Energy expenditure garment

• US 6,047,405 A
• Filed: 02/03/1999
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hale, Gloria M.
• Application Number:
  US09/243,960
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 2/69, 2/79, 2/70, 2/228, 2/227, 2/238, 2/170, 2/108, 2/115, 2/102, 2/455, 2/456, 482/105, 482/120, 482/121, 482/124, 482/134, 482/74, 450/104
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/22 Elastic inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/18 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• 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 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/065 worn on user's body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4013 to the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4019 to the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4021 to the wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet

Abstract

An energy expenditure garment incorporates various techniques for providing resistance to the bending movements of the wearer. Such techniques include having a plurality of different types of resistance means. One of the resistance means is weights.

Claims

1. In an energy expenditure garment comprising a body portion having outwardly extending limb portions, said body portion and said limb portions being made of a base fabric, the improvement being in that said garment includes a plurality of different types of resistance means which have resistance characteristics whereby the force required for a user to move a part of the user'"'"'s body is greater than the force required for stretching said base fabric and resisting said base fabric from returning toward its original condition in the absence of said resistance means.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of different types of resistance means comprises weights on said garment.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein one of said plurality of different types of resistance means comprises elongated elastic resistance elements.

4. The garment of claim 3 wherein said plurality of different types of resistance means are located on said limb portions.

5. The garment of claim 4 wherein said weights comprise weighted bars.

6. The garment of claim 5 wherein said weighted bars are non-removably mounted to said garment.

7. The garment of claim 5 wherein said weighted bars are detachably mounted to said garment.

8. The garment of claim 7 wherein said weighted bars are located in pockets on said garment.

9. The garment of claim 4 wherein said weights comprise elongated weighted threads secured longitudinally in said limb portions.

10. The garment of claim 4 wherein said weights are located at a plurality of spaced locations.

11. The garment of claim 10 wherein said body portion comprises a shirt, said limb portions being sleeves, and said weights being at said sleeves.

12. The garment of claim 11 wherein said body portion further comprises pants, said limb portions further comprising legs, and said weights further being in said legs.

13. The garment of claim 12 wherein said shirt and said pants are joined to form a one piece suit.

14. The garment of claim 10 wherein said body portion comprises pants, said limbs being legs, and said weights being at said legs.

15. The garment of claim 2 wherein said plurality of different types of resistance means comprises at least three different types.

16. The garment of claim 15 wherein one of said plurality of different types of resistance means comprises elongated elastic resistance elements.

17. The garment of claim 16 wherein one of said plurality of different types of resistance means is non-elastic.