GB2184031A

GB2184031A - Athletic ring

Info

Publication number: GB2184031A
Application number: GB08530518A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vickie Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-12-11
Filing date: 1985-12-11
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: FR2591903A1; AU5118885A; GB8530518D0

Abstract

The ring comprises an annular member 10 or 20 having a groove 11 or 21 extending annularly along its length for being placed around one's waist, wrist or ankle, and weighting means attached movably to the annular member for movement by a dynamic gyration of the waist, wrist or ankle, said means having a portion received movably in the groove 11 or 21. The annular member may have a C-shaped cross- section or an I-shaped cross-section, and the weighing means may be rolling heavy pieces 12 with an external heavy piece 13 or an external heavy piece 25 with a C- shaped hook 24. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Athletic ring This invention provides a novel athletic ring to be placed around a peron's waist, wrist or ankle for exercising part of his body.

It is known that exercising the lower portion of a person's body can be achieved by providing an exercising ring around his waist and preventing the ring from falling down to the ground by an active twisting movement of the waist, as shown in Fig. 1. Such an exercise ring is not suitable for those who have no experience and skill in using it, and therefore is not commonly utilized in gymnastics.

An object of the invention to provide a novel athletic ring that can be manipulated easily by everyone, even by an unskillful person.

The invention provides an athletic ring which comprises an annular member having a groove extending annularly along its length to be placed around one's waist, wrist or ankle, and weighting means connected movably to the annular member for movement when a dynamic action is produced at the waist, the wrist or the ankle, said means having a portion received movably in the groove.

In one aspect of the invention, the annular member has a C-shaped cross-section, and the weighting means includes rollable heavy pieces received in the groove of the C-shaped cross-section, and an external heavy piece connected to one of the balls.

In another aspect of the invention, the annular member has an I-shaped cross-section, and the weighting means includes a C-shaped hook having its ends movably received in the grooves of the annular member of I-shaped cross-section, with an external heavy piece attached to the hook.

The present exemplary preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exercise ring in the prior art; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a first embodiment of an athletic ring according to the invention; Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of the athletic ring; Figure 4 shows an anthletic ring according to the invention placed around one's waist; Figure 5 shows an anthletic ring according to the invention placed around a wrist; and Figure 6 shows an athletic ring according to the invention placed around an ankle.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown the first embodiment of an athletic ring according to the present invention, which includes an annular member 10 of C-shaped cross-section having an annular groove 11. In the groove 11 are movable weighting pieces, which can be of any shape, preferably rollable heavy pieces 12, such as metal balls capable of producing sound in the groove 11 when moving. To one of the pieces 12 is connected an external heavy object 13. Although only one external object 13 is connected to a weighing piece in this embodiment, the number of the external objects is not limited. The external objects can be connected to some of or all of the pieces 12.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2, which includes an annular member 20 of I-shaped cross-section having two annular grooves 21 and 22. A weighing member 23, which has a C-shaped hook 24 and an external heavy piece 25 attached to the hook 24, is attached movably to the annular member 20, the ends of the hook 24 being slidably received in the grooves 21 and 22. Alternatively, the ends of the C-shaped hook 24 can be provided with rolling means so that the movement of the weighting member 23 can be more active.

The external piece 13 or 25 is a heavy mass of any shape, Preferably of an attractive one. The size of the annular member 10 or 20 is chosen to fits with the part of the body on which the annular member is sleeved. In order that the annular member can be sleeved on a person's waist, wrist or ankle, it may be made of an elastic material, such as rubber, or in a construction that can expand and contract.

When in use, the athletic ring of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is placed around a person's waist, wrist or ankle, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and the person can gyrate his waist, twirl his wrist or twirl his ankle for achieving an exercising effect.

With the invention thus explained, it is appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited as indicated in the appended claims.

1. An athletic ring comprising an annular member having a groove extending annularly along its length for being provided around one's waist, wrist or ankle; and weighting means attached movably to said annular member for movement by a dynamic gyration of the waist, hand or leg, said means having a portion received movably in said groove.

2. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said annular member has a C-shaped cross-section.

3. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said weighting means includes rollable heavy balls received in said groove.

4. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said rollable heavy balls are capable of producing sound when spining.

5. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said weighting means includes a first

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Athletic ring This invention provides a novel athletic ring to be placed around a peron's waist, wrist or ankle for exercising part of his body. It is known that exercising the lower portion of a person's body can be achieved by providing an exercising ring around his waist and preventing the ring from falling down to the ground by an active twisting movement of the waist, as shown in Fig. 1. Such an exercise ring is not suitable for those who have no experience and skill in using it, and therefore is not commonly utilized in gymnastics. An object of the invention to provide a novel athletic ring that can be manipulated easily by everyone, even by an unskillful person. The invention provides an athletic ring which comprises an annular member having a groove extending annularly along its length to be placed around one's waist, wrist or ankle, and weighting means connected movably to the annular member for movement when a dynamic action is produced at the waist, the wrist or the ankle, said means having a portion received movably in the groove. In one aspect of the invention, the annular member has a C-shaped cross-section, and the weighting means includes rollable heavy pieces received in the groove of the C-shaped cross-section, and an external heavy piece connected to one of the balls. In another aspect of the invention, the annular member has an I-shaped cross-section, and the weighting means includes a C-shaped hook having its ends movably received in the grooves of the annular member of I-shaped cross-section, with an external heavy piece attached to the hook. The present exemplary preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exercise ring in the prior art; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a first embodiment of an athletic ring according to the invention; Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of the athletic ring; Figure 4 shows an anthletic ring according to the invention placed around one's waist; Figure 5 shows an anthletic ring according to the invention placed around a wrist; and Figure 6 shows an athletic ring according to the invention placed around an ankle. Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown the first embodiment of an athletic ring according to the present invention, which includes an annular member 10 of C-shaped cross-section having an annular groove 11. In the groove 11 are movable weighting pieces, which can be of any shape, preferably rollable heavy pieces 12, such as metal balls capable of producing sound in the groove 11 when moving. To one of the pieces 12 is connected an external heavy object 13. Although only one external object 13 is connected to a weighing piece in this embodiment, the number of the external objects is not limited. The external objects can be connected to some of or all of the pieces 12. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2, which includes an annular member 20 of I-shaped cross-section having two annular grooves 21 and 22. A weighing member 23, which has a C-shaped hook 24 and an external heavy piece 25 attached to the hook 24, is attached movably to the annular member 20, the ends of the hook 24 being slidably received in the grooves 21 and 22. Alternatively, the ends of the C-shaped hook 24 can be provided with rolling means so that the movement of the weighting member 23 can be more active. The external piece 13 or 25 is a heavy mass of any shape, Preferably of an attractive one. The size of the annular member 10 or 20 is chosen to fits with the part of the body on which the annular member is sleeved. In order that the annular member can be sleeved on a person's waist, wrist or ankle, it may be made of an elastic material, such as rubber, or in a construction that can expand and contract. When in use, the athletic ring of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is placed around a person's waist, wrist or ankle, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and the person can gyrate his waist, twirl his wrist or twirl his ankle for achieving an exercising effect. With the invention thus explained, it is appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited as indicated in the appended claims. CLAIMS

5. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said weighting means includes a first external heavy piece outside said groove connected to at least one of said balls.

6. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said annular member has an I-shaped cross-section.

7. An athletic ring as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said weighting means includes a Cshaped hook having its ends movably received in said grooves of said annular member of I shaped cross-section, and a second external heavy- piece outside said grooves connected to said hook.

8. An athletic ring as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.