Portable neck exercise device

• US 8,840,528 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zylstra, Dirk
• Original Assignee: Zylstra, Dirk
• Inventors: Zylstra, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US13/758,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20140221176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 482 10- 11, 482/124, 482129-130, 601/37, 601/39, 602/32, 602/36
• US Class Current: 482/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00072 by changing the length of a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1627 for anchoring on or between the vertical posts of a door frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4003 to the head; to the neck
• 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 2208/0285 Hanging
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0238 Spinal column for the neck A63B23/025
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/025 for the head or the neck

Abstract

A portable neck exercising device comprising an adjustable frame that can be securely and removably positioned between two sides of a door frame, a set of pulleys attached to the frame, a head band, and flexible tensioning bands attached to the head band, threaded through the pulleys, and removably connected to the frame using various tensions, such that a user can variably exercise their neck muscles by moving their head, neck, and torso in a variety of directions.

Claims

1. A portable neck exercise device comprising a frame having two elongated vertical legs adapted to be positioned upon opposite inner jamb surfaces of a door frame, an adjustable horizontal member having two end sections respectively attached to upper sections of said vertical legs, and an adjustable turnbuckle connected in between said two end sections of said horizontal member, such that said frame is adapted to be adjustably fitted within said door frame, and wherein said horizontal member is adjustable lengthwise and adapted to create or release a secure frictional hold between the respective vertical legs and a door frame;

a pulley member attached to a lower end section of each said vertical leg;

a head band adapted to comfortably and firmly fit onto a person'"'"'s head; and

two flexible tensioning bands each removably attached to said head band, threaded through a respective pulley member, and removably connected to a respective vertical leg, such that when the device is in position within a door frame and the user attaches the head band, they can variably exercise their neck muscles by moving their head, neck, and torso in a variety of directions.

2. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein each vertical leg includes a slotted tube attached thereto for releasably holding a respective tensioning band therein;

wherein said tensioning bands each have a plurality of knots formed thereon in a predetermined spaced apart configuration, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by choosing the appropriate knots to attach to said slotted tubes.

3. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein each vertical leg includes a V-shaped cleat attached thereto for releasably holding a portion of a respective tensioning band therein, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by choosing which portion of each said tensioning band to place within each respective cleat.

4. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein each vertical leg includes a corner angle member frictionally connected within a respective groove thereof for releasably holding an end portion of a respective tensioning band, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by releasably sliding said corner angle member within said respective groove.

5. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein said flexible tensioning bands are respectively removably attached to said head band using spring clips;

and wherein each vertical leg includes a cam member attached thereto for releasably holding a respective tensioning band therein.

6. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, further including an eye bolt attached to each said end section of said horizontal member, such that each said flexible tensioning bands can alternatively be attached from said head band directly to each respective eye bolt, to thereby be adapted to change the direction of tension on a person'"'"'s neck.

7. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein the surface of each vertical leg adapted to contact said opposite inner jamb surfaces of said door frame include a layer of material adapted to increase the friction therebetween.

8. The portable neck exercise device of claim 2, wherein said vertical legs are formed having elongated grooves along the lengths thereof, such that said positioning of said horizontal member and said respective slotted tubes can be adjusted.

9. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein said frame is formed from aluminum.

10. The portable neck exercise device of claim 1, wherein said pulley members are respectively pivotally attached to said lower end sections of each said vertical leg.

11. The combination of a door frame and a portable neck exercise device, said combination comprising a door frame having opposite inner vertical jamb surfaces;

and a comprising a frame having two elongated vertical legs adapted to be positioned upon opposite inner jamb surfaces of a door frame; and

a portable neck exercise device including an adjustable horizontal member having two end sections respectively attached to upper sections of said vertical legs, and an adjustable turnbuckle connected in between said two end sections of said horizontal member, such that said frame is adapted to be adjustably fitted within said door frame, and wherein said horizontal member is adjustable lengthwise and adapted to create or release a secure frictional hold between the respective vertical legs and said door frame;

a pulley member attached to a lower end section of each said vertical leg;

a head band adapted to comfortably and firmly fit onto a person'"'"'s head; and

two flexible tensioning bands each removably attached to said head band, threaded through a respective pulley member, and removably connected to a respective vertical leg, such that when the device is in position within said door frame and the user attaches the head band, they can variably exercise their neck muscles by moving their head, neck, and torso in a variety of directions.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein each vertical leg includes a slotted tube attached thereto for releasably holding a respective tensioning band therein;

wherein said tensioning bands each have a plurality of knots formed thereon in a predetermined spaced apart configuration, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by choosing the appropriate knots to attach to said slotted tubes.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein each vertical leg includes a V-shaped cleat attached thereto for releasably holding a portion of a respective tensioning band therein, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by choosing which portion of each said tensioning band to place within each respective cleat.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein said flexible tensioning bands are respectively removably attached to said head band using spring clips;

and wherein each vertical leg includes a cam member attached thereto for releasably holding a respective tensioning band therein.

15. The combination of claim 11, further including an eye bolt attached to each said end section of said horizontal member, such that each said flexible tensioning bands can alternatively be attached from said head band directly to each respective eye bolt, to thereby be adapted to change the direction of tension on a person'"'"'s neck.

16. The combination of claim 11, wherein the surface of each vertical leg adapted to contact said opposite inner jamb surfaces of said door frame include a layer of material adapted to increase the friction therebetween.

17. The combination of claim 12, wherein said vertical legs are formed having elongated grooves along the lengths thereof, such that said positioning of said horizontal member and said respective slotted tubes can be adjusted.

18. The combination of claim 11, wherein said frame is formed from aluminum.

19. The combination of claim 11, wherein said pulley members are respectively pivotally attached to said lower end sections of each said vertical leg.

20. A portable neck exercise device comprising an H-shaped frame formed from hollow tubing having a square cross-section, said H-shaped frame including two elongated vertical legs each having a groove on at least one side and extending the length thereof, wherein each vertical leg includes a slotted tube attached within said groove and is adjustably attached therein, said vertical legs adapted to be positioned upon opposite inner jamb surfaces of a door frame, an adjustable horizontal member having two end sections respectively attached to upper sections of said vertical legs via respective said grooves, and an adjustable turnbuckle connected in between said two end sections of said horizontal member, such that said frame is adapted to be adjustably fitted within said door frame, and wherein said horizontal member is adjustable lengthwise and adapted to create or release a secure frictional hold between the respective vertical legs and said door frame;

a pulley member pivotally attached to a distal lower end of each said vertical leg;

a head band adapted to comfortably and firmly fit onto a person'"'"'s head, said head band including two O-rings fixedly attached to opposite side thereof; and

two flexible tensioning bands each removably attached to said O-rings of said head band, threaded through a respective pulley member, and removably connected to a respective slotted tube, wherein said tensioning bands each have a plurality of knots formed thereon in a predetermined spaced apart configuration, such that a person can choose a tensional force on said head band by choosing the appropriate knots to attach to said slotted tubes; and

further including an eye bolt attached to each said end section of said horizontal member, such that each said flexible tensioning bands can alternatively be attached from said head band directly to each respective eye bolt, to thereby be adapted to change the direction of tension on a person'"'"'s neck, and such that when the device is in position within a door frame and the user attaches the head band, they can choose between attaching the flexible tensioning bands to the slotted tubes through said pulleys, or attaching directly to respective eye bolts to variably exercise their neck muscles by moving their head, neck, and torso in a variety of directions.