U.S. patent application number 12/434407 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for exercise belt.
Invention is credited to Ian Snagg.
Application Number | 20100279830 12/434407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43030820 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100279830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snagg; Ian |
November 4, 2010 |
EXERCISE BELT
Abstract
An exercise apparatus for performing a variety of different
exercises. An exercise belt sized to encircle and be secured around
a user's waist includes a belt portion having one or more
apertures. One or more movable members are adapted to move along
the belt portion and be secured to different locations along the
circumference of the belt by insertion into one of the apertures.
Exercise attachment devices such as elongated resilient bands can
be attached to each movable member and used for a series of
exercises. In order to create different exercises, the user moves
the movable members to different locations along the belt,
re-secures the members to the belt, and performs different
exercises with the exercise attachments.
Inventors: |
Snagg; Ian; (Sunrise,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTOPHER & WEISBERG, P.A.
200 EAST LAS OLAS BOULEVARD, SUITE 2040
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33301
US
|
Family ID: |
43030820 |
Appl. No.: |
12/434407 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/00069 20130101;
A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 21/4009 20151001; A63B 23/12 20130101;
A63B 23/03541 20130101; A63B 23/1272 20130101; A63B 21/4043
20151001; A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B
21/0552 20130101; A63B 21/4025 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/124 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/02 20060101
A63B021/02 |
Claims
1. An exercise belt comprising: a belt portion sized to encircle a
user's waist, the belt portion including one or more apertures;
fastening means at one end of the belt portion and complementary
fastening means at an opposite end of the belt portion, whereby the
complementary fastening means engages the fastening means in order
to secure the belt portion around the user's waist; and a movable
housing movable along the belt portion, the movable housing having:
an attachment portion for securing one or more attachment members;
and an anchor portion for securing the movable housing to a desired
location along the belt portion.
2. The exercise belt of claim 1, wherein the anchor portion
includes a pin having a knob at its distal end to prevent the
movable housing from being inadvertently separated from the belt
portion.
3. The exercise belt of claim 1, wherein the anchor portion of the
movable housing includes a retractable pin comprising a retractable
member having a retracted first position and an extended second
position, wherein the retractable member engages one of the one or
more apertures in the belt portion when the retractable member is
in the extended second position, the pin including a knob at its
distal end to secure the attachment member to the belt portion at a
desired location when the retractable member is in the extended
second position.
4. The exercise belt of claim 3, wherein the retractable pin allows
for movement of the movable housing along the belt portion when the
retractable member is in the retracted first position and wherein
the retractable pin inhibits the movement of the movable housing
along the belt portion when the retractable member is in the
extended second position.
5. The exercise belt of claim 1, wherein the movable housing
defines an inner passageway, the inner passageway adapted to
slidably receive the belt portion as the movable housing moves
along the belt portion.
6. The exercise belt of claim 1, further comprising a track affixed
to the belt portion, the track including one or more apertures,
wherein the movable housing is movable along the track and
removably securable within one of the one or more apertures in the
track.
7. The exercise belt of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachment
members is an elongated resilient band.
8. A method of performing a series of exercises using an exercise
belt and one or more exercise attachments, the exercise belt
adapted to encircle a user's waist and including one or more
movable attachment members adapted to receive the one or more
exercise attachments, the method comprising: affixing the one or
more exercise attachments to the one or more movable attachment
members; positioning the one or more movable attachment members at
a desired location on the exercise belt; grasping the one or more
resilient bands in order to perform a first exercise routine;
repositioning at least one of the one or more movable attachment
members to a different location on the exercise belt; and grasping
the one or more resilient bands in order to perform a second
exercise routine.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein repositioning the at least one of
the one or more movable attachment members to a different location
on the exercise belt comprises: releasing the one or more
attachment members from a first location on the exercise belt;
sliding the one or more attachment members along the exercise belt
to second location on the exercise belt; and securing the one or
more attachment members to the exercise belt at the second
location.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more attachment
members includes a pin having a knob at its distal end to prevent
the movable housing from being inadvertently separated from the
belt portion.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more exercise
attachments is an elongated resilient exercise band.
12. An exercise apparatus comprising: a belt portion sized to
encircle a user's waist, the belt portion including one or more
apertures; fastening means at one end of the belt portion and
complementary fastening means at an opposite end of the belt
portion, whereby the complementary fastening means engages the
fastening means in order to secure the belt portion around the
user's waist; a movable housing movable along the belt portion, the
housing having: an attachment portion; and an anchor portion for
securing the housing to a desired location along the belt portion;
and one or more exercise attachments releasably attachable to the
attachment portion of the housing.
13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more
exercise attachments is an elongated resilient band.
14. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anchor portion
includes a pin having a knob at its distal end to prevent the
movable housing from being inadvertently separated from the belt
portion.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anchor portion
of the movable housing includes a retractable pin comprising a
retractable member having a retracted first position and an
extended second position, wherein the retractable member engages
one of the one or more apertures in the belt portion when the
retractable member is in the extended second position, the pin
including a knob at its distal end to secure the attachment member
to the belt portion at a desired location when the retractable
member is in the extended second position.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the retractable pin
allows for movement of the movable housing along the belt portion
when the retractable member is in the retracted first position and
wherein the retractable pin inhibits the movement of the movable
housing along the belt portion when the retractable member is in
the extended second position.
17. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the movable housing
defines an inner passageway, the inner passageway adapted to
slidably receive the belt portion as the movable housing moves
along the belt portion.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a track
affixed to the belt portion, the track including one or more
apertures, wherein the movable housing is movable along the track
and removably securable within one of the one or more apertures in
the track.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more
exercise attachments include a first end releasably attachable to
the attachment portion of the housing and a second end having a
squeezable member to provide a user with additional exercises while
using the exercise apparatus.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more
exercise attachments are interchangeable with other exercise
attachments of different configurations to create different
exercise routines.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] n/a
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] n/a
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more
specifically to an exercise belt with a movable attachment
mechanism that allows the user to attach elastic bands at various
locations on the belt to create a myriad of exercise routines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Exercise belts are used for a variety of reasons. They
provide support for weightlifters that need support for their back
when lifting heavy weights. Others wear exercise belts for storing
items such as water bottles, food packs, cell phones and keys.
While exercise belts are primarily used inside in gyms and exercise
facilities there is usually little need or use for exercise belts
outside of the gym.
[0005] Elastic exercise bands are frequently seen in gyms and can
provide a beneficial and safe alternative to free weights and
traditional weight machines. Typically, elastic bands of varying
tensions are secured to a track along a wall. The user selects the
desired elastic band and can perform different exercises by facing
the wall, turning around with his or her back to the wall or facing
90 degrees from the wall. While the user can get a workout in this
fashion and exercise a large number of different muscle groups, the
user cannot leave the vicinity of the wall where the bands are
secured. In some instances, the user can remove the bands and walk
or run outside or around an indoor track while simultaneously
stretching the elastic bands to exercise muscle or muscle group.
This, however, is limiting as the user has no anchor point for one
end of the elastic band and using two bands while walking, jogging
or running can prove cumbersome and, ultimately, ineffective.
[0006] Elastic bands that are secured to exercise belts attempt to
solve some of the problems found in the prior art. Users of these
belts can attach one or more elastic bands to an anchor point on
the outer perimeter of the belt and perform a series of limited
exercises while walking, jogging, or running. However, these types
of prior art belts have their inherent limitations. Typical
exercise belts have one or more fixed loops stitched into the belt
and the user can attach the bands to the various loops around the
belt. However, these loops are fixed and not movable and in order
to alter their exercise routines the user will have to unclip the
band from one loop, and reattach the bands to a different loop.
This requires the user to look down, perhaps stop walking or
running, in order to look for other loops to clip into. Needless to
say, this can disrupt the user's walk or run routine and can even
be dangerous if the user is not looking forward as they are running
but instead are looking down at the belt.
[0007] Another drawback of exercise belts with stitched in loops is
that the user is limited to the variety of workouts he or she can
perform. Because the attachment loops are stitched in at fixed
locations the user can only lock in their elastic bands at fixed
anchor points on the belt. This limits the number of exercise
routines that can be performed and the number of muscle groups that
can be worked on.
[0008] What is therefore needed is an exercise belt with the
flexibility to allow the user to lock in their elastic bands at any
desired location on the belt in order to create a virtually
unlimited number of exercise routines and to select the location on
the belt without having to stop, look down, unclip and re-clip the
bands, thus disrupting their walk or run.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention advantageously provides an exercise
apparatus that allows a user to perform a wide variety of upper
body exercises safely while running, jogging or performing aerobics
without the need to unhook and re-attach exercise bands. The
exercise apparatus of the present invention includes one or more
movable members to which may be attached one or more exercise
devices such as resilient bands. The movable members may be secured
at different locations along the belt. The user can secure, move,
and re-secure the members to different locations on the belt
without the need to glance down at the belt. Thus, the exercise
apparatus is ideal for the performance of upper body exercises
while jogging, walking or performing other aerobic activities.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, an exercise belt
includes a belt portion sized to encircle a user's waist, where the
belt portion including one or more apertures. The belt includes
fastening means at one end of the belt portion and complementary
fastening means at an opposite end of the belt portion, whereby the
complementary fastening means engages the fastening means in order
to secure the belt portion around the user's waist. Finally, the
belt includes a movable housing movable along the belt portion,
where the movable housing includes an attachment portion for
securing one or more attachment members, and an anchor portion for
securing the movable housing to a desired location along the belt
portion.
[0011] In another embodiment, a method of performing a series of
exercises using an exercise belt and one or more exercise
attachments is provided. The exercise belt is adapted to encircle a
user's waist and includes one or more movable attachment members
adapted to receive the one or more exercise attachments. The method
includes affixing the one or more exercise attachments to the one
or more movable attachment members, positioning the one or more
movable attachment members at a desired location on the exercise
belt, grasping the one or more resilient bands in order to perform
a first exercise routine, repositioning at least one of the one or
more movable attachment members to a different location on the
exercise belt, and grasping the one or more resilient bands in
order to perform a second exercise routine.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, an exercise apparatus includes a
belt portion sized to encircle a user's waist, where the belt
portion includes one or more apertures. The exercise apparatus also
includes fastening means at one end of the belt portion and
complementary fastening means at an opposite end of the belt
portion, whereby the complementary fastening means engages the
fastening means in order to secure the belt portion around the
user's waist. Finally, the exercise apparatus includes a movable
housing movable along the belt portion, where the housing includes
an attachment portion and an anchor portion for securing the
housing to a desired location along the belt portion, and one or
more exercise attachments releasably attachable to the attachment
portion of the housing.
[0013] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and
attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that
both the foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and
the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of the exercise belt of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a rear, perspective view of the exercise belt of
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the slidable housing
portion of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the slidable housing
portion of the present invention movable along the belt portion of
the exercise belt;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the resilient bands used in
connection with the exercise belt of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a front view of a user performing an exemplary
exercise with the exercise belt of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front view of a user performing an alternate
exercise with the exercise belt of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 8 is a front view of a user performing a different
exercise with the exercise belt of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] One embodiment of the present invention advantageously
provides an exercise belt having a movable housing, connectable to
one or more resilient exercise bands, adapted to travel along the
belt until a desired location is reached, where it can then be
secured into the desired location to allow the user to use the
bands for a variety of different exercises targeting specific
muscle groups. Referring now to the drawing figures in which like
reference designators refer to like elements there is shown in FIG.
1 an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention and designated generally as "10". Apparatus 10 is
an exercise belt having a belt portion 12 sized to encircle the
waist of the user. A first latching member 14 and a complementary
second latching member 16 secure the belt portion 12 around the
user. Any type of latching members may be used to secure the belt
around the user's waist.
[0024] Belt portion 12 may be made of any type of pliable material
including but not limited to leather or fabric. Belt portion 12 can
provide support to a user while lifting weights. Belt portion 12
may include one or more pockets 18 stitched into or otherwise
formed as a part of belt portion 12. The pockets 18 can be used to
hold water bottles, keys, cell phones or other items that the user
would like to have handy during a workout routine. While the
exercise belt 10 of the present invention may be used anywhere,
indoors or out, in one embodiment the user desires to combine an
aerobic exercise routine, i.e., running, walking, with a
strength-building routine. Advantageously, the exercise belt 10 of
the present invention is ideally suited for such a workout as it
allows the user to walk or run while performing a myriad of
different upper body strength routines with the use of one or more
resilient elastic bands (shown in FIG. 5).
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of movable members 20 can
be seen along belt portion 12, one on each side of pocket 18. The
belt configuration shown in FIG. 2 is exemplary only and the
present invention is not limited to a specific number of movable
members 20. For example, one movable member 20 can be used on
either side of pocket 18. In another embodiment, multiple members
20 can be used, on each side of pocket 18. In another embodiment,
belt 10 does not include a pocket 18 and thus one or more movable
members 20 can be dispersed and freely movable around the entirety
of belt portion 12.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, movable member 20 and its components
can be seen. Member 20 includes a frame 22 of substantially
rectangular shape. Frame 22 need not be of this shape and may be
sized in any manner in order to be secured to and travel along belt
portion 12. Frame 22 includes a top portion 24 and an inner portion
26 where the inner portion defines a groove along its substantial
length that creates an interior passageway 28. Passageway 28 is
sized to fit substantially over belt portion 12 such that when
unimpeded, member 20 slides smoothly over belt portion 12. In one
embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, a track 30 is sewn or otherwise
affixed to the top side of belt portion 12. Track 30 is made of a
pliable material that can fit on and bend along with belt portion
12. Track 30, similar to belt portion 12 (if the track 30 is not
used) has one or more holes dispersed at intervals along its length
in order to receive the movable member 20. If no track is used,
then the belt portion 12 has holes thereon to receive movable
member 20.
[0027] Track 30 or belt portion 12 is sized to receive movable
member 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Track 30 includes a top portion 31
and an inner portion 33. Inner portion 33 is narrower than top
portion 31. In this fashion, top portion 31 of track 30 fits within
passageway 28 of member 20, allowing member 20 to glide along track
30 until the user secures member 20 (in a manner discussed below)
at a desired location along belt portion 12. Advantageously, frame
22 of member 20 terminates in a substantially C-shaped section,
which conforms to the relative shapes and dimensions of top portion
31 and inner portion 33 of track 30 in order to allow member 20 to
freely glide along track 30 while also preventing member 20 from
being inadvertently pulled away from track 30.
[0028] The invention contemplates the use of different securing
mechanisms that will essentially lock member 20 into place along
the desired location on belt 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, member
20 may include a pin member 32 that protrudes through one of the
holes on the track 30 or on the belt portion 12. A knob 34 or
protrusion at the distal end of pin member 32 secures the pin
member 32 into the selected hole and prevents pin member 32 from
unwanted retraction. Thus, one or more movable members 20 can be
positioned at any desired location along belt portion 12 or on
track 30 by moving member 20 until pin member 32 is aligned with a
hole on belt portion 12 or track 30 on belt portion 12, and locked
into position by activating pin member 32. Pin member 32 may also
be a retractable member, such as via the use of a spring that
allows member 32 to be in a retracted first position that is not
engageable in a hole on belt portion 12, and in an extended second
position that extends pin member 32 through the hole.
[0029] If pin member 32 is spring-loaded, the user can activate the
spring-loaded pin member 32 in a number of ways. For example, a
release button 35 can be used to extend and retract pin member 32.
In another embodiment, a spring-loaded lift-release mechanism
allows the user to lift a ring 36 on the top side of frame 22,
which lifts pin member 32 and retracts it such that it disengages
from the selected hole. The user then slides member 20 along the
belt 10 until a new location is found. Regardless of the type of
securing system used, once lift-release mechanism is then
activated, and the pin member 32 extends through the hole, it is
locked in place by knob 34, which "catches" the underside of belt
portion 12 thus preventing disengagement of pin member 32. Thus, a
user can, without looking down at belt 10, easily disengage member
20 from one location along belt portion 12 or its track 30, move it
any desired location on belt 10, and then re-engage member 20 in a
new position, in the manner described above.
[0030] The top side of frame 22 of member 20 includes ring 36,
which, as described above, may be used to release pin member 32
from a hole in belt portion 12 or track 30. Ring 36 may also
receive one or more resilient, elastic bands 38, of the type shown
in FIG. 5. The resilient bands depicted in FIG. 5 are exemplary
only and the present invention is not limited to a particular type,
style, or size of attachment that can be attached to ring 36. Each
band 38 can include a releasable latch 40 that allows band 38 to be
attached to ring 36 on frame 22 of member 20. One or more flexible
bulbs 42 can be attached to one end of band 38 to allow the user to
not only stretch the flexible bands 38 to perform a variety of
exercises but also to add the additional benefit of a forearm
and/or hand gripping exercise by squeezing bulbs 42.
[0031] Because the present invention allows for movable members 20
to travel along belt portion 12 and to be secured into any location
on the belt 10 or on track 30 where there is a hole, the user is
provided with a virtually unlimited range of exercises. Further,
the ease of changing locations of members 20 is particularly
beneficial when the user is walking or running since there is no
need to look down and unclip the bands 38 from one loop to another.
Instead, the exercise belt 10 of the present invention allows the
user, while walking or running, to simply disengage member 20 from
its present location, slide it along track 30 or belt portion 12 to
another location and re-engage member 20. Advantageously, the bands
38 need not be removed from the member 20 to which they are
attached. The user can move member 20 along belt 10 more by "feel"
then by having to glance down, which may be particularly dangerous
if the user is running or walking on a busy street or an off-road
running trail filled with rocks, branches and other running
hazards.
[0032] Some exemplary exercise routines that can be accomplished
with the exercise belt 10 of the present invention are presented in
FIGS. 6 through 8. Of course, the amount of different types of
exercise routines that can be performed with belt 10 is virtually
unlimited. In particular, the user can easily transition from one
exercise routine to the next, with nothing more than a simple
movement of each member 20 and without the need to unclip a band 38
from one member 20, look down, and re-attach it to another member
20. With practice, the user can go from one routine to the next in
a seamless fashion.
[0033] In FIG. 6, an exemplary exercise using the exercise belt 10
of the present invention can be seen. In this exercise routine,
members 20 are moved to and secured at a location towards the
substantial front of belt 10. The user grasps the ends or bulbs 42
of each band 38, one band in each hand and performs curls to
exercise the biceps. The user can then move on to another exercise
routine such as the one depicted in FIG. 7. To do so, the user need
not look down and/or physically unhook any member 20 from the belt
10. Instead, the user releases each member 20 and slides each
member 20 laterally away from the front of the belt and toward each
side of the belt 10, where they are reattached. The user can then
perform the lateral raise exercise routine shown in FIG. 7, which
exercises the deltoid muscles. The movement of members 20 can be
done seamlessly while jogging or walking.
[0034] The user can then perform the next exercise routine, for
example, the triceps exercise shown in FIG. 8 by sliding each
member 20 toward the back of belt 10, near each other. Again, the
movement of members 20 can be performed by simply lifting and
unlatching the members 20 from their position on the belt 10 and
sliding them to the back of belt 10 where they can be secured on
either side of pocket 18, or if pocket 18 is not included in belt
10, they can be secured on belt 10 in a side-by-side manner. In
this manner, there is no need to remove the bands 38 from one set
of members 20 and re-clip them to another set of members 20 as is
done in the prior art.
[0035] The exercise belt 10 of the present invention is not limited
to the exercises shown in FIGS. 6-8. Bands 38 or other attachments
can be used with belt 10 to create an endless variety of workout
routines. Ideally, these routines can be performed while walking,
jogging, or running, due to the ease in which the members 20 can be
moved along and secured to belt 10. Other attachments such as a
heart rate monitor or additional pockets for keys, cell phones and
portable audio players can be used. Belt 10 may also include
additional belt portions to which members 20 can be movable
affixed. For example, a pair of suspender-like attachments can be
secured to belt portion 12 and used for additional exercises. These
front suspenders can be attached to the substantial center of belt
10 and then affixed to the back of belt 10 like a typical pair of
dress suspenders. Additional movable members 20 can be secured to
the suspender portion in order to perform additional exercise
routines. Further, a heart rate monitor can be secured in a pocket
of the suspender portion.
[0036] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was
made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *