Abstract:
A Stretching, Strengthening and Massage Apparatus is disclosed. Also disclosed is a device that employs a spherical device for aiding in Massage of bodily areas. The device further has an elongate strap defined by several loops along its length to be used as handholds when stretching or exercising. The device is further usable as an exercise device by simple engagement with a conventional door. The spherical member is preferably formed with bumps on its outer surface to further improve its utility as a massage device.

Description:
[0001]    This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/465,709, filed Apr. 26, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to therapeutic devices and, more specifically, to a Stretching, Strengthening and Massage Apparatus  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    There are a variety of portable exercise and fitness devices available on the market today for toning virtually every muscle group on the body. There are also a variety of massaging and stretching devices to assist a person in massaging tight or injured muscle areas and/or to stretch out tight muscles. The problem is that there is no single device that can adequately provide all of these benefits and yet be compact and portable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Stretching, Strengthening and Massage Apparatus. The device should employ a spherical device for aiding in Massage of bodily areas. The device should further have an elongate strap defined by several loops along its length to be used as handholds when stretching or exercising. The device should further be usable as an exercise device by simple engagement with a conventional door. The spherical member should be formed with bumps on its outer surface to further improve its utility as a massage device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the stretching, strengthening and massage apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 2A and 2B are cutaway side and front views, respectively, of the spherical member of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one assembly-half of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a back view of a user employing the apparatus of FIG. 1 to massage;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a back view of a user employing the apparatus of FIG. 1 to stretch; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 as it might be used as a strengthening device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Stretching, Strengthening and Massage Apparatus.  
         [0015]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the stretching, strengthening and massage apparatus  10  of the present invention. The apparatus  10  comprises two major components, a spherical member  14  attached to the center of a strap assembly  12 . The spherical member  14  is preferably made from a solid, relatively hard, rubberized material, and has a plurality of rounded bumps  15  disposed across its outer surface.  
         [0016]    The strap assembly  12  is made from a first assembly-half  16 A and a second assembly-half  16 B, which are interconnected at a central loop  22 . Each assembly-half  16  comprises a plurality of strap loops  20  in spaced relation along its length. The central loop  22  preferably passes through the spherical member  14  at apertures  18  formed in the outer surface of the spherical member  14 . Now turning to FIGS. 2A and 2B, we can more closely examine the ball structure.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 2A and 2B are cutaway side and front views, respectively, of the spherical member  14  of the apparatus of FIG. 1. The spherical member  14  is made with a substantially solid core  24  having one or more strap bores  26 A,  26 B passing through it. The outer surface of the member  14  will have a plurality of rounded bumps  15  dispersed on it to provide additional stimulation when being used for massage. Where the strap assembly (see FIG. 1) is made from flat straps, the two strap bores  26 A and  26 B will have a thin, rectangular cross-section (See FIG. 2A) to permit the strap elements to pass therethrough (i.e. the two straps making up the central loop). The spherical member  14  can be provided in a variety of different sizes and/or shapes; in this version, it is approximately 2½ inches in diameter, with the strap bores  26  being approximately 1 inch wide and {fraction (1/16)} inch high (to accommodate this particular size and shape of strap). The spherical member  14  could be made from rubber, silicone, as well as other natural or man-made and non-rubberized materials, such as wood, metal or plastic. If we turn now to FIG. 3, we can examine the details regarding the strap assembly.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first assembly-half  16 A of the apparatus of FIG. 1. The second assembly-half (element  16 B) is the mirror image of the structure depicted in this drawing figure. Both assembly-halves  16  are made from a first strap element  28 A and a second strap element  28 B bonded to one another along their lengths at mated portions  30 . In between each mated portion  30 , the second strap element  28 B has additional slack built in to form a plurality of loops  20  within the assembly-half  16 A. In this embodiment, there are first, second, third and fourth loops  20 A- 20 D, but in other designs, other numbers of loops  20  may be incorporated.  
         [0019]    The strap elements  28  are made from flexible, non-elastic material, such as nylon mesh. In other versions, cord, rope or other flexible, non-elastic natural and man-made materials could be used. Each mated portion  30  in this version are formed by the two strap elements  28  being stitched together. Furthermore, at the tail  32  (which is the distal end of the assembly-half  16 ), the two strap elements  28  are also stitched together to form a secure portion for the user to grasp. If stitching is not desired, rivets, chemical, thermal or other mechanical means well known in the art could be employed.  
         [0020]    The loops  20  are made large enough to easily accommodate an average person&#39;s hand or lower arm or foot therein—as such, they will generally function as handles or locations to tie elastic bands to. FIG. 4 depicts one use case for this invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a back view of a user employing the apparatus of FIG. 1 to massage himself. As shown, it is a simple matter for the user to slip one hand through a loop  20  in each assembly-half  16 . By putting tension on the strap assembly  12 , the user forces the spherical member  14  against his neck. The user then simple pulls the strap assembly  12  back and forth to give himself an effective massage to the back of his neck. This procedure can be easily replicated at other locations on the user&#39;s body. The bumps formed in the surface of the substantially solid-cored member  14  will provide very soothing agitation and massage at the point of contact of the sphere with the user&#39;s body. In FIG. 5, we can see another use case for the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a back view of a user employing the apparatus of FIG. 1 to stretch. Here, the user grasps the strap assembly  12  by its two ends (or slips his hands through two loops), and then drops one arm down, while keeping the elbows straight. The result is to force the other outstretched arm over his head, until adequate pull and stretching is felt at the targeted muscle group  44 . A similar approach and/or including twisting of the torso will provide stretching to other muscle groups. FIG. 6 depicts yet another use case.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus  10  of FIG. 1 as it might be used as a strengthening device. Because the strap assembly  12  is wide and narrow, it will fit between a conventional door  34  and the door frame  36 . The user need simply to open the door  34 , and then drape or feed the spherical member  14  and the second assembly-half over the other side of the door  34 . The user then closes the door  34 , thereby capturing the spherical member  14  on the other side.  
         [0024]    The user then ties or otherwise attaches an elastic member  38 , such as a length of elastic surgical tubing to the tail  32  or one of the loops  20  of the first assembly-half  16 A. The elastic member  38  can then be used as a source of resistance in strengthening exercises. For example, the user could face the door  34 , place one hand against the door  34 , and grasp the elastic member  38  with the remaining free hand. If the user then pulls backwards, or away from the door with the hand grasping the elastic member  38 , he or she will receive a muscle strengthening workout to his or her triceps muscle and related muscle group. Similarly, many other muscles and muscle groups could be exercised.  
         [0025]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.