Patent Application
20220062692
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates generally to exercise garments, more particularly, to an exercising garment comprising resistance bands and methods of using the same.
People worldwide sit for most of their waking hours, for example, Americans spend on average 13 hours a day sitting. It is well-known that people who sit for extended periods of time, such as more than 4 hours per day, are at a higher risk of death compared to people who sit for shorter periods of time. Lack of movement slows metabolism, reduces the amount of food that is converted to energy, and promotes fat accumulation, obesity, heart disease, arthritis, etc.
Cell phones apps, activity sensing gadgets, treadmill desks all encourage users to be active by different mechanisms. In the exercising equipment's industry, there are devices known to allow for a user to exercise while working or accomplishing other activities.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,892,148, 8,485,945, 8,876,661 and 9,511,254 disclose various types of exercise workstations generally configured as treadmill desks comprising a treadmill and a working station.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2013/0231221 discloses an equipment allowing for exercise of the lower body when seated, which is a force resisting apparatus manipulated by a user.
There exists a need for an exercising equipment that overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. It would be advantageous to have an exercising garment that a user can wear throughout the day. It would also be advantageous to have an exercising garment that encourages the user to exercise more frequently.
In one aspect, this disclosure is related to an exercising garment comprising resistance bands configured to stretch from a relaxed position to a resistance position. The resistance bands can be coupled to a modified pants. The pants may comprise an additional strip of fabric located within each pant leg defining a channel configured to receive and secure the integral exercising resistance bands. The resistance bands having a first end positioned at a location near the waist height of a user and a second end positioned at a location near the foot height of the user. The second end may include loops for removably inserting the user's feet.
In another aspect, this disclosure is related to a method of exercising comprising the steps of providing the resistance bands, preferably coupled to the modified pants, attaching the bands near the waist height of the pants, wherein the bands include loops, removably inserting the user's feet in the loops, and encouraging the user to move more frequently while the user wears the pants.
The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure.
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, and logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Before the present invention of this disclosure is described in such detail, however, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular variations set forth and may, of course, vary. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process act(s) or step(s), to the objective(s), spirit or scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure made herein.
Unless otherwise indicated, the words and phrases presented in this document have their ordinary meanings to one of skill in the art. Such ordinary meanings can be obtained by reference to their use in the art and by reference to general and scientific dictionaries.
References in the specification to “one embodiment” indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The following explanations of certain terms are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. These terms have their ordinary meanings given by usage in the art and in addition include the following explanations.
As used herein, the term “and/or” refers to any one of the items, any combination of the items, or all of the items with which this term is associated.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the terms “include,” “for example,” “such as,” and the like are used illustratively and are not intended to limit the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances.
Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.
As used herein, the terms “front,” “back,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “right,” and “left” in this description are merely used to identify the various elements as they are oriented in the FIGS., with “front,” “back,” and “rear” being relative to the apparatus. These terms are not meant to limit the elements that they describe, as the various elements may be oriented differently in various applications.
As used herein, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Similarly, coupled can refer to a two member or elements being in communicatively coupled, wherein the two elements may be electronically, through various means, such as a metallic wire, wireless network, optical fiber, or other medium and methods.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
Referring to the figures,
Preferably, the resistance band 10 may be made from a heavy-duty latex rubber, a medical grade resistant rubber, or the like.
Preferably, the first end 101 is configured to be coupled at a first location near the waist height of a user and the second end 102 is configured to be coupled at a second location near the foot height of a user, wherein the length of the resistant band 10, comprising a middle portion 103, is anchored from the first location to the second location.
Preferably, the second end 102 further comprises a foot loop 1021 configured to receive and secure a user's foot. The user may insert a foot within the respective foot loop 1021, wherein the foot loop 1021 would rest around the foot of the user. It is understood that other means of coupling the second end 102 to the user's foot may be utilized.
The exercising garment 1 further comprising a modified pants 20, having two legs 201. Each leg 201 having an interior surface 2011, an exterior surface 2012, a first end 2013, a second end 2014 opposite the first end, and a middle portion 2015 connecting the first end 2013 to the second end 2014, wherein the distance between the first end 2013 and the second end 2014 defines a length of leg 201. It is understood that the length of leg 201 is variable according to a user.
Preferably, the exercising garment 1 comprises at least two resistance bands 10 configured to be located within each leg 201. The resistance bands 10 having a length longer than the length of leg 201 and configured to be coupled to each leg 201 through the first end 101 via any suitable manner. Preferably the resistance bands 10 are coupled to each leg 201 in a secure and removable coupling. The pants 20 may be made of a fabric selected from the group consisting of a blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, or any other suitable material.
Preferably, the first end 101 is anchored to each leg 201 at a location near the first end 2013.
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
Alternatively, the strips 30 may be coupled to exterior surface 2012 of each leg 201, defining channels 100. Analogously, each of the channels 100 would receive at least one resistance band 10 and hold the band between the strips 30 and the exterior surface 2012 of each pant leg 201.
Preferably, the strip 30 has a first end 301, a second end 302, a first side 303 and a second side 304. The first and the second sides 303, 304 having a length longer than the first and the second ends 301, 302. Wherein the strip 30 is coupled to the interior surface 2011 of each leg 201 through the first and second sides 303, 304, defining channel 100. The strips 30 may be coupled to the interior surface 2011 by any suitable means.
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated, the connector 40 is coupled to the fastener 204 at the first end 2013 of the leg 201. Then each of the resistance bands 10 is inserted through a respective slit 202 in a way that a portion of the connector 40 is positioned within leg 201, the middle portion 103 of resistance band 10 is positioned within the leg 201 and the second end 102 is located outside leg 201, passing through the second end 2014 of the leg 201.
Preferably, the middle portion 103 of resistance band 10 positioned within the leg 201 is located and secured within channel 100.
As best illustrated in
Preferably, the foot of the user is coupled to the second end 102 through the foot loop 1021.
It is also envisioned that the resistance band 10 can be attached to the user or to the pants 20 in other ways, such as use of a buckle system.
The exercising garment 1 enables a seated user to obtain exercise by encouraging the user to move muscles in their legs and/or feet. The resistance band 10 stretches from a relaxed position 50 to a resistance position 60, wherein the relaxed position 50 is when user's legs are straight or at rest, therefore there is no force applied to the resistance band 10, and the resistance position 60 is obtained by stretching the resistance bands 10 from the relaxed position 50. For example, when the user is standing, the resistance band 10 is in a relaxed position 50, and when the user is seated, the resistance band 10 is stretched to a resistance position 60. After seating for a long period of time, the user will feel uncomfortable by the resistance position 60 and would then be encouraged to move in order to reach the relaxed position 50. The relaxed position 50 may obtained by the user moving the legs and/or feet, returning the resistance bands 10 to a non-stretched position. For example, by standing or by moving the legs upwards while seated.
When the leg of the user is bent, the resistance band 10 pulls against the motion of bending the leg, hence more energy would be required for sitting. The exercising garment 1 would then encourage the wearer to move more frequently. More frequent movement would improve circulation and reduce chance of blood clots. The exercising garment 1 mimics leg extension, compared to an exercising machine for leg extension, and would help work out various muscles of the user including the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis.
While the invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.
This U.S. patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/069,775 filed Aug. 25, 2020, to the above-named inventor, the disclosure of which is considered part of the disclosure of this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63069775 | Aug 2020 | US |
