Abstract:
An exercise device, having a pair of handles—namely a first handle and second handle, and an elastic cord extending through the handles. The elastic cord has a fixed end, the first handle located adjacent to the fixed end. The second handle located along the elastic cord further away from the fixed end than the first handle. The second handle can selectively slide freely along the elastic cord toward and away from the first handle. A novel stopping device is attached to at least one of the first handle and second handle, which is capable of fixing the position of its associated handle along the elastic cord so that the elastic cord may then be tensioned to allow exercises to be performed. The novel stopping device includes a keyhole type slot for the cord terminating in a circular opening and forming a pair of pinch points with a tapering slot whereby the cord is securely held in the circular opening against slippage or accidental removal from the opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/116,484, filed Apr. 4, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,842, issued Mar. 1, 2005; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/974,616, filed Oct. 6, 2001, now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an exercise device. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise device which employs an elastic cord and a pair of handles to allow a variety of exercises to be performed, such that one or more of the handles has a stopping device which allows the user to selectively fix the position of the stopping device along the elastic cord so that the electric cord can be tensioned between the two handles. 
   For those who seek to maintain a toned physique, it is essential to keep a consistent exercise schedule in which exercises are performed that isolate target muscle groups. Since weight lifting and resistance based exercise machines are a typical part of such a regimen, frequent travel to the gym is a necessity. 
   Considering the work, school and travel schedule of many individuals, it is not always possible to travel to the gym. Rather than skip the workout altogether, many athletes will perform stretching exercises, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Although such exercises are good for maintaining overall conditioning, they lack the ability to isolate and tone specific muscles. 
   Some attempts have been made to provide compact and lightweight devices for performing toning exercises at any location. One such type of exercise device employs an elastic cord, and a pair of handles fixed to the ends of the cord. Such portable exercising devices are generally inexpensive, convenient for use, and are useful for physical conditioning—particularly in exercising upper body muscles. The typical elastic exercising device provides resistance against which the user exerts force during exercising. 
   However, many elastic exercising devices provide only constant resistance, which limits such devices to being used to exercise only particular muscles or group of muscles. In addition, such devices fail to challenge a user as the user&#39;s strength increases. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,059 to Romney attempts to solve the problem by having a flexible tubular member, located midway between the handles, from which a loop of cord is drawn out to adjust the distance between the handles, and wrapped around the tubular member with a strap, purportedly to hold the loop of cord in place during exercise. However, such an arrangement cannot reliably maintain the length adjustment and resist the cord tension exerted by a strong user. Further, if the strap were to fail and the loop were to be suddenly released while the device is in use and under tension, it would very likely injure the user. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,064 to Holm, 6,036,626 to Taylor, and 6,238,324 to MacMillan all disclose various exercise devices which employ an elastic cord in various configurations. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,022,302 to McBride and 5,022,648 to Travis disclose exercise devices which use a flexible tube to provide resistance. 
   While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide an exercise device which is capable of toning individual muscle groups of a user, as well as quickly “pumping up” the muscles of the user. Accordingly, the invention provides an exercise device which is useable in a variety of different positions, and adaptable to a variety of different exercises to meet such goals. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide an exercise device which is portable and inexpensive. Accordingly, in simple terms, the exercise device comprises an elastic cord, and a pair of handles, each handle preferably having a stopping device integrated with the handle. The components of the exercise device are lightweight, and are simple in construction so that they may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled. 
   It is a further object of the invention that the exercise device can be easily adjusted to vary the resistance and distance between the handles to accommodate different exercises and different users. Accordingly, at least one of the handles is movable along the cord to set a desired position relative to the other of the handles, yet is then prevented from movement along the elastic cord by the stopping device. 
   It is still another object of the invention to provide an end stopper member for an elastic cord which securely locks to the marginal end of the cord and functions to prevent a member, such as a handle, through which the cord passes from sliding or slipping off the end of the cord when the cord is not locked in position to the handle by the stopping device. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a stopping device for an elastic cord secured to a handle through which the cord passes, the stopping device maintaining the handle at a selected position along the cord and preventing movement of the handle relative to the cord, and providing means to stow the end of the cord at an end of the handle. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings. 
   The invention is an exercise device, having a pair of handles—namely a first handle and second handle, and an elastic cord extending through the handles. The elastic cord has a fixed end, the first handle located adjacent to the fixed end and prevented from movement past the fixed end. The second handle is located along the elastic cord further away from the fixed end than the first handle. The first handle and second handle can slide freely along the elastic cord toward and away from each other. A stopping device is located on the second handle fully opposite from the first handle. The stopping device is capable of allowing adjustment of the relative position of the second handle along the cord and selectively locking to the elastic cord to prevent the second handle from moving so that the elastic cord may then be tensioned to allow exercises to be performed. 
   In another embodiment, the invention also includes a novel end stopping member for an elastic cord which securely locks the member to the marginal end of the cord and functions to prevent another member, through which the cord passes, such as a handle as described above, from sliding or slipping off the end of the cord to which the stopping member is secured. The stopping member is desirably, irreversibly, compressible, and preferably is a nut which is sized to permit the cord to pass therethrough for easy assembly. After the cord is passed through, the stopping member is placed in the desired position, for example near an end of the cord, and is compressed to securely lock the stopping member to the cord. 
   The embodiment may also include an enclosure for a marginal end of the cord and the stopping member secured to the marginal end of the cord. In addition in this embodiment, the enclosure is stowable in a receiver for the enclosure, the receiver extending from the stopping device. In one preferred form the enclosure is preferably a ball and the receiver is a socket portion of the stopping device into which the ball can be releasably secured. 
   To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view, taken generally in the direction of line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view wherein the stopping device of the present invention is being used to fix the position of the second handle on the elastic cord. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are side elevational views, illustrating different operative positions, wherein the handle positions have been set by the user as desired, and the invention is shown being pulled downward over a fixed item by the handles to tension the elastic cord. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective view, illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a partially exploded cross-sectional view, taken generally along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an exercise device  10 . The device  10  includes a pair of handles  12 , each having a central longitudinal bore  13 , and an elastic cord  14  which extends through the central longitudinal bore  13  of both handles  12 . The elastic cord  14  has a relaxed diameter when substantially un-tensioned, and has a tendency to narrow when tensioned and stretched. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the handles  12  include a first handle  121  and a second handle  122 . The elastic cord  14  has a fixed end  14 A having a fixed coupling  16 . The first handle  12  is located nearest to the fixed end  14 A. The fixed coupling  16  may be employed to prevent the first handle  12  from moving past the fixed end  14 A, and in effect limits longitudinal movement of the first handle  121  along the elastic cord  14 . The first handle  121  and second handle  122  each have inner ends  121 A and  122 A, and outer ends  121 B and  122 B. The inner ends  121 A and  122 A face each other, while the outer ends  121 A and  122 B are fully opposite and face away from each other. 
   The second handle  122  is located on the elastic cord  14  further away from the fixed end  14 A than the first handle  121 . The second handle  122  is ordinarily freely movable along the elastic cord  14 —both toward and away from the first handle  121 . 
   The second handle  122  has a stopping device  20  at its outer end  122 B, thus located further on the elastic cord than the remainder of the second handle  122 . The stopping device  20  allows the second handle  122  to be selectively moved along the elastic cord  14 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , and selectively locked in position on the elastic cord  14  as seen in  FIG. 3  to act as a stop for the second handle  122 , to prevent the second handle  122  from moving further away from the first handle  121  along the elastic cord  14 . In addition, the stopping device  20  can also prevent the second handle  122  from moving toward the first handle  121 . Generally, when the exercise device  10  is in use and being tensioned, the user would be pulling the handles away from each other, and such movement is limited by the stopping device  20  at the second handle  122 , and by the fixed coupling  16  at the first handle  121 . 
   However, as illustrated in the drawings figures, the first handle  121  may also have the stopping device  20  at its outer end  121 B. The stopping device  20  of the first handle  121  can be used to selectively prevent movement of the first handle  121  along the elastic cord  14 . Accordingly, during usage of the exercise device, the user can choose to rely upon the fixed coupling  16  to simply limit movement of the first handle  121  away from the second handle, or can use the stopping device  20  of the first handle to actually fix a position of the first handle  121  on the elastic cord  14 . 
     FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the first handle  121 . It is specifically the first handle  121 , because of its orientation and its illustrated proximity to the fixed coupling  16  and the fixed end  14 A. However, structurally it is substantially the same as the second handle  122  or at least a mirror image thereof, so it may be referred to as simply “the handle  12 ”. 
   The handle  12  compromises a handle tube  30  which is soft, pliable, flexible, yet strong, and is preferably made of foam or rubber. The handle tube  30  has a handle tube exterior  32 , a handle tube bore  34 , and a pair of handle tube ends  35 . The handle tube exterior  32  is grasped by the user during use. A collar tube  36  extends through the handle tube  30 , through the handle tube bore  34 . The collar tube  36  is rigid, typically made of metal, although as hereinafter described can be formed of a rigid plastic material, and has a pair of curled ends  38 . The elastic cord  14  specifically extends through the collar tube  36 . The curled ends  38  of the collar tube  36  prevent abrasion to the elastic cord  14 , and thus prevent undue wear to said cord  14  as the exercise device  10  is used. The curled ends  38  flare outward from the handle tube bore  34  at the handle tube ends  35 , to cover the handle tube ends and thus maintain the handle tube  30  in position around the collar tube  36 . Thus, each of the curled ends  38  on one of the handles  12  preferably also return inward toward the other curled end  38  on said handle  12 , making a substantially one hundred eighty degree turn which overlaps the handle tube exterior  32  and fully integrates the handle tube  30  with the collar tube  36 , and prevents it from sliding or slipping off the collar tube  36 . 
   The stopping device  20  extends from the collar tube  36 , at the outer end  121 B of the handle tube  30 , and is shown to extend specifically from the curled end  38  of the collar tube  36 . The stopping device  20  is tubular, coaxial with the handle, having a first stopping device end  21  and a second stopping device end  22 . A stopping device bore  24  extends between the stopping device ends  21  and  22 , through which the elastic cord  14  extends. Thus, the stopping device bore  24  is substantially coaxial with the handle tube bore  34  and central longitudinal bore  13  of the handle  12 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the stopping device  20  has a side wall  20 A having a slot  26  which extends from the second stopping device end  22  partially toward the first end  21 , and slightly less in width, or tapered to be slightly less in width, than the diameter of the elastic cord  14  when relaxed. The slot  26  is cut into the side wall  20 A, and thus extends parallel to the stopping device bore  24 . The slot  26  has a neck  27 , which forms pinching points  27 A ( FIG. 3 ), which is the narrowest portion of the slot  26  and is fully opposite from the second end  22 . Adjacent to the slot  26  is a circular opening  28 , which is slightly larger than the neck. 
   To move the stopping device  20  along the elastic cord  14 , the elastic cord  14  must extend coaxially between the first end  21  and second end  22  of the stopping device  20 . Then the handle  12  associated with said stopping device  20  can move freely along the elastic cord  14 , and the elastic cord  14  can move therethrough. However, to fix the position of the handle  12  along the elastic cord, the cord  14  is held rigidly near the inner end  121 A or  122 A of the handle  12 , and is pulled adjacent to the second end  22  of the stopping device  20  toward the outer end  121 B or  122 B of said handle  12  at a right angle to the second end  22  of said stopping device  20  and the axis of the cord  14 ; stretching and thus narrowing the elastic cord  14 ; urging the elastic cord  14  into the slot  26  and towards the neck  27 ; and then pulling the elastic cord  14  past the neck  27  and pinching points  27 A until it enters the circular opening  28  at a right angle. When released, the elastic cord  14  will expand slightly within the circular opening  28 . Because of the narrowing of the slot  26  and the pinching points  27 A, and the slightly larger circular opening  28 , most of the diameter of the cord, for example, approximately 80% of the cord  14  has a tendency to stay in the circular opening preventing less damage to the cord as compared to damage to the cord if it remained at the narrowest end of the tapered slot, and the remaining approximately 20% of the cord is pinched by the two pinching points and locks into the body of the cord, locking it better than in other devices having only a tapered slot. In addition, cord  14  remaining in the circular opening, prevents the cord slipping therefrom, whereas in other devices which may use only a tapered slot, the slot allows the cord to slip out of slot when under tension. Cord  14 , in this invention, remains at a right angle from the remainder of the elastic cord  14  and from the stopping device  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . This bend acts to prevent the elastic cord  14  from longitudinal movement. In this locked position the stopping device  20  will not move along relative to the elastic cord  14 . Thus, referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , when so locked, the second handle  122  cannot move along the elastic cord  14 . Accordingly, during exercises any tension against the handles  12  will in turn tension the elastic cord  14 —as desired. Alternatively, if only the second handle  122  is fixed in position, the first handle  121  is slid to its extreme position at the fixed end  16 , and then the elastic cord  14  can be tensioned by pulling the first handle  121  and second handle  122  away from each other. 
     FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  illustrate two different operative positions for the handles  12 . The stopping devices  20  are both in use, holding the adjustment of the handles  12  along the elastic cord  15 . The handles  12  have been adjusted in  FIG. 5  so that the handles  121  and  122  are further away from each other than in  FIG. 4 . After selecting a desired exercise, the user would suitably adjust the second handle  122  and possibly the first handle  121 . If the first handle  121  is not going to be fixed in position, to set a minimum position—that is the minimum distance between handles desired for the chosen exercise—the first handle  121  is slid along the elastic cord  14  until it abuts the fixed coupling  16  at the fixed end  14 A. Alternatively, other means could be used to permanently fix the position of the first handle  121  with respect to the elastic cord  14 . Then, the position of the second handle  122  is locked with its stopping device  20  in the manner previously described. Once the minimum exercise distance (or the limit of un-tensioned travel) is set, various exercises can be performed by tensioning the elastic cord by pulling the handles away from each other. 
   However, if the first handle  121  is also to be selectively fixed in position along the elastic cord  14  by using its stopping device  20 , then the “minimum distance” is strictly relative between the handles  121  and  122 , and can be established at various points along the elastic cord  14 . 
   It should be noted that in  FIG. 1 , the elastic cord  14  is shown as having arbitrary length, with no end shown opposite the fixed end  14 A. The actual length of the cord  14  can be chosen according to an anticipated range in the size of the users and of the types of exercises that may be performed. Further, another limiting device, liked the fixed coupling  16  or equivalent structures, may be placed opposite the fixed end  14 A, so that both ends have such fixed couplings  16  or suitable limiting devices. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , elements of the invention which are the same or substantially the same as elements of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5  are referred to by the same reference numerals, and their description and interaction are not further described here for the sake of brevity. 
   In this embodiment, fixed coupling  16  at the marginal end  214  of cord  14  is replaced by a compressible stopping member ( FIG. 7 ), preferably a metal nut  216 , as shown, which upon compression with cord  14  passing therethrough, such as compression in a vise, forces nut  216  to compress the portion of the cord  217  passing through the stopping member. In this manner, the nut  216  is firmly secured to the marginal end of cord  14 , and prevents handle  12 A from slipping off the end of cord  14 . In a similar manner, a second stopping member (not shown), preferably also a nut, is placed on the opposite marginal end of cord  14  and compressed thereon to prevent handle  12 B from slipping off the corresponding end of cord  14 . The second stopping member is not seen in  FIG. 6  as it is within an enclosure, as will be hereinafter described. 
   Marginal end  214  of cord  14  and stopping member, for example, nut  216  compressed onto marginal end  214  of cord  14 , is enclosed in an enclosure, preferably a ball  218 , as best shown in  FIG. 7  in an exploded view. The opposite marginal end of cord  14  and the second stopping member is enclosed in an identical ball  220 . Balls  218  and  220  are preferably formed in two halves of rigid plastic  218 A and  218 B, which may be fitted to each by means of closely fitting annular shoulders  219 A and  219 B, or by other means such as cementing the two halves to each other. Ball half  218 A has a circular hole  219 C at the apex of its arc to accommodate cord  14  passing therethrough. 
   In this embodiment of the invention, a receiver or socket  224  is provided as a portion of stopping device  221 ,  222 . Preferably, socket  224  is of a relatively rigid plastic, and is molded integrally with the stopping device  221 ,  222 , collar tube  236  with its end collars  238  which retains soft, pliable, flexible handle tube  230 , which is similar to handle tube  30  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 . Socket  224  is configured to snugly and releasably retain ball  218  in a pocket  224 A of socket  224 . An identical socket portion  226  is provided integrally with handle  12 B, which is configured to snugly and releasably retain ball  220 . 
   Socket  224 ,  226  has an axis aligned with the bore of stopping device  221 ,  222  and bore  34  of the handle. Socket  224 ,  226  has a wall  224 A ( FIG. 7 ) having an opening therein extending from the widest end of slot  26  and aligned with slot  26 , so that cord  14  may readily pass therethrough for positioning handle  12 A along cord  14 . 
   Ball  218  containing a marginal end  214  of cord  14  and nut  216  can be snugly retained in socket  224  so that handle  12 A is positioned at or near the marginal end  214  of cord  14 . In this event, slot  26  of stopping device  221  is not utilized. Cord  14  simply passes through the bore of the stopping device  221  in this case. Alternatively, where it is desired to position one of the handles, such as handle  12 B, other than at a marginal end of cord  14 , the cord  14  at the stopping device at the selected position can be held and pulled at a right angle to the stopping device and urged through the opening in wall  224 A and socket  226  into slot  26 , towards neck  27  and beyond pinching points  27 A into circular opening  28 , as shown in  FIG. 6  with respect to handle  12 B. The remainder of cord  14  extending from circular opening  28  of stopping device  222  can be looped so that the ball  220  with the marginal end  214  extending outwardly from ball  220  is snugly fitted into the socket  226  portion of device  222  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   In conclusion, herein is presented an exercise device which allows a variety of toning and pumping exercises to be performed, while allowing adjustment for different users and for different exercises. The exercise device, in one embodiment, is especially esthetically pleasing through the use of molded handles of relatively rigid plastic and the ends of the cords enclosed in plastic balls, which are snugly releasably in receiving sockets integral with the handles. The invention is illustrated by example in the accompanying drawing figures and in the foregoing description. However, numerous variations may be made while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are considered a part of the present invention.