U.S. patent application number 15/447856 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-06 for versa-band.
The applicant listed for this patent is Austin Nunez. Invention is credited to Austin Nunez.
Application Number | 20180250545 15/447856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63357544 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180250545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nunez; Austin |
September 6, 2018 |
Versa-Band
Abstract
A fitness band has a non-extensible strap and an elastic band
that are movable coupled along their lengths. Handles at each end
can be selectably attached to the strap or to the elastic band,
allowing multiple modes of exercise to be accomplished using this
single device.
Inventors: |
Nunez; Austin; (Oceanside,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nunez; Austin |
Oceanside |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63357544 |
Appl. No.: |
15/447856 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0414 20130101;
A63B 21/4043 20151001; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 21/4035
20151001; A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B 21/0557 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/055 20060101
A63B021/055; A63B 21/00 20060101 A63B021/00; A63B 23/12 20060101
A63B023/12 |
Claims
1. A fitness band for bodyweight/stability training and elastic
resistance training in one piece of equipment, the fitness band
comprising: a strap having a first ring affixed at a first end of
the strap and a second ring affixed at a second end of the strap,
an elastic band assembly comprising at least one length of elastic
band with a third ring affixed at a first end of the elastic band
and a fourth ring affixed at a second end of the elastic band,
wherein the elastic band assembly is movably coupled to the strap
at a plurality of positions along the strap such that the first and
third rings are proximate and the second and fourth rings are
proximate, a first handle assembly having a first handle attachment
point, a second handle assembly having a second handle attachment
point, a first carabiner coupled to the first handle attachment
point and configured to be selectably coupled to at least one of
the first ring and the third ring, and a second carabiner coupled
to the second handle attachment point and configured to be
selectably coupled to at least one of the second ring and the
fourth ring.
2. The fitness band of claim 1, wherein the strap is
non-extensible.
3. The fitness band of claim 1, wherein the elastic band assembly
is longer than the strap.
4. The fitness band of claim 2, wherein the fitness band can be
configured to provide a load path from the first handle assembly to
the second handle assembly that passes only through the strap.
5. The fitness band of claim 3, wherein the elastic band assembly
remains attached to the strap during use of the fitness band with
no load path passing through elastic band assembly.
6. The fitness band of claim 2, wherein the fitness band can be
configured to provide a load path from the first handle assembly to
the second handle assembly that passes only through the elastic
band assembly.
7. The fitness band of claim 5, wherein the elastic band assembly
remains attached to the strap during use of the fitness band with
no load path passing through strap.
8. The fitness band of claim 1, wherein the elastic band assembly
is coupled to the strap at each of the plurality of locations by a
retaining element.
9. The fitness band of claim 3, wherein the retaining element is
configured to allow the elastic band assembly to be removed from
the fitness band and a different elastic band assembly installed
into the fitness band.
10. The fitness band of claim 4, wherein the retaining element is
configured to allow two or more elastic band assemblies to be
installed into the fitness band at the same time.
11. The fitness band of claim 3, wherein the retaining element is a
piece of strap material that is coupled to the strap along an
edge.
12. The fitness band of claim 1, wherein the elastic band assembly
is coupled to the strap at each of the plurality of locations by
the elastic band passing through a slit in the strap.
13. The fitness band of claim 4, wherein the strap is a tube having
an interior and an exterior and the elastic band assembly is
coupled to the strap at each of the plurality of locations by the
elastic band passing from the exterior to the interior through a
first slit in the strap and then passing from the interior to the
exterior through a second slit in the strap.
14. The fitness band of claim 1, further comprising: an anchor
strap having a fifth ring affixed at a first end of the anchor
strap and a sixth ring affixed at a second end of the anchor strap,
and a third carabiner configured to be coupled to the fifth and
sixth rings and to selectably capture at least one of a midpoint of
the strap and a midpoint of the elastic band assembly.
15. The fitness band of claim 7, wherein: the elastic band assembly
is comprised of two pieces of elastic band that are coupled
together with a seventh ring, and the third carabiner is configured
to selectably capture the seventh ring.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0003] The present invention generally relates to fitness
equipment.
Description of the Related Art
[0004] Elastic bands having handles attached at each end allow
users to perform an array of bodyweight and stability training
exercises. Strap trainers are also available that have handles
attached at one or both ends of a non-elastic strap that can be
attached to a fixed object, such an overhead beam, to use their
body weight to perform an exercise, for example a pull-up.
SUMMARY
[0005] A user who wishes to perform a complete workout of multiple
parts of their body faces a variety of choices of how to create a
load for specific muscles.
[0006] This load can be accomplished through "free weights" that
are available in a variety of weights and configurations, for
example barbells and dumbbells. Having a complete set of standard
free weights requires a significant amount of space and investment
and are not portable. Even the combination devices, for example a
pair of dumbells that can be selectably attached to different
weights, may reduce the number of single-weight items needed but
are still heavy and expensive and only marginally more portable.
This precludes performing the exercises outdoors at changing
locations, for example while traveling, or outdoors in public
areas, for example a local park.
[0007] Various sets of elastic and inelastic straps are available,
each with attached handles. These are relatively portable, compared
to a set of free weights. As multiple levels of load are required
to train different muscles, however, it is necessary to carry
multiple elastic bands to provide the range of loads. Typical sets
of bands have 4-7 different bands of varying strength. Using the
currently available products requires multiple separate items be
carried by the user to the exercise location. The total volume of
these multiple products is not insignificant and collectively may
fill an exercise bag. Once at the exercise location, the items must
then be sorted to enable the user to select the item needed for
each exercise. This sorting and selection process is then repeated
for each exercise.
[0008] It is desirable to provide a single item of fitness
equipment that is light-weight and small in size, therefore very
portable, and able to provide the entire range of exercise loads
and motions needed for a complete workout. The Versa-Band described
herein provides these features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part
of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and
together with the description serve to explain the principles of
the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a fitness band according to certain aspects
of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIGS. 2A-2B depict alternate means of coupling the elastic
bands to the strap according to certain aspects of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIGS. 3A-3B depict alternate embodiments of the elastic band
according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIGS. 4A-4C depict alternate embodiments of the coupling of
the anchor band to the strap and elastic band according to certain
aspects of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The following description discloses embodiments of a fitness
band. In various configurations, this fitness band is suitable for
performing an array of bodyweight and stability training exercises.
The incorporation of resistance elements in the fitness band
enhances users' bodyweight and stability training, thus allowing
users to gain greater muscle strength.
[0015] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a
description of various configurations of the subject technology and
is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the
subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are
incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed
description. The detailed description includes specific details for
the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject
technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that the subject technology may be practiced without these
specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and
components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid
obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. Like components
are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of
understanding.
[0016] As used within this disclosure, the term "strap" means a
flexible non-extensible tether having a length much greater than
its width. The strap may be manufactured from one or more of a
synthetic material, for example nylon or Kevlar.RTM., a natural
material, for example leather, or metal, for example stainless
steel. The strap may be formed as a flat ribbon, for example 2
inches wide and 1/8 inch thick, or as a cylinder, for example a
rope, or as a hollow tube.
[0017] As used within this disclosure, the term "ring" refers to a
means of attaching one element to another element. This may be a
separate element, for example a "D-ring" or circular ring, or an
integral part of one of the items being joined, for example a loop
formed at the end of a strap. The ring may be permanently coupled
to one or both of the items being joined or may be selectably
removable from one or both items. A ring may include a movable
element that allows the ring to engage another element or release a
previously engaged element.
[0018] As used within this disclosure, the term "carabiner" refers
to a ring having a movable element with an open position and a
closed position. In the closed position, the carabiner has a
continuous unbroken loop. In the open position, the loop has an
opening that allows the carabiner to engage another element or
release a previously engaged element. The movable element is biased
toward the closed position such that a carabiner will not release
an engaged element unless a user manually activates the movable
element to the open position. A carabiner may be provided as a
standard commercial product, for example the carabiners sold for
mountain climbing, or in a different configuration.
[0019] As used within this disclosure, the term "non-extensible"
refers to an item that does not significantly increase in length
under a tension load. While all materials have a finite elastic
modulus, the behavior of a material in a particular circumstance
can be characterized as non-extensible. For an example of a person
pulling on a rope attached to a post, the amount that the rope
stretches is not going to be perceptible to the naked eye and can
be considered as non-extensible in that situation.
[0020] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a fitness band 100
that includes a strap assembly 200 and an anchor band 300.
[0021] The strap assembly 200 includes a strap 210 having rings 212
attached at each end and an elastic band assembly 220 that, in this
embodiment, is movably coupled to the strap 210 at multiple
positions, for example 4-6 inches apart, by retaining elements 214
along the strap 210. The elastic band assemblies 220 are free to
slide through the retaining elements 214 and, therefore, slide and
stretch relative to the strap 210 in one direction while being kept
generally in proximity to the strap 210 in the perpendicular
directions.
[0022] The elastic band assembly 220 includes elastic bands 222A,
222B and rings 224A, 224B, 224C, 224D and 230. In certain
embodiments, the elastic bands 222A, 222B may be replaced by a
single elastic band (not shown in FIG. 1) that connects directly
between rings 224A and 224D. In certain embodiments, rings 224B and
224C may be omitted and the elastic bands 222A, 222B connected
directly to ring 230. In certain embodiments, one or more of the
rings 224A, 224B, 224C, 224D and 230 may be replaced by loops
formed in the elastic bands 222A, 222B.
[0023] In certain embodiments, the elastic band assembly 220 may
include two or more elastic band assemblies 220 installed into the
fitness band 100 at the same time, with the retaining element
configured to movable couple all of the installed elastic band
assemblies 220 to the strap.
[0024] The strap assembly 200 includes a pair of handles 240, which
have a rigid grip 242, a flexible attachment strap 244, and an
attachment point provided by ring 246 in this embodiment. In
certain embodiments, the ring 246 may be omitted and the attachment
point provided by a loop in the strap 244.
[0025] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a handle assembly 240 is
attached to each end of the elastic band assembly 220 by rings 224A
and 224D, respectively. In this embodiment, the connection of rings
224A to 250 and of rings 224D and ring 250 are permanent, while in
other embodiments, this connection is accomplished by a mechanism
that allows them to be decoupled, for example by rings 244A, 244D
being carabiners (not shown in FIG. 1)
[0026] A carabiner 250 is configured to selectably couple the
handle assembly 240 to the ring 212 at the end of the strap 210. In
this embodiment, the elastic band assembly 220 is longer than the
strap 210 and connection of the carabiners 250 to each of the rings
212 creates a load path from the first handle assembly 240 to the
second handle assembly 240 that passes only through the strap 210.
Disconnecting either one of the carabiners 250 from the associated
ring 212 creates a load path from the first handle assembly 240 to
the second handle assembly 240 that passes only through the elastic
band assembly.
[0027] The movable couple between the elastic band assembly 220 and
the strap 210 allows the various elements to remain attached during
use of the fitness band 100, regardless of whether the elastic band
assembly 220 or the inelastic strap 210 are being used in the
exercise. This simplifies the use of the fitness band 100, compared
to having to find and pick up a new strap or band for each exercise
as required with current exercise products.
[0028] The anchor band 300 includes a strap 310 with rings 320 at
each end and a larger carabiner 330 that can be used to attach the
strap 310 to one or both of the strap 210 and elastic band assembly
220. In certain embodiments, rings 320 may be replaced by loops
formed in the strap 310. In use, the strap 310 is passed around a
stationary object, for example a post or beam, and the carabiner
330 passed through the rings 320. The carabiner 330 is then coupled
to the strap 210 and elastic band assembly 220 as desired for the
exercise to be performed. In certain embodiments, the strap 310 is
wider than the strap 210, for example three inches wide compared to
a two inch width of strap 210, to provide additional safety margin
and confidence of the user that the strap will not break during
use.
[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the fitness band 100 has a strap
210 is approximately 6 feet in total length, increasing to
approximately 6.5 feet when the handles 242 are attached. The strap
210 may be a cross webbed fabric that is approximately 2 inches
wide retaining elements 214 spaced approximately 4 inches apart
along the strap 210.
[0030] In use, carabiner 330 can be left engaged with one ring 320
of the anchor band 300 and with the ring 230 of the elastic band
assembly 220, thereby keeping all components attached in their
functional locations. This simplifies the storage, set-up, and use
of the fitness band 100, compared to the challenge of utilizing
multiple separate bands and straps to accomplish the same
workout.
[0031] FIG. 2A depicts a means of coupling the elastic bands 226,
228 to the strap 210. In this embodiment, the strap 210 is a woven
nylon strap that is approximately 2 inches wide, while in other
embodiments the material may be different and the size may be
larger or smaller. In this embodiment, these retaining element 214
is formed by a piece of strap material that is approximately 2
inches long, 2 inches long, while in other embodiments one or more
of the width, length, and spacing may be different.
[0032] FIG. 2B depicts a alternate means of coupling the elastic
bands 226, 228 to the strap 260. In this embodiment, the strap 210
has a series of slits 262 located at intervals along the strap 260,
while in other embodiments the spacing may be different. The
elastic bands 226, 228 pass from one side to the other side of the
strap 260 through a slit 262 and then back to the original side
through an adjacent slit 262.
[0033] In certain embodiments, the strap 260 may be formed as a
tube with slits 262 formed about only a portion of the
circumference of the tube. Elastic bands 226, 228 pass from the
exterior to the interior of the tube through a first slit 262 in
the strap 260 and then pass from the interior to the exterior
through a second adjacent slit 260 in the strap 260. The spacing of
the slits 262 may be selected so that the elastic bands 226, 228
are inside the tube for a short length, for example 2 inches, and
outside the tube for a different length, for example 4 inches.
[0034] FIG. 3A depicts an example embodiment of the elastic band
220. A ring 230 is located at a mid-point of the elastic band
assembly 200 and two elastic bands 220A, 220B that are each
approximately half the total length of the elastic band assembly
220 are coupled to the ring 230. In this example, the elastic bands
220A, 220B are couple by a loop formed at the end of each elastic
band 220A, 220B.
[0035] FIG. 3B depicts an alternate embodiments of the elastic band
221. In this example, the elastic band assembly 220 has a
continuous elastic band 221 that runs the entire length of the
elastic band assembly 220 from ring 224A at one end to ring 224D at
the other end.
[0036] FIG. 4A depict an example embodiment of the coupling of the
anchor band 300 to both the strap 210 and elastic band assembly
220. The carabiner 226 passes through the rings 320 of the anchor
band 300 and through ring 230 that couples the elastic bands 220A,
220B as well as passing around strap 210.
[0037] FIG. 4B depicts an alternate embodiment, wherein the
carabiner 226 passes through the rings 320 of the anchor band 300
and through ring 230 of the elastic band assembly 220 while not
engaging strap 210.
[0038] FIG. 4C depict another exemplary embodiment, wherein the
carabiner 226 passes through the rings 320 of the anchor band 300
and around the strap 210 while not engaging the ring 230 or the
elastic band assembly 220 in any way.
[0039] Through a simple and quick change between the configurations
of carabiner 226 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, a user can quickly change
the exercise to be performed, for example from a first exercise
that uses the strap as the load carrying element to a second
exercise that uses only the elastic bands as the load carrying
elements.
[0040] This application includes description that is provided to
enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the
various aspects described herein. While the foregoing has described
what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it
is understood that various modifications to these aspects will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus,
the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown
herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the
language claims.
[0041] Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to
mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather
"one or more." Use of the articles "a" and "an" is to be
interpreted as equivalent to the phrase "at least one." Unless
specifically stated otherwise, the terms "a set" and "some" refer
to one or more.
[0042] Although various components are illustrated as being flat
and/or straight, those components can have other configurations,
such as curved or tapered for example, in some embodiments.
[0043] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an
example or illustration." Any aspect or design described herein as
"exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or
advantageous over other aspects or designs.
[0044] All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of
the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are
known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the
art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended
to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein
is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether
such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim
element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using
the phrase "means for" or, in the case of a method claim, the
element is recited using the phrase "step for." Furthermore, to the
extent that the term "include," "have," or the like is used in the
description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in
a manner similar to the term "comprise" as "comprise" is
interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
[0045] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood
that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not
to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present
invention being limited only by the terms of the appended
claims.
* * * * *