Abstract:
A portable exerciser that fits in a car that allows the user to exercise in traffic when the vehicle is not moving, or while the car is parked. The exerciser includes a body, resistance elements attached to the body and a tension adjuster, and handles attached to the resistance elements so that the user may exercise. The resistance elements are adjustable using the tension adjuster or replaceable for selecting the proper tension for any user. The exerciser is mounted behind or in front of the car seat, which can be the driver seat or the passenger seat.

Description:
[0001]    This invention was not made pursuant to any federally-sponsored research and/or development. 
       THE FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a car exerciser for exercising the upper body and upper extremities (arms) in the confined environment of a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cars have become indispensible in the modern world, allowing users to drive to work, go shopping, visit family, go on vacation, move personal belongings, and to use the cars for a number of other purposes. However, with more time spend in the car, less time is left for useful and necessary activities. Most people who drive to and from work spend an inordinate amount of time in traffic jams because even the modern roads are not built to withstand the amount of traffic thrown at them. Accidents, adverse weather conditions, and other factors contribute to the huge amounts of time lost by commuters. Various valuation methods exist for estimating the value of the time lost, but in reality, the lost time is priceless because it will not be returned. Because of the long commute, fewer people have the time to go to the gym and exercise, and most people cannot go to the gym during their work day. Additionally, gym memberships can be expensive at times. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a portable exerciser that fits in a car, which exerciser any person can take with him or her that allows the user to exercise in traffic, or even simply come out to the user&#39;s car during a lunch break to do some exercises. The benefit of exercise cannot be overestimated for healthy living, especially to those with sedentary or repetitive manual jobs. Of course, for roadway safety reasons, the portable exerciser should not be used while the user is operating a vehicle, but only when the vehicle is not moving and preferably is in the parked position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention meets the current need for a portable exerciser that may be used inside a car. A portable, mobile exerciser that can be fitted inside a car and allows its user to exercise when the car is not moving is provided. 
         [0006]    The exerciser of the present invention has a body, which is mounted in the vehicle using the mounting means, and to which resistance elements with handles are attached so that the user may exercise. The resistance elements are adjustable in tension, or they are replaceable so that the user may select the correct amount of resistance for him- or herself. 
         [0007]    The exerciser is preferably mounted on the car seat, with the body of the exerciser preferably mounted behind the back support portion of the seat. However, the Applicant envisions an embodiment of a the exerciser that may be mounted in front of the back support portion and serve as an additional cushion or padding for the user. The exerciser may be mounted on the driver&#39;s side or on the passenger side of the car. In the case of passenger-side mounting, the user can use the exerciser when the car is parked, or a passenger can use the exerciser while the vehicle is moving, providing an added bonus to carpools. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These features, aspects and advantages of the novel portable exerciser and method of use thereof will become further understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings where 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the exerciser of the present invention with the front cover open; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is the exploded view of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is the view of the individual parts of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the front cover of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear (inside) view of the front cover of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a rear (inside) view of the rear cover of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is the top view of the tension adjustment locks of the exerciser of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the resistance band adjuster; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the resistance band adjuster of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the exerciser of the present invention mounted to a car seat, using two horizontal belts; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exerciser of the present invention mounted to a car seat, using one vertical belt and one horizontal belt. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    The present invention is directed to a novel exerciser that may be used in a car. With reference to  FIGS. 1-2  and  11 - 12 , the novel exerciser comprises a body  10 , with a front cover  12  and a cooperating rear cover  14 . A tension adjuster  20  having a handle  22  is mounted on the inside of the rear cover  14 , preferably approximately in the middle. The front cover  12  has a cooperating aperture  15  positioned over the tension adjuster  20  when the front cover  12  is closed, which allows the user to reach the handle  22  of the tension adjuster  20 . At least one, but preferably at least two tension locks  25  are mounted on the inside of the front cover  12  around the aperture  15 . The tension locks  25  engage the tension adjuster  20  when the front cover  12  is closed (i.e., attached to the rear cover  14 ). 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 6 , there are two tension locks  25  on either side of the tension adjuster  20 . The tension locks  25  are preferably slide locks as further illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Once the user adjusts the tension of the resistance bands  30  to the desired level by rotating the tension adjuster  20  by its handle  22 , the user slides the locks  25  into the “locked” position, one at a time. Spring loaded locks or latches  25  may be used in an alternative embodiment that will lock automatically as the user turns the tensions adjuster  20  to achieve the desired tension level of the resistance bands  30 . In either embodiment, the tension locks  25  will keep the tension adjuster  20  in place after it is rotated to the desired position. 
         [0023]    To release the tension adjuster  20  and the resistance bands  30  in the embodiment with slide tension locks  25 , the user may slide the locks into the “unlocked” position while holding the tension adjuster  20  by the handle  22  so that the tension adjuster  20  and the tension bands  30  with the attached handles  35  do not snap when the tension locks  25  are released. Similarly, to release in the embodiment using spring loaded tension locks  25 , the user may slide the locks into the “unlocked” position while holding the tension adjuster  20  by the handle  22  so that the tension adjuster  20  and the tension bands  30  with the attached handles  35  do not snap, but it may be a little more difficult to manipulate two spring loaded tension locks  25  and the tension adjuster handle  22  at the same time. Numerous locking and release mechanisms known in the art may be used with the present invention to “ratchet” and release the tension adjuster  20 . 
         [0024]    At least one, but preferably two resistance bands  30  are coupled with the tension adjuster  20 . The two resistance bands  30  utilized in the preferred embodiment go through the tension adjuster  20  so that the resistance bands  30  tighten when the tension adjuster  20  is turned in one direction (for example, rotated clockwise), and the resistance bands  30  loosen up when the tension adjuster  20  is turned in the other direction (consistent with the prior example, rotated counterclockwise), resulting in corresponding increase or decrease of the resistance. The unused portion of the resistance bands  30  is wound up around the body of the tension adjuster  20 , which preferably has a circular cross section, similar to a fishing reel, for that purpose. The user winds up or releases parts of the resistance bands  30  by holding and rotating the handle  22  of the tension adjuster  20  as needed: clockwise or counterclockwise. 
         [0025]    Each of the resistance bands  30  have a handle  35  attached to the other end of each resistance band  30 . The handle  35  is preferably made of plastic, but it could also be made from wood, lightweight metals, such as aluminum, or it could be a strap handle, such as nylon or other synthetic material strap. Non-slip coating or materials (not shown) may be applied to the handle  35  to prevent the user&#39;s hand or foot from slipping. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and  11 - 12 , in the preferred embodiment, there are two resistance bands  30  that are attached to the tension adjuster  20 : one for each arm. Two ends of the resistance bands  30  attached to the tension adjuster  20  are positioned at the top of the exerciser  10  so that they may be used by the arms and upper body muscles to do exercises similar in effect to bench press, and two other ends of the resistance bands  30  attached to the tension adjuster  20  are positioned at the bottom of the exerciser  10 , and may be pulled through under the car seat, so that they may be used by the arms of the user to do bicep curls and other exercises. The resistive or tension elements may be rubber bands, or they may utilize different resistive elements known in the art. When the resistive or tension elements are made or rubber, they may be multi-stranded bands. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3  and  11 - 12 , to prevent damage to the resistance bands  30 , each resistance band  30  is preferably enclosed by a flexible band tube  40 , through which each respective resistance band  30  can move unobstructed. The flexible band tubes  40  are secured to the inside of the rear cover  14  by snaps, clips, bands, or other means known in the art. Flexible bands and screws  42  securing the flexible band tubes  40  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . The resistance bands  30  are further protected against damage by flexible tube bushings  50  that are preferably inserted on each end of each flexible band tube  40  as further illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . This will prevent the resistance bands  30  from rubbing on the ends of the flexible band tubes  40 , possibly becoming damaged and creating the possibility of a tear. 
         [0028]    The front cover  12  and a rear cover  14  have cooperating notches or apertures  16  and  18  respectively as illustrated in FIGS.  2  and  6 - 7  to allow the flexible band tubes  40  housing the resistance bands  30  to pass through when the front cover  12  is attached to the rear cover  14  and the body  10  of the exerciser is closed. 
         [0029]    The mounting means for mounting the exerciser are preferably belts or straps  60 , particularly nylon belts with plastic clasps  62  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and  11 - 12 . The belts of straps  60  are securely attached to the inside part of the rear cover  14 , and they may be attached by folds, screws, or other methods known in the art. With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the belts of straps  60  protrude through openings  64  in the rear cover  14  so as to enable the user to attach the belts or straps  60  around the car seat or chair and to snap the clasps  62  to secure the exerciser. For that purpose, the clasps  62  include cooperating male and female clasps for attachment, and the belts or clasps  60  are preferably adjustable so as to be usable with any number of car seats or chars of varying sizes. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that, although the preferred embodiment uses nylon belts  60  and plastic clasps  62 , the belts may be made of fabric, leather, or a different suitable material, while the clasps  62  may be made of metal. The belts  60  typically pass through special openings  64  in the rear cover  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The front cover  12  may also have cooperating openings  66  shown in  FIG. 5 , to allow the belts  60  to pass through. 
         [0031]    At least one substantially horizontal or substantially vertical belt  60  is used to mount the exerciser, but preferably the mounting includes at least one substantially vertical and at least one substantially horizontal belt  60  attached to the body  10  of the exerciser at approximately 90 degrees relative to each other, which securely mount the exerciser to the car seat. More than one horizontal or vertical belt  60  may be used to mount the exerciser yet even more securely, in any combination, such as two horizontal belts and one vertical belt, one horizontal and two vertical belts, and so on. 
         [0032]    However, the exerciser may be mounted using other means known in the art, including rails, snaps, nuts and bolts, which would result in a more permanent or semi-permanent mounting, or even hook and loop attachment provided there is sufficient surface to ensure a secure attachment. 
         [0033]    When the preferred embodiment of the exerciser of the present invention is in use, the user securely attaches the exerciser to the car seat using the horizontal and/or vertical belts  60  as illustrated in  FIGS. 11-12 . The two upper ends of the resistance bands  30  inside the flexible band tubes  40  housing them are positioned over the top end of the car seat, one on each side of the headrest, for use by the two arms of the user. The two lower ends of the resistance bands  30  are put through under the seat and positioned so that they may be used by the arms of the user for different kinds of exercises. The user then adjusts the tension of the resistance bands  30  to a desired level using the handle  22  of the tension adjuster  20 , and the exerciser is ready to use. The user may grasp one or both upper handles  35  to exercise his or her arms and upper body, and the user may also use the lower handles  35  to exercise his or her arms in a different way, such as arm curls, shoulder raises, and other exercises. Of course, the user should not exercise while the car is moving. 
         [0034]    When the exerciser is mounted in front of the car seat, it should be cushioned for comfort during driving and usage. The exerciser is portable and can be easily moved between vehicles. 
         [0035]    The body of the exerciser, including the front and rear cover, can be made from many different materials, but the preferred embodiment uses plastics for their light weight, strength, durability, and low cost to produce. The locking latches may also be plastic. 
         [0036]    The above description of the disclosed preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention and the subject matter of the present invention, which is broadly contemplated by the Applicant. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may be or become obvious to those skilled in the art.