Resistance training belt

A portable resistance training belt woven from polymeric materials to perform a resistance exercises, the belt adapted to extend between limbs to perform a variety of resistance exercises. The resistance training belt may be used for isomeric training in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the belt is adapted to stretch at a predetermined tensile force rating. The belt may two terminal ends and alternatively comprise segments having printed, relief, or recessed indicia.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a resistance system that provides a resistance exercise training, and more particularly relates to a resistance system which uses a band or belt for tensile resistance training.

BACKGROUND

Description of the Related Art

Engaging in regular exercise is a well-established necessity in healthy living. Businessmen and travelers often lack the time and ability to exercise at commercial gymnasiums and would find it more convenient to exercise if efficient portable devices existed in the art. Parents and individuals at home would also exercise more often if standard exercise equipment available in-home settings were not prohibitively large, expensive and cumbersome for home use. Varied types of compact exercise devices have been developed over the years to replace cumbersome gym equipment for travelers and in home settings and assist individuals in their efforts to improve general strength, endurance and/or to mitigate specific health issues, but all of these apparti suffer from a number of inefficiencies.

The prior art includes complicated apparati comprising flexible rods, bungee cords, and inflatable tensile devices used for a large variety of conditioning activities such as increasing core strength and muscle tone. Some exercise devices employ elastomeric resistance tubes as a means of developing or measuring strength, but often these devices are designed with very limited exercises or muscle groups in mind. Importantly, because these tubes are cylindrical and prone to twisting, the tubes tend to slip off users' feet and hands, suddenly recoiling upwards and injuring the user. In some cases, tubing has blinded one or more eyes of users or lacerated or bruised portions of the body coming in contact with the tubing. Even straps formed from unwoven straps or bands of material tend to tear or break at points of the band exerted to direct pressure or stress, potentially ripping and whiplashing a user.

There are no handheld devices in the art which effectively exercise all the muscle groups in user's arms, legs and core which are compact enough for carry on luggage. It would be desirable to provide a resistance device adapted to be used to exert tensile force on arms and legs simultaneously to tear muscle for rebuilding tissue and increasing strength.

Such a resistance training device would offer low cost, portability, ease-of-use and versatility for performing a variety of resistance exercises compared to dumbbells and steel exercise machines. Simple, low cost design elements and broad fitness and therapeutic applications, resistance bands with selective resistive force would be beneficial in the art.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional resistance training devices leave room for more optimal approaches.

SUMMARY

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a resistance system that provides enhanced resistance training and enables realistic simulation of movements during a resistance exercise. Beneficially, such an apparatus would provide a plurality of features and components efficacious for resistance training. The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparatus. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a resistance belt for resistance training exercises, the resistance system consisting of: an elongated, woven polymeric strap having two terminal ends adapted to stretch when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied thereto during resistance training exercises. The predetermined threshold may exceed 50 Newtons.

The belt may further comprise a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with an alternative color.

The belt may further comprise a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with an alternative numeral, the numeral indicative of one of: a user height, a user strength, a particular exercise realized by gripping said elongated segment.

The elongated segments may be detachable.

The belt may further comprise a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with an alternative numeral, the numeral indicative of one of: a user height, a user strength, a particular exercise realized by gripping said elongated segment.

In some embodiments, the belt further comprises a plurality of metered segments having texture. Each metered segment may indicate a foot position for a particular exercise.

Each metered segment may be thicker through a length of the metered segment than through the remaining portion of the strap.

The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of colored bands, each colored band indicating a tensile force rating of the apparatus at the band.

The apparatus may further comprise handles. The belt may be adapted for isometric exercise. The strap may be woven, in some embodiments, from threads comprising two or more of nylon, latex, polyether-polyurea copolymer and leather.

A second resistance belt for resistance training exercises is provided, the resistance system consisting of: a woven elongated polymeric strap having two terminal ends adapted to stretch when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied thereto during resistance training exercises; a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with one of a color and a numeral, the color and numeral indicative of one of: a hand position for a particular exercise, a foot position for a particular exercise, a tensile force rating for the strap at the segment; wherein each elongated segment is thicker than the strap.

A third resistance belt for resistance training exercises, the resistance system comprising: an uninterrupted, elongated polymeric strap adapted to stretch when a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied thereto during resistance training exercises; wherein the belt further comprises a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with one of a color and a numeral, the color and numeral indicative of one of: a user height, a user strength, a particular exercise realized by gripping said elongated segment; wherein the belt further comprises a plurality of elongated segments, each segment indicated with an alternative color.

The elongated segments may be detachable. The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of metered segments having texture for engaging a foot position in a particular exercise.

The apparatus may further comprises a plurality of colored bands, each colored band indicating a tensile force rating of the apparatus at the band.

The strap may be woven from threads comprising two or more of nylon, latex, silicone, polyether-polyurea copolymer and leather.

The apparatus further comprises, in some embodiments, a plurality of polymeric straps of differing lengths layered one upon another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is an environmental forward perspective view illustrating an exemplary resistance training belt100in accordance with the present invention.

The belt100comprises a band102which may be formed in whole or in part from polymeric materials or organic materials (e.g., leather) and may include, without limitation, rubber, latex, nylon, and polyester. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the length, thickness, and material composition of the band102is determinative of the tension force generated while pulling and stretching the device100. The strap102may comprise a woven elastomeric cloth. Alternatively, the band102may be formed from organic or synthetic latex, or polyester. The woven structure of the band102is adapted to prevent tearing of the band102and to prevent the band102from arbitrarily twisting and slipping off toes, feet or hands than whiplashing a user, as is common with traditional exercise bands formed from surgical tubing.

The belt100is shown in the stretched position. The belt100may be configured to perform a resistance exercise to build strength and dexterity by wrapping the belt102around the feet110and hands106of user108. The resistance exercises performed with the belt100include pushing and pulling exercises in which tensile force is applied to the band102between opposing bodily limbs such as feet110and hands106. These resistance exercises may develop balance and stability muscles including stabilizing muscle not activated by dumbbells, as the muscles are forced to maintain the lateral stability of limbs during resistance exercises. The thickness of the band102is predetermined to withstand tensile force up to a predetermined force, measured in Newtons in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the belt100does not substantially stretch or flex and is adapted for purely isomeric exercise.

The belt100is adapted to stretch when tensile force is applied thereto in some embodiments. The band102generates a tension force when pulled or stretched between various limbs110,106of the body of a user108. It is resistance to this tension force that provides the training and development of the muscular system.

The forces applied to the belt100may include an upward, a downward force, or axial rotations forces (torque) in which the belt100is twisted while being stretched to strain and build tendons and stabilizer muscles of a user108. The user108may twist, or torque, the belt100in the course of resistance exercise.

These belt100as shown comprises two terminal ends104which are gripped, or wrapped around, hands106. Tensile forces applied to belt100are applied through hands106which are typically used to pull against the belt100the handles104by the hands of user. In some embodiments, the user108stretches the belt100against the hands, knees, elbows, and/or other parts of the user's108body to perform resistance training exercises.

FIG. 2is a side, forward perspective view illustrating an exemplary resistance training belt200in accordance with the present invention.

The belt200may comprise an uninterrupted annular band202as shown. In various embodiments, the belt202comprises one or more metered segments202a-bwhich have texture for engaging the hands106of a user108. The texture may be applied using means known to those of skill in the art and may indicate a position point for grip of the band102during resistance training exercises. These metered segments202a-bmay also comprise color-coordinated bands204indicating a measure of force applied if resistance exercises are performed with the hands106gripping the indicated color-coordinated band204and/or metered segment202a-b. These metered segments202a-bmay also comprise numerals indicated a recommended hand position corresponding with a height of a user108, a sex of a user108, and/or strength measurement of a user108(such as advanced users108who have built significant strength or beginners).

The metered segments202may also indicate a foot110position for a particular exercise (e.g., indicate a position where a foot110engages the belt200for a particular exercise a user108intends to realize). The metered segments202a-bmay be coated in a flexible synthetic padding. In various embodiments, the metered segments202a-bare thicker through the metered segment202a-bportion of the band202than through the non-metered portions of the band202.

The uninterrupted belt202may also be useful in performing resistance exercises not involving the hands106or not reliant upon the grip of the hands to realize the exercise, including the exercise of various muscles throughout the torso, legs, and arms using multiple tension forces, done while sitting or standing or pandiculating.

FIG. 3is a side, forward perspective view illustrating an exemplary resistance training belt300in accordance with the present invention.

The band302may include a plurality of polymeric bands304layered one on top of another, with exterior bands having longer circumferences that interior bands to maintain a curved exterior shape or aesthetic. One or more of the layers304a-bmay be formed from woven threads of nylon, silicone, latex, polyesters and/or organic materials, all to prevent tearing and breaking of the band102, which is common with traditional exercise bands. In various embodiments, the strap (or band)102comprises synthetic fibers threads woven into the band102structure, such as a polyether-polyurea copolymer like Spandex™.

In some embodiments, the physical characteristics of the layered band302enable a user108to keep constant tension on the muscles and joints during resistance training exercises.

The belt300may be wrapped around hands106or knotted to form a continuous piece. The belt300may comprise woven threads306as shown and described herein, including silicone threads.

FIG. 4is an environmental forward perspective view illustrating an exemplary resistance training belt400in accordance with the present invention.

Although not shown, the belt400may comprise handles, or cylindrical members defining hollow passageways, through which the belt102traverses. The handles may be heat-pressed onto the belt102. The handles may also include annular, toroid or donut-shaped handles.

The band402may provide a different length and tension settings for creating the different tension forces through addition or redaction of sections404. The band402may be formed from a plurality of elongated sections404which may differ in color or markings. These elongated sections404may be formed as a single integrated piece.

Alternatively, the elongated sections404may be detachable using means known to those of skill in the art. The elongated sections404may comprise clips, buckles, inserts or fasteners which conjoin and/or interlock one section404with another to form the band402.

In various embodiments, the sections404vary in thickness and/or density such that one section404varies in the tensile force it can withstand before stretching, breaking or deforming from another section404. In these embodiments, the addition of one section404to the band402may result in a non-uniform tensile strength change to the overall belt400from addition of another section404. The sections404may affix at intermediate points to the band402.

The belt400may be adapted to flex only when the tensile force applied to the belt400exceeds a predetermined threshold, which may be anywhere between 20 and 1000 Newtons of force.

FIG. 5is an environmental forward perspective view illustrating an exemplary resistance training belt500in accordance with the present invention.

In some embodiments, the belt502functions to perform a resistance exercise in sitting position as shown, extending around the feet110of a user108. In these embodiments, a shorter user108may grip the belt502at different positioning from a taller user108. In the shown embodiment, the user108is gripping the belt500at indicated position V (or on the fifth elongated section404).

The numerals indicated on the sections404may indicated the grip position for users of different heights for different exercises. These numerals may also indicate the tensile force needed to stretch or deform the belt500at different positions, or an overall length of the belt500measured to the indicated positions. The numerals may also be indicia of an exercise intending to be performed with hands106at the indicated position.

In this manner, a variety of resistance exercises may be realized with optimal function and benefit to a user108as is an object of the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a belt100-500for creating tension and resistance exercises for developing and training