Athletic apparatus and method of use

• US 6,190,292 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard Panes
• Original Assignee: Howard Panes
• Inventors: Panes, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/275,720
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 482/74, 482/93, 482/105-109, 482/111
• US Class Current: 482/93
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/02 with a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 65/06 Heavy throwing-balls , i.e. "medicine balls", shots, weights or stones for putting

Abstract

An athletic apparatus has a resilient ball having a cylinder glued into a conduit positioned across a diameter of the ball. A pair of handles are removably attachable to the ball to facilitate a plurality of exercises and stretching activities. Each handle has a cylindrical base and a padded handle cover. A spring positioned within the cylindrical base biases a locking portion and an unlocking button through a pair of attachment conduits at the end of the cylindrical base, allowing the locking portion to cooperate with a locking slot located near the end of the cylinder to removably locking the cylindrical base within the cylinder. The apparatus, configured as a simple ball with no handles attached, is functional as a medicine ball. With one handle attached, the apparatus functions as a weighted hammer. With two handles attached, the apparatus functions as a weighted exercise bar. In its preferred embodiment, the athletic apparatus further includes a storage container mounted concentrically within the outer skin and fillable with a fluid.

Claims

1. An athletic apparatus comprising:

a resilient ball having a resilient outer skin adapted for conforming to a desired shape and an inner skin defining a storage container mounted concentrically within the outer skin;

means for selectively filling and sealing water within the storage container;

and, fixedly and immobily engaged within the ball and extending at least partially across a diameter thereof, a means for receiving at least one handle;

the means for receiving at least one handle having at least one means for engaging the handle;

at least one handle formed by a cylinder, the at least one handle having a means for attaching the at least one handle to the at least one handle engagement means, wherein the at least one handle may be removably joined to the ball.

2. An athletic apparatus comprising:

a ball having a resilient outer skin adapted for conforming to a desired shape and an inner skin defining a storage container mounted concentrically within the outer skin;

means for selectively filling and sealing water within the storage container;

and, fixedly and immobily engaged within the ball and extending across a diameter thereof, a means for receiving handles;

a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles providing a means for attaching the handle to one of a pair of diametrically opposed means for handle engagement of the handles receiving means, each of the pair of handles being formed by a cylinder;

wherein the pair of handles may be removably engaged at opposing ends of the handles receiving means.

3. A method for exercising with an athletic apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a ball having a resilient outer skin and an inner skin defining a storage container mounted concentrically within the outer skin and means for selectively filling and sealing water within the storage container;

b) fixedly and immobily engaging within the ball a means for receiving a pair of handles such that the handle receiving means extends across a diameter of the ball, the handle receiving means having a pair of handle engagement means;

c) providing a pair of handles, each handle having a means for attaching the handle to one of the handle engagement means of the handle receiving means; and

d) removably joining each of the pair of handles to one of the handle engagement means.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

e) grasping one of the handles with a hand while lying on one side, and resting the other handle on an ankle; and

f) raising and lowering the athletic apparatus by lifting both the arm and the leg.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

e) grasping one of the handles with an outstretched hand while resting the other handle on the ground; and

f) pivoting the athletic apparatus up and down by stepping forward and back.

6. An athletic apparatus comprising:

a ball having a resilient outer and an inner skin defining a storage container mounted concentrically within the outer skin;

means for selectively filling and sealing water within the storage container;

and, fixedly and immobily engaged within the ball and extending across a diameter thereof, a cylinger having a pair of locking slots located near opposing ends of the cylinder;

a pair of handles, each of the handles having a cylindrical base shaped to removably engage the cylinder, each of the pair of handles having a spring having a locking portion and an unlocking button, the spring biasing the locking portion and unlocking button through a pair of attached conduits at the end of the cylindrical base, the locking portion cooperating with the locking slot to removably lock the cylindrical base within the cylinder such that each of the pair of handles may be removably engaged at opposing ends of the ball.