[001] Improved configurable exercise apparatus and related methodologies

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[002] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

OR DEVELOPMENT

[003] Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH

AGREEMENT

[004] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITED ON A COMPACT DISC

AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE

COMPACT DISC

[005] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE

INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

[006] Reserved for a later date, if necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[007] Field of Invention

[008] This disclosure is in the field of configurable exercise apparatus and related methods. [009] Background of the Invention

[010] Weight training is a form of exercise that involves performing various body movements while holding or lifting objects of a given size, shape, configuration, or weight. Sometimes, such objects can be customized to a particular body movement so that the weight training may result in the maximum gain possible. However, customizing a separate object to the optimal size, shape, configuration, or weight for every possible body movement is impractical, inconvenient for workouts on the go, and expensive. Thus, a need exits for a configurable exercise apparatus, that can be practically used for many body movements, adjustable in size or weight, reconfigurable, and inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[011] In view of the foregoing, an object of this specification is to disclose a configurable exercise apparatus that is able to be filled with water, making it portable, variable in its weight, fluid in its weight distribution at any one moment, and adaptable to the use as a free weight and also an attachment to apparatus such as a barbell, mace, rope, and elastic cord that can be used by one or many people at the same time.

[012] It is further an objective of this disclosure to provide a configurable exercise device that can suitably be adapted to use on pre-existing exercise equipment, allowing it to be used immediately by those who have already invested in such as equipment (i.e., such that preexisting exercise equipment need not become obsolete in view of this improved device). Preexisting devices includes, but should not be limited to barbells, ropes, and elastic bands. Of course, a user may use the product immediately without such equipment should they so desire.

[013] In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed is a spherical or annular bag with a central core, a valve, and a pipe (e.g., polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe) that sits inside the core (e.g., via sliding the pipe coaxially into the core of the sphere or annulus). Suitably, the valve may provide a port to the sphere or annulus such that fluids, like water and air or other gas, may be provided to or drained from the spherical bag. The central core and or pipe of the apparatus suitably allows for many uses. For example, it can be placed on the end of a barbell, have a rope placed through the central core, or be bound by an elastic band. Each of these suggestions leads to a multitude of exercise and movement opportunities.

[014] In one mode of use, a consumer may open the valve to achieve each of these filling or draining actions. When filling, a consumer may customize the size or weight of the bag. While filled to the consumer’s size, shape, or weight preferences, the device may suitably be used immediately for any range of physical activities. In circumstances where the device is filled completely with liquid, the device may act as a simple weight. An additional benefit of the device may be derived via a user only partly filling the device with liquid and gas, because this arrangement may allow the liquid to shift dynamically during movement of the device, creating an unstable weight that requires the user to constantly adjust their movements to maintain stability. At the completion of use, the consumer can store the product as it is, or open the valve to release the contents and then transport the bag in any matter of ways with ease.

[015] When the device is realized, this apparatus alleviates the consumer of buying multiple different weights to be used for exercise because the weight is adaptable relative to the amount of water added to it. Furthermore, being water-filled, it is suited for uses on flooring not suitable for metal weights. It is also portable, allowing the consumer to use the equipment anywhere they may be. In view of the foregoing, the device may suitably benefit everyone engaged in physical activity and facilitate their exercise regimen, allowing for a diverse range of physical activities, improving health and wellbeing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[016] Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view and flow chart for assembling different components of the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for configuring the configurable exercise apparatus;

FIG. 10 is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus as a simple weight bag or medicine ball;

FIG. 11 is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus as a weight training mase or hammer;

FIG. 12 is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus as a kettlebell or swinging weight; and,

FIG. 13 is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus as a barbell or dumb bell.

FIG. 14 is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus as a landmine barbell.

[017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

[018] Disclosed may be a configurable exercise apparatus. As described below, the apparatus is preferably able to be filled with water or other fluid, making it portable, variable in its weight, fluid in its weight distribution at any one moment, and adaptable to the use as a free weight and also an attachment to apparatus such as a barbell, mace, rope, and elastic cord that can be used by one or many people at the same time. The more specific details of the disclosed apparatus are described with reference to the figures.

[019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a configurable exercise apparatus

1000. FIGS. 2-7 are respectively a top view, front view, back view, right side view, a left side view, a bottom view of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000. As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the apparatus

1000 may be a spherical or annular bag with a central or coaxial core, a valve 2000, and a pipe 3000 (e.g., polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe).

Suitably, the pipe 3000 may fit and sit inside the core (e.g., via sliding the pipe coaxially into the core of the annular bag). See FIG. 8, which is is an exploded view and flow chart for assembling different components of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000. Suitably, the valve 2000 may provide a port to the sphere or annulus such that fluids, like water and air or other gas, may be provided to or drained from the spherical bag.

[020] FIG. 9 is a flow chart for configuring the configurable exercise apparatus. In a first column of FIG. 9, an unconfigured apparatus 1000 is illustrated as being inflated with fluid (e.g., water) (shown in solid lines) and gas (e.g., air) shown in broken lines. As shown the fluid will inflate the apparatus via gravity whereas the gas may suitably inflate the apparatus by buoyancy until the apparatus in inflated to an operable pressure via its contents of both the air and fluid (see the middle column). As shown in the middle column, the fluid should settle to the bottom of the apparatus (.e.g., in the direction of the solid arrow) while the gas should settled to the top of the device (e.g., in the direction of the broken arrow). At the completion of use, the consumer can store the product as it is, to open the valve to release the contents and then transport the bag in any matter of ways with ease (see right hand column).

[021] In view of FIG. 8, it should be appreciated that, in one mode of use, a consumer may open the valve 2000 to achieve each of these filling or draining actions. When filling, a consumer may customize the size or weight of the apparatus. While filled to the consumer’s size shape or weight preferences, the device may suitably be used immediately for any range of physical activities. In circumstances where the device is filled completely with liquid, the device may act as a simple weight. See, e.g., FIG. 10, which shows an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000 as a simple weight bag or medicine ball. An additional benefit of the device though may be derived via a user’s only partly filling the device with liquid and gas, because this arrangement may allow the liquid to shift dynamically during movement of the device, creating an unstable weight that requires the user to constantly adjust their movements to maintain stability.

[022] FIGS. 10 through 14 illustrate that the central/coaxial core and or pipe 3000 of the apparatus suitably allows for multiple uses. For example, the device can be placed on one or more ends of a barbell.

See FIG. 13, which shows an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000 as a barbell or dumb bell. See FIG. 14, which shows an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus

1000 as a landmine barbell. For another example, the apparatus 1000 may have a rope placed through the central core, or be bound by an elastic band. See FIG. 12, which shows is an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000 as a kettlebell or swinging weight with a band or rope provided into its coaxial core. In yet another example, the device may be a weighted mace or hammer. See FIG. 11 , which shows an environmental view of the configurable exercise apparatus 1000 as a weight training mase or hammer. As illustrated in

FIGS. 11-12, the insertion of the pipe 3000 into the coaxial core of the apparatus 1000 adds structure to the device so that it may be attached to known weight equipment (e.g., via insertion of a bar into the pipe and fastening the apparatus to the bar via a collar). Each of these suggestions leads to a multitude of exercise and movement opportunities.

[023] Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment.

Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.

[024] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms

“a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional," “traditional,” normal,”

“standard,” “known,” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future.

Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

[025] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to, JJ or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.

[026] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts, and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.

[027] All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.