WO2011022575A2

WO2011022575A2 - Exercise bouncer

Info

Publication number: WO2011022575A2
Application number: PCT/US2010/046057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Kessler
Original assignee: Maui Toys, Inc.
Priority date: 2009-08-20
Filing date: 2010-08-20
Publication date: 2011-02-24
Also published as: WO2011022575A3

Abstract

An exercise device having an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics; a first liquid within the shell; and one or more weighted particles immersed in the liquid that provide weight to the exercise device for exercise purposes. The outer shell may be made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics. The outer shell may be configured to reduce the transparency to light through the ball.

Description

EXERCISE BOUNCER

FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an exercise device in the form of a weighted spherical ball having a clear or near-transparent wall, or a wall having a reduced outer surface transparency, and carrying therewithin weighted elements in a liquid, resulting in a heavy ball having a durable and flexible surface for duration and bounce, and that is transparent and/or translucent, and may be colored, and is useful for exercise purposes. In addition to providing weight, the weighted elements can be decorative and give off decorative effects when the ball is in motion. The weighted ball has good bounce characteristics.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There are known today amusement devices comprising balls filled with water, some of which have glitter in the liquid. See e.g., co-pending application no. 12/300,626, filed on November 12, 2008, co-pending application No. 12/357,920, filed January 22, 2009, and copending application no. 12/464,667, filed May 12, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and Water Bouncer balls, made and sold by Maui Toys®.

SUMMARY

[0003] An object of the present application to provide an exercise device in the form of a weighted ball having a clear or near-transparent wall, or a wall having a reduced outer surface transparency, and optionally carrying therein weighted elements/particles in a liquid, resulting in a heavy ball having a durable and flexible surface for duration and bounce, and that is transparent and/or translucent, and may be colored, and is useful for exercise purposes. [0004] It is another object of the present application to provide an exercise device with decorative and/or amusing light effects.

[0005] While a device in accordance with the present invention may take various forms, a preferred form is in the shape of a ball in which the wall or shell is made of a rubber or plastic or plastomer material having good bounce characteristics, and which is sufficiently transparent so that what is inside of the ball can be readily seen, the weighted and/or decorative elements within the ball provide pleasing and changing decorative effects. A liquid, such as distilled water, oil, gel, or mixtures of multiple liquids some of which may be colored, is within the ball. The surface of the ball can be clear and transparent or of reduced transparency so that light passing through the ball is disrupted and a magnifying effect of the water on light passing through the ball is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Fig. la is a partial sectional view of an example embodiment of the exercise device showing the outer shell containing a liquid therein and weighted particles in the liquid.

[0007] Fig. lb is a magnified view of an example embodiment showing a rough surface of the outer shell of Fig. la.

[0008] Fig. 2a is a partial sectional view of a second example embodiment of the exercise device containing weighted particles and a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the liquids are separated by a horizontal plane at the interface between the two liquids, when the first and second liquids are in a state of rest.

[0009] Fig. 2b is a partial sectional view of the second example embodiment, showing that the first liquid and second liquids are inter-mixed together to form bubbles and puddles when the first and second liquids are shaken. [00010] Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of an example embodiment, depicting a fluted pattern on the surface of the device.

[00011] Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of an example embodiment, depicting a cross- pattern, such as a spider web style pattern, on the surface of the device.

[00012] Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of an example embodiment, depicting a golf ball dimple pattern on the surface of the device.

[00013] Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of an example embodiment, depicting a diamond pattern on the surface of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00014] Fig. la shows a ball 10 in partial section having a wall 12 formed of a plastic or a rubber material, which is both sufficiently transparent so that what is within the ball (e.g. , the weighted particles 16) can be seen, and which has good bounce characteristics. The wall 12 may be in a spherical shape, or approximately spherical shape, or it can be egged shape, or any shape suitable for a product of this kind.

[00015] A preferred material for forming the wall 12 is an methylene diphenyl diisocyanate based (MDI)-based polyurethane elastomer, but it will be understood that other materials which are sufficiently transparent and which have good bounce characteristics can also be used. For example, the composition of the polyurethane may include isocyanate, polyol, and/or a chain extender. The isocyanate may be a MDI type constituting 25 wt of the polyurethane. The polyol may be a polyester and/or polyether type polyol with at least two functional OH groups on a molecular chain of the polyol, and the polyol may constitute 70 wt of the polyurethane and have a molecular weight (MW) from 1000-10000 daltons. The chain extender may have at least two functional OH groups or at least two NH2 functional groups, it may constitute 5 wt of the polyurethane, and it may have short chain molecules with MW50-800 daltons. As a result, the polyurethane may have a density of l. l~1.2g/cm , and a hardness of 70A-90A (A means hardness as measured by a shore A Durometer).

[00016] The liquid inside the device can be water, oil, or gel, or a mixture thereof, or a mixture of multiple liquids, and the liquid may have a color or no color. According to a first example embodiment illustrated in Fig. la, a first liquid 14 is provided within the interior of the wall 12, and the liquid 14 preferably fills the interior of the ball 10 and is preferably injected under pressure. In this embodiment, the liquid is preferably distilled water having a small amount of a child-safe anti-microbial agent, such as anti-microbial soap included therein.

[00017] In a further embodiment, the device can be constructed with or without a liquid therein, so that it just contains one or more weighted particles, but the result remains a heavy ball that you can see in side of that has the unique properties of a heavy ball having a durable and flexible surface for duration and bounce, and that is transparent and/or translucent, and may be colored.

[00018] In one embodiment, the weighted particles 16 are immersed in the liquid inside the ball 10. These particles either by themselves or in combination with a liquid inside the device provide sufficient weight to the exercise device so that it is useful for exercise purposes. When used in combination with a liquid, each particle has a sufficient weight so that it does not float, but rather sinks in the liquid. In this regard, the particle should have a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid (i.e., water) it is immersed in so that it is non-buoyant and sinks in the liquid.

[00019] Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure, typically at 4°C (39°F) and, making it a dimensionless quantity. Water has a specific gravity of 1 at sea level. Liquids and substances with a specific gravity greater than 1 are denser than water, and so (ignoring surface tension effects) will sink in water. Liquids and substances with a specific gravity of less than 1 are less dense than water, and so will float in the water. Thus, in the embodiment in which the liquid in the device is water, each particle 16 has a specific gravity greater than 1, so the particle is non-buoyant and sinks in the water inside the ball 10.

[00020] The particles 16 can be anything that adds weight to the exercise device.

Preferably, the particles 16 may be glass beads, sand, including colored sand, ball bearings, stainless steel balls, lead balls, rocks, etc., or mixtures thereof. It should be understood that one or more different kinds of particles may be included in the device.

[00021] Each particle 16 can be of any size and shape, but is preferably spherical in shape, and has a size in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm, or 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, or 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm, or 1.0 to 2.25 mm, or 1.5 mm to 2.25 mm, or has a size of 1.5 mm or greater.

[00022] The particles 16 may be of a single color or of different colors, or of no color, and they may be transparent or semi-transparent, and optionally reflective or non-reflective. For example, the device can contain a plurality of small, but weighted decorative, and preferably reflective particles, that look like glitter. When the ball is shaken or thrown or bounced, the weighted reflective particles may give off a glitter effect as they settle/sink in the liquid 14 and this decorative effect can be seen through the wall 12 of the ball 10. It should be noted that any weighted decorative particle may be used is of sufficiently small size, but weighted and desirably made of non-toxic materials. The ball 10 can include other objects, such as dies or light-up devices (which may in and of themselves be weighted) in addition to the weighted particles 16. [00023] In one embodiment, the weighted particles may comprise: about 5% to 75% of the volume inside the device, or 25% to 75%, or 25% to 60%, or 25% to 50%, or 75% or less, or 60% or less, or 50% or less of the volume of the inside of the device. In another embodiment, the weighted particles may occupy no more than 75% (with the remaining 25% being the liquid or no liquid), or no more than 60%, and preferably, no more than 50% of the inside of the device, with the remainder being the liquid or no liquid (open space), so as to not diminish the aesthetic appearance of the exercise device. In one embodiment, the weighted particles may occupy between one half to a third of the inside of the device, with the remainder being the liquid or no liquid (just open space).

[00024] In one embodiment, the outer shell of the exercise device is spherical and has a diameter in the range of about 65 to 140 mm (or approximately 2.5 to 5.0 inches), preferably about 100 to 140 mm (or approximately 4.0 to 5.5 inches), or about 100 to 120 mm (or approximately 5.0 to 5.0 inches).

[00025] The exercise device of the present application may be in the form of a weighted spherical ball having a clear or near-transparent wall, or a wall having a reduced outer surface transparency, and carrying therewithin weighted elements in a liquid, resulting in a heavy ball useful for exercise purposes. The particles (and in the case where liquid is used) provide sufficient weight to the exercise device for exercise purposes. Weight of the exercise device begins at 0.25 pounds and can range indefinitely. The exercise device may have a weight of 2 pounds or less; or a weight of 25 pounds or more. Preferably, it has a weight in the range of about 0.25 to 25 pounds, or preferably 2.0 to 25 pounds, or 4.5 to 12 pounds. Some preferred weights of the device are: 0.25 pounds, 2.5 pounds, 5.0 pounds, 5.5 pounds, or 6.0 pounds. [00026] The wall of the exercise device (which can take the form of various shapes, including the shape of a ball 10, for example) is molded in a conventional manner. For instance, the ball 10 can be made by rotational casting, so that it is has no seam. The liquid 14 and the weighted decorative particles 16 are then injected into the interior of the ball 10 under pressure through a single opening, and this opening is then sealed with a plug to form a seamless watertight ball. The opening (that is later sealed with the plug) is basically a hole with a size ranging from about 1.5 to 3.5 mm. The plug, which is used to seal the opening/hole, forms a water-tight ball that is sufficiently strong to withstand bouncing and to prevent leaking and/or breaking. Variations of the above noted manufacturing method may be used, or other known

manufacturing methods may be used, e.g. the ball 10 can be formed in two parts, the particles can be placed in one part, e.g. one-half, of the ball 10, the two parts can then be sealed together, and the liquid 14 could then be injected through a needle passing through the wall 12.

[00027] Since the ball 10 has a spherical surface, the ball 10 may have an effect on incident light like a focusing lens, i.e., the light that transmits through the ball 10 may be refracted and focused, causing a light magnifying or intensifying effect around the focus point. For example, it appears that this magnifying effect occurs in larger size balls, but not in smaller balls. This magnification or intensifying effect can cause problems, because as the ball intensifies the light, it can act as a magnifying glass in sunlight and thus can cause the surface underneath the ball to become overheated or extremely hot.

[00028] One way to reduce this magnifying or intensifying effect is to reduce the transparency of the ball 10, as discussed in co-pending U.S. patent application No. 12/464,667, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. For example, the wall 14 may be modified to keep the ball 10 substantially transparent but also introduce something that breaks up the color light spectrum. This modification may be achieved by introducing to the wall 14 either a UV stabilizer, or a tint, or cloudiness, or as an alternative, roughening a surface finish of the ball 10.

[00029] With respect to surface finish, a finer polish means a shiner and clearer skin on the ball 10. One approach to achieve the desired effect may be by adjusting the level of polish on the surface of a device (e.g. , using a plastic mould) that is used to fabricate the ball to reach a predetermined roughened or textured level, so that the ball 10 may have a predetermined roughened or textured skin, i.e. , the ball 10 may be less transparent because the surface of the ball 10 may create more disruption to the incident light. Since more light disruption means lower degree of focus to the light, the magnifying or intensifying effect is therefore reduced.

[00030] For example, in one embodiment, the roughened or textured skin may comprise small grooves, ridges, depressions, raised portions on the surface of the device, such as beads, bumps, bumpy ridges, dimples, or other shapes, and/or one or more combinations thereof, which may be randomly dispersed or arranged in patterns, and which may cover portions of the surface, or the entire surface of the device. A roughened surface that is of the type that may be used according to this example embodiment is illustrated in a close-up view of Fig. lb. In another embodiment, the roughened or textured skin may comprise one or more repeating patterns, and/or combinations thereof, including combinations with a roughened skin surface, which may cover portions of the surface, or the entire surface of the device. Examples of repeating patterns may include a fluted pattern as illustrated in Fig. 3, a crossing-pattern with overlapping lines, e.g., a spider web style pattern, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a golf -ball pattern with dimples as illustrated in Fig. 5, or a diamond pattern, as illustrated in Fig. 6. on the surface of the device. [00031] In another embodiment, the exercise device may include a combination of both a roughened and textured skin (or multiple combinations) that may overlap each other and/or cover certain portions of the surface of device (for instance, one or more portions of the surface may have roughened skin, and one or more other portions may have textured skin), and the roughened and/or textured skin need not cover the entire surface of the device.

[00032] According to another embodiment, multiple immiscible liquids may also be provided within the interior of the ball 10 in addition to the weighted particles, or without the weighted particles in another embodiment. For example, Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate a second example embodiment of the present application that two immiscible liquids are provided within the ball 10. The surface finish of the ball 10 in this example embodiment may be smooth, or it may be of the type that has a reduced transparency, as described above.

[00033] According to Fig. 2a, a first liquid 14a and a second liquid 14b may be provided within the interior of the wall 12 in addition to the particles 16, or without the weighted particles in another embodiment. For example, the liquids 14a and 14b may be injected into the ball 10 under pressure. The first and second liquids 14a and 14b may be immiscible with respect to each other, and the second liquid 14b may have a higher density than that of the first liquid 14a. For example, the first liquid may be oil or a gel and the second liquid may be distilled water having a small amount of a child-safe anti-microbial agent such as anti-microbial soap included therein. Further, the first liquid 14a may be dyed to a first color and the second liquid may be dyed to a second color. For example, the first liquid 14a may be clear without any color and the second liquid 14b may be dyed blue or some other color. As a result, when the first and second liquids 14a and 14b come to a state of rest, a horizontal plane 14c is created between the first and second liquid 14a and 14b, distinguishable by the color difference between the two liquids, as shown in Fig. 2a. For instance, this includes an embodiment in which the horizontal plane encompasses the entire inner circumference of the ball and creates a 50:50 split between the liquids. As shown in Fig. 2b, when the ball 10 is shaken up, the first liquid 14a inter-mixes the second liquid 14b temporarily, creating bubbles and colored puddles 15 within the ball. When the ball 10 is kept from disturbance for a period of time, the second liquid 14b, because of the higher density and being immiscible to the first liquid 14a, gradually settles to a lower portion of the ball 10, and the horizontal plane 14c in Fig. 2a is again visibly resumed.

[00034] It should be understood that the number of liquids in the ball 20 may not be limited to one or two. Multiple immiscible liquids (more than two) may also be provided within the interior of the wall 12, and each liquid may have a density and a color the same or different from other liquids used inside the ball, so that there may be more than one color for the bubbles and puddles when the ball 10 is shaken and more than one horizontal plane may be formed between the liquids of different densities when the ball 10 comes to a state of rest.

[00035] As an option, other objects may also be included inside of the ball. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b, a buoyant device 18 as in co-pending U.S. patent application No. 12/357,920, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein, and/or a light-up device (not shown) such as that disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application No. 12/300,626, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, may also be provided within the interior of the ball 10, so that the buoyant and/or the light-up device either float, remain in suspension, or sink in the liquids.

[00036] In one embodiment, the buoyant device 18 can have the shape of a plastic disc/shield (that can be decorative) that floats above the denser liquid within the outer shell, which denser liquid can be water, and which floats below the lighter liquid, which can be oil, so as to create an illusion of an artificial separator/horizontal separator between the two liquids at the oil- water interface. The plastic disc should be made of a material so that it is lighter than one of the liquids, but heavier than the other liquid.

[00037] Accordingly, as another option, the weighted reflective particles 16 described above with respect to the first example embodiment of Fig. la may also be included in the second example embodiment.

[00038] The exercise device is used simply by picking it up, rolling it or throwing it in the air, or bouncing it/throwing it against a hard object, such as a wall or the floor. When it moves or hits a wall or a floor or the ground, light will reflect off the reflective particles 16 and enhance the visual effect which will be seen through the semi-transparent wall 12. The particles 16 may be of a single color or of different colors, and may be reflective or non-reflective.

[00039] Exemplary embodiments are now set forth as non-limiting examples wherein, in each case, the material of the wall 12 is MDI-based polyurethane elastomer, and the liquid 14 is distilled water.

[00040] EXAMPLE 1 -- A ball 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is produced by the method described above, and contains 75% glass beads and 25% colored-water inside the ball. It has a diameter of 100 mm and a weight of 2.0 pounds.

[00041] EXAMPLE 2 -- A ball 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is produced by the method described above, and contains 25% steel ball bearings (4.5 mm each) and 75% water inside the ball. It has a diameter of 100 mm (4.0 inches) and a weight of 2.5 pounds.

[00042] EXAMPLE 3 -- A ball 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is produced by the method described above, and contains 50% glass beads and 50% water, has a diameter of 5.5 inches and a weight of 4.5 pounds. [00043] EXAMPLE 4 -- A ball 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is produced by the method described above, and contains 25% steel balls (4.5 mm each) and 75% water inside the ball. It has a weight of 6.0 pounds.

[00044] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and

modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

[00045] Thus the expressions "means to..." and "means for...", or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise device comprising:

an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics;

a first liquid within the shell; and

one or more weighted particles immersed in the liquid that provide weight to the exercise device for exercise purposes.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid is water, oil, or gel, or a mixture thereof, or a mixture of multiple liquids, and

the liquid may have a color or no color.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first liquid is water and each said one or more weighted particles has a specific gravity greater than that of water so that the particle is non-buoyant and sinks in the water inside the exercise device.

4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein said one or more weighted particles are chosen from glass beads, sand, colored sand, ball bearings, stainless steel balls, lead balls, or mixtures thereof.

5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein said one or more weighted particles are decorative and have color or no color, are transparent or semi-transparent, and may optionally be reflective.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more weighted particles has a size in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein each of said one or more weighted particles each has a size in the range of 2.25 mm to 4.5 mm.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is spherical and has a diameter in the range of 65 to 140 mm.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the device has a weight in the range of 2.0 to 25 pounds.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a UV stabilizer or tint.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a surface polish adapted to break up color light spectrum that could otherwise cause a magnifying effect that could make the exercise device intensify light and act like a magnifying glass in sunlight.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is a spherical shape or an egged shape.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell is a polyurethane elastomer.

14. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the composition of the polyurethane elastomer includes at least one of isocyanate, polyol, and a chain extender,

wherein the isocyanate is a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate with 25 wt of the polyurethane elastomer,

the polyol is at least one of a polyester and a polyether type polyol, the polyol has at least two functional OH groups on an molecular chain of the polyol, and the polyol constitutes 70 wt of the polyurethane with MWlOOO-10000,

the chain extender has at least two functional OH group or at least two NH2 functional group, constitutes 5 wt of the polyurethane, and has short chain molecules with MW50-800, and

the polyurethane elastomer has a density of l. l~1.2g/cm and a hardness of

70A-90A.

15. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a surface with a roughened or textured skin, which skin comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of grooves, ridges, depressions, raised portions, beads, bumps, dimples, one or more repeating patterns, and combinations thereof, which may be randomly dispersed or arranged in patterns, and which may cover portions of the surface, or the entire surface of the exercise device, wherein said skin is adapted to break up color light spectrum that could otherwise cause a magnifying effect that could make the exercise device intensify light and act like a magnifying glass in sunlight.

16. The exercise device of claim 14, wherein the one or more repeating patterns are selected from the group consisting of a fluted pattern, a crossing-pattern with overlapping lines, a spider web pattern, a golf-ball pattern, and a diamond pattern.

17. An exercise device comprising:

an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics; and

one or more weighted particles contained within the outer shell to provide weight to the exercise device for exercise purposes.

18. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising within the outer shell: a second liquid that is lighter than the first liquid, and

a buoyant device that is heavier than the second liquid but lighter than the first liquid so that the buoyant device floats above the first liquid at an interface between the first liquid and the second liquid.