Exercise apparatus

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an exercise apparatus, more particularly to an exercise apparatus that includes an inflatable ball body with a grip member attached thereto.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, weight-training balls are normally formed with roughened surfaces or finger holes to improve handling thereof by the user and to permit various exercise, such as swinging and lifting. However, the conventional weight-training balls are disadvantageous in that the roughened surfaces have adverse effect on the bounding or rolling of the balls during exercise. Moreover, the ways of exercising using conventional weight-training balls are limited.

[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided an exercise apparatus that comprises: an inflatable ball body having an inner skin confining an air chamber, and an outer skin that is attached to and that encloses the inner skin and that includes a first layer, the ball body being formed with at least a cavity between the inner skin and the first layer, the outer skin being formed with at least an access hole that is in spatial communication with the cavity and that extends radially and outwardly through the first layer; a coupling member mounted in the cavity and including at least an anchoring part that is attached to an inner periphery of the access hole within the cavity, and at least a handle-engaging part that is connected to the anchoring part and that is exposed from the access hole; and a grip member including a handle part that is disposed exteriorly of the ball body, and at least a handle-fastening part that is connected to the handle part, that extends into the access hole, and that releasably engages the handle-engaging part.

[0019] For the sake of brevity, like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of an exercise apparatus according to this invention for weight training. The exercise apparatus includes: an inflatable ball body 100 having an inner skin 10 confining an air chamber, and an outer skin 20 that is attached to and that encloses the inner skin 10 and that includes a first layer 22, the ball body 100 being formed with at least a cavity 31′ between the inner skin 10 and the first layer 22, the outer skin 20 being formed with at least an access hole 32 that is in spatial communication with the cavity 31′ and that extends radially and outwardly through the first layer 22; a coupling member 30 mounted in the cavity 31′ and including at least an anchoring part 31 that is attached to an inner periphery of the access hole 32 within the cavity 31′, and at least a handle-engaging part 321 that is connected to the anchoring part 31 and that is exposed from the access hole 32; and a grip member 40 including a handle part 41 that is disposed exteriorly of the ball body 100, and at least a handle-fastening part 42 that is connected to the handle part 41, that extends into the access hole 32, and that releasably engages the handle-engaging part 321.

[0021] In the first embodiment, the outer skin 20 further includes a fabric layer 21 sandwiched between the inner skin 10 and the first layer 22. The first layer 22 is made from a vulcanized rubber material. The cavity 31′ is formed between the inner skin 10 and the fabric layer 21. The outer skin 20 is formed with a pair of the access holes 32. The coupling member 30 includes a pair of the handle-engaging parts 321. The grip member 40 includes a pair of the handle-fastening parts 42. The anchoring part 31 is attached to the fabric layer 21. Each of the handle-engaging parts 321 includes a threaded tubular piece 321′ that extends outwardly and radially relative to the ball body 100 from the anchoring part 31 into a respective one of the access holes 32, and that is formed with an inner thread 322. The handle part 41 includes a generally U-shaped bar 41′ that has two opposite ends 412 respectively attached to outer peripheries of the access holes 32 and formed with through-holes 411 which are respectively aligned with the access holes 32. Each of the handle-fastening parts 42 is in the form of a screw that extends through a respective one of the through-holes 411 and into the threaded tubular piece 321′ of a respective one of the handle-engaging parts 321, and that threadedly engages the inner thread 322 of the threaded tubular piece 321′ so as to secure the grip member 40 to the ball body 100.

[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the ball body 100 is formed with a pair of the cavities 31′ between the inner skin 10 and the fabric layer 21. The outer skin 20 is formed with a pair of the access holes 32. The coupling member 30 includes a pair of adhesive tapes 52, a pair of the anchoring parts 31, and a pair of the handle-engaging parts 321. The grip member 40 includes a pair of the handle-fastening parts 42. Each of the anchoring parts 31 is disposed in a respective one of the cavities 31′, is attached to the fabric layer 21 via a respective one of the adhesive tapes 52, and has a hollow central portion 311 that extends outwardly and radially toward a respective one of the access holes 32. Each of the handle-engaging parts 321 includes a threaded tubular piece 321′ that is mounted in the central portion 311 of a respective one of the anchoring parts 31, and that is formed with an inner thread 322. The handle part 41 includes a pair of fastening rings 53 with fastening ends 54, and a generally U-shaped strap 410 that has two opposite ends 431 formed with fastening loops 43 which engage the fastening rings 53, respectively. Each of the handle-fastening parts 42 is in the form of a screw that extends through a respective one of the fastening ends 54 of the fastening rings 53 and into a respective one of the threaded tubular pieces of the handle-engaging parts 321, and that threadedly engages the inner thread 322 of the respective one of the threaded tubular pieces.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, a second layer 23 is sandwiched between the fabric layer 21 and the first layer 22. The first and second layers 22, 23 are made from a vulcanized rubber material. The cavity 31′ is formed between the first and second layers 22, 23. The anchoring part 31 is attached to the first layer 22 via the adhesive tape 52.

[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the anchoring part 31 is attached to the fabric layer 21 and has a hollow central portion 311 that extends radially and outwardly toward the access hole 32. The handle-engaging part 321 includes a holding piece 62 mounted securely in the central portion 311, and a threaded tubular piece 321′ that extends from the holding piece 62, and that is formed with an inner thread 322. The handle part 41 includes a bat 41′ with a connecting end. The handle-fastening part 42 is in the form of a screw that is connected to the connecting end of the bat 41′, that extends into the threaded tubular piece 321′, and that threadedly engages the inner thread 322.

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates a fifth preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the handle-engaging part 321 includes a hook-holding piece 321′ mounted securely in the central portion 311. The handle part 41 includes a belt 41′. The handle-fastening part 42 includes a hook 42′ that is connected to the belt 41′, that extends into the central portion 311, and that engages the hook-holding piece 321′.

[0026] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a sixth preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the handle-engaging part 321 includes a tubular piece 321′ mounted in the central portion 311 and formed with a retaining groove 323. The handle part 41 includes a grip piece 41′ with a connecting end. The handle-fastening part 42 includes a tubular element 42′ connected to the connecting end of the grip piece 41′, an engaging tongue 932 projecting outwardly and movably from the tubular element 42′, a releasing protrusion 933 projecting outwardly and movably from the tubular element 42′, and an urging member 93 mounted in the tubular element 42′, connected to the engaging tongue 932, and urging the engaging tongue 932 and the releasing protrusion 933 in such a manner that the engaging tongue 932 extends into and engages the retaining groove 323 when the tubular element 42′ extends into the tubular piece 321′, and that the engaging tongue 932 disengages from the retaining groove 323 when the releasing protrusion 933 is pressed against the urging member 93.

[0027] FIG. 11 illustrates a seventh preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus that is modified from and that is similar to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the handle-engaging part 321 including a tubular piece 321′ mounted in the access hole 32 and having a flange portion 3210 that is sandwiched between the central portion 311 and the inner periphery of the access hole 32, and that cooperates with the central portion 311 to form with a retaining groove 833 therebetween. The handle part 41 includes a grip piece 41′ with a connecting end. The handle-fastening part 42 includes a tubular element 42′ connected to the connecting end of the grip piece 41′, an engaging tongue 932 projecting outwardly and movably from the tubular element 42′, a releasing protrusion 933 projecting outwardly and movably from the tubular element 42′, and an urging member 93 mounted in the tubular element 42′, connected to the engaging tongue 932, and urging the engaging tongue 932 and the releasing protrusion 933 in such a manner that the engaging tongue 932 extends into and engages the retaining groove 833 when the tubular element 42′ extends into the tubular piece 321′, and that the engaging tongue 932 disengages from the retaining groove 833 when the releasing protrusion 933 is pressed against the urging member 93.

[0028] With the inclusion of the coupling member 30 and the grip member 40 in the exercise apparatus of this invention, the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior art can be eliminated.

[0029] With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as recited in the appended claims.