Exercise apparatus and method

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprises a ball unit and a handle. The ball unit is weighted and may be hollow or solid. The ball unit has a truncated region and the handle has a retention disc, which retention disc removably couples to the truncated region to operatively connect the handle and ball unit. Preferably, the apparatus comprises first and second truncated regions and first and second handles, which handles each comprise first, second, and third retention discs. The retention discs each comprise a bearing race, which bearing races, when aligned, form a bearing arrangement that further comprises a rolling element received by the bearing races. The apparatus provides for a rotational motion of the ball unit with respect to the handles and of the handles with respect to the ball unit. A method for using the disclosed exercise apparatus comprises providing the apparatus and performing at least one exercise activity therewith.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a ball unit, said ball unit haying a weighted portion disposed therein, said ball unit having at least one truncated region; and   at least one handle, said at least one handle having at least one retention disc, said at least one handle removably coupled to said at least one truncated region of said ball unit via said at least one retention disc, said at least one handle extending outwardly from said ball unit,   wherein said at least one handle provides for a rotational motion of said ball unit with respect to said at least one handle, and wherein said ball unit provides for a rotational motion of said at least one handle with respect to said ball unit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one truncated region of said ball unit comprises a first truncated region and a second truncated region and said at least one handle comprises as first handle and a second handle, said first handle removably coupled to said first truncated region via said at least one retention disc of said first handle, said second handle removably coupled to said second truncated region via said at least one retention disc of said second handle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first truncated region and said second truncated region are disposed at opposite ends of said ball unit. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retention disc comprises a first retention disc, a second retention disc, and a third retention disc. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first retention disc is operatively coupled to said second retention disc, said second retention disc is operatively coupled about a track of said third retention disc, and said third retention disc has at least one bolt for coupling said third retention disc with said ball unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first retention disc and said second retention disc each has at least one aperture and wherein a bearing arrangement is formed by aligning each said at least one aperture of each of said first retention disc and said second retention disc, each said at least one aperture comprising a bearing race, said bearing arrangement comprising a rolling element, said rolling element received within said bearing race. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said rolling element comprises one of a screw head and a ball. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said weighted portion of said ball unit comprises a weight compartment and a weight unit, said weight unit removably received by said weight compartment, and wherein a user may replace said weight unit with a different weight unit such that the apparatus ma be configured to a desired weight. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one strap, said at least one strap operatively coupled to at least one of said ball unit and said at least one handle, said at least one strap capable of securing a portion of the user to the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ball unit is either substantially hollow or substantially solid. 
     
     
         11 . A method for using an exercise apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an exercise apparatus, the exercise apparatus comprising:
 a ball unit, the ball unit having a weighted portion disposed therein, the ball unit having at least one truncated region; and 
 at least one handle, said at least one handle having at least one retention disc, said at least one handle removably coupled to said at least one truncated region of said ball unit via said at least one retention disc, said at least one handle extending outwardly from said ball unit, 
 wherein the at least one handle provides for a rotational motion of the ball unit with respect to the at least one handle, and wherein the ball unit provides for a rotational motion of the at least one handle with respect to the ball unit; 
   performing an exercise activity with the exercise apparatus, the exercise activity comprising one or a series of:
 grasping the apparatus by the at least one handle and thereafter lifting or swinging the apparatus; and 
 grasping the apparatus by the at least one handle and thereafter rolling the ball unit on a surface; and 
   repeating said performing step as desired,   wherein during said performing step, the user may lift, swing, or roll the apparatus in a variety of directions and movement patterns in order to vary the exercise activities performed therewith, and wherein the method may further provide the user with instructions during said performing step as to the movements or patterns of movements to be performed with the apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one truncated region of the ball unit comprises a first truncated region and a second truncated region and the at least one handle comprises a first handle and a second handle, the first handle removably coupled to the first truncated region via the at least one retention disc of the first handle, the second handle removably coupled to the second truncated region via the at least one retention disc of the second handle. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first truncated region and the second truncated region are disposed at opposite ends of the ball unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one retention disc comprises a first retention disc, a second retention disc, and a third retention disc. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first retention disc is operatively coupled to the second retention disc, the second retention disc is operatively coupled about a track of the third retention disc, and the third retention disc has at least one bolt for coupling the third retention disc with the ball unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first retention disc and the second retention disc each has at least one aperture and wherein a bearing arrangement is formed by aligning each at least one aperture of each of the first retention disc and the second retention disc, each at least one aperture comprising a bearing race, the bearing arrangement comprising a rolling element, the rolling element received within the bearing race. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the rolling element comprises one of a screw head and a ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the weighted portion of the ball unit comprises a weight compartment and a weight unit, the weight unit removably received by the weight compartment, and wherein a user may replace the weight unit with a different weight unit such that the apparatus may be configured to a desired weight. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one strap, the at least one strap operatively coupled to at least one of the ball unit and the at least one handle, the at least one strap capable of securing a portion of the user to the apparatus, and wherein the exercise activity of said performing step further comprises one or a series of securing a portion of the user to the apparatus via the at least one strap and thereafter rolling the ball unit on a surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ball unit is either substantially hollow or substantially solid.