Weighted pom-pom

This application claims benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/986,052 filed 7 Nov. 2007, which application is hereby incorporated fully by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system of exercise and cheerleading, and more particularly to weighted pom-poms useful for personal weight, strength and conditioning training and/or cheerleading training.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, pom-poms are bundles of strands of a material such as plastic, textile or crepe paper. Conventional pom-poms are regularly used for cheering at and for competing entities, such as at professional, college and high school sporting team events.

Pom-poms can help turn a stadium into a sea of team colors, and it is aesthetically pleasing to see colors in flowing motion. The colors and the agitated movement of the streamers attract the attention of spectators, which is why pom-poms are standard issue equipment for cheerleaders. Pom-poms are tools to cheerleaders; they use them to gesture, to rouse attention, to make noise, and as dance props.

Despite their common association with cheerleaders and spectators at sporting events, pom-poms are now showing up in the hands of attendees at numerous events outside the sports arenas, for example, in political rallies, corporate events, academic events, parades, theme parks, and circuses, to name a few. In each of these uses, pom-poms enhance the experience by providing enhanced visual stimulation to users and non-users alike, while making the users of the pom-poms feel like they are part of the event rather than mere spectators.

Conventional pom-poms typically include a handle, strap, or other means for the user to hold the pom-pom during use, and a plurality of streamers attached to, and extending from, the handle. Handles may take the form of wooden or plastic sticks, as is the case of most pom-poms used by spectators, may be substantially D-shaped, cylindrical rods/baton handle as is the case of most common cheerleader pom-poms, or may simply be flexible straps made of cord, rope, elastic material, or the like. Other handles include the dowel, spirit, youth, elastic, cap, stick, ring tab, coupon, twist, KAP yo-yo, no yo-yo, baton, KAP handle, no handle and block.

The streamers are typically manufactured of thin strips of plastic or paper material, which are sufficiently flexible to allow the streamers to take a spherical shape when ruffled or pre-fluffed, akin to a ball of flowing strips, when the pom-poms are shaken. The pom-pom streamers are typically of a single color to match the colors of the team for whom they are used, although a wide variety of streamers, from multicolored streamers to shiny metallic strips, have also been used.

The convention pom-pom device is from 3-6 oz.

Dumbbells are also well known, mainly in gyms, useful for weight and strength training. Yet, conventional dumbbells are designed for repetitive curling and the like, and not well suited for use with active aerobic classes.

Therefore, it can be seen that a need yet exists for a more productive piece of exercise equipment that combines the visual and textural appeal of the cheerleading pom-pom, with the resistive weight enhancement of the dumbbell. It is to such a device, and method of using a device, that the present invention is primarily directed.

Briefly described, in its preferred form, the present invention is an exercise device comprising a handle portion with a first and a second end, and a first pom-pom element connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion, wherein the exercise device weighs over 6 ounces. The first pom-pom element can be releasably connected to one of the first and the second ends of the handle portion. The exercise device can further comprise a second pom-pom element connected to the other of the first and the second ends of the handle portion. The handle portion can be adjustable in length. The device can weigh over 1 pound, and more preferably approximately 3 pounds.

The present invention can further comprise a method of exercise using an exercise device so described, wherein the user warms up with the exercise device, then has a basic chant step while utilizing the exercise device, then cheers while utilizing the exercise device, and then dances while utilizing the exercise device. The steps are not required to be in the above order.

The present invention can also be a weighted baton pom-pom or a dumbbell with fluffy streamers on the ends. The present pom-pom preferably weighs over 6 oz. It can be used in an aerobic or group style cheerleading class as the pom-poms held by the participates to add weight resistance to the movements taught during the class.

When the present pom-pom is held in each hand, it gives participants an added exercise benefit and alternative from the typical group exercise, weight training and cardiovascular class format. Utilizing the present invention better sculpts the body, increases the aerobic workout, and educates the user on the importance of maintaining form while weight training to achieve maximum results.

The present device adds fun to exercising by providing the participants with the feeling of being in a cheer camp or the like. It does this by making the participants feel like cheerleaders by utilizing a popular article of cheerleading gear to accentuate the act of being a cheerleader.

In a preferred use of the present invention, the equipment can be utilized as part of a group exercise class. For example, Cheer Camp is an aerobic workout utilizing three primary formats of being a cheerleader: The Chant, the Cheer and the Dance.