BODY GYM

Abstract

A wearable exercise device in the form of a backpack has resistant pull cables at both shoulders and at both hips. Handgrips can be connected to the pulls in various ways to provide for varying degrees of resistance. The tension of the pulls is adjustable as is the mass of the backpack as a whole. A weight compartment can hold one or two weights of varying masses. The pulls at the hips can be connected either to handgrips or to the back of specialized shoes. When connected to shoes, the resistance of the pulls simulate running up hill.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 61/297,903 filed Jan. 25, 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The teachings herein relate to exercise equipment; more specifically exercise equipment worn by the user.

BACKGROUND

Physical exercise is engaged in for general health and for athletic training as well as for other goals. Some forms of exercise are classified as aerobic, including walking, running, and cycling. Other forms are known as anaerobic including weight lifting and sprinting. While many exercise activities, such as walking, require no special equipment, a modern gym contains a wide variety of both simple and quite complex equipment—most of it being equipment fixed in place. It is desirable to have a relatively simple exercise apparatus that is highly portable and provides specific facilities to enhance both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

SUMMARY

Apparatus and systems that can be in the form of a wearable, weighted apparatus with included cable pulls solve the problem of a portable multi-mode exercise device. In some versions consistent with these teachings, an apparatus in the form of a backpack can have resistant cable pulls at each shoulder and at each hip. Some aspects can include provisions for adjusting the resistance presented by the various pulls. Some versions can include facilities for attaching a pull to a handgrip. Some versions can include facilities for attaching a pull to a shoe. The worn apparatus can have compartments to accept weights of various masses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a version of an exercise backpack;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the unit from the inside;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the unit from the side;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view from the back;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view with housing removed showing the tension mechanism;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the base plate with the upper cord guides removed;

FIG. 7 shows the unit with housing removed and upper dual spools and tension knob exploded;

FIG. 8 shows a person using the attachable bar;

FIG. 9 shows a wearer of the unit with the tension cords connected to shoes;

FIG. 10 shows a plan view, and elevation views of the front, back, and left side of a shoe with an integral shoe loop that has a clasp;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the heel area of the shoe of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a wearer exercising with the unit using handles on one upper cord and one lower cord on the left and right sides respectively;

FIG. 13 shows a wearer exercising with the unit using handles connected to a lower cord on the left and a lower cord on the right while running;

FIG. 14 shows the unit of FIG. 1 and an exercise bar in perspective illustrating how the exercise bar might be connected to upper cords.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the unit from the top;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the unit from the bottom;

FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the unit from the right side;

FIG. 18 is an elevation view of the unit from the left side;

FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the unit from the front;

FIG. 20 is an elevation view of the unit from the back;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the unit from the front;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the unit from the back;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In conjunction with the included drawings this detailed description is intended to impart an understanding of the teachings herein and not to define their metes and bounds.

Structure

The initial embodiment being described is an exercise apparatus in the form of a backpack as seen in FIG. 1. As shown in that figure there are tension cord termini at each shoulder and at the right hip. Not seen in FIG. 1 is a similar structure at the left hip. The unit includes a hard-shell housing 3, straps 4, and adjustments for the upper 15 16 and lower 17 18 tension cords respectively. As seen in FIG. 2, at each of the four points of tension cord termini there are, in fact, two cords shown. In each case there is a higher tension cord 15 17 and a lighter tension cord 16 18. Each cord is shown ending in a loop. To use the cords in any given position one, or the other, or both, can be attached to a handle 1 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As well as the tension cords, this unit also is weighted. As seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 there is a foam pad 5 that would be against a wearer's back, for comfort. Behind the readily removable foam pad is a butterfly shaped weight compartment 19, seen in the exploded view of FIG. 3. This version can accommodate up to two weights 6 that are secured in place by locking knobs 20.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view from the back. The major sub units of this version are a hard-shell housing 3, a base plate 2, the optional weights 6, and the straps 4. The base plate provides a mechanism to adjust the tension cords. Using the right shoulder cord ends 12 for explanation purposes, the higher and lighter tensioned cord ends 15 16 are seen in FIG. 5. As mentioned above, there are loops at each of the cord ends. Both cords are led through a cord guide 41 to an upper central tensioning mechanism 33. The structure is symmetric from left to right. The left and right shoulder cord end termini are ends of the same cord. The upper higher tension and lighter tension cords 15 16 go around dual spools 31 seen in FIG. 7. When the tension knob 32 is pressed in to become engaged, it provides for turning of the spools, thus increasing or decreasing the tension and resistance provided by the pair of cords. FIG. 6 shows the base plate 3 with the upper cord guides 41 removed.

The structure of the cords emanating from the housing 3 at the left and right hips and their tensioning mechanism is symmetric with that of the upper system described immediately above.

Kit

The Body Gym Backpack 50 described can be the foundation of a more complex exercise system. FIG. 8 shows an exercise bar 44 attached to the left and right shoulder cord loop ends 11 12. Rather than pull the left and right cords separately this allows them to be pulled together and would constrain the arm movements. In FIG. 9, a wearer is shown with the lower tension cords 17, 18 connected to the back of the heel of shoes 42 configured for this purpose. In FIG. 10, a shoe 42 is shown with a shoe loop 43 with a clasp 45 that opens and closes. FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of the shoe loop 43 and clasp 45.

Variations

One set of variations of the above-described unit is to use only a single tension cord in some or all of the four portions. Another would be to locate access to the weight compartment differently, through the back, top, bottom or side, for example. If a device was desired primarily for use connected to shoes, a unit might only have the left and right two hip cord ends and therefore the base and housing might not be a full backpack configuration.

Alternate Embodiment

Constant Force Spring

Rather than using an elastomeric “bungee cord” spring resistance, embodiments might use a constant force spring. Such a version would use cords that are not substantially stretchable and would add a constant torque spring into the spool mechanism. The force of resistance could be changed by using alternate springs or by varying the effective diameter of the spool.

Operation

The body gym embodiment described above is a flexible device that can be used in many ways. A user can chose an amount of weight to add into the weight compartment 19 and can set the upper and lower tension to a desired degree of resistance. An additional flexibility is provided by having a pair of cord ends at each position. By connecting the load (either a handle 1, a bar 44, or a shoe 42) to one or the other or both end loops a great range of resistance is selectable by a user. Typical ranges of resistance might be 5 to 25 lbs for women and up to 40 lbs for men.

As seen in FIG. 12 a user might remain stationary while pulling up a cord 15 from his left shoulder and pulling down a cord 18 from his hip. In FIG. 9 a women is seen running with the right and left hip cords 17 18 attached to a specialized shoe 42 with a molded in hook, referred to as a shoe loop 43. Another use is seem in FIG. 8 In that use the bar 44 is attached to upper cords 15 16 at the users right and left and the bar is raised and lowered. In FIG. 13 a women is shown running while alternately pulling on the right 18 and left 17 hip position cords.

Other uses might include doing jumping jacks with the handles 1 on the upper tension cords 15 16 and the hip cords 17 18 connected to the specialized shoes 42.

FIG. 14 shows the unit of FIG. 1 and an exercise bar in perspective illustrating how the exercise bar might be connected to upper cords. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the unit from the top. FIG. 16 is a plan view of the unit from the bottom. FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the unit from the right side. FIG. 18 is an elevation view of the unit from the left side. FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the unit from the front. FIG. 20 is an elevation view of the unit from the back. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the unit from the front, and FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the unit from the back.

Those skilled in the art will be aware of materials, techniques and equipment suitable to produce the example embodiments presented as well as variations on the those examples. This teaching is presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments and versions help to explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand it. Various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular application contemplated are expected.

As used herein the terms “cable” and “cord” are used substantially interchangeably.

In the following claims, the words “a” and “an” should be taken to mean “at least one” in all cases, even if the wording “at least one” appears in one or more claims explicitly. The scope of the invention is set out in the claims below.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a backpack having at least one resistant cable pull at an upper corner and at least one resistant cable pull at a lower corner and further having a compartment for holding variable mass.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the backpack is a hard-shell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cable pull at an upper corner is at least one pull at each upper corner so as to be user-accessible over each shoulder, respectively, and furthermore wherein the resistance of at least one cable pull is adjustable by the wearer while the backpack is in its use position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one cable pull at an upper corner and the at least one pull at a lower corner comprise at least one pull at both upper corners and at least one pull at each lower corner such that there is a readily accessible, by the wearer, pull over each shoulder and at each hip.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there are at least two distinct cable pulls located at a shoulder position and at least two distinct cable pulls located at a hip position.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an elongated generally straight bar with a first and a second cord end connection points spaced apart on said bar at a distance such as, with the first connection point connected to a right shoulder cord end, the second connection point is effectively proximate to a left shoulder cord end to be readily, mutually connected.

7. A method of exercising by a person comprising:

a. wearing a weighted backpack;

b. pulling, repeatedly, on a resistant cable emanating from a shoulder region of the backpack;

c. pulling, repeatedly, on a resistant cable emanating from a hip-proximate region of the backpack.

8. The method of exercising of claim 7 further comprises ambulating.

9. A method of exercising by a person comprising:

a. wearing a weighted exercise apparatus secured to the wearers body at least at the waist, the apparatus having tensioned cord ends in both the left and right hip positions;

b. connecting a left tensioned cord end to a left shoe;

c. connecting a right tensioned cord end to a right shoe;

d. extending and retracting at least one of the cord ends by moving the wearer's foot relative to the wearer's torso.

10. The method of exercising of claim 9 further comprises ambulating.