Portable fitness device

A variable resistance exercising device is described for doing isometric, isotonic and isokinetic exercises. The device includes a unitary, tortuous rod, which is shaped to include at least one mandrel for receiving several turns of a rope, a first loop for receiving the rope near one end of the mandrel, and an overlapping curl for receiving both the rope and an adjustably mountable anchor strap at an opposite end of the mandrel. The shape of the rod is such that there are no tight radius curves. Also, the rod creates a cord-receiving throat that allows the rope to be readily inserted and removed; yet the throat inhibits the rope from falling out from within the loop when tension in the rope is released.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention generally pertains to exercising devices and more specifically to a portable device that employs a selectable number of wraps for adjusting the device's frictional resistance.

2. Description of Related Art

Various portable fitness devices have been developed in the past. Perhaps one of the best ones is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,612, which is specifically incorporated by reference herein.

Although the device disclosed in the '612 patent offers several advantages over other available devices, the '612 device does have some drawbacks. First, the rope to which the handles are attached can slip off the lower loops of the device when the rope slackens. Second, the unitary bar includes several tight radius bends, which can be difficult to form without leaving kinks or marks in the surface of the bar. If such marks are not removed, they can cut the rope when the device is in use.

Consequently, a need exists for an improved portable fitness device that overcomes the problems of current devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To provide a superior portable fitness device, an object of some embodiments of the invention is to provide a unitary rod that is formed in a tortuous shape to create at least one overlapping curl that facilitates the installation and removal of a pliable elongate member such as a rope, cord, strap, cable, etc.

Another object of some embodiments is to provide a unitary rod that defines a restricted passageway through which the pliable elongate member can be forced, whereby the pliable elongate member does readily fall out on its own.

Another object of some embodiments is to create the restricted passageway at a location that is spaced apart from the very end of the unitary rod, thereby avoiding sharp edges that may exist at the end of the rod.

Another object of some embodiments is to form a portable fitness device from a unitary rod of a substantially uniform diameter so that the rod can be readily formed using conventional and N/C forming machines.

Another object of some embodiments is to produce a portable fitness device from a unitary rod that does not include any tight bends that are difficult to form.

Another object of some embodiments is to provide the formed unitary rod with a surface finish of at least 120 microinches, and preferably 250 microinches or more, to ensure ample frictional drag without having to wrap the pliable elongate member an excessive number of turns around the rod.

Another object of some embodiments is to provide a pliable elongate member with handles at each end that can be left on while inserting, adjusting or removing the pliable elongate member from the unitary rod.

Another object of some embodiments is to enable a user to adjustably anchor a portable fitness device between a door and a doorjamb and do so by using a flexible elongate anchor that is sufficiently soft to avoid damaging the door.

Another object of some embodiments is to provide a pliable elongate member that can be selectively attached or removed from a unitary bar without having to untie or unbuckle the elongate member.

One or more of these and/or other objects of the invention are provided by an exercise device that includes two pliable elongate members that are attached to a unitary rod. The rod has a tortuous shape to define a restricted passageway through which at least one of the elongate members can be forced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An exercise device10, shown inFIGS. 1-5, can be used in a manner similar to that of the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,612; however, device10includes features not found in earlier devices. In some embodiments, device10comprises a unitary rod12, a strap14and a cord16. Strap14helps anchor rod12to a doorjamb18(FIG. 5) or some other convenient point, and cord16is threaded through and wrapped around rod12to create frictional drag between rod12and cord16. The number of wraps can be varied to adjust the amount of friction. To exercise, a user20alternately pulls on handles22and while maintaining at least some tension at both ends of cord16. The friction between rod12and cord16provides resistance that can be used in a wide variety of physical exercises.

The terms, “strap” and “cord” are defined herein as being equivalent and are thus used interchangeably. Both a “strap” and a “cord” represent any type of pliable elongate member. Examples of a strap include, but are not limited to, a belt, a rope, a cord, a fabric strip, a cable, etc. Likewise, examples of a cord include, but are not limited to, a belt, a rope, a strap, a fabric strip, a cable, etc. The terms, “strap” and “cord” are being used in the claims only to make the claims easier to read and understand, as the awkward alternative of using the terms, “a first elongate member” and “a second elongate member” would only add unnecessary confusion to the claims.

In some embodiments, rod12extends seamlessly from a first end24to an opposite end26to provide a unitary rod that comprises a first mandrel28with a first loop30, a second mandrel32with a second loop34, and an overlapping curl36interposed between mandrels28and32.

Overlapping curl36comprises a first lap38and a second lap40that overlap each other such that curl36defines an eyelet42into which strap14and cord16may extend. Laps38and40may also define a strap-receiving passageway44therebetween such that strap14can be slipped through passageway44to selectively insert and remove strap14from within eyelet42. Passageway44may be smaller than a strap thickness46of strap14so that in order to install strap14by sliding it through passageway44, strap14may need to be forced between laps38and40to encircle at least one of the laps. In cases where laps38and40are tightly up against each other, passageway44can still exist by virtue of rod12having sufficient flexibility to allow laps38and40to be momentarily forced apart to receive strap14.

First loop30is adjacent to first mandrel28to define a first cord-receiving throat48between loop30and mandrel28. The cord-receiving throat is defined as the minimum radial distance between the loop and its adjacent mandrel, wherein the radial distance is in reference to the radius or diameter of the rod itself (not the radius along which the rod is bent). Throat48is preferably smaller than a cord thickness50of cord16so that once cord16is forcibly slid through throat48and into loop30, cord16does not readily fall back out. Likewise, second loop34is adjacent to second mandrel32to define a second cord-receiving throat52between loop34and mandrel32. Throat52is also preferably smaller than cord thickness50so that once cord16is forcibly slid through throat52and into loop34, cord16does not readily fall back out. In some cases, the loop and adjacent mandrel are tightly up against each other, whereby forcing the two apart creates the throat. The flexibility of cord16and/or rod12enable the larger cord to be forced through the smaller throat.

In some cases, as shown inFIG. 3, first throat48is positioned a short distance from end24of rod12so that if a sharp edge exists at end24, that edge will be less likely to snag cord16as the cord is being inserted into first loop30. Thus, a lead-in for cord16is created by positioning end24a spaced distance54from first mandrel28, wherein distance54is greater than throat48(i.e., distance54is greater than the distance between loop30and mandrel28at throat48). The same applies to second loop34, second mandrel32and second throat52.

To facilitate manufacturing, rod12has a substantially uniform diameter56along substantially the entire length of the rod. In addition, a tortuous longitudinal centerline58extending along a full length of rod12has a minimum radius of curvature60that is at least twice as large as diameter56, and is preferably at least three times as large as diameter56. The relatively large radius of curvature provides rod12with a smoothly curved surface along its full length, which makes rod12easy to form without creating kinks or other sharp edges in the rod.

To create ample frictional drag between cord16and rod12without having to use an excessive number of wraps, rod12preferably has a satin or roughened surface finish of at least 120 microinches, and preferably 250 microinches or more, wherein the microinch value is the average deviation from the mean surface as well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of surface finishes. In some cases, a surface finish of 500 or even a 1,000 microinches may provide positive results. Such surface finishes can be accomplished by various ways including, but not limited to, machining, knurling, or sand blasting the surface of rod12.

To render strap14removable from rod12, a first end62of strap14can be provided with a strap loop64that can slip over loop30or34and slide through strap-receiving passageway44to the position ofFIGS. 1 and 2so that strap loop64can engage either lap38or40. For a more permanent connection, strap14can be wrapped around both laps38and40and subsequently sewn at a seam66to create a strap loop that is not readily removable.

To enable a second end68of strap12to be adjustably anchored to a doorframe, strap14contains a plurality of flexible elongate anchors70that provide strap14with an enlarged strap thickness72at each anchor70. Strap14can be held pinched between a door74and its doorjamb18, as shown inFIG. 5. The thickness of anchors70prevents strap14from pulling out from within the doorjamb, and the multiple anchors70provide a means for selectively adjusting an effective length76of strap14. Anchors70can be made of neoprene tubing or some other relatively soft material to avoiding damaging the surface of door74or doorjamb18.

It should be appreciated that unitary rod12can assume an infinite variety of other configurations while still remaining within the spirit of the invention. Some alternate configurations, for example, are shown inFIGS. 6-13.

A unitary rod78ofFIG. 6is similar to rod12; however, loops80and82protrude outward rather than inward, and mandrels84and86, which correspond to mandrels28and32, are set at an angle to each other.

A unitary rod88ofFIG. 7is similar to rod12; however, an overlapping loop90has a more triangular shape with a flat upper section92that is suitable for engaging a wide strap, and a more pointed lower section94this is suitable for engaging a narrower cord. Also in this example, the very ends96and98of rod88help define throats100and102.

InFIG. 8, a unitary rod104has yet another shape for creating loops106and108.

A unitary rod110ofFIGS. 9 and 10provides a particularly novel way of creating a cord-receiving throat112. In this example, loop114overlaps its adjacent mandrel116to create throat112therebetween that is smaller than cord thickness50. Loop118and mandrel120are formed in a similar manner.

In another embodiment, shown inFIGS. 11-13, a unitary rod122includes an overlapping curl124and a loop126, which are both formed similar to loop114ofFIGS. 9 and 10.

The embodiment ofFIG. 14shows how a handle128can be attached to cord16by using a releasable knot130. Knot130allows one to adjust the active portion of cord16that extends between the two handles. Being able to adjust the active cord length allows one to use the exercise device for a greater variety of exercises. When the active cord length is relatively short, the extra cord16′ can simple drape beyond handles28. Knot130can be any suitable knot and not just limited to the one shown. The knot shown inFIG. 14is known as a Lark's Head Hitch, a Cow Hitch, or a Lanyard Hitch. It should be noted that an apex140of handle128provides an angle of convergence that creates a crevice that is narrower than the diameter of cord16, whereby the crevice pinches cord16to help hold knot130together.

In yet another embodiment, shown inFIG. 15, cord16ais tied or wrapped around a centrally located groove132of a handle134. Any appropriate knot138can be used such as, for example, a Clove Hitch, Overhand Knot, or Thumb Knot. To maintain tension in cord16bas user20pulls handle134in direction136, user20can pinch cord16bbetween the user's finger20aand thumb20b. Varying the pinching force against cord16bvaries the force required to pull handle134in direction136. Adjusting the location of knot138along the length of cord16provides a way of adjusting the active length of cord4or the distance between handle34and device12.

Although the invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications are well within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the following claims.