Abdominal exerciser device

• US 6,309,331 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean-Guy Raymond
• Original Assignee: Jean-Guy Raymond
• Inventors: Raymond, Jean-Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/502,236
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482/140, 482/142, 482/91, 482/93, 482/121, 482/123, 482/126, 482/132, 482/135-137, 482/129, 482/130, 482/117, 601/19, 601/22, 601/23, 601/27, 601/63, 601/46, 601/118, 601/134, 601/151, 601/128, 601/124, 601/125, 601/129, 601/131, 601/132
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/00 Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0064 with freely rotating spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1284 using own weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/00 Exercising combined with therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/125 Large inflatable balls primarily used as body supports for exercising, e.g. balancing

Abstract

An abdominal exerciser device comprising a resilient rubber ball rollably engaging a plurality of ball bearings mounted inside an almost complete in height semi-spherical cavity upwardly oriented within a self-standing casing and allowing the rubber ball a free-rolling action when applied against a body part such as the abdominal, waist and/or hips effectively pressuring and massaging the muscles of the body part. One or more casings may also be mounted on absorbing materials themselves mounted onto a rigid frame structure adapted to support a user.

Claims

1. An abdominal exerciser device comprising a self-standing casing member with an essentially upwardly oriented cavity, at least three ball bearing members secured into said cavity of said casing, and a ball removably engaging said cavity and rollably engaging said bearing members, said casing member includes a top cover member having an essentially circular opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said ball and engaged by said ball.

2. An exerciser device as defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing members are all coplanar, said bearing members engaging said ball at their respective apex point and said apex points forming a plane intersecting said ball at mid depth of said cavity.

3. An exerciser device as defined in claim 2, further including a bottom bearing member located at a closed end of said cavity and rollably engaging said ball.

4. An exerciser device as defined in claim 2, wherein there are eight bearing members and said cavity has an essentially circular opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said ball, the depth of said cavity being essentially equivalent to the radii of said ball, thereby having essentially half of said ball engaged into said cavity, and the other half protruding out of said casing member.

5. An exerciser device as defined in claim 2, wherein said opening being essentially centered with respect to said bearing members, the depth of said cavity being essentially equivalent to the radii of said ball, thereby having essentially half of said ball engaged into said cavity, and the other half protruding out of said casing member.

6. An exerciser device as defined in claim 1, further including a bottom bearing member located at a closed end of said cavity and rollably engaging said ball.

7. An exerciser device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cavity has an essentially circular opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said ball, the depth of said cavity being essentially equivalent to the radii of said ball, thereby having essentially half of said ball engaged into said cavity, and the other half protruding out of said casing member.

8. An exerciser device as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening being essentially centered with respect to said bearing members, the depth of said cavity being essentially equivalent to the radii of said ball, thereby having essentially half of said ball engaged into said cavity, and the other half protruding out of said casing member.

9. An exerciser device as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing member further includes additional essentially upwardly oriented cavities, at least three additional ball bearing members for each of said additional cavities and respectively secured therein, and one additional ball removably engaging each one of said additional cavities and rollably engaging its respective additional bearing members, said cavities being in close proximity to each other, said top cover member having additional essentially circular opening of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said balls and each engaged by a respective one of said balls.

10. An exerciser device as defined in claim 9, further including a bottom bearing member for each one of said cavities, located at a closed end therein and rollably engaging its respective one of said balls.

11. A combination of at least one exerciser device comprising a casing member mounted onto a rigid frame structure member and having an essentially upwardly oriented cavity, at least three ball bearing members secured into said cavity of said casing, and a ball removably engaging said cavity and rollably engaging said bearing members, said structure member being for supporting a user in a pre-determined position into which said exerciser devices are positioned for said balls to apply pressure at the hip, waist and/or abdominal regions of said user.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said exerciser devices are flexibly mounted onto said structure member using absorbing members, thereby providing some provision for shock absorption by said exerciser devices.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said absorbing members are resilient flexible pads onto which said exerciser devices are mounted on.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein said frame structure member includes a user seat slidably mounted onto an essentially horizontal beam, said exerciser devices mounted on the sides of said beam apply pressure on waist and hip body parts of said user.