US20080194390A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080194390A1
Application number: US11/908,764
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Todd
Original assignee: Shadowboxer Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Shadowboxer Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-29
Filing date: 2006-07-28
Publication date: 2008-08-14
Also published as: CN101247864A; EP1912710A4; US20100041528A1; EP1912710A1; WO2007012139A1; CA2616614A1; JP2009502262A

Abstract

An exercise device includes a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, or to a fixed object adjacent a person. The belt has a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person. A pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords are mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord. A method of using the device and exercises that can be used therewith are also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and, in particular, to an exercise device and a method of exercising.

The invention has been developed primarily for use as a general fitness and training exercise device and will be described hereinafter with reference to this particular application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and is applicable for use in other fields such as rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large variety of personal exercise equipment is known. Such comes in many shapes and sizes. A particularly common type of exercise equipment is a gymnasium machine that includes a weight stack mounted for vertical movement. The number of weights in the stack is selectable, and the stack is connected to one end of a cable. The cable is passed over one or more pulleys and extends adjacent to the machine at about the shoulder height of a person and is connected to one or more handles.

In use, a person is disposed adjacent the machine with their front pointing away from it. The person clasps the handle(s) from over their shoulder and extends their arms. This pulls the cable away from the machine resulting in the weight stack being moved vertically providing resistance to the pulling of the cable. It will be appreciated that these known types of exercise machines are capable of exercising a particular muscle group.

However, the conventional exercise machines are typically large and fixed to a floor. The machines therefore are best suited to a gymnasium or a large personal gym. Unfortunately, the use of the machines in a home environment is relatively prohibitive due to the significant cost of the machines. Furthermore, such machines are generally only configured to exercise a single muscle group, for example, the latissimus or shoulders can cannot be simply used to exercise other muscle groups.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable exercise device that can be used to exercise a plurality of muscle groups and that can be used in a plurality of environments, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an exercise device including:

- a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person;
- a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and
- a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord.

Preferably, the belt includes a fastener disposed at each end such that when secured around the person the belt length can be selectively adjusted. More preferably, the belt is formed from two pieces wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to the ends of a front belt piece.

In preferred embodiments, the elastomeric cords are mounted to a left-hand side and a right-hand side of the front portion of the belt, and cords are movable a predetermined distance along the length of the belt. More preferably, the elastomeric cords are looped at one end to allow their length to be adjusted and the cords are detachably mounted to the belt.

Preferably, the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord includes a stirrup or a glove.

According to second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of exercising using the device according to the first aspect or any one of its preferments, the method including the steps of:

- fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person;
- connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and
- extending the elastomeric cords.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of exercising using the device according to the first aspect or any one of its preferments, the method including the steps of:

- placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward;
- connecting the handle to each arm; and
- extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner at a pre-determined rate.

It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided an exercise device and a method of exercising that

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exercise device according to a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an exercise device according to a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exercise device according to another preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 shows the device of any one ofFIGS. 1 to 3 in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings generally, it is noted that like reference numerals are used to denote like components. InFIG. 1, there is shown a plan view of anexercise device1 according to a first preferred embodiment. Theexercise device1 includes abelt2 that is configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person.

Thebelt2 includes afront portion3 that is configured to be disposed adjacent the front of a person when secured about them. Thebelt2 also includes aback portion4 configured to be disposed adjacent the back of a person when secured to them.

Thebelt2 includes afastener5 in the form of a buckle. Thebuckle5 is disposed at oneend6 of thebelt2 such that theother end7 of thebelt2 can be fastened thereto to secure thebelt2 about a person with a preferred degree of “tightness”.

A pair of spaced apart

elastomeric cords

8 and9 are mounted to thefront portion3 of thebelt2. The

cords

8 and9 are mounted to thefront portion3 at a proximal end of the cords and are disposed such that onecord8 is disposed on a left hand side of thefront portion3 and theother cord9 is disposed on a right hand side of thefront portion3.

Both of the

elastomeric cords

8 and9 are mounted to thefront portion3 of thebelt2. InFIG. 1, the

cords

8 and9 are mounted to thebelt2 to allow the cords to be selectively positioned along thefront3 of thebelt2. In this embodiment, the

cords

8 and9 have alatch10 that removably engages withnotches11 to secure the proximal end of the

cords

8 and9.

The distal end of each

cord

8 and9 includes agrip12 in the form of a glove. Eachglove12 is in the form of a sheet having athumb aperture13 such that theglove12 is wrapped around the hand of a person. Theglove12 is secured to a hand with Velcrotabs14 that engage with each other to secure theglove12 on a hand.

Referring toFIG. 2, there is shown anexercise device1 according to a second preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, thebelt2 is formed from two halves defining abelt front portion3 and abelt back portion4.

Thebelt back portion4 includes abuckle15 at each end, however, only one buckle is visible inFIG. 2. Eachbuckle15 is configured to be secured to an end of thebelt front portion3 to secure thebelt2 to a person.

As with the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the

cords

8 and9 are mounted to thefront portion3 of thebelt2. The

cords

8 and9 are retainable within one of three loops disposed on each of the left and right hand sides thefront portion3 of thebelt2. In this way, the

cords

8 and9 can be moved along thebelt2 to secure the proximal ends of the

cords

8 and9 in a preferred position.

The

cords

8 and9 are each looped around one of the loops on thebelt front portion3. Thesecord loops16 are secured by aclamp17 that can be selectively loosened to allow theloops16 to be increased in size and thereby reduce the length of the

cords

8 and9, or theloops16 decreased in size and thereby increase the length of the

cords

8 and9. In this way, theclamps17 can be used to release the

cords

8 and9 from thebelt front portion3.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, eachgrip12 at the distal end of the

cords

8 and9 is in the form of astirrup12. Awrist strap18 is disposed adjacent eachstirrup12. The wrist straps18 are configured to wrap around the wrist of a person when gripping the stirrups.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another preferred embodiment of theexercise device1. In this embodiment, thedevice1 includes abelt2 having afront portion3 and aback portion4. Theback portion4 is in the form of a strap connected to thefront portion3. The strap of theback portion4 is configured to releasably engage with a belt faster5 disposed on thefront portion2.

The

elastomeric cords

8 and9 are fixedly mounted to thefront portion3 of thebelt2. The

elastomeric cords

8 and9 each include ahandle12 mounted to a free end.

Reference is now made toFIG. 4, where there is shown various views of aperson19 exercising with thedevice1. Theperson19 exercising their biceps simply secures thebelt1 around their hips and their lower arms are moved upwardly against the bias of the elastomeric cords. Punching exercises are performed by securing thebelt1 about the torso of theperson19 and thrusting the arms forward in a reciprocating or piston-like manner. It will be appreciated the punching exercises can include uppercuts or other preferred type of punch.

Shoulder press exercises are performed by securing thebelt2 about the torso of theperson19 and extending both arms above their head. A delta fly exercise can be performed by securing the belt about the torso of theperson19 and having them raise their arms laterally or move them forward. Triceps extension exercises can be performed by securing thebelt2 about the torso of theperson19 such that the person leans forward by bending at the waist and then extending and bending their arms.

In the bicep curl exercise shown inFIG. 4, it will be appreciated that thebelt2 can be advantageously disposed about the knee or thighs of the person to perform the exercise in addition to about the waist/torso as shown.

Lower body exercises can also be used with thebelt2 by securing thegrips12 to the ankles of theperson19. For example, a leg extension exercise can be performed by securing thebelt2 about the waist of theperson19 where the person sits down and bends and flexes their knees. Likewise, squat exercises can be performed by securing thebelt1 about the waist of theperson19 where the person stands and bends and flexes both legs. In another lower body exercise, the belt one is disposed about the waist of the person and thegrips12 secured to be ankles of the person wherein the person thrusts their leg forward in a kicking manner.

In another form of exercise using theexercise device1, thedevice1 is placed on the floor with thefront portion3 of the belt facing upward. Theperson19 stands on the belt and secures the grips to their hands. The person then bends slightly forward with their arms being pulled up in a rolling like manner.

The next exercise shown inFIG. 4 is a standing rowing exercise. It will be appreciated that the user can place thebelt2 about the ends of their feet when in a seated position so as to exercise by simulating a conventional rowing-type stroke. The user's legs can be bent or straight in the rowing exercise.

Although not illustrated, it will also be appreciated that other exercises can be performed with thedevice1. For example, thebelt2 can be disposed about, or otherwise secured to, a fixed object that is on or adjacent a floor. In this way, the person can lay on their back or side with their head adjacent thebelt2 so that the

cords

8 and9 extend over their shoulder(s) to provide resistance against a forward or sideways sit-up movement.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.