Elastic exercise bands and cuffs

• US 5,711,747 A
• Filed: 11/29/1994
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jyl L. Steinback
• Original Assignee: Jyl L. Steinback
• Inventors: Steinback, Jyl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, JEANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/346,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 482/44, 482/121, 482/122, 482/124, 482/125, 482/91, 2/16, 2/160, 2/162, 2/161.1, 2/161.2, 273/185 R, 273/188 A, 273/189 R
• US Class Current: 482/124
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• 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 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0555 Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4021 to the wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4023 the user operating the resistance directly, without additional interface A63B21/072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence

Abstract

An exercise device for exerting a resilient force upon the limbs of the user having two cuffs and a continuously formed looped tension band. The cuffs are generally made of a webbing fabric having secured at opposite ends VELCRO strips for securement about the limbs of the user. The cuffs are generally made of a webbing fabric having secured at opposite ends strips made of synthetic materials which adhere when pressed together such as that material sold under the trademark VELCRO for securement about the limbs of the user. Provided on the exterior of the cuff is an envelope-like enclosure having a closure which is formed from the same adhereable synthetic materials such as those sold under the trademark VELCRO, whereby the tension band is placed within the flaps of the envelope-like enclosure and the flaps are secured about the tension band. In use, the cuffs are secured about the limbs of the user using the VELCRO strips. Once secured, the envelope-like enclosure is then positioned on the exterior aspect of the limb. The chosen continuously formed tension band is positioned and secured within the envelope-like enclosure of each cuff. The user when moving the limbs in opposite directions receives a resilient force, thereby exercising the limbs associated with the exercise device.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprised of:

a plurality of cuff members comprised of a substantially flat strap whereby said flat strap is longer than the periphery of a user'"'"'s limb sought to be encompassed, each of said straps adapted to be formed into loops for receiving the limb of the user and having a first end, a second end, an inner flat surface, an outer flat surface and a means for securement about the limb of the user;

an envelope-like enclosure formed on the outer flat surface of each of said cuff members comprising a first flap member and a second flap member each extending from opposite sides of said flat strap and along opposite lengths of said flat strap such that they overlap at a center of the outer flat surface of said cuff members along a substantial length of said flat strap in that said envelope-like enclosure is adapted to surround at least the outer surface of the user'"'"'s limb when folded over the outer surface of said flat strap, and a means for securing the first flap member to the second flap member; and

at least one elongate resilient element continuously formed into a loop configuration for securement within said envelope-like enclosures formed on said outer flat surface of each of said cuff members.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said substantially flat strap is comprised of fabric webbing.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said means for securement comprises at least one strip of complementary hook and loop fastener on the inner surface of said first end and at least one reciprocating strip of complimentary hook and loop fastener on said outer surface of said second end.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said means for securement comprises at least one strip of complementary hook and loop fastener on the outer surface of said first end and at least one reciprocating strip of complimentary hook and loop fastener on said inner surface of said second end.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprised of a piece of lamb'"'"'s skin with wool attached, positioned and secured equi-distant between said first end and said second end of said inner surface of the cuff.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprised of a stiffener element positioned between said outer flat surface of said flat strap and said envelope-like enclosure.

7. An exercise device comprised of:

a plurality of cuff members comprised of a substantially flat strap whereby said flat strap is longer than the periphery of a user'"'"'s limb sought to be encompassed, each of said straps adapted to be formed into loops for receiving the limb of the user and having a first end, a second end, an inner flat surface, an outer flat surface, and at least one strip of complimentary hook and loop fastener secured to said first end and said second end on opposite flat surfaces;

a piece of lamb'"'"'s skin with wool attached, positioned and secured equi-distant between said first end and said second end on said inner flat surface;

an envelope-like enclosure formed on said outer flat surface of each of said cuff members, comprising a first flap member having secured thereto a strip of complimentary hook and loop fastener and a second flap member having secured thereto a reciprocating strip of complimentary hook and loop fastener wherein the first and second flap members extend outwardly from opposite sides of said flat strap and along opposite lengths of said flat strap such that they overlap at a center of the outer flat surface of said cuff members along a substantial length of said flat strap adapted to surround at least the outer surface of the user'"'"'s limb when folded over the outer surface of said flat strap;

a stiffener element positioned between said outer surface of said flat strap and said envelope-like enclosure; and

at least one elongate resilient element continuously formed into a loop configuration for placement within said envelope-like enclosures formed on said outer flat surface of each of said cuff members.

8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein said substantially flat strap is comprised of fabric webbing.

9. A method for using an exercise device comprising the steps of:

placing at least two cuff members comprised of substantially flat straps about at least two limbs of a user;

securing said straps to the limbs of the user, so as to secure a means for securement of said flat strap, whereby an envelope-like enclosure, comprised of a plurality of oppositely disposed flap members, secured on an outer surface of said strap is positioned on an exterior aspect of the limb;

placing within said envelope-like enclosure a continuously formed loop tension band;

folding said plurality of flap members of said envelope-like enclosure of each cuff member over said tension band such that said flap members overlap at a midpoint above the outer surface of said strap along a substantial length of said strap in that said envelope-like enclosure is adapted to surround at least the outer surface of the user'"'"'s limb so as to secure a means of securement about said tension band; and

forcing the user'"'"'s limbs in opposite directions, thereby creating a resistive force on the limbs of the user.

10. The method for using an exercise device of claim 9, wherein said means for securement of said flat strap about the limb of the user comprises the step of attaching complimentary hook and loop fasteners secured to said flat strap.

11. The method for using an exercise device of claim 9, wherein said means for securement of said flap members of said envelope enclosure comprises the step of attaching complimentary hook and loop fasteners.