Variable resistance band assembly and method of using the same

• US 9,630,048 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kayezen, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arqex Outdoor Fitness Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Kaye, Eric A., Cesaroni, William C., Ghassemian, Morad, Mathews, Brian W., DiMonte, Eugene L., Zielke, Donovan D., Lenz, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, MEGAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/598,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20150126345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 403353, 403189, 403190, 403187
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• 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 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• 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 21/4035 for operation by hand
• 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 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement

Abstract

A variable resistance band assembly may include a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. Additionally, a first disc is proximate the first end defining a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern extending through the first disc, and a second disc is stacked adjacent the first disc along an assembly axis, the second disc defining a plurality of holes arranged in a similar pattern to that of the first disc and axially aligned therewith. A connector is proximate the second end and a first resilient member is releasably attached to the connector and extending through one aligned hole in the first and second discs and releasably attached to the first disc.

Claims

1. A resistance band assembly having:

a housing with first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

a connector proximate to the second end of the housing;

a first disc having a first aperture proximate to the first end of the housing;

a first resilient member having a shaft that passes through the first aperture and extends between the first disc at a first end of the shaft and the connector at a second end of the shaft;

a first enlarged region provided proximate to the first end of the shaft, wherein the first aperture in the first disc is configured to stop the first enlarged region from passing through the first aperture in the first disc; and

a second enlarged region provided proximate to the second end of the shaft, wherein the second enlarged region is of a size that permits the second enlarged region to pass through the first aperture in the first disc;

wherein the second enlarged region of the first resilient member is detachably engageable with the connector.

2. The resistance band assembly of claim 1, wherein a limiting member is provided in the shaft to limit the extent to which the shaft is able to stretch.

3. The resistance band assembly of claim 2, wherein the limiting member is comprised of para-aramid fiber.

4. The resistance band assembly of claim 1, wherein the configuration of first aperture includes an aperture adjustment member that is selectively receivable around at least part of the first enlarged region of the first resilient member.

5. The resistance band assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises at least one hole therein;

and the at least one hole has an opening defined in a peripheral wall of the connector; and

wherein the second enlarged region is of a size that does not permit the second enlarged region to pass through the hole.

6. The resistance band assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second aperture in the first disc;

a second resilient member extending between the disc and the connector, said second resilient member having a second enlarged region at one end thereof that is of a size that is able to pass through the second aperture in the first disc.

7. A resistance band assembly comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

a first attachment assembly provided at the first end of the housing;

a second attachment assembly provided at the second end of the housing;

a first resilient member extending from adjacent the first end of the housing to adjacent the second end thereof;

a second resilient member extending from adjacent the first end of the housing to adjacent the second end thereof;

a first disc proximate to the first end of the housing;

a second disc proximate to the first end of the housing;

said second disc being positioned adjacent the first disc along the longitudinal axis of the housing;

a first aperture defined in the first disc, wherein the first resilient member extends through the first aperture and is engaged with the first disc; and

a second aperture defined in the second disc, wherein the second resilient member extends through the second aperture and is engaged with the second disc.

8. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein the second attachment assembly remains in a stationary orientation relative to the housing during use of the resistance band assembly;

and

the first attachment assembly is selectively movable away from the first end of the housing; and

when the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing the first resilient member is stretched and increases in length and generates a first resistive force in response to stretching thereof.

9. The resistance band assembly of claim 8, wherein the first attachment assembly is subsequently movable toward the first end of the housing and when the first attachment assembly returns to the first end of the housing, the first resilient member returns to its original length.

10. The resistance band assembly of claim 9, wherein the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing by a pulling motion being applied by a user to the first attachment assembly.

11. The resistance band assembly of claim 8, wherein the second resilient member is selectively stretchable to provide a second resistive force.

12. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a connector proximate to the second end of the housing; and

wherein a second end of each of the first and second resilient members is engaged with the connector

wherein the first end of the first resilient member is engaged with the first disc and the first end of the second resilient member is engaged with the second disc.

13. The resistance band assembly of claim 12, further comprising an insert associated with at least one component of the housing, said insert positioned between the connector and the first disc, and wherein the insert defines apertures therein and through which the first and second resilient members pass;

and wherein faces of the insert which define the apertures therein include a friction reducing material.

14. The resistance band assembly of claim 12, wherein the connector is oval, elliptical or any other shape.

15. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein the first attachment assembly is adapted to selectively attach the first end of the housing to a workout accessory engaged by a user;

and the second attachment assembly is adapted to selectively attach the second end of the housing to a structure.

16. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing is tubular and rigid.

17. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

an adjustment assembly selectively engageable with the first disc or the first and second discs;

wherein when the adjustment assembly is only engaged with the first disc only the first resilient member is stretched in length when the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing; and

wherein when the adjustment assembly is engaged with the first disc and the second disc, both of the first and second resilient members are stretched in length when the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing.

18. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein the first disc is oval, elliptical or any other shape.

19. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second discs are positioned proximate one another along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

20. The resistance band assembly of claim 7, wherein comprising a third resilient member extending from adjacent the first end of the housing to adjacent the second end thereof, wherein the first resilient member and the third resilient member are both connected to the first disc.

21. A resistance band assembly comprising:

a housing with a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

a first disc proximate to the first end of the housing defining a plurality of holes arranged therein in a pattern and extending through the first disc;

a second disc positioned adjacent the first disc proximate to the first end along the longitudinal axis of the housing, the second disc defining a plurality of holes arranged therein in a similar pattern to that of the first disc, where the holes in the second disc are axially aligned with the holes in the first disc;

a connector proximate to the second end of the housing; and

a first resilient member engaged with the connector at a second end and extending through aligned holes in the first and second discs and being engaged with the first disc at a first end.

22. The resistance band assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a second resilient member engaged with the connector at a second end and extending through a hole in the second disc and being engaged with the second disc at a first end.

23. The resistance band assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

a third disc positioned adjacent the second disc proximate to the first end of the housing and along the longitudinal axis, the third disc defining a plurality of holes arranged in a similar pattern to that of the first and second discs, where the holes in the third disc are axially aligned with the holes in the first and second discs.

24. The resistance band assembly of claim 23, further comprising:

a third resilient member engaged with the connector at a second end and with the third disc a first end.

25. The resistance band assembly of claim 24, wherein the third resilient member extends through one of the plurality of holes in the third disc and is engaged to the third disc.

26. The resistance band assembly of claim 23, wherein the first, second and third discs are oval, elliptical or any other shape.

27. The resistance band assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

an adjustment assembly selectively engageable with the first disc or the first and second discs;

wherein when the adjustment assembly is only engaged with the first disc only the first resilient member is stretched in length when the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing; and

wherein when the adjustment assembly is engaged with the first disc and the second disc, both of the first and second resilient members are stretched in length when the first attachment assembly is moved away from the first end of the housing.

28. The resistance band assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

an insert associated with at least one component of the housing, said insert positioned between the connector and the first disc, and wherein the insert defines apertures therein and through which the first and second resilient members pass; and

wherein faces of the insert which define the apertures therein include a friction reducing material.

29. The resistance band assembly of claim 22, wherein the second resilient member comprises more than one resilient member, and wherein each of the more than one second resilient members extends through holes in the second disc and is attached to the second disc.

30. The resistance band assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a first enlarged region provided on the first end of the first resilient member, wherein the first enlarged region is engaged with the first disc.

31. The resistance band assembly of claim 30, further comprising:

a second enlarged region provided on the second end of the first resilient member, wherein the second enlarged region is of a size that permits the second enlarged region to pass through the first disc.

32. The resistance band assembly of claim 30, wherein an aperture adjustment member is selectively receivable around at least part of the first enlarged region and is of a size sufficient to stop the first enlarged region from passing through the hole in the first disc.

33. The resistance band assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and second discs are positioned proximate one another along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

34. The resistance band assembly of claim 21 wherein the connector is oval, elliptical or any other shape.

35. The resistance band assembly of claim 21, wherein the first resilient member comprises at least two resilient members, and wherein each of the at least two resilient members members extends through a separate hole in the first disc and is attached to the first disc.