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Weighted exercise ring and system

Weighted exercise ring and system description/claims

The present application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/972,323 filed on Sep. 14, 2007.

The present application did not receive any federal research and/or development funding.

Generally, the present invention relates to a weighted exercise ring for exercising the muscles of the body such as the arms and legs. More specifically, the invention is a “free weight” system that includes a plurality of circular rings that are attached together to create an overall larger weight via at least one quick connect/disconnect coupler. The term “free weight” describes a weight-lifting device that may be used for a plurality of exercises and whose motion is not constrained by an external apparatus. This term “free weight” as used throughout the application indicates that the weighted exercise ring includes a handle and ring surface, either of which may be grasped by a user. No other implements, bars, or weight lifting devices are necessary in practicing the invention and the associated exercises. A centrally located handle extends across the entire diameter of the opening to bisect the ring of material into equal halves to create symmetrical halves. The ring of material is preferably metal or other material coated in a plastic or rubber material. Otherwise, the weights may be formed from a hollow plastic ring and include an opening through which shot, sand, water or other material may be deposited. Thereafter, a cap or cover seals the opening to prevent the material from leaking out. The system includes a plurality of different sized rings of various diameters. The invention is useful in practicing physical fitness and for rehabilitation of injured individuals. The device is particularly useful for individuals with hand or wrist injuries, as the devices can be arranged around the wrist to work the upper arms or easily grasped.

Due to physical fitness and rehabilitation concerns, public demand for new and improved exercise devices continues to grow. After being injured, many Americans undertake rehabilitation that includes physical therapy requiring the patient to perform various muscle strengthening exercises to speed the recovery process. Physical fitness has been shown to improve the overall quality of life. Thus, many individuals practice physical fitness or therapy routines that include the use of weight machines and free weights.

Conventional weights are used with weightlifting devices such as dumbbells and barbells. The conventional weights are flat and disc-shaped. Each includes a small central opening for mounting the weight onto a weight lifting device such as a dumbbell or barbell. The central opening of each weight is uniform in size regardless of the size of the weight. A weight is mounted on opposite ends of a bar and fastened to the bar via a collar that slips over an end of the bar. Typically, the weights have sharp edges on each side of their outer diameter.

Conventional weights are difficult to grasp with the hand and use as an independent exercise implement. Moreover, it is impossible to use these weights when working out the leg muscles without coupling them to a weightlifting device. These conventional weights are difficult to hold because the overall diameter of the central opening is typically one inch (1″) or smaller. Thus, these weights tend to slip out of the user's hand when mounting them onto an end of the barbell or dumbbell. The weights must be grasped by the flat planar surfaces or edges when mounting them. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to easily use conventional weights alone as an exercise implement. Indeed, many injuries are caused by dropping a conventional weight on a foot or hand of the weight lifter.

Conventional weights are stored on a weight tree having tubular extensions extending from a reinforced structure. The size and shape of conventional weights prohibits them from being stored in a stacked manner and easily used. The shape of the weights and sharp edges of the weights tend to pinch fingers of the user if the weights are stacked atop one another. Moreover, sliding the weights against one another tends to cause premature wear and damage to the weights. Further, the largest weight is very difficult to lift from the floor when it is laid flat upon the floor.

Thus, the use of a conventional weight as an exercise implement without a weightlifting device can be dangerous if the weight slips out of one's hand, and may cause harm to the user or damage to nearby property.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a weight having a novel shape and particularly suited for overcoming drawbacks associated with conventional weights and the inability of a user to effectively practice physical therapy or conditioning without the aid of a weight lifting device such as a bar.

The invention is a hand held weight or exercise ring that can be comfortably grasped in with one hand or with two hands. It is very useful by persons who experience problems with grasping a conventional weight. The hand held device distributes weight over a large area and may be safely held and used in a variety of manners. For example, the weight may be grasped along a portion of the exterior ring or the interior handle. Moreover, the weight may be grasped like an automobile steering wheel and used with two hands arranged at comfortable areas on an exterior thereof. For those incapacitated with arthritis in their hands or fingers, the device may be balanced about the wrist and used to work the upper arm muscles. Likewise, the device may be balanced on a user's foot and used to work the front and back muscles of the legs and feet. Similarly, the user may perform abdominal muscle strengthening exercises with the novel weight.

As can be understood by reading the following disclosure, the torque and weight experienced by the user can be varied by changing the position in which the device is grasped, by one or both of the hands. That is, the moment experience about a point on the weight changes as the weight is held in a different manner. Thus, the weight experienced by the user may simply be increased or decreased by holding the device in a different manner. This ability to change the torque and weight experienced by the user, advantageously enables the user in exercising different muscles, joints and ligament groups to aid in strengthening and flexing them.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is a ring, having a diameter formed from metal and including a rubberized coating or exterior material that dampens the weight when dropped. A cross section of the ring is preferably circular in shape. It should be recognized that the shape of the cross section of the ring may be other geometric shapes. The exterior surface of the ring and handle is comfortable to grip and thermally insulating such that cold temperatures from the metal, or from weighted material inside the ring and/or handle are not transferred to the flesh of the user during exercise sessions. Similarly, many of these unique features are present in the second embodiment of the invention where at least the ring of the weight is hollow and filled with a material through an opening. A cover is arranged across the opening to seal it. The exterior surface of the second embodiment may be thermally insulating such that cold temperatures from within the exercise ring are not transferred to the flesh of the user.

The exercise ring is a free weight that may be grasped with the user's hands arranged on the ring to perform weight, aerobic, or stretching exercises. Those with ailments who cannot grasp the weight, can hold the weight loosely within the palms of their hands. Alternatively, they may rest the weight in the palms of their hands and stabilize it with their thumbs. Otherwise, the weight may be held between the hand and thumb.

A plurality of rings can be coupled together to increase the overall weight used. In a preferred use, multiple weights are coupled together via couplers that quickly secure two or more weights together. Strips of flexible material includes a fastener having overlapping ends such that a first weight is laid onto the floor and a second weight is arranged atop the first weight and coupled thereto via the flexible coupler. Thereafter, the increased weight may be easily picked from the floor and used during an exercise routine. The couplers are preferably hook and loop fasteners. The size of the rings allow up to three or four weights to be coupled together and used.

The exercise ring is a weight that can be held with one hand for weight work using the ring. It may be held vertically or horizontally on either side of the handle or at the junction where the handle intersects the ring. Alternatively, the ring can be grasped along the ring similar to a steering wheel. As can be recognized, the weight experienced by the user may be increased by simply changing the grip. Thus, a user can perform a first repetition of an exercise by grasping the central region of the handle. Thereafter, grasping the ring of the weight will change the magnitude of weight experienced by creating a moment arm that extends across the ring of the weight. One unique characteristic of the instant invention is the equal distribution of weight over the ring when grasped in the central region of the weight.

Increasing the cross section diameter of the material comprising the ring or, increasing the diameter of an internal opening defined by the ring, increases the overall size of each weight. The cross section diameter of the handle and ring is preferably kept between one-half an inch and one inch (0.5″-1.0″) for ease in holding and using the exercise ring and coupling it to other exercise rings. The unique shape of the weight allows for easy storage. For instance, a plurality of exercise rings may be stacked on one another, hung from a wall hook, placed flat in drawers or easily packed in a suitcase for use while traveling.

In the preferred system, four different sized exercise rings are provided. However, it is contemplated that the quantity of the exercise rings used in the system may vary from less than four to more than four weights. In the preferred embodiment, the weights of the system can be coupled together to create a desired weight up to thirteen pounds. The smallest weight is preferably two pounds. The ring material of the weight may be a shell which defines an internal hollow compartment to include an access opening with a cover, as shown in FIGS. 1C-1D. In this manner, the empty compartment is filled with other materials such as shot, water or sand. Providing the weights with empty compartments reduces the shipping costs and saves on an overall cost of providing the system to a user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved weight and weight system used for practicing physical fitness and physical therapy. The system comprises a plurality of exercise rings having a handle bisecting each ring. The rings are capable of being coupled together via one or more straps that are wrapped about the handles to bind them together.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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