Ball and frame exercising apparatus

• US 20050261114A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Heitzman
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Heitzman
• Inventors: Heitzman, Charles J., Pepe, Christopher F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,341,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/002 with exercising means or having special therapeutic or ergonomic effects
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0414 with both ends stationary during the actual exercise, i.e. moving only at intermediate locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/125 Large inflatable balls primarily used as body supports for exercising, e.g. balancing

Abstract

A resilient exercising ball is confined within a frame which defines a space around the ball so that the ball has limited universal movement. The ball is normally centered within the frame by elastic members or cords having end portions attached to the frame. The ball stretches the cords until the ball is supported by a base surface or floor, and the ball rolls horizontally within the space in response to movement of the person'"'"'s body. The frame may be in the form of a rigid tubular chair with arm rests or in a circular configuration with a flexible ball support pad connected to the frame by elastic cords. The frame may also have a V-shaped configuration and be formed by releasably connected tubular sections having interfitting end portions.

Claims

1. Exercising apparatus comprising a resilient ball adapted to support a person'"'"'s body, a frame adapted to be supported by a floor surface and extending around said ball, said frame defining a space between said ball and said frame, said space providing for limited and universal horizontal movement of said ball within said frame without contacting said frame and while said ball is supported by the floor surface, and said space providing for predetermined vertical movement of said ball above the floor without contacting said frame.

2. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including an elastic member connected to said frame and supporting said ball within said frame.

3. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said elastic member comprises at least two elastic cords normally supporting said ball in a generally center position.

4. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said cords comprises an elastic rubber member surrounded by a fabric covering.

5. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises sections of rigid tubing, and releasable socket connections rigidly connecting at least some of said sections.

6. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a set of rigid lower frame members spaced above the floor surface and defining an opening receiving said ball.

7. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame includes a pair of generally parallel spaced rigid arm members spaced above parallel spaced said lower frame members and rigidly connected to said lower frame members.

8. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said arm members supports a resilient arm support cushion.

9. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 7 and including a rigid back frame member spaced above said lower frame members and rigidly connecting said arm members.

10. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said back member supports a resilient back support cushion.

11. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a generally circular frame surrounding said ball, a set of generally vertical legs supporting said circular frame above the floor surface, and a plurality of elongated elastic members normally supporting said ball generally concentrically within said frame with an annular said space between said ball and said frame.

12. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 11 and including a center support pad under said ball and connected to said elastic members.

13. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises rigid tubing, and said frame has a U-shaped upper portion rigidly connected to a generally horizontal U-shaped lower portion by a pair of generally vertical end portions.

14. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said upper portion of said frame is inclined, and said generally vertical end portions are generally U-shaped in configuration.

15. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said portions of said frame comprise tubular frame sections releasably connected together by interfitting telescopic end portions of said tubular frame sections.

16. Exercising apparatus comprising a resilient ball adapted to support a person'"'"'s body, a frame adapted to be supported by a floor surface and extending around said ball, said frame defining a space between said ball and said frame, said space providing for limited and universal horizontal movement of said ball within said frame without contacting said frame and while said ball is supported by the floor surface, and elongated elastic members connected to said frame and supporting said ball spaced within said frame.

17. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said elastic members comprise at least two elastic cords normally supporting said ball in an elevated position above the floor surface.

18. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said frame comprises sections of rigid tubing, and releasable socket connections rigidly connecting at least some of said sections.

19. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said frame includes a set of rigid lower frame members spaced above the floor surface, a pair of generally parallel spaced rigid arm members spaced above said lower frame members and rigidly connected to said lower frame members, and a rigid back frame member rigidly connecting said arm members.

20. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said frame has a U-shaped upper portion rigidly connected to a generally horizontal U-shaped lower portion by a pair of generally vertical U-shaped end portions

21. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said frame comprises a generally circular frame surrounding said ball, a set of legs supporting said circular frame above the floor surface, and said elastic members normally supporting said ball generally concentrically within said frame to define an annular said space between said ball and said frame.

22. Exercising apparatus as defined in claim 21 and including a center support pad under said ball and connected to said elastic members.