Exercise apparatus, methods of using, and method of manufacture

• US 9,962,571 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David W. Frey, Douglas S. Dennis
• Original Assignee: David W. Frey, Douglas S. Dennis
• Inventors: Dennis, Douglas S., Frey, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Andrew S
• Application Number:
  US15/657,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 482126, 482127, 482140, D21198, D21693
• 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 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/15 Arrangements for force transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1245 Primarily by articulating the shoulder joint A63B23/129 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises

Abstract

An exerciser and an elastic band. The exerciser includes first and second arms, a connector, and at least one elastic band. The first arm has a first body portion and first and second ends extending from the first body portion. The first body portion includes a first elongate slot and a first hinge portion disposed on opposite sides of the first body portion. The exerciser includes a second arm having a second body portion and first and second ends extending from the second body portion. The second body portion includes a second elongate slot and a second hinge portion disposed on opposite sides of the second body portion. The exerciser includes a connector rotatably coupling the first and second hinge portions of the respective first and second arms. The exerciser includes at least one elastic band formed as a continuous loop and disposed within the first and second elongate slots.

Claims

1. An exerciser, comprising:

a first arm having a first outer periphery defining a first body portion and first and second ends extending from the first body portion, the first arm including a first elongate slot and a first hinge portion;

a second arm having a second outer periphery defining a second body portion and first and second ends extending from the second body portion, the second arm including a second elongate slot and a second hinge portion, the first and second hinge portions being operatively coupled to each other;

and at least one elastic band formed as a continuous loop and disposed within the first and second elongate slots,

wherein each of the first and the second arms has a first outer surface and an opposite second outer surface each defined by the first outer periphery and the second outer periphery so as to face in opposite directions, and

wherein the at least one elastic band overlies the opposing first outer surface and the second outer surface of the first and second arms.

2. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein the first hinge portion has a single bearing section and the second hinge portion has a single bearing section.

3. The exerciser of claim 2, further comprising a connector including at least one of an expanding pin or a pin having first and second interlocking portions.

4. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein the first hinge portion includes at least first and second fingers and the second hinge portion includes at least third and fourth fingers interleaved with the first and second fingers and configured to rotatably couple the first and second arms.

5. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elongate slots include a retention member located at an open end of the slot and configured to retain the at least one elastic band in the first and second elongated slots.

6. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein the at least one elastic band has a non-uniform cross-sectional area taken along a plane that extends in a direction parallel to a direction of an axis of rotation of the bearing sections.

7. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic band further comprises:

two receiving portions configured to be received by the elongate slots, and

two spanning portions configured to span between the elongate slots,

wherein each of the receiving portions has a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of each of the spanning portions.

8. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein the at least one elastic band has a generally uniform cross-sectional area taken along a plane that extends in a direction parallel to a direction of an axis of rotation of the bearing sections.

9. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second arms further comprise a U-shaped exterior curve separating the respective first and second ends.

10. An exerciser, comprising:

a first arm having a first body portion and first and second ends extending from the first body portion, the first arm including a first elongate slot and a first hinge portion;

a second arm having a second body portion and first and second ends extending from the second body portion, the second arm including a second elongate slot and a second hinge portion, the first and second hinge portions being operatively coupled to each other; and

at least one elastic band formed as a continuous loop and disposed within the first and second elongate slots,

wherein at least one of the first and second elongate slots include a retention member located at an open end of the slot and configured to retain the at least one elastic band in the first and second elongated slots, and

wherein the retention member is integrally formed with the respective first and second arms.