WEIGHTED EXERCISE DEVICE AND SECURING SYSTEM
A novel apparatus and method is disclosed for securing clothing or an object of weight against a body with one or more double locking securing wraps as well as overlapping double lock securing wraps. One lock is created between the edge of the object and the inside of the securing wrap while the other lock is created between the end of the wrap and the outside of the object or the outside of a securing wrap. Hook and loop fasteners are used to create the edge locks which prevent the object from sliding out from under the securing wrap. Weighted ankles, wrists, pants and vest system are also disclosed which incorporate the double locking system. The system allows for a wide range of size adjustability including the ability to add tension between the locks for additional security.
The present invention is related to securing objects to a users body, to adjusting the fit for different sizes and different tensions, and to minimizing movement. The present invention is also related to holding weights against a user's body or another object.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSNot applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable
SEQUENCE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGNot applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWeighted clothing and attaching items of weight against the body has become a popular way to add resistance.
Many methods are currently being used to secure weights or items of weight against the body. These include fabric and straps made of different materials both elastic and non-elastic. Also different connection and adjustment systems are used from hook and loop to mechanical fasteners such as buckles.
The short and long weighted vest and the overlap hook and loop stretch belting system were first developed by Arnold Cook in 1998 and first used in the Ironwear™'s Uni-Vest™s, and work very well to accommodate a wide variety of body sizes. The Uni-Vest™'s belting system has a front panel with loop material running across the panel. The belts are made of a nylon knit laminated onto a neoprene rubber sheet, are connected to the back of the vest and wrap around the left and right side from the back to the front. Each belt has a hook section on the end of the belt and secures on the loop on the front section of the vest. The belts also have loop material on the outside so that one belt can attach to the loop on the front section of the vest and the other belt can overlap the first belt and attach to the loop on the top of the first belt. However, when the belts overlap to secure around a user, they do not hold the edges of the front of the vest securely and, as a result, during rigorous exercise the front edges of the vest may bounce out from under the belt. The same problem occurs on ankle, wrist, and other weight systems where the edge of the weight is not secured and may bounce out from under the belt or strap securing it on the body. The current invention prevents the edges from moving or popping out and provides a much more secure method of attaching items to the body or to another object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to securing weights or items of weight against an object such as a users body and more particularly to a wrap system to secure items to an object or the body. The present invention relates to how the wrap system secures items to the wearer's body or another object to prevent movement, and how it adjusts to fit different sizes. The basic wrap of the present invention is a system such as a belt, strap, band, or other flexible material used to secure an object to the body.
The present invention has double locking system, which secures both the ends or edges of the item and the ends of the wrap. Hook and loop fasteners are used to secure the end of the item to the wrap and the wrap end to the item. These connections are called “Edge Locks”. One or more wraps may be used. The wraps may or may not overlap each other to secure the weight or weighted item to the object or user. One or more “Edge Locks” may be used to prevent movement at the edges or ends.
The present invention incorporates one or more wraps. Each wrap such as a belt, strap, or band that includes an edge connection with both hook and loop material and a center area, which includes both hook and loop materials. Such that both edges or ends of the belt and the center area can lock together.
The present invention can be incorporated into many different articles of clothing. The system can be used to secure clothing with or without weights against any part of the body including but not limited to hands, arms, chest, waist, legs, or feet. The present invention can also be used, for example, to hold weighted pants against the legs of the user.
The present invention can also be used to hold objects against other objects. The present invention is most valuable for use on systems where movement is involved which might otherwise cause the ends of the object under the securing wrap to come loose.
The present invention also incorporates the use of stretch materials in the wrap(s) so that in addition to securing with the double edge locks, tension may be added to the wraps between the edge locks to help maintain position during movement or changing size of what the system is attached to, such as the changing size of muscles. The compression between the edge locks provides additional compression to help hold the object securely in place.
For example, a stretch wrap system is needed to allow for the expansion and contraction of a user's chest when the user breathes. Stretch wraps are also needed to allow muscles such as arm or leg muscles to move, expand and contract as the muscles are used.
The stretch wraps help for example to hold the vest front and vest back against the user, but stretch wraps are also valuable because the stretch materials between both edge locks of the double lock on the wraps help to maintain the vest in position on the body during rigorous exercise, by applying compression between the locks.
The present invention includes the use of stretch loop fabrics which hook material can attach to. Stretch loop fabrics allow for both attachment to and removement from the wraps. The present invention also includes a system for enabling and disabling one or more edge locks of the double lock system as well as modifying the elastic properties of the wrapping system.
The present invention also discloses the use of more than one locking position on the wrap. A double lock is disclosed in detail however, additional locks may be added without departing from scope of the multiple lock concept, a double edge lock is the minimum number of locks required in the disclosed invention however, any number of additional locks may be added.
In the present invention one edge locks occurs near the end or edge of the object or weighted system and within the half closer to the edge and preferably within the third closer to the edge, more preferably within 4 inches of the edge preferably at or within two inches of the edge and the other edge lock occurs near the end or edge of the securing wrap.
The system can be incorporated into different weighted products such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,900,244b1, incorporated here in by reference.
In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views.
Hook and loop fasteners, now under the trademark of “Velcro”, are often used to hold weights and other devices to the body. Typically a strap or belt with a piece of hook fastener material connects to a piece of loop fastener material on the device to secure it in place. The present invention incorporates a multiple combination of hook and loop fasteners on both the securing wrap which could be a strap, band, or belt and the device to be secured so that both the end of the securing wrap and the edge of the device are firmly secured. In
The double lock 20 is created by the inside wrap hook 15 connecting to the outside device loop 19 and the outside device hook 18 connecting to the inside wrap loop 16. The double lock of the present invention keeps the device end 21 secured no matter how small or large an item the device, such as the ankle/wrist weight 10, is secured around.
When the ankle/wrist weight system 10 is positioned on a user the device section 17 is put in the desired position on the user's arm or leg and then the securing wrap 12 is stretched around the arm or leg. First the device edge lock 31 is engaged and then the securing wrap 12 is stretched and wrapped around until the wrap edge lock 30 engages to complete the double lock 20 of the present invention.
In the preferred embodiment the right securing wrap 36 and the left securing wrap 37 are made of a fabric such as a laminated neoprene rubber which provides strength as well as stretch. Other materials such as rubber or leather can also be used or fabrics containing elastic threads such as Lycra or Spandex. Preferably the wrap edges 39 are bound with a stretch fabric such as Lycra to keep the edges of the neoprene laminate from separating.
The right securing wrap 36 and left securing wrap 37 are basically the same as the securing wrap 12 of the ankle/wrist weight system 10. There is a right wrap end hook 42 and a left wrap end hook 43 and there is a right wrap loop 44 and a left wrap loop 45 on the inside of the securing wraps. On the vest front 46 there is a right vest front hook 47 and a left vest front hook 48 and a vest front loop 49 that runs between the right vest front hook 47 and left vest front hook 48. All the hook and loop fasteners may be different sizes, continuous or multiple pieces, sewn, fuse, or otherwise attached, preferably the hook pieces are ½ to 6 inches wide, more preferably 1 to 3 inches wide and the loop material used is preferable as wide or wider than the hook material used.
Preferably the right wrap loop 44 and left wrap loop 45 are stretch loop material such as available from Velcro™ or the inside of the wraps are covered with a fabric which hook material can attach to. Neoprene is available with stretch loop material laminated on one or both sides so that hook material can connect to the laminated neoprene.
The user 35 is shown holding and stretching the ends of the right securing wrap 36 and left securing wrap 37 to pull the vest back 41 against the user 35.
In
The double lock of the present invention may be disabled by attaching something on to the right vest front hook 47 and or left vest front hook 48 so that the hooks can not hook onto the inside of either right or left securing wrap 37. For example, a fold over flap can be incorporated near the front hooks, which has loop material on one side such that it can be flipped over to cover a right or left vest front hook.
The present invention is a double locking system for securing an object against a body comprising a securing wrap attached to one side of an object which wraps around the body and overlaps on the object to hold the object to the body; and a locking mechanism on the inside end of the wrap which locks on to the outside of the object; and a locking mechanism on the outside end of the object which locks on to the inside of the wrap.
The securing system of the present invention includes locking mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners.
The securing system of the present invention includes a locking mechanism on the inside end of the wrap such as a hook fastener which locks to a loop fastener on the outside of the object.
The securing system of the present invention includes a locking mechanism on the outside end of the object such as a hook fastener and connects to a loop fastener on the inside of the wrap.
A securing system of the present invention includes reversing of the positions of the hook and loop fasteners.
A securing system of the present invention includes a wrap that is elastic.
A securing system of the present invention includes a place where the inside of the wrap consists of a material, which a hook fastener will attach to.
A securing system of the present invention where the wrap consists of rubber covered with a stretchable fabric.
A securing system of the present invention where the object contains one or more weights inside one or more pockets.
A securing system of the present invention where the wrap locking mechanism can attach in multiple positions along the outside of object.
A securing system of the present invention is disclosed where the locking mechanism on the end of the object can attach in multiple locations on the inside of the wrap.
An object of the present invention is to create a system where the object is weighted clothing worn and held securely in position on the body.
A securing system of the present invention is disclosed where the end of the device is within the half closest to the opposite side of the object where the wrap originates.
A garment is disclosed for holding weights on the body which includes two or more securing wraps; and the securing wrap attaches to the garment at the end of the wrap; and the edge of the garment attaches to the inside surface of the wrap.
A garment of the present invention is disclosed where the securing wraps overlap each other and the inside securing wrap end connects to garment and the other securing wrap connects to the outside of the first securing wrap.
A securing system of the present invention is disclosed where the wrap is a belt, strap, or band made of a flexible material such as fabric, leather, rubber, metal, man made or synthetic material.
A securing device is disclosed which includes two or more locking positions on an attachment belt; and one attachment that occurs on the end of the belt and the other along the inside surface of the belt.
A securing device of the present invention is disclosed where the locking positions are attachments created by hook and loop fasteners.
A securing device is disclosed which includes a hook fastener on the inside end of a belt; and the inside surface of the belt which includes a surface which a hook fastener will attach to, and a first lock created by the hook fastener on the inside of the belt connecting to a loop fastener on the outside of an object; and a second lock created by a hook fastener on the object which connects to the inside surface of the belt.
A securing device of the present invention is disclosed where the hook and loop fasteners are switched.
A system for attaching a weighted object to the body is disclosed comprising a securing wrap which has loop fastened on one end and a hook fastener on the other and an object to be secured which has loop fastener at one end and hook fastener at the other and a double end lock that is created by the loop on the securing wrap connecting to the hook on the object and the hook on the object connecting to the loop on the securing wrap.
Claims
1. A double locking system for securing an object against a body comprising;
- A securing wrap attached to one side of an object which wraps around the body and overlaps on the object to hold the object against the body; and
- A locking mechanism on the inside end of the wrap which locks on to the outside of the object; and
- A locking mechanism on the outside end of the object, which locks on to the inside of the wrap.
2. Securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanisms are hook and loop fasteners.
3. Securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism on the inside end of the wrap is a hook fastener which locks to a loop fastener on the outside of the object.
4. Securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism is on the outside end of the object is a hook fastener which locks to a loop fastener on the inside of the wrap.
5. A securing system as described in claim 3 wherein the hook and loop fasteners are reversed.
6. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the wrap is elastic.
7. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the inside of the wrap consists of a material, which a hook fastener will attach to.
8. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the wrap consists of rubber covered with stretchable fabric.
9. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the object contains one or more weights inside one or more pockets.
10. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the wrap locking mechanism attaches in multiple positions along the outside of object.
11. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism on the end of the object attaches in multiple locations on the inside of the wrap.
12. An object as described in claim 1 wherein the object is weighted clothing worn on the body.
13. A securing system as described in claim 1 wherein the end is within the half closest to the opposite side of the object where the wrap originates.
14. A garment for holding weights on the body which includes two or more securing wraps; and
- A securing wrap which attaches to the garment at the end of the wrap; and
- A separate connector the edge of the garment that attaches to the inside surface of the wrap.
15. A garment as described in claim 14 wherein the securing wraps overlap each other wherein the inside securing wrap end connects to garment and the outer securing wrap connects to the outside of the inside securing wrap.
16. A securing system as described claim 1 wherein the wrap is a belt, strap, or band made of a flexible material such as fabric, leather, rubber, metal, man made or synthetic material.
17. A securing device which includes two or more locking positions on an attachment belt; and
- A first attachment occurs on the end of the belt and;
- A second attachment occurs along the inside surface of the belt.
18. A securing device as described in claim 17 wherein the locking positions are attachments created by hook and loop fasteners.
19. A securing device which includes a hook fastener on the inside end of a belt and the inside surface of the belt includes a surface which a hook fastener will attach to; and
- A first lock created by the hook fastener on the inside of the belt connecting to a loop fastener on the outside of an object; and
- A second lock created by a hook fastener on the object which connects to the inside surface of the belt.
20. A system for holding a weighted object to the body comprising:
- A securing wrap which has loop fastener on one end and a hook fastener on the other; and
- An object to be secured which has loop fastener at one end and hook fastener at the other; and
- A double end lock that is created by the loop on the securing wrap connecting to the hook on the object and the hook on the object connecting to the loop on the securing wrap.
21. An object as described in claim 1 wherein the object is a weighted vest worn for adding resistance to movement of the body of a user.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2009
Inventor: Arnold James Cook (Pittsburgh, PA)
Application Number: 12/061,839
International Classification: A63B 21/065 (20060101);