# US 9,517,387 B2 · Gymnastic tool, apparatus and method to carry it out

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- Number: US 9,517,387 B2
- Document ID: US9517387B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/600,540
- Filed: 2015-01-20
- Published: 2015-05-14
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2009-07-28
- Assignees: Trial S.R.L.
- Applicants: Trial S.r.l.
- Inventors: Giovanni Montanari
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517387B2

## CPC

- A63B 43/002: {with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical (discs for throwing A63B65/10)}
- A63B 21/0004: {Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise (bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20)}
- A63B 41/085: {Closures}
- A63B 41/125: {Large inflatable balls primarily used as body supports for exercising, e.g. balancing}
- A63B 45/02: Marking of balls
- B29C 41/04: Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
- B29C 41/20: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
- B29D 22/00: Producing hollow articles (tubular articles B29D23/00; pneumatic tyres B29D30/00)
- A63B 43/04: with an eccentric centre of gravity; with mechanism for changing the centre of gravity (solid balls A63B37/10)
- A63B 2225/62: Inflatable
- B29L 2031/52: Sports equipment {; Games; Articles for amusement}; Toys (B29L2031/54 takes precedence)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A gymnastic tool (1) is formed by at least two impermeable external walls (2, 3) which are each concave shaped and provided with respective edges (4,5). The at least two impermeable walls (2, 3) are mutually fixed together by a connector (6), the gymnastic tool having at least one inner cavity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A unitary gymnastic tool comprising:
at least two interior chambers, a first chamber defined by a first impermeable external wall, and a second chamber defined by a second impermeable external wall;
the first and second external walls having facing edges, a planar connecting wall disposed between the facing edges;
the planar connecting wall fixing the respective edges together so as to make the external walls inseparable, the fixed first impermeable external wall and second external wall forming the unitary gymnastic tool;
wherein at least the first impermeable exterior wall is in the form of a truncated sphere having a circumferential angle greater than 180° and less than 360°; and,
wherein the planar connecting wall partitions the first chamber from the second chamber, the planar connecting wall having a central hole wherein the two chambers are in fluid communication via the central hole, and wherein the area of the connecting wall is greater than the area of the central hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the planar connecting wall and the edges of the two impermeable external walls have a circular, elliptical, oval or smoothed triangle shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the impermeable external walls is made of flexible or resilient material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the planar connecting wall is at least partially flexible or rigid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 further comprising at least one valve mounted to at least one impermeable external wall for admitting a fluid to at least one chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to the claim 1 wherein at least one chamber thereof is under a predetermined pressure greater than a pressure of the environment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the second external impermeable wall is shaped to have protruding meridian lobes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the second external impermeable wall is shaped to have protruding parallel lobes, each lobe being an annular portion of a torus.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the two impermeable external walls have substantially identical shapes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the second impermeable external wall has a shape different from the first impermeable external wall shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the second impermeable external wall is shaped to have protruding meridian lobes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The unitary gymnastic tool according to claim 1 wherein the second impermeable external wall is shaped to have protruding parallel lobes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An apparatus for producing the gymnastic tool of claim 1 comprising:
a mould tightener which mutually translates and tightens at least two members of a mould where the inner face of at least one mould member is shaped in a form of a truncated sphere having a circumferential angle greater than 180° and less than 360°;
at least one of the mould members having in a zenith or azimuth position, with an opening plug for opening and closing an inlet of the respective mould member;
said opening plug having a support protruding inward of the mould member when in a closed condition, for supporting a valve to be embedded into the external wall.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein projecting edges of the mould members are received in register with respective mating annular recesses, an optional annular housing recess receiving an edge of the planar connecting wall which is sized to fit the annular housing recess.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A method for making the gymnastic tool of claim 1 comprising:
providing a mould tightener which mutually translates and tightens at least two members of a mould where the inner face of at least one mould member is shaped in a form of a truncated sphere having a circumferential angle greater than 180° and less than 360°;
at least one of the mould members having in a zenith or azimuth position, with an opening plug for opening and closing an inlet of the respective mould member;
said opening plug having a support protruding inward of the mould member when in a closed condition, for supporting a valve to be embedded into the external wall;
positioning a lower mould member, having the inlet closed by the opening plug, spaced from an upper mould member and having the respective edge almost horizontal and upward oriented;
placing a valve or a connector thereof onto the support of said opening plug;
pouring a plastic material adapted for forming the corresponding external wall, into the lower mould member, through the respective edge;
placing the planar connecting wall over the edge of the lower member and, if the planar connecting wall consists of a separator sized to fit therein, placing the edges thereof onto an optional annular housing recess for receiving said edge;
using the mould tightener to tighten the mould members, thereby clamping the planar connecting wall;
removing the opening plug from the inlet of the upper mould member;
if the planar connecting wall consists of an airtight separator, applying onto the support of said opening plug a valve or a connector thereof;
pouring a plastic material adapted forming the corresponding external wall, into the upper mould member, through the respective inlet, said material being either the same or different from the plastic material poured into the lower mould member;
closing said inlet using the opening plug;
introducing the mould into a forming oven and simultaneously warming and rotating the mould;
removing the mould from the forming oven, opening the mould and taking the formed tool out of the mould;
optionally performing a blowing and/or filling of the chambers or inner cavity of the formed tool through the at least one valve.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
using a planar connecting wall consisting of a sheet or separator made of a flexible material or a rigid material;
using a flexible or resilient plastic material, or rigid plastic material, for forming the external walls.