Weighted Exercise Ribbon

Abstract

A weighted exercise ribbon has flexible unweighted portions located at each end with at least one weighted portion between, with the end unweighted portions having sufficient length that the ribbon may be conveniently positioned or tied in place by a user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For certain exercise programs it is desirable that additional weight be lifted or supported by the user (beyond just the weight of the user's body). For this reason freestanding weights (dumbbells, barbells, weighted balls, etc.) are often used. In some situations it is desirable that the additional weight be more firmly attached to the user, and in those situations ankle weights with straps, and even weighted body vests, are sometimes used. However, attaching the weighted equipment is cumbersome, and the time required to complete the attachment may interfere with the exercise sequence. Other weighted devices have been proposed to be laid on or over the user's body, such as the Tai Chi Yoga Bag disclosed in US Publication Number 2011/0201478 (Friend) and the Weighted Device disclosed in US Publication Number 2014/0213421 (Paris). The present invention provides a weighted exercise aid that can be quickly and conveniently accessed, used, and when necessary placed on or attached to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a flexible ribbon with at least one weighted portion and unweighted portions at each end of the ribbon for use in yoga and other forms of exercise. In the preferred embodiment a weighted portion of the ribbon is between unweighted portions at the ends of the ribbon, and the combined length of the unweighted end portions is at least 50% of the overall ribbon length. This length is sufficient to facilitate it being positioned on or tied around the user's body. The weighted portion of the ribbon may comprise a removable flexible weight that is inserted in a pocket in the ribbon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the weighted portion of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the weighted portion of the present invention configured to receive a weighted insert in a defined inner pocket.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the thickness of the ribbon and a segmented weighted portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a ribbon with a weighted portion and an unweighted portion at the ends of the ribbon for use in yoga and other forms of exercise. As used in this description, “ribbon” means a long strip of flexible material. Other terms used for this invention could be sash, band, strap or belt, and the term “ribbon” is intended to encompass all of these analogous terms. The ribbon of the present invention has two ends and has a length, a width, and a thickness. When wrapped around a user's midsection, the “width” of the ribbon would lie parallel to their body. The thickness and width of the ribbon may vary between the weighted and unweighted portions. Preferably the width of at least part of the end unweighted portions is at least 50%, and ideally at least 75% of the width of the weighted portion.

The combined length of the end unweighted portions is preferably at least 50% of the overall ribbon length, and ideally is longer. A significant length of unweighted portion at each end of the ribbon is important for several reasons. First, it gives the ribbon an overall length that allows a user grasping each end of the ribbon to be able to easily maneuver it behind their body or to other positions. Second, it provides a sufficient length of unweighted material to allow tying to aid in holding the weighted portion of the ribbon in the appropriate position.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment the ribbon has a middle weighted portion 4 with unweighted portions 2 and 6 on either side of the weighted portion 4. The unweighted portion refers to the portion of the ribbon without substantial added weight, but those portions would have the weight of the ribbon material. The ribbon is configured so that the weighted portion can be laid across part of the user's body, such as across the ankles, feet, waist or midsection, or so the ribbon can be tied around the user's body, or both. The key to the effectiveness of this invention, and a novel aspect of this invention, is the length of the unweighted portions of the ribbon relative to the weighted portion of the ribbon. The ribbon is preferably long enough so that for certain exercises the user may hold opposite ends of the ribbon in each hand. For other exercises, the weighted portion of the ribbon may be moved to the proper position across a user's body utilizing the unweighted portions at the ends of the ribbon to facilitate positioning.

The ribbon may be tied loosely around the body of the user, and may even be intended to come loose during exercise so as to require additional balancing by the user. Alternatively, the ribbon can be tied more firmly in position. Of course, even in the more firmly tied position, this method of attachment would not be as secure as the complex and tight strap structures associated with ankle weights or body vests. The time required to adequately tie the ribbon in place would be just a few seconds. When tied, even if loosely tied, the ribbon of the present invention will tend to adequately stay in position even during significant exercise movement. This tendency to stay in place is an unexpected benefit of the present invention. While prior art weights that attach to a user utilize straps with buckles, Velcro or similar attachment devices to hold the weights in place, the absence of these is desirable in one embodiment of the invention. While Velcro or a similar unobtrusive fastening means could be used to connect the ends of the ribbon (as an alternative to tying) such a fastening means is not mandatory.

In a preferred configuration as shown in FIG. 1, the unweighted portions 2 and 6 on each side of a weighted portion 4 are each approximately the same length as the weighted portion 4. The weighted portion of the ribbon is substantially weighted, meaning that its weight is significantly more than the weight of the ribbon material alone. The weight of the weighted portion is ideally in the range of 1 to 20 pounds. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the unweighted end portions comprise about ⅔ of the overall length of the ribbon.

Preferably the ribbon has a width at least about 10 times the thickness of the end unweighted portions of the ribbon, and ideally a width at least 40 times that thickness. For example, a 5 inch wide ribbon would be less than ½ inch thick at the unweighted portion, and ideally less than ⅛ inch thick at that unweighted portion. The weighted portion of the ribbon would be thicker than the unweighted portion due to the weight (described in more detail below). The thickness of the weighted portion (with the weighted material in place) is preferably no greater than the width of the unweighted end portions of the ribbon. The ribbon may be uniform in width or may vary in width. Preferably the overall length of the ribbon is at least 3 feet in length, and ideally more than 6 feet in length.

Different configurations, and particularly different lengths of the unweighted portions of the ribbon are possible. One unweighted portion could be longer than the other. Each unweighted end portion could be longer or shorter than the weighted portion. Preferably both unweighted portions of the ribbon are approximately equal in length and combined are at least 50% of the overall ribbon length.

The ribbon may be constructed of fabric, leather, suede, nylon, or a range of other suitable flexible materials known to one skilled in the art. Preferably the ribbon is made of a microfiber fabric or other material that is comfortable against a user's skin but also provides sufficient friction (whether or not tied) to keep the ribbon (and particularly the weighted portion of the ribbon) from moving too easily. Regions of the ribbon could be rubberized or otherwise treated to further enhance friction, whether tied or just draped across the user's body. Since the ribbon would likely become saturated with sweat, it is desirable that it be washable. The ribbon may be constructed of multiple layers, and it is desirable to include a moisture wicking layer on the outer surface (contacting a user's skin or clothing) with a moisture absorbing layer beneath it. The entire ribbon may be stretchable, or only the end unweighted portions may be stretchable.

The weighted portion of the ribbon can be permanently incorporated in the ribbon or, preferably, would be a removable weighted insert so that the ribbon (without the weight) could be washed. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the middle, weighted portion 4 of one embodiment of the present invention. In this preferred embodiment, the ribbon is formed by folding a strip of ribbon material as shown in FIG. 2 and attaching the edges 8 and 10 with a known closure such as a sewn connection 12 to define a ribbon with and upper and lower surface and an enclosed inner pocket. A separate weighted insert 14 would slide into the inner pocket of the ribbon, which could take on an oblong or round shape. The weighted insert 14 should be flexible so as to flex with the ribbon, and be filled with an appropriate weighting material such as sand, gel or water, and have an exterior constructed of a material that will properly contain the weighting material. For example, canvas could be used with sand as a weighting material. Alternatively, the weighted portion need not include an insert or pocket and the weighted material could be incorporated directly and permanently into the weighted portion of the ribbon.

In a preferred embodiment, the weighted portion of the ribbon (or the weighted insert) could comprise multiple segments as shown in FIG. 4. This segmented configuration could assist in making the weighted insert suitably flexible and could help the ribbon stay in position during use. Separate weighted segments 20 are defined by boundaries 22 that are sewn or otherwise placed between the segments 20. The ribbon may have multiple weighted portions, whether or not they are referred to as “segments”. The key feature of the invention is that at the ends of the ribbon are unweighted portions having meaningful length as described above and at least one weighted portion is between them.

The weighted portion of the ribbon may be fixed, with a defined boundary between that weighted portion and the unweighted portions, or may be undefined, with the boundary defined by a user. An example of a user defined boundary would be tying a knot in a ribbon made up of the upper and lower surfaces. The defined boundary between the weighted and unweighted portions of the ribbon can be defined with a sewn boundary at one end and a closable boundary at the other, to allow for removal of the weighted portion from the closable boundary. Examples of configurations for the closable boundary would include a zipper, buttons, Velcro, or other closures known in the art. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the weighted portion could be defined with sewn boundaries at each end, but with an opening running parallel to the length of the ribbon which could be closed using a zipper 16 or with button(s), Velcro, or other closures known in the art.

The preferred dimensions of the ribbon would have a weighted portion approximately one fourth to one half the circumference of a user's body (for some users, approximately 18 inches) and an overall ribbon length at least equal to a user's arm span, and preferably 1 to 2 feet longer than the user's arm span. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribbon is designed to be about 84 inches long, with a weighted portion 18 inches long and unweighted portions on either side of the weighted portion, each 33 inches long. The preferred embodiment of the ribbon is 5 inches wide, and is formed by taking a continuous piece of microfiber fabric 10½ inches wide and 84 inches long, folding it lengthwise and sewing it in the folded position in three segments—with the middle section serving as the weighted portion of the ribbon. Within the inner pocket formed by the folded fabric in this middle section, a weighted container—ideally a sandbag approximately 3½ inches wide, % inch thick, and 17 inches long—would be inserted and the opening to the pocket and the pocket would be closed with a zipper.

Alternatively, the ribbon could also be configured so that only the weighted portion has a defined inner region and the unweighted portions are single layers of ribbon material. A ribbon could also be selected with a cross-section different than the thin rectangular cross-section described above. Such alternate cross-sections could be, for example, circular, oval or elliptical. In those configurations references to width and thickness would be interpreted appropriately by one skilled in the art. With an approximately round unweighted end portion the thickness and width would be equivalent and in this embodiment a diameter of at least ½ inch, and preferably more than 1 inch, would be desirable. The dimensions of the unweighted portions could also be different than those of the weighted portion, such as wider or narrower, or thicker or thinner. In addition, different materials could be used for the weighted and unweighted portions of the ribbon.

Claims

1. An exercise ribbon having a weighted portion and substantially unweighted portions at each end of the ribbon.

2. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein said unweighted portions have a combined length at least one half of the overall ribbon length.

3. The exercise ribbon in claim 2 wherein each of said unweighted portions are substantially equal in length.

4. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein the length of said end unweighted portions is more than 60% of the length of the overall ribbon length.

5. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein said weighted portion of said ribbon comprises a weighted insert and an inner pocket in said ribbon is configured for receiving a weighted insert.

6. The exercise ribbon in claim 5 wherein said inner pocket has an opening with a zipper closure.

7. The exercise ribbon in claim 5 wherein said inner pocket has an opening with a Velcro closure.

8. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein said weighted portion has at least two segments.

9. The exercise ribbon in claim 5 wherein said weighted insert has at least two segments.

10. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein each of said unweighted portions is at least twelve inches in length.

11. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein each of said unweighted portions is at least twenty inches in length.

12. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein each of said unweighted portions comprises a single layer of ribbon material.

13. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein each of said unweighted portions is made of a stretchable material.

14. An exercise ribbon having a middle weighted portion made of a first material and substantially unweighted portions made of a second material at each end of the ribbon.

15. The exercise ribbon of claim 14 wherein said second material is flexible.

16. The exercise ribbon of claim 15 wherein said second material is fabric.

17. The exercise ribbon in claim 1 wherein said substantially unweighted portions have no attachment devices.

18. The exercise ribbon in claim 2 wherein said substantially unweighted portions have no attachment devices.

19. The exercise ribbon in claim 3 wherein said substantially unweighted portions have no attachment devices.

20. The exercise ribbon in claim 5 wherein said substantially unweighted portions have no attachment devices.