Patent Application
20060172868
I am claiming this US provisional application Ser. No. 60/647861 Jan. 27, 2005 and please incorporate by reference all information is referenced provisional application into this instant application and there is no new matter
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for strength Training the upper body of a user, particularly the abdominal region, and more Particularly to a method and apparatus which utilizes ball throwing and retrieving Repetition to effect such strengthening of the abdominal and upper body muscles. An apparatus has been previously suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,367 10 issued to Arsenault on Aug. 28, 2001, incorporated herein by reference for details relating to the general construction and functionality of an apparatus suitable for use in deflecting a ball thrown by a seated user in a direction back to the user, in which, as disclosed therein, a user exercises the abdominal muscles by throwing a ball against a net system. As described therein, the user places his 15 buttocks and feet on a stationary platform (seat), and his head and back on a pivot able platform (backrest) which pivots about a hinge, spring biased in a raised position relative to the stationary platform. The spring provides lift assistance when the user throws the bail and shock dissipation when the user catches the ball. Foot straps are provided for securing the feet of the user. Nets are mounted 20 on supports, which are vertically adjustable. When used as intended, the user lies on his back upon the base platform with his feet secured within the foot straps.
located in the proximity of the deflection net. The user's feet and buttocks reside on the stationary portion of the base platform while his back and head are supported by the pivoting backrest which is at approximately a 45 degree angle to the floor and stationary portion. The user begins the exercise by holding a ball and leaning back against the pivoting backrest to provide tension on the spring mechanism so he is propelled forward when he begins the sit-up. As the user is moving upward he throws the ball towards one of the deflection nets (i.e., center, right or left) depending upon which abdominal-muscle group is selected to be worked
In accordance with the disclosure of the aforementioned prior art reference, the user attempts to time the throw so that the rebounding ball can be caught as he is heading back down to the reclined position where the tension spring provides resistance to dissipate impact and then reverses momentum to provide upward impetus for the next throw. While effective if performed properly, such timing may be difficult to achieve in practice for the novice or for individuals not in possession of sufficient muscle strength or coordination skills.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus which facilitates practicing a method in which a ball is repeatedly thrown and retrieved by a user for purposes of upper body strength training with particular emphasis on the abdominal muscle groups, and which is readily implemented by even the most inexperienced of individuals.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which allows a user to effectively and reliably strengthen many of the muscles of the upper body, particularly including the abdominal region, in a manner that is easy to implement even by the most inexperienced novice.
Inventor Arsenault; Christopher (P.O. Box 1724, Port Washington, NY 11050) U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,367 filed. Mar. 20, 2000
A ball return apparatus for exercising abdominal muscles, more specifically, a ball return apparatus with a pivoting bi-sectional spring loaded base platform to help propel the user from a reclined position to a sitting position as he throws a weighted ball towards an elevated ball deflection net that is connected to the stationary portion of a base platform by means of a releasable high-tension mechanical stabilizing spring. A similar spring connects the stationary and pivoting portions of the base platform to provide lift when the user is on the upswing and shock dissipation when reclining. The present invention incorporates skill and gamesmanship into abdominal exercises so as to provide fiul and interesting way for the user to get a complete abdominal workout.
There are other ball return devices designed for returning balls while exercising. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,109 issued to Kenneth J. Mahoney et al. on Aug. 13, 1991.
Another patent was issued to Andrew Cacvso on Feb. 15, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,020. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,048 was issued to Kerry D. Mullen et al. on Dec. 3, 1996. Another was issued on Mar. 25, 1997 to Hua-Lu Hsiang as U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,922 and still yet another was issued to Ronald A. Anderson et al. on Jun. 30, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,537.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,109
Inventor: Kenneth J. Mahonev et al.
Issued: Aug. 13, 1991
The portable mounting stand apparatus of this invention is adapted to receive a ball return apparatus for the like thereon and provide means for ease of movement from a portable transport condition to a rigid usage condition. The portable mounting stand apparatus includes a main support base assembly, a forward base support assembly secured to a forward portion of the main support base assembly, and a rearward base support assembly connected to a rear portion of the main support base assembly. The forward and rearward base support assemblies are each provided with support wheel assemblies to contact a support surface for ease of mobility in the transport position.
Inventor
Inventor: Kerry D. Mullen et al.
Issued: Dec. 3, 1996
A modular return apparatus for reflecting back an object such as a ball or a puck when struck by the ball or puck traveling on a playing surface, for use in returning the ball or puck to the player for another shot and in training the player to shoot the ball or puck accurately and anticipate the anode of reflection and velocity of the puck or ball comprises an elongated reflecting bumper a pair of supports for the reflecting bumper, and a rod for connecting the supports to each other and preventing their relative motion. A net may be attached to the return apparatus to catch the puck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,922
Inventor: Hua-Lu Hsiang
Issued: Mar. 25, 1997
A multipurpose athletic training apparatus including a trampoline, two fastening devices for fastening the trampoline to the stands, the fastening devices being adjustable to fix the trampoline to between a horizontal position in which the trampoline is used as a table, and a tilted position in which the trampoline is used as a rebound apparatus for rebounding balls thrown against it, a handrail for fastening to the stands at the top, and two net posts for fastening to the stands for stretching the net for the game of badminton.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,537
Inventor: Ronald A. Anderson et al.
Issued: Jun. 30, 1998
A ball return device that enables a user to quickly and easily adjust the force with which a ball thrown into the device is returned. The ball return device includes a frame constructed from sections of plastic tubing joined by 90-degree elbows, forming a base and an elevatable portion. The elevatable portion of the frame is pivotally mounted to the base and adjustably positioned at a desired angle relative to the generally horizontal base by a pair of support members. The angle of the elevatable portion of the frame to the base determines the direction in which the ball is returned relative to a given incident path.
In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, there is provided a method and apparatus in accordance with which, a user wishing to increase upper body strength repeatedly throws and retrieves one or more balls in repetitive sequence while altering a body posture. A ball held by the user is thrown while a torso of the user is flexed at the waist from a reclined position to a sitting position. A normal trajectory of the thrown ball is altered by suitable means to a redirected trajectory which returns the ball to a suitable position for retrieval by the user. The nature (speed, etc) and path of the redirected trajectory is advantageously selectable by alteration of physical characteristics of the apparatus according to the invention, such that a degree of difficulty in the retrieval process can be selected dependant upon the experience and desires of the user. As used herein, the term “trajectory” is declined as broadly embracing any path (locus) of travel of an object in motion, and includes objects in contact with a physical contact surface or guide-way, as well as freely flying objects traveling through open space acted upon by the influence of gravity.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a hinged seat, biased in a seat-back upright (or partially upright) position on which the user sits such that a reclined and sitting posture can be assumed during performance of the intended exercise described below herein. A foot restraint is advantageously provided suitably located to facilitate the sitting up process for the user. A ball return guide is positioned in front of the seated user, and includes a structural configuration which redirects a normal trajectory of the ball when thrown into the ball return guide, causing the ball to instead assume a redirected trajectory along which the ball travels to a location below a position of entry when throwing, for subsequent retrieval by the user.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the ball return guide is configured as an areuate track or channel presenting a continuously curved back surface extending from a top end to a bottom end, such that when the ball is thrown into the top end (upper portion) of the arcuate track the ball is roughly guided by the curvature of the back surface and is directed to the bottom end (lower portion) where it is retrieved. The arcuate track (channel) advantageously includes enclosed sides to prevent the ball from jumping out laterally while following the back curvature. Still more advantageously, the sides are wider apart at the top end of the channel to allow for a greater margin of error in aiming when the ball is thrown by the user.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, an apparatus as described generally above optionally includes a structural adaptation allowing the user to select two modes of operation, each of the modes redirecting the ball in a particular manner different from the other. For example, the user can operate the apparatus in the manner described above, wherein the ball in thrown into upper portion of the channel and returned at a lower portion where the user retrieves it. Alternatively, a more advanced user can optionally select a mode
whereby the ball is rebounded directly back to the user off of a suitable rebound surface, such as a hard or elastically tensioned flat and widened member. To achieve these objects, the apparatus advantageously includes a rebound member presenting a rebound surface against which the ball can be thrown, which can be alternately positioned between a position blocking the opening at the upper portion of the channel and another position in which the rebound member does not obstruct the ball reception opening in the upper portion of the channel in the ball return guide.
A further option includes a structural feature permitting a third mode of exercise, and in which a baffle is suitably positioned inside the channel of the ball return guide below the upper portion thereof through which the ball is thrown, such that once initially redirected, the ball is slowed by impact with the baffle during its downward descent sufficiently that it can be effectively stopped and retained within the channel at the lower portion thereof when it reaches a stop (or low wall) provided at the front edge of the lower portion of the channel. Such feature provides the optional advantage of permitting use of more than one ball, a benefit being that there will always be a ball available for a subsequent throw already resting at the bottom of the channel from a previous throw.
A method of exercising practiced in accordance with an embodiment of the invention broadly includes the steps of
a and 5b depicting respective steps performed in the course of a method according to an embodiment of the invention;
a, 10b, and
Referring now to
Since the ball traveling along the redirected trajectory while in the ball return guild 46 will be redirected by the ball damper 58, (Shown in phantom in
slowing it down to the lower portion 44, 36 and 36 for the user to retrieve. Still more advantageously, particularly when the ball 16 is thrown into upper portion 42 and ball return guild 46 and selectively installed in the channel of the ball return guild 46 a ball damper 58 and ball baffle 56 for the purpose of slowing the ball down to allow time for the user to retrieve the other ball.
Optionally, a rebound member 20 is also provided (Shown in
As shown in
The functionality of the apparatus and the various elements have been described above, and therefore further description is believed to be unnecessarily redundant.
It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a vast number of different structural configurations can achieve the desired effect within the broad parameters of the inventions described herein. For example, a different manner of support can be implemented, and the apparatus need not be integrated, and instead be provided as separate modules. Also, by way of example, the ball return guild need not be fully enclosed, but instead be provided as an open cage. Furthermore, the rebound member, provided in the depicted embodiment as a rigid plastic or metal part, could also be a tensioned resilient substance, such as a mesh or elastic member.
To serve as illustration of just some of the changes that could be made to the above described embodiment without departure from the invention, two alternative embodiments are shown in
These figures are annotated with descriptions relating to the design and functionality of the various component elements, and will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art without need for further description with reference to reference designators.
It is further noted that the upper portion of the ball return guide could be further widened or divided into separate openings to facilitate targeting different abdominal muscles by throwing to either side, and in which the ball will be directed to the lower portion regardless of which opening the ball is thrown into. In addition, some form of enclosure or barrier could be implemented to prevent escape of the ball if the opening were to be missed, and which would return the ball to the user without requiring the user to move from the seated position. Other netting or the like could also be provided around the apparatus to prevent loss of the ball if not caught.
Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications
may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60647861 | Jan 2005 | US |
