GB2528105A

GB2528105A - A fluid impermeable exercise device

Info

Publication number: GB2528105A
Application number: GB1412282.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jillian Blowman; Nicola Benstead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-10
Filing date: 2014-07-10
Publication date: 2016-01-13
Also published as: GB201412282D0

Abstract

A fluid impermeable fitness device which comprises a hydroresistive body 1, sealable rigid compartment and at least two handles 3. The piece of equipment is configured to demonstrate a resistance to movement through water, such as in a swimming pool, so a user will experience more beneficial effects from exercise with the device. Preferably the handles 3 are arranged in symmetrical configurations with respect to the body, with the sealable compartment wholly contained within or described by the body. Additionally the weight of the device may be altered by filling the hollow internal compartment (e.g. with water or sand) via an inlet or mouth which can be sealed watertight with a closure, such a screw cap. Additionally the arrangement may include extendable resistive plates to increase resistance in water and/or visual guide means 8 to help assess the volume of contents within the filled compartment.

Description

A FLUID IMPERMEABLE EXERCISE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fluid impermeable exercise device, in particular a device for exercise in fluid; more particularly but not exclusively a device configured for aquatic exercises.

Background

Increasing numbers of users are discovering the benefits of aquatic exercise, wherein the exercise is low impact and creates little stress on joints. Typically such users work on exercise regimes in swimming pools or similar.

Many users may not wish to swim however and such exercise may comprise exercise regimes roughly analogous to more established regimes from out of water.

For example the user may wish to continue with weight lifting or manipulation so as to perform aerobic or anaerobic exercises. In this way weight devices such as barbells or dumbbells are utilised.

Such weight devices are made further effective for exercise regimes by virtue of hydroresistive effects, that is to say resistance to movement through the water.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted United States patent US 8 376 914 (AVRETT) discloses an aquatic exercise device for providing some degree of buoyancy to a user when in water, comprising: a body made of foam, wherein the body extends 360 deg. about an axis and at least partially defines a central aperture that extends through the axis, wherein the body has an inner half that has an outer surface that is oriented generally towards the central aperture, wherein the body has an outer half that has an outer surface that is oriented generally away from the central aperture, wherein the outer surface of the outer half of the body is convex in shape; and a ledge that extends from the inner half of the body, wherein the ledge has an upper surface that at least partially defines the central aperture, wherein the upper surface of the ledge is closer to the axis than any portion of the body in a radial direction, and wherein a foot of the user is positioned onto the upper surface of the ledge such that a first portion of the foot of the user is located forwardly in an axial direction beyond the body and the ledge.

Granted United States patent US 6 955 633 (STOUT) discloses an aquatic exercise device comprising: a bell having a substantially spherical front surface and an interior surface; an interior cavity defined by said interior surface; a rear access aperture communicating with said interior cavity; a handle accessible through said *access aperture; means of attachment of said handle to said interior surface; a plurality of vent apertures communicating between said exterior surface and said interior surface; and said bell when submerged in water by a user gripping said handle provides a calculated resistance to forward and rearward movement by said user, said calculated resistance determined by the area of said vent apertures.

Granted European patent EP 0300 719 (SOLLOWAY) discloses an aquatic exercise assembly for use in water to strengthen muscles, improve muscle tone and enhance muscular coordination, comprising: a generally impact-resistant water-engageable shaft formed of substantially water impermeable material having at least one transverse fin-engageable end portion and a manually grippable portion for being grasped under water adjacent said transverse fin-engageable end portion, said shaft being elongated and extending in an axial direction along an axis, said manually grippable portion of said shaft having a maximum width defining a thickness taken in a radial direction generally transverse to said axis and said shaft being movable in said water; and at least one generally concave transverse fin secured to and extending transversely outwardly from said fin-engageable end portion of said shaft for cuppingly engaging water and creating an axial pressure head to water flow a said shaft is moved axially through the water to enhance hydrodynamic resistance to axial movement of said aquatic exercise assembly through said water; and a plurality of angularly disposed, stationary axial fins extending radially outwardly of said shaft, said axial fins having portions connected to said transverse fin, said axial fins having an axial portion with an outer edge spanning a greater radial distance from said shaft than said transverse fin and providing an inner hydrodynamic resistance assembly to exert transverse fluid resistance and pressure head as said aquatic exercise assembly is moved transversely forwardly and rearwardly in said water.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a fluid impermeable exercise device, comprising a hydroresistive body, sealable rigid compartment and at least two handles.

In preferred embodiments the sealable compartment is wholly contained within or described by the body.

In preferred embodiments the handles extend from the body, or are comprised within or on the body such that the handles may comprise Iacunae in the body. In some embodiments more than two handles may be envisaged. Ideally all handles are arranged in symmetrical configurations with respect to the body.

Advantageously the body is configured to be hydroresistive wherein the body moving through water will provide maximal resistance or preplanned resistance patterns and consequently the device is advantageously configured for aquatic exercise regimes.

In preferred embodiments the device is formed wholly of a substantially rigid plastics, wherein the compartment is not collapsible or collapsed when the compartment is empty or filled with air, and the device is in use under normal atmospheric pressures in or out of a standard usage property of water, such as 5 bar.

In preferred embodiments the device is configured with a fluid-resistive profile, wherein the device is arranged with at least one face that provides a large surface for substantial displacement of fluid.

In this way the device resists movement through water, such as swimming pool water, and consequently a user will experience more beneficial effects from exercise with the device.

In some embodiments the surface is configured with a plurality of different surface treatments or profiles, so as to further provide resistance to movement against the water. For example at least one face may comprise at least one recess, indentation or lacuna.

In some embodiments the device is provided with plural faces providing a variety of resistive surfaces. In this way the user is enabled to vary exercises according to face or faces, and movements of the device through the water promote or encounter different resistive characteristics.

In some further embodiments the device may comprise extendable resistive plates, baffles or portions, for example wherein such portions may be extended to produce greater resistance. Such portions may be hinged or telescopic.

In preferred embodiments the device includes a compartment that is arranged to be filled in use via a filler inlet or filling mouth. Ideally therefore said compartment is sealable with a displaceable seal, which seal is displaced to access the compartment for filling purposes.

Ideally the seal provides no disturbance to the device's resistive profile or symmetry when in place, for example wherein the seal comprises a detachable portion of the device's overall shape.

The compartment is watertight and in use the user incrementally or wholly fills the compartment with fluid, such as the water, so as to vary the device's characteristics incrementally. Some embodiments may have more than one seal or compartment.

In preferred embodiments the device has a symmetrical form, for example wherein at least two faces are symmetrical and at least two edges, or wherein at least four faces are symmetrical. In this way the device is easier to effectively and consistently use in the water, wherein the user is enabled to better plan and execute the exercise regime. Consequently the filler inlet when sealed and the body's base are ideally symmetrical. Further embodiments have further pairs of handles.

In preferred embodiments at least a section of the compartment is transparent or translucent, wherein the user is enabled to view contents of the interior of the 35 compartment. Furthermore, in such preferred embodiments said section includes guide means, so as to accurately assess volume of the filled compartment, and consequently weight.

Said guide means typically thereby provides a visual guide to the user to assess the volume of the compartment that has been filled, and such visual guide is ideally linked to a comparative weight for the fluid contained therein and consequently the device.

In use the user is equipped by the device to exercise underwater by moving the device through the water and is further enabled to vary characteristics of the device to maximise effectiveness of their exercise regime, and vary the regime according to preference.

Further embodiments may include further handles or handgrips configured for different attitudes of holding with respect to

movement. Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with compartment exposed; Figure 6 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with a displaced lid exposing the compartment; Figure 8 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7; And Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures the device is comprised by: Abodyl A compartment 2 Two handles 3 combining with the body to describe two lacunae 4 A displaceable seal 5 with internal screwthreaded collar 11 A filling mouth with screwthread 6 A transparent section 7 A visual guide means 8 A tether 9 A flat base for filling 10 The seal comprises a displaceable lid with a screw thread, corresponding to a screw thread on the filling mouth or filler inlet. The lid is maintained on the body by the tether, so as to ensure the lid is not misplaced. In further embodiments the lid may be displaceable, for example hinged to the body.

The seal in the pictured embodiment comprises a central column with an internal screw thread, and cowl extending therefrom, which cowl takes the external form of the device's end opposing the seal, so as to maintain symmetry and allow ease of cleaning the device.

In this way the seal is screwed onto the mouth after the compartment has been filled with water, fluid or sand, as appropriate.

In some embodiments further catch means may be envisaged, for example displaceable clips or resiliently deformable catch means between the seal and surrounding body, such as a lip or upstanding tab or tabs.

In the pictured and preferred embodiment however the seal is screwed onto the body to seal the compartment, and full screwing closes the compartment and moreover creates a smooth finished outer surface. In this way there is little chance of snag hazards, trapped water or dirt, and less disruption to the device's outer form in use The user monitors the filling using the transparent section and guide means.

The handles are formed as a part with the faces, wherein each handle comprises a lacuna near the periphery of the body. The handles thereby internally continue the compartment and provide additional space for filling. Furthermore the handles are not thereby liable to damage, and additionally the user is enabled to alter quantity of resistance, simply by shifting handle-holding attitude and closing the lacunae 4.

The handles are placed to either side of the guide means to the periphery of the device's wider faces. The wider faces are opposing, and/or with a relatively narrower perimeter made up of four sides. In this way the device assumes a substantially planar form, best suited for maximising hydroresistance.

In some embodiments the faces may differ for example wherein one face is substantially concave and the opposing face substantially concave. In this way the device presents substantially differing levels of resistance according to direction of traveL The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification 35 are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A fluid impermeable exercise device, comprising a hydroresistive body, sealable rigid compartment and at least two handles.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sealable compartment is wholly contained within or described by the body.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the handles extend from the body, or are comprised within or on the body.
4. A device according to claim I or 2 comprising more than two handles.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein all handles are arranged 1 5 in symmetrical configurations with respect to the body.
6. A device according to any preceding claim formed wholly of a substantially rigid plastics.
7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is configured with a fluid-resistive profile, wherein the device is arranged with at least one face that provides a large surface for substantial displacement of fluid.
8. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a plurality of different 25 surface treatments or profiles.
9. A device according to any preceding claim comprising extendable resistive plates or portions.
10. A device according to any preceding claim having a substantially multi-axis symmetrical form.
11. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a compartment filler inlet.
12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the inlet has a displaceable lid.
13. A device according to claim 11 or 12 having a flat base opposing the inlet.
14. A device according to claim 11, 12 or 13 comprising a tether on lid to body.
15. A device according to any preceding claim wherein a section of the compartment is transparent or translucent, wherein the user is enabled to view contents of the interior of the compartment.
16. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said section includes a visual guide means.
17. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.