Multi-segment roller exercise apparatus, kit, and method for use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a multipurpose exercise apparatus, kit, and method for use thereof and, more particularly, to a multi-segment roller exercise apparatus, kit, and method for use thereof. In an embodiment, a plurality of exercise apparatuses may be created by combining elements contained in a kit. One exercise apparatus includes a multi-segment roller exercise device; the weight of the device may be adjusted by adding or removing weights from an interior space of the device. The segments contained in the kit may be used together or separately. The kit includes weighted bags which may be used alone or in conjunction with the multi-segment roller exercise device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using an exercise kit, the exercise kit comprising: a first end segment and a second end segment, each hollow, substantially cylindrical in shape, and comprising an open end opposite a closed end, an exterior surface extending between said open end and said closed end, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface; a locking mechanism configured to removably connect said open ends of said first end segment and said second end segment such that together the interior surfaces of the first end segment and the second end segment substantially bind an interior space together; and a weighted bag sized so as to be removably contained within said interior space; the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) inserting at least a portion of the weighted bag through the open end of the first end segment adjacent;   (b) placing the open end of the first end segment adjacent to the open end of the second end segment, such that the weighted bag is contained within the interior space;   (c) engaging the locking mechanism so as to secure the first end segment to the second end segment, forming a combination exercise device comprising the first end segment, the weighted bag, the locking mechanism, and the second end segment;   (d) performing a first exercise using the combination exercise device;   (e) disengaging the locking mechanism so as to separate the first end segment from the second end segment;   (f) removing the weighted bag from the first end segment and the second end segment; and   (g) performing a second exercise using the weighted bag.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise kit further comprises a strap extending from the exterior surface of the first end segment, the combination exercise device further comprises the strap, and the first exercise comprises grasping the strap and lifting the combination exercise device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first exercise comprises pressing a portion of a user's body on the combination exercise device and rolling the user's body against the combination exercise device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second exercise comprises lifting the weighted bag. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a third exercise using the first end segment. 
     
     
         6 . An exercise kit comprising:
 a first end segment, wherein the first end segment is hollow, substantially cylindrical in shape, and comprises an open end opposite a closed end, an exterior surface extending between said open end and said closed end, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface;   a second end segment, wherein the second end segment is hollow, substantially cylindrical in shape, and comprises an open end opposite a closed end, an exterior surface extending between said open end and said closed end, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface;   a locking mechanism configured to removably connect said open ends of said first end segment and said second end segment, such that together the interior surfaces of the first end segment and the second end segment substantially bind an interior space; and   at least one weighted bag, sized so as to be removably contained within said interior space.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , wherein said locking mechanism is a first locking mechanism, the exercise kit further comprising:
 a middle segment, wherein the middle segment is hollow, substantially cylindrical in shape, and comprises a pair of open ends, an exterior surface extending between said pair of open ends, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface; and   a second locking mechanism configured to removably connect one of said pair of open ends of said middle segment to said open end of second end segment;   wherein said first locking mechanism is configured to removably connect one of said pair of open ends of said middle segment to said open end of first end segment; and   wherein, with said first end segment, said middle segment, and said second end segment removably connected together, the interior surfaces of the first end segment, the middle segment, and the second end segment substantially bind the interior space.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , further comprising a strap extending from the exterior surface of the first end segment. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise kit of  claim 8 , wherein said strap comprises a grip. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise kit of  claim 9 , wherein said strap comprises a closed loop attached to the closed end of said first end segment. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , wherein a first portion of said exterior surface of said first end segment comprises foam. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise kit of  claim 11 , wherein a second portion of said exterior surface of said first end segment comprises a rigid material. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , wherein said interior surfaces of said first end and said second end segments comprise a rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , wherein said weighted bag comprises a grip. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise kit of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one weighted bag comprises a plurality of weighted bags, wherein each of said plurality of weighted bags has a different weight, and each of the plurality of weighted bags is sized so as to be removably contained within said interior space. 
     
     
         13 . A method of configuring a kit for use, the exercise kit comprising: a plurality of hollow, substantially cylindrical segments, the plurality of segments comprising a first end segment and a second end segment, each comprising an open end opposite a closed end, an exterior surface extending between said open end and said closed end, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface and a middle segment that is hollow and substantially cylindrical in shape and which comprises a pair of open ends, an exterior surface extending between said pair of open ends, and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface; a plurality of locking mechanisms, each configured to removably connect the open ends of two of said plurality of segments together such that together the interior surfaces of the two of said plurality of segments substantially bind an interior space; and at least one weighted bag sized so as to be removably contained within said interior space; the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting a first segment of said plurality of segments, a second segment of said plurality of segments, a first locking mechanism of said plurality of locking mechanisms, and a first weighted bag of said at least one weighted bags;   (b) inserting at least a portion of the first weighted bag through the open end of the first segment;   (c) placing the open end of the first segment adjacent to the open end of the second segment, such that the first weighted bag is contained within the interior space formed by the interior surfaces of the first segment and the second segment;   (d) engaging the first locking mechanism so as to secure the first segment to the second segment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of engaging the locking mechanism comprises turning a curved tab of the locking mechanism towards the inner surfaces of the first segment and the second segment, such that the exterior surfaces of the first segment and the second segment extend further from the interior surfaces of the first segment and the second segment than does the curved tab. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of engaging the locking mechanism comprises rotating two portions of the locking mechanism relative to one another a fraction of a turn before pushing the two segments of the locking mechanism into one another.