Elongate Fitness Ball

Abstract

A weighted, impact-absorbing, elongate fitness ball configured to facilitate strength training, body-shaping, rehabilitation, and various other exercise workouts. The elongate fitness ball has a generally oblong shape with tapered ends that facilitate holding and manipulating by hand while working with the fitness ball.

Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weighted fitness apparatus comprising:
 an elongate body including:
 a major diameter centered about a longitudinal axis; and 
 two distal ends extending along the longitudinal axis from opposite sides of the major diameter, the distal ends tapering equally from the major diameter; 
   the elongate body being rotationally symmetrical about longitudinal axis and symmetrical across a plane containing the major diameter and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   the elongate body having an outer surface enclosing a volume, the volume being primarily occupied by a solid filler material; and   the elongate body having progressively sized hand grip positions extending from proximal the major diameter to the distal ends, each of the hand positions being rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the solid filler material is granular. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is unitarily constructed of a single material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body weighs at least five pounds. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body weighs at least ten pounds. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body weighs between two and twenty pounds. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is unitarily constructed of polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material is impact absorbing such that resilience is minimized. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the filler material deforms when gripped at a grip position to facilitate gripping by hands of various sizes. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a weighted fitness apparatus, the fitness apparatus having a major diameter about a longitudinal axis and two distal ends extending along the longitudinal axis from opposite sides of the major diameter, the distal ends tapering equally from the major diameter, the method comprising:
 grasping the fitness apparatus with two hands, one hand being at a first grip position offset from the major diameter that is rotationally symmetric along the longitudinal axis, the other hand being at a second grip position oppositely offset from the major diameter that is rotationally symmetric along the longitudinal axis; and   moving the fitness apparatus repetitively in a reciprocating motion with the two hands .   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reciprocating motion is performed from a standing position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reciprocating motion is performed from a supine position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reciprocating motion is performed from a crouch position. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a weighted fitness apparatus, the fitness apparatus having a major diameter about a longitudinal axis and two distal ends extending along the longitudinal axis from opposite sides of the major diameter, the distal ends being equally tapered from the major diameter, the method comprising:
 grasping the fitness apparatus alternately from one hand to another hand, the one hand being at a first grip position offset from the major diameter along the longitudinal axis, the another hand being at a second grip position oppositely offset from the major diameter along the longitudinal axis moving the fitness apparatus from the one hand to the another hand repetitively.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repetitive motion is performed from a standing position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repetitive motion is performed from a supine position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repetitive motion is performed from a crouch position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repetitive motion includes passing the fitness apparatus behind the back. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the repetitive motion includes passing the fitness apparatus successively under each leg.