U.S. patent application number 11/694263 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for exercise system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPEED TO WIN, INC.. Invention is credited to Jefferey S. Jenkins, Albert M. Thompson.
Application Number | 20070232461 11/694263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38559938 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070232461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jenkins; Jefferey S. ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Exercise System
Abstract
A system for resistance training of an athlete with a plurality
of elastic chords includes a frame including a top and an opposite
bottom. The frame has sufficient weight to resist movement when the
athlete exerts an athletic training force on the frame. At least
one attachment structure is affixed to the frame. The attachment
structure is configured to attach at least one of the elastic
chords in a position so as to be usable in a selected resistance
training exercise. At least one storage compartment is attached to
the frame. The storage compartment has a size and configuration to
facilitate storage of the plurality of elastic chords therein.
Inventors: |
Jenkins; Jefferey S.;
(Alpharetta, GA) ; Thompson; Albert M.; (Marietta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRYAN W. BOCKHOP, ESQ.
2375 MOSSY BRANCH DR.
SNELLVILLE
GA
30078
US
|
Assignee: |
SPEED TO WIN, INC.
Alpharetta
GA
|
Family ID: |
38559938 |
Appl. No.: |
11/694263 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60744024 |
Mar 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4009 20151001;
A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 21/4007
20151001; A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B 21/00061 20130101; A63B
2071/025 20130101; A63B 71/0036 20130101; A63B 2244/08 20130101;
A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 2208/0204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/93 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06 |
Claims
1. A system for resistance training of an athlete with a plurality
of elastic chords, comprising: a. a frame having a top and an
opposite bottom, the frame having sufficient weight to resist
movement when the athlete exerts an athletic training force on the
frame; b. at least one attachment structure affixed to the frame,
the attachment structure configured to attach at least one of the
elastic chords in a position so as to be usable in a selected
resistance training exercise; and c. at least one storage
compartment attached to the frame and having a size and
configuration to facilitate storage of the plurality of elastic
chords therein.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of wheels,
wherein each wheel is affixed to an opposite side of the frame
adjacent to the bottom, each wheel having a retracted position and
an extended position, wherein the frame resists movement when the
athlete exerts an athletic training force on the frame when the
wheels are in the retracted position and wherein the pair of wheels
facilitate movement of the frame when the wheels are in the
extended position.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: a. four
vertical posts; b. at least two cross members connecting each of
the vertical posts to two adjacent vertical posts.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the attachment structure
comprises a d-ring that is affixed to one of the cross members.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the attachment structure
comprises a plurality of spaced apart d-rings.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage compartment comprises
an elongated cabinet that is connected to a first one of the
vertical posts and a second one of the vertical posts.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the elongated cabinet comprises:
a. an enclosure portion defining a cavity therein; b. a lid
portion, hingedly attached to the enclosure portion, that is
configured to cover the cavity; and c. a locking mechanism that is
configured to lock the lid portion in a closed position.
8. The system of claim 3, further comprising a floor portion that
is transverse to the vertical posts and that is affixed to the
vertical posts.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the floor portion includes at
least one attachment structure capable of receiving an elastic
chord therein and wherein the frame has a top surface, the frame
further comprising a chord securing mechanism that is configured to
allow attachment of the elastic chord so that the elastic chord has
a desired tension, thereby facilitating a vertical exercise.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the chord securing mechanism
comprises at least one cleat.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: a. a
shipping container into which is cut at least one side opening; b.
a door capable of selectively securing the side opening; and c. a
plurality of vertical posts disposed within and affixed to the
shipping container.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the attachment structure
comprises a d-ring that is affixed to one of the vertical
posts.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the attachment structure
comprises a plurality of spaced apart d-rings that are affixed to
at least one of the vertical posts.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the door comprises a roll-up
door.
15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of pegs
affixed to at least one of the vertical posts and configured for
hanging weights thereon.
16. The system of claim 11, further comprising an end cabinet
integrated into a selected end of the shipping container, the end
cabinet comprising: a. an end opening cut into the selected end of
the shipping container; b. a vertical wall, disposed inside the
shipping container and defining a back of the end cabinet; and c. a
plurality of shelves disposed within the end cabinet.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a door configured to
cover the end opening securely.
18. The system of claim 11, further comprising advertising graphics
applied to an exterior surface of the frame.
19. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic
chord attached to the attachment structure.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an athlete
interface, comprising a belt, attached to the elastic chord.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of
vertical lockers disposed inside the shipping container against a
selected wall.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/744,024, filed Mar. 31, 2006, the
entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to exercise systems and, more
specifically, to an exercise system that facilitates elastic chord
training exercises for athletes.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] In many sports, athletes expend high levels of energy for
short periods of time and then recover from the expenditure.
Athletes who recover quickly are able to play more effectively.
Therefore, modern training regimens include exercises designed to
promote expenditures of intense bursts of energy coupled with quick
and efficient recovery.
[0006] Speed and agility training in athletics trains athletes to
expend energy optimally in a sport. Such training typically
involves a set of specific drills that are assembled in a specific
order, with a specific number of repetitions and with specific
times for recovery. It typically focuses on five major disciplines
including speed, power, agility, flexibility, and explosion.
[0007] An ideal sports exercise system would empower strength and
conditioning coaches who may not necessarily have any formal speed
and agility training with the tools and knowledge required in order
to offer an effective training curriculum to athletes. To do so
requires both hardware used in exercises and a system for
monitoring the athletes to ensure that they are training
optimally.
[0008] Existing equipment includes permanent exercise devices, such
as wall-mounted devices, and portable devices. Wall-mounted devices
are typically permanently fixed to a wall inside a gym and cannot
be moved easily. Portable devices can be moved and a typically
stored in a storage shed or locker. Such devices frequently do not
provide the same level of exercise as wall-mounted devices.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a speed and agility exercise
training system that is portable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention meets several needs that instructors have for
training individuals. It manages a large group of individuals
training at the same time by using a "station" technique. The
stations are designed to accommodate large groups in a reasonably
small area because training space is typically limited. The
equipment enables rapid set-up for a training session by
preassembling the gear and storing the gear in easily accessible
storage cabinets. The invention also allows for portability for
moving the equipment from one training location to another. The
invention along with the software enables a turn-key set up for any
coach to begin training for speed, power, agility, flexibility, and
explosion while preventing injuries.
[0011] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the
present invention which, in one aspect, is a system for resistance
training of an athlete with a plurality of elastic chords. The
system includes a frame including a top and an opposite bottom. The
frame has sufficient weight to resist movement when the athlete
exerts an athletic training force on the frame. At least one
attachment structure is affixed to the frame. The attachment
structure is configured to attach at least one of the elastic
chords in a position so as to be usable in a selected resistance
training exercise. At least one storage compartment is attached to
the frame. The storage compartment has a size and configuration to
facilitate storage of the plurality of elastic chords therein.
[0012] These and other aspects of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As
would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and
modifications of the invention may be effected without departing
from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a photograph of one embodiment of an exercise
system.
[0014] FIGS. 2A-2D are schematic views of a first embodiment of an
exercise system.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of an exercise system
embodiment being used in a lateral exercise.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of an exercise system
embodiment being used in a vertical exercise.
[0017] FIGS. 5A-5B are elevational views demonstrating extendable
wheels.
[0018] FIGS. 6A-6D are elevational views of a cargo shipping
container-based embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a post with a peg storing
weights.
[0020] FIGS. 8A-8D are images of several screens generated by
software according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in
detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts
throughout the views. As used in the description herein and
throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings
explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise: the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural
reference, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on."
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2D, one embodiment of an exercise
system 100 for resistance training of an athlete includes a frame
110 having a top 111 and an opposite bottom 113. The frame 110 has
sufficient weight to resist movement when the athlete exerts an
athletic training force on the frame 110. The frame 110 includes
four vertical posts 112 and a plurality of cross members 114
connecting each of the vertical posts 112 to adjacent vertical
posts 112. A floor portion 116 is transverse to the vertical posts
112 and is affixed thereto. The frame 110 may be constructed from
steel, or other suitable materials. The constituent parts of the
frame 110 could be affixed to each other through welding or the use
of fasteners, such as bolts or rivets, or a combination of welding
and fastening. In one embodiment, certain parts are bolted
together, allowing major parts to be disassembled for storage or
moving. A pair of wheel structures 140 are each affixed to an
opposite side of the frame 110 adjacent to the bottom 113 to
facilitate movement of the system 100. Each wheel structure 140 has
a retracted position and an extended position. The frame 110
resists movement when the athlete exerts an athletic training force
on the frame 110 when the wheel structures 140 are in the retracted
position. Also, the wheel structures 140 facilitate movement of the
frame 110 when in the extended position.
[0023] A plurality of attachment structures are affixed to
different parts of the frame 110. One example of attachment
structures are d-rings 120 that are affixed (e.g. welded) to the
cross members 114. The attachment structures 120 are suitably
shaped to allow elastic chords (such as bungee chords) thereto in a
position so as to be usable in a selected resistance training
exercise.
[0024] One or more storage compartments 130 are also affixed to the
frame 110. The storage compartments 130 provide storage for elastic
chords used in exercises. Each storage compartment 130 includes an
elongated cabinet 132 that is connected to a pair of the vertical
posts 112 and that defines a cavity therein. A lid portion 134 is
attached via an elongated hinge to the enclosure portion 132 and
covers the cavity. A lock 136 may also be provided to lock the lid
portion 134 in a closed position. Holes 138 may be drilled into the
storage compartments 130 to provide ventilation.
[0025] One type of exercise that may be performed with the system,
as shown in FIG. 3, is a reciprocal lateral movement exercise. In
such an exercise, the athlete 10 attaches an elastic chord 300 to
one of the d-rings 120 and to a harness or a belt 310 and then runs
back-and-forth between two cones 12 that are placed in a position
such that the elastic chord 300 is always under tension.
[0026] Another type of exercise that may be performed with the
system, as shown in FIG. 4, is a vertical movement (or jumping)
exercise. To facilitate this type of exercise, two d-rings 122 are
attached to the floor portion 116 through which the athlete 10
passes two elastic chords 300, one end of each being attached to a
belt 310 that is placed around the athlete's waist. Somewhere along
the top surface of the frame 110 are a pair of cleats 150 that
allow the athlete to secure the elastic chords 300 with a desired
tension. Once the elastic chords 300 are secure, the athlete
executes the exercise by repeating a vertical movement, such as
jumping.
[0027] Two retractable wheel structures 140, as shown in FIGS. 5A
and 5B, allow for easily moving the system from one location to
another. In one embodiment, the wheel structure 140 includes a
wheel 500 that is supported by a reciprocating axle support 510. A
support structure 512 is affixed to the frame 110 and the
reciprocating axle support 510 is able to move vertically relative
to the support structure 512. A first pivot 516 is secured to
support structure 512 and a second pivot 518 is secured to the
reciprocating axle support 510. A lever 514 is secured to the first
pivot 516 and the second pivot 518 so that as the lever 514 is
rotated in the direction of arrow A (as shown in FIG. 5A), the
wheel 500 is raised so as to disengage from the ground 20 and so
that when the lever is rotated in the direction of arrow B (as
shown in FIG. 5B) the wheel is lowered for engagement with the
ground 20.
[0028] In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, the frame
includes a shipping container 600 that defines an interior space
602. A plurality of openings 610 are cut into the sides of the
shipping container 600. Each opening 610 includes a door 650 (such
as a steel roll-up door) that secures the opening 610. A lock 652
is capable of locking the door 650 shut for safety and security
reasons.
[0029] A plurality of vertical posts 612 are affixed to the ship)
are affixed to some of the vertical posts 612 and to the exterior
sides of the shipping container 600. A plurality of pegs 630 are
also affixed to some of the vertical posts 612. The pegs 630 can be
used for hanging things on (such as weights 702, as shown in FIG.
7) when storing exercise equipment.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 6C, an end cabinet 654 can be integrated
into an end 604 of the shipping container 600. An end opening 655
is cut into the end 604 and a vertical wall 656 is placed inside
the shipping container 600 to define the back of the end cabinet
654. A plurality of shelves 658 may be placed within the end
cabinet 654 and used for storage of exercise equipment. A door 650
covers the end opening 655 securely. A cross-bar 660 may also be
placed in the cabinet 654 and used for attaching elastic chords
thereto during exercise sessions.
[0031] To improve storage organization of the container 600, a
plurality of vertical lockers 672, as shown in FIG. 6D, may be
inside the shipping container against a selected wall 670.
Similarly, dividers or shelves may be placed against the wall
670.
[0032] In one commercial embodiment, the container 600 is an
8'.times.20' ISO standard shipping container made of heavy duty
steel and includes 12 training stations. Used standard shipping
containers can be purchased from many outlets, many of which will
make custom modifications (such as the cutting of side doors)
according to the purchaser's specifications.
[0033] The container 600 can be painted with school colors or
provided with advertising (such as affinity advertising). The
advertising could be painted on or applied using any one of the
commonly used methods of applying advertising to exterior
structures (e.g., vinyl banner and vehicle wrap).
[0034] The system may be provided with synthetic turf on which the
athletes train. The synthetic turf reduces wear on the playing
field on which the system is being used. This allows for a maximum
number of hours without wearing out natural grass on the playing
field.
[0035] A software tool may be used with the system. The software
tool, which would typically run on a laptop computer, provides a
platform for coaches and trainers to access functional information
concerning speed and agility of each athlete. In one embodiment,
coaches will access the software via the global computer network
using a user name and password. The software provides one or more
of the following functions: profile athletes (individual tests: 40
yd, shuttle, etc.); create workout for entire team/class; organize
daily, weekly, monthly calendars by coach/school; display videos to
show teaching and training methods; display and print drill
layouts; "ask the pro" feature for additional clarification; remote
updating for athlete involvement; monitor and report
athlete's/student's performance; and display rankings (including
inter- and intra-school).
[0036] Several different screen shots of the user interface
presented by the software are shown in FIGS. 8A-8D. A calendar 810,
shown in FIG. 8A, assists the trainer in scheduling different
exercises. A workout planner 812, shown in FIG. 8B, organizes
exercises. A video library 814, shown in FIG. 8C, provides video
images of different exercises being performed. A tracking chart
816, shown in FIG. 8D, assists the trainer in tracking the
performance of several different athletes.
[0037] The above described embodiments, while including the
preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to
the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative
examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations
may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this
specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be
determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the
specifically described embodiments above.
* * * * *