PHYSICAL TRAINING DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110224056A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allen C. Ralph
• Original Assignee: Allen C. Ralph
• Inventors: ALLEN, C. Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/126
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0455 having torsion element around its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises

Abstract

A physical training device includes two arm portions connected to each other and movable toward and away from each other. Two grip portions are provided at the respective arm portions. The grip portions together have the shape of a ball, such as a basketball or football. A resilient device urges the grip portions away from each other toward an extended position. The physical training device is particularly useful in training for basketball rebounding.

Claims

1. A physical training device, comprising:

two arm portions connected to each other, free ends of the arm portions being movable toward and away from each other;

two grip portions, each grip portion having a base surface attached to a respective one of the arm portions, each grip portion following a movement path when the arm portions move toward and away from each other, the grip portions together substantially having a shape of a single ball if placed adjacent to each other; and

a resilient device that urges the grip portions away from each other toward an extended position.

2. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein the grip portions are shaped and sized to contact fingertips and force the fingertips to be in an outstretched state when the grip portions are gripped by the fingertips, while not permitting the fingertips to contact the base surface of the grip portion.

3. The physical training device of claim 2, wherein the grip portions each have a dimension, along an axis perpendicular to the movement path and perpendicular to an axis of the respective arm portion, of at least 4 inches.

4. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein the grip portions comprise an elastically deformable surface.

5. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the ball is a basketball shape.

6. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the ball is a football shape.

8. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein a force of at least 12 pounds is required to move the grip portions to a fully closed position.

9. A training method, comprising:

holding the physical training device of claim 1 overhead, with one hand on each grip portion; and

exerting force on the grip portions, with the hands, to urge the grip portions toward each other.

19. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein the movement path is an arcuate path.

22. The physical training device of claim 1, wherein each arm portion comprises two spaced-apart portions that both contact a base of one of the grip portions and provide a stable mounting surface for the one of the grip portions.

7. (canceled)

10. A physical training device, comprising:

two arm portions connected to each other, free ends of the arm portions being movable toward and away from each other;

two grip portions, each grip portion having a base surface attached to a respective one of the arm portions, each grip portion following a movement path when the arm portions move toward and away from each other, each grip portion having a center axis parallel to the movement path and having a dimension of at least 2 inches in a direction of the center axis, an outer surface of each grip portion being sized and shaped to contact fingertips and force the fingertips to be in an outstretched state when the grip portions are gripped by the fingertips, the size and shape not permitting the fingertips to contact the base surface of the grip portion; and

a resilient device that urges the grip portions away from each other toward an extended position.

12. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the grip portions each have a dimension, along an axis perpendicular to the movement path, of at least 4 inches.

13. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the grip portions comprise an elastically deformable surface.

14. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the grip portions together substantially have a shape of a single ball if placed adjacent to each other, and the shape of the ball is a basketball shape.

15. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the grip portions together substantially have a shape of a single ball if placed adjacent to each other, and the shape of the ball is a football shape.

17. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein a force of at least 12 pounds is required to move the grip portions to a fully closed position.

18. A training method, comprising:

holding the physical training device of claim 10 overhead, with one hand on each grip portion; and

exerting force on the grip portions, with the hands, to urge the grip portions toward each other.

20. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the movement path is an arcuate path.

21. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein the grip portions each have a dimension, along an axis perpendicular to the movement path, of from about 4 inches to about 8 inches.

23. The physical training device of claim 10, wherein each arm portion comprises two spaced-apart portions that both contact a base of one of the grip portions and provide a stable mounting surface for the one of the grip portions.

11. (canceled)

16. (canceled)