Aquatic exercise device

• US 7,740,570 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALL Pro Exercise Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edith Winston
• Inventors: Winston, Edith
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker; Lori
• Application Number:
  US11/367,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 482121-130, 482/55, 482/111, 482/81
• US Class Current: 482/121
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• 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 21/0084 by moving the surrounding water A63B31/00, A63B35/00 take precedence
• 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 21/0555 Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/03 the user being in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/20 Skipping-ropes or similar devices rotating in a vertical plane

Abstract

An elastomeric band exercise device is modified by adding a cushion to the band to permit it to be comfortably stepped on with a bare foot without discomfort. The modification is particularly advantageous when the device is used in performing aquatic exercises. Each handle has a waterproof friction grip covering a steel weight bar. The handle is connected to the band by a retainer ball in the end of the band and a washer inserted between the ball and a throat in the handle through which the band is extended.

Claims

1. An exercise device for use in a swimming pool containing liquid comprising:

an elastomeric band resiliently stretchable in longitudinal tension having first and second ends;

first and second handles attached to said first and second ends, respectively, and adapted to be gripped by respective hands of a person stepping on the band at a location intermediate said first and second ends in the swimming pool; and

a cushion secured to the band at said location intermediate said first and second ends, said cushion comprising a material and a configuration for providing a cushioning effect for a foot of said person in response to the cushion being stepped upon and urged against the bottom of the swimming pool by the weight of the person, said material providing said cushioning effect without degrading when immersed in chlorinated pool water;

wherein each of said first and second handles includes a cylindrical hand grip having a waterproof cover having a high coefficient of friction to prevent said grip from slipping in a user'"'"'s hand when the device is in use and the grip is wet;

wherein each handle includes;

a base having a throat defined therein for receiving said band end, wherein the smallest transverse cross-section of the throat is large enough to receive said band;

a plurality of arms, each arm having a distal portion joined to said base;

wherein said grip extends between said arms for facilitating manipulation of said handle by said user; and

a ball resiliently inserted within said band end to expand said band; and

a washer disposed about said band near said band end between said ball and said base, said washer having an inside diameter smaller than the throat at said base;

wherein said washer abuts both said base and the ball-expanded part of said band end to prevent the ball-expanded part of the tube end from entering said throat.

2. A method of using an exercise device in an aquatic environment containing liquid and having a bottom, said exercise device having a resilient longitudinally stretchable elastomeric band extending between two handle members and adapted to be stepped on by a first contact area of the sole of the user'"'"'s foot to forcibly urge the band by the user'"'"'s weight against said environment bottom, said method comprising the steps of:

a user of the band stepping on the band near its lengthwise middle portion against said aquatic environment bottom and alternately pulling on the handles to stretch the band in tension and releasing that tension, wherein a force is applied by the weight of the user on said middle portion against said bottom; and

distributing said force over a distributed area, larger than said first contact area, of the sole of the user'"'"'s foot, said step of distributing including cushioning at least the middle portion of the band with a cushioning member transversely larger than the band at said lengthwise middle portion.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of distributing includes providing said cushioning member as a generally cylindrical sleeve of cushioning material concentrically about said middle portion of said tube.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of cushioning further comprises providing said sleeve with a length dimension that is shorter than the length of the band and disposing said sleeve centered with respect to the length of the band.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing each of said first and second handle members with a cylindrical hand grip having a waterproof cover with a high coefficient of friction to prevent said grip from slipping in a user'"'"'s hand when the device is in use and the grip is wet.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing each of said first and second members with a hand grip includes providing said grip as a weighted bar weighing at least one pound.

7. An exercise device for use in a swimming pool containing liquid and having a floor, said exercise device comprising:

an elastomeric band resiliently stretchable in longitudinal tension and having first and second ends and a transverse dimension;

first and second handles attached to said first and second ends, respectively, and adapted to be gripped and alternately pulled and released by respective hands of a person stepping on and urging the band against said floor at a band intermediate location between said first and second ends, whereby a force is applied by the weight of the person on said band against said floor; and

means for distributing said force over a transverse portion of the sole of the user'"'"'s foot larger than the transverse dimension of the band.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said means comprises a cushion secured to the band at said intermediate location, said cushion comprising a material and a configuration for providing a cushioning effect at said portion of the sole of said person when the cushion is stepped upon at, and urged against, the bottom of the swimming pool by the person, wherein said material provides said cushioning effect without degrading when immersed in chlorinated pool water.

9. In an exercise device having a resilient longitudinally stretchable elastomeric band extending between two handle members and used, in an aquatic environment having a bottom and containing liquid, by a user stepping on a middle portion of the band with a first contact area of the sole of the user'"'"'s foot to forcibly urge the band by the user'"'"'s weight against said environment bottom and then pulling on and releasing the handles to alternately stretch the band in tension and release that tension, an improvement for enhancing the comfort of the user of the device comprising:

means for distributing the user'"'"'s weight over an area larger than said first contact area of the sole of the user'"'"'s foot, said means comprising a cushioning member transversely larger than said band and secured to and disposed about said middle portion of said band to engage the sole of the user'"'"'s foot and said bottom of said environment during use of the device.