Patents Examined by Victor K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 8317666
    Abstract: A weightlifting apparatus has multiple disc weights. Each disc weight has a round base and a round cover assembled on the round base. The round base has multiple locating slots formed therein. The round cover has multiple locating holes formed therethrough. When the locating slots align with the locating holes, lightweight weight plates or coins can be inserted into corresponding locating slots. When the locating slots misalign with the locating holes, the inserted weight plates or coins can be retained in the locating slots. Accordingly, easy weight adjustment and cost-saving effect can be achieved without requiring users to purchase an entire set of disc weights. With incremental fine weight adjustment of weight plates and coins, users can quickly adapt to the adjusted weight, and the exercise injury caused by large increment of weight adjustment can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Tony Wang
  • Patent number: 8308616
    Abstract: A Halo Posture head weight is comprised of two consecutive rings. A lower ring is hollow and conformal while also being shape-sustaining to fit comfortably around the skull at approximately the level of the forehead. An upper ring has metal shot in the forward half to apply weight load at the frontal section of the head. Both rings have adjustable closures at the back of the head for a comfortable, adjustable, and secure fit. Additional pads are provided for coupling extra weight, to permit correction of tilt or adjustment of weight loading. In a preferred embodiment, the rings are fabricated from a single strip of double-backed neoprene that is formed using two longitudinally extensive stitch lines, and an additional resilient fabric bag is provided for securing the metal shot in the upper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Scott H. Flavell
  • Patent number: 8308620
    Abstract: A multipurpose exercise machine requiring only three points of adjustment centrally located. It has a one point height adjustment and two adjustments for the rotating arm assemblies. Dip and chin up bars are attached to the arm assemblies. The machine contains an integrated swingable workout bench. Through the use of a pulley system and counter balance assembly, the cable system maintains tension and provides a constant length of cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Grzegorz Lyszczarz
  • Patent number: 8298125
    Abstract: Exercise weight bars are disclosed that provide an easy and efficient way for a user to quickly remove, add, and secure weight plates to the exercise weight bars. The exercise weight bars provide weight locks that may remain attached to the exercise weight bar during the interchange of weight plates. The exercise weight bars can accept one or more weight plates on the ends thereof. The weight locks includes extension members that engage the weight plates when the weight locks are rotated to a locked position, thereby securing the weight plates to the exercise weight bar. When the weight locks are rotated to an unlocked position, the extension members are retracted to disengage the weight plates, thereby allowing the weight plates to be removed from the exercise weight bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Colledge, Michael Olson
  • Patent number: 8287438
    Abstract: A vertical stack of weights is disposed beneath a base member, and at least one selector rod is rotatably mounted on the base member and selectively rotated into engagement with a desired number of the vertically stacked weights. A horizontal stack of weights is disposed on opposite sides of a base member, and at least one selector rod is movably mounted on the base member and selectively moved into engagement with the desired number of horizontally stacked weights. Various combinations of these arrangements may be used to provide adjustable resistance to exercise on dumbbells and/or weight stack machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Mark A. Krull
  • Patent number: 8273001
    Abstract: A muscle toning kit includes an exercise garment having a first resistance article and a second resistance article. The first resistance article and the second resistance article cooperate to facilitate the exercise of at least one muscle group of a user. The first resistance article is adjustable to provide a range of user selected resistance levels, while second resistance article has another range of user selected resistance levels so that as the user maneuvers the exercise garment, its adjustable pressure opposing structures facilitate the toning and conditioning of the at least one muscle group of the user. The method includes wearing and deforming the exercise garment from its original shape through natural extension and flexing actions of the user to facilitate providing a resistive force to condition the at least one muscle group of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Linda Karecki, Michael M. Potempa, Brian Potempa
  • Patent number: 8262545
    Abstract: A weighted vest includes a pair of mirror image front panels joined to a back panel to form a sleeveless weight supporting vest. A plurality of pliable easily conformed weight packets are secured within the vest interior by fabric attachment pads together with a combination of elastic bands and belts. The vest provides weight distribution particularly suited to activities of substantial acceleration such as sprint starting, American football or the like. A porous liner and mesh outer layer over certain areas of the vest allow heat to be vented from the vest interior. A pair of variable spring rate expansion joints are coupled between the front panels and the back panel passing over the shoulder, neck and collar bone region of the athlete's body to provide reduction of localized stress upon the athlete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Richard A. Beber, Cheryl A. Ward
  • Patent number: 8251880
    Abstract: An apparatus that facilitates the stretching and exercising of the hamstring and back muscles is provided. The apparatus can be used for stretching to improve flexibility, to warm up muscles before physical activity, and/or for physical rehabilitation after injury. The apparatus includes a set of hand grips and a set of foot plates. A user grasps the hand grips and positions the arches of his or her feet above the foot plates. The apparatus includes a user actuated drive mechanism for moving a set of hand grips along the shaft toward the foot plates. The user maintains a grip of the hand grips as the hand grips move along the shaft toward the foot plates, thereby stretching the hamstring and back muscles of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: George Hampton
  • Patent number: 8246524
    Abstract: An exercise device with an arc shaped track having a concave side that is mounted upon a support structure that supports the arc shaped track at a position in which the concave side of the arc faces downward and in which the arc shaped track can be fixed at a location centered above a user's head to extend to each side of the user. When in use, a track follower engages the track and moves along a length of the track to follow a course defined by the arc shape of the track. A handle is coupled to the track follower to be gripped by the user's hand to guide the user's side to side bends. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Ivonne Castillo
  • Patent number: 8246525
    Abstract: A barbell or dumbbell or exercise device includes a handle having two end portions, a weight member attached to either of the end portions of the handle and having a ball guiding raceway for engaging with a rolling device which is movable along the ball guiding raceway of the weight member for generating a vibration to the weight member and the handle, the weight member includes a housing attached onto the weight member and engaged with the rolling device for retaining the rolling device in the weight member, for example, the housing includes a chamber for receiving the weight member and includes a peripheral flange extended radially and inwardly into the chamber and secured to the weight member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Chen
  • Patent number: 8235869
    Abstract: A device for generating power from a locomotion energy associated with leg muscles acting across an ankle joint. The device including: a cuff worn on the leg; a shoe; an energy absorbing element operatively connected to the cuff and shoe for absorbing energy during one or more periods of a periodic motion of the joint in which energy is absorbed by the muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S. Rastegar, Thomas Spinelli, David Haarhoff
  • Patent number: 8235876
    Abstract: An abdominal training apparatus provides focused training on the abdominal muscles using a resistance provided by a resistance device. The user may be supported in an elevated position by a seat support. A cable may transfer the resistance from the resistance device to the user. One or more pulleys may guide the resistance such to the user such that a force vector below and away from the user is provided to the user. In use, the user may perform abdominal training by engaging or grasping the cable to engage the resistance. The user may also support or secure one or both legs using a leg support of the apparatus. The force vector of the resistance is highly beneficial in that it allows the resistance to target and strengthen the abdominal muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GRAA Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Gil Reyes
  • Patent number: 8235875
    Abstract: A kinetic dumbbell of the present invention includes a handle and two weight devices connected to opposite ends of the handle. Each of the weight devices has an annular channel and at least a ball received in the annular channel. The balls are running in the endless annular channels to provide an extra vibration effect while training with the kinetic dumbbell of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ucheer Health Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Larry Chen
  • Patent number: 8226533
    Abstract: A multipurpose exercise device has a portable construction, and is geometrically optimized with arcuate and planar surfaces to allow a safe and effective workout of the abdominal muscles when attached to the feet of a user. Furthermore, the device enables a user to efficiently transition from an oblique abdominal exercise to a core abdominal exercise in a highly efficient, hassle-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Chad D. Wessels, Jerrod L. Iunghuhn
  • Patent number: 8197390
    Abstract: A trampoline assembly (10) includes a bed (12), a base frame (14), a plurality of first resilient members (16) that connect the bed (12) to the base frame (14), and a support assembly (22). The support assembly (22) includes (i) a plurality of support arches (26) connected to the base frame (14) and cantilevering upward away from the base frame (14); (ii) a first support segment (28) that is connected to the base frame (14) and one of the support arches (26); (iii) a second support segment (30) that is connected to the base frame (14) and one of the support arches (26); (iv) a support bar (32); and (v) a plurality of support resilient members (34) that connect the support bar (32) to at least one of the plurality of support arches (26). In some embodiments, the plurality of support arches (26) extend around only a portion of the base frame (14). Further, each support arch (26) can be connected to at least one of the other support arches (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Funtek USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Ikegami
  • Patent number: 8192333
    Abstract: A jump rope simulator for aerobic and anaerobic exercise having a hand-held unit comprising a handle, a base length connected to the handle, and one or more concatenated extension lengths attached to the base length. To exercise, the user grasps one or two units, imitates the motions of swinging a conventional jump rope, and jumps up and down, but there is no risk to the user of tripping over a rope as with a conventional jump rope. If the user desires, two units may also be linked together with an easily attachable connector to form a device similar to a conventional jump rope. A user can quickly convert between the two configurations of the jump rope simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Cindy Joy, Kenneth R. Johnson, F. Michael Sophir
  • Patent number: 8192334
    Abstract: A weight selector for use with a weight lifting machine having a plurality of weights to be lifted and an exertion element configured to exert force so as to lift a preselected amount of weight comprising: a first selector element configured to mechanically select a first amount of weight to be lifted; a second selector element configured to mechanically select a second amount of weight to be lifted, the second selector element being movable relative to the first selector element; and a distance limiting element configured to limit the distance between the first selector element and the second selector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Ilan Sela
  • Patent number: 8167778
    Abstract: A transmission structure of a waist twirling exercise machine for body-building and a method thereof includes left and right stepping rods which are obliquely or horizontally connected to a machine base, left and right stepping platforms having left and right shafts inserting through lubricating members provided in through holes of the left and right stepping rods, left and right transmission members having first ends connected to the left and right shafts and second ends provided with eccentric blocks, left and right connecting rods having first ends connected to the eccentric blocks of the left and right transmission members and second ends pivotally connected to either of the machine base and pneumatic cylinders. When the left and right stepping platforms are treaded in turn, the left and right connecting rods subject to their lengths will drive the left and right stepping platforms to turn left and right in turn synchronously, enhancing a waist twirling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Ying-Chou Lai
  • Patent number: 8137248
    Abstract: A vertical stack of weights is disposed beneath a base member, and at least one selector rod is mounted on the base member and selectively engaged with a desired number of the vertically stacked weights. A horizontal stack of weights is disposed on opposite sides of a base member, and at least one selector rod is movably mounted on the base member selectively moved into engagement with the desired number of horizontally stacked weights. Various combinations of these arrangements may be used to provide adjustable resistance to exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Mark A. Krull
  • Patent number: 8128537
    Abstract: A handheld, vibratory exercise device with a handle that has a low center of gravity and selectively removable modular weights for incorporating an adjustable and additional resistance. The present invention is a vibratory system with a hand-held resistance device that may have a pendulous shape of “low center of gravity” or “low center of mass” and adjustable weights and thereby provides the opportunity for a unique, multi-faceted neuromuscular load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Concept One International LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Signorile, Samuel S. Hollander