Patent Application
20070219074
This invention relates generally to resistance exercise equipment and, more particular, to a wearable resistance exercise apparatus that employs a resistance pulley system and that can be used to perform resistance exercises when in position on a wearer.
Resistance exercise equipment is a popular tool used for conditioning, strength training, muscle building, and the like. Various types of resistance exercise equipment are known, such as free weights, exercise machines, and resistance exercise bands or tubing. Various limitations exist with the prior art exercise devices. For example, many types of exercise equipment, such as free weights and most exercise machines, are not portable. With respect to exercise bands and tubing, they may need to be attached to a stationary object, such as a closed door or a heavy piece of furniture. This becomes a problem when, for example, the user wishes to perform resistance exercises in a location where such stationary objects are not readily found, such as outdoors. For the prior art devices that do not need to be attached to stationary objects, such as other types of bands or tubing, such prior art systems typically provide only one level of resistance. This is a disadvantage for a user who wishes to increase or decrease the level of resistance for the user's resistance exercises. For such users, it becomes necessary to acquire more than one set of resistance exercise bands or tubing.
A need therefore exists for resistance exercise equipment that is portable, that may be used on its own without the need to employ other types of equipment, and that allows for adjustable resistance levels.
The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related advantages.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a wearable resistance exercise apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: at least one pulley; a cable coupled to the at least one pulley; at least one handle located at the end of the cable and adapted to be gripped by a user; and a wearable support member, wherein the at least one pulley is located on the wearable support member.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a wearable resistance exercise apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a first pulley and a second pulley; a first cable and a second cable, wherein the first cable is coupled to the first pulley and the second cable is coupled to the second pulley; a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is located at the end of the first cable and adapted to be gripped by a user and the second handle is located at the end of the second cable and adapted to be gripped by a user; and a wearable support member comprising a vest, wherein the first pulley and the second pulley are located on the wearable support member.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a method for exercising at least a portion of an upper body of a user is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a wearable resistance exercise apparatus comprising, in combination: at least one pulley, a cable coupled to the at least one pulley, at least one handle located at the end of the cable and adapted to be gripped by a user, and a wearable support member, wherein the at least one pulley is located on the wearable support member; positioning the wearable support member on a user's upper body; positioning the at least one pulley on a posterior portion of the user's upper body; and performing an exercise by the user grasping the at least one handle and the user pulling the at least one handle in a manner intended to stimulate muscle building.
Referring first to
In this embodiment, the wearable support member 12 is a vest. However, other forms of wearable support members, such as jackets, jumpsuits, or the like may be used. Preferably, the wearable support member 12 is composed of a heavy duty material, so that use of the pulley devices 20 as herein described do not cause the wearable support member 12 to stretch, sag or tear. Preferably, the wearable support member 12 has front closures 14, so that it may be remain securely in position on a wearer during use of the exercise apparatus 10. It may be desired to use side or back closures in addition to or instead of the front closures 14.
In one embodiment, the handles 24 are attached to the cables 22 with fasteners, such as a snap hooks or carabiners. It may be desired to use hollow handles, which may be slipped over the cables 22.
Referring now to
In this embodiment, the tension adjusting devices 30 are positioned on the front of the wearable support member 12. In this way, they are within easy reach of a wearer of the exercise apparatus 10, who can adjust tension without needing to remove the wearable support member 12 by rotating the tension adjusting devices 30. However, it may be desired to position the tension devices 30 elsewhere, such as on the back or sides of the wearable support member 12.
Referring now to
An increase in load on the load spring 36 causes anterior movement of a clutch plate 38, which provides increased tension on the corresponding pulley device 20. This will create increased resistance for the user. A decrease in load on the load spring 36 causes posterior movement of a clutch plate 38, which provides decreased tension on the corresponding pulley device 20. This will create decreased resistance for the user.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it may be desired for the wearable support member 12 to include only one pulley device 20 to which two handles 24 are attached. It may also be desired for the wearable support member 12 to include only one pulley device 20 to which only one handle 24 is attached. In this latter embodiment, a user would be required to either grasp the single handle 24 with both hands, or exercise using one hand at a time.
In order to position the wearable resistance exercise apparatus 10 so that it may be used to perform resistance exercises, a user would put the exercise apparatus 10 on the user's upper body, so that the pulley devices 20 are positioned over the user's back and the tension adjusting devices 30 are positioned over the user's chest. The user would set a desired level of resistance by manipulating the tension adjusting devices 30. The user would then perform resistance exercises by gripping the handles 24 and pulling them in a manner intended to stimulate muscle building.
For example, a user may wish to grasp the handles 24 and bring both hands directly forward, in a rowing or bench press type of motion. A user may wish to bring the handles 24 in an arc-type of motion until they contact each other in front of the user's body, in a fly type of motion. A user could extend both hands upward from a point beginning behind the neck, in a triceps extension type of motion. Numerous other variations are also possible.
A user may wish to utilize a single resistance setting for an exercise session. Alternatively, a user may wish to perform multiple sets of a particular exercise, and may wish to increase resistance between sets to perform a pyramid-style workout. The user may also wish to change resistance between different exercises.
