Therapy Ball Cover

Abstract

A reusable exercise or therapy ball cover.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions described below relate to the field of a reusable exercise or birth ball cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Exercise and therapy balls have recently increased in usage and popularity. Their use is common in exercise and therapy applications to develop overall control and strength of core body muscles and assist in therapy of overused muscles. In addition, these balls have become popular tools as birth balls to facilitate a laboring mother. During birth, the mother rocks or sits on a ball in order to allow rocking of the pelvis back and forth and from side to side. The mother uses the ball to alleviate symptoms of labor. During any of these applications, the ball can be exposed to bacteria and germs. This is particularly dangerous during the labor setting where the baby and mother can be exposed to severe infections. Thus, there is a need for a protective cover that can be slipped on and off of the ball for cleaning and re-sanitizing.

SUMMARY

The devices and methods described below provide for a simple, secure, and sanitary cover over an exercise, therapy or birth ball. The cover comprises a plurality of panels that are attached to each other to form a generally oblong, peanut shaped cover. Each panel includes an outer layer made of a polyester material. Each panel also includes an inner layer made of polyurethane that is waterproof to prevent contamination of the ball. In use, a cover is provided where the cover is formed from a curved tubular member having an open interior. A fastener on the cover is operated to form or expose an opening in the tubular member to provide access to the interior. The therapy ball is placed into the interior of the cover so the cover conforms to the shape of the therapy ball. The fastener then closes or covers the opening. The methods also provide for a method for forming a cover for a therapy ball or exercise pillow. The cover is formed by sewing panels together. An opening is provided within the sewn panels to insert the therapy ball. A fastener is attached to the cover to releasably close the opening once the cover is placed over the therapy ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art peanut ball.

FIG. 2 is a therapy ball cover.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an individual cover panel or sheet.

FIG. 4 is a therapy ball cover over a therapy ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

FIG. 1 is a prior art peanut ball 1, which is an exercise or therapy ball that is shaped like a peanut. It is generally oblong and peanut shaped, larger on each end and slightly narrower in the middle. Peanut balls can be used for a variety of strength training or physical therapy needs as well as by laboring women.

FIG. 2 is a therapy ball cover 2. It includes a plurality of panels or sheets 3 attached to each other to form a generally oblong, peanut shaped cover. The panels can be attached by overlapping and stitching individual panels to each other to form the oblong shaped cover. The panels can also be adhered to each other by taping, fusing or gluing individual panels together. Alternatively, the cover can be formed in a unitary piece that is sewn together at folded over sides of the unitary piece. Darts are sewn into the unitary piece to create a cover with an opening. The unitary piece also includes a pocket for insertion of the therapy ball. The cover includes an opening 4 for inserting the therapy ball.

The opening 4 may be positioned at a variety of locations on the cover. The opening may be formed across the medial region 5, along one of the ends or along the outer or inner periphery. The opening must be large enough to allow the introduction of the ball, but not large enough to interfere with closing the opening once the ball is inserted into the cover.

A variety of fasteners 6 may be used to close the opening. For example, the fastener may include a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, drawstring, ties, buttons, buckles, studs, snaps, eyelets or hooks. The fasteners must allow for secure closure of the ball within the cover. The cover may include a pocket or panel to cover the fastener once the ball is secured within the cover.

The cover can also include a handle 7 attached on the top face of the cover. The handle can be attached at a medial region, along one of the ends or along the outer or inner periphery of the cover. The handle assists in transporting the ball. Alternatively, the handle allows the ball to be stored on a knob or hook during labor so that the ball is not in the way when it is not being used.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an individual cover panel or sheet 3. Each panel or sheet 3 includes an outer layer 8 that is preferably made of polyester material that is hypoallergenic and has a high moisture wicking ability. The polyester material may be any breathable material that allows air to pass through the material but also repels fluids. The material must also have a low heat retaining ability. Furthermore, the material is preferably easily stretchable and washable. Suitable polyester materials include any synthetic polymer made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Alternatively yarns or microfibers can also be used.

Each panel also includes an inner layer 9 that is preferably made of polyurethane and serves as a fluid barrier and is waterproof. The inner layer may be any leak-proof, expandable, flexible elastic or polyurethane material or a monolithic polyurethane sheet. The material preferably has a high moisture vapor transmission rate and be a vapor diffusion retarder. The material can be laminated on another backing material or may be an individual sheet. The outer and inner layers 8, 9 prevent bodily fluids from the outside of the cover to flow through the panels or sheets onto the therapy ball. The cover 2 serves as a sanitary fluid barrier between the therapy ball and laboring mothers and their newborns during birth.

FIG. 4 is a therapy ball cover 2 over a therapy ball 1. The cover is constructed so that it may be placed over the therapy ball, with the cover generally conforming to the shape of the therapy ball. To facilitate placement of the cover over the therapy ball, the cover includes an opening into which the therapy ball is inserted. The cover opening may be defined by a seam where the cover is separated. At least one fastener 6 is provided to close the opening once the cover is placed over the therapy ball. The cover can also include a handle 7 for ease or transportation and to hang the cover with the ball inserted.

After use of the cover, the fastener may be operated to reform or re-expose the opening, and the cover may be slipped off and on from the therapy ball. The cover is reusable after cleaning sterilization.

The invention also provides a method for covering a therapy or exercise pillow. The method includes providing a cover that is formed from a curved capsular member having an open interior. The cover may optionally also include a handle. According to the method, a fastener on the cover is operated to form or expose an opening in the tubular member to provide access to the interior. The therapy ball is placed into the interior of the cover through the opening and the cover is manipulated so that the cover covers and generally conforms to the shape of the therapy ball. The fastener is then operated to close or cover the opening.

The invention also provides a method for forming a cover for a therapy ball or exercise pillow. The cover is comprised of a plurality of petal shaped panels that are sewn together. First, two petal shaped panels are sewn together. The two panels are placed, right sides facing together, and sewn along one edge. Another petal is placed on one of the un-attached edges and sewn along that edge. This is repeated until enough panels are sewn together to created the desired sized covering. The final panel is not sewn to the first panel instead remains open to create an opening into which the therapy ball is inserted. The cover opening defines a seam where the cover is separated. A fastener is attached to the edge of this panel to releasably close the opening once the cover is placed over the therapy ball. At least one fastener is provided to close the opening once the cover is placed over the therapy ball. The cover may optionally also include a handle.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. The elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated into each of the other species to obtain the benefits of those elements in combination with such other species, and the various beneficial features may be employed in embodiments alone or in combination with each other. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A therapy ball cover comprising: a plurality of panels attached together to form the therapy ball cover, the therapy ball cover including an opening;wherein each panel has an outer polyester layer that is waterproof and an inner polyurethane layer.

2. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 wherein the panels are overlapping panels where the plurality of panels are sewn together.

3. The therapy ball of claim 2 where in the panels are petal shaped.

4. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 wherein the opening is formed across a medial region of the cover.

5. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 wherein the outer polyester layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, yarn and microfiber.

6. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 wherein the inner layer further comprises a monolithic polyurethane sheet.

7. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 further including a handle attached on a top face of one of the panels.

8. The therapy ball cover of claim 1 wherein the fastener is selected from group consisting of a zipper, hook and loop fastener, drawstring, ties, buttons, buckles, studs, snaps, eyelets and hooks.

9. A method for covering a therapy or exercise pillow. The method including the steps of: providing a cover that is formed from a curved capsular member having an open interior;operating a fastener on the cover to form an opening in the tubular member to provide access to the interior;placing a therapy ball into the interior of the cover through the opening and manipulating the cover so that the cover conforms to the shape of the therapy ball;operating the fastener to close or cover the opening.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the curved tubular member is formed by sewing together petal shaped panels.