EXERCISE BAND

Abstract

An exercise band comprises a first clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a first end by a first connector and a second clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a second end by a second connector. The first clip may be a latch. A hand grip covers at least a portion of the flexible tubing. The hand grip may be a shorter tubing surrounding the flexible tubing. The flexible tubing may comprise an outer flexible tubing and an inner flexible tubing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/903,077, filed on Sep. 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, generally, to exercise equipment. Specifically, the present invention relates to exercise bands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known exercise bands may be used for resistance training whereby the user stretches all or part of the exercise band using arms, legs, feet, or other body parts, with or without the use of other stable structures or exercise equipment. The band stretches and create tension, which creates resistance against the user's muscles. Thus, exercise bands typically utilize some sort of flexible tubing. However, such tubing is only designed to withstand a certain amount of resistance and may tear if too much force is used. Furthermore, after continued use, the material of the tubing may start to wear down, which may also cause tearing of the tubing during use. When the tubing tears, the remaining parts of exercise band may snap back and hit the user's body or face, causing injury. Thus, to avoid injury, typical exercise bands contain some type of inner cord that prevents overstretching of the outer tubing, so that the outer tubing is not subject to so much force that it snaps. However, this may be limiting to the user, and therefore not useful in resistance training, because each user is different and may require different amounts of resistance and/or flexibility in an exercise band.

With reference to the drawings and in operation, the present invention overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of known exercise bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an exercise band comprising or more clips coupled to a flexible tubing by at least one connector. A hand grip covers at least a portion of the flexible tubing.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a first clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a first end by a first connector and a second clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a second end by a second connector. A hand grip covers at least a portion of the flexible tubing. The hand grip may be a shorter tubing surrounding the flexible tubing. The flexible tubing may comprise an outer flexible tubing and an inner flexible tubing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary exercise band of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flexible tubing of the exercise band of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate an exemplary connector of the exercise band of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary exercise band of the present invention is illustrated. An exercise band 100 includes clips 110 and 112, which are connected to flexible tubing 114 by connectors 116 and 118. A hand grip 120 may cover a portion of flexible tubing 114. Clips 110 and 112 may be any shape suitable for gripping by hands and may optionally include a latch 122, such as a carabiner as shown in FIG. 1, for connecting exercise band 100 to another surface or structure (e.g., a railing, wall hook, exercise machine, etc.). Clips 110 and 112 may optionally be used as handles by the user. Flexible tubing 114 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. Connectors 116 and 118 are described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A-3E. Hand grip 120 may be made of any suitable material and may be any shape and/or size suitable for supporting a user's hand or foot during use of the exercise band 100. In the embodiment shown, hand grip 120 forms a short tube covering a portion of the center of flexible tubing 114 and is made of a soft, foam material. Hand grip 120 may additionally be rotatable and/or movable about flexible tubing 114.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary flexible tubing of the exercise band of FIG. 1 is illustrated. Flexible tubing 114 may include an outer flexible tubing 130 surrounding an inner flexible tubing 132. Outer flexible tubing 130 may be made of any suitable material for use in resistance exercises, including but not limited to latex.

Inner flexible tubing 132 may be made of any suitable material for use in resistance exercises, including but not limited to rubber or latex. Inner flexible tubing 132 stretches with outer flexible tubing 130, but may be stronger than outer flexible tubing 130 and may be able to withstand a greater amount of force being applied to it. Moreover, inner flexible tubing 132 is not subject to any friction by the user's body, as is outer flexible tubing 130, and therefore it does not wear down during repeated use. Thus, if outer flexible tubing 130 tears during use, inner flexible tubing 132 stays intact and attached to clips 110, 112, preventing the remaining parts of exercise band 100 from snapping back and injuring the user.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate an exemplary connector of the exercise band of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, a detailed view of one end of flexible tubing 114 is shown. Flexible tubing 114, as described with reference to FIG. 2, includes outer flexible tubing 130 and inner flexible tubing 132. At one end, flexible tubing 114 may stretch to additionally accommodate a ball 140 (also shown in FIG. 2). Optionally, an additional stopper 142 may be placed next to ball 140 and inner tubing 132 inside outer tubing 130.

Ball 140 (and optional stopper 142, if in use) provides friction to hold inner flexible tubing 132 in place inside outer flexible tubing 130 so that it does not slip, again so that in the event that outer flexible tubing 130 tears, inner flexible tubing 132 stays in tact and connected to clips 110,112 to avoid a snap-back injury to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, the various parts of connector 116 are shown, which include a fastener 150, a casing 152, and an adhesive cover 154.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, a partially assembled connector 116, flexible tubing 114, and clip 110 are shown. One end of flexible tubing 116, including ball 140, is looped around one end of clip 110. Fastener 150 is used to tighten and secure the folded-over flexible tubing 116 to itself.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, a partially assembled connector 116, flexible tubing 114, and clip 110, including casing 152, are shown. After fastener 150 is attached to flexible tubing 116, casing 152 is placed over fastener 150, between clip 110 and ball 140. This provides additional security to prevent inner flexible tubing 132 from slipping out of place during use.

Referring now to FIG. 3E, a fully assembled connector 116, flexible tubing 114, and clip 110, including adhesive cover 154, are shown. Adhesive cover 154 may be used to secure fastener 150, casing 152, and/or ball 140 to flexible tubing 116. This may be useful, for example to avoid the user coming into contact with the other parts of connector 112 and causing them to wear, break down, or shift their position(s).

It will be understood that the parts of connector 116, such as ball 140, fastener 150, casing 152, and/or adhesive cover 154, are included as additional safeguards but any one or more of the parts may be omitted from the assembly so long as connector 116 connects flexible tubing 114 to clip 110.

The above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. While the present invention has been described in connection with a variety of embodiments, these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth herein. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. An exercise band, comprising:

one or more clips coupled to a flexible tubing by at least one connector; and

a hand grip covering at least a portion of the flexible tubing;

2. The exercise band of claim 1, wherein the one or more clips further comprises a latch.

3. The exercise band of claim 2, wherein the latch comprises a carabiner.

4. The exercise band of claim 1, wherein the hand grip comprises a second tubing.

5. The exercise band of claim 4, wherein the second tubing is shorter in length than the flexible tubing.

6. The exercise band of claim 4, wherein the second flexible tubing comprises foam.

7. The exercise band of claim 1, wherein the hand grip is rotatable about the flexible tubing.

8. The exercise band of claim 1, wherein the flexible tubing comprises an outer flexible tubing surrounding an inner flexible tubing.

9. The exercise band of claim 8, wherein the outer flexible tubing comprises latex.

10. The exercise band of claim 8, wherein the inner flexible tubing comprises latex.

11. The exercise band of claim 8, wherein the inner flexible tubing comprises rubber.

12. An exercise band, comprising:

a first clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a first end by a first connector;

a second clip coupled to a flexible tubing at a second end by a second connector; and

a hand grip covering at least a portion of the flexible tubing;

the flexible tubing comprising an outer flexible tubing and an inner flexible tubing.

13. The exercise band of claim 12, wherein the first clip further comprises a latch.

14. The exercise band of claim 13, wherein the latch comprises a carabiner.

15. The exercise band of claim 12, wherein the hand grip comprises a second tubing.

16. The exercise band of claim 15, wherein the second tubing is shorter in length than the flexible tubing.

17. The exercise band of claim 15, wherein the second flexible tubing comprises foam.

18. The exercise band of claim 12, wherein the hand grip is rotatable about the flexible tubing.

19. The exercise band of claim 12, wherein the outer flexible tubing comprises latex.

20. The exercise band of claim 12, wherein the inner flexible tubing comprises one of latex and rubber.