Exercise device and method

• US 8,012,071 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Kenneth Gideon Grisdale
• Original Assignee: Robert Kenneth Gideon Grisdale
• Inventors: Grisdale, Robert Kenneth Gideon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewin; Allana
• Application Number:
  US11/824,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 482121-126, 602/4, 231/1, 232/1, 232/2
• US Class Current: 482/122
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• 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 21/00069 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 21/0552 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 2208/0204 Standing on the feet

Abstract

An exercise device comprising a flexible band formed in a closed loop, further including at least one tension adjuster associated with the band for selectively adjusting the tension of the loop. The device further includes two handles, associated with the band, the handles being configured to facilitate gripping of the band by a user'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

a flexible band formed in a closed loop, a section of the loop having a plurality of band layers in use and in tension, each of the band layers overlapping each other, the section of the loop having a first end and a second end, a remainder of the loop extending from the first end, away from the section of the loop, and being connected to the second end, to form the closed loop; and

at least one tension adjuster associated with the band for selectively adjusting the tension of the loop, the at least one tension adjuster comprising a first selectively actuatable adjustable element positioned on the flexible band and configured to move along the flexible band, the section of the loop having the plurality of band layers extending between the first selectively actuatable adjustable element and a second selectively actuatable adjustable element positioned on the flexible band, the at least one tension adjuster being configured to increase tension by moving the first selectively actuatable adjustable element to increase a length of the section of the loop having the plurality of band layers, and to decrease tension by moving the first selectively actuatable adjustable element to decrease the length of the section of the loop having the plurality of band layers, wherein the first selectively actuatable adjustable element is configured to expand and contract the proportion of the closed loop having the plurality of band layers relative to the remainder of the loop.

2. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further includes two handles, associated with the band, the handles being configured to facilitate gripping of the band by a user'"'"'s hand.

3. An exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handles are configured to be selectively positioned on the band by a user.

4. An exercise device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handles are configured to be slidable along the band.

5. An exercise device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the handles are composed of a material having a friction level such that when the handles are gripped against the band by the user'"'"'s hands, the positions of the handles on the band are effectively fixed while the handles are being gripped.

6. An exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each handle comprises a tubular element surrounding the band.

7. An exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each handle comprises a resilient material.

8. An exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each handle comprises foam material.

9. An exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tubular element detachably surrounds the band.

10. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further includes two foot holders for holding feet of a user.

11. An exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each foot holder is configured to surround a foot of the user.

12. An exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each foot holder is configured to be tightenable on a user'"'"'s foot, and to be loosenable to facilitate withdrawal of the user'"'"'s foot.

13. An exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each foot holder includes a top foot strap portion for contacting a top of a user'"'"'s foot, and a bottom foot strap portion for contacting a bottom of a user'"'"'s foot.

14. An exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each foot holder includes a foot holder actuator to tighten and loosen the foot holder.

15. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band is composed of a flexible material whose tension increases as the band is expanded along its length.

16. An exercise band as claimed in claim 15, wherein the flexible material is a fabric-rubber weave comprising of rubber threads oriented along the length of the band and substantially inelastic fabric oriented substantially transverse to the length of the band.

17. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band is sized and shaped to permit the band to be held at a user'"'"'s feet, and gripped by a user'"'"'s hands, to permit upper body exercise by the user, the upper body exercise including movement of the user'"'"'s hand.

18. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the band is sized and shaped to permit the band to be held at the user'"'"'s upper body, while the user exercises his lower body by moving a foot against the tension of the band.

19. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one loop length adjuster associated with the band for selectively adjusting the length of the loop.

20. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tension adjuster is configured to selectively adjust the tension of the loop without changing the length of the loop.