U.S. patent application number 13/494026 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for adjustable elastic resistance exercise device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel Vaughan WILSON. Invention is credited to Daniel Vaughan WILSON.
Application Number | 20130331242 13/494026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49715766 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130331242 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WILSON; Daniel Vaughan |
December 12, 2013 |
ADJUSTABLE ELASTIC RESISTANCE EXERCISE DEVICE
Abstract
A flexible band and/or chain is disclosed comprising a plurality
of rings, links, or touri. In some embodiments, the links are
interlocking In other embodiments, the links are affixed to one
another in linear fashion. The links a gripable, and serve as
handles for a user needing to target specific muscle groups for
exercise by applying tensile force to the chain. The chain
stretches. Some variations include detachable handles which can at
attached at the ends of the chain or to links forming it.
Inventors: |
WILSON; Daniel Vaughan;
(Cedar Hills, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WILSON; Daniel Vaughan |
Cedar Hills |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49715766 |
Appl. No.: |
13/494026 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0004 20130101;
A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 21/00061
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/126 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/02 20060101
A63B021/02 |
Claims
1. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a segment comprising a
plurality of four or more symmetrical elastomeric rings affixed to
one another in line; wherein an outside diameter of each ring is
between 1 inch and 10 inches; wherein the isotonic device
stretchable by a user applying tensile force to a ring with one of
a hand and a detachable handle.
2. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the plurality
of elastomeric rings are formed as single integrated piece.
3. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of rings in the segment are links interconnected forming
a chain.
4. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, further comprising one
or more secondary segments of elastomeric rings detachably affixed
to the segment to increase an overall length of the isotonic
device.
5. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the segment
comprises a plurality of single elastic ring(s) detachably affixed
to one another by means of connectors.
6. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, further comprising one
or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of
elastomeric rings.
7. The isotonic exercise device of claim 6, wherein the handles
comprise elastic rings.
8. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the segment is
formed of a plurality of extruded elastomeric tubes helically wound
around one another.
9. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the
rings is shaped as one of a torus, double torus, triple torus,
toroidal polyhedron, dupin cyclide, and stretched donut-shape.
10. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the
rings is of uniform outside diameter.
11. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein one or more of
the elastomeric rings are fabricated by a mold or extrusion
process.
12. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a flexible elastomeric
belt defining a plurality of apertures; wherein the belt is
stretchable by a user applying tensile force to the belt through
the apertures with one of a hand and a detachable handle; and
wherein the device is fabricated by a mold or extrusion
process.
13. The isotonic exercise device of claim 12, further comprising
one or more handles detachably affixed to the belt, each of the one
or more handles affixable to one of the apertures.
14. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a plurality of flexible
elastomeric bands, each band comprising: a first connector affixed
to a distal end of the band; and a second connector affixed to the
proximal end of the band; wherein each band is detachably affixed
to one or more bands from the plurality of elastomeric bands using
one or more of the first connector and the second connector.
15. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, further comprising
one or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of
flexible bands.
16. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, wherein the first
connector comprises one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a
receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip.
17. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, wherein the second
connector comprises one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a
receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to exercise equipment, and more
particularly relates to an exercise apparatus for strengthening a
user's arms and legs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Individuals in need of exercise often lack to the time to
exercise at commercial gymnasiums and find it more convenient to
exercise at home or while commuting. Standard exercise equipment is
prohibitively large, expensive and cumbersome for home use. Many
and varied types of compact exercise devices are available to help
replace cumbersome gym equipment in home settings and assist
individuals in their efforts to improve general strength, endurance
and/or to mitigate specific health issues that need physical
therapy.
[0005] The prior art includes complicated apparati comprising
flexible rods, bungee cords, and inflatable or solid balls used for
a large variety of conditioning activities including cardiovascular
and spinal therapy, as well as increasing core strength, and
strengthening in the upper and lower body muscles. Some exercise
devices employ elastic resistance as a means of developing or
measuring strength, but they are designed with a very limited
exercises or muscle groups in mind, and are constrained by their
own components and design to those limited areas. Certain muscles
groups, such as the back and shoulder muscles, have very few simple
portable devices designed for their exercise or strength
measurement, due to the difficulties in designing a simple
apparatus that can correctly resist the muscle motions leading to
such development and measurement. Many patented portable devices
that target difficult areas of the body to exercise such as these
are complicated and difficult to find on the market.
[0006] There are no handheld devices in the art which target the
muscles of a user's body and which can be rolled up and stowed in a
space as compact as a drawer. Thus it would be highly beneficial to
provide a simple, compact portable device that targets these
muscles through a wide range of exercises, such as an adjustable
elastic exercise chain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a
need exists for an adjustable elastic resistance exercise device.
Beneficially, such an exercise device would overcome many of the
difficulties with prior art by providing a more functional
apparatus to consumers.
[0008] The present invention has been developed in response to the
present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the
problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved
by currently available apparatii and methods. Accordingly, the
present invention has been developed to provide an isotonic
exercise device comprising: a segment comprising a plurality of
elastomeric rings affixed to one another in line, the plurality of
elastomeric rings; wherein a diameter of each ring is between 1
inch and 10 inches; wherein each of the plurality of elastomeric
rings is gripable by a user applying tensile force to the gripped
ring.
[0009] The plurality of elastomeric rings may be formed as single
integrated piece. In other embodiments, the plurality of rings in
the segment are links interconnected forming a chain.
[0010] In still further embodiments, the isotonic exercise device
further comprises one or more secondary segments of elastomeric
rings detachably affixed to the segment to increase an overall
length of the isotonic device.
[0011] The segment may comprise a plurality of single elastic
ring(s) detachably affixed to one another by means of connectors.
The isotonic exercise device may further comprise one or more
handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of elastomeric
rings.
[0012] The handles may comprise elastic rings. The segment may be
formed of a plurality of extruded elastomeric tubes helically wound
around one another.
[0013] Each of the rings may be shaped as one of a torus, double
torus, triple torus, toroidal polyhedron, dupin cyclide, and
stretched donut-shape.
[0014] An isotonic exercise device is also disclosed comprising: a
flexible elastomeric belt defining a plurality of apertures of
between 1 inch and 10 inches in diameter; wherein the belt is
graspable by a user through the apertures, the belt for applying
tensile force to a user's hands.
[0015] In some embodiments, the isotonic exercise device may
further comprise one or more handles detachably affixed to the
belt, each of the one or more handles affixable to one of the
apertures.
[0016] An isotonic exercise device is also disclosed comprising: a
plurality of flexible elastomeric bands, each band comprising: a
first connector affixed to a distal end of the band; and a second
connector affixed to the proximal end of the band; wherein each
band is detachably affixed to one or more bands from the plurality
of elastomeric bands using one or more of the first connector and
the second connector.
[0017] The isotonic exercise device may further comprise one or
more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of flexible
bands.
[0018] The first connector may comprise one of a socket, loop,
hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener,
and clip.
[0019] The second connector may comprise one of a socket, loop,
hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener,
and clip.
[0020] These features and advantages of the present invention will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention
as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In order that the advantages of the invention will be
readily understood, a more particular description of the invention
briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be
limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a second elastic
resistance exercise device in accordance with the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a detachable handle
for an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device with a detached handle in accordance with the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device in accordance with the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device with detached handles in accordance with the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device in accordance with the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout
this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the
same embodiment.
[0031] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description,
numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough
understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the
relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be
practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with
other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other
instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not
shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the
invention.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 100 in accordance with the present invention. The
device 100 comprises a series of rings 102a-k.
[0033] The rings 102a-k, in the shown embodiment, are connected
side-by-side in linear fashion to form a band or chain 100. In the
shown embodiments, the rings 102a-k are formed from a flexible,
stretchable elastomeric material as known to those of skill in the
art. The rings 102a-k in the shown embodiments are all of uniform
thickness and diameter. In some embodiments, the rings 102a-k may
vary in thickness and diameter.
[0034] The rings 102a-k in the shown embodiment are circular as
viewed from a side perspective view. In other embodiments, the
rings 102a-k, from this perspective, may be oval, square,
triangular, polynomial, torus, or another shape known to those of
skill in the art.
[0035] The term "torus" as used in this application may apply to
any looped shaped, including a ring, but also including stretched
donut-shaped objects, including objects with corners, facets,
angles and the like.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a second elastic
resistance exercise device 200 in accordance with the present
invention. The device 200 comprises a segment 100a, a segment 100b,
and a link 202.
[0037] The segments 100a-b are substantially described above in
relation to FIG. 100.
[0038] The link 202 comprises a detachable fastener which is used
to detachable connect two segments 100 to one another. The device
200 may comprise two or more segments 100. In the shown embodiment,
the segments 100 are connected in linear fashion. In other
embodiments, the segments 100 may be connected in irregular or
non-linear fashion.
[0039] FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a detachable handle
300 for an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with
the present invention. The handle 300 comprises a link 202, a
sidebar 304, and a grip 306.
[0040] The link 202 is substantially described above.
[0041] The sidebar 304, in the shown embodiment, comprises an
elastomeric or allow tube, bar, rod, or pipe. The sidebar 304 may
be formed with the grip 306 as one integrated piece. The sidebar
304 may also comprise rope, chain, cable, nylon, band, and the
like.
[0042] The grip 306, in the shown embodiment, comprises a
cylindrical elastomeric component for gripping by a user which
defines a hollow cylindrical passage for receiving a portion of the
sidebar 304.
[0043] FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 320 with a detached handle in accordance with the
present invention. The device 320 comprises a handle 300 and a
segment 100.
[0044] The handle 300 is detachably affixable to the segment 100
using the link 202.
[0045] In some embodiments, the link 202 may comprise a readable
scale which shows the tensile pressure a user is exerting on the
device 320.
[0046] FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 340 in accordance with the present invention. The
device 340 shows the device 320 in its attached configuration.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 400 with detached handles in accordance with the
present invention. The device 400 comprises a segment 100, a handle
300a, and a handle 300b.
[0048] In some embodiments, the device 400 comprises a plurality of
handles 300 affixable to any of the rings 102a-k in the segment
100.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 500 in accordance with the present invention. The
device 500 comprises a band 502 which defines a plurality of
apertures 504a-c.
[0050] The band 502 comprises a flexible elastomeric band. In this
embodiment, the apertures 504a-c serve as handles through which a
user grips the device 500 and applies tensile force. The apertures
504a-c may be punched or stamped into the band 502, or may be
formed during mold injection or fabrication. The apertures shown
are circular, but may square, rectangular, ovoid, triangular or
irregularly shaped in other embodiments. The apertures 504a-c may
vary in diameter one from another. In some embodiments, the annular
ring circumscribing the apertures 504a-c is overlaid or reinforced
with another elastomeric, composite, or allow material.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance
exercise device 600 in accordance with the present invention. The
device 600 comprises a band 502a, a band 502b, a handle 602a, a
handle 602b, a male engaging member 604, a female engaging member
606, and a handle 602b.
[0052] The handles 602a-b, in the shown embodiment, are similar to
handles 300, but are affixed to the bands 502a-b using means known
to those of skill in the art. The handles 602a-b may be detachable
or permanently affixed. The handles 602a-b, as shown, may comprise
male 604 or female 606 engaging components for engaging a
corresponding male 604 or female 606 engaging components.
[0053] The bands 502a-b are permanently affixed to both a male
engaging component 604 and a female engaging component 606. The
engaging components 604, 606 may comprise buckles, clips,
fasteners, links, claps, turnbuckles, or the like. The engaging
components 604, 606 in the shown embodiment comprise side release
buckles (where the male engaging component 604 is the hook end and
the female engaging component 606 is the catch end).
[0054] A user may adjust the length of the device 600 by affixing
multiple bands 502 together using the side release mechanisms, or
via other fastening means.
[0055] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
* * * * *