Conditioning Rope with Exchange Handle

Abstract

An exchangeable handle system for use with a conditioning rope comprises a conditioning rope, handle connector and a handle attachment. In accordance therewith, the handle attachment may be interchanged and/or replaced on the handle connector by a user thereof.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/280,239 entitled "Conditioning Rope with Exchange Handle," filed Jan. 19, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to conditioning ropes (also known as battling or battle ropes) of the type that are used for upper body and cardio workouts. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to changeable or adjustable handles for use in connection therewith.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conditioning, battling or battle ropes have long been known to be useful for upper body workouts and also to provide cardio training. Such ropes are known for their ability to help develop lean muscle mass and are useful for working arms independently, thereby helping to eliminate strength imbalances.

[0004] The use of battle ropes has only recently become prevalent in the fitness industry and have become very popular. However, they do suffer from some drawbacks. In particular, existing conditioning/battle ropes typically come only with molded rubber handles or permanently attached metal or metal/rubber handles. Such existing handles limit the utility of such conditioning ropes and do not allow for the versatility that may be achieved by having handles that may be removed and changed to provide different utility/exercises. This means the user is limited to one type of grip on the rope. In turn, this limits the type of exercises one can perform using the conditioning rope. Accordingly, it would be useful to have a system and apparatus that allows handles and accessories on conditioning ropes that can be relatively easily changed and/or replaced.

SUMMARY

[0005] In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a system and apparatus is provided that allows for the exchanging of handles on conditioning ropes. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure provide a system and apparatus that allow a user to interchange grips and other exercise devices on conditioning ropes to improve and add to their workout. Additional aspects of the exchangeable/interchangeable handles in accordance with the disclosure is the ability to replace damaged and/or worn handles easily and quickly. Other aspects of the advantages and features of the system and apparatus disclosed herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description, drawings and appended claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a conditioning rope including an exchangeable handle apparatus in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the conditioning rope of FIG. 1 including an alternate exchangeable handle apparatus in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the use of multiple conditioning ropes with an exchangeable bar apparatus in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0009] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of an exchange apparatus for use in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The present disclosure is generally related to fitness equipment and specifically related to an exchangeable handle/accessory apparatus for use in connection with fitness conditioning or "battle" ropes. Such ropes are distinguishable from other ropes, cords, cables, etc. used in the fitness industry for other purposes. Specifically, conditioning ropes are distinguishable from elastic-type resistance bands and/or cables that are used on fitness machines to operate them.

[0011] More specifically, conditioning ropes typically comprise a braided rope of at least approximately 1 inch in diameter and can be up to 2.5-3 inches in diameter or greater. Ropes of this type generally weigh between approximately 4 oz a foot to 16 oz a foot or more. Ropes of this type generally exhibit very little resiliency and/or elasticity. Given their size and lack of resiliency, they are generally not comparable to resistance bands, jump ropes and/or cables/cords used with fitness machines. They are much heavier than those aforementioned distinguishable ropes/cords/cables/bands. Specifically, it is the weight of the rope itself which provides the fitness aspect of the rope.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1-4 herein, the conditioning rope 10 is generally comprised of separate braids 12, 14. The conditioning rope 10 is generally at least 1 inch in diameter, but can be significantly greater than that, including about 2.5-3.0 inches in diameter or greater. Conditioning rope 10 is generally at least 10 feet in length but can be 20 feet or 30 feet in length (or longer). The conditioning rope 10 may include a handle connector 20 attached to an end thereof, the connector 20 may include a connecting means comprising, for example, external threads 22 or, as seen in FIG. 4, bore holes 24 for receiving a corresponding connection pin (not shown).

[0013] The handle connector 20 may be secured to the conditioning rope 10 in any known manner including a screw 26 or bolt that extends through an end of the rope 10. Alternatively, the handle connector may be crimped or glued to the end of the rope 10. The handle connector 20 is preferably comprised so as to hold a handle attachment 30 securely on the rope 10 but be relatively easy to change/replace. As discussed herein, while threaded and/or connection pin/pushpin methods may be used in accordance with the disclosure, other methods and apparatuses that would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the disclosure. Specifically, a snap function, latch apparatus, or turn and lock arrangement would provide the necessary utility as well.

[0014] In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle attachment 30 can be any of a multitude of designs. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment 30 may be a knob or gripping ball. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, it may be a straight handle, or, as shown in FIG. 3, it may comprise a bar or stick. The handle attachment 30 may include a bore or opening therein having internal threads shaped to engage corresponding threads on the handle connector 20.

[0015] In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle connector 20 and handle attachments 30 can be made in any material. Also, the handle connector 20 can attach to the end of the rope 10 in any way. In addition to the handle connector 20, the handle attachments 30 can be made in any shape such as cylindrical handle, ball or stick.

[0016] The handle exchange system disclosed herein may be used as follows. Following attachment of the handle connector 20 onto the end of the rope 10, the user may select the desired handle attachment 30 to attach to the handle connector 20. If the handle 30 needs to be changed, either due to a desired different workout or failure of the handle 30, the user can simply detach the handle attachment 30 from the handle connector 20 and replace it with another handle attachment 30.

[0017] In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the handle exchange system may be fabricated in any known manner as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. More specifically, the conditioning rope 10 may be fabricated with threading or other rope material. The handle connector 20 and handle attachments 30 may be molded, pressed, welded, etc. depending on the materials used and the methods for fabricating the same.

[0018] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed apparatus and method. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain functions is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those functions, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A fitness apparatus comprising: a conditioning rope having an end; a handle connector attached to the end of the conditioning rope; and a handle attachment shaped to be removably attached to the handle connector.

2. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle connector includes threads thereon.

3. The fitness apparatus of claim 2 wherein said handle attachment includes a bore therein shaped to receive a portion of the handle connector therein.

4. The fitness apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle attachment includes threads in the bore corresponding to the threads on the handle connector.

5. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioning rope has a diameter of at least about one inch or greater.

6. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning rope has a diameter of at least about one inch or greater.

7. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioning rope weighs at least about four ounces per foot of length.

8. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning rope weighs at least about four ounces per foot of length.

9. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioning rope is at least about ten feet in length.

10. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning rope is at least about ten feet in length.

11. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditioning rope is a braided rope having at least two separate braids.

12. The fitness apparatus of claim 4 wherein the conditioning rope is a braided rope having at least two separate braids.

13. The fitness apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle attachment is removably attached to the handle connector via snap apparatus, latch apparatus, or turn and lock apparatus.

14. The fitness apparatus of claim wherein the handle attachment may be shaped as a bar, knob, or gripping handle.

15. A fitness apparatus comprising: at least two conditioning ropes, each rope having an end; at least two handle connectors attached to the ends of the conditioning ropes; and a bar having at least two attachment mechanisms shaped to be removably attached to the handle connectors.

16. The fitness apparatus of claim 15 wherein said handle connectors include threads thereon.

17. The fitness apparatus of claim 16 wherein said handle attachment mechanisms each include a bore therein with threads in the bore shaped to removably attach to corresponding threads on the handle connectors.

18. The fitness apparatus of claim 15 wherein the conditioning ropes have a diameter of at least about one inch or greater.

19. The fitness apparatus of claim 15 wherein the conditioning ropes weigh at least about four ounces per foot of length.

20. A fitness apparatus comprising: a braided conditioning rope at least one inch in diameter, ten feet in length, and weighing at least eighty ounces; a handle connector attached to the end of the conditioning rope, the handle connector having threads on a portion thereof; a handle attachment shaped to be removably attached to the handle connector, the handle attachment having a bore therein and including threads in the bore shaped to removably attach to the corresponding threads on the handle connector.