Exercising Belt

Abstract

A belt to be worn around the waist of the user for use as a weight-reducing device and exercising device. The belt includes spring members having arranged therein movable balls which cooperate with the spring members and associated parts.

Description

This invention relates to a flexible belt, and more particularly to a flexible belt to be used as an aid for a person seeking to lose weight and, in addition, the belt provides other healthful benefits such as strengthening the muscles and providing a means of exercise for the user or wearer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible belt to be worn around the waist of the user and wherein there is provided a means in the belt for making a slight noise or sound effect when the action of the belt is taking place and wherein vibrations will be set up to help firm and tone flabby muscles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible belt that will help reduce the size of the hips, buttocks and the like by creating heat when the user performs certain exercises or movements.

Still another object is to provide such a belt that is economical to manufacture, efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and fool-proof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification and claims, together with the drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the belt of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the belt being worn.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through one of the spring assemblies.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the end plugs.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the reducing belt of the present invention which includes a support member 11 that is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as flexible plastic, and, as shown in the drawings, the upper portion 12 of the belt 10 is rounded or of arcuate formation for a purpose to be later described. The belt 10 further includes side portions 13 as well as a bottom portion 14, FIG. 4. The belt includes a back section 15 as well as similar sections 17, and arranged or formed in each of the sections 17 are pockets or chambers 16 that receive flexible coil springs 18, FIG. 5. Plugs 19 are mounted in each of the ends of the springs 18, and the plugs 19 may have a generally tapered section 26 as well as an end portion 27, FIG. 6, and each plug 19 further includes a flange portion 20 that abuts an end of the spring portion 18. Small spring members 21 are affixed to the portion 27 of the plug 20 in any suitable manner as for example indicated by the numeral 22. The numeral 28 indicates ball members of a suitable material such as metal that are movably mounted in the springs 18.

The belt 10 further includes flap portions 9 and 24 which may have suitable fasteners such as Velcro type co-acting fasteners 23 and 25 thereon.

As shown in the drawings, the belt 15 may have rib portions 29 that are vertically disposed as well as horizontally disposed rib or seam portions 30, and these seam portions may be formed in any suitable manner as, for example, by heat sealing and the like. In FIG. 2 the belt 10 is shown being worn around the waist 31 of the user.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an exercising or reducing belt, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings the belt 10 is adapted to be worn around the user's waist 31 as shown in FIG. 2, and with the device in this position portions such as the portions 9 and 24 will overlap so that the fastener material 23 will engage with the fastener material 25 in order to maintain the belt 10 snugly around the waist of the wearer. The belt 10 has a substantial amount of weight due to the provision of parts such as the innerspring and balls 28 whereby the belt will have a tendency to strengthen and tone the muscles and reduce the muscles as the belt is worn. In addition, the belt 10 includes the springs 18 that have the movable balls 28 therein so that as the user exercises and moves about, the balls 28 will move so that the balls 28 will contact the plugs 19 that are connected to each of the ends of the springs 21. As the balls 28 strike or engage the springs 21 and as they roll in the springs 18 a slight amount of noise will made so that the user will know that the belt is functioning.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

When the device is being worn the springs 18 and associated parts will engage portions of the wearer's body such as the front and back thereof so as to exert the best effect on the various parts of the body such as the back muscles and stomach muscles. The belt 10 consists of the support member 11 that can be made substantially of a single piece of flexible material that is folded over upon itself and suitably secured at proper points whereby there is provided the rounded upper portion 12 that assures maximum comfort to the user. The lower edge 14 is generally flat, as shown in the drawings. In addition, the portions 29 and 30 that are sealed, as shown in the drawings, define compartments 16 in the proper portions of the belt whereby the springs and balls will be properly positioned.

The belt of the present invention helps tone up and tighten flabby midrifts, firm up muscles, and the user can wear the device while going about his or her regular duties. The device will not pinch or pull, and the device will help strengthen slack muscles and it can be worn over or under the user's clothes while working or playing. The device is attractively designed and is comfortable to wear and is adjustable to fit the user.

When the device is not being used it can be readily removed from the waist by separating the portions 23 and 25 by simple manual movement.

The spring 21 and plug 19 can be secured in place in other ways besides that shown in the drawings. It will be noted that the belt 10 makes a noise so that the user will know the device is working to reduce his or her hips, buttocks and the like by creating heat as the user exercises, twisting side to side, and, for example the feet may be stationary and the shoulders can be moved. The effective size of the belt can be varied depending on the size of the waist. A plug 19 can snugly fit in each end of the coil spring 18.

The belt 10 includes a plurality of springs such as four (4) metal springs 18, steel balls 28, and springs 21, and plugs 19 that can be made of a suitable material such as plastic. With these parts arranged, as shown in the drawings, heat will generate as the user exercises. The steel balls 28 roll from end to end so as to hit the small spring 21 at one end and thus causing the ball to rebound back and forth which in turn creates friction and thus generates heat. The heat causes body fat to burn up, and the harder and faster the user exercises the more heat will be generated by the device. Also, the manner in which the components or pockets 16 are arranged in the belt assures that the springs 18 will be adjustable without adjusting the waist size of the belt since the springs can be moved to and around different parts of the waist and individually without having to loosen the belt to place it at another desired location. Further, the compartments 16 are larger than the corresponding side or rear portions of the belt to make it adjustable.

Since the springs 18 are flexible inside the belt the device will fit any contour waist, and the balls will be permitted to roll regardless of the contour. The plug and cap 19 assure that the heat will be properly directed, and these parts also serve as a base for the end springs 21. Further, as the balls 28 roll from and to and across the ridges of the springs 18, vibrations will be set up, and these will be felt by the user's skin as the exercises are performed so as to help firm and tone flabby muscles.

An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the noise that the components make or create when the belt is working and the exercise is being performed properly, and the noise also indicates that the exercise is being performed. In addition, this noise serves the purpose to inspire the individual to use the belt for the desired purpose to achieve his goals. The Velcro fasteners 23 and 25 as well as the construction and dimensions of the belt are also advantageous. The belt is versatile and can be used to work different parts of the body. It also helps improve the posterior since the back will be upright as the user exercises or if the device is just being worn without exercising. The belt can be made of vinyl type plastic or the like. Since the units create and generate heat, exercise must be performed initially to start the heat, and once this is done the heat will remain without exercising. When the belt is being worn the heat that is generated will cause the user to have a tendency to exercise more vigorously to generate additional heat.

The belt itself is of one-piece construction, and at the top of the belt that is being worn around the waist there is the rounded one-piece construction which assures comfort and safety since it will not dig into the skin. The bottom 14 is sealed. Thus, even if the individual is flabby and if the excess flab is hanging over the belt it will not create an uncomfortable feeling because the upper portion 12 is smooth and has no sharp seal like the bottom portion 14. The belt is is sealed only at the bottom and other portions such as the top and both sides remain smooth.

It is to be understood that the belt of the present invention may be worn in various ways besides that shown in the drawings. For example, it may be worn with the component compartments placed at the sides of the user, if desired. The belt also helps to reduce the waist size and serves as a health aid.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising belt comprising a flexible support member having an upper rounded portion and a vertically flattened bottom edge portion, portions of the sides of the support member being secured together, a plurality of compartments arranged in said belt, flexible coil springs in said compartments, plugs mounted in the ends of said springs, a small spring member affixed to the inner portions of each of said plugs, movable balls mounted in said coil springs for selective engagement with the small springs, and detachable fasteners on end portions of said belt.

2. In an exercising belt, a flexible member having compartments therein, spring means in said compartments, and movable members in said spring means, wherein the spring means comprises coil springs, plugs mounted in the ends of said coil springs, small spring members connected to said plugs, and said movable members being balls.