U.S. patent application number 12/002567 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-25 for exercise device simulating a hay bale.
Invention is credited to Dennis R. Pearce.
Application Number | 20090163329 12/002567 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40789328 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090163329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pearce; Dennis R. |
June 25, 2009 |
Exercise device simulating a hay bale
Abstract
An exercise device or block in the general form of a bale of hay
or straw. The novel block is a parallelepiped having three handles
disposed along the major axis of one of its major surfaces. A
pattern of recesses is provided in an opposing major surface to
accommodate the handles of an adjacent block. The recesses are
provided to allow a large number of positional relationships
between adjacent blocks.
Inventors: |
Pearce; Dennis R.;
(Poquoson, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAMS G. SYKES
3669 SEAGULL BLUFF DRIVE
VIRGINIA BEACH
VA
23455
US
|
Family ID: |
40789328 |
Appl. No.: |
12/002567 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0601 20130101;
A63B 21/072 20130101; A63B 21/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/93 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06 |
Claims
1. An exercise block, comprising: a) a body in the form of a
rectangular parallelepiped having a major surface having a major
axis; b) at least one handle disposed parallel to and on said major
axis, said handle comprising an elongated portion spaced apart from
and substantially parallel to said major surface, said elongated
portion adapted for grasping encirclement by fingers of a user's
hand; and c) at least one recess disposed in a second major surface
opposing said first major surface, said at least one recess sized
and configured to receive said at least one handle disposed on a
different one of said exercise block.
2. The exercise block as recited in claim 1, further comprising: d)
weighted material fixedly disposed within said body to adjust a
weight of said exercise block to a predetermined value.
3. The exercise block as recited in claim 1, wherein said
rectangular parallelepiped has orthogonal sides having dimensions
in the ratio of approximately 12:6:5.
4. The exercise block as recited in claim 3, wherein said
orthogonal sides have dimensions of approximately 36, 18, and 15
inches, respectively.
5. The exercise block as recited in claim 2, wherein said
predetermined weight is approximately 40 pounds.
6. The exercise block as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least
one handle comprises three handles disposed along said major
axis.
7. The exercise block as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least
one recess comprises at least two recesses orthogonal to one
another and sharing a common center.
8. The exercise block as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least
one recess comprises a plurality of said at least one recess
disposed on said second major surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention pertains to exercise devices and, more
particularly, to an exercise device having the approximate weight
and shape of a hay bale.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known that persons who work in agricultural
pursuits typically stay in good physical condition. One common task
undertaken on a farm is the movement of bales of hay. Hay from a
bailer must be loaded and/or stacked on a hay wagon or truck for
transportation to a barn or other storage facility. At the storage
facility, hay bales may be unloaded from the hay wagon or truck and
typically placed on a conveyor for elevating the bales up into a
hayloft for storage. Bales must be removed from the top of the
conveyor, carried to a storage area, and then stacked in the
storage area (e.g., hay loft).
[0003] Hay bales must eventually be removed from storage, which
again involves lifting and carrying the bales. Often, bales must be
carried prior to distribution in stalls, pens, cribs, etc. In other
words, the lifting and/or carrying of hay bales involves exercise
that contributes to the physical condition of the farm workers.
[0004] The terms, "hay" and "hay bale," as used herein include
other material, for example, straw. It is also known to bale other
material, for example, wood chips for uses such as bedding.
Consequently, the terms, "hay" and "hay bale," are intended to
include any and all other materials that may be bailed in a manner
similar to well-known hay or straw bails.
[0005] Exercise devices intended to help train or condition users
thereof are also well known. Static weights such as dumbbells are
designed to be grasped in the hand(s) of a user. When raised and
lowered or otherwise manipulated, the added weight of the
dumbbell(s) help strengthen arm, shoulder, and upper body muscles.
Free weights are also popular for bench pressing or other
exercises.
[0006] Some exercise devices are equipped with handles to
facilitate their use. Other devices are adapted such that their
weight may readily be adjusted.
[0007] Coaches, trainers, and physical education instructors
generally realize that group exercise has advantages. Exercises
wherein a first person lifts and passes an object to a second
person are popular. Such exercises may consist of simply passing an
object from person to person in a bucket brigade arrangement. A
variation is that a person, after receiving the object, may
transport the object and then either deposit the object or return
to his or her origin with the object. Bales of hay might readily be
used for such exercises but such use tends to be messy. In
addition, some exercise participants my be allergic to one or more
plants or grasses in the hay bale. Other persons may have a problem
with the fine particles often originating from a bale, particularly
when the hay is dry.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to provide an exercise device
having substantially the same size, shape, and weight of a hay bale
but without the aforementioned limitations. Handles may be provided
to facilitate the movement and/or transferring of the exercise
device.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0009] Several exercise devices are found in the prior art. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,179 for EXERCISING DEVICE, issued Jun.
16, 1987 to Rudolf Pengler, discloses a hollow geometric shape
useful for performing gymnastic exercises. Several handle openings
are provided on the sides of the device.
[0010] U.S. Design Pat. No. 359,778 for ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELL, issued
Jun. 27, 1995 to Carl K. Towley, III et al., discloses an
ornamental design for a dumbbell that appears to allow adding or
removing a weighted section to each end thereof. U.S. Pat. No.
5,716,305 for MULTI-PURPOSE EXERCISE DEVICE, issued Feb. 10, 1998
to Douglas Spriggs Selsam, provides a double hollow container
fillable with water to control the weight thereof.
[0011] U.S. Design Pat. No. 422,654 for ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELL, issued
Apr. 11, 2000 to James Chen, discloses an ornamental design for a
dumbbell that appears to allow adding or removing weighted section
to each end thereof.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,441 for WATER WEIGHT EXERCISE KIT,
issued Aug. 8, 2000 to Darrell B. Bonnet, provides a barbell and a
dumbbell weight that may be filled with water for use, drained,
then folded and stored.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,555 for VARIABLE WEIGHT EXERCISE BAG,
issued Nov. 21, 2000 to Steven Robert Kinbeck, discloses a bag into
which varying amounts of a "weight bearing material" may be
inserted. p U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 544,554 for EXERCISE TUBE,
issued Jun. 12, 2007 to Larry Brun, discloses the ornamental design
for an elongated, cylindrical tube having handles disposed on an
outer surface thereof.
[0014] None of the patents and published patent applications, taken
singly, or in any combination are seen to teach or suggest the
novel exercise device of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an exercise device or block in the general form of a bale of hay or
straw. The novel block is a parallelepiped having three handles
disposed along the major axis of one of its major surfaces. A
pattern of recesses is provided in an opposing major surface to
accommodate the handles of a block. The recesses are provided to
allow a large number of positional relationships between adjacent
blocks.
[0016] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an
exercise block having the approximate shape and weight of a bale of
hay.
[0017] It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise
block having multiple handles disposed along a major axis of a
major surface thereof.
[0018] It is an additional object of the invention to provide an
exercise block having recesses in a major surface opposing the
major surface bearing handles to receive one or more handles from
an adjacent exercise block.
[0019] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
exercise block configured to allow stacking exercise blocks in a
large number of interlocking arrangements.
[0020] It is a still further object of the invention to provide an
exercise block having at least three handles to facilitate passing
the exercise block from one person to another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the exercise block in
accordance with the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side, elevational view of the exercise block of
FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a bottom, plan view of the exercise block of FIG.
1; and
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exercise block of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The present invention provides an exercise device or block
having a size, shape, and weight similar to a bale of hay. A
typical bale of hay or straw is approximately 36 inches long, 18
inches wide, and 15 inches high. In other words, the lengths of the
orthogonal sides of the hay bale are in a ratio of approximately
12:6:5. Depending upon the moisture content of the baled hay or
straw, a typical bale weighs approximately 40 pounds. While the
typical dimensions and weight of a hay bale are provided for
purposes of disclosure, it will be recognized that the exercise
block of the invention may be provided in other sizes, shapes, or
weights.
[0027] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a top, plan view
of the exercise block of the present invention, generally at
reference number 100. Exercise block 100 has a top, major surface
102. Three handles 104a, 104b, 104c are disposed along a centerline
106 of top, major surface 102. Handles 104a, 104b, 104c are rigidly
connected to exercise block 100 and are sized and configured to
accommodate grasping by a human hand, not shown. While three
handles 104a, 104b, 104c are shown for purposes of disclosure, it
will be recognized that additional or fewer handles, not shown, may
readily be attached to exercise block 100, either along centerline
106 or elsewhere on the surface of exercise block 100.
Consequently, the invention is not limited to the example chosen
for purposes of disclosure but includes any number of handles
disposed on one or more surfaces of exercise block 100.
[0028] Optional decorative lines 108 may be disposed on top, major
surface 102. Optional lines 108 are positioned to represent the
typical position of bailing wire or twine present on a bale of hay
or straw. Lines 108 may be recessed into top, major surface 102 or
may be painted or otherwise placed on the surface. As lines 108 are
purely decorative and designed to make exercise block 100 resemble
a bale of hay, the lines may be either included or omitted.
Consequently, the invention includes embodiments with our without
optional decorative lines 108.
[0029] Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown side,
elevational and bottom, plan views, respectively of the exercise
block of FIG. 1. Prominent on bottom surface 112 are recesses 110.
Recesses 110 are sized and configured to receive the protruding
portion of handles 104a, 104b, 104c when a first exercise block 100
is stacked on a second exercise block 100. Because recesses 110 are
disposed in orthogonal pairs sharing a common center, exercise
blocks may readily be stacked with their respective major axis
either parallel to or perpendicular to one another. Because
recesses 110 are disposed in several positions on both the central
and edge regions of bottom surface 112, a second of exercise blocks
100 may be positioned in a variety of offsets with respect to a
first one of exercise blocks 100. Consequently, exercise blocks 100
may be stacked in many arrangements with exercise blocks 100
interlocking with one another.
[0030] Referring now also to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective
pictorial view of exercise block 100. A logo region 114 adapted and
configured to receive indicia is provided on an end surface of
exercise block 100. It will be recognized, of course, that indicia
may be placed on any one or more surfaces of exercise block
100.
[0031] End surface 118 and side surface 116 are each shown having
an optional texture. When realism is desired, the texture pattern
applied to end surface 118 and/or side surface 116 may resemble the
texture of a real bale of hay or straw, not shown.
[0032] Exercise block 100 may be formed from a foamed polymer,
preferably having a resilient outer skin. Exercise block 100 may be
constructed having interior weights, not shown, to create a desired
overall block weight. Exercise blocks 100 are stiff enough that
even when stacked, they may support the weight of one or more
persons without collapsing. It will be recognized that many
alternate materials exist that may be suitable for forming exercise
block 100 and the invention is not considered limited to a foamed
polymer.
[0033] In alternate embodiments, pockets, not shown, may be
provided to receive additional weights, for example, a steel bar,
not shown, so that the operating weight of exercise block 100 may
be increased.
[0034] In use, a single user may lift and manipulate exercise
block, typically by grasping handles 104a and 104c (i.e., the
outside handles). In addition, a single person may lift and carry a
pair of exercise blocks 100, one on his or her left side, and one
on his or her right side, by grasping center handle 104b.
[0035] An exercise block 100 may readily be passed from a first
person to a second person using a third one of handles 104a, 104b,
104c. Group exercises may be designed using multiple exercise
blocks 100.
[0036] Exercise blocks 100 may also be placed in various
arrangements to form jumping obstacles or other such
impediments.
[0037] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit
particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered
limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and
covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
[0038] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be
protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently
appended claims.
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