Wrist exercise device

Abstract

For an exercise band worn about the user's wrist, for which it is advantageous to vary the exercise weights inserted in the band, use is made of a flap which is folded over the openings of the weight-receiving compartments thereof to thereby contain the weights in their compartments during an exercise routine. The flap also has a resilient, foam pad therein, which contributes to the comfort of wearing the band.

Description

The present invention relates generally to an improved exercise wrist band, and more particularly to a band construction which assists in confining the weights in the band and which also makes the band more comfortable to wear.

Weighted bands or the like are worn around the ankles, waist and other locations to make the exercise routine more strenuous, and thus more beneficial for muscle tone and other such objectives. For obvious reasons, it is advantageous to be able to embody any selected number of weights in the band, and thereby adjust the exercising weight. With a weighted band worn about the wrist, extensive arm movements could inadvertently dislodge a weight therefrom, since such weight is free of connection to the band so that it can be readily inserted and removed from the band preparatory to adjustment of said exercising weight.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved exercise wrist band overcoming the problem of inadvertent dislodgement of the weights and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to both confine said weights, and also to render the band more comfortable to use, by a simple, inexpensive component, all as is hereinafter described.

A weighted exercise band or device demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a rectangular fabric body of sufficient length to be wrapped about the user's wrist. In much the same way that finger compartments are provided in gloves, said fabric body has compartments for weights with openings thereinto located adjacent an edge of the fabric body. Completing the band or device is a weights-covering flap secured along said fabric body edge which is adjacent said compartment openings, such that said flap has an operative position folded over said openings against said fabric body, whereby said operative folded position of said flap obviates inadvertent movement of said weights from said compartments during use of the exercise device.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of a weighted exercise device according to the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the exercise device in its wrist-encircling position;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the device in open condition and in the flat, FIG. 2 illustrating the inside surface thereof, i.e. the surface against the user's wrist, and FIG. 3 the outside surface; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view showing details of the device in its wrist-encircling condition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the wrist exercise device hereof.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein there is shown a wrist exercise device, generally designated 10, which as illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted to be worn about the user's wrist. Beneficial use of the device 10, as an exercising aid, is derived by inserting a selected number of cylindrically shaped weights, individually and collectively designated 12, in individual cooperating compartments 14 appropriately formed in the fabric body 16 of the device 10. Any appropriate sewing technique can be used to form the compartments 14. For example, they may be formed in the same way that finger-receiving compartments are formed in gloves. In any event, the significance of the compartments 14 and the cooperating weights 12 is that any number of such weights 12 can be embodied in the device 10 by inserting each in its cooperating compartment 14, thereby providing the user of the device 10 with a choice of how heavy an exercise device 10 he wishes to use during an exercise routine.

Since the weights 12 are unattached to the device 10, to facilitate their easy insertion and removal, it is necessary, and accordingly therefore contemplated by the present invention, to obviate any likelihood of a weight 12 previously inserted in a cooperating compartment 14 to inadvertently come out of said compartment during exercising movement. To this end, each compartment 14 has an appropriate opening 18 thereinto, through which the conical end 20 of each weight 12 is inserted in order to place the weight 12 within the compartment 14. In accordance with the present invention, the aforesaid openings 18 are strategically located adjacent edge 22 of the fabric body 16. Along the same edge 22, device 10 is then provided with a flap 24, the edge of flap 24 and the edge 22 being connected by an appropriate edge finishing piping 26 or the like. The unattached portion of flap 24 is of course foldable, in the direction 28, against the fabric body 16. From what has been described, it should be readily appreciated that in its folded position, flap 24 functions as a closure or cover over the compartment openings 18 and, in this manner, assists in confining the weights 12 within the compartments 14.

In the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment of the device 10, the same is maintained in its wrist-encircling position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by cooperating velcro strips 30 and 32. Specifically, component 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2, consists of patches of velcro appropriately secured adjacent one end of the fabric body 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, component 32 consists of velcro strips connected, as by a stitched end 34, to the body 16 so that the velcro thereon is in an exposed position to engage with the velcro patches 30 when the device 10 is wrapped around the user's wrist. Engagement of the velcro patches 30 with the strips 32 is illustrated in FIG. 4. Also illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 4 is flap 24. This cross-sectional perspective of flap 24 is intended to demonstrate that the same advantageously includes as an internal component a panel of plastic foam 36 which, because of its resilient nature and its position in contact with the wearer's wrist, contributes, in an obvious manner, to the comfort of the user during the wearing of the device 10.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 demonstrating another embodiment of a wrist exercise device according to the present invention, said device being designated 40 therein. Device 40 will be understood to be similar to device 10 in all major respects, except in the manner in which it is maintained in its wrist-encircling position, which now will be described. Specifically, device 40 does not use velcro in connecting together its opposite ends, but instead uses in lieu of the velcro strips 32 a pair of straps 42. The free ends of straps 42 engage with buckle structures 44 secured to the fabric body of device 40 in approximately the same locations as the velcro patches 30. Like device 10, device 40 also includes as a significant component a weights-covering flap 46 which, in the manner already described, assists in confining the weights of the device to their compartments and also, because of an internal plastic foam panel, effectively contributes to the comfort of the user during the wearing of the device 40.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise device adapted to be worn around the user's wrist comprising a fabric body of a rectangular shape having a lengthwise extent so as to be worn in a wrist-encircling position about the user's wrist, an arrangement of plural side-by-side compartments each having an opening thereinto located adjacent an edge of said fabric body, a selected number of said compartments being used for cooperating weights placed therein preparatory to exercising service of said device, and a weights-covering flap having a resilient plastic foam body secured along said fabric body edge adjacent said compartment openings having an operative position folded over said openings against said fabric body and occupying an interposed position between said exercise device and said user's wrist, whereby said operative folded position of said flap obviates inadvertent movement of said weights from said compartment during use of said exercise device while said resilient foam body thereof contributes to comfort during the wearing of said device.