Functional training device

Abstract

A versatile, functional training device of substantially elliptical shape and comprising a fluid weight that employs principles of unstable resistance as a means of increasing balance, stability, overall strength, core strength and proprioception while increasing lean muscle mass and burning calories. During operation, a user moves the device through a regimen of individualized movements, and the fluid weight moves and shifts inside the device, creating a instability at a point of resistance. The device comprises D-shaped handles with finger grooves adapted for maneuverability. The handles also may be filled with fluid to increase the weight and adaptability of the device across multiple activities and physical regimens. Measuring scales are provided on the device to measure the amount of fluid added to or removed from the device. The device may be transparent or translucent, and the fluid weight may be tinted to aid in visibility.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A functional fitness device comprising:
 a substantially elliptical body; and   a port associated with the body for receiving a fluid weight inside the body;   wherein the fluid weight inside the body is unstable and creates instability at the point of resistance during multi-planar movements and increases the functionality of the device.   
     
     
         2 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one handle associated with the body. 
     
     
         3 . The functional fitness device of  claim 2  where in the at least one handle is at least 1.5 inches wide at the location where the at least one handle connects with the body. 
     
     
         4 . The functional fitness device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one handle forms a D-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The functional fitness product of  claim 2  wherein the at least one handle comprises at least one interior chamber and a port for receiving a fluid weight into the at least one interior chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid weight is selected from the group consisting of water, glycerin, metal shavings, plastic beads, sand and hybrids of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         7 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein the body is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         8 . The functional fitness device of  claim 7  further comprising a colorant for tinting the fluid weight in the body. 
     
     
         9 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  further comprising a graduated scale associated with the body for measuring the amount of fluid weight received inside the body. 
     
     
         10 . The functional fitness device of  claim 5  further comprising a graduated scale associated with the interior chamber of the at least one handle for measuring the amount of fluid weight received inside the interior chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein the body is bladderless and is comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein fluid weight inside the body is adjustable in a range of at least about 0 pounds to at least about 40 pounds. 
     
     
         13 . The functional fitness device of  claim 11  wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         14 . The functional fitness device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one handle is integrally formed with the body and comprises a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber, and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         15 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein the body is at least about 5 to at least about 15 inches in diameter at the widest point. 
     
     
         16 . The functional fitness device of  claim 1  wherein additional weight inside the at least one handle is adjustable in a range of between about 0.1 pounds to about 5 pounds per each of at least one handle. 
     
     
         17 . The functional training device of the  claim 2  further comprising a weight belt. 
     
     
         18 . The functional training device of  claim 17  wherein the weight belt adds additional weight of at least about 0.5 pounds to about 30 pounds. 
     
     
         19 . The functional training device of  claim 5  further comprising a neoprene washer. 
     
     
         20 . The functional training device of  claim 1  wherein the substantially elliptical body comprises a polar diameter and an equatorial diameter and the ratio of the polar diameter to the equatorial diameter ranges from about 1:1.5 to about 2:3.5. 
     
     
         21 . A method of improving proprioception and physical health, the method comprising the steps of:
 utilizing the instability of weight as a form of unstable resistance during multi-planar functional movements; and   moving a substantially elliptically-shaped device holding unstable weight through multi-planar functional movements.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of moving an elliptically-shaped device filled with water through multi-planar functional movements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the multi-planar functional movements are employed in activities selected from the group consisting of physical therapy, preventative injury training, strength conditioning, muscle conditioning, water aerobics training, group fitness training and individual fitness training, pre- and post-operative physical therapy, core conditioning, and general body awareness training. 
     
     
         24 . A functional fitness device comprising:
 a substantially elliptical elastomeric body; and   a port associated with the body for receiving fluid weight inside the body, wherein the weight inside the body is unstable and creates instability at the point of resistance of a user; and   at least one handle associated with the body, wherein the at least one handle comprises at least one chamber and at least one port associated with each at least one chamber for receiving fluid weight inside the handle.   
     
     
         25 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  where in the at least one handle is at least 1.5 inches wide at the location where the at least one handle connects with the body. 
     
     
         26 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the fluid weight is selected from the group consisting of water, glycerin, plastic beads, metal shavings, sand and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         27 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the body is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         28 . The functional fitness device of  claim 27  further comprising a colorant for tinting the fluid weight in the body. 
     
     
         29 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  further comprising a graduated scale associated with the body for measuring the amount of fluid weight received inside the body. 
     
     
         30 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  further comprising a graduated scale associated with the at least one handle for measuring the amount of fluid weight received inside each of the at least one handle. 
     
     
         31 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the body is bladderless and is comprised of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber, neoprene and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         32 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the fluid weight inside the body is adjustable in a range of between about 0 pounds to about 40 pounds. 
     
     
         33 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the port further comprises a neoprene washer. 
     
     
         34 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the at least one handle comprises a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber, and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         35 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the at least one handle further comprises a plurality of interior chambers adapted to receive additional fluid weight inside the handle. 
     
     
         36 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the body is about 5 to about 15 inches in diameter at the widest point. 
     
     
         37 . The functional fitness device of  claim 24  wherein the fluid weight inside the at least one handle is adjustable in a range of between about 0.1 pounds to about 5 pounds per each at least one handle. 
     
     
         38 . The functional training device of the  claim 24  further comprising a weight belt. 
     
     
         39 . The functional training device of  claim 38  wherein the weight belt adds additional weight of at least about 5 pounds to about 30 pounds. 
     
     
         40 . The functional training device of  claim 24  further comprising a neoprene washer. 
     
     
         41 . The functional training device of  claim 1  wherein the substantially elliptical body comprises a polar diameter and an equatorial diameter and the ratio of the polar diameter to the equatorial diameter ranges from about 1:1.5 to about 2:3.5. 
     
     
         42 . A functional fitness device comprising:
 a substantially elliptical elastomeric body; and   a port for receiving fluid weight inside the body, wherein the weight inside the body is unstable and creates instability at the point of resistance of a user;   at least one handle associated with the body, wherein the at least one handle comprises a at least one interior chamber and a port for receiving fluid weight inside the handle; and   a graduated scale for measuring the amount of fluid weight inside the body.   
     
     
         43 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the at least one handle is at least 1.5 inches wide at the location where the at least one handle connects with the body. 
     
     
         44 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the fluid weight is selected from the group consisting of water, glycerin, plastic beads, metal shavings, sand and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         45 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the body is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         46 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  further comprising a colorant for tinting the fluid weight in the body. 
     
     
         47 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  further comprising at least one graduated scale associated with the at least one handle for measuring the amount of weight received inside each interior chamber of the at least one handle. 
     
     
         48 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the body is bladderless and is comprised of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber, neoprene and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         49 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein fluid weight inside the body is adjustable in a range of between about 5 pounds to about 40 pounds. 
     
     
         50 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the port further comprises a neoprene washer. 
     
     
         51 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the at least one handle comprises a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, neoprene, high density polyethylene, rubber, and hybrids of the foregoing. 
     
     
         52 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the at least one handle further comprises a plurality of interior chambers adapted to receive additional fluid weight inside the handle. 
     
     
         53 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the body is at least about 5-15 inches in diameter at the widest point. 
     
     
         54 . The functional fitness device of  claim 42  wherein the fluid weight inside the at least one handle is adjustable in a range of between about 0.1 pounds to about 5 pounds per each at least one handle. 
     
     
         55 . The functional training device of the  claim 42  further comprising a weight belt. 
     
     
         56 . The functional training device of  claim 55  wherein the weight belt adds additional weight of at least about 0.5 pounds to about 30 pounds. 
     
     
         57 . The functional training device of  claim 42  further comprising a neoprene washer. 
     
     
         58 . The functional training device of  claim 1  wherein the substantially elliptical body comprises an polar diameter and an equatorial diameter and the ratio of the polar diameter to the equatorial diameter ranges from about 1:1.5 to about 2:3.5. 
     
     
         60 . The functional training device of  claim 42  wherein the at least one handle forms a D-shape.