Exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device ( 10 ) comprising a hollow body ( 12 ) comprising a flexible wall which defines a cavity ( 18 ) therein, wherein the cavity ( 18 ) can be substantially emptied to configure the body ( 12 ) into a collapsed configuration and the cavity ( 18 ) can be substantially filled to configure the body ( 12 ) into an expanded configuration and at least one handle ( 20 ) having first and second mounting means ( 25 a, 25 b ) and a grip ( 21 ) therebetween, wherein the first and second mounting means ( 25 a, 25 b ) are fixedly attached to the body ( 12 ).

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a hollow body comprising a flexible wall which defines a cavity therein, wherein the cavity can be substantially emptied to configure the body into a collapsed configuration and the cavity can be substantially filled to configure the body into an expanded configuration; and   at least one handle having first and second mounting means and a grip therebetween, wherein the first and second mounting means are fixedly attached to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one handle comprises at least two handles fixedly attached to spaced portions of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body is substantially flat in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising a valve assembly mounted in the body for emptying or filling the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the cavity can be filled with a solid and/or a gas and/or a liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a tubular mid-portion. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6  wherein the body comprises substantially hemispherical first and second end portions attached to the mid-portion. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body is at most 30 cm in length when in the expanded configuration 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body is at most 20 cm in width when in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body is made from polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 4  wherein the valve assembly comprises a one way filling valve. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11  wherein the filling valve is adapted such that both air and liquid can be inserted into the cavity via the filling valve. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 11  wherein the filling valve is mounted in a valve housing which is attachable to the body. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 13  wherein the body comprises an aperture having a tube mounted therein, wherein the valve housing is mountable to the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 14  wherein the valve housing comprises an externally threaded hollow section and the tube comprises an internally threaded section. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 13  wherein the valve housing comprises a generally flat section which is substantially flush with an external surface of the body when mounted, 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 16  wherein the flat section includes a central recess within which the filling valve is mounted. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 4  wherein the valve assembly further includes a closing cap. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 6  wherein the at least one handle is attached to a side wall of the mid-portion. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second mounting means mount the grip in a spaced manner from the body in use. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the grip comprises a curved rubberised tube. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the grip comprises first and second end straps which attach to the respective first and second mounting means. 
     
     
         23 . The exercise device of  claim 22  wherein each mounting means comprises a first pad attached to a lower surface of a respective end strap, and a second pad positioned over a respective end strap and first pad and attached thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise device of  claim 23  wherein the second pad is larger than the first pad and edges of the second pad extending beyond edges of the first pad are attached to the body. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise device of  claim 23  wherein the first and second pads are attached to the body via cold glue or other suitable adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the cavity is formed with multiple chambers which can be separately emptied or filled. 
     
     
         27 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is rigidly attached to the body. 
     
     
         28 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is configured as a glove shaped attachment. 
     
     
         29 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional handle attached to the body. 
     
     
         30 . The exercise device of  claim 29  wherein two handles are on opposing sides of the body. 
     
     
         31 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is disposed at an end portion of the body. 
     
     
         32 . The exercise device of  claim 31  further including a second handle disposed at an opposite end portion of the body. 
     
     
         33 . The exercise device of  claim 31  further including a connection means disposed at an end portion of the body. 
     
     
         34 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the connection means comprises a ring. 
     
     
         35 . An exercise device comprising:
 a hollow body comprising a flexible wall which defines a cavity therein, wherein the cavity is filled such that the body is in an expanded configuration; and   a handle attached to the body;   wherein the body is made from polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber.   
     
     
         36 . The exercise device of  claim 35  wherein the handle is fixedly attached to the body. 
     
     
         37 . The exercise device of  claim 35  wherein the cavity is filled with a solid and/or a gas and/or a liquid. 
     
     
         38 . The exercise device of  claim 35  wherein the body comprises a tubular mid-portion. 
     
     
         39 . The exercise device of  claim 38  wherein the body comprises substantially hemispherical first and second end portions attached to the mid-portion. 
     
     
         40 . The exercise device of  claim 35  wherein the body is at most 30 cm in length. 
     
     
         41 . The exercise device of  claim 35  wherein the body is at the most 20 cm in width. 
     
     
         42 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body between 30 cm and 100 cm in length. 
     
     
         43 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises at least one supplementary weight within the cavity. 
     
     
         44 . The exercise device of  claim 43  wherein the at least one supplementary weight comprises a solid weight. 
     
     
         45 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight is fixedly attached to an internal wall of the cavity. 
     
     
         46 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight is positioned at a centre portion of the body. 
     
     
         47 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight is positioned off centre to the longitudinal length of the body. 
     
     
         48 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight comprises two or more weights either side by side or spaced along the longitudinal length of the body. 
     
     
         49 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight has a round circumference which fits with the inner circumference of the cavity. 
     
     
         50 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight is disposed off centre to the central longitudinal axis of the body 
     
     
         51 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the at least one supplementary weight extends longitudinally in shape. 
     
     
         52 . The exercise device of  claim 51  wherein the two or more weights are spaced relative to the central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         53 . The exercise device of  claim 44  wherein the remainder of the cavity not occupied by the supplementary weight(s) can be fully filled or partially filled with other material. 
     
     
         54 . The exercise device of  claim 53  wherein the cavity is divided into chambers which individually receives the materials as desired. 
     
     
         55 . The exercise device of  claim 1  comprising a first pair and a second pair of handles. 
     
     
         56 . The exercise device of  claim 55  wherein the handles of the first pair are arranged adjacent the respective first and second end portions. 
     
     
         57 . The exercise device of  claim 55  wherein the grips of the first pair are generally parallel to each other and transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         58 . The exercise device of  claim 55  wherein the handles of the second pair arranged inwardly of the first pair. 
     
     
         59 . The exercise device of  claim 55  wherein the grips of the second pair are generally aligned with each other and parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         60 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the effective length of the grip between the first and second mounting means is adjustable. 
     
     
         61 . The exercise device of  claim 60  wherein the grip comprises an elongated strap having a first end portion attached to the first mounting means, looped through a ring in the second mounting means and a second end portion of the strap is adjustably attached to the first end portion. 
     
     
         62 . The exercise device of  claim 60  wherein the grip comprises a first portion attached to the first mounting means and a second portion attached to the second mounting means, wherein the first and second portions are detachably attachable to each other. 
     
     
         63 . The exercise device of  claim 62  wherein the position of the second portion relative to the first portion is adjustable 
     
     
         64 . The exercise device of  claim 62  wherein the respective lengths of the first and second portions are adjustable prior to these portions being attached to each other. 
     
     
         65 . The exercise device of  claim 1  comprising at least two handles on each of generally opposing sides thereof, the handles on each respective side being disposed with their grips generally aligned with each other and parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         66 . The exercise device of  claim 1  comprising at least three handles on each of generally opposing sides thereof, the handles on each respective side being disposed with their grips generally aligned with each other and parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         67 . The exercise device of  claim 65  or  66  wherein the handles are fixed length handles, variable length handles or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         68 . The exercise device of  claim 65  or  66  further comprising means for substantially retaining the exercise device in position on the ground or other structure. 
     
     
         69 . The exercise device of  claim 68  wherein the retaining means comprises at least one device retainer, each device retainer comprising two portions for engaging opposing sides of the exercise device. 
     
     
         70 . The exercise device of  claim 69  wherein the two portions are wedges joined at their narrow edge portions to forms a generally concave upper portion which receives the exercise device. 
     
     
         71 . The exercise device of  claim 68  wherein the retaining means comprises an elevated platform. 
     
     
         72 . The exercise device of  claim 68  wherein the retaining means comprises spaced elevated platforms having differing heights for orienting the exercise device at an inclined angle. 
     
     
         73 . An exercise device comprising:
 a hollow body comprising a flexible wall which defines a cavity therein, wherein the cavity can be substantially emptied to configure the body into a collapsed configuration and the cavity can be substantially filled to configure the body into an expanded configuration; and   
       at least one handle having a grip and at least one mounting means, wherein the at least one mounting means is fixedly attached to the body.