TECHNICAL FIELD
This specification relates to fitness equipment, and specifically to bags that convert into anchoring devices for exercise equipment.
BACKGROUND
Many types of fitness and exercise techniques, including yoga, pilates, and resistance training, often require equipment such as ropes, springs, or pulley systems affixed to a supporting structure in order to allow a practitioner to perform many of the exercises and poses associated with the technique. Because these techniques are often practiced indoors, it is desirable to provide a portable apparatus that can provide a fixed anchor point to which equipment can be affixed in a typical indoor setting without modification or damage to walls, ceilings, doors, or other structural points.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1-2 are views of a fitness apparatus configured in Carry Mode.
FIGS. 3-4 illustrate the fitness apparatus as it is converted from Carry Mode to Fitness Mode.
FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the fitness apparatus while it is configured in Fitness Mode.
FIGS. 6 and 9-10 are views of the fitness apparatus affixed to a door while configured in Fitness Mode.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a door showing straps of the fitness apparatus wrapped around the top of the door.
FIG. 8 illustrates an anchor point on the fitness apparatus.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exerciser performing exercises using the fitness apparatus configured in Fitness Mode and affixed to a door.
FIGS. 12-15 illustrate various attachments that can be affixed to anchor points on the fitness apparatus.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Described herein is a fitness apparatus configured to operate in a first mode of operation (herein referred to as “Carry Mode”) as a bag for carrying and storing exercise equipment and to operate in a second mode of operation (herein referred to as “Fitness Mode”) as a fixed anchor to which the exercise equipment can be connected. When the fitness apparatus is in Carry Mode, it operates as a storage and transport device (i.e., a bag) which can be filled with accessories and attachments that are attached and utilized during Fitness Mode. These accessories can include, for example, Yoga Ropes, Pilates Springs, or Pulley Ropes. The fitness apparatus is converted from Carry Mode to Fitness Mode by unzipping a reversible zipper and turning the bag inside out, thereby exposing straps/webbing which are sewn onto the inside of the bag, and wrapping the straps/webbing around a door to provide one or more fixed anchor points to which the attachments/accessories can be affixed. The straps which are wrapped around the door can be connected to one another on the opposite side of the door from the bag, for example by clipping then together using clips that are sewn into the straps.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the fitness apparatus 100 while it is in Carry Mode. The fitness apparatus, operated as a bag in Carry Mode, includes a reversible fabric portion 102 formed of a strong fabric material and having a first fabric surface 104 on the bag's exterior and a second fabric surface 404 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) on the bag's interior. The fabric portion has a top side 110, a bottom side 112, a first side 114 extending from the top side 110 to the bottom side 112, and a second side 116 opposite the first side 114 and extending from the top side 110 to the bottom side 112. The apparatus further includes a zipper 106 extending from the first side 114 of the fabric portion toward the second side 116. The zipper 106 is preferably a reversible zipper so that it may be easily opened and closed both when the fitness apparatus is in Carry Mode and when the fitness apparatus in Fitness Mode. As also seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fitness apparatus 100 can further include a shoulder strap 108 formed, for example, of a strong webbing. The shoulder strap 108 can, for example, be attached to the bag via clips 118 at either end of the shoulder strap 108 that are clipped into a pair of loops (e.g., D-loops) 128 which are sewn into the top corners of the bag.
Referring to FIG. 3, the fitness apparatus further includes straps/webbing 302 and 304 which are sewn onto the inside of the bag. As seen in FIGS. 3-5, the fitness apparatus is converted from Carry Mode to Fitness Mode by opening the zipper to expose the straps/webbing 302 and 304 (FIGS. 3-4) and turning the bag inside out so that the straps/webbing 302 and 304 are on the outside (FIG. 5). As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, strap 302 (i.e., the first strap) includes a first portion 502 affixed to the first side 114 of the fabric portion, a second portion 504 which extends above the top side 110 of the fabric portion while the fitness apparatus is configured in Fitness Mode, and a third portion 506 which extends below the bottom side 112 of the fabric portion while the fitness apparatus is configured in Fitness Mode. Similarly, strap 304 (i.e., the second strap) includes a first portion 512 affixed to the second side 116 of the fabric portion, a second portion 514 which extends above the top side 110 of the fabric portion while the fitness apparatus is configured in Fitness Mode, and a third portion 516 which extends below the bottom side 112 of the fabric portion while the fitness apparatus is configured in Fitness Mode.
Still referring to FIG. 6, the fitness apparatus is configured to operate as a fixed anchor for exercise equipment while configured in Fitness Mode. In Fitness Mode, the first and second straps 302 and 304 are on the bag's exterior and are configured to each be wrapped around a fixed object such as a door 602. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 9-10, the second portions 504 and 514 of the first and second straps, respectively, are each configured to be wrapped over a top side of the door 602, and the third portions 506 and 516 of the first and second straps, respectively, are each configured to be wrapped over a bottom side of the door 602. As also seen in FIGS. 9-10, the second and third portions 504 and 506 of the first strap 302 are connected to one another on the opposite side of the door 602 from the bag by means of a first pair of connectors 902 on the second and third portions of the first strap, and the second and third portions 514 and 516 of the second strap 304 are connected to one another on the opposite side of the door 602 from the bag by means of a second pair of connectors 904 on the second and third portions of the second strap. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 10, the second and third straps 302 and 304, respectively, can be connected to one another on the opposite side of the door 602 from the bag by means of a securing strap 1002. The securing strap 1002 can provide additional support and rigidity to the fitness apparatus while it is secured to the door.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the door 602 illustrating the second portion 504 of the first strap 302 wrapped around the top of the door. As shown, the second portion 504 of the first strap 302 can include a stopper 702 positioned near the top of the door when the fitness apparatus is affixed to the door, the stopper 702 preventing the first strap from sliding around the door. Although not shown in the figures, the second portion 514 of the second strap 304 can also include a stopper 702 positioned near the top of the door when the fitness apparatus is affixed to the door, and the third portions 506 and 516 of the first and second straps 302 and 304, respectively, can each include stoppers 702 positioned near the bottom of the door when the fitness apparatus is affixed to the door. The stoppers can, for example, be regions of the first or second strap where the first or second strap is folded over itself to create a stop, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Such a stopper causes the strap to be too thick in the stopper region to slide through the crack between the door and the door jamb while the door is closed, thereby preventing the strap from sliding around the door while exercises are being performed.
As further seen in FIG. 6, an anchor point 610 is connected to the second portion 514 of the second strap 304. The anchor point 610 can, for example, be a steel D hook which is sewn into the strap, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Additional anchor points can be connected to the second portion 514 of the second strap 304, as well as to the second portion 504 of the first strap 302, the third portion 506 of the first strap 302, and the third portion 516 of the second strap 304. The anchors provide fixed attachment points at various places for attaching exercise equipment/accessories such as Pilates Springs, straps, Pulley Ropes, or Yoga Ropes.
FIGS. 12-15 illustrate various pieces of exercise equipment/accessories such as Pilates Springs (1200 in FIG. 12), straps (1300 in FIG. 13), Pulley Ropes (1400 in FIG. 14), or Yoga Ropes (1500 in FIG. 15) which can be connected to the anchor points while the fitness apparatus is affixed to the door. In this way, the fitness apparatus provides a portable framework to which exercise equipment/accessories can be attached and used to perform a variety of exercises.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exerciser performing exercises using the fitness apparatus configured in Fitness Mode. The exerciser may stand, sit, or lay down in front of the door, and by attaching the Pilates Springs, straps, Pulley Ropes, or Yoga Ropes to the anchor points attached to the straps, they now have a portable fitness machine which can be used to perform over 100 exercises.
In order to transport the fitness apparatus from one location to another, or to store the fitness apparatus in a compact location, the apparatus can be removed from the door and converted into Carry Mode by detaching the exercise equipment/accessories, reversing the bag, placing the exercise equipment/accessories inside the bag, and optionally closing the zipper.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the techniques and devices described herein. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.