Functional Resistance Exercise Apparatus
A functional resistance exercise apparatus includes a glove for a user's hand. At least one loop is securely disposed or formed on the glove, and a resistive element is attachable to the loop which generates force in opposition to the user's movement of the hand wearing the glove in substantially any direction. The resistive element is preferably an elastic band securable at one end to the loop and at the other end to a fixed point, or a cable attached to a weight. The apparatus preferably also includes a vest having at least one loop attached thereto. The band is attachable at one end to the glove and at the other end to the vest. Both the glove and the vest preferably have reinforced portions upon which their respective loops are attached to prevent stretching or tearing of the glove or vest.
Domestic priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/113,992, entitled “Functional Resistance Glove” filed Nov. 12, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to exercise equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to exercise equipment that enables the user to enjoy resistance training and/or rehabilitation while performing the various sporting activities for which the user is training in the first place, also known as functional resistance training.
2. Description of Related Art
Physical fitness is extremely important to a growing segment of the population. As the public becomes increasingly aware of already-known benefits of exercise, more and more people are exercising, in a variety of different ways. Some lift weights, some take yoga or similar classes, others run, bike, or pursue other cardiovascular activities. Some people enjoy combinations of all of the above.
Professional athletes and serious amateur competitors exercise quite often. One can develop one's skills in a sport by performing exercises that duplicate or simulate the motions required to perform that sport. For example, a baseball player might swing an extra-heavy bat or a weighted bat to develop stronger oblique muscles; that way, when called upon to swing a regular-weight bat during a game, the batter is well-equipped to crush the ball.
However, there are a lot of sports that involve a number of different movements for which there is no relevant equipment like a bat. In football, for example, wide receivers and running backs need to be able to run quickly and powerfully while holding/protecting the football. In boxing, the boxer must develop a whole slew of muscles and skills Athletes need to be able to perform the activities of their sports in a practice or exercise setting while keeping their hands unencumbered by holding weights or the like. Additionally, when athletes or would-be athletes injure themselves, it is often extremely helpful and necessary for the injured person to undergo physical therapy to recover fully.
A field of physical fitness training and therapy has developed to address these needs, called functional resistance training. In functional resistance training, the person attempts to perform the movements and routines of his or her sport or activity, however some form of weight or load is added to the person to impede or retard the person's progress. For example, some people wear ankle or wrist weights when they jog, run, or box. These have the deleterious effect of interfering with the user's natural gait and movements, particularly because the additional weight is concentrated at the remote ends of the person's limbs. Others wear weighted vests which, unlike ankle and wrist weights, distribute the additional load much more evenly over the body. However, weighted vests also tend to put more strain on the wearer's back, knees, and other joints. Some athletes will also attempt to run while dragging a heavy item such as a cinderblock. Since it can be difficult to drag a cinderblock along the ground, weights are commonly placed on a sled fitted with runners or the like so that the load has less frictional resistance with the ground but still provides a selective amount of weight for the user to drag around. A further option includes attempting to run while wearing a device that provides significant air resistance, such as a parachute or a sail.
In addition to the above-mentioned deficiencies with conventional functional resistance equipment, all of the above suffer from a common, major problem: they only provide resistance in substantially one direction. Ankle, wrist, or vest weights only provide resistance in a straight downward direction, owing to gravity. This downward pull does not lend significant resistance to movement in any direction other than up. The sled or parachute serves only to pull the user backward, and only at the torso where it is usually attached. It is possible to exercise while submerged in water; the water provides much more resistance to movement than does air. However, it is impractical to use water for motion resistance for many activities, such as those where one's arms go above one's head (as the water level would have to be over the head of the person), or running (as the activity would be very slippery), or for physical rehabilitation in general. Of course, using water for motion resistance also requires a pool, which by itself, is extremely limiting.
Accordingly, there is a long-felt need to provide a functional resistance exercise device or system that will actually provide resistance to the user's movements regardless of the direction of the movement, in substantially any location or setting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a functional resistance exercise apparatus that includes a glove wearable on a user's hand. At least one attachment mechanism such as a first loop is securely disposed on the glove, and a resistive load element is attachable to the loop which generates force in opposition to the user's movement of the hand wearing the glove in substantially any direction. The resistive element is preferably an elastic band securable at one end to the first loop and at the other end to a substantially fixed point. One end of the elastic band may further include a handle adapted to be held by a hand other than the hand upon which the glove is worn, i.e., the user's other hand, or the hand of another person such as a trainer or exercise buddy. Alternatively, the resistive element can be a cable connectable at one end to a weight and at the other end to the first loop on the glove. As another alternative, the resistance can be generated by another device, either known conventionally or to be developed.
The apparatus preferably also includes a torso-covering garment such as a vest having at least one loop attached thereto. The elastic band is attachable at one end to a loop on the glove and at the other end to a loop on the vest.
In the preferred embodiment, the loop on the glove includes an openable ring securable to the resistive element. In the case where the resistive element is an elastic band, the band may be provided with a loop at one or both ends which may be securable to the openable ring on the glove. Of course, the loop on the glove may be permanently closed and the elastic band may be provided with an openable ring. Alternatively, the loop on the glove may be made from the glove material itself by forming at least two holes in the glove and threading at least a portion of the resistive element through those at least two holes.
Both the glove and the vest preferably have reinforced portions upon which their respective loops are attached (and/or holes are formed) so as to prevent stretching or tearing of either the glove or the vest by the application of the resistive load. The reinforced portion of either element is preferably less stretchable than a main portion thereof. Multiple loops are preferably provided on both the glove and/or the torso-covering garment so as to provide greater flexibility, greater comfort, and more options as to the direction of the application of the resistive load.
The invention may include an outer cover disposed on the glove adapted to selectively cover the loop(s) on the glove. The outer cover may include a closing mechanism adapted to selectively secure the outer cover over the loop(s) on the glove. The closing mechanism may be a snap, a zipper, a hook-and-loop-type fastener (e.g., Velcro®), or the like, and/or any combination thereof.
Most generally, the invention is a functional resistance exercise apparatus having a glove wearable on a user's hand, the glove having a main section. At least one resistive load attachment mechanism is disposed on the glove, adapted to receive an attachable load which generates force in opposition to the user's movement of the hand wearing the glove in substantially any direction.
Description of the invention will now be given with reference to
The fundamental element of the invention is a functional resistance exercise glove or hand wrap. Several different versions of the inventive glove/wrap are depicted in
Depending on manufacturer preference, ring 24 may be a closed loop ring such as a metal or plastic D-ring, or it may be an openable loop ring such as a carabiner ring. (Rings 24 shown in
One or more loops 22 and rings 24 may be provided; as shown in
As mentioned above, glove 8 shown in
Variations on the loop cover are contemplated, as shown in
Velcro®). One half 231A (e.g., the hook portion) is disposed on the back of glove 208′ substantially near ring 224, and the other mating half 231B (e.g., the loop portion) is disposed on the underside of cover 230′. The precise locations of the mating halves 231A and 231B are not important as long as one half is disposed on the cover and the other half is disposed on the glove so that the engagement of one half to the other causes the cover to be atop the loop and/or ring. Cover 230′ also optionally is provided with a slot 235 through which ring 224 may be secured when covered to reduce the overall profile of the glove and to minimize any jiggling or flapping of ring 224 when not in use.
The glove itself, be it glove 8, 8′, 8″, 108, 108″, 208, 208′, or 208″ (or variations thereof), offers no functional resistance to the user's movements unless a resistive element is connected to the glove. One embodiment of the resistive element of the invention is shown in
The elastic band need not necessarily be provided with a ring at its first end. Instead, as shown, for example, in
The main section 143 of elastic band 140 is resilient and can be stretched or pulled upon numerous times without tearing or rupturing. Unlike a typical cable and pulley type exercise machine, which affords the user resistance in only one direction or a limited number of directions, elastic band 140 will offer a resistive force to any motion made by the user that tends to elongate the band. The elastic material can be designed to provide anywhere from very slight resistance to great resistance to the user's movement. It is preferred that the invention include several elastic bands of varying resistive strength that can be mixed and matched to provide great variability in the amount of resistance that can be generated. For example, as shown in
The second end of elastic band 40 or 140 must be securable to a relatively fixed point. To enable the securing of second end 46A-C, second end 46A-C each may be provided with an openable ring 48A-C similar to the one disposed at the first end 42A-C, e.g., a lobster hook or carabiner. In such a case, second ends 46A-C may be secured to a fixed hook on a wall or floor, or to an exercise machine, or the like. Alternatively, as shown in
As another option, the second end 46 of elastic band 40 may be secured to a complementary torso-covering garment such as vest 308 shown in
In operation, the invention works as follows. The user places a glove on one or both of his hands, secures one end of one or more resistive elements such as elastic band 140 to the glove and the other end of the resistive element to a substantially fixed point, such as a wall-mounted hook, or to one of the rings 324 or holes 325 of vest 308. Alternatively, the user may secure the glove directly to a cable of a conventional cable-and-pulley-type exercise machine. The user may now perform any movement of his arms conceivable, and the resistive element(s) will generate force in opposition to that movement. As a result, the user may perform routine movements common in sports and receive strength training benefits therefrom. For example, as shown in
The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, the glove may be made from any suitable material, including but not limited to cowhide leather, rubber, polyester, spandex, nubuck, deerskin, vegatable tanned leather, chrome tann, synthetic leather, alum tanned leather, rawhide leather, buckskin leather, patent leather, shagreen leather, belting leather, nappa leather, bonded leather, bycast leather, aniline leather, boiled leather, bonded leather, chamois leather, corithian leather, morocco leather, ostrich leather, poromeric imitation leather, clarion, koskin, lorica, birko, birkibur, kydex, cork leather, ocean leather, presstoff, pseudo leather, vegan micro fibers, naugahyde, durabuck, nusuede, hydrolit, ultra suede, and the like.
Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claims
1. A functional resistance exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a glove wearable on a user's hand, said glove having a main section;
- at least one first loop securely disposed on said glove; and;
- a resistive element attachable to said loop which generates force in opposition to the user's movement of the hand wearing said glove in substantially any direction.
2. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resistive element comprises:
- a cable having a first end securable to said first loop and a second end; and
- a weight securable to said second end of said cable.
3. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resistive element comprises an elastic band securable to said loop on said glove.
4. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 3, said elastic band comprising a first end securable to said first loop on said glove and a second end securable to a substantially fixed point.
5. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 4, said second end further comprising a handle adapted to be held by a hand other than the hand upon which said glove is worn.
6. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a torso-covering garment having at least one third loop securely attached thereto,
- wherein said second end further comprises a fourth loop securable to said third loop.
7. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said third and fourth loops comprises an openable ring securable to the other of said third and fourth loops.
8. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, said at least one first loop being disposed on at least one of a front side of said main section, a palm side of said main section, a wrist portion, or a finger of said glove.
9. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, said at least one first loop comprising multiple loops disposed on different locations on said glove.
10. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, said main section further comprising a reinforced portion, wherein said first loop is disposed on said reinforced portion.
11. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first loop comprises at least two holes formed in said glove, and wherein at least a portion of said resistive element is threaded through said holes in said glove.
12. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said first end and said second end comprises an openable ring respectively attachable to said first loop or said substantially fixed point.
13. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 6, said at least one third loop comprising multiple loops disposed on different locations on said torso-covering garment.
14. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 6, said torso-covering garment further comprising a reinforced portion, wherein said at least one third loop is disposed on said reinforced portion.
15. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one third loop comprises at least two holes formed in said torso-covering garment, and wherein at least a portion of said resistive element is threaded through said holes in said torso-covering garment.
16. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first loop comprises at least two holes formed in said reinforced portion, and wherein at least a portion of said resistive element is threaded through said holes in said reinforced portion.
17. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reinforced portion is less stretchable than said main section.
18. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said reinforced portion is less stretchable than a main portion of said torso-covering garment.
19. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first loop comprises at least two holes formed in said reinforced portion, and wherein at least a portion of said resistive element is threaded through said holes in said reinforced portion.
20. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said third loop comprises at least two holes formed in said reinforced portion, and wherein at least a portion of said resistive element is threaded through said holes in said reinforced portion.
21. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an outer cover disposed on said glove adapted to selectively cover said at least one first loop.
22. A functional resistance exercise apparatus according to claim 21, said outer cover further comprising a closing mechanism adapted to selectively secure said outer cover over said at least one first loop.
23. A functional resistance exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a glove wearable on a user's hand, said glove having a main section;
- at least one resistive load attachment mechanism disposed on said glove, adapted to receive an attachable load which generates force in opposition to the user's movement of the hand wearing said glove in at least one direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 26, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 2, 2010
Inventor: D. Naqam Washington (New York, NY)
Application Number: 12/605,788