Exercise device construction

Abstract

An exercise device comprising a core element which may be generally spherical and interchangeable shells or covers which are mounted in an overlying relationship with the core to vary the total weight. The covers may have a two-part hinged construction or be segmented with the segments of each cover being interlocking. In one embodiment, the covers are sized to allow each cover to be mounted or nested one upon another in order to vary the weight. The cover may include two spherical panels having at least an outer wall element. Weight blocks, which can be mounted to the outer wall element or placed in a space between the outer wall element and an inner wall element, allow the mass of the cover to be adjusted. The exercise device may have attachment means to attach it to a bar unit, such as a barbell, or may be used as a free-standing exercise ball.

1 . An adjustable-weight exercise device comprising a core adapted for use as an exercise weight of a first weight and having an outer surface, and a removable shell adapted and constructed to fit in a generally abutting relationship upon the outer surface, the combination of core and shell having a total weight substantially different from the weight of the core. 
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the core is generally spherical. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a plurality of shell segments. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the segments have means for interlocking the segments upon the core. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , further comprising means for retaining the segments upon the core. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining means comprise a hinge and a lock between two segments. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the interlocking means comprise a hinge and a lock between two segments. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the core has mounting means for a handle. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the handle mounting means is a threaded coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , further comprising a handle, wherein the handle is in the form of a bar. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the bar has two ends, each of the ends being affixable to a handle mounting means. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the bar is a barbell bar. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the bar is a dumbbell bar. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the bar comprises two interconnectable bar units. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise device, comprising a core of a first weight and a plurality of interchangeable shells mountable upon an exterior of the core to vary the total weight of the exercise device. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein a shell substantially covers the entirety of the core exterior. 
     
     
         17 . An exercise device comprising a core of a first weight and an outer surface and at least one of shells mountable upon the core, each shell having an outer surface, each of said shells being shaped and dimensioned to be mountable upon the outer surface of the core or the outer surface of another shell, whereby an exercise device construction of a chosen total weight may be constructed of said core and at least one of the shells. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the shells is of a different weight. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one shell comprises two spherical portions, the portions having an outer wall element and an inner wall element with a peripheral flange; the outer wall element having an interior surface with supporting means extended therefrom for supporting the flange of the inner wall; securement means for securing said inner wall element to said outer wall element, and a hollow space between the inner and outer wall elements adapted to receive a plurality of weighted bodies. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 19 , wherein the supporting means comprises a plurality of standoffs. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise device of  claim 19 , wherein the interior surface of the outer wall element includes frames forming receiving apertures for the weighted bodies. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one shell comprises two spherical portions, the portions having an outer wall element having an interior surface with at least one means extended inwardly therefrom to support the shell upon the core or another of the at least one shells; at least one weight body; and support means for mounting the weight body upon the interior surface. 
     
     
         23 . The exercise device of  claim 22  wherein the support means comprise a pedestal with a distal end contoured to engage a surface against which it abuts. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise device of  claim 22  further comprising means for aligning a shell with respect to the core or shell to which it is mounted. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise device of  claim 24  wherein the alignment means comprise the weight body support means. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise device of  claim 25  wherein the weight body support means is a pedestal and the alignment means further comprise a depression on the core or a shell dimensioned to receive an end of the weight support pedestal.