DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Below, the easily portable exercise equipment making use of one or more rotation weights, of the present invention, is described in detail, making reference to the attached drawings.

[0027] A preferable embodiment example of the easily portable exercise equipment 1 of the present invention consists of, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a discoid hollow body 2, a support axis 3 fixed in the center of said body 2, and a rotation means 4, rotatably fixed to said support axis 3.

[0028] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discoid body 2, with said support axis 3 fixed in the center, has many protuberances 22 along its rim 21, intended to give effects of therapeutic finger-pressure treatment on the palm when said rim 21 is held with a hand.

[0029] The body 2 can be held with one hand anywhere on said rim 21, but when two handles 21a are formed along said rim 21, as is shown in FIG. 9, each symmetrically on opposite sides, said body 2 can be held with both hands, one each by one of said two handle 21a. As are seen in FIG. 9, the handles can be made to have curves to fit in a user's fingers when he holds them with both hands.

[0030] The rotation means 4, rotatably fixed to said support axis 3 in the center of said body 2, whose rim has said acupressure protrusion s 22 for holding with hands, rotatably fixes rotators 41 on said support axis 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0031] Between said rotator 41 and said support axis 3 bearings B are formed, so that the friction of the rotation means 4 and said support axis 3 against each other can be lessened as much as possible to secure a smooth rotation of said rotator 41 on said support axis 3.

[0032] On the free end of said rotator 41 rotatably fixed on said support axis 3 via said bearing B, is formed an arm 42 to extend to said rim 21 of said body 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0033] On the outer end of said arm 42 is formed a rotation weight 43 of a certain weight, and the rotation weight 43 rotates together with said arm 42 and said rotator 41 along said rim 21 of said body 2, because said rotation weight 43 is connected with said arm 42, and said arm 42, in turn, is connected with said rotator 41.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the arm 42 extending from said rotator 41 can be made in various shapes according to those of said body, as, for instance, seen in FIG. 9, where said body 2 is streamlined and so is said arm 42 formed in a fit corresponding shape.

[0035] The arm 42 can be so made to have an auxiliary weight 43a formed on it away from the rotation weight 43, as shown in FIG. 4, that the rotation of said rotation weight 43 can be kept smooth, while a balance weight 43b can be formed on the opposite end of said arm 42, extending on the converse side to secure a well balanced rotation of said rotation weight 43, as is seen in FIG. 5.

[0036] Also as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to separate said arm 42 in two parts, one to be rotatably fastened to said rotator 41 and the other having said rotation weight at its far end, and both rotatably joined together by a hinge 42a, so that when said rotator 41 rotates, the part of said arm 42 extending outward from said hinge 42a may perform its own rotation upon said hinge 42a.

[0037] In this case it is preferable, however, that the part of said arm 42 having said rotation weight 43 at its end be made shorter than the other part, that is, rotatably fixed on said rotator 41, so that when the former part rotates upon said hinge 42a it may not run into any other part of the device.

[0038] It is preferable, as shown in FIG. 3, to have two or more such rotation means 4, consisting of said rotator 41 rotatably fixed on said support axis 3, the arm 42, and said rotation weight 43, but in such a case it is required that one or two spacers 6 be fastened on said support axis 3 and between said rotators 41 so that said rotators 41 can be kept at an established distance from each other.

[0039] The rotation weights 43 in the case that there are more than two of them, are each to have, as shown in FIG. 12, a magnetic body 45 placed inside, and these magnetic bodies 45 are each to be either of the same or different polarity to attract or repel each other so that said rotation weights 43 can be made to move in the same direction or cross each other in rotation.

[0040] Also, as shown in FIG. 13, it is possible to fix a second magnetic body 25 or bodies on a part or parts of said rim 21 of said body 2 so that it or they can either attract or repel said first magnetic body 45 or bodies.

[0041] On said rim 21 of said body 2 are formed hand protectors 23 of soft rubber or the like so that hands are well protected from undue injury when said rim 21 is held with hands, and, moreover, the hand protectors are also to have acupressure protrusion s formed similarly to those 22 along said rim 21, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, a number of suspension protrusion s 24 are so formed along the inside of said rim 21 of said body 2 that the nails of said suspension protrusion s 24 softly touch said rotation weight(s) 43 in order that the user may sense their touch while using the equipment.

[0043] FIG. 15 shows another embodiment example of the present invention, in which a ball 44 is placed inside said rotation weight 43 and so said ball 44 rotates inside, when said rotation weight 43 rotates on said support axis 3.

[0044] As seen in FIG. 10, decelerating means 5 are formed on one side of said rotation means 4 rotatably fixed on said support axis 3 to decelerate the rotation speed of said rotator 41.

[0045] The decelerating means 5 form covers 51 to be fixed, as seen in FIG. 10, to said body 2 in the direction of said support axis 3; said covers 51, in turn, have elastic members 52 formed toward said support axis 3 to come into contact with it via a presser 53; and according to the degree of the pressure of said presser 53 applied to said rotator 41 the rotation speed of the latter can be decreased, or otherwise adjusted.

[0046] The pressers 53 each have a roller 53a in the shape of a ball formed on the forward end, as seen in FIG. 10, which ball-like roller 53a, rolling in close contact with said rotator 41, applies pressure to said rotator 41.

[0047] The exercise equipment of the present invention, constructed as described above, is held with a hand of both hands by said rim 21 of said body 2 or by said handle[s] 21a, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, or 8, to have its body 2 swung or flourished up and down or left and right.

[0048] The acupressure protrusion s, shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 formed at the spot where said rim 21 is held or on said handle[s] automatically give a sort of chiropractic treatment to the palms of hands throughout the time the equipment is held with the hand for an exercise.

[0049] Because there are hand protectors 23 of rubber or similar soft material formed on the parts where the equipment 1 is held with a hand or hands, little fatigue results even if the equipment 1 is held for a considerable length of time.

[0050] When a user holds said body 2 where said acupressure protrusion s 22 are and swing or flourish said body 2 up and down or left and right, the rotator 4 of said rotation means 4 rotatably fixed on said support axis 3 smoothly rotates as said body 2 shakes, because it is fixed easily to rotate by virtue of said bearing B, and said rotator 41 rotates all the more easily because even of the sheer weight of said rotation weight 43 which is placed on the outer end of said arm 42 extending from said rotator 41 toward said rim 21.

[0051] The rotation weight 43 connected with said rotator 41 of said rotation means 43 via said arm 42 continues rotating by the centrifugal force once it starts rotation, and, as shown in FIG. 15, it rotates all the better because of said ball 44 placed inside said rotation weight 43, the shake of said ball 44 being tactually perceived by the user.

[0052] The rotation weight 43 is not limited to one in number, but two or more of them 43 can be fitted, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one placed at a given interval from another via a spacer 6, and for this reason they can be rotated in the same direction or made to cross paths.

[0053] Because the two or more rotation weights 43 on the two or more rotation means 4 each have a magnetic body, as shown in FIG. 12, they can rotate all the more easily on said support axis 3 thanks to the attracting or repelling force of said magnetic bodies of different polarity placed inside; while said second magnetic bodies 25 formed of magnetic material or metal reacting to magnetism and fixed on the inside of said rim 21 of said body 2 help the rotation of said rotation weights 43 the better.

[0054] Over the rotation weight 43 there is an auxiliary weight 43a, as shown in FIG. 4, on said arm 42, and because of this auxiliary weight 43a the centrifugal force increases when the rotation weight 43 rotates within said body 2, while, as shown in FIG. 5, a balance weight 43b is formed on the opposite end of said arm 42 over said rotator 41, which helps the rotation weight 41 to rotate so much better.

[0055] Meanwhile, as there are a number of suspension protrusion s 24 formed on the inside of said rim 21 of said body 2, and as it is so arranged that these protuberances 24 slightly and softly rub against said rotation weight 43 when the latter rotates, the user of the equipment 1 can feel the delicate friction of these when he exercises swinging or flourishing the equipment 1.

[0056] When it is desired to adjust the rotating speed of said rotator 41 of said rotation means 4 which rotates on said support axis 3 via said bearing B, a user needs only to turn, to one side, said cover 51 of said decelerating means 5, fixed on either side of the center of said body 2, where said support axis 3 is fixed, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0057] When the cover 51 of said decelerating means 5 is turned to one side, it 51 moves toward, or away from, the center of said body 2.

[0058] If the cover 51 is turned to move toward the center, pressure is applied to said elastic member 52 fixed on its inside.

[0059] If the elastic member 52 is pressed, the roller 53a of said presser 53 formed on the end of said elastic member 52 comes in close contact with said rotator 41 of said rotation means 4 to decelerate the rotation of said rotator 41.

[0060] The force of the friction which decelerates the rotation of said rotator 41 depends upon how much or how far said cover 51 of said decelerating means 5 is turned, and as the pressure applied by the friction from the close contact of said elastic member 52 and said rotator 41 varies, this can be made use of for adjustment of the rotation speed of said rotator 41.

[0061] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment example of said arm 42, in which said arm 42 is divided in two parts but are joined together by said hinge 42a, viz. the part extending from said rotator 41 to said hinge 42a and the other part extending from said hinge 42a to the outer end, where the rotation weight is fixed, whereupon the part with the rotation weight attached to rotates on said hinge 42a when said rotator 41 rotates.

[0062] Although only the preferable embodiment examples of the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention were described above, it is not to be construed to mean that the present invention shall be confined to these embodiment examples, but a number of variations can be made on the bases, and within the range, of the patent claims postulated, the detailed descriptions in the specification, and the attached drawings, which all shall duly fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0063] As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention makes it possible for persons to take aerobic exercises holding it in both hands even in a limited space, it thereby helps the users to maintain the right postures and good health.

[0064] As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention is rendered capable of rotating the rotation weight[s] in the same or alternating directions in various ways, the users can enjoy exercising for an extended time without easily getting tired or wearied of it.

[0065] The easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention has effects of maximizing the benefits of stretching limbs and muscles, because one can take light exercise holding it with a hand[s] and stretching the arms forward or bending them to right, left, up or down, rotating the rotation weight[s] in repetition, thereby working the muscles of one's hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, chest, waist, and all.