1. Technical Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a strength training and stretching system, and more particularly, to a customizable and ergonomically designed strength training and stretching system that allows a user to conveniently and effectively perform and track with precision a variety of different exercises that simultaneously engage multiple muscle groups.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A variety of exercises can be performed using exercise bands. For example, resistance bands, straps, and ropes may be used to perform a variety of strength training and stretching exercises. Depending on the type of exercise being performed, a user may want to secure one or more exercise bands to a stationary device. For example, a user may secure an exercise band to a door using a door anchor, or wrap an exercise band around a sturdy object such as a pole or piece of furniture. Different exercises may require a user to secure one or more exercise bands to a stationary device at different angles in order to optimize the effectiveness of the particular exercise being performed. Further, exercise bands may be utilized with certain fitness equipment such as, for example, a pull-up bar or a dip bar, to improve the effectiveness of exercises typically performed using the fitness equipment.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fitness system includes a primary arcuated member extending from a lower portion of the fitness system to an upper portion of the fitness system, and a first plurality of cleats disposed on the primary arcuated member at a plurality of different positions on the primary arcuated member. Each cleat of the first plurality of cleats is configured to receive an exercise band.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fitness system includes a primary arcuated member extending from a lower portion of the fitness system to an upper portion of the fitness system, and a first plurality of cleats disposed on the primary arcuated member at a plurality of different positions on the primary arcuated member. Each cleat of the first plurality of cleats is configured to receive an exercise band. The primary arcuated member curves outward in a first direction between the lower portion and a middle portion of the fitness system, curves inward in a second direction between the middle portion and the upper portion, and curves downward at the upper portion.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fitness system includes a primary arcuated member extending from a lower portion of the fitness system to an upper portion of the fitness system, a first plurality of cleats disposed on the primary arcuated member at a plurality of different positions on the primary arcuated member, a first ancillary arcuated member extending from the primary arcuated member, a second plurality of cleats disposed on the first ancillary arcuated member at a plurality of different positions on the first ancillary arcuated member, a second ancillary arcuated member extending from the primary arcuated member, a third plurality of cleats disposed on the second ancillary arcuated member at a plurality of different positions on the second ancillary arcuated member, a first pair of band legs disposed near the lower portion of the fitness system, a fourth plurality of cleats disposed on the first pair of band legs at a plurality of different positions on the first pair of band legs, a second pair of band legs disposed near the lower portion of the fitness system, and a fifth plurality of cleats disposed on the second pair of band legs at a plurality of different positions on the second pair of band legs. Each cleat of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth plurality of cleats is configured to receive an exercise band.
The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure, may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strength training and stretching system designed to allow a user to conveniently and effectively perform a variety of different exercises. According to exemplary embodiments, a customizable and ergonomically designed strength training and stretching system allows a user to conveniently and effectively perform and track with precision a variety of different exercises that simultaneously engage multiple muscle groups.
The strength training and stretching system 100 may be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, various components of the strength training and stretching system 100 may include, but are not limited to, steel, aluminum, plastic, rubber, cement, brass, VELCRO, a variety of woven fabrics, a variety of padding materials, etc.
The strength training and stretching system 100 includes a primary arcuated member 102 extending from a lower portion of the strength training and stretching system 100 toward an upper portion of the strength training and stretching system 100. The lower portion may refer to the portion of the strength training and stretching system 100 at or near a ground surface, and the upper portion may refer to the portion of the strength training and stretching system 100 at or near the opposing end (e.g., the uppermost end) of the strength training and stretching system 100. A middle portion may refer to the portion of the strength training and stretching system 100 at or near an area between the lower and upper portions. The primary arcuated member 102 may be custom manufactured based on the size of the user. The primary arcuated member 102 is ergonomically curved to provide the most effective angles for a variety of exercises that simultaneously engage multiple muscle groups (e.g., the primary arcuated member 102 is bow-shaped/C-shaped), as shown in
As used herein, a D1 direction may be referred to as an upward direction, a D2 direction may be referred to as a front direction, a D3 direction may be referred to as a downward direction, and a D4 direction may be referred to as a back or rear direction.
For example, referring to the side view shown in
The primary arcuated member 102 includes a plurality of cleats 104 disposed thereon at predefined intervals. The curved shape of the primary arcuated member 102 allows the cleats 104 to be disposed at a plurality of different locations, and in a plurality of different angles relative to the primary arcuated member 102. Each of the cleats 104 is configured to receive an exercise band. The plurality of cleats 104 are further described below. The cleats 104 may be composed of a variety of materials including, for example, steel or another metal. The cleats may be a separate component attached to the primary arcuated member 102 attached via, for example, welding, or may be manufactured as part of the primary arcuated member 102. The cleats 104 provide an attachment point for an exercise band to be securely attached to the strength training and stretching system 100. For example, each cleat 104 may provide a receiving portion (e.g., a closed loop) into which a securing mechanism (e.g., a clip, such as a carabiner clip) of the exercise band may be securely attached to. According to exemplary embodiments, the cleats 104 may wrap around or be disposed on a portion of the primary arcuated member 102. Herein, cleats 104 included on various components of the strength training and stretching system 100, including first and second ancillary arcuated members, front and rear band legs, a plank member, and a suspension member, as described in more detail below, may be the same as or similar to the cleats 104 described with reference to the primary arcuated member 102.
As used herein, the term exercise band refers to any type of elongated member that may be used to perform physical exercises and activities. An exemplary embodiment of an exercise band 801 is shown in
Exercise bands may be attached to the cleats 104 in a variety of manners, including, for example, via a clip (e.g., a carabiner clip 803), or by inserting a portion of the exercise band through an opening of the cleat 104.
As a result of the curved shape of the primary arcuated member 102, and because cleats 104 are disposed at a plurality of different positions on the primary arcuated member 102, exercise bands may be attached to the primary arcuated member 102 at various different angles with respect to the primary arcuated member 102. That is, the user is not limited to one or few angles when performing exercises that utilize one or more exercise bands that attach to the primary arcuated member 102, and the user can employ the most ergonomically effective placement of one or more exercise bands for a particular exercise. As a result, this configuration allows a user to connect exercise bands to the strength training and stretching system 100 at the highest impact angle for the particular exercise being performed by the user. A small sample of the various exercises that may be performed using the strength training and stretching system 100 are described below with reference to
The cleats 104 may be disposed on the primary arcuated member 102 on any of the sides or surfaces of the primary arcuated member 102. For example, according to exemplary embodiments, the cleats 104 may be disposed on one or more side surfaces of the primary arcuated member 102, as shown in
As described above, the cleats 104 disposed on the primary arcuated member 102 may be disposed at predefined intervals. For example, the cleats 104 may be disposed at intervals of about 1 foot (e.g., about 1 foot of space may exist between each of the cleats 104), however the interval is not limited thereto. The cleats 104 may be approximately evenly spaced along the entire primary arcuated member 102, or the space between cleats 104 may be varied along the primary arcuated member 102 in certain areas. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the cleats 104 may be approximately evenly spaced along most of the primary arcuated member 102, and may be spread apart from each other further at certain other areas of the primary arcuated member 102 (e.g., near the peak of the primary arcuated member 102).
The strength training and stretching system 100 may include first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114. The first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may be custom manufactured based on the size of the user. The first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 are substantially in direction D2, as shown in
Similarly, the second ancillary arcuated member 114 may be substantially parallel to the ground surface 101, or angled in an upward or downward direction with respect to the primary arcuated member 102 and the ground surface 101. In an exemplary embodiment, the respective angles of the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may be substantially the same or different. For example, in
Similar to the primary arcuated member 102, the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 are ergonomically curved to provide the most effective angles for a variety of exercises (e.g., the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 are bow-shaped/C-shaped), as shown in
Each of the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 includes a plurality of cleats 104. Each of the cleats 104 is configured to receive an exercise band, and may be disposed at predefined intervals, as described above with reference to the cleats 104 disposed on the primary arcuated member 102. For example, the cleats 104 may be disposed at intervals of about 1 foot (e.g., about 1 foot of space may exist between each of the cleats 104), however the interval is not limited thereto. The cleats 104 may be approximately evenly spaced along the entire first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114, or the space between cleats 104 may be varied along the first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 in certain areas.
According to exemplary embodiments, the cleats 104 disposed on the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may be disposed on the inner surface (e.g., the surface facing direction D2 as shown in
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include the primary arcuated member 102 and both the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 as shown in
The lower portion of the strength training and stretching system 100 includes front band legs 106 extending in the D2 direction, and rear band legs 108 extending in the D4 direction, as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the front band legs 106 and/or the rear band legs 108 may include a plurality of cleats 104, as shown in
According to exemplary embodiments, the cleats 104 may be disposed on the inner surface of the front and rear band legs 106 and 108, as shown in
The suspension member 110 may be utilized to perform various exercises including, for example, suspension exercises involving a non-stretchable exercise band (e.g., a rope or strap such as a TRX strap). The non-stretchable exercise band may be secured to the suspension member 110 utilizing a lip of the suspension member 110 and/or a cleat 104 disposed on the suspension member 110.
As a result of the curved shape of the ancillary arcuated member 112 and 114, as well as the front and rear band legs 106 and 108, and because cleats 104 are disposed at a plurality of different positions thereon, exercise bands may be attached to the various different components of the strength training and stretching system 100 at various different angles. That is, the user is not limited to one or few angles when performing exercises that utilize one or more exercise bands that attach to the strength training and stretching system 100, and the user can employ the most ergonomically effective placement of one or more exercise bands for a particular exercise. As a result, this configuration allows a user to connect exercise bands to the strength training and stretching system 100 at the highest impact angle for the particular exercise being performed by the user.
For example,
In an exemplary embodiment, the strength training and stretching system 100 may include an in-ground anchor member 116 configured to secure the strength training and stretching system 100 within the ground floor 101. For example, the in-ground anchor member 116 may be utilized when securing the strength training and stretching system 100 within a ground floor 101 in an outdoor environment. The in-ground anchor member 116 may be placed into a mounting area of the ground surface 101 to secure the strength training and stretching system 100 to the ground surface 101. The mounting area may be, for example, an area extending into the ground surface 101 including concrete, into which the in-ground anchor member 116 is inserted. The in-ground anchor member 116 may be about 3 feet to about 5 feet deep. When the strength training and stretching system 100 is utilized in an indoor environment, for example, by securing the front and rear band legs 106 and 108 to the ground surface 101 as described above, the strength training and stretching system 100 may not include the in-ground anchor member 116.
The strength training and stretching system 100 may include a plank member 118, as shown in
The strength training and stretching system 100 may further include one or more of a dip bar member 120 and a pull-up bar member 122, as shown in
The strength training and stretching system 100 may be custom built based on the size of the user. For example, typical dimensions for the strength training and stretching system 100 may include a primary arcuated member 102 having a length of about 10 feet to about 12 feet. As a result of the curved shape of the primary arcuated member 102, a height of the primary arcuated member 102 may be between about 7 feet and about 8 feet. The first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may have a larger span compared to the primary arcuated member 102. For example, the length of each of the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may be between about 10 feet and about 14 feet (e.g., the length of each portion of the first and second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 extending from the primary arcuated member 102 may be between about 5 feet and about 7 feet). However, the height and respective lengths of the arcuated members are not limited thereto.
Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the various components of the strength training and stretching system 100 may be fully or partially adjustable. For example, the primary arcuated member 102 may include an adjustment mechanism 109 allowing the height of the primary arcuated member 102 to be adjusted by the user. The adjustment mechanism may be, for example, a hydraulic adjustment mechanism 109 as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the angle and/or arc of the first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 may also be adjustable, allowing the user to adjust the angle and/or arc of the first and/or second ancillary arcuated members 112 and 114 relative to the primary arcuated member 102.
As described above, the strength training and stretching system 100 may be used in an indoor or outdoor environment. In an exemplary embodiment, the strength training and stretching system 100 includes an athletic flooring surface 601, as shown in
The athletic flooring surface 601 may be formed in a variety of shapes. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may have a substantially trapezoidal or rectangular shape, forming an exercise footprint in the area(s) on the ground surface 101 at which the user may be located while using the strength training and stretching system 100. The size of the athletic flooring surface 601 may vary depending on the length of the front and rear band legs 106 and 108, as well as the distance between the legs in each pair of the front and rear band legs 106 and 108. For example, relative to the outermost portions of the front and rear band legs 106 and 108, the athletic flooring surface 601 may form a border around the strength training and stretching system 100 of about 1 foot to about 3 feet. In an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may extend outward from an end portion of the front band legs 106 in the D2 direction further than from an end portion of the rear band legs 108 in the D4 direction, providing the user with additional space in the D2 direction to perform exercises that do not utilize the strength training and stretching system 100 (e.g., jumping rope, yoga stretching, etc.). The athletic flooring surface 601 may have a thickness between about 0.5 inches and about 2 inches. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may have a thickness of about ¾ inches.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may include exercise markings visible to the user. The presence of exercise markings provides assistance to the user while the user performs various exercises. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may include a plurality of subportions, each subportion defining predetermined markings, or including a predefined number of markings disposed at predefined locations. The subportions may be of various shapes, and may have various sizes. For example, each subportion may be in the shape of a square, and may be about 6 inches by 6 inches. The subportions may themselves define certain markings, or markings included in each subportion may be numbers and/or dashes, which can be used by the user to track his or her standing location for a variety of different exercises, as well as progress through a number of different positions corresponding to different difficulty levels for the same exercise. The athletic flooring surface 601 may further include markings indicating the correct location for different exercise equipment including, for example, a BOSU ball, balance disc(s), balance board, exercise ball, exercise bench, etc. The utilization of markings on the athletic flooring surface 601 is not limited to an athletic flooring surface 601 including a plurality of subportions. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the athletic flooring surface 601 may not include a plurality of subportions and may include markings. The athletic flooring surface 601 may be utilized with the strength training and stretching system 100 in both an indoor and outdoor setting.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the cleats 104 of the strength training and stretching system 100 may be auto-centering cleats 701 configured to receive auto-centering exercise bands 703, as shown in
An auto-centering exercise band 703 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in
Exemplary embodiments may include either the cleats 104, the auto-centering cleats 701, or a combination thereof, as shown, for example, in
It is to be understood that the pull-up bar member 122, the dip bar member 120, the suspension member 110, and the plank member 118 may be used alone or in combination with exercise bands to perform a variety of exercises, and are not limited to pull-up exercises, dip exercises, plank exercises, etc.
Having described exemplary embodiments for a strength training and stretching system, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
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