Inflatable polyhedral exercise device

• US 6,881,179 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kent State University
• Original Assignee: Fitmetrics Associates Limited
• Inventors: Mostardi, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US10/303,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 482/77, 482121-123, 482/126, 482 44- 49, 482/91, 273/457, 273/458, 434/138, 473/596, 473/597, 473/593, 473/610, 473/611
• US Class Current: 482/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 using pneumatic force-resisters

Abstract

A soft, durable, inflatable, exercise device, preferably trapezoidal in shape is provided to enable a user to apply compressive isometric forces against the device to train, strengthen and/or condition major muscles and muscle groups of the human body.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising an inflatable bladder, having essentially a shape when inflated, of a six-sided polyhedron defined by:

a rectangular base, parallel to and larger than a rectangular top;

a first pair of opposing trapezoidal walls, attached to the base at a first angle less than 90°

, and;

a second pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising a first regular trapezoid disposed at a second angle less than 90°

to the base, and a second regular trapezoid, disposed at a third angle less than 90°

to the base.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first angle is about 70°

, the second angle is about 70°

, and the third angle is about 55°

.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the device is made of a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic rubbers and plastics.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein indicia are printed on the device.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising an absorbent cover which absorbs perspiration of the user.

6. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein indicia are printed on the absorbent cover.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the walls are glued together.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the walls are sewn together.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the walls are heat welded together.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the walls are sonic welded together.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a valve to allow the ingress and egress of air for inflation and deflation.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the length of the base is from 1.0 to 2.5 times the width of the base.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the length of the base is from 1.3 to 2.1 times the width of the base.

14. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the length of the base is from 1.7 to 2.3 times the length of the top.

15. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising one or more internal ribs extending between the base and the top, located within the bladder.

16. The exercise device of claim 15 wherein said ribs comprise a reinforcing material having a trapezoidal shape.

17. The exercise device of claim 16 wherein said ribs are attached to the top along essentially its entire length and which is attached to the base along essentially its entire length.

18. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising at least one internal wall separating the bladder into at least two air tight compartments.

19. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein each air tight compartment has a valve to allow the ingress and egress of air for inflation and deflation.

33. A method of conducting isometric exercise comprising:

providing the inflatable exercise device of claim 2;

contacting a the top of the device to the abdomen and chest of the user'"'"'s body;

contacting the side forming the 55°

angle to the upper legs of the user, and;

exerting a muscular force on the device by bending forward at the waist and holding such force for a predetermined time.

20. An exercise device having the shape of essentially a six-sided polyhedron, comprising an inflatable bladder defined by:

a first pair of opposing rectangular parallel walls;

a second pair of opposing walls comprising trapezoids, and;

a third pair of opposing walls comprising trapezoids.

21. An exercise device comprising a inflatable bladder defined by:

a first pair of opposing rectangular parallel walls, one of which is larger than the other;

a second pair of opposing side walls comprising irregular trapezoids of the same area, each disposed at an angle less than 90°

to the larger parallel wall, and;

a third pair of opposing end walls comprising a first regular trapezoids disposed at a first angle less than 90°

to the larger parallel wall, and a second regular trapezoid, disposed at a second angle less than 90°

to the larger parallel wall.

22. A method of conducting isometric exercises comprising:

providing an inflated exercise device wherein the device comprises

a rectangular base having a length corresponding to a first range of muscle contraction and exceeding its width, corresponding to a second range of muscle contraction, parallel to and larger than a rectangular top having a length exceeding its width,

a first pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a first trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a first angle less than 90°

, and;

a second trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a second angle less than 90°

,

a second pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a third trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a third angle less than 90°

, and;

a fourth trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a fourth angle less than 90°

,

wherein the first and second angles may be the same and the third and fourth angles are different;

contacting a first opposing wall to a first sub-part of the user'"'"'s body;

contacting a second opposing wall to a second sub-part of the user'"'"'s body, separated from the first sub-part by one or more joints, and;

contracting repeatedly the muscles associated with the involved sub-parts and joints of the user'"'"'s body in a range of muscle contraction so as to exert pressure on the device and thereby cause a reactive force to work against said muscles.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the width of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the first range.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the length of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the second range.

25. A method of conducting isometric exercises comprising:

providing an inflated exercise device wherein the device comprises

a rectangular base having a length corresponding to a first range of muscle contraction and exceeding its width, corresponding to a second range of muscle contraction, said base parallel to and larger than a rectangular top having a length exceeding its width,

a first pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a first trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a first angle less than 90°

, and;

a second trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a second angle less than 90°

,

a second pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a third trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a third angle less than 90°

, and;

a fourth trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a fourth angle less than 90°

,

wherein the first and second angles may be the same and the third and fourth angles are different;

contacting a first opposing wall to a first bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body;

contacting a second opposing wall to a second bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body, and;

contracting repeatedly the muscles associated with the involved bilaterally symmetrical parts of the user'"'"'s body in a range of muscle contraction so as to exert pressure on the device and thereby cause a reactive force to work against said muscles.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the width of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the first range.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the length of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the second range.

28. A method of conducting isometric exercises comprising:

providing an inflated exercise device wherein the device comprises

a rectangular base having a length corresponding to a first range of muscle contraction and exceeding its width, corresponding to a second range of muscle contraction, said base parallel to and larger than a rectangular top having a length exceeding its width,

a first pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a first trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a first angle less than 90°

, and;

a second trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a second angle less than 90°

,

a second pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a third trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a third angle less than 90°

, and;

a fourth trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a fourth angle less than 90°

,

wherein the first and second angles may be the same and the third and fourth angles are different;

contacting a first opposing wall to a bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body;

contacting a second opposing wall along the length of the base to an immovable object, and;

contracting repeatedly the muscles associated with the involved bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body in a range of muscle contraction in the direction of the immovable object so as to exert pressure on the device and thereby cause a reactive force to work against said muscles.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the width of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the first range.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the first and second opposing walls are along the length of the base and the range of muscle contraction is the second range.

31. A method of conducting isometric exercises comprising:

providing an inflated exercise device wherein the device comprises

a rectangular base having a length corresponding to a first range of muscle contraction and exceeding its width, corresponding to a second range of muscle contraction, said base parallel to and larger than a rectangular top having a length exceeding its width,

a first pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a first trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a first angle less than 90°

, and;

a second trapezoid attached along the length of the base at a second angle less than 90°

,

a second pair of opposing trapezoidal walls comprising

a third trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a third angle less than 90°

, and;

a fourth trapezoid attached along the width of the base at a fourth angle less than 90°

,

wherein the first and second angles may be the same and the third angle is smaller than the fourth angle;

contacting the side attached to the base at the third angle to the user'"'"'s shoulder blades;

contacting the user'"'"'s buttocks and feet to the floor;

repeatedly raising the buttocks off the floor, leaving the shoulder blades in contact with the device and the feet in contact with the floor.

32. A method of conducting isometric exercise comprising:

providing an inflated trapezoidal-polyhedral exercise device;

contacting a first opposing side of the device to a first bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body;

contacting a second opposing side of the device to a second bilaterally symmetrical part of the user'"'"'s body, and;

exerting a muscular force on the device with a two bilaterally symmetrical parts of the user'"'"'s body and holding such force for a predetermined time.