Exercise device with integrated handle and stopping device

• US 6,860,841 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Peter Mortorano
• Original Assignee: Michael Peter Mortorano
• Inventors: Mortorano, Michael Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/116,484
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 482/82, 482121-126, 482/129, 482/130, 482/139, 482/908, 164/28
• US Class Current: 482/126
• 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 21/00069 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 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An exercise device, having a pair of handles—namely a first handle and second handle, and an elastic cord extending through the handles. The elastic cord has a fixed end, the first handle located adjacent to the fixed end. The second handle located along the elastic cord further away from the fixed end than the first handle. The second handle can selectively slide freely along the elastic cord toward and away from the first handle. A stopping device is attached to at least one of the first handle and second handle. The stopping device is capable of fixing the position of its associated handle along the elastic cord so that the elastic cord may then be tensioned to allow exercises to be performed.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a pair of handles, including a first handle and a second handle, each of the handles having an inner end and an outer end, the first handle and second handle having a longitudinal central bore;

an elastic cord, the elastic cord extending longitudinally through the first handle and second handle, the elastic cord having a fixed end, the first handle located adjacent to the fixed end with the outer end of the first handle facing the fixed end, the second handle located on the elastic cord on an opposite side of the first handle than the fixed end wherein the inner ends of the handles face each other, the second handle capable of sliding freely toward and away from the first handle along the elastic cord; and

a stopping device integral with the outer end of the second handle, located on the elastic cord further away from the fixed end than the first handle and second handle, the stopping device capable of selectively locking the position of the second handle on the elastic cord to prevent the second handle from moving along the elastic cord.

2. The exercise device as recited in claim 1, wherein the stopping device further comprises a first end, a second end, and a bore extending from the first end to the second end, the bore coaxial with the handle, the elastic cord extending through the bore to selectively allow the stopping device to move freely along the elastic cord with the elastic cord traveling from the first end to second end, and selectively preventing movement of the elastic cord through the stopping device bore, the first end of the stopping device attached to the second handle to selectively prevent movement of the second handle along the elastic cord.

3. The exercise device as recited in claim 2, wherein the stopping device has a side wall having a slot extending parallel to the bore from the second end partially toward the first end, so the elastic cord may be pulled up at a right angle from the second end into the slot to lock the stopping device in place along the elastic cord.

4. The exercise device as recited in claim 3, wherein the elastic cord has a relaxed diameter and narrows when tensioned;

and wherein the slot is slightly narrower than the relaxed diameter of the elastic cord.

5. The exercise device as recited in claim 4, wherein the slot has a neck and a circular opening adjacent to the neck;

wherein the neck is narrower than the circular opening; and

wherein once the elastic cord is pulled past the neck into the circular opening it expands slightly and is maintained within the circular opening.

6. The exercise device as recited in claim 5, wherein the handle includes a handle tube made of a soft, flexible material, the handle tube has a handle bore coaxial with the stopping device bore and a pair of handle tube ends;

wherein a collar tube extends through the handle tube bore, the elastic cord extending through the collar tube; and

wherein the collar tube has curled ends which extend partially over the handle tube ends.

7. The exercise device as recited in claim 6, wherein the first handle has a stopping device affixed to the outer end of said first handle to selectively fix the first handle along the elastic cord.

8. The exercise device as recited in claim 7, wherein the stopping device affixed to the first handle further comprises a first end, a second end, and a bore extending from the first end to the second end, the elastic cord extends through the bore to selectively allow the stopping device to move freely along the elastic cord with the elastic cord traveling from the first end to second end, and selectively preventing movement of the elastic cord through the stopping device bore, the first end of the stopping device affixed to the first handle.

9. An exercise device method, using an exercise device having a pair of handles including a first handle and a second handle, an elastic cord extending through the second handle, the elastic cord having a fixed end, the first handle attached onto the cord near the first end, the second handle located one the cord further from the fixed end than the first handle, and a stopping device integral with the second handle further from the fixed end than the first and second handles, comprising the steps of:

sliding the second handle to a desired minimum position relative to the first handle;

locking the position of the second handle with the stopping device to fix the position of the second handle on the elastic cord; and

exercising with the exercise device by tensioning the elastic cord by urging the first handle and second handle away from each other.

10. The exercise device method as recited in claim 9, wherein the stopping device is tubular, the stopping device having a first end, a second end, and a stopping device bore between the first end and the second end which is coaxial with the second handle, wherein the elastic cord extends through the stopping device bore, and wherein the step of sliding the second handle to a desired minimum position further comprises allowing the elastic cord to move freely between the first end and second end through the stopping device bore.

11. The exercise device method as recited in claim 10, wherein the stopping device further has a side wall and a slot in the side wall extending from the second end, and wherein the step of locking the position of the stopping device further comprises pulling the elastic cord up into the slot at a right angle.

12. An exercise device method, using an exercise device having a pair of handles including a first handle and a second handle, first handle and second handle having outer ends which face away from each other and inner ends which face toward each other, stopping devices are integral with the first handle and the second handle at the outer ends thereof, an elastic cord extends through the handles and the stopping devices and allowing the handles to selectively slide freely along the elastic cord, the elastic cord having a fixed end, comprising the steps of:

sliding the first handle to a desired position along the elastic cord;

sliding the second handle to a desired minimum position along the elastic cord relative to the first handle;

locking the position of the stopping devices of the first and second handles to fix the position of the first and second handles on the elastic cord; and

exercising with the exercise device by tensioning the elastic cord by urging the first handle and second handle away from each other.

13. The exercise device method as recited in claim 12, wherein each stopping device has a first end, a second end, and a stopping device bore between the first end and the second end;

wherein the stopping device bores are coaxial with their associated handle, the elastic cord extends through the stopping device bore; and

wherein the steps of sliding the second handle to a desired minimum position further comprises allowing the elastic cord to move freely between first end and second end through the stopping device bore of the stopping device affixed to the second handle.

14. The exercise device method as recited in claim 13, wherein the stopping device further has a slot extending from the second end parallel to the bore;

and wherein the step of locking the position of the stopping device further comprises pulling the elastic cord up into the slot at a right angle to the bore.

15. The exercise device method as recited in claim 14, wherein the elastic cord has a relaxed diameter yet narrows when tensioned, the slot of stopping device narrows toward a neck, each stopping device has a circular opening adjacent to the neck which is slightly larger than the neck, and wherein the step of locking the position of the stopping device further comprises:

pulling the elastic cord past the neck into the circular opening; and

allowing the elastic cord to expand in diameter within the circular opening by releasing the elastic cord.