a gas-cartridge propulsion mechanism (non represented). 
   The gripping organ according to the invention  40  can also be coupled to a racket  6 D designed for shuttlecock V or ball B games and provided with a sieve  71  and with a glove  73  inserted in the gripping organ. 
   It is to be noted that in the above-described application examples, other embodiments which don&#39;t include a glove can be contemplated. 
   Of course, various embodiments are possible. Particularly, the gripping piece can be adapted to receive a part of a body other than a hand, for example, a foot, a knee, an elbow, the buttocks or the head of a user. This can be made possible by adding on a existing gripping piece an adaptation piece specifically conformed to receive this other body part.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0