Inflatable Gymnastic Auxiliary Apparatus

Abstract

An inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus includes an elongated boy having an enclosed inner shell and an outer shell surrounding the enclosed inner shell, and an air valve installed in the elongated body in communication with the air chamber in the enclosed inner shell for enabling the elongated body to be inflated. Thus, the user can adjust the pressure in each enclosed inner shell to regulate the amount of deformation of the elongated body for providing a different hardness-softness subject to the actual requirement. After each use, the user can discharge the air pressure out of each enclosed inner shell to reduce the size of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus for delivery or storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to gymnastics gears and more particularly, to an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Rhythmic exercise (such as Yoga or Pilates) is mainly for training the core muscle groups of the human body. As the health and strength of the core muscle groups take an important role in controlling the health of the whole body and the functioning of the internal organs, training the strength of the core muscle groups by means of exercising the limbs can refine body curves, correct bad posture and improve blood circulation.

[0005] When performing rhythmic exercises, different gymnastic auxiliary apparatuses may be used to help body stretching. Taiwan Publication Number M369777 discloses a gymnastic auxiliary apparatus entitled "Rolling auxiliary apparatus for rhythmic exercises". This rolling auxiliary apparatus is made of a soft foam material. When the human body is pressed on the rolling auxiliary apparatus, the rolling auxiliary apparatus will be deformed to give a pressure back to the user. However, as the rolling auxiliary apparatus is made of a soft foam material, it does not allow adjustment of the hardness-softness and has a big size, not convenient for delivery or storage. Further, when fabricating this design of rolling auxiliary apparatus, it wastes much waiting time during foam molding, lowering the fabrication efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus, which allows adjustment of the internal air pressure to provide different hardness-softness to satisfy different application requirements.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus, which has a small size, convenient for delivery and storage.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus, which facilitates rapid fabrication, improving the fabrication efficiency.

[0009] To achieve these and other objects of the invention, an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus comprises an elongated body and at least one air valve. The elongated body comprises at least one enclosed inner shell and an outer shell surrounding the at least one enclosed inner shell. Each enclosed inner shell defines therein an air chamber. The outer shell has the inner surface thereof adhered to the outer surface of each enclosed inner shell. The at least one air valve is installed in the elongated body in communication with the air chamber in each enclosed inner shell.

[0010] Subject to the above-stated design, the user can adjust the pressure in each enclosed inner shell to regulate the amount of deformation of the elongated body for providing a different hardness-softness subject to the actual requirement. During application, the user can use the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus to perform different postures. When using the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus to perform any posture, the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus can give a suitable pressure back to the user, achieving the effects of exercise. After each use, the user can discharge the air pressure out of each enclosed inner shell to reduce the size of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus for delivery or storage.

[0011] Further, the fabrication of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus utilizes well developed known techniques, avoiding long waiting time during fabrication and improving the fabrication efficiency.

[0012] Further, each enclosed inner shell comprises an outer layer of cloth covering, and the inner surface of the outer shell is adhered to the outer layer of cloth covering of each enclosed inner shell.

[0013] Further, the elongated body can be made having a plurality of beads distributed over the periphery thereof for anti-slip or massaging purpose.

[0014] Further, the elongated body can be made having a uniform diameter extending along the length thereof. Alternatively, the elongated body can be made having a plurality of big diameter portions and small diameter portions alternatively arranged along the length thereof.

[0015] Further, the elongated body can be made having a circular, semicircular or multilateral cross section.

[0016] Further, the number of the at least one enclosed inner shell and the number of the at least one air valve can be 2 or 3, and each air valve is connected to one respective enclosed inner shell in communication with the associating air chamber.

[0017] Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an elevational plain view of an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 is an elevational plain view of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention after discharge of the internal air.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a different shape design of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an elevational view illustrating another different shape design of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a plain view of still another different shape design of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrates big diameter portions and small diameter portions alternatively arranged along the length of the elongated body.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a plain view of still another different shape design of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating anti-slip beads distributed over the periphery of the elongated body.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a plain view of still another different shape design of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating massaging beads distributed over the periphery of the elongated body.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating two enclosed inner shells set therein.

[0028] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating three enclosed inner shells set therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, an inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is shown comprising an elongated body 20 and an air valve 22.

[0030] Referring also to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the elongated body 20 has a circular cross section. Further, the elongated body 20 comprises an enclosed inner shell 30 and an outer shell 40 surrounding the enclosed inner shell 30. The enclosed inner shell 30 is made of an environmentally friendly material, such as polyurethane or natural rubber, and covered with a layer of cloth covering 34, defining therein an air chamber 32. The outer shell 40 is also made of an environmentally friendly material, such as polyurethane or natural rubber, having its inner surface adhered to the outer surface of the enclosed inner shell 30. Thus, the cloth covering 34 is disposed in between the enclosed inner shell 30 and the outer shell 40. Further, the elongated body 20 has a uniform diameter extending along the length.

[0031] The air valve 22 is installed in elongated body 20 in communication with the air chamber 32. Thus, air can be pumped through the air valve 22 into the air chamber 32 to inflate the elongated body 20. Subject to the design of the cloth covering 34, the elongated body 20 will not be excessively inflated.

[0032] Thus, when pumping air through the air valve 22 into the air chamber 32 to inflate the elongated body 20, the user can control the air pressure in the air chamber 32 to regulate the amount of deformation of the elongated body 20 for providing a different hardness-softness subject to the actual requirement. During application, the user can use the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 to perform different postures, for example, the user can rest the back on the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10, or rest the chest and the abdomen on the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10, or directly hug the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10. When using the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 to perform any posture, the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 can give a pressure back to the user, achieving the effects of exercise. After each use, the user can discharge the air pressure out of the air chamber 32, as shown in FIG. 4, to reduce the size of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 for delivery or storage.

[0033] Further, the materials selected for the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 10 include two layers of polyurethane or natural rubber and one cloth layer sandwiched between the two layers of polyurethane or natural rubber. Thus, the fabrication of the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus does not waste any time in waiting for foam molding, improving the fabrication efficiency.

[0034] To fit different application requirements and to provide different application effects, the cross section of the elongated body 20 is not limited to a circular shape. For example, the elongated body 20 can be made having a semicircular cross section as shown in FIG. 5, or a multilateral cross section, as shown in FIG. 6. Further, the elongated body 20 can be made having different diameters at different segments, for example, the elongated body 20 can be made having big diameter portions 202 and small diameter portions 204 alternatively arranged along the length, as shown in FIG. 7. Further, the elongated body 20 can be made having anti-slip beads 42 evenly distributed over the outer surface of the outer shell 40, as shown in FIG. 8, for positive resting of the human body. Alternatively, the elongated body 20 can be made having massaging beads 44 evenly distributed over the outer surface of the outer shell 40, as shown in FIG. 9, for giving a massaging effect to the user when the user presses his (her) body on the elongated body 20. Further, the outer shell 40 of the elongated body 20 can be made to exhibit a series of graphic elements by means of printing or any other techniques, enhancing user's performance.

[0035] Further, the elongated body can be made having more than one enclosed inner shell set therein. According to a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 10, the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 50 comprises an elongated body 60, which has two enclosed inner shells 62 set therein, and two air valves 66 respectively installed in the two distal ends of the elongated body 60 and respectively connected to the two enclosed inner shells 62. This design allows the user to separately adjust the air pressure in each of the two enclosed inner shells 62 so that the elongated body 60 can have a different hardness-softness at a different location.

[0036] According to a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11, the inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus 70 comprises an elongated body 80, which has three enclosed inner shells 82 set therein, and three air valves 86 installed in the elongated body 60 at different locations and respectively connected to the three enclosed inner shells 82. As the middle part of the elongated body 80 is most frequently used part, the enclosed inner shell 82 that is set on the middle is relatively shorter than the other two enclosed inner shells 82, i.e., the length of the air chamber 84 on the middle is relatively shorter than the other two air chambers 84 so that the middle part of the elongated body 80 can be relatively harder than the other part of the elongated body 80 to meet actual status of use for better performance.

[0037] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus, comprising the steps of: an elongated body, said elongated body comprising at least one enclosed inner shell and an outer shell surrounding said at least one enclosed inner shell, each said enclosed inner shell defining therein an air chamber, said outer shell having an inner surface thereof adhered to an outer surface of each said enclosed inner shell; and at least one air valve installed in said elongated body in communication with the air chamber in each said enclosed inner shell.

2. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said enclosed inner shell comprises an outer layer of cloth covering; the inner surface of said outer shell is adhered to the outer layer of cloth covering of each said enclosed inner shell.

3. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body comprises a plurality of beads distributed over the periphery thereof.

4. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body has a uniform diameter extending along the length thereof.

5. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body comprises a plurality of big diameter portions and small diameter portions alternatively arranged along the length thereof.

6. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section of said elongated body has one of circular, semicircular and multilateral shapes.

7. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one enclosed inner shell and the number of said at least one air valve are at least 2, and the at least two air valves are respectively connected to the at least two enclosed inner shells.

8. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the number of said at least one enclosed inner shell and the number of said at least one air valve are 3, and the three air valves are respectively connected to the three enclosed inner shells.

9. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the three enclosed inner shells are arranged in a line along the length of said elongated body and have different lengths, and the middle enclosed inner shell is shorter than the other two enclosed inner shells.

10. The inflatable gymnastic auxiliary apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body is made of a material selected from the group of polyurethane and natural rubber.