GB2144646A

GB2144646A - Exercising apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2144646A
Application number: GB08321729A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hann Chou Wu
Original assignee: HORNG MEEI SPRING; HORNG MEEI SPRING ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Current assignee: HORNG MEEI SPRING; HORNG MEEI SPRING ENTERPRISE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1983-08-12
Filing date: 1983-08-12
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: GB2144646B; GB8321729D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises an upper member 1 on which the user can stand, rotatably supported on a base 3, and a lower member 8, detachably connected to the underside of the base 3. The apparatus can be used for waist twisting exercises with the lower member detached, or tilting and waist twisting exercises with the lower member in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi-purpose exercising apparatus This invention relates to exercising apparatus.

Most exercising devices only enable a single exercise to be performed repeatedly, thus making the exercise insipid and monotonous, and making it difficult for the user to persevere with the exercise.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multipurpose exercising apparatus which can be used for more than one exercise.

This invention consists in a multi-purpose exercising apparatus comprising an upper member having an upper face on which the user can stand, a base member on which the upper member is rotatably mounted and a detachable lower member connected to the underside of the base member and adapted to rest on the floor with the base member and upper member supported on the lower member in such a manner that the upper member can be tilted to and fro, the base member being adapted to engage the floor when the lower member is detached so as to support the upper member with its upper face horizontal.

Preferably, the lower member has a partspherical, e.g. hemispherical lower surface which engages the floor.

In one form of the invention the upper member and the base member are generally disc shaped.

The upper member may be supported on at least one ball-race interposed between the upper member and the base member.

Preferably, the upper face of the upper member is formed with a pattern of interengaging grooves, and the apparatus includes a ball which rolls in the grooves, movement of the ball being controlled by tilting the upper member. The upper face is preferably formed with areas of closely-spaced protuberances which provide a non-slip surface and also act to stimulate the soles of the user's feet.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus, Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, Figure 4 is a section on line IV--IV of Figure 3, and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the apparatus for a balancing exercise and a waist-twisting exercise.

Referring to the drawings, the exercising device comprises an upper disc-shaped member 1 rotatable on a base in the form of a lower discshaped member 3, and a hemispherical member 8 detachably fixed to the base 3. The disc member 1, base member 3 and hemispherical member 8 are each of moulded plastics.

The upper disc member 1 is supported on the base member 3 through ball-races comprising ballbearings 4, four of which are held in position by an inner retaining ring 5 and eight of which are held in position by an outer retaining ring 6. The retaining rings 5 and 6 are received in annular recesses 10 and 11 in the base member 3. Annular ribs 12 and 13 projecting from the lower face of the upper disc member 1 fit into the recesses 10 and 11 and rest on the ball-bearings 4, so that the upper disc member 1 is constrained to rotate about the common vertical axis of the disc member 1 and the base member 3.

An annular skirt 14 projects downwards from the periphery of the upper disc member 1 and overlaps the base member 3, the skirt 14 reaching almost to the lower face of the base member 3. The upper disc member 1 and the base member are held together by a bolt 7 which extends loosely through a hole in the base member and engages a nut 15 fixed in the upper disc member 1.

The upper face of the upper disc member 1 has three concentric circular grooves 16, 17 and 18 of different diameters, and four straight grooves 19 which extend from the outer groove 16 to a depression 20 in the centre of the disc. A steel ball 2 can be placed in the grooves, for use in the balancing exercise as described below. The annular part of the upper face of the disc outside the outer groove 16 is flat and is large enough to support the user's feet. Four areas 21 of this part of the face are formed with closely spaced protuberances which form a non-slip surface and also act to stimulate the soles of the feet. Each area 21 is of a size sufficient to engage the sole of the user's foot.

The hemispherical member 8 has an outwardly extending flange 22, by means of which the member can be secured to the underside of the base member 3 by means of three butterfly bolts 9. The periphery of the hemispherical member 8 fits into a locating recess 23 in the underside of the base member 3.

With the hemispherical member 8 attached to the base member 3, the exerciser enables a balancing exercise to be carried out, as illustrated in Figure 5, the user standing on the upper disc member 1. To make this exercise more interesting, the steel ball 2 can be placed in the outer circular groove 16 in the disc member, and by shifting the user's balance the disc member can be tilted, first in one direction and then in the other, to cause the ball to run along the grooves into the depression 20 in the centre of the disc. The exercise can be carried out in bare feet, the feet being placed on two of the non-slip areas 21.

The protuberances in the non-slip areas have a massaging effect on the soles of the feet, reducing or eliminating fatigue during the exercise.

The hemispherical member 8 can be easily detached by undoing the bolts 9. The base member 3 can then be placed flat on the floor, as shown in Figure 6, to enable a waist twisting exercise to be carried out, the upper disc member 1 rotating first one way then the other.

It will be appreciated that modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example, the whole of the upper face of the disc member 1 could be made non-slip. The detachable member8 could be made in other shapes.

1. A multi-purpose exercising apparatus, comprising an upper member having an upper face on which the user can stand, a base member on which the upper member is rotatably mounted and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Multi-purpose exercising apparatus This invention relates to exercising apparatus. Most exercising devices only enable a single exercise to be performed repeatedly, thus making the exercise insipid and monotonous, and making it difficult for the user to persevere with the exercise. It is an object of this invention to provide a multipurpose exercising apparatus which can be used for more than one exercise. This invention consists in a multi-purpose exercising apparatus comprising an upper member having an upper face on which the user can stand, a base member on which the upper member is rotatably mounted and a detachable lower member connected to the underside of the base member and adapted to rest on the floor with the base member and upper member supported on the lower member in such a manner that the upper member can be tilted to and fro, the base member being adapted to engage the floor when the lower member is detached so as to support the upper member with its upper face horizontal. Preferably, the lower member has a partspherical, e.g. hemispherical lower surface which engages the floor. In one form of the invention the upper member and the base member are generally disc shaped. The upper member may be supported on at least one ball-race interposed between the upper member and the base member. Preferably, the upper face of the upper member is formed with a pattern of interengaging grooves, and the apparatus includes a ball which rolls in the grooves, movement of the ball being controlled by tilting the upper member. The upper face is preferably formed with areas of closely-spaced protuberances which provide a non-slip surface and also act to stimulate the soles of the user's feet. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus, Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, Figure 4 is a section on line IV--IV of Figure 3, and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the apparatus for a balancing exercise and a waist-twisting exercise. Referring to the drawings, the exercising device comprises an upper disc-shaped member 1 rotatable on a base in the form of a lower discshaped member 3, and a hemispherical member 8 detachably fixed to the base 3. The disc member 1, base member 3 and hemispherical member 8 are each of moulded plastics. The upper disc member 1 is supported on the base member 3 through ball-races comprising ballbearings 4, four of which are held in position by an inner retaining ring 5 and eight of which are held in position by an outer retaining ring 6. The retaining rings 5 and 6 are received in annular recesses 10 and 11 in the base member 3. Annular ribs 12 and 13 projecting from the lower face of the upper disc member 1 fit into the recesses 10 and 11 and rest on the ball-bearings 4, so that the upper disc member 1 is constrained to rotate about the common vertical axis of the disc member 1 and the base member 3. An annular skirt 14 projects downwards from the periphery of the upper disc member 1 and overlaps the base member 3, the skirt 14 reaching almost to the lower face of the base member 3. The upper disc member 1 and the base member are held together by a bolt 7 which extends loosely through a hole in the base member and engages a nut 15 fixed in the upper disc member 1. The upper face of the upper disc member 1 has three concentric circular grooves 16, 17 and 18 of different diameters, and four straight grooves 19 which extend from the outer groove 16 to a depression 20 in the centre of the disc. A steel ball 2 can be placed in the grooves, for use in the balancing exercise as described below. The annular part of the upper face of the disc outside the outer groove 16 is flat and is large enough to support the user's feet. Four areas 21 of this part of the face are formed with closely spaced protuberances which form a non-slip surface and also act to stimulate the soles of the feet. Each area 21 is of a size sufficient to engage the sole of the user's foot. The hemispherical member 8 has an outwardly extending flange 22, by means of which the member can be secured to the underside of the base member 3 by means of three butterfly bolts 9. The periphery of the hemispherical member 8 fits into a locating recess 23 in the underside of the base member 3. With the hemispherical member 8 attached to the base member 3, the exerciser enables a balancing exercise to be carried out, as illustrated in Figure 5, the user standing on the upper disc member 1. To make this exercise more interesting, the steel ball 2 can be placed in the outer circular groove 16 in the disc member, and by shifting the user's balance the disc member can be tilted, first in one direction and then in the other, to cause the ball to run along the grooves into the depression 20 in the centre of the disc. The exercise can be carried out in bare feet, the feet being placed on two of the non-slip areas 21. The protuberances in the non-slip areas have a massaging effect on the soles of the feet, reducing or eliminating fatigue during the exercise. The hemispherical member 8 can be easily detached by undoing the bolts 9. The base member 3 can then be placed flat on the floor, as shown in Figure 6, to enable a waist twisting exercise to be carried out, the upper disc member 1 rotating first one way then the other. It will be appreciated that modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example, the whole of the upper face of the disc member 1 could be made non-slip. The detachable member8 could be made in other shapes. CLAIMS

1. A multi-purpose exercising apparatus, comprising an upper member having an upper face on which the user can stand, a base member on which the upper member is rotatably mounted and a detachable lower member connected to the underside of the base member and adapted to rest on the floor with the base member and upper member supported on the lower member in such a manner that the upper member can be tilted to and fro, the base member being adapted to engage the floor when the lower member is detached so as to support the upper member with its upper face horizontal.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the lower member has a part-spherical lower surface adapted to engage the floor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the lower member is hemispherical and has an outwardly extending peripheral flange by means of which it is detachably bolted to the underside of the base member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the upper member and base member are generally disc-shaped.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the upper member is supported on at least one ball race interposed between the upper member and the base member.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the or each ball race is contained in an annular recess on one of the upper member and the base member and a corresponding annular rib on the other of the two members fits into the annular recess.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the upper member has a peripheral skirt extending downwards almost to the underside of the base member, the base member having a diameter less than the inside diameter of the skirt.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper face of the upper member is formed with a pattern of interengaging grooves, and the apparatus includes a ball which rolls in the grooves, movement of the ball being controlled by tilting the upper member.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper face of the upper member is formed in at least some areas with closely-spaced protuberances providing a non-slip surface.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper member, base member and lower member are formed of plastics.