EXERCISE DEVICE WITH ELASTIC MEMBERS AND WEBBING

• US 20140024508A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pivotal 5, LLC (Pivotal 5 Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Hinds, Robert S., Polinsky, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/129
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00043 Exercising devices consisting of a pair of user interfaces connected by flexible elements, e.g. two handles connected by elastic bands skipping ropes A63B5/20; resilient elements A63B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00185 using resistance provided by the user, e.g. exercising one body part against a resistance provided by another body part A63B21/068 takes precedence; isometric exercise A63B21/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1645 for anchoring on a door
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions

Abstract

An exercise device for various exercises includes a pair of bridges on opposing ends of a relatively inelastic, flat central webbing/band/belt, with an elastic member extending from each bridge. The elastic members themselves may serve as grips (for hands, feet, ankles, arms, wrists, etc.), or separate grips (such as those of a handle) may be used. The elastic members include a pair of bulbs on opposing ends of a body, and may be secured to the bridges and handle grips via cradles (in which the bulbs may be lodged) and/or channels (through which the bodies may be passed). A user may push or pull on grips with hands or feet to stretch the elastic members while exercising. The elastic members are preferably exchangeable to allow the user to change workout intensity by swapping in elastic members having different elasticities/lengths that provide different resistances.

Claims

1. An exercise device usable for various exercises in multiple configurations,

a. the device including:

i. a central webbing having;

1) a webbing width extending from a webbing first edge to a webbing second edge; and

2) a webbing thickness extending from a webbing first face to a webbing second face, the webbing thickness being substantially less than the webbing width;

ii. a first bridge and a second bridge, each of the first and second bridges being secured to the central webbing; and

iii. a first elastic member extending from the first bridge, and a second elastic member extending from the second bridge, the first and second elastic members being removably and replaceably securable to the first and second bridges, respectively;

b. whereby when the central webbing is taut, the first and second elastic members may be stretched to exert energy during exercises.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 further including a first loop formed by the first bridge and the first elastic member, and a second loop formed by the second bridge and the second elastic member.

3. The exercise device of claim 2 wherein:

a. the first and second loops are further formed by a first and second grip, respectively; and

b. the first and second grips include at least one of;

i. a portion of the first and second elastic members, respectively; and

ii. a first channel and a second channel formed therein, respectively, for passage of the first and second elastic members therethrough, respectively.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first bridge includes a first bridge first cradle and a first bridge second cradle on opposing sides thereof;

b. the second bridge includes a second bridge first cradle and a second bridge second cradle on opposing sides thereof; and

c. the first and second elastic members are securable to the first and second bridges via the cradles thereof, respectively.

5. The exercise device of claim 4 wherein

a. each cradle includes a cradle slit opening onto a cradle passageway;

and

b. each of the first and second elastic members includes a pair of elastic member bulbs on opposing ends of an elastic member body,

i. the elastic member bulbs having a diameter greater than a diameter of the elastic member body, and

ii. the elastic member body decreasing in diameter when stretched.

6. The exercise device of claim 5 wherein:

a. each cradle includes a cradle long axis; and

b. the elastic member bulbs are complementarily receivable within each cradle such that the elastic member bulbs are;

i. restricted from exiting the cradle in a first direction along the cradle long axis; and

ii. relatively unrestricted from exiting the cradle in an opposing second direction along the cradle long axis.

7. The exercise device of claim 1 further including a first grip and a second grip, wherein when the first and second elastic members are stretched while exercising, the first and second grips move farther away from the first and second bridges, respectively.

8. The exercise device of claim 7 further including a first handle and a second handle, wherein:

a. the first and second grips are part of the first and second handles, respectively;

b. the first and second grips include first and second channels, formed therethrough, respectively;

c. the first elastic member extends from the first bridge, passes through the first channel, and returns to the first bridge; and

d. the second elastic member extends from the second bridge, passes through the second channel, and returns to the second bridge.

9. The exercise device of claim 8 wherein:

a. the first and second handles further include first and second handle bases, respectively;

b. each of the first and second handle bases is separated from the first and second grips, respectively, to allow one or more fingers of a hand to pass therebetween.

10. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

a. the first bridge and the second bridge are spaced a bridge separation distance apart;

b. the bridge separation distance is adjustable by adjusting the relative position at which the first and second bridges are secured to the central webbing;

c. decreasing the separation distance increases exertion during exercises by increasing the length to which the first and second elastic members are stretched during repeating exercise motions.

11. The exercise device of claim 10 wherein the second bridge includes:

a. a second bridge passageway;

b. a webbing securing mechanism biased to secure the second bridge to the central webbing, the webbing securing mechanism having a webbing release lever that is movable between;

i. a grip state in which the central webbing is restricted from passing through the second bridge passageway by the webbing securing mechanism; and

ii. a release state in which the central webbing is not restricted from passing through the second bridge passageway by the webbing securing mechanism.

12. The exercise device of claim 1 further including a device anchor for anchoring the exercise device to a structure, the device anchor having an elongated strapping member:

a. extending from a strapping first end to a strapping second end; and

b. having an anchor first loop situated at the strapping first end, and an anchor second loop situated at the strapping second end, the anchor first and second loops able to receive the first and second elastic members therethrough, respectively.

13. The exercise device of claim 12 wherein the device anchor further includes a first buckle and a second buckle, each of the first and second buckles having:

a. a buckle passageway through which the strapping member passes; and

b. a buckle securing mechanism biased to secure the buckle to the strapping member, the buckle securing mechanism having a buckle release lever that provides;

i. a buckle grip state in which the strapping member is restricted from passing through the buckle passageway by the buckle securing mechanism; and

ii. a buckle release state in which the strapping member is not restricted from passing through the buckle passageway by the buckle securing mechanism.

14. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the central webbing is substantially inelastic, such that when opposing ends of the central webbing are pulled apart until the central webbing is taut, the central webbing does not substantially increase in length.

15. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

a. the central webbing includes a webbing long axis;

b. each cradle includes a cradle long axis; and

c. the central webbing long axis is at least substantially parallel with the cradle long axis of each cradle when the central webbing is substantially planar and taut.

16. An exercise device usable for various exercises in multiple configurations,

a. the device including:

i. a substantially flat central webbing;

ii. a first loop and a second loop at opposing ends of the central webbing, the first and second loops being formed by;

1) a first bridge and a second bridge, respectively, the first and second bridges being secured to the central webbing;

2) a first elastic member and a second elastic member, respectively; and

3) a first grip and a second grip, respectively;

b. wherein;

i. the central webbing is substantially less elastic than both the first and second elastic members; and

ii. the circumferences of the first and second loops increase as the first and second elastic members, respectively, are stretched;

c. whereby the first and second elastic members may be stretched using the first and second grips, respectively, to perform various exercises.

17. The exercise device of claim 16 wherein:

a. the central webbing includes a webbing width extending from a webbing first edge to a webbing second edge;

b. the first bridge includes;

i. a first bridge width extending from a first bridge first side to a first bridge second side, the first bridge width being at least substantially half the webbing width; and

ii. a first bridge first cradle situated at the first bridge first side, and a first bridge second cradle situated at the first bridge second side, the first bridge first and second cradles forming part of the first loop;

c. the second bridge includes;

i. a second bridge width extending from a second bridge first side to a second bridge second side, the second bridge width being at least substantially half the webbing width;

ii. a second bridge first cradle situated at the second bridge first side, and a second bridge second cradle situated at the second bridge second side, the second bridge first and second cradles forming part of the second loop;

iii. a second bridge passageway for receiving the central webbing therethrough;

iv. a webbing securing mechanism biased to secure the second bridge to the central webbing, the webbing securing mechanism having a webbing release lever movable between;

1) a grip state in which the central webbing is restricted from passing through the second bridge passageway by the webbing securing mechanism;

2) a release state in which the central webbing is not restricted from passing through the second bridge passageway by the webbing securing mechanism;

d. wherein;

i. each of the first and second elastic members includes a pair of elastic member bulbs on opposing ends of an elastic member body;

ii. each cradle includes a cradle slit opening onto a cradle passageway;

iii. the elastic member body of each elastic member is sized such that an unstretched elastic member body is restricted from passing through the cradle slit;

iv. the elastic member bulbs are complementarily receivable in the bridge cradles to secure the first and second elastic members to the first and second bridges, respectively; and

v. a separation distance between the first bridge and the second bridges is adjustable when the webbing release lever of the webbing securing mechanism is in the release state.

18. An exercise device usable for various exercises in multiple configurations,

a. the device including:

i. a substantially inelastic central webbing;

ii. a first bridge and a second bridge, the first and second bridges securable to the central webbing, each of the first and second bridges having at least one of;

1) a bridge channel; and

2) a bridge cradle;

iii. a first grip and a second grip, each of the first and second grips having at least one of;

1) a grip channel; and

2) a grip cradle;

iv. a first elastic member extending between the first bridge and the first grip, the first elastic member securable to;

1) the bridge channel or the bridge cradle of the first bridge; and

2) the grip channel or the grip cradle of the first grip; and

v. a second elastic member extending between the second bridge and the second grip, the second elastic member securable to;

1) the bridge channel or the bridge cradle of the second bridge; and

2) the grip channel or the grip cradle of the second grip; and

b. whereby when exercises are being performed;

i. the central webbing is pulled tight; and

ii. the first grip is separated from and brought closer to the first bridge, and the second grip is separated from and brought closer to the second bridge.

19. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein:

a. the second bridge further includes a cam mechanism for allowing the second bridge to be adjustably securable to the central webbing at different positions relative to the first bridge, the cam mechanism having;

i. a grip state in which the central webbing is pinched between a pair of surfaces; and

ii. a release state in which the pair of surfaces are separated to allow the central webbing to pass therebetween; and

b. the cam mechanism is spring-biased towards the grip state.

20. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein the central webbing includes:

a. a webbing length extending from a webbing first end to a webbing second end, the webbing length being equal to or greater than eight inches;

b. a webbing width extending from a webbing first edge to a webbing second edge, the webbing width being equal to or greater than one inch; and

c. a webbing thickness extending from a webbing first face to a webbing second face, the webbing thickness being no greater than 0.25 of an inch.