THERAPY BALL

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise and therapy device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device that provides exercise and therapy to a user.

BACKGROUND

Individuals recovering from hand injuries, such as fractures, tendon repairs, or nerve damage, often require targeted rehabilitation to restore finger strength, flexibility, and dexterity. Musicians, climbers, and athletes also benefit from enhanced finger strength for improved performance and reduced risk of strain or injury. Additionally, finger strength generally declines with age, reducing the functional independence of older adults in performing daily tasks. Therefore, there is a long felt need for a device to increase finger strength, addressing both therapeutic and functional requirements across various user groups, and serving as a valuable tool in physical therapy, sports training, and general wellness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the embodiments herein, exemplary constructions of the embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, the embodiments herein are not limited to the specific methods and components disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a component referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or that component shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of a therapy ball.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the therapy ball.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a top view of the therapy ball.

FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a side view of the therapy ball.

FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of the therapy ball.

FIG. 6 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball with a rotatable joint.

FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a therapy ball.

FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the therapy ball.

FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the therapy ball.

FIG. 10 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball.

FIG. 11 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball.

FIG. 12 exemplarily illustrates a user holding the therapy ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of a therapy ball 100. The therapy ball 100 comprises a spherical ball 101 and a spinning ring 102 attached to the spherical ball 101. The spherical ball 101 is of different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. The spinning ring 102 comprises an inner ring 102b and an outer ring 102a concentric with and encircling the inner ring 102b. The outer ring 102a is in slidable communication with the inner ring 102b. The spherical ball 101 is attached to an outer perimeter 203 of the outer ring 102a, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The outer ring 102a is configured to provide a spinning action to the therapy ball 100. The outer ring 102a comprises a groove 201 along its inner circumference as illustrated in FIG. 2. The inner ring 102b comprises a protrusion 202 located centrally on the upper surface of the inner ring 102b, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2. The protrusion 202 of the inner ring 102b engages, securely fits and moves smoothly within the groove 201 of the outer ring 102a to provide a controlled, fidgeting motion of the therapy ball 100 while maintaining alignment of the outer ring 102a with respect to the inner ring 102b. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the user inserts the user's finger into the inner ring 102b of the assembled therapy ball 100 to secure and frictionally engage the inner ring 102b around the inserted finger. The user, thereafter, rotates the outer ring 102a with the user's finger or thumb, which rotates the spherical ball 101 around the user's inserted finger. When the user inserts the user's finger within the inner ring 102b to secure and frictionally engage the user's inserted finger within the inner ring 102b, the inner ring 102b remains stationary with respect to the user's finger when the user fidgets with the therapy ball 100. The user then rotates the outer ring 102a clockwise or anticlockwise with the user's finger or thumb, which moves the outer ring 102a along the groove 201 of the outer ring 102a-protrusion 202 of the inner ring 102b, resulting in the rotation of the outer ring 102a around the stationary inner ring 102b. Rotation of the outer ring 102a rotates the spherical ball 101 which is attached to the outer perimeter 203 of the outer ring 102a, around the stationary inner ring 102b. In an embodiment, the user may use one of his other fingers or the other hand to rotate the spherical ball 101 around the inserted finger.

The user may rotate the spherical ball 101 in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction around the stationary inner ring 102b and the user's finger, thereby allowing the user to fidget with the therapy ball 100. The protrusion 202 of the inner ring engages with and moves smoothly within the groove 201 of the outer ring 102a to provide a controlled, fidgeting motion of the therapy ball 100 while maintaining alignment of the outer ring 102a with respect to the inner ring 102b. As used herein, fidgeting refers to the act of making small movements or actions with the hand as a response to boredom, anxiety, or the need to focus. In an embodiment, if a user holds the therapy ball 100 without inserting the user's finger into the inner ring 102b, the user may use one of his fingers of the other hand to rotate the inner ring 102b around the stationary outer ring 102a. If the user's finger is not inserted into the inner ring 102b, the protrusion 202 of the inner ring 102b is free to move or glide within the groove 201 of the stationary outer ring 102a.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the therapy ball 100. The outer ring 102a is designed to be separable into two halves 204 and 205. The outer ring 102a comprises snap-fit connectors, with one half 205 of the outer ring 102a comprising plastic hooks that snap into corresponding slots or grooves of the other half 204 of the outer ring 102a. Each half 204 and 205 of the outer ring 102a aligns precisely and securely with the other half. In an embodiment, different connecting mechanism like threaded joints, magnetic couplings, etc. can used to connect each half 204 and 205 of the outer ring 102a. When assembled, the inner ring 102b is positioned within the outer ring 102a so that the protrusion 202 aligns with and fits into the groove 201. The protrusion 202 when moved along the groove 201, allows the inner ring 102b to rotate within the outer ring 102a without the inner ring 102b detaching from the outer ring 102a. The outer ring 102a is attached to the spherical ball 100 using, for example, using one of glue, duct tape, staples, moldable foam, etc. In an embodiment, the outer ring 102a can be attached to the spherical ball 100 using any other means.

In an embodiment, the outer ring 102a is detachably attached to the spherical

ball 100. The spherical ball 100 is configured to fit into a palm of the user while the user fidgets with the therapy ball 100. The fidgeting facilitates emotional therapy and exercise to the user. Furthermore, the therapy ball 100 is used for increasing the strength of the finger, hand, and arm of the user in addition to allowing the user to fidget. In another embodiment, spherical balls of different weights are used to facilitate strengthening of the user's finger, hand, and the arm. In another embodiment, a stuffed animal (not shown) is attached to an outer perimeter 203 of the outer ring 102a. When the user rotates the user's finger with the user's finger engaged with the inner ring 102b, the outer ring 102a will move along the protrusion 202 of the inner ring 102b, which in turn will move the outer ring 102a and the stuffed animal attached to the outer ring 102a.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a top view of the therapy ball 100. In an embodiment, the therapy ball 100 is used as a desktop spinner. By using heavier spherical balls, a higher level of sensation and satisfaction is achieved by the user with each spin, compared to a conventional desktop spinner. In an embodiment, the spherical ball 101 can be tossed in a spiral path similar to a football throw. In another embodiment, the spherical ball 101 is made of rubber that facilitates bouncing of the therapy ball to help the user attain a better reaction time and better hand-eye

coordination, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a side view of the therapy ball 100. In an embodiment, the therapy ball 100 can be used as a percussive instrument with the spinning ring 102 as a handle, and the spherical ball 101 as a sound provider. In another embodiment, the therapy ball 100 can be used as a massaging tool with the spinning ring 102 for leverage and grip, and the spherical ball 101 as a massager.

FIG. 5 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of the therapy ball 100. The spherical ball is made of one of foam, leather, gel, wood, rubber, metal, etc.

FIG. 6 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball 100. A rotatable joint 601 is provided at a point of attachment of the outer ring 102a to the spherical ball 101. The rotatable joint allows the spherical ball 101 to rotate around its own axis 602 with respect to the outer ring 102a in a clockwise direction, as shown by arrows 603a and 603b, and in an anti-clockwise direction, as shown by arrows 604a and 604b. The axis 602 is normal to the perimeter of the outer ring 102a and passes through the center of the spherical ball 101. The rotatable joint provides functionality to the therapy ball 100. The functionality of the therapy ball 100 comprises one or more of the following: fidgeting; finger, hand, and arm strengthening exercise; desktop spinner; bouncing of the therapy ball 100 to help a user attain a better reaction time and better hand-eye coordination; tossing the spherical ball 101 in a spherical path similar to a football throw; musical instrument; massaging tool; and balancing exercise. In an embodiment, the rotatable joint is a fidget slider magnetic fidget, for example, ‘Fidget Slider Magu Fidget Toy’ by WANERSEN.

FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a therapy ball 100. In this embodiment, the inner ring 701 is a ring ball bearing. The ball bearings 702 are located between the inner surface 701b and outer surface 701a of the inner ring 701. The inner ring 701 is positioned concentrically within the outer ring 102a. The outer surface 701a of the inner ring 701 is affixed to an inner surface 102c of the outer ring 102a by means of, for example, a press fit, shrink fit, adhesive, welding, etc. A user can insert a finger into the inner ring 701 such that the finger frictionally engages with the inner surface 701b of the inner ring 701. The ball bearings 702 facilitate smooth rotation of the outer surface 701a of the inner ring 701 around the user's finger while the inner surface 701b of the inner ring 701 frictionally engages the user's finger. The spherical ball 101 rotates around the user's finger that is inserted into the inner ring 701 for fidgeting and manipulating the therapy ball 100.

FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a

therapy ball 100. The ball bearings 702 of the inner ring 701 allow smooth rotation of the outer ring 102a around the user's finger. In another embodiment, the ball bearing 702 is provided between the inner ring 102b and the outer ring 102a of the spinning ring 102 to facilitate the spinning action of the therapy ball 100.

FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a therapy ball 100. In this embodiment, the spherical ball 101 is made of two layers. The outer layer 101a is a hollow squishy ball made of a lighter foam material, and the inner layer 101b is a heavy solid ball, with the inner layer 101b inserted inside the outer layer 101a to effect a desired weight and balance for exercising.

FIG. 10 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball 100. The spherical ball 101 is made of wood to provide a good quality sound when the spherical ball 101 is tapped on a table or similar furniture, or when two spherical balls are tapped against each other.

FIG. 11 exemplarily illustrates an embodiment of a therapy ball 100. The spherical ball 101 is made entirely of rubber or made of another material and coated with rubber.

FIG. 12 exemplarily illustrates a user holding a therapy ball 100. A user inserts a finger into the inner ring 701, to securely engage the finger with inner surface 701b of the inner ring 701, and rotates the outer ring 102a with the user's finger or thumb to allow fidgeting of the therapy ball 100. The spherical ball 101 rotates around the users finger that is inserted into the inner ring 701 for manipulating the therapy ball 100.

The foregoing examples and illustrative implementations of various embodiments have been provided merely for explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the embodiments disclosed herein. While the embodiments have been described with reference to various illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the embodiments have been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, techniques, and implementations, the embodiments herein are not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the embodiments herein extend to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, systems, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, that the embodiments disclosed herein are capable of modifications and other embodiments may be effected and changes may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.