Exercise device including elastic closed loop resistance tension band

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/905,776 filed on Nov. 18, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Resistance exercise techniques typically involve the use of weight machines or free weights. Walking through a local gym or fitness club reveals racks of free weights and numerous other space-hogging benches and weight machines, many designed to exercise a single muscle group. For most people, the sheer bulk of the equipment forecloses any possibility of a comprehensive home fitness center comprised of traditional equipment. In addition, a comprehensive set of traditional resistance fitness equipment may be prohibitively expensive. Due to these space and cost restraints, individuals are faced with the decision of purchasing a gym membership and commuting to the gym or buying space-saving but less comprehensive “home gym” equipment.

[0003] Individuals seeking to maintain a regular regimen of resistance exercise face additional challenges when traveling for business or pleasure. During travel, one often finds that fitness centers in hotels have little to no resistance equipment or that the campground or similar location is completely lacking any sort of fitness equipment at all. Traditional resistance equipment is just not mobile, and even more compact “home gyms” are too bulky to conveniently take on trips.

[0004] In addition to cost and portability issues, traditional free weights have limitations. Their mode of operation relies on the law of gravity and therefore they only supply a downward force. Moreover, safely working with free weights often requires a second person, a “spotter,” which puts limitations on where and how often the equipment may be used.

[0005] Also, traditional exercise equipment such as free weights and weight machines generally operate to isolate and fatigue muscles through movement in a single plane. This equipment, therefore, provides limited range of motion. A growing trend in fitness is towards functional training, which enhances normal body movements instead of isolating one muscle at a time. Traditional exercise equipment does not provide this level of freedom.

[0006] Inelastic straps have been used to enhance traditional exercise equipment to vary the angles at which a user encounters resistance. Gravity still provides the resistance, but the inelastic straps redirect the resistance force. The effectiveness of these devices depends on the user being able to perform a wide variety of exercises according to their strength, weight, height, or physical limitations. Resistance exercise devices having inelastic straps, however, often restrict the dynamic motion of the individual's arms, legs, torso, or the movement between the individual and the attachment anchor point. Inelastic exercise devices can be compact and portable, but have limited usefulness as a result of their resistance characteristics, which, like traditional exercise equipment, still depend on gravity to create the resistance. This limits the number of potential exercises that the user can accomplish.

[0007] Also, often different users may not be able to effectively use the same inelastic strap device for the same exercise due to differences in the users' height, weight, or strength. Different users may need to readjust the device or use a different device to create the proper vector angles necessary to provide sufficient resistance according to the user's physical characteristics.

[0008] Another limitation of an inelastic resistance device is that the anchoring point which is often a door must be sturdy enough to support at least the user's entire body weight. Glass door anchor points, for example, would be insufficiently strong for the user to perform inelastic resistance strap exercises without causing damage. Inelastic resistance devices may also be limited in that they often must be anchored in an above down fashion so that the user's weight may effectively become the resistance via gravity. Therefore, inelastic devices do not provide a diverse enough array of exercises.

[0009] Inelastic resistance devices also do not allow for total body muscle engagement when performing different exercises which includes non-consistent abdominal core engagement. Transitioning from an open chain (double hand/feet) exercise to a closed chain (single hand/foot) exercise takes a tedious rearrangement of an inelastic resistance strap that can sometime prove to be unsafe for the user if not arranged properly.

[0010] Another form of resistance exercise device involves an elastic resistance band that can be attached to a fixed location such as a door. While these devices may overcome some of the limitations of the inelastic devices previously discussed, they may have some limitations of their own. Some of these devices work properly only in combination with various separate attachments such as handles, foot slings, and even separate door and universal anchor attachments. These attachments require changes to the device's configuration that are cumbersome and that decrease the ease of use, effectiveness and portability of these products.

[0011] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for affordable, compact and portable resistance training equipment and techniques that provide the ability to perform a comprehensive workout regimen at home or while traveling. These devices would eliminate the need for a traditional gym and the inherent problems with using a traditional gym such as inaccessibility, wasted travel time, and expense. Furthermore, there is a need for resistance training equipment that facilitates multi-planar and functional training exercises in addition to traditional isolation-based exercises.

[0012] There is also a need for a resistance exercise device that provides uniform resistance with no additional attachments. Such a device would provide greater of ease of use while allowing for a vast array of stances and exercises that provide resistance and proper, consistent, and effective muscle engagement. In addition, there is a need to provide such a device that is also easily portable and capable of easily being anchored to various anchoring locations for exercising.

[0013] The present disclosure describes a training device that includes an elastic loop. The elastic loop device provides uniform resistance (i.e., tension) while providing total body muscle engagement whether conducting isometric, concentric, or eccentric muscle contractions. The exercise device has attached sliding bilateral hand grips with bilateral foot cradles which allows the resistance within the elastic loop to be changed with extreme ease so the user has improved control and versatility when performing exercises. The disclosed training device is a complete and self-contained exercise device that requires no additional separate attachments for a user to achieve complete and varied exercise regimens. The device provides portability, ease of use and greater effectiveness for the user while exercising.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a training device 10, which is a complete and self-contained device requiring no additional separate attachments for a user to achieve complete and varied exercise regimens. The device 10 provides portability, ease of use and greater effectiveness for the user while exercising.

[0024] The training device 10 includes an elastic loop 15. The elastic loop 15 provides uniform resistance (i.e., tension) while providing total body muscle engagement whether conducting isometric, concentric, or eccentric muscle contractions. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic loop 15 is circular in shape and has a rectangular cross section that makes the inner surface 15a and the outer surface 15b mainly flat. In other embodiments, the elastic loop 15 may have cross sections other than rectangular such as, for example, a circular cross section that makes the elastic loop 15 tube-shaped.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic loop 15 is a continuous band. In other embodiments, the elastic loop may be a non-continuous band that is joined or tied to close the loop. The illustrated continuous arrangement, however, is preferred because in most circumstances the continuous elastic loop 15 will be stronger and more durable than a non-continuous band.

[0026] The elastic loop 15 may be made of rubber, latex, or any other known elastic or elastomeric material. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic loop 15 is a continuous rubber strip. The elastic loop 15 may be made of a single layer of elastic material or of multiple layers. A thicker band typically provides more resistance than a thinner band of the same diameter and material.

[0027] In one embodiment, the elastic loop 15 has a cross section of 2 inch width× 3/16 inch thickness. In another embodiment, the elastic loop 15 has a cross section of 1⅛ inch width× 3/16 inch thickness. In yet another embodiment, the elastic loop 15 has a cross section of ¾ inch width× 3/16 inch thickness. In other embodiments, the elastic loop 15 has cross sections other than these. In some embodiments, the elastic loop 15, while unstretched, is between 6 and 24 feet in circumference. In other embodiments, the elastic loop 15 may have other circumferences, such as, for example, less than 6 feet or more than 24 feet.

[0028] The training device 10 also includes hand grips 20a and 20b. See FIG. 2 for more detail. While in the illustrated embodiment the device 10 has two hand grips 20a and 20b, in other embodiments the device 10 may include a single hand grip or more than two hand grips.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the hand grips 20a-b are non-rigid. In other embodiments, the hand grips 20a-b may be rigid. The illustrated non-rigid hand grips 20a-b are preferred, however, because non-rigid hand grips flex almost as one with the elastic loop 15 giving the user more flexibility than rigid hand grips. Non-rigid hand grips may be fabricated of softer materials (e.g., fabrics such as cotton, polyester, MemBrain®, Gore-Tex®, etc., leather, and so on) that that are easier on the hands of the user and on the elastic loop 15, which may increase the durability of the device 10. Non-rigid hand grips may also be more compliant and thus easier to store adding to the ease of transportability and storage of the device 10.

[0030] As indicated above, the hand grips 20a-b are installed wrapped around a portion of the elastic loop 15. The hand grips slide in reference to the elastic loop 15. This slidable relationship between the hand grips 20a-b and the elastic loop 15 make the device 10 extremely adjustable to users of all sizes and to a large array of exercises. The sliding hand grips 20a-b or handles also allow for the user to switch between single and double handed exercises simultaneously with zero pause in the exercise routine. The handles of the exercise device 10 may also contain heart rate monitor sensors which assist the user to gauge their target heart rate therefore giving the user the ability to visualize their target heart rate zone while working out.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 10 includes foot cradles 25a-b that are attached or otherwise operatively connected to the hand grips 20a-b. The foot cradles 25a-b receive the feet of the user for the user to exert force upon the training device 10 while anchored thereby stretching the elastic loop 15. See FIG. 8. The functionality of the foot cradles 25a-b is similar to that of the hand grips 20a-b described above. The foot cradles may slide in reference to the elastic loop 15 to provide ease of adjustment and flexibility. Preferably, the exercise device 10 has attached sliding bilateral hand grips with bilateral foot cradles which allows the resistance within the elastic loop 15 to be changed with extreme ease so the user has improved control and versatility when performing exercises.

[0032] While in the illustrated embodiment the foot cradles 25a-b are connected to the hand grips 20a-b, in other embodiments, the foot cradles 25a-b are not connected to the hand grips 20a-b. And, while in the illustrated embodiment the device 10 has two foot cradles 25a-b, in other embodiments the device 10 may include a single foot cradle or more than two.

[0033] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the device 10 includes an anchoring portion 30. See also FIGS. 3 and 4 for more detail. As explained in more detail below, the anchoring portion 30 is attached to the elastic loop 15 to anchor the device 10 to a door, pole, etc. such that the user may exert force upon the training device 10 away from the anchoring portion 30 thereby stretching the elastic loop. See FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0034] The anchoring portion 30 includes a strap 32 that has a loop at a near end 32a, a fastener 34 at a distal end 32b, and a door anchor 36 therebetween. The loop at the near end 32a connects the anchoring portion 30 to the elastic loop 15 with a non-scissoring sleeve 40 (to be described in more detail below) therebetween.

[0035] As best shown in FIG. 4, the fastener 34 may engage the strap 32 forming a loop to anchor the training device 10 to an object encircled by the second loop. In the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, the training device has been anchored to a pole. The user U may exert force upon the training device away from the pole using the hand grips 20a-b or the foot cradles 25a-b while the device 10 is anchored to the pole thereby stretching the elastic loop.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the strap 32 includes channels 32c that have dimensions corresponding to dimensions of the fastener 34 such that the fastener 34 may engage the strap 32 at one of the channels 32c forming the loop to anchor the training device 10 to the object encircled by the loop. Multiple channels 32c may be formed (e.g., sewn, glued, fastened, etc.) along at least a portion the strap 32 providing for different sizes of objects around which the device 10 may be anchored.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 34 is a carabiner. The carabiner can be of any appropriate size. For example, it could be one to two inches from top to bottom. Alternatively, it could be larger, for example, four to eight inches from top to bottom. It could be half an inch to four inches wide. In other embodiments, a carabiner of different dimensions or shape from those shown and described may be used or a fastener other than a carabiner may be used.

[0038] As best shown in FIG. 3, the door anchor 36 is attached (i.e., sewn, glued, etc.) to the strap 32. The strap 32 has a thickness such that the strap 32 may pass through a slot between the door and a door frame or the floor. See FIG. 6. The door anchor 36 is retained on an opposite side of the door from the elastic loop 15 to anchor the training device 10 to the door. Although in the illustrated embodiments the door anchor 36 is shown as circular, in other embodiments the door anchor 36 may have other shapes (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, etc.) The user U may exert force upon the training device away from the door using the hand grips 20a-b or the foot cradles 25a-b while the device 10 is anchored to the door thereby stretching the elastic loop.

[0039] In one embodiment, the strap 32 has a thickness smaller than 0.25 inches and the door anchor has at least one dimension larger than 0.25 inches. In another embodiment, the strap 32 has a thickness smaller than 0.5 inches and the door anchor has at least one dimension larger than 0.5 inches. In yet another embodiment, the strap 32 has a thickness smaller than 0.75 inches and the door anchor has at least one dimension larger than 0.75 inches. In other embodiments, the strap 32 and the door anchor 36 may have other dimensions. In one embodiment, the door anchor 36 has a shape conforming to a shape of a portion of the door to anchor the training device 10 to the portion of the door.

[0040] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate examples of a user U performing exercises using the device 10 disclosed herein. In FIG. 6, the user U is shown performing a diagonal pull-down exercise. In FIG. 7, the user U is shown performing a biceps curl exercise. In FIG. 8, the user U is shown performing a leg push exercise. Other exercises that may be performed using the device 10 include standing press, lat pull-down, squat, core twist, etc. Exercises that may be performed using the device 10 include those shown and a near infinite number of other exercises. Those exercises can include single-planar or multi-planar exercises. A multi-planar exercise is one which involves movements in multiple planes. For example, if an exercise involves both horizontal and vertical resistance, it is multi-planar.

[0041] Exercises may also include core or multi-muscle exercises. Some of these exercises may help the user U improve posture, stabilize the core, and potentially relieve and/or prevent lower back pain. For example, the user may use the device 10 to perform resistance running, which is similar to parachute running (i.e., running with a parachute attached to the exerciser's body). Resistance running is more effective than treadmill running because it engages core and dynamic muscle groups through every step. The user may perform resistance running by anchoring the device 10 to a pole, for example, and engaging the elastic loop 15 around the user's core. The user may then run or jump in place in a straight line or side to side, and the device 10 will resist the user's movements. Thus, the user may perform an exercise very similar in action and effect to parachute running, but in a way that is much more convenient because the device 10 requires much less space than a parachute.

[0042] A problem may be that the durability and safety of the elastic portion 15 may be compromised by scissoring of the elastic loop 15 by the anchoring portion 30 when force is exerted upon the training device 10 while anchored. As shown in more detail in FIG. 5, the device 10 may include a non-scissoring sleeve 40 wrapped around the elastic loop 15. The loop at the near end 32a connects the anchoring portion 30 to the elastic loop 15 with the non-scissoring sleeve 40 therebetween. The non-scissoring sleeve 40 reduces scissoring of the elastic loop 15 by the anchoring portion 30 when force is exerted upon the training device 10 while anchored. The non-scissoring sleeve 40 may be fabricated of a material (e.g., fabric such as cotton, polyester, MemBrain®, Gore-Tex®, etc., leather, and so on) that may be more resistant to the respective forces than the elastomeric material from which the elastic loop 15 is made. This would increase the life of the elastic loop 15 and make the device 10 more reliable and safer.

[0043] The non-scissoring sleeve 40 may slide along the elastic loop 15 making use and adjustment of the device 10 easier. The non-scissoring sleeve 40, however, does not slide relative to the anchoring portion 30 to ensure that the elastic loop 15 is always protected from excessive scissoring that may otherwise be caused by the anchoring portion 30. Thus, the non-scissoring sleeve 40 is slidably connected to the elastic loop 15 and non-slidably connected to the anchoring portion 30.

[0044] The training device 10 may also include a trap 50 that is connected to the non-scissoring sleeve 40 and the anchoring portion 30 to retain the non-scissoring sleeve 40 and the anchoring portion 30 in their non-slidably connected relationship. The trap 50 may include a loop of fabric attached (e.g., sewn, glued, fastened, etc.) to the non-scissoring sleeve 40 or the anchoring portion 30. In other embodiments, the trap 50 may include other methods of fastening the non-scissoring sleeve 40 and the anchoring portion 30 to retain the non-scissoring sleeve 40 and the anchoring portion 30 in their non-slidably connected position.

[0045] In one embodiment, the exercise device 10 includes a small video camera (not shown) mounted within the non-scissoring sleeve 40 which allows the user to self-video record exercises which can be uploaded and shared via internet or blue tooth connection.

[0046] An “operable connection,” or a connection by which entities are “operably connected,” is one in which the entities are connected in such a way that the entities may perform as intended. An operable connection may be a direct connection or an indirect connection in which an intermediate entity or entities cooperate or otherwise are part of the connection or are in between the operably connected entities.

[0047] “User,” as used herein, includes but is not limited to one or more persons, software, computers or other devices, or combinations of these.

[0048] While example systems, methods, and so on, have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems, methods, and so on, described herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, and illustrative examples shown or described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0049] To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the detailed description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both”. When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2 d. Ed. 1995).