| Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use -> Monitor Keywords |
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Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of useRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, MiscellaneousExercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225137, Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT [0003] Not applicable. INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTTED ON A COMPACT DISC [0004] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX" [0005] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0006] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure [0007] This disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly to an exercise ball that has printed on its outer surface one or more graphical indicia showing the sequence and methods of using the ball. [0008] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 [0009] McGinley, U.S. 2003/0235809, discloses a hitting training kit which includes equipment to hit a baseball and instructions to assist a user in learning the technique of hitting a baseball, a portion of the instructions appearing on the baseball bat of the kit to permit the user to review the sequence of user movements for hitting a baseball. Mostardi, U.S. 2004/0102293, discloses a soft, durable, inflatable, exercise device, preferably trapezoidal in shape to enable a user to apply compressive isometric forces against the device to train, strengthen and/or condition major muscles and muscle groups of the human body. Carbonero, U.S. 2005/0119071, discloses a sporting good comprising indicia disposed thereon including at least one figure demonstrating an action to take with the sporting good. The figure is shown in a sequence of positions representing the action whereby a person can view the indicia, and learn and practice the action. Phipps, U.S. 2005/0130805, discloses a device to facilitate stretching before engaging in athletic activities, particularly golf. Two inverted U-shaped members are permanently affixed to the ground using mounting plates or any other potential means. One of the U-shaped members runs underneath the other in a transverse direction generally along the center of each member. The top surfaces of the U-shaped members are designed to provide three differing levels of height thereby allowing a variety of stretches to be performed by the user. An informational sign depicting a variety of stretches may be included. One or multiple users may use this device to help facilitate a variety of stretches to improve flexibility. Williams, U.S. Des 329674, describes a training aid basketball for the right hand. Kawamoto, U.S. Des 397269, describes an exercise mat. Poegel, Jr., U.S. Des 485316, describes a training basketball. Maley, U.S. 5511782, discloses a ball game device and method of using the same comprising a spherical body made of a resilient material preferably durable plastic or rubber and dimensioned to be kicked or struck on a playing surface either indoors or outdoors. The spherical body has eight equally-sized faces all of which are generally flat-surfaced for resting upon the surface. Each face has indicia displayed thereupon which describes and displays an outcome in a baseball game. Base members have words displayed thereon which correspond or are synonyms to the indicia displayed on the spherical body. The face facing upwardly on the surface after the spherical body comes to rest on the surface upon being struck, kicked, or rolled by the user determines the fate of the user in the ball game. Swezey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,776, discloses a versatile bidirectional isometric exercise device in the form of an inflatable flexible exercise ball, about 18 inches in diameter, fitted with a pair of looped handles, secured to diametrically opposite points of the ball, through which arms or legs can be placed for performing specialized exercises that use the ball in a tension mode. The ball is only partially inflated so as to provide soft compliant accommodation to various body surfaces, and can be utilized bidirectionally, i.e. either in compression or in tension, in conjunction with various body parts such as hands, legs, knees, feet, etc., for a broad array of isometric muscle exercises directed to overall body strengthening, particularly for persons prone to and/or desiring protection from the effects of osteoporosis. A sequence of recommended exercises may be depicted directly on the surface of the ball. Attachment of the handles to the main ball portion may be made by sonic welding. In one embodiment an internal bladder is enclosed in a fabric cover, and in one version of this, two hemispheric portions are formed to each provide an integral looped handle. A pressure gauge and/or user-adjustable alarm indicator may be provided to indicate muscular force applied in either compression or tension. Weiss, U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,984, discloses a flexible resistance exerciser which includes a stretchable member having fixable portions and at least one indicator positioned at a preselected location on the stretchable member visible to a user of the exercise equipment and identifying to the user a desirable location on the stretchable member, a relative degree of resistance provided by the stretchable member, fatigue of the stretchable member or any combination thereof. The indicator may take the form of a contrasting colored area, lines, symbols, words and the indicator may change configuration as the stretchable member is stretched. Pettigrew et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,459, discloses an instructional golf ball including a spherical body having an outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed therein. Situated on the outer surface of the body is instructional indicia. Such instructional indicia include text for providing guidance as to the manner in which a user should play the golf ball. During use, a user might read the instructional indicia while addressing the golf ball, and address and/or strike the golf ball in the manner indicated by the instructional indicia. [0010] The related art described above shows that it is known to include indicia on sports and athletic equipment that show techniques of using the equipment. McGinley teaches a bat with batting instructions and graphics printed on it. Carbonero teaches a ball having printed on it a sequence of figures to show the several stages in a single physical act so that one can more easily follow the instructions to imitate the act. In fact, Carbonero teaches the use of several figures shown in sequence to demonstrate a complete portion of the use of the ball, i.e., dribbling, passing, shooting and so on. Further Carbonero shows that it is known to place such indicia sequences, themselves in sequence around the object. Kawamoto also teaches physical fitness routines using graphical figures shown at various progressive stages of an exercise on a piece of exercise equipment. Swezey et al shows that pictorial representations of exercises may be placed on a ball. However, the present apparatus extends the use of such graphical instruction on a piece of equipment (sport or exercise) further, by including a graphical demonstration of the portions of the body that take active part in each exercise so as to beneficially instruct the user that certain portions or muscle groups are to be used. A further benefit is that the user is informed prior to taking part in the exercise so that he/she has the option of avoiding exercises that may injure or exacerbate sensitive or weak portions of the user's body. The present apparatus distinguishes also by presenting a full routine including warm-up, work-out and cool-down postures. The present disclosure distinguishes over the prior art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. [0012] An exercise ball has indicia printed on its exterior surface. The indicia depict graphically a figure demonstrating warm-up, work-out and cool-down exercises and postures. The work-out exercises are shown as a sequence of indicia arrange around a great circle of the ball so as to be able to fit the maximum number of such indicia in a linear sequence, and each shows a figure in a start and in a finish posture with the implication that the exercise corresponds to the body motions that are necessary to move between these two positions or postures when using the ball. The indicia include also graphical representations of the front plan view and rear plan view of a figure showing by shading or otherwise, the parts of the body that benefit from the exercise. [0013] A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. [0014] Another objective is to provide a convenient and handy instructional graphical representation of the exercises one would use with the apparatus. [0015] A further objective is to show a start and a finish graphical figure indicating and teaching exactly how an exercise is to be performed. [0016] A further objective is to show a plan view of the figure indicating the locations of, or muscle that are effected by the exercise. [0017] A further objective is to show the exercises in a linear sequence around the ball so that a user can complete each in sequence without skipping or forgetting to complete any. Continue reading about Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use... Full patent description for Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Exercise equipment with instructional indicia and method of use Next Patent Application: Automatic tool changing method and device for machine tool controlled by numerical controller Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise ball with instructional indicia and method of use patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.22678 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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