Selectively mobile exercise apparatus, methods and systems

Abstract

Selectively mobile exercise apparatus which not only offers a dynamic air surface or hard non-dynamic surface. A set of mobility means, such as wheels with 360 degree free rotation in every direction, can be selectively engaged or disengaged depending on the level of mobility which the user desires and/or the exercises they wish perform. In addition to providing a selectively mobile balance trainer such exercise apparatus can have retractable handles which allows the user to engage or disengage such handles depending on the intended use of the selectively mobile exercise device. Such selectively mobile exercise apparatus can be used in combination with resistance bands, weights, medicine balls, and/or multiple such selectively mobile exercise apparatus to provide a multitude of exercise capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A selectively mobile exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   an inflatable bladder filled with a gas or fluid, the inflatable bladder connected to a top of the base; and   mobility means including deployable and retractable wheels coupled to the base.   
     
     
         2 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobility means enables the selectively mobile exercise apparatus to be used in a first stationary state when the wheels are retracted into a bottom of the base and in a second mobile state when the wheels are deployed from the bottom of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployable and retractable wheels are coupled to a handle and rotatable along with the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein pressure applied to the handle locks the wheels in the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the handle is usable for performing an exercise and the handle is used for deploying the retractable wheels from the base of the selectively mobile exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployable mobility means includes two sets of wheels, each set of wheels coupled to a corresponding rotatable handle. 
     
     
         7 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising visual indicators that the wheels are deployed. 
     
     
         8 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 7 , the visual indicators being tabs that protrude from the base when the handle is rotated to deploy the wheels such that the visual indicators are visible from above the base, the visual indicators being withdrawn within the base when the handles are rotated to retract the wheels. 
     
     
         9 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a first set of wheels are coupled to a first handle proximate a first end of the base and a second set of wheels are coupled to a second handle proximate a second end of the base, the second end of the base being an opposite end to the first end of the base and each wheel being rotatable in every direction. 
     
     
         10 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein rotation of the first handle deploys the first set of wheels and rotation of the second handle deploys the second set of wheels. 
     
     
         11 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder creates an unstable surface filled with air or other gas or gel. 
     
     
         12 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is attached to the base around a periphery of the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         13 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , the inflatable bladder including a port, wherein air pressure within the inflatable bladder can be deflated or inflated using the port to change a level of instability. 
     
     
         14 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of extendable and retractable handles disposed on opposite sides of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the pair of extendable and retractable handles are configured to enable exercises using either the top or bottom of the selectively mobile exercise device. 
     
     
         16 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the pair of extendable and retractable handles are flat and continuous with the sides of the base in a retracted state. 
     
     
         17 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the base includes release mechanisms for releasing the extendable and retractable handles from the retracted state and allowing the handles to lock into an extended state, the handles extending from opposing sides of the base in the extended state. 
     
     
         18 . The selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , the base including arches along the sides of the base and notches in the arches to accommodate the use of resistance bands in conjunction with the selectively mobile exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . A method of exercising comprising using the selectively mobile exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 performing a first exercise using the selectively mobile exercise apparatus in a stationary configuration;   deploying the wheels from the base; and   performing a second exercise using the selectively mobile exercise apparatus in a mobile configuration, wherein the first exercise is performed with the wheels retracted within the base and the second exercise is performed with the wheels deployed beneath the base.   
     
     
         20 . A selectively mobile exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a base;   an inflatable bladder filled with a gas or fluid, the inflatable bladder connected to a top of the base; and   a first set of deployable and retractable wheels coupled to the base, the first set of deployable and retractable wheels being disposed at a first end of the base and coupled to a first handle, wherein rotation of the first handle rotates the first set of deployable and retractable wheels from a retracted position of the first set of deployable and retractable wheels within the base to a deployed position of the first set of deployable and retractable wheels extending from a bottom of the base proximate the first end of the base; and   a second set of deployable and retractable wheels coupled to the base, the second set of deployable and retractable wheels being disposed proximate a second end of the base and coupled to a second handle, wherein rotation of the second handle rotates the second set of deployable and retractable wheels from a retracted position of the second set of deployable and retractable wheels within the base to a deployed position of the second set of deployable and retractable wheels extending from the bottom of the base proximate to the second end of the base.