U.S. patent application number 13/304444 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-21 for portable exercise weight vest pack.
Invention is credited to Christopher Smyth Irwin.
Application Number | 20120151656 13/304444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46232455 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120151656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Irwin; Christopher Smyth |
June 21, 2012 |
PORTABLE EXERCISE WEIGHT VEST PACK
Abstract
A portable weight vest pack that is worn like a backpack and
capable of carrying a standard weight plate. The weight vest pack
is advantageously back-loaded to provide ease of movement and
dexterity during workouts. The weight vest pack is made of
lightweight sturdy material and collapsible to carry in a gym bag,
suitcase or other bags when traveling.
Inventors: |
Irwin; Christopher Smyth;
(St. Thomas, VI) |
Family ID: |
46232455 |
Appl. No.: |
13/304444 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61459914 |
Dec 21, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4007 20151001;
A63B 21/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/102 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/04 20060101
A41D001/04 |
Claims
1. A portable weight vest pack comprising: a weight plate carrier;
means for wearing the said weight plate carrier over the torso;
means for securing and loading a weight plate on said weight plate
carrier; and means for folding the said weight vest pack and
carrying it in a gym bag or suitcase.
2. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the means for
wearing the weight plate carrier over the torso is through shoulder
straps and short straps held together in the front by buckles.
3. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the means for
wearing the weight vest pack over the torso is through waist straps
and a belt buckle.
4. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the means for
wearing the weight vest pack over the torso is through chest straps
and a buckle.
5. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the means for
securing and loading a weight plate on the weight plate carrier is
through rectangular rings attached to a carrier strap disposed on
the weight plate carrier.
6. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the means for
securing and loading the weight plate on the weight plate carrier
is through an additional strap over the weight plate.
7. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the weight vest
pack can be worn with the weight plate carrier facing the front of
the torso to carry a weight plate.
8. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the weight vest
pack is worn like a backpack.
9. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the weight
plate carrier has an approximate dimension of
19''H.times.4''W.times.3/4''D and is constructed of three
5''H.times.4''W pieces of closed cell foam sewn into heavy duty
fabric.
10. The portable weight vest pack of claim 1 wherein the sides of
the weight plate carrier are reinforced by the insertion of two
collapsible tent poles into narrow pockets running along both sides
of the carrier providing the means for folding the weight vest pack
and carrying it in a gym bag or suitcase.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/459,914 filed Dec. 21, 2010 which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to body vests used for
exercising and workouts. More particularly, the invention relates
to a portable exercise weight vest that acts as a carrier for
weight plates during weighted workouts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of weight vests with pockets to hold and transport
equipment and gear has been popular among athletes and sportsmen
for a very long time. Load-bearing vests with specially designed
pockets for carrying equipment and armor by military and law
enforcement personnel are also well known in the art.
[0004] The gain in popularity of weight training as a method of
exercise to shape the contours of specific areas of the body and
build muscle mass has evidenced the need for the development of
novel weight vests that can be worn over the torso during weighted
workouts. Generally, the use of a weight vest with added weights
inserted into pockets distributed throughout the vest functions to
increase the benefits of resistance training for the wearer of the
vest. The weight vests of this kind generally have a front and rear
panel and are structured to be worn over a wearer's torso as in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,396 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,270 or secured by
some strapping means to the user's waist as in U.S. Pat. No.
5,810,699.
[0005] The various exercise weight vests in the prior art and
available in the market currently are predominantly customized
vests that have individual weights loaded in small pouches through
the entirety of the vest making it cumbersome and impractical for
transporting the vest during travel because of the excess weight
generated from the sum of individual weights and the requirement of
extra baggage for transporting them. In addition, a majority of
such weight vests worn during weight training exercises are
generally both front and back loaded. The carrying of weights on
the front of one's torso restricts range of motion for exercises
like push-ups by adding extra bulk to the front of one's body.
These weight vests also require the cumbersome task of periodic
removal and exchange of custom weights in the pockets of the vest
to achieve the necessary balance in weights for the various workout
sessions.
[0006] Exercise weight vests that provide the dual function of
back-loading standard weight plates as well as being portable and
ideally suited for travel are not well known in the art. The
present invention fills the void in the prior art for such a device
with a unique design of a collapsible and portable lightweight
exercise weight vest capable of carrying weight plates during
weighted workout sessions and
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is an improvement over prior art
exercise weight vests. More specifically, it provides the dual
function of being lightweight and portable as well as being capable
of back-loading standard weight plates for use during resistance
exercises and weighted workouts.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
lightweight collapsible and easily transportable exercise weight
vest.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
weight vest is structured to be worn like a backpack with shoulder
straps as well as optional chest and waist straps to secure the
vest to the upper torso of the body. In this embodiment of the
invention, the weight vest pack is back-loaded with standard plate
weights for resistance training. In this embodiment of the
invention, any standard free weight can be attached to the carrier
by means of two straps with buckles that are routed through loops
sewn to the back of the carrier.
[0010] In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the
weight vest of the present invention does not require the need for
the use of custom weights. A standard weight plate of any size from
any gymnasium can be attached to the back of the weight vest
carrier.
[0011] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the weight
vest of the present invention is made of lightweight material and
is constructed in a manner to be easily collapsible and stored for
transport. In this embodiment of the invention the collapsed weight
vest can be packed into a suitcase or other bag for transporting
while traveling.
[0012] In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the weight vest is strictly back-loaded, providing ease
of movement and dexterity for exercises such as push-ups. In this
embodiment, the light weight of the vest and its back-loaded
feature makes it ideally suited for use by women athletes as there
are no front-loaded weights and weight-bearing restrictions to the
chest. In some embodiments of the invention, the weight vest pack
may be worn with the weight plate carrier facing the front to load
a standard weight plate to provide resistance training and workout
for the front of the body.
[0013] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
weight vest of the invention has an approximate dimension of
19''H.times.4''W.times.3/4''D and is constructed of approximately
three 5''H.times.4''W pieces of closed cell foam sewn into heavy
duty fabric allowing it to be tri-folded. The sides of the carrier
weight vest are reinforced by the insertion of approximately two
collapsible `tent poles` into small pockets along the sides.
[0014] Although various features of the present invention may be
described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may
also be provided separately or in any suitable combination.
Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the
context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also
be implemented in a single embodiment. In general, an embodiment is
an example or implementation of the invention as conceptualized.
The various references to "an exemplary embodiment," or "yet
another exemplary embodiment" do not necessarily all refer to the
same embodiment(s). Rather, these references mean that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
an embodiment is included in at least some embodiments, but not
necessarily all embodiments, of the invention.
[0015] The features and advantages of the embodiments of the
present invention as described in this summary of the invention
will be further appreciated and become obvious to one skilled in
the art when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the portable exercise weight vest
pack.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable weight vest
pack with a standard weight plate attached to the back of the
vest.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back side of the weight vest
pack.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the weight vest pack
loaded with a standard weight plate.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side view of the weight vest pack loaded with a
standard weight plate.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an aerial view of the weight vest pack loaded with
a standard weight plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is a weight vest pack that can be used
to attach and carry standard weight plates during weighted exercise
sessions. It is constructed of light weight heavy duty material
that is capable of carrying standard to custom weights without
breaking under stress. When not in use, it is collapsible and can
be folded to fit in a small travel sack and carried in a suitcase
or other travel bag, making it ideal for the athlete who has to
travel.
[0023] Referring now to the figures, more particularly, FIG. 1 a
plan view of the portable weight vest pack 10 is shown with its
exemplary features. The weight plate carrier 11 of the weight vest
pack 10 has an approximate dimension of
19''H.times.4''W.times.3/4''D and is constructed of three
5''H.times.4''W pieces of closed cell foam sewn into heavy duty
fabric making it light enough to be tri-folded and packed into a
gym or travel bag. The sides of the weight plate carrier 11 are
reinforced by the insertion of two collapsible tent poles into
narrow pockets running along both sides of the carrier. The weight
plate carrier 11 further has a carrier strap 12 running through its
center on the outside and has reinforced rectangular rings 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, and 6 strategically placed throughout the length of carrier
strap 12. These rings also function to hold the weight plate on the
weight plate carrier 10. The carrier strap 12 of carrier 11 through
its top end engages with two shoulder straps 13a on the right and
13b on the left and through its bottom end to a waist strap 15
comprised of two sections 15a on the right and 15b on the left. The
waist strap 15 is held in place in front of the torso of the wearer
of the weight vest pack carrier 11 through a waist buckle 16. The
shoulder straps 13a and 13b have two shorter straps 14a and 14b
that have an inter-locking mechanism that holds the front ends of
the two shoulder straps 13a and 13b in the front of the torso of
the wearer of the weight vest pack 10. This exemplary embodiment of
the invention of the portable weight vest pack 10 is meant to be
worn like a back pack.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2 the portable weight vest pack 10 is
shown with a standard weight plate 20 loaded onto weight plate
carrier 11 of the weight vest pack. The rectangular rings 4, 5, and
6 on the carrier strap 12 can be seen below the weight plate 20. In
this embodiment, an additional strap not shown in the figure helps
to hold the weight plate 20 in place over the weight plate carrier
10. In this embodiment of the invention, any standard free weight
can be attached to the carrier by means of two straps with buckles
that are routed through loops sewn to the back of the carrier. The
shoulder straps 13a and 13b are brought to the front of the torso
of the person wearing the weight vest pack 10 and locked in place
in the front through straps 14a and 14b having buckles at their
ends. The waist strap 15 through its sides 15a and 15b are brought
to the front of the torso and locked in place at the waist by the
waist buckle 16.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the back of the portable weight
vest pack 10 with its weight plate carrier 11, carrier strap 12,
rectangular rings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, shoulder straps 13a and
13b, short straps 14a and 14b, and waist straps 15a and 15b.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the weight plate 20 loaded
on to an embodiment of the portable weight vest pack 10 of the
invention. In this embodiment of the invention, all other basic
features of the portable weight vest pack 10 such as weight plate
carrier 11, carrier strap 12, rectangular rings 4, 5, and 6,
shoulder straps 13a and 13b, short straps 14a and 14b and waist
straps 15a and 15b are retained.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the portable weight vest pack 10
of the present invention with a loaded weight plate 20. The weight
plate carrier 11, carrier strap 12, rectangular rings 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, shoulder strap set 13, shorter strap set 14, and waist strap
15 of the weight vest pack 10 are appropriately labeled and
identified in the figure.
[0028] FIG. 6 is an aerial view of the portable weight vest pack 10
of the invention with a weight plate 20 loaded on to the weight
plate carrier 11 and additionally showing the carrier strap 12 and
rectangular ring 1 holding the weight plate 20 on the weight plate
carrier 11. The shoulder straps 13a and 13b, short straps 14a and
14b and the waist belt buckle 16 can be seen in this view.
[0029] The foregoing description of the invention accompanied by
the drawings showing the features and use of the weight vest should
not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It should be
understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that the
embodiments of the invention thus described may be further modified
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *