Exercise Device for the Shoulder

• US 20170165520A1
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ultimate Shoulder Exerciser, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultimate Shoulder Exerciser, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Winshih
• Application Number:
  US15/295,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20170165520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• 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 21/0607 Plastic masses, e.g. elastomers; Masses provided with plastic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/065 worn on user's body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/222 by overcoming gyroscopic forces, e.g. by turning the spin axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4021 to the wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1245 Primarily by articulating the shoulder joint A63B23/129 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00 : Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles heavy throwing balls A63B65/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 : electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 : with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/02 : with a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0059 : worn by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

The invention provides an exercise device for a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user comprising a container housing, wherein the container housing comprises a first container shell, wherein the first container shell comprises a first container shell exterior surface and a first container shell interior surface surrounding a first container shell void, wherein the first container shell interior surface forms a substantially spherical surface; a second container shell, wherein the second container shell comprises a second container shell exterior surface and a second container shell interior surface, wherein the second container shell interior surface surrounds the first container shell exterior surface whereby the first container shell is nested inside the second container shell; and a spherical ball positioned within the first container shell void; wherein when the exercise device is in use, movement and rotation of an arm of a user causes movement and rotation of the container housing and movement and rotation of the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user.

Claims

1. An exercise device for a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user comprising a container housing, wherein the container housing comprises

i) a first container shell, wherein the first container shell comprises a first container shell exterior surface and a first container shell interior surface surrounding a first container shell void, wherein the first container shell interior surface forms a substantially spherical surface;

ii) a second container shell, wherein the second container shell comprises a second container shell exterior surface and a second container shell interior surface, wherein the second container shell interior surface surrounds the first container shell exterior surface whereby the first container shell is nested inside the second container shell; and

iii) a spherical ball positioned within the first container shell void;

wherein when the exercise device is in use, movement and rotation of an arm of a user causes movement and rotation of the container housing and movement and rotation of the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second container shell interior surface is substantially equal to the diameter of the first container shell exterior surface.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first container shell comprises two substantially equal halves joined at a first seam, wherein the second container shell comprises two substantially equal halves joined at a second seam, wherein the first seam and the second seam do not occupy substantially the same plane.

4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the substantially equal halves of each of the first container shell and/or the second container shell are joined together by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, chemical welding, glue, adhesive tape, or mechanical fasteners.

5. The exercise device of claim 4, where the second container shell outer diameter is about 4 inches to about 6 inches.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the ball has a rubber coating on its surface, wherein the ball comprises plastic, rubber, tempered glass, wood, metal, or metal alloy.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, where the ball has a weight of about 1 ounce to about 10 ounces.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a splint, wherein the splint is attached to the container housing, wherein the splint effectively eliminates wrist motion and thereby imparts all active motion needed to spin the ball to the shoulder'"'"'s rotator cuff muscle.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the splint comprises i) a splint shell configured to be attached to the arm to restrain the wrist from moving in a turning motion, and ii) at least one strap attached to the splint shell.

10. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the splint comprises a splint shell configured to be attached to the arm to restrain the wrist from moving in a turning motion, wherein the user'"'"'s forearm and/or wrist are stabilized onto the splint by an external wrap.

11. The exercise device of claim 8, further comprising a sensor unit capable of detecting motion of the exercise device.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit is attached to the splint or the container housing.

13. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit comprises an accelerometer.

14. The exercise device of claim 11, where the sensor unit comprises an indicator of ball rotations within the container housing.

15. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit is capable of storing information about the use of the exercise device and/or biometric data about the user.

16. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein the sensor unit is capable of transmitting the information and/or biometric data to another device.

17. A method of exercising a rotator cuff of a shoulder of a user, comprising providing the user with the exercise device of claim 1, wherein the user moves the exercise device with their arm and rotates the container housing at a sufficient speed to move the ball within the container housing in a direction that follows a circumference of the first container shell interior surface, thereby exercising the rotator cuff of the shoulder of the user.

18. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit comprises an indicator of ball rotations within the container housing, wherein the indicator is an emission of light, wherein the intensity of emission of light varies as a rheostat in accordance with the velocity of the spin rate of the ball.

19. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein when the ball is rotating at about 10 to 320 rotations per minute a first intensity of light is emitted and a second intensity of light is emitted when the ball is rotating at greater than about 320 rotations per minute.

20. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein a higher spin rate results in a greater intensity of light emission and a lower spin rate results in a dimming of the light emission intensity.