Exercise ring for improving strength and flexibility of a body part

• US 9,555,283 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mission Competition Fitness Equipment
• Original Assignee: Mission Competition Fitness Equipment
• Inventors: Jolly, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US13/252,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 482/10, 482/43, 482/101, 482/110, 482/114, 482/115, 482121-130, 482/139, 482/904, 601/39, 119/770, 119/792, 119795-798, 119/856, 119/857, 119/863, 446/236, 446/247
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4003 to the head; to the neck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• 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 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/025 for the head or the neck

Abstract

An apparatus and method for exercising muscles of a body part, especially the neck, waist, torso, legs, and glutes from any angle with variable resistance while taking up minimal floor space. The apparatus improves the ability of athletes, including football players and wrestlers, to better prepare for contact from any angle while engaged in their sport. The apparatus includes a ring having a guide track therein. Another inner ring may also be provided in different sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of users. A car connected to a source of resistance rides freely along the guide track. The source of resistance may be other gym equipment including a bungee cord, a cable cross over machine, springs, and the like. As the user freely exercises by moving the body part the car adapts to the user'"'"'s position to facilitate a full range of motion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exercising a user'"'"'s neck, comprising:

a headpiece element configured to be worn in a head region of a user, the headpiece element having a guide track therein; and

a car having an attachment port for connection to a source of resistance, the car configured to fit about within the guide track of the headpiece element and to move along the guide track, whereby as the user freely moves a neck or a head at any angle, the car adjusts its positioning along the guide track while maintaining a substantially stable position of the attachment port relative to the source of resistance, thereby enhancing the user'"'"'s range of motion and comfort during exercise,

wherein the car includes two or more separate pieces and is configured to open up for loading and unloading about the guide track, and

wherein at least a section of the guide track is removable from the headpiece element for the loading and unloading of the car.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the headpiece element comprises a first ring configured to fit around the user'"'"'s forehead, the first ring selected from a plurality of first rings having different shapes and sizes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus leaves a top of the user'"'"'s head partially uncovered.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the headpiece element further comprises a second ring having a diameter larger than the first ring, the second ring configured for positioning outside of the first ring, the second ring having a structure along an inner perimeter for attaching to a corresponding structure along an outer perimeter of the first ring, wherein the guide track of the headpiece element is in the second ring,

wherein the first ring and the second ring are detachable through a releasable locking mechanism, and

wherein the second ring is configured to mate and attach to the first ring.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least four guide elements on the car, wherein a first set of at least two of the at least four guide elements fits about an inside of the guide track and a second set of at least two of the at least four guide elements fits about an outside of the guide track.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second ring configured to mate and attach to the first ring comprises at least one protrusion and the first ring comprises at least one groove configured to receive and mate with the at least one protrusion on the second ring, wherein the at least one protrusion is telescopically extendable and retractable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the car has a wheel for moving along the guide track.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first ring has foam padding along an inner perimeter thereof, the foam padding configured to provide comfort when resting against the user'"'"'s forehead.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first ring has a protective material covering the foam padding.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of resistance is selected from the group consisting of:

a bungee cord, a kettlebell, a spring under tension, a cable cross over machine, a pilates machine, a weight stack, a weighted exercise ball, a pillar, a column, a hook on a wall, and a parachute.

11. An apparatus for exercising a body part of a user, comprising:

a first ring configured to be worn around the body part of the user, the first ring having a guide track therein; and

a car having an attachment port for connection to a source of resistance, the car configured to fit about within the guide track of the first ring and to move along the guide track, whereby as the user freely moves the body part at any angle, the car adjusts its positioning along the guide track while maintaining a substantially stable position of the attachment port relative to the source of resistance, thereby enhancing the user'"'"'s range of motion and comfort during exercise; and

at least four guide elements on the car, wherein a first set of at least two of the at least four guide elements fits about an inside of the guide track and a second set of at least two of the at least four guide elements fits about an outside of the guide track,

wherein the car includes two or more separate pieces and is configured to open up for loading and unloading about the guide track, and

wherein at least a section of the guide track is removable from first ring for the loading and unloading of the car.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a harness configured to be worn by the user, the harness having a structure along an outer perimeter thereof for attaching to a corresponding structure along an inner perimeter of the first ring or along an inner perimeter of a second ring.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a belt configured to be worn by the user, the belt having a structure along an outer perimeter thereof for attaching to a corresponding structure along an inner perimeter of the first ring or along an inner perimeter of a second ring,

wherein the first ring and the second ring are detachable through a releasable locking mechanism,

wherein the second ring is configured to mate and attach to the first ring, and

wherein the first ring is selected from a plurality of first rings having different sizes.