Exercise and massage device

• US 9,833,653 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelle Bradford
• Original Assignee: Michelle Bradford
• Inventors: Bradford, Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKINSON, GARRETT K
• Application Number:
  US15/069,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92, 482 93, 482106-108, 482131, 482132, 482141, 482148
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/00 Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0007 with balls or rollers rotating about their own axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0042 Balls or spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1253 driven by a human being, e.g. hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1284 using own weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1695 Enhanced pressure effect, e.g. substantially sharp projections, needles or pyramids
• 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 21/0607 Plastic masses, e.g. elastomers; Masses provided with plastic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0608 Eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user
• 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 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 primarily by articulating the elbow joint

Abstract

An exercise and massage device utilizes a substantially spherical body having a central cavity that extends to opposite sides of the spherical body so that the cavity forms openings on opposite sides of the spherical body. The spherical body has an outer core of a first resilient hardness. A single rigid handle is positioned within the cavity. The openings of the cavity are sized and configured for allowing a user to access and manually grasp the handle through either opening. A resilient outer layer surrounds the outer core of the spherical body and provides an exterior surface of the spherical body. The resilient outer layer has a second resilient hardness that is less than that of the first resilient hardness of the outer core of the spherical body to provide a cushioning effect when the device is used in a massage mode. The device is weighted to provide a total weight of the device of from 2 lbs or more.

Claims

1. An exercise and massage device comprising:

a substantially spherical body having a central cavity that extends to opposite sides of the spherical body so that the cavity forms openings on opposite sides of the spherical body, the spherical body having a core of a first resilient hardness;

a single rigid handle that is positioned within the cavity, the openings of the cavity being sized and configured for allowing a user to access and manually grasp the handle through either opening, at least one of the openings having a circular or oval shape;

a resilient outer layer surrounding the core of the spherical body that provides an exterior surface of the spherical body, the resilient outer layer having a second resilient hardness that is less than that of the first resilient hardness of the core of the spherical body to provide a cushioning effect when the device is used in a massage mode, the resilient outer layer overlaying and covering opposite ends of the handle; and

wherein

the device is weighted to provide a total weight of the device of from 2 lbs or more.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the core of the spherical body includes at least one of plastic, rubber, elastomerics, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate, and leather.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device is weighted with a weighting material includes at least one of sand, metal, metal shot, concrete, cast iron, lead, and resin.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer has a thickness of at least ¼

inch.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer has a thickness of from ¼

inch to 1½

inch.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer is provided with projections to facilitate massage when used in the massage mode, and wherein all or a portion of the projections having a Shore OO hardness of from 86 or less.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer is a resilient foam material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the core of the spherical body has a Shore OO hardness of from 70 durometers or more.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the diameter or width of said least one of the openings having the circular or oval shape is parallel with the handle.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer surrounding the core of the spherical body has a Shore OO hardness of less than 70 durometers.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the resilient outer layer surrounding the core of the spherical body has a Shore OO hardness of from 10 durometers to 60 durometers.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device has a total weight of from 2 lbs to 50 lbs.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the device has a diameter of from 8 inches to 12 inches.

14. An exercise and massage device comprising:

a substantially spherical body having a central cavity that extends to opposite sides of the spherical body so that the cavity forms openings on opposite sides of the spherical body, the spherical body having a core with a Shore OO hardness of from 70 durometers or more;

a single rigid handle that is positioned within the cavity, the openings of the cavity being sized and configured for allowing a user to access and manually grasp the handle through either opening, at least one of the openings having a circular or oval shape with a diameter or width that is parallel with the handle;

a resilient outer layer having a thickness of at least ¼

inch surrounding the core of the spherical body that provides an exterior surface of the spherical body, the resilient outer layer overlaying and covering opposite ends of the handle, the resilient outer layer having a Shore OO hardness of less than 70 durometers to provide a cushioning effect when the device is used in a massage mode, the resilient outer layer being provided with resilient projections to facilitate massage when used in the massage mode, the resilient outer layer being provided with projections to facilitate massage when used in the massage mode, and wherein all or a portion of the projections having a Shore OO hardness of from 86 or less; and

wherein

the device has a diameter of from 8 inches to 12 inches and is weighted to provide a total weight of the device of from 2 lbs to 50 lbs.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the core of the spherical body includes at least one of plastic, rubber, elastomerics, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate, and leather.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the device is weighted with a weighting material includes at least one of sand, metal, metal shot, concrete, cast iron, lead, and resin.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the resilient outer layer has a thickness of from ¼

inch to 1½

inch.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the resilient outer layer is a resilient foam material.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the core of the spherical body has a Shore OO hardness of from 70 durometers to 100 durometers.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein:

the resilient outer layer surrounding the core of the spherical body has a Shore OO hardness of from 10 durometers to 60 durometers.