Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly to a physio-ball. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Physio-balls, also known as “Swiss balls” or stability balls, are a popular type of exercise apparatus for promoting balance, flexibility, strength and alignment. Physio-balls are typically spherical, cylindrical or ovoid-shaped balls that have a vinyl outer coating. They are filled with air or some other type of fluid in order to provide a moderate degree of flexibility and compressibility when sat on by a user or when pressed upon by a user during use. 
   A physio-ball may be used in many different ways. For instance, a physio-ball may be used as a seat when exercising, e.g., a user may sit on top of the physio-ball while performing sit-ups or some other type of movement of the upper body relative to the lower body. Alternatively, a user may balance a portion of her body, e.g., her feet or her hands, on the ball, thereby forcing the user to balance that portion of the body during the performance of an exercise. For instance, a user may position her feet, or her hands, on top of the physio-ball while performing push-ups, lunges, hip lifts, etc. 
   A physio-ball provides several advantages. For example, a physio-ball is typically semi-firm, and thus conforms somewhat with a user&#39;s body when being used. Thus, less pressure or contact is experienced by a user when performing an exercise with a physio-ball as compared to performing the same exercise on a conventional hard surface. Furthermore, a physio-ball may roll in one or more directions, thereby promoting balance and developing muscles that contribute to the user&#39;s stability and strength. Still further, the rolling motion of the physio-ball against the user&#39;s muscles may facilitate myofascial flexibility and release. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention relates to a physio-ball including a shell and a support member attached to the shell. The support member is sufficiently rigid so as to support at least a portion of a user&#39;s body when the portion of the user&#39;s body is in contact with the support member. 
   The shell of the physio-ball may be inflatable, and may be, for instance, spherical, cylindrical or ovoid in shape. Preferably, the shell of the physio-ball is about 55 cm, 65 cm or 75 cm in diameter and is comprised of a non-latex material. The shell is preferably filled with air or another type of fluid such that the physio-ball has a moderate degree of compressibility during use. 
   The support member may be a ring with a circular cross-section, may be curved or straight, may have the form of a rim, a lip, a handle, or any other shape. The support member may fully encircle the shell, although it may instead extend around one or more portions of the shell, each portion extending less than the full circumference of the shell, e.g., disposed in symmetrical fashion around the circumference of the physio-ball. Furthermore, the support member may be positioned at approximately the vertical midpoint of the shell, or else may be positioned above or below the vertical midpoint of the shell. 
   Additional features of the physio-ball of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a physio-ball, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a side, cross-sectional view of a support member for a physio-ball, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention, according to one embodiment thereof, is directed to a physio-ball that includes a support member. 
     FIG. 1  is a side view of a physio-ball  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The physio-ball  10  includes a shell  12 . Advantageously, the shell  12  is inflatable such that the physio-ball may be inflated for use and may be deflated for storage purposes. The shell  12  is preferably spherical in shape when inflated, although any other shape, e.g., cylindrical, ovoid, etc., may also be employed. Preferably, the shell  12  is 55 cm, 65 cm or 75 cm in diameter, although any sizes may be employed. The shell  12  may be comprised of vinyl or latex, but preferably is comprised of a non-latex material. The shell  12  is filled with air or another type of fluid in order to provide a moderate degree of flexibility and compressibility when sat on by a user or when pressed upon by a user. 
   The physio-ball  10  also includes a support member  14 . The support member  14  functions to provide a user with a surface, other than the surface of the shell  12 , that assists the user in balancing or supporting him or herself when using the physio-ball. For instance,  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the support member  14  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the support member  14  is a ring  16  having a circular cross-section. Additional features illustrated in  FIG. 2  are discussed further below. It should be recognized that, while  FIG. 2  illustrates the support member  14  in the shape of a ring having a circular cross-section, the support member  14  may have any shape that is capable of assisting the user in balancing or supporting him or herself when using the physio-ball. For instance, the support member  14  may be curved, straight or any other shape, and/or may be in the form of a rim, lip, a handle, etc. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates that, in one embodiment, the support member  14  fully encircles the shell  12 . Alternatively, the support member  14  may extend around one or more portions of the shell  12 , each portion extending less than the full circumference of the shell  12 . If the support member  14  does not fully encircle the shell  12  but instead extends around one or more portions of the shell  12 , those portions are advantageously disposed in symmetrical fashion around the circumference of the physio-ball  10 , so as to provide balance when used. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates that the support member  14  is positioned at approximately the vertical midpoint of the shell  12 . In this manner, the support member  14  is positioned at the widest diameter of the physio-ball  10 . In other embodiments, the support member  14  may be positioned above or below the vertical midpoint of the shell  12 . Furthermore,  FIG. 1  illustrates that the support member  14  is positioned at a single vertical location of the shell  12 . In other embodiments, the physio-ball  10  may have more than one support member  14 , each support member  14  being positioned at a different vertical location, e.g., at, above or below the vertical midpoint, of the shell  12 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates that, in one embodiment, the support member  14  is configured to be engaged with a recess  18  of the shell  12 . In this manner, the support member  14  is at least partially supported by the shell  12 . Alternatively, the shell  12  may have an projection rather than a recess, the projection operating to engage the support member  14  for the purpose of attaching the support member  14  to the shell. Still further, the shell  12  may have neither a recess nor a projection, but rather may be sized and shaped relative to the support member  14  such that the support member  14  is maintained in position on the shell  12  by friction. 
   The support member  14  may be formed of a rigid plastic or PVC material. Other materials may also be employed. 
   The support member  14  may be permanently attached to the shell  12 . For instance,  FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment in which the support member  14  is integrated within the shell  12  by being disposed within a recess  18  and being kept within the recess  18  by an outer shell  20  that is permanently attached to the shell  12 . In another embodiment, the support member  14  is attached by glue, velcro, or some other type of adhesive. Alternatively, the support member  14  may be removable from the shell  12  such that the physio-ball  10  may be used with or without the support member  14 . 
   The physio-ball  10  of the present invention, in accordance with various embodiments described hereinabove, may be used in many different ways. For instance, the physio-ball  10  may be used as a seat, e.g., a user may sit on top of the physio-ball while performing sit-ups or some other type of movement of the upper body relative to the lower body. In addition, a user may balance a portion of her body, e.g., her feet or her hands, on the ball, thereby forcing the user to balance that portion of the body during the performance of an exercise. For instance, a user may position her feet, or her hands, on top of the physio-ball while performing push-ups, lunges, hip lifts, etc. 
   The physio-ball  10  of the present invention, in accordance with various embodiments described hereinabove, has several advantages over conventional physio-balls. For instance, the physio-ball  10  enables a user to grasp the support member  14  with her hands, thus reducing the likelihood that her hands will slip off of the physio-ball during use. Furthermore, the physio-ball  10  enables a user to position her feet on the support member  14 , e.g., by standing on top of the support member  14 , by resting her feet on the support member  14  while performing push-ups, etc., thus reducing the likelihood that her feet will slip off of the physio-ball during use. 
   Thus, the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention are most effectively attained. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been described and disclosed in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby.

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