Core bladder and assembly including the same

Abstract

A core bladder is disclosed. The core bladder a body, a skeletal load-support matrix, and a valve. The body defines a fluid-receiving cavity. The skeletal load-support matrix is disposed within the fluid-receiving cavity. The valve is supported by the body. The valve is configured to permit fluid communication with the fluid-receiving cavity to selectively arrange the body in one of a compact deflated state and an expanded inflated state. An exercise assembly including the core bladder is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A core bladder comprising:
 a body defining a fluid-receiving cavity;   a skeletal load-support matrix within the fluid-receiving cavity; and   a valve supported by the body, wherein the valve is configured to permit fluid communication with the fluid-receiving cavity to selectively arrange the body in one of a compact deflated state and an expanded inflated state.   
     
     
         2 . The core bladder of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to include:
 a dome portion having a curved sidewall and a substantially flat top wall;   a bowl portion having a curved sidewall and a substantially flat bottom wall; and   wherein a lower edge of the curved sidewall of the dome portion is connected to an upper edge of the curved sidewall of the bowl portion.   
     
     
         3 . The core bladder of  claim 1 , wherein the skeletal load-support matrix includes a plurality of rib members extending between an inner surface of the substantially flat top wall and an inner surface of the substantially flat bottom wall. 
     
     
         4 . The core bladder of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of rib members include: a first rib member; a second rib member; and at least one intermediate rib member arranged between the first rib member and the second rib member. 
     
     
         5 . The core bladder of  claim 4 , wherein a length of one or both of the substantially flat top wall or the substantially flat bottom wall extends at least between the first rib member and the second rib member, wherein a width of one or both of the substantially flat top wall and the substantially flat bottom wall extends at least between a first sidewall of each rib member and a second sidewall of each rib member. 
     
     
         6 . The core bladder of  claim 2 , wherein the lower edge of the curved sidewall of the dome portion defines a perimeter of the dome portion, wherein the upper edge of the curved sidewall of the bowl portion defines a perimeter of the bowl portion, wherein the perimeter of each of the dome portion and the bowl portion defines a substantially elliptical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The core bladder of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed of a polyurethane sheet having a thickness of about 0.5 to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         8 . An exercise assembly comprising:
 a core bladder having a sealed body supporting a valve that permits fluid communication with a fluid-receiving cavity of the sealed body for selective arrangement of the sealed body in one of a compact deflated state or an expanded inflated state;   an outer case formed by a plurality of panels defining a core bladder receiving cavity that contains the core bladder; and   wherein the outer case includes a first opening that cooperates with a closure element that provides selective access to the core bladder receiving cavity and a second opening that is sized for permitting access to the valve.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the core bladder includes a skeletal load-support matrix disposed within the fluid-receiving cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the core bladder is configured to include:
 a dome portion having a curved sidewall and a substantially flat top wall;   a bowl portion having a curved sidewall and a substantially flat bottom wall; and   wherein a lower edge of the curved sidewall is connected to an upper edge of the curved sidewall of the bowl portion.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the skeletal load-support matrix includes a plurality of rib members extending between and connecting an inner surface of the substantially flat top wall and an inner surface of the substantially flat bottom wall. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rib members include a first rib member, a second end rib member, and at least one intermediate rib member between the first rib member and the second rib member. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of panels that form the outer case includes:
 a top panel that is configured to include a dome-shape when the core bladder is arranged in the expanded inflated state;   a bottom panel that is configured to include a bowl-shape when the core bladder is arranged in the expanded inflated state; and   an intermediate ring-shaped panel connecting the dome-shaped panel to the bowl-shaped panel, wherein the intermediate ring-shaped panel defines the first opening that provides selective access to the core bladder receiving cavity, wherein one of the dome-shaped panel and the bowl-shaped panel defines the second opening that is sized for permitting access to the valve.   
     
     
         14 . The exercise assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the closure element is attached to the intermediate panel and extends over the first opening. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure element includes a zipper including a body of material supporting cooperating teeth that are selectively joined by a slider. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the top panel includes a reinforcement ring circumscribing the second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise assembly of  claim 13 , wherein one or both of the top panel and the lower panel includes a frictional, slip-resistant portion. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the frictional, slip-resistant portion includes a textured pattern optionally formed by a lightweight denier material having a urethane coating. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the lightweight denier material includes ripstop nylon, wherein the urethane coating includes polyurethane or thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the frictional, slip-resistant portion further includes a silicon gel pattern arranged over the lightweight denier material.