Configurable exercise system

• US 8,454,483 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 2nd Edison, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 2nd Edison, Inc.
• Inventors: Bradley, Christopher Michael, Crarer, Alan Scott, Tilley, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/973,719
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 482/44, 482/45, 482/50, 482/68, 482/92, 482/93, 482/104, 482/106, 482/107, 482/108, 482/131, 482/141, 482/910, 473/256, D21/680, D21/686
• US Class Current: 482/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0602 Fluids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0603 Fluid-like particles, e.g. gun shot or sand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/20 using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement

Abstract

A configurable exercise system which may be transformed into multiple pieces of exercise equipment is disclosed. More specifically, embodiments provide an adjustable-weight medicine ball with two halves that may be separated and used to implement dumbbells, kettlebells, push-up bars, or other pieces of exercise equipment. Each half of the medicine ball may have a handle and/or features for accepting one or more weighted objects for varying the weight of each half. Additional components may be joined to one or both halves of the medicine ball to implement other pieces of exercise equipment. Additionally, components may be inserted between the halves of the medicine ball to implement other pieces of exercise equipment. Further, in one embodiment, the exercise system may be easily and quickly transformed, compact in size, and relatively low-cost.

Claims

1. A configurable exercise system comprising:

a spherical-shaped housing operable to implement a first piece of workout equipment, wherein said housing comprises;

a first portion comprising a first feature, wherein said first feature extends from a first surface and is operable to secure a first object within said first portion, and wherein said first portion defines a first opening forming a first handle; and

a second portion operable to physically couple with said first portion, wherein said second portion comprises a second feature, wherein said second feature extends from a second surface and is operable to secure a second object within said second portion, and wherein said second portion defines a second opening forming a second handle; and

wherein said first and second portions are operable to be disengaged from one another to implement a second piece of workout equipment and a third piece of workout equipment.

2. The configurable exercise system of claim 1, wherein said first feature is a first threaded post, and wherein said second feature is a second threaded post.

3. The configurable exercise system of claim 1, wherein said first feature comprises a first fastening material, and wherein said second feature comprises a second fastening material.

4. The configurable exercise system of claim 1, wherein said first object is selected from a group consisting of a shot-filled object, a sand-filled object, a water-filled object, a metal object, and a weight plate, and wherein said second object is selected from a group consisting of a shot-filled object, a sand-filled object, a water-filled object, a metal object, and a weight plate.

5. The configurable exercise system of claim 1, wherein said first piece of workout equipment is a medicine ball, and wherein said second and third pieces of workout equipment are selected from a group consisting of at least one dumbbell, at least one kettlebell, at least one push-up bar, at least one rotational push-up bar, at least one weight for a barbell, at least one handle for an elastic band, and at least one sliding handgrip.

6. The configurable exercise system of claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion each comprise analogous engagement features operable to physically couple said first portion to said second portion.

7. A workout apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an opening forming a handle, wherein said housing resembles a hemi-sphere with a circular base, and wherein said housing comprises a first feature disposed at said circular base; and

an additional component comprising a second feature, wherein said second feature is operable to engage said first feature to attach said additional component to said housing.

8. The workout apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing is operable to be disengaged from said additional component and used as a first type of exercise equipment, and wherein said additional component and said housing are operable to be secured to one another to implement a second type of exercise equipment.

9. The workout apparatus of claim 7, wherein said additional component comprises a rotating surface operable to rotate independently of said housing, and wherein said housing and said additional component are operable to implement a rotational push-up bar.

10. The workout apparatus of claim 7, wherein said additional component is selected from a group consisting of a pillow, a component with a spherical-shaped surface, and a component with a substantially flat surface.

11. The workout apparatus of claim 7, wherein said additional component comprises a first surface for sliding over a second surface, and wherein said housing and said additional component are operable to implement a sliding handgrip.

12. The workout apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing further comprises a third feature operable to secure at least one object to said housing.

13. The workout apparatus of claim 12, wherein said third feature is further operable to secure said at least one object within said housing.

14. The workout apparatus of claim 12, wherein said third feature is a threaded post.

15. The workout apparatus of claim 12, wherein said third feature comprises a fastening material.

16. The workout apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one object is selected from a group consisting of a shot-filled object, a sand-filled object, a water-filled object, a metal object, and a weight plate.

17. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a first portion comprising a first handle and a first feature, wherein said first feature extends from a first surface and is operable to interface with a first plurality of objects disposed within said first portion; and

a second portion operable to physically couple with said first portion, wherein said second portion comprises a second handle and a second feature, wherein said second feature extends from a second surface and is operable to interface with a second plurality of objects disposed within said second portion; and

a third portion operable to engage said first portion to said second portion, wherein said third portion is further operable to enable said first and second portions to rotate independently of one another.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said third portion is disposed between said first and second portions and further operable to roll along a surface responsive to pushing of said exercise apparatus using said first and second handles.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second portions are operable to disengage from said third portion.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first portion comprises a first engagement feature, wherein said second portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein said first and second engagement features are operable to couple said first and second portions directly to one another.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first and second portions are operable to be engaged to implement a first piece of workout equipment, and wherein said first and second portions are operable to be disengaged to implement a second piece of workout equipment and a third piece of workout equipment.

22. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first feature is a first threaded post, and wherein said second feature is a second threaded post.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first feature comprises a first fastening material, and wherein said second feature comprises a second fastening material.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first plurality of objects is operable to adjust the weight of said first portion, and wherein said second plurality of objects is operable to adjust the weight of said second portion.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said first plurality of objects is selected from a group consisting of at least one shot-filled object, at least one sand-filled object, at least one water-filled object, at least one metal object, and at least one weight plate, and wherein said second plurality of objects is selected from a group consisting of at least one shot-filled object, at least one sand-filled object, at least one water-filled object, at least one metal object, and at least one weight plate.