GB2641820A

GB2641820A - Exercise device

Info

Publication number: GB2641820A
Application number: GB2408570.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giorgio Roberto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-06-14
Filing date: 2024-06-14
Publication date: 2025-12-17
Also published as: GB202408570D0

Abstract

An exercise device for use on a planar surface comprising a housing 2 with two opposed handles 3 and a retaining plate in the housing with at least two sockets containing spherical balls such that they can make contact with the planar surface wherein movement of the exercise device in 180 degrees is enabled. There may be four or six balls and the balls may be uniformly radially spaced. The housing may have raised contoured portions 8 orthogonal to the handles to receive a user’s hands or forearms and this may have padding. Alternative there may be foot sized recesses or portions to receive shins. A receptacle for a mobile phone and a motion detection monitor with data storage may be provided. In use the handles 3 may be 2cm to 10cm from the surface. The sockets may have annular flanges or concave seats and may have a resilient or springy material.

Description

[0001] EXERCISE DEVICE

[0002] Background of the Invention

[0003] 1. Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to an exercise device adapted to provide rolling ball contact with the reaction surface.

[0005] 7. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] to It is widely acknowledged that that routine exercise is good for both the body and mind. Gym or fitness centres are common places where individuals can access a wide variety of exercise equipment. Although such ns and Fitness centres may facilitate a wide range of exercise for most individuals, there are various drawbacks associated with them. Gyms and fitness centres generally require membership which requires a long-term commitment, and is a significant expense for the individual. Another drawback is that it may be difficult for some individuals to make time in their day-to-day schedules to go to the gyms and fitness centres at a specific time and in addition incur the time cost and environmental impact of travelling to the gym or fitness centre.

[0007] zo Therefore, various home-fitness mach s have been developed to allow individuals to exercise within. the comfort of their own home. Certain home-fitness machines are -universal" in nature, and allow an individual to exercise multiple muscle groups. However, such "universal" machines tend to he ver:ii", large and very expensive. Other home-fitness machines me smaller and tend to focus on one particular muscle or muscle group.

[0008] It is these smaller devices that the present vention relates to and in of the "roller' variety, wherein a user rolls the device forward and backward along a planar surface to conduct the exercise. The device may include a wheel and handles for the user o grasp. An example. is 1. S 10ft81 f148 which describes a roller dive wlria is typical of the existing mt. The user may kneel his knees and extend his torso away from his knees, and then back toward his knees, with the roller rolling forward and backward to facilitate such motion. The foregoing exercise may workout the s user's core, especially the abdominal muscles and back muscles.

[0009] One drawback is that the devices are generally limited to a. rolling motion along a single axis. The devices roll forward and backward along a common axis, and are not capable of rolling from side-to-side. Such side-to-side motion would be desirable to allow for a more circular exercise motion to work out more muscle groups.

[0010] Therefore, in viewof the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a personal exercise device that offers a broader range 'lion compared to traditional roller-type exercise devices. The single roller also difficult to control especially for a beginner as it has a tendency to runaway from the user which may cause injury. The present invention addresses this particular need, as explained in the following sections and as Is shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Summary f the Invention

[0012] The present invention provides an ercise device 1 for use on a planar surface, the exercise device comprising a housing 2 and two opposing handles 3, the housing 2 including a retaining plate 6 which includes at least two sockets 4 in each of which a spherical ball 5 is located such that the spherical ball is retained within each socket 4 by means of the sockets 4 being so formed that they have a diameter at least as large as that of each spherical ball 5 at central portions 7 of the sockets 4 and a diameter less than the diameter of the spherical ball 5 at the plane of the retaining plate 6, such that the spherical balls 5 makes rolling contact with the planar surface when the exercise device 1 is pressed against a planar surface by a user 21,, such that stable movement of the exercise device is permitted by the user 21 in 180 degrees of the planar surface against which the exercise device is pressed.

[0013] Preferably the housing 2 comprises a contoured surface 8 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 which includes a raised diametrical portion 9 arranged orthogonally espect the handles to facilitate positioning of the hands or forearms of the user 2I during use.

[0014] These and other objectives of the present invention are defined in le appended claims or will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

[0015] Brief Description of the, Drawings

[0016] FIG. I is a perspective view of an exercise device showing the surface facing side according to a rust embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2 is an underneath view showing the surface facing side of the exercise device of 15 FIG. 1 FIGS s a side view e device of FIG. 1, FIG.4 is a view of the exercise device of FIG, 1 in use by a user, FIG.5 is a cross-sectional view exercise device FIG. 1 in a vertical plane when the device is resting ou a horizontal surface in a ready to use position, FIG.6 is a perspective view of the upper surface of the exercise device G. 1, 1111.7 is a perspective view of the upper surface of an exercise device according to a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the exercise device of FIG, 7 in use by a user.

[0017] Detailed Description

[0018] In FIGs. I to 6 is shown a perspective view of an exercise device -cording to a first embodiment of the present invention. The exercise device I is intended for use on a planar surface, which is preferably a floor, free of any obstacles, but may also he an upright wall or any clear surface which could also be inclined. The exercise device comprises a housing 2 and two opposing handles 3 attached to the housing 2 diametrically opposite to each other. These are gripped by the user 21 typically in a kneeling position as shown in Fig. 4, from which position the user can safely perform various forward, backward and sideways stretching exercises.

[0019] The housing 2 includes a retaining plate 6 which includes six sockets 4 in each of which a spherical ball 5 is located such that the spherical hall 5 is retained within each socket 4 by means of the sockets 4 being so formed that they have a diameter at least as huge as that of each spherical ball 5 at central portions 7 of the sockets 4 and a diameter less than the diameter of the spherical ball 5 at the plane of the retaining plate 6, such that the spherical balls.5 makes rolling contact with the planar surface When the exercise device I is pressed against a planar surface by a user 21. In this way stable movement of the exercise device is permitted by the user 21 in 180 degrees of the planar surface against which the exercise device is pressed. It will be noted that six sockets 4 and corresponding balls 5 are shown in this embodiment but it will be appreciated that the invention would work as well, or nearly as well, with. other numbers of balls:5 and corresponding sockets 4, such as two or four, or even an odd. number although there would need to be at least two of each.

[0020] As best shown in Fig. 5, the six corresponding sockets 4 are provided in the housing 2 typically by means of injection moulding out of a suitably robust plastics material. The corresponding halls 5 may be plastic or metal.

[0021] As best shown in Fig. 6, the housing 2 comprises a contoured surface 8 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 which includes a raised diametrical portion 9 arranged orthogonally with respect the handles to -facilitate positioning of the hands or forearms of the user 21 during use. Although this position is not shown in the figures, it can be envisaged that the user 2l may place the forearms or hands on the surface 8 to vary or extend a. stretch and work on more particular muscles or other parts of the body.

[0022] The housing 2 comprises padded layer /0 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 and underneath the contoured surface 8 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the hands or forearms of the user 21 during use.

[0023] Referring now to Fig, 7 and Fig. 8 a second embodiment is shown ht which the exercise device as a similar housing 2 which comprises two foot-sized recesses 11 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the feet of the user 2f during use. These are in place of the contoured surface 8 of the first embodiment_ in these figures the same identifying numerals have been used to identify corresponding, parts. As can he seen from Figure 8 a further range of exercises are possible with the hands of the user 21 placed on a floor, being the planar surface, whilst the shins of the user rest on the foot-sized recesses 11. Likewise the user may place their feet in the foot-sized recesses 11 either with the user's body Is facing downwards, or upwards.

[0024] Also referring to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the housing 2 comprises a raised portion 12 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 to effectively raise the supporting surface of the foot recesses 11 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the shins of the user during zo use by permitting positioning of the feet above, and clear of the planar surface.

[0025] Although not shown in the figures, the exercise device I comprises a recessed receptacle located in the housing for safely stowing the user's mobile phone or other device.

[0026] Also not shown but included 'atise device l and located the ho motion detector to monitor and count aspects of the exercise made by the user, including the distance covered, the number of cycles and the type of exercise, data storage means to store the detected information and transmission means to transmit the information to a control device such as the user's smart phone.

[0027] It can be seen from the Figures that the spherical balls 5 and the sockets 4 of the exercise device 1 are arranged in the housing 2, and are dimensioned, such that the centreline of the handles 3 are close to the ground, or planar surface, so that the exercise device has a low centre of gravity. This is essential to provide the device with its inherent safety, and also makes it easy and safe to use for beginners. The spherical balls 5 and. sockets 4 are dimension so that the handles 3, and or the contoured surface 8 are between 2cm and 10cm from the planar surface which is made possible by the plurality of the spherical balls and sockets 4 and provides the exercise 10 device 1 with a low centre of gravity and stability during use.

[0028] The figures show a preferred arrangement of the spherical balk 5 and sockets 4 with the six spherical balls 5 and the corresponding six sockets 4 uniformly arranged in the housing 2 at 60 degrees from the adjacent spherical ball 5 and socket 4.. It will be appreciated that other embodiments are possible with alternative numbers of ball and sockets, or with the balls and sockets spaced radially at alternative angels from each other.

[0029] As can best be seen from Fig. 5 the sockets 4 include annular flanges 15 arranged at zo the circumference of the sockets 4 at the level of the retaining plate 6 of the housing 2. The annular flanges -15 are dimensioned such the spherical balls 5 are retained inside the corresponding sockets 4 and protrude beyond corresponding openings 16 formed by the annular flanges 15.

[0030] The sockets 4 include a concave seat 17 arranged bas: 18 of each socket located at the opposite end of the sockets 4 to the annular flange 15. The curvature of the concave seat 17 being equivalent to the curvature of the spherical balls 5 and provides a. uniform. support for the spherical ball 5, Each socket 4 includes a resilient or spring r material 19" which urg the spherical ball 5 against an uuide surface 20 of each annular flange 15, waling to the prior at centre of gravity and cap exercise device is able to be safety used due to its low in any direction.

[0031] Those skilled in the art will adily observe that n rnero -modifications and alterations of the device of the invention may be made while retaining the teach. gio and benefits of the invention.

[0032] Component List I. Exercise device 2. Housing Handel 4. Socket 5. Spherical ball 6, Retaining plate 7. Central portion 8. Contoured surface 9. Diametrical portion 10. Padded layer Foot-sized recess 12. Raised portion i3. Receptacle 14. Contact surface 15. Annular flanges 16. Openings 17. Concave seat 18. Base 19. Resilient or springy 2.0. Inside surface 21. user

Claims

1. Claims 1. An exercise device I for use on a planar surface, the exercise device comprising a housing 2 and two opposing handles 3, the housing 2 including a retaining plate 6 which includes at least two sockets 4 in each of which a spherical ball 5 is located such that the spherical ball is retained within each socket 4 by means of the sockets 4 being so formed that they have a diameter at least as large as that of each spherical hall 5 at central portions 7 of the sockets -4 and a diameter less than the diameter of the spherical ball 5 at the plane of the retaining plate 6, such that the spherical balls 5 makes rolling contact with the planar surface when the exercise device 1 is pressed against a planar surface by a user 21, such that stable movement of the exercise device is permitted by the user 21 in 180 degrees of the planar surface against which the exercise device s pressed.

2. An exercise device I according to claim 1, characterised in that four spherical balls 5 and corresponding sockets 4 are provided in the housing 2..

3. e device 1 actor characterised iru brat six spherical balls 5 and corresponding sockets re p Tided in the housing 2.

4. An exercise according to c erised in that the housing 2 comprises a contoured surface 8 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 which includes a raised diametrical portion 9 arranged. orthogonally with respect the handles to facilitate positioning of the hands or forearms of the user during use.An exercise device 1 according to claim 1, characterised in that the 2 comprises padded layer 10 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the hands or forearms of the user during

5. US

6. An exercise device 1 according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing 2 comprises two foot-sized recesses 11 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the feet of the user during use.

7. An exercise 1 according tc cieri-ed in that the housing 2 comprises a raised portion 12 on an opposite side to the retaining plate 6 to facilitate comfortable positioning of the shins of die user during use by permitting positioning of the feet above, and clear of, the planar surface.

8. An exercise device. according to claim I, characterised in that the housing 2 comprises a recessed receptacle for safely stowing the user's mobile phone or other device.

9. An exercise device 1 according to claim I, characterised in that the housing 2 comprises a motion detector to monitor and count aspects of the exercise made by the user, including the distance covered, the number of cycles and the type of exercise, data storage means to store the detected information and transmission means to transmit the information to a control device such as the use smart phone.

10. An exercise device:1 according to claim 1, characterised balk 5 and the sockets 4 are arranged in the housing 2 and are dimensioned. such that the centreline of the handles 3 are between 2cm and 1 OCATI from the planar surthce which provides the exercise device 1 with a low centre of gravity during use.

11. An exercise device 1 according to claim.1, characterised in that the spherical balls 5 and the sockets 4 are arranged in the housing 2 and are dimensioned such that a contact surface 14 of the contoured surface 8 is between 2cm and 10cm from the planar surface which provides the exercise device 1 with a low centre of gravity during use.

12. An exercise device I according to claim 1, characterised in that the spherical balls 5 and the corresponding sockets 4 are n v-arranged in the housing 2 each being spaced radially at an equal number of degrees from the adjacent spherical ball 5 and socket 4.

13. An exercise device I according to c cterised in tl at the six spherical balls 5 and the corresponding, six sockets <1 are uniforiarranged in the housing 2 at 60 degrees from the adjacent spherical ball 5 and socket 4.

14. An exercise device 1 according to, characterised in that the sockets 4 include annular flanges 15 arranged at the circumference of the sockets 4 at the level of the retaining plate 6 of the housing 2 and are dimensioned such the spherical balls 5 are retained inside the corresponding sockets 4 and protrude beyond corresponding openings 16 formed by the annular flanges 15.

15. An exercise device 1 according to c characterised in that the sockets 4 include a concave seat 17 arranged at a base 18 of each socket located at the opposite end of the sockets 4 to the annular flange 15, the curvature of the concave seat 17 being equivalent to the curvature of the spherical balls 5.

16. An exercise device 1 according to claim 1, characn. 7atthe base 18 of each socket 4 includes a resilient or springy material 19, which urges the spherical ball 5 against an inside surface 20 of each annular flange 15.