Elastic Fitness Resistance Device

This invention relates to systems for physical fitness enhancement using elastic resistance.

Those skilled in the fitness arts have long sought to add resistance to the push up routine. In certain arrangements, weights would be added to the back of the user or chains were worn about the user's neck. In each case, the instability of the weight and/or chain would interfere and leave prone to injury the user's other body parts, namely the head, neck, hands, and arms.

It has been known to use elastic bands to increase push-up resistance, but prior elastic resistance bands would be oversized and would displace up and down the back of the user and were uncomfortable.

As a result of the prior art's defects, prior art push-up resistance equipment failed to place the resistance in the proper location on the user's back for maximum benefit and minimized discomfort.

An exemplary fitness band may have a lemniscate-like shape and be formed from two loops of material interconnected to one another by a hub, each of the two loops having a pair of lengths extending outwardly from the hub, a pair of twist portions coupled to each length in the pair of lengths, wherein the pair of twist portions are each distal of the hub, and an apex coupling each twist portion in the pair of twist portions to form the loop of material.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the two loops of material have a rectangular cross-section.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the material is solely a fabric.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the pair of twist portions dispose the apex in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the hub is located.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the pair of twist portions is integral with the pair of lengths.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the hub comprises at least one adhesive.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that the apex comprises at least one of an ergonomic foam and soft compressible cushion.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, an exemplary fitness band may be configured such that at least a portion of the two loops of material has a rectangular cross-section.

An exemplary method of using a lemniscate-like shaped elastic fitness band may comprise the steps of: expanding two loops of material interconnected to one another by a hub, stretching a pair of lengths extending outwardly from the hub, elongating a pair of twist portions coupled to each length in the pair of lengths, wherein the pair of twist portions are each distal of the hub, and pressing an apex coupling each twist portion in the pair of twist portions away from the hub.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of expanding two loops of material interconnected to one another by a hub further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the expansion step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of stretching a pair of lengths extending outwardly from the hub further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the stretching step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of elongating a pair of twist portions coupled to each length in the pair of lengths further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the elongating step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of pressing an apex coupling each twist portion in the pair of twist portions away from the hub further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the pressing step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of stretching a pair of lengths extending outwardly from the hub further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the stretching step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of elongating a pair of twist portions coupled to each length in the pair of lengths further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the elongating step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the step of pressing an apex coupling each twist portion in the pair of twist portions away from the hub further comprises substantially maintaining the hub in a position during the pressing step.

In addition to the previously described embodiment and/or as an alternative to any other described exemplary embodiment, the method is used during a fitness routine of a user, which may be either a push-up or another type of arm exercise or another type of chest exercise.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. The drawing figures, elements and other depictions should be understood as being interchangeable and may be combined, modified, and/or optimized in any like manner in accordance with the disclosures and objectives recited herein as would be understood to those skilled in the art.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as may be illustrated in, an exemplary fitness bandmay be in the form of either a figure-8 or lemniscate-like structure comprising a central hub portionfrom which two upper lengthsextend and from which two lower lengthsdescend. Each of the lengthsmay extend from hubin a first plane but then transition into twist portion, respectively, wherein each twist portionmay be disposed in a second plane that is substantially orthogonal to and/or greater than 45° from the plane in which the lengthsmay be disposed. The twist portionsmay be interconnected by an apex portionthat lay in the most angularly deflected part of the twist portion. The twist portionsmay be interconnected by an apex portionthat lay in the most angularly deflected part of the apex portion. In an exemplary embodiment, a cross-section of the thickness of apex portionmay lay in the second plane. In another exemplary embodiment, a cross-section of apex portionormay lay in the second plane and/or be at an angle with respect to the first plane and/or a plan passing through the largest thickness of hub.

Referring to, which may illustrate the profile section of the fitness bandillustratively presented in, an exemplary fitness bandmay have a hub portionfrom which lengthsandmay extend. In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness Tof lengths(andthough not shown), may be such as to be the same as or substantially the same as that of hub portion. Further illustrated may be the twisted portionof the profile of fitness band, which may show the turning of lengthsinto the interconnected lengths of apex portion. As may be further illustrated, the apex portionmay have a thickness Tand the apex portionmay have a thickness T. In an exemplary embodiment, Tmay be equal to T, which may be equal to T. In an alternative embodiment, Tand Tmay be equal and may be different than T. In yet another alternative embodiment, Tmay be equal to T, and both may be greater than T. In a further alternative embodiment, Tmay be equal to T, and both may be less than T.

An exemplary fitness bandmay be made of woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, a combination of woven and non-woven fabrics, plastics, metals, and other combinations of materials depending on needs. In an exemplary embodiment, hubmay be made of a fabric, a plastic, a metal, or combination of the same. In an exemplary embodiment, lengthsmay be made of fabrics, preferably fabrics with elasticity, or metals with spring-like capabilities. In an exemplary embodiment, twist portionsmay be made of fabrics, preferably fabrics with elasticity, or metals with spring-like capabilities, or alternatively, may be molded portions reflecting the out-of-plane twisting to achieve the disposition of apex portions. In other words, twist portionsmay be fabric or plastic components that are integrated, mechanically or chemically adhered or attached to, or otherwise coupled to the lengthsand portionsof an exemplary fitness band. In a preferred embodiment, the twist portionmay have features of the comfort of fabric on those portions to be in contact with the user's body and otherwise be more rigid and less soft on those portions that do not contact the user's body. In an exemplary embodiment, twist portions/may contain measuring apparatus and/or circuitry to measure stretch of the lengths, timers for work outs, or contain portions to input downloaded media (e.g. songs, audio books) for enjoyment by the user through audio input ports on either the twist portionsor via the hub(which hub may be similarly capable of containing such circuitry and entertainment/training mechanisms and programs). In another exemplary embodiment, apex portionsmay be made of the same materials as any other portion but may also contain comfort-inducing surfaces on those parts of the apex portionthickness T/Tthat are configured to contact the palm of a user. Thus, an exemplary apex portionmay be mostly fabric but contain within itself ergonomic foams and other soft compressible cushions or objects to add comfort to the contact between the user and the elastic pressure that may result when apex portionsmay be stretched away from hubvia lengthsof an exemplary fitness band.

Referring to the illustrative user positions in, an exemplary usermay be shown in an extended push-up position inand a depressed push-up position in. In each of the illustrative embodiments of, usermay have various body parts depicted in diagrammatic view for simplicity of discussion, such as, for example, hands, forearm, elbow, bicep/tricep, chest, back, neck, head, torso, leg, and foot. As illustrated in, the usermay have his/her handsand feetin contact with surface.

Referring to the illustrative user positions in, an exemplary usermay be shown engaging in a push up with an exemplary banddisposed thereon. As illustrated in, an exemplary usermay have the banddisposed on the usersuch that the hubmay be substantially maintained on the backwhile each lengthlengthis located either around the bicep/tricepto be more proximal to chestthan the bicep/tricep. As illustrated in, an exemplary bandis in a elastic stretched state, which is a configuration that is not the band's normal, at-rest configuration. Further, twist portionmay be illustrated going about the outside of handeither proximal to the wrist or distal from the wrist and the thumb to flow into the apex(not visible in, but visible in) that allows userto apply pressure to the bandon the left-hand side. The resistance created by an exemplary bandmay increase the intensity and/or difficulty of the push-up while focusing the work effort needed to stretch the material of bandon the chestand arm (,,), without having the usermove themselves to maintain proper bandorientation on the backor avoid displacement of bandonto neck. According to an exemplary embodiment, bandmay be configured so that during an exemplary push-up position (as shown in), the hubsubstantially remains in its position on backand does not displace to the neckor rearward of the arm (,, and).

Referring to the depressed position of userin an exemplary push-up posture as illustrated in, an exemplary bandmay be shown in an un-stretched state. As discussed with respect to the embodiment of, an exemplary bandmay be shown with lengthsanddisposed about the bicep/tricepbut twist portionabout the handof the user. In an exemplary embodiment, bandmay maintain its hubposition in this more relaxed, though still elastically stretched configuration, due to the anchoring of bandabout the pair of bicep/tricep/′ of the userand its disposition on the backof chestof the user. Accordingly, the disposition of a separate but joined lengthon separate sides of the bicep/tricepincreases the anchoring of hubto backand resists the movement of hubtowards torso, neck, or headduring use of the band.

The exemplary illustrative embodiments ofmay be shown from a topographic perspective inandA-B, respectively. As illustrated in, from above torso, an exemplary usermay be depicted with bandhaving lengthsanddisposed about left bicep/tricep, left forearm, and left handabout which twist portionsandgo about and lengthsanddisposed about right bicep/tricep′, right forearm′, and right hand′ about which twist portionsandgo about, all of which is configured while useris in an extended position with respect to a support surface(not shown in). The apexof the lengthsof bandabout the left hand and the apexof the lengthsabout the right hand may be shown as laying across the fingers and above the thumb of the handsand′ of the user. In a preferred embodiment apexmay remain at the upper portion of the palm of each hand/′.

In an exemplary embodiment, a locus of displacement may be illustrated in dashed line into provide an exemplary zone of permissible displacement of the hubthat is roughly equivalent to the span of the small of the backof the user. In a preferred embodiment, hubremains substantially in the same position during the push-up routine. In another preferred embodiment, hubremains in a position that is within the small of the backof the user. In yet another preferred embodiment, hubmay be limited in its displacement from its position by approximately 1 inch in either direction with respect to its starting position. In a still further preferred embodiment, hubmay never be less than 2 inches from the neckof the user. In yet another preferred embodiment, hubmay be positioned substantially equidistant between the shoulders of the user.

This present invention disclosure and exemplary embodiments are meant for the purpose of illustration and description. The invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications in the illustrative and descriptive details, and embodiments may be made by someone skilled in the art. These modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims without departing from the scope and spirit of the several interrelated embodiments of the present invention.