the present invention , according to one embodiment thereof , is directed to a physio - ball that includes a support member . fig1 is a side view of a physio - ball 10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention . the physio - ball 10 includes a shell 12 . advantageously , the shell 12 is inflatable such that the physio - ball may be inflated for use and may be deflated for storage purposes . the shell 12 is preferably spherical in shape when inflated , although any other shape , e . g ., cylindrical , ovoid , etc ., may also be employed . preferably , the shell 12 is 55 cm , 65 cm or 75 cm in diameter , although any sizes may be employed . the shell 12 may be comprised of vinyl or latex , but preferably is comprised of a non - latex material . the shell 12 is filled with air or another type of fluid in order to provide a moderate degree of flexibility and compressibility when sat on by a user or when pressed upon by a user . the physio - ball 10 also includes a support member 14 . the support member 14 functions to provide a user with a surface , other than the surface of the shell 12 , that assists the user in balancing or supporting him or herself when using the physio - ball . for instance , fig2 is a cross - sectional view of the support member 14 according to one embodiment of the present invention . in this embodiment , the support member 14 is a ring 16 having a circular cross - section . additional features illustrated in fig2 are discussed further below . it should be recognized that , while fig2 illustrates the support member 14 in the shape of a ring having a circular cross - section , the support member 14 may have any shape that is capable of assisting the user in balancing or supporting him or herself when using the physio - ball . for instance , the support member 14 may be curved , straight or any other shape , and / or may be in the form of a rim , lip , a handle , etc . fig1 illustrates that , in one embodiment , the support member 14 fully encircles the shell 12 . alternatively , the support member 14 may extend around one or more portions of the shell 12 , each portion extending less than the full circumference of the shell 12 . if the support member 14 does not fully encircle the shell 12 but instead extends around one or more portions of the shell 12 , those portions are advantageously disposed in symmetrical fashion around the circumference of the physio - ball 10 , so as to provide balance when used . fig1 illustrates that the support member 14 is positioned at approximately the vertical midpoint of the shell 12 . in this manner , the support member 14 is positioned at the widest diameter of the physio - ball 10 . in other embodiments , the support member 14 may be positioned above or below the vertical midpoint of the shell 12 . furthermore , fig1 illustrates that the support member 14 is positioned at a single vertical location of the shell 12 . in other embodiments , the physio - ball 10 may have more than one support member 14 , each support member 14 being positioned at a different vertical location , e . g ., at , above or below the vertical midpoint , of the shell 12 . fig2 illustrates that , in one embodiment , the support member 14 is configured to be engaged with a recess 18 of the shell 12 . in this manner , the support member 14 is at least partially supported by the shell 12 . alternatively , the shell 12 may have an projection rather than a recess , the projection operating to engage the support member 14 for the purpose of attaching the support member 14 to the shell . still further , the shell 12 may have neither a recess nor a projection , but rather may be sized and shaped relative to the support member 14 such that the support member 14 is maintained in position on the shell 12 by friction . the support member 14 may be formed of a rigid plastic or pvc material . other materials may also be employed . the support member 14 may be permanently attached to the shell 12 . for instance , fig2 illustrates one embodiment in which the support member 14 is integrated within the shell 12 by being disposed within a recess 18 and being kept within the recess 18 by an outer shell 20 that is permanently attached to the shell 12 . in another embodiment , the support member 14 is attached by glue , velcro , or some other type of adhesive . alternatively , the support member 14 may be removable from the shell 12 such that the physio - ball 10 may be used with or without the support member 14 . the physio - ball 10 of the present invention , in accordance with various embodiments described hereinabove , may be used in many different ways . for instance , the physio - ball 10 may be used as a seat , e . g ., a user may sit on top of the physio - ball while performing sit - ups or some other type of movement of the upper body relative to the lower body . in addition , a user may balance a portion of her body , e . g ., her feet or her hands , on the ball , thereby forcing the user to balance that portion of the body during the performance of an exercise . for instance , a user may position her feet , or her hands , on top of the physio - ball while performing push - ups , lunges , hip lifts , etc . the physio - ball 10 of the present invention , in accordance with various embodiments described hereinabove , has several advantages over conventional physio - balls . for instance , the physio - ball 10 enables a user to grasp the support member 14 with her hands , thus reducing the likelihood that her hands will slip off of the physio - ball during use . furthermore , the physio - ball 10 enables a user to position her feet on the support member 14 , e . g ., by standing on top of the support member 14 , by resting her feet on the support member 14 while performing push - ups , etc ., thus reducing the likelihood that her feet will slip off of the physio - ball during use . thus , the several aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention are most effectively attained . those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications of the exemplary embodiment described hereinabove may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been described and disclosed in detail herein , it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby .
a physio - ball including a shell and a support member attached to the shell . the support member is sufficiently rigid so as to support at least a portion of a user &# 39 ; s body when the portion of the user &# 39 ; s body is in contact with the support member .