Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

Wearable exercise apparatae are both convenient and efficient as a means of physical conditioning. A wearable exercise apparatus having elastic bands disposed thereupon is disclosed herein.

Description

BACKGROUND/FIELD

Wearable exercise apparatae are both convenient and efficient as a means of physical conditioning. A wearable exercise apparatus is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an exercise apparatus includes; a substantially flat ribbon of fabric sized and shaped to be engaged about the waist of a wearer thereby defining a belt, with the belt having a cephalic side, a caudal side, an anterior portion, and a posterior portion defined by their orientation relative to the wearer; an elongated portion of fabric coupled to the cuadal side of the belt at its first end and engageable about a leg of the wearer at its second end thereby defining a leg strap, an elongated portion of elastic material defining a resistance band, with opposing ends of the resistance band coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the cephalic side of the belt.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the resistance band is operatively configured to cross the saggital plane of the wearer as it goes from the anterior to the posterior portions of the belt.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are two corresponding, laterally disposed resistance bands.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the resistance band is coupled to the belt by a coupling method selected from the following: a sewn seam, a d-loop coupled to the belt, a buckle coupled to the belt, adhesive, a d-loop coupled to the belt with the band looped into retaining ring disposed on the band, a d-loop disposed on the belt and a complementary carabiner disposed on the band, a slide release buckle with complementary portions of the buckle coupled to the belt and the band.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the belt is integrated into a garment, particularly shorts.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the shorts are reinforced about the legs of the wearer by thin elongated portions of fabric that encircle the superior portions of the thighs of the wearer.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there are thin elongated portions of fabric disposed ventrally about chest of the wearer and dorsally about the wearer's shoulders with narrow, lateral portions of fabric thereby defining a harness which connects and bands about the wearer's shoulders and is connected to the belt by a portion of fabric.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the harness is integrated into a garment, particularly a shirt.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the resistance band may be coupled to the harness by way of a coupling method selected from the following: a sewn seam, and-loop on the reinforcement which is in turn coupled to the band, a buckle coupled to the reinforcements, adhesive, a d-loop coupled to the reinforcements with the band looped into retaining ring disposed on the strap, a slide release buckle with complementary portions of the buckle coupled to the reinforcements and the strap.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a rigid loop disposed on a first end of the belt, and a coupling strip of fabric disposed on the second end of the belt configured to be temporarily retained within the rigid loop, thereby closing the belt; wherein the structure for closing the belt is selected from the following, the coupling strip being a hook-loop fastener which may be folded onto itself, there is a rod hingedly coupled to the loop which traverses the strap defining a clasp, there are two loops disposed in parallel arrangement to one another thereby allowing a folded strip of fabric to be frictally retained therebetween.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, a portion of the length of the belt is interrupted by a portion of elastic material thereby making the belt compliant in length.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the fabric of which the belt is composed is selected from the following types, crocheted and non-crocheted, synthetic and natural fibers, and leather.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the hook and loop fasteners used therein are selected from those made from textile threads or portions of plastic.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the cross-section of resistance band is selected from the following, flat, round-filled, round hollow, annular; and the material of which it is composed is selected from natural or synthetic resin, rubber, or elastomer.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal ends of the leg strap are coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the caudal side of the belt.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, there is a loop of fabric coupled to the second end of the strap sized and shaped to engage the thigh of a wearer.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the thin portions of fabric are incorporated into a greater garment by means of seamless stitching.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the resistance bands are coupled to one another at the posterior portions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the claims of the present document.

FIG. 1 shows a top-plan view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a front-plan view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus wherein a portion of the apparatus has been embedded into a shirt-like garment.

FIG. 3 shows a front-plan view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus wherein a portion of the apparatus has been embedded into a shorts-like garment.

FIG. 4 shows a front-plan view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus wherein a portion of the apparatus has been embedded into a shirt-like garment.

FIG. 5 shows a front-plan view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus wherein a portion of the apparatus has been embedded into a shorts-like garment.

FIG. 6 shows a rear-perspective view of a method of wearing and using an exercise apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows a rear-perspective view of a method of wearing and using an exercise apparatus.

FIG. 8 shows a front-perspective view of a method of wearing and using an exercise apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an exercise apparatus 1000 is shown having a belt 1100, a leg strap 1200, a leg strap 1300, a resistance band 1400, and a resistance band 1500.

Belt 1100 is an elongated ribbon having a first end and a second end at opposing ends of its long axis and a top and bottom side at opposing ends of its short axis. Belt 1100 is composed of a plurality of elastic and inelastic fabrics and materials and engageable about the waist of a wearer.

Beginning with the first end of the belt, there is a portion of inelastic flexible material including for instance high denier nylon defining left belt portion 1101. Next there is a portion of elastically compliant material coupled to left belt portion 1101 thereby defining left expander 1102. Next, there is a portion of inelastic material coupled to left expander 1102 thereby defining middle belt portion 1103. Next, there is portion of elastically complaint material coupled to middle belt portion 1103 thereby defining right expander 1104. Next, there is a portion of inelastic material coupled to right expander 1104 thereby defining right belt portion 1105.

According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure alternating elastic and inelastic portions of the belt 1100 are joined by a stitched seam with a strip of reinforcement material placed therebetween to improve strength of the joint and prevent tearout, including for instance, a thin ribbon of polyethylene traversing the belt from top to bottom.

According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, the inelastic as well as elastic portions of the belt 1100 may be comprised of multiple layers of material, thereby defining a pocket therebetween within which the seams and stitching of the device may be concealed.

Referring still to FIG. 1, there is a rigid ring 1111 coupled to a first end of left belt portion 1101 by a stitched loop of fabric. There is a corresponding receiver 1112 coupled to the second end of right belt portion 1105 and configured to be engaged about ring 1111.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, receiver 1112 is comprised of hook and loop material with the hook portion being disposed towards the first end of the belt and the loop portion being disposed towards the second end of the belt such that the second end portion of receiver 1112 may be looped through ring 1111 and coupled to the second end portion of receiver 1112.

There is a female portion of a slide buckle coupled to the bottom side of left belt portion 1101 by a loop of fabric at an acute angle to the long axis of the belt thereby defining a first leg clip 1113. There is a cam buckle coupled to the top side of belt portion 1101 by a loop of fabric at a normal angle to the long axis of the belt thereby defining a first band clip 1115. Next, there are two three-armed slides coupled to middle belt portion 1103 by a loop of fabric thereby defining band clips 1116 and 1117.

Referring still to FIG. 1, there is a ribbon of fabric extending at an obtuse angle from the bottom side of middle belt portion 1103. The ribbon of fabric has a male slide buckle at the far end thereof configured to be releasably retained within first leg clip 1113 thereby defining a first leg loop 1118. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of first leg loop 1118 may be adjusted by means of complementary hook and loop material disposed upon the surface of the ribbon of fabric, or by means of a loop incorporating a three-armed slide.

There is a ribbon of fabric extending at an acute angle from the bottom side of middle belt portion 1103. The ribbon of fabric has a male slide buckle at the far end thereof configured to be releasably retained within a second leg clip 1123 thereby defining a second leg loop 1128. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of first leg loop 1128 may be adjusted by means of complementary hook and loop material disposed upon the surface of the ribbon of fabric, or by means of a loop incorporating a three-armed slide.

There is a female portion of a slide buckle coupled to the bottom side of right belt portion 1105 by a loop of fabric at an obtuse angle to the long axis of the belt thereby defining a second leg clip 1123. There is a cam buckle coupled to the top side of belt portion 1105 by a loop of fabric at a normal angle to the long axis of the belt thereby defining a second band clip 1125.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, there is a band of elastically deformable material connecting first band clip 1115 to band clip 1117 defining resistance band 1400. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of band 1400 may be adjusted by means of of a slide buckle through which the elastic material is looped.

Further, there is a band of elastically deformable material connecting first band clip 1125 to band clip 1116 defining resistance band 1500. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of band 1500 may be adjusted by means of of a slide buckle through which the elastic material is looped.

A method of using an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described. An exercise apparatus 1000 is provided in a first state, as shown in FIG. 1. Next, the belt 1100 is wrapped around the waist of a wearer with receiver 1112 looped through ring 1111 such that ring 1111 is oriented medially proximal to the navel of the wearer. The receiver 1112 is pulled to tension about the wearer and back upon itself thereby engaging the corresponding portions of hook/loop material disposed thereup against one another. Next, leg loop 1118 is engaged into leg clip 1113 thereby defining leg strap 1200. The length of leg strap 1200 may be adjusted at this point for comfort by the wearer. Next, leg loop 1128 is engaged into leg clip 1123 thereby defining leg strap 1300. The length of leg strap 1300 may be adjusted at this point for comfort by the wearer. Next, resistance band 1400 and resistance band 1500 are pulled over the respective left and right shoulders of the wearer, such that they cross the wearers sagittal plane at his back.

There are a number of exercises which may be performed using the apparatus in such a configuration including for instance those shown in figures. Generally, exercises are performed by a wearer grasping a band 1400 or 1500 and increasing its length against the complaint force of the band by flexion, extension, pronation, supination, or torsion of the wearer's arms, shoulders, wrists, and/or torso.

Although in the preceding description the various bands, straps, and loops have been described as coupled to the belt by means of specific structures, one haviing ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such structures are only exemplary and represent only one possible way of coupling an elastic or inelastic material to the belt. Examples of other methods which may be employed included for instance sewn seems, adhered seems, d-loops coupled to the belt, buckles coupled to the belt, slides, fasteners, cam buckles, strap adjusters, slide releases, and other suitable structures known in the art.

Further, there are embodiments of the present disclosure as shown in the figures, wherein the belt, or a portion thereof is integrated into shorts, including those which are reinforced about the legs of the wearer by thin elongated portions of fabric that encircle the superior portions of the thighs of the wearer.

Further still, there are embodiments of the present disclosure as shown in the figures, wherein thin elongated portions of fabric are disposed ventrally about chest of the wearer and dorsally about the wearer's shoulders with narrow, lateral portions of fabric thereby defining a harness which connects and bands about the wearer's shoulders and is connected to the belt by a portion of fabric. These embodiments include those embodiments wherein apparatus is integrated into a shirt-like garment. Further, resistance band 1400 or 1500 may be coupled to a portion

The various embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be composed of natural or synthetic fibers, including those which are crocheted, and non-crocheted, leather, etc. based on the structural and mechanical functions described above.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising;

a substantially flat ribbon of fabric sized and shaped to be engaged about the waist of a wearer thereby defining a belt, with the belt having a cephalic side, a caudal side, an anterior portion, and a posterior portion defined by their orientation relative to the wearer;

an elongated portion of fabric coupled to the caudal side of the belt at its first end and engageable about a leg of the wearer at its second end thereby defining a leg strap,

an elongated portion of elastic material defining a resistance band, with opposing ends of the resistance band coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the cephalic side of the belt.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, where the resistance band is operatively configured to cross the saggital plane of the wearer as it goes from the anterior to the posterior portions of the belt.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two corresponding, laterally disposed resistance bands.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance band is coupled to the belt by a coupling method selected from the following: a sewn seam, a d-loop coupled to the belt, a buckle coupled to the belt, adhesive, a d-loop coupled to the belt with the band looped into retaining ring disposed on the band, a d-loop disposed on the belt and a complementary carabiner disposed on the band, a slide release buckle with complementary portions of the buckle coupled to the belt and the band.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt is integrated into a garment, particularly shorts.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shorts are reinforced about the legs of the wearer by thin elongated portions of fabric that encircle the superior portions of the thighs of the wearer.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are thin elongated portions of fabric disposed ventrally about chest of the wearer and dorsally about the wearer's shoulders with narrow, lateral portions of fabric thereby defining a harness which connects and bands about the wearer's shoulders and is connected to the belt by a portion of fabric.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the harness is integrated into a garment, particularly a shirt.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the resistance band may be coupled to the harness by way of a coupling method selected from the following: a sewn seam, a d-loop on the reinforcement which is in turn coupled to the band, a buckle coupled to the reinforcements, adhesive, a d-loop coupled to the reinforcements with the band looped into retaining ring disposed on the strap, a slide release buckle with complementary portions of the buckle coupled to the reinforcements and the strap.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, there is a rigid loop disposed on a first end of the belt, and a coupling strip of fabric disposed on the second end of the belt configured to be temporarily retained within the rigid loop, thereby closing the belt; wherein the structure for closing the belt is selected from the following, the coupling strip being a hook-loop fastener which may be folded onto itself, there is a rod hingedly coupled to the loop which traverses the strap defining a clasp, there are two loops disposed in parallel arrangement to one another thereby allowing a folded strip of fabric to be frictally retained therebetween.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the length of the belt is interrupted by a portion of elastic material thereby making the belt compliant in length.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric of which the belt is composed is selected from the following types, crocheted and non-crocheted, synthetic and natural fibers, and leather.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hook and loop fasteners used therein are selected from those made from textile threads or portions of plastic.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of resistance band is selected from the following, flat, round-filled, round hollow, annular; and the material of which it is composed is selected from natural or synthetic resin, rubber, or elastomer.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminal ends of the leg strap are coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the caudal side of the belt;

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is a loop of fabric coupled to the second end of the strap sized and shaped to engage the thigh of a wearer.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thin portions of fabric are incorporated into a greater garment by means of seamless stitching.

18. An exercise apparatus comprising;

a substantially flat ribbon of fabric sized and shaped to be engaged about the waist of a wearer thereby defining a belt, with the belt having a cephalic side, a caudal side, an anterior portion, and a posterior portion defined by their orientation relative to the wearer;

an elongated portion of fabric coupled to the cuadal side of the belt at its first end and engageable about a leg of the wearer at its second end thereby defining a leg strap,

an elongated portion of elastic material defining a resistance band, with opposing ends of the resistance band coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the cephalic side of the belt,

with the exercise apparatus having two resistance bands disposed laterally from one another.

19. An exercise apparatus comprising;

a substantially flat ribbon of fabric sized and shaped to be engaged about the waist of a wearer thereby defining a belt, with the belt having a cephalic side, a caudal side, an anterior portion, and a posterior portion defined by their orientation relative to the wearer;

an elongated portion of fabric coupled to the cuadal side of the belt at its first end and engageable about a leg of the wearer at its second end thereby defining a leg strap,

an elongated portion of elastic material defining a resistance band, with opposing ends of the resistance band coupled to the respective anterior and posterior portions of the cephalic side of the belt,

with the exercise apparatus having two resistance bands disposed laterally from one another,

and with a portion of the length of the belt portion interrupted by a portion of elastic material thereby making the belt elastically compliant in length.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein the resistance bands are coupled to one another at the posterior portions thereof.