Exercise ball

Abstract

An improved exercise ball is defined by a resilient, flexible sidewall having a through opening extending from an interior to an exterior of the sidewall. A loose, solid media such as sand is deposited into the through opening. Thereafter, an air valve is arranged within the through opening and the interior is pressurized to fully inflate the exercise ball. A variety of exercises may thereafter be performed with the improved exercise ball.

1 . An improved exercise ball comprising:
 an air impervious bladder having a through opening and an internal air pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure such that the bladder is a fully inflated sphere that may be grasped from above wherein the bladder conforms to the hand of the user by collapsing around fingers of a user;   a weighted material disposed within said bladder and maintained loosely within the bladder; and,   an air valve arranged in the through opening, said air valve including an air passage that is biased closed when an air inflation needle is removed, said air valve further comprising a retaining ring that is arranged about the portion of the valve that extends into an interior of the air impervious bladder and which may be removed for varying an amount of the weighted material disposed within the bladder;   wherein said ball maintains and supports a spherical shape when placed on a flat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The improved exercise ball of  claim 1  wherein said air impervious bladder comprises natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The improved exercise ball of  claim 1  is formed from PVC. 
     
     
         4 . The improved exercise ball of  claim 1  wherein said diameter of the ball is in a range of substantially seven to eight inches. 
     
     
         5 . The improved exercise ball of  claim 1  wherein said weighted material is selected from a group consisting of one pound, one and one-half pounds, two pounds and two and one-half pounds. 
     
     
         6 . A weighted ball having a non-slip exterior, used for muscle therapy and exercise requiring a user to grasp the weighted ball from above and to lift the ball and retain said ball in the user's grasp while twisting the user's wrist in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction, said weighted ball, comprising a substantially spherical bladder filled with a loose weighted material and air such that said weighted ball supports a spherical shape when placed on a flat surface. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise ball comprising:
 a polyvinylchloride bladder forming a sidewall and having a non-slip exterior surface on the sidewall, said ball being inflated to slightly above atmospheric pressure to ensure that the top of the bladder does not sag when placed on a flat surface;   a through opening arranged in the polyvinylchloride bladder;   a predetermined amount of weighted material being deposited within the exercise ball;   an air valve seated in the through opening, said air valve includes an air passage that is opened when an air inflation needle is thrust therein and biased closed when the air inflation needle is removed;   a retaining ring is arranged about a portion of the air valve that extends into an interior of the polyvinylchloride bladder, retaining ring being removeable for varying an amount of weighted material disposed within the polyvinylchloride bladder   wherein said exercise ball is pliable and may be easily grasped from above such that the polyvinyl bladder conforms about the fingers of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise ball of  claim 7  wherein said polyvinylchloride bladder comprises natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise ball of  claim 7  wherein said diameter of the ball is in a range of substantially seven to eight inches. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise ball of  claim 7  wherein said weighted material is selected from a group consisting of one pound, one and one-half pounds, two pounds and two and one-half pounds. 
     
     
         11 . A method of exercise comprising providing:
 an air impervious bladder having a through opening and an internal air pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure such that the bladder is a fully inflated sphere that may be grasped from above wherein the bladder conforms to the hand of the user by collapsing around fingers of a user;   a weighted material disposed within said bladder and maintained loosely within the bladder; and,   an air valve arranged in the through opening, said air valve including an air passage that is biased closed when an air inflation needle is removed, said air valve further comprising a retaining ring that is arranged about the portion of the valve that extends into an interior of the air impervious bladder and which may be removed for varying an amount of the weighted material disposed within the bladder;   wherein said ball maintains and supports a spherical shape when placed on a flat surface and,   wherein said ball is used to perform each of the following exercises selected from a group consisting of upper body exercises, reverse curls, forward circles, overhead pass, front pass, crossover, hand squeeze, finger squeeze and lower body exercises including inner thigh squeeze, ankle squeeze, foot roll, foot push, upper and lower body crunch, and reverse curls.