Therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device

• US 20080090707A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Performance Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Dye, Kipp
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0092 hand-held A61H15/0085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/40 for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/128 Stepped joint cross-sections
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/14 the joint having the same thickness as the thickness of the parts to be joined B29C66/1142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/50 General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/001 Pipes; Pipe joints pleated hoses B29D23/18
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/046 with closed cells
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/24 crosslinked or vulcanised
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/003 having irregular or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/463 Grips, handles handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence

Abstract

A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device including a cylindrically shaped body having a plurality of shaped projections configured to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and optimize body core strength and balance training.

Claims

1. A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device comprising:

a cylindrically shaped body including a plurality of shaped projections configured to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and optimize body core strength and balance training.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to maximize mobilization of soft tissue to enhance flexibility.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to reduce movement during body core strength and balance training.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to optimize soft tissue distensibility.

5. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections include a shape chosen from the group consisting of:

a curved shape, a triangle shape, a square, a notch shape, a cylindrical shape with rounded ends, and cylindrical shape with flat ends.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections longitudinally extend over a length of the body.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body are at the same angles.

8. The device of claim 1 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body at different angles.

9. The device of claim 6 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a wave pattern.

10. The device of claim 6 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a Z pattern.

11. The device of claim 6 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a helical pattern.

12. The device of claim 6 in which the plurality of shaped projections are individually spaced in a predetermined pattern over the body.

13. The device of claim 12 in which the predetermined pattern includes an aligned pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

14. The device of claim 12 in which the predetermined pattern includes an offset pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

15. The device of claim 1 in which the cylindrically shaped body and the plurality of shaped projections are made of a pliable material.

16. The device of claim 15 in which the pliable material includes a closed-cell foam material.

17. The device of claim 16 in which the closed-cell foam material includes a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

18. The device of claim 15 in which the pliable material includes a material having a density in the range of about 2.0 lb/ft³ to about 3.8 lb/ft³.

19. The device of claim 15 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and improve body core and strength training.

20. The device of claim 15 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to maximize soft tissue mobilization and enhance flexibility.

21. The device of claim 15 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to optimize soft tissue distensibility.

22. The device of claim 1 in which the body includes a plurality of bonded sections.

23. The device of claim 1 in which the body has a length in the range of about 18 inches to about 36 inches.

24. The device of claim 1 in which the body has a diameter in the range of about 3 inches to about 15 inches.

25. A therapeutic, fitness and sports enhancement device comprising:

cylindrically shaped body including a plurality of bonded sections each having a plurality of shaped projections thereon of a predetermined type configured to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and optimize body core strength and balance training.

26. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of bonded sections are bonded to each other using a high bonding adhesive.

27. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to maximize mobilization of soft tissue to enhance flexibility.

28. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to reduce movement during body core strength and balance training.

29. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to optimize soft tissue distensibility.

30. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections include a shape chosen from the group consisting of:

a curved shape, a triangle shape, a square, a notch shape, a cylindrical shape with rounded ends, and cylindrical shape with flat ends.

31. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections longitudinally extend over a length of the body.

32. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body are at the same angles.

33. The device of claim 25 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the body at different angles.

34. The device of claim 31 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a wave pattern.

35. The device of claim 31 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a Z pattern.

36. The device of claim 31 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a helical pattern.

37. The device of claim 31 in which the plurality of shaped projections are individually spaced in a predetermined pattern over the body.

38. The device of claim 37 in which the predetermined pattern includes an aligned pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

39. The device of claim 37 in which the predetermined pattern includes an offset pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

40. The device of claim 25 in which the body and the plurality of shaped projections is made of a pliable material.

41. The device of claim 40 in which the pliable material includes a closed-cell foam material.

42. The device of claim 41 in which the closed-cell foam material includes a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

43. The device of claim 40 in which the pliable material includes a material having a density in the range of about 2.0 lb/ft³ to about 3.8 lb/ft³.

44. The device of claim 40 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and improve body core and strength training.

45. The device of claim 40 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to maximize soft tissue mobilization and enhance flexibility.

46. The device of claim 40 in which the density of the pliable material is chosen to optimize soft tissue distensibility.

47. The device of claim 25 in which the body includes a plurality of bonded sections.

48. The device of claim 25 in which the body has a length in the range of about 18 inches to about 36 inches.

49. The device of claim 25 in which the body has a diameter in the range of about 3 inches to about 15 inches.

50. A therapeutic, fitness, and sports enhancement device comprising:

a cylindrically shaped core; and

an overlay about the core including a plurality of shaped projections configured to enhance mobilization of soft tissue and optimize body core strength and balance training.

51. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to maximize mobilization of soft tissue to enhance flexibility.

52. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to reduce movement during body core strength and balance training.

53. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured to optimize soft tissue distensibility.

54. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections include a shape chosen from the group consisting of:

a triangle shape, a curved shape, a square shape, a notch shape, a cylindrical shape with rounded ends, and cylindrical shape with flat ends

55. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the overlay at the same angle.

56. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections radially extend from the overlay at different angles.

57. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections longitudinally extend over a length of the overlay.

58. The device of claim 57 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a wave pattern.

59. The device of claim 57 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a Z pattern.

60. The device of claim 57 in which the plurality of shaped projections are configured in a helical pattern.

61. The device of claim 50 in which the plurality of shaped projections are individually spaced in a predetermined pattern over the body.

62. The device of claim 61 in which the predetermined pattern includes an aligned pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

63. The device of claim 61 in which the predetermined pattern includes an offset pattern of a plurality of shaped projections.

64. The device of claim 50 in which the core is made of a pliable material.

65. The device of claim 50 in which the overlay is made of a pliable material.

66. The device of claim 64 in which the pliable material includes a closed-cell foam material.

67. The device of claim 65 in which the pliable material includes a closed-cell foam material.

68. The device of claim 66 in which the closed-cell foam material includes a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

69. The device of claim 67 in which the closed-cell foam material includes a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

70. The device of claim 50 in which the overlay is made of an extruded material.

71. The device of claim 50 in which the overlay is made of a die cast material.