US20110160023A1

US20110160023A1 - Adjustable Elastic Resistance Bands

Info

Publication number: US20110160023A1
Application number: US12/650,044
Authority: US
Inventors: Lauren Murphy
Original assignee: PRODUCT PARTNERS LLC
Current assignee: PRODUCT PARTNERS LLC
Priority date: 2009-12-30
Filing date: 2009-12-30
Publication date: 2011-06-30

Abstract

Adjustable exercise assemblies which provide a mechanism for varying the resistance of the elastic band for strength training. The adjustable exercise assemblies generally comprise an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends, a handle comprising an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hand-held grip portion disposed therebetween, and an anchoring member configured for receiving a user's foot. The hand-held grip portion comprises a chamber configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member. The upper flange may comprise any one or a combination of a plurality of apertures or looped members configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures and/or looped members. The anchoring member comprises a retaining member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member and a stirrup member coupled to the retaining member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to adjustable elastic exercise bands.

BACKGROUND

Resistance strength training has gained in popularity over the last decade as an integral part of a complete exercise regimen. The benefits of resistance training has been well documented as including numerous benefits, including increasing strength and bone mineral density, as well as reducing body fat.
Typically, resistance training requires the use of various exercise equipment designed to cause the muscle to contract against an external resistance. Such exercise equipment include, for example, free weights, weight machines and nautilus equipment. The goal of resistance training is to gradually and progressively overload the musculoskeletal system so it gets stronger.
One disadvantage associated with traditional resistance training is that it requires a variety of different weights and/or equipment. As a person increases his or her strength level, greater weight increments are required to continue challenging the muscle. Moreover, different muscle groups typically require different weights. Thus, one seeking to engage in a regular resistance training program will need to either join a gym or spend significant amounts of money purchasing home gym equipment. Another disadvantage is that such equipment is typically stationary and not readily portable for use while traveling.
Elastic exercise bands can substitute for free weights or machines to help build muscle strength and tone. The advantages of elastic exercise bands are that they are generally inexpensive, compact in size and therefore portable and may be used anywhere (e.g., home, office, etc.). Many commercially available elastic exercise bands come in fixed resistance levels, which are typically color-coded to indicate the level of resistance provided. Generally, the thicker the elastic band, the greater the resistance provided by the elastic band. Because a range of resistance levels is required for effective strength training, one will typically need several exercise bands of varying resistance. Keeping track of the different exercise bands, however, can be cumbersome.
It would be desirable, however, to have a simplified strength training system that is capable of providing a range of resistance without requiring additional components or parts to provide that range.

SUMMARY

The adjustable exercise assembly disclosed herein provides a self-contained and fully portable resistance training system. A tension-adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the resistance to a desired level appropriate for a user's ability or particular exercise. The tension-adjustment mechanism is not only reliable and easy-to-use, it obviates the need to have multiple elastic bands to provide the desired range of resistance. Moreover, the elastic band is retained by a retaining mechanism that ensures that it will remain securely in place without slipping or breaking at the retention point.
In one embodiment, an adjustable exercise assembly comprises an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends, a rigid hand-held grip and an anchoring member. The rigid hand-held grip further comprises a plurality of apertures disposed directly on the rigid hand-held grip. The apertures are arranged to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures. The anchoring member comprises an attachment means configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member.
In another embodiment, an adjustable exercise assembly comprises an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends, a hand-held grip and an anchoring member. The hand-held grip further comprises a chamber and a flange having a plurality of apertures disposed in the flange. The chamber is configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member and the plurality of apertures is configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures. The anchoring member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member.
In a further embodiment, an adjustable exercise assembly comprises an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends, a handle, and an anchoring member. The handle comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hand-held grip portion disposed therebetween. The hand-held grip portion further comprises a chamber configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member. The upper flange comprises a plurality of apertures configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures. The anchoring member is configured for receiving a user's foot and comprises a retaining member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member and a stirrup member coupled to the retaining member.
In yet a further embodiment, an adjustable exercise assembly comprises an elongated elastic member having first and second end portions, a handle comprising a plurality of looped members pivotally coupled to the handle and an anchoring member configured to retain the second end portion of the elongated elastic member. The plurality of looped members are configured to adjustably and fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end portion is woven through the plurality of looped members.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hand-held grip portion of the adjustable exercise assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the hand-held grip portion of the adjustable exercise assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a hand-held grip portion of the adjustable exercise assembly without the elastic member.

FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the hand-held grip portion of the adjustable exercise assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the anchoring member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hand-held grip portion in another embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the hand-held grip portion of another embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly.

FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of the hand-held grip portion of FIG. 7 with the elastic member.

FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of the hand-held grip portion of FIG. 7 without the elastic member.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages may be obtained, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments.
The adjustable exercise assemblies disclosed herein provide a means by which the resistance may be adjusted to a desired level without the need for multiple elastic bands of varying gauges or widths. Rather, the adjustable exercise assembly takes advantage of a retention mechanism to adjust the length of the elastic band in order to provide varying resistance. The longer the length of the elastic band between the hand-held grip and the anchoring member, the less resistance. Conversely, the shorter the length of the elastic band between the hand-held grip and the anchoring member, the greater the resistance.
The adjustable exercise assembly may be provided in a variety of configurations and resistance levels, depending on the manner of its intended use. FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly 100 which may be used to target a variety of muscle groups, including the arms, legs and abdomen. The adjustable exercise assembly 100 comprises a hand-held grip 110, an anchoring member 140, and an elastic band 130 having a first end portion 132 coupled to the hand-held grip 110 and a second end portion 134 coupled to the anchoring member. The elastic band 130 may be made of any elastic material or elastomeric material. While the elastic band described herein 130 are in a tubular or cord shape, it is understood that any shape or configuration for the elastic band 130 may be used.
FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a preferred embodiment of the hand-held grip 110 in further detail. The hand-held grip is preferably a rigid structure that comprises a gripping portion 112 which is held in a user's hand during use. The gripping portion 112 may further comprise a non-slip padding to provide further comfort or may be ergonomically shaped, such as with ridges, to comfortably accommodate the user's fingers and prevent slipping of the user's hand during use. Upper and lower flanges 114, 116 may flank the top and bottom of the gripping portion 112 to provide further security against slipping and the protect the user's hand from the elastic band 130.
A chamber 120 is provided internally of the gripping portion 112. The chamber has an opening at the top 120 a and bottom 120 b of the hand-held grip 110. A first end portion 132 of the elastic band 130 may be passed through the bottom 120 b of the chamber and out through the top 120 a of the chamber. The upper flange 114 adjacent the top 120 a of the chamber comprises a plurality of retaining apertures 122 a, b, c, which are arranged and configured to securely retain the elastic band 130 at a desired position or length relative to the anchoring member 140 so as to provide the desired resistance level.
As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the upper flange 114 comprises three apertures 122 a, b, c arranged in a triangular configuration adjacent the top 120 a of the hand-held grip 110. While any number of apertures may be suitable, it is preferable to have two or more apertures to provide a more secure retention. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the third aperture is provided not only to provide a more secure retention, but also to allow the end portion 132 of the elastic band 130 to be tucked closer to the hand-held grip portion 112. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B the top 120 a and bottom 120 b openings of the chamber 120 defined therebetween are located adjacent the upper 114 and lower 116 flanges of the hand-held grip 112, respectively.
FIG. 5 illustrates the anchoring member 140 in greater detail. The anchoring member 140 is configured to retain the second end portion 134 of elastic band 130 and to accommodate a user's foot. The anchoring member 140 comprises an attachment means 142 comprising a passageway 144 through which the second end portion 134 of the elastic member is movably threaded. A stirrup 146 is coupled to the anchoring member 142 via an attachment 148 which may be fixed or adjustable. The stirrup 146 is preferably made of an elastic material that securely accommodates a range of a user's foot size.
Once the second end portion 134 is threaded through the passageway 144, a stop 138 is coupled to the second end portion 134 to prevent it slipping out of the passageway 144. In a preferred embodiment, the stop 138 is fixedly attached to the second end portion 134 and has a size that is larger than the largest diameter of the passageway 144. The interior surface of the passageway 144 may be conically or tapered and the stop 138 may have a corresponding shape such that the stop 138 is able to nest within the passageway 144 and be hidden from view.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly in which the hand-held grip portion 600 comprises a plurality of apertures 600 a, b, c on a lower flange 616. As with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-4, the hand-held grip 600 includes a gripping portion 612, an upper flange 614 and a lower flange 616. Unlike the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-4, however, the hand-held grip portion 600 does not include a chamber, as the end portion 630 a of the elastic band 630 is threaded and secured directly through the plurality of apertures 622 a, b, c disposed on the lower flange 616.
FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the adjustable exercise assembly in which the hand-held grip portion 700 comprises a plurality of looped members 722 a, b disposed on an upper flange 714. The plurality of looped members 722 a, b are movably and pivotally coupled to the upper flange 714 adjacent the opening 720 a of the internal chamber via a pair of couplers 724. The hand-held grip potion 700 may optionally include a lower flange 716 and an ergonomically-designed grip sleeve 712.
As more clearly seen in FIG. 8A, one end of the elastic band 730 may be threaded into the lower chamber opening 720 b, through the internal chamber disposed within the grip portion and out the upper chamber opening 720 a. The elastic band 730 may then be threaded through both loop members 722 a, b, and the subsequently looped over the top loop member 722 a and re-threaded underneath the bottom loop member 722 b to retain the elastic band 730 in a substantially fixed manner. The remaining end portion of the elastic band 730 may be rethreaded through the upper chamber opening 720 a so that it does not get in the way during exercise.
FIG. 8B depicts the hand-held grip portion 700 without the elastic band 730 to more clearly show the relationship between the upper chamber opening 720, the looped members 722 a, b, the couplers 724 and the upper flange 714. While the embodiment depicted herein show only a pair of looped members 722 a, b, it is understood that additional looped members may be provided. Moreover, while the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7-8A,B show the looped members 722 a, b coupled together by the same coupler 724, it is further understood that the looped members 722 a, b may be coupled to the flange via separate or different couplers.
With respect to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is understood that the arrangement or configuration of the apertures and the looped members and the manner in which the end portions of the elastic band is woven therethrough may also be optimized to provide a more secure retention. For example, a plurality of apertures or looped members may be arranged such that the end portions of the elastic band may be woven through and over or under the woven portions. In another aspect of the preferred embodiments, the hand-held grip portion may include both a plurality of apertures and looped members through which the elastic band may be woven through.
Having thus described embodiments of the dermatological device, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the adjustable exercise assembly have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:

an elongated elastic member comprising first and second end portions;

a rigid hand-held grip and a plurality of apertures disposed directly on the rigid hand-held grip, the apertures being arranged to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end portion of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures; and

an anchoring member comprising an attachment means configured to retain the second end portion of the elongated elastic member.

2. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated elastic member is a tubular cord made of elastomeric material.

3. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a tapered inner cavity.

4. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 3, wherein the second end portion comprises a stop having a shape corresponding to and is retained within the tapered inner cavity.

5. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 4, wherein the anchoring member further comprises a stirrup.

6. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the rigid hand-held grip further comprises a chamber configured to receive the first end portion of the elongated elastic member.

7. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 6, wherein the rigid hand-held grip further comprises a flange and wherein the plurality of apertures is disposed in the flange.

8. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 7, wherein the hand-held grip further comprises an ergonomic gripping portion.

9. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured in a triangular pattern.

10. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 8, wherein the chamber is disposed internal of the gripping portion.

11. An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:

an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends;

a handle comprising an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hand-held grip portion disposed therebetween, the hand-held grip portion comprising a chamber configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member and the upper flange comprising a plurality of apertures configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures;

an anchoring member configured for receiving a user's foot, the anchoring member comprising a retaining member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member and a stirrup member coupled to the retaining member.

12. An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:

an elongated elastic member comprising first and second end portions;

a handle comprising a plurality of looped members pivotally coupled to the handle, the plurality of looped members being configured to adjustably and fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end portion is woven through the plurality of looped members;

an anchoring member configured to retain the second end portion of the elongated elastic member.

13. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 12 comprising two or more looped members pivotally coupled to the handle at a coupling point.

14. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 13, wherein the handle further comprises an upper and lower portions, an internal chamber therebetween.

15. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 14, further comprising a flange adjacent the upper portion and coupling the plurality of looped members.

16. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 15, wherein the hand-held grip further comprises an ergonomic gripping portion.

17. The adjustable exercise assembly of claim 13, wherein the anchoring member further comprises a stirrup member configured for receiving a user's foot