Flexible hemispherical exercise

• US 6,551,225 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ron Richard Romero
• Original Assignee: Ron Richard Romero
• Inventors: Romero, Ron Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/489,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 482/146, 482/145, 482/44, 482/49, 482/75-80, 482/47, 482/48
• US Class Current: 482/146
• 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 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs

Abstract

A balancing exercise device for an individual, having a flexible hemisphere having a flat circular surface and a hemispherical side surface and being made out of flexible resilient material which will compress when placed under pressure and pair of attachment straps respectively affixed on oppositely disposed sides of the hemispherical side surface and which are connected by connecting members respectively located on each attachment strap so that a body part is held against said flat circular surface when the attachment straps are connected. When each hemispherical side surface is respectively placed against an immovable object and each respective body part is respectively pressed against the flat circular surface of the flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemisphere surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increased numbers of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body parts and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body parts to be exercised completely and evenly.

Claims

1. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a flexible solid hemisphere having a flat circular surface and a hemispherical side surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. a pair of attachment straps respectively affixed on oppositely disposed sides of said hemispherical side surface and which are connected by connecting members respectively located on each attachment strap for holding a body part against said flat circular surface when the attachment straps are connected;

c. whereby when the hemispherical surface is placed against an immovable object and the body part is pressed against the flat circular surface of the flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body part and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body part to be exercised more completely and evenly.

2. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

3. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting members are male and female hook and loop fasteners.

4. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 1, wherein said flat circular surface has a circumference of approximately twelve inches.

5. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible hemisphere is approximately two inches high from the tip of the hemisphere to the flat circular surface.

6. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a pair of flexible solid hemispheres, each flexible hemisphere having a flat circular surface and a hemispherical side surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. each flexible hemisphere having a pair of attachment straps respectively affixed on oppositely disposed sides of the hemispherical side surface and which are connected by connecting members respectively located on each attachment strap for holding a respective body part against said flat circular surface of a respective flexible hemisphere when the attachment straps are connected;

c. whereby when said each hemispherical surface is respectively placed against an immovable object and each respective body part is respectively pressed against the flat circular surface of said each flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body parts and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body parts to be exercised more completely and evenly.

7. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 6, wherein said each flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

8. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 6, wherein said connecting members are male and female hook and loop fasteners.

9. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 6, wherein said flat circular surface has a circumference of approximately twelve inches on said each flexible hemisphere.

10. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 6, wherein said each flexible hemisphere is approximately two inches high from the tip of the hemisphere to the flat circular surface.

11. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a flexible solid hemisphere having a flat surface and a hemispherical surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. attachment means affixed on oppositely disposed sides of the hemispherical surface for holding a body part against said flat surface by said attachment means;

c. whereby when the hemispherical surface is placed against an immovable object and the body part is pressed against the flat surface of the flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body part and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body part to be exercised more completely and evenly.

12. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 11, wherein said flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

13. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a pair of flexible solid hemispheres, each flexible hemisphere having a flat surface and a hemispherical surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. said each flexible hemisphere having respective attachment means respectively affixed on oppositely disposed sides of the hemispherical surface for holding a respective body part against said flat surface of a respective flexible hemisphere by said attachment means;

c. whereby when said each hemispherical surface is respectively placed against an immovable object and each respective body part is respectively pressed against the flat surface of said each flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body parts and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body parts to be exercised more completely and evenly.

14. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 13, wherein said each flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

15. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a flexible solid hemisphere having a flat surface and a hemispherical surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. attachment means affixed to said balancing exercise device for holding a body part against said flat surface by said attachment means;

c. whereby when the hemispherical surface is placed against an immovable object and the body part is pressed against the flat surface of the flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body part and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body part to be exercised more completely and evenly.

16. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 15 wherein said flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

17. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a pair of flexible solid hemispheres, each flexible hemisphere having a flat surface and a hemispherical surface and being made out flexible resilient material which will slightly compress when placed under pressure; and

b. said each flexible hemisphere having respective attachment means respectively affixed on said hemispherical surface for holding a respective body part against said flat surface of said each flexible hemisphere by the attachment means;

c. whereby when said each hemispherical surface is respectively placed against an immovable object and each respective body part is respectively pressed against the flat surface of said each flexible hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of the hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body parts and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body parts to be exercised completely and evenly.

18. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 17, wherein said each flexible hemisphere is made of rubber.

19. A balancing exercise device for an individual, comprising:

a. a solid hemisphere having a flat surface and a hemispherical surface which is non-compressible when placed under pressure; and

b. a pair of attachment straps respectively affixed on oppositely disposed sides of said hemispherical surface and which are connected by connecting members respectively located on each attachment strap for holding a body part against said flat surface when the attachment straps are connected;

c. whereby when said hemispherical surface is placed against an immovable object and the body part is pressed against said flat surface of said hemisphere to which it is attached, constant variations of movement in any and all directions of said hemispherical surface puts different stretch on the tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and thereby stimulates increase number of proprioceptors and nerve cells of the body part and further thereby creates more activation of the muscles and causes the body part to be exercised more completely and evenly.

20. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 19, wherein said flat surface is made out of rubber material.

21. The balancing and exercise device as defined in claim 19, wherein said hemispherical surface is made out of wood material.