Abstract:
A unique resistance exercising device to be used in the water or on land that encapsulates and reinforces the joints of a body&#39;s extremities (i.e., arms and legs) to deliver a greater amount of load resistance to the larger muscles attached to the body core, in nearly full range motion. A device that allows the strengthening of the major body core muscles, to in full range motions without over stressing the extremities or the joints.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of provisional patent application 60/855,344 filed Oct. 30, 2006 by inventor Craig S. Wise. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Exercise and exercise devices have been used for thousands of years, however to increase core muscle strength gains they load the resistance in the hands or under the feet. It is obvious that a healthy hip joint is stronger then the healthy knee attached to the same leg and the same is obvious about the shoulder and the elbow, however almost all traditional exercises, and exercise devices place the load of resistance meant for the larger more powerful body core attached muscles in the hands (Weights handles, etc.) or under the feet (running, walking, jumping, climbing devices, etc) so the smaller and weaker joints and muscles that are exclusive to the extremities approach their maximum effort (load) before the larger muscles attached to the body core. To see this in a principle of physical structure operating in the gravity of planet earth, if a person were to lift a load on a steel chain that at one end uses larger stronger links that continually get smaller and weaker the weakest links will always maximize before the larger stronger ones. 
         [0005]    Generically, aquatic exercises and aquatic training equipment are common knowledge. It is known that water aerobics will increase your flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance without stressing your joints. As with any type of aerobic training, it is known that it is important to work within your target heart rate for at least 20 minutes for maximum cardiovascular benefits. There are a wide variety of water exercises to choose from for your aerobic routine. You can walk jog, and strength train or perform typical land-based activities such as kickboxing or yoga. Buoyancy equipment, ranging from flotation belts to kickboards, offers extra stability. Resistance equipment, like webbed gloves and swim fins, are known to add intensity to the workout. There are treadmills, stationary bikes, rowers, and stair steppers that have been designed for use underwater. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,231,646 discloses aquatic exercise enhancing devices attached to the legs, arms, hands, and chest of a person to enable the person to stay afloat and increase resistance in performing aquatic exercises. The devices are releasably attachable to the person by straps. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,186 discloses a leg fin to be placed on the person with straps to hold the fin in place. The fin allows for increases in resistance in training and increase in speed through water. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,526 discloses an invention relates to a device for assisting swimming or for re-education for use in swimming pools, which is fastened to a limb, and formed of two fins disposed longitudinally with respect to the limb and extending radially with respect thereto. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,447 discloses a swimming accessory adapted to be secured to one&#39;s limb, such as an arm, and including a pair of fins which have holes to allow the water to pass through during the negative or back stroke and which are of buoyant construction to supplement the buoyancy of the user thereof. A swimming limb accessory including an elongated board, bands secured to the board to attach the same to a limb, leg or arm, a pair of fins each having an aperture through and integrally constructed and hinged to the board to cause the apertures to close during the positive stroke and to cause the same to open during the back stroke to then reduce the negative water action thereon, and spring blades arranged to resiliently restrain the pivoting of the fins away from the board. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,451 discloses an exercise assembly for use in water. The assembly has an elongated shaft supporting a plurality of fins at one end. During an exercise the user grips the shaft and forces the fins through the water which offers a resistance to movement of the fins. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,040 discloses two separate leg supporting members which are independently and pivotally connected to a base assembly. At their pivotal connection with the base assembly, they are further provided with a torque disk assembly having cables attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the cables are merely segments of a single cable which travels from one torque disk assembly through a guide around a pulley back through the guide to the other torque disk assembly. As the pulley is moved away from the guide, the cable causes the torque disk assemblies to rotate, forcing the two leg supporting members apart, stretching the legs of the user into a “split” position. The fact that the cable is free to move around the pulley permits the leg supporting members while maintaining the angle therebetween substantially constant. Additionally, a shift selector is provided which can controllably lock either of the leg supporting members into a fixed position with respect to the base assembly so that the machine may be utilized in the single leg mode of operation. The pulley is moved with respect to the guide through the use of a worm gear which is rotated by turning of a crank handle. The worm gear threads are chosen so as to prevent movement of the crank handle under the tension placed upon the pulley. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,300 discloses exercise enhancing devices attached to the foot and leg of a person to enable selective development of the muscles in aquatic environment. The devices are provided with adjustable vent apertures that enable adjustment of the water resistance to movement of the device to achieve compatability with the desires of the user. A body support device releasably attachable to the side of a swimming pool enables the devices to enhance torso or abdominal exercises in order that a complete workout of all or selected body muscles may be achieved. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,251 discloses a stretching apparatus for use in stretching the lower limbs of a human subject which comprises at least one cradle configured to support a leg, or part thereof, of said subject, said cradle moveable between a non-stretching position and a stretching position. At least one cradle movement means is provided operable to move said cradle between said non-stretching and stretching positions. The cradle movement means comprises first movement means configured to move said cradle through a first plane of movement and second movement means configured to rotate said cradle through a second plane of movement transverse to said first plane of movement. 
         [0014]    As the prior art reveals, these claimed invention is not the first resistive device that uses water resistance to exercise the body. The claimed invention herein is unique and differs significantly from the prior art in that the claimed invention brace the joints, namely the knees and the elbows, but also possibly, the wrists and ankles. Secondly, the claimed invention specifically is engineered/designed to keep the resistance load inline with core muscle motion, thus allowing the core muscles to be up to fully loaded without having to full load the muscles and joints that are exclusive to the extremities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    This device applies that physical principle to the way the human body core operates by reinforcing, bracing and or bypassing the weaker joints and muscles that are exclusive to the extremities so the body core attached muscles can apply more effort to exercise. They can greatly increase the physical strength and flexibility of the human body core muscles and human cardiovascular system over traditional methods that load the resistance under the feet or in the hands. 
         [0016]    This device will allow healthy people a plethora of exercises for their body core muscles with little or no wear, impact or stress on the knees, elbows and all of the muscles joints, bones beyond them (ankles, feet, wrists, hands, etc.). They also offer a range of powerful body core exercises that actually elongate the spine, as most common and traditional exercise devices and exercises compress the spine. Because the ability to walk is not necessary for a person to deeply exercise their core muscles without any impact so these devises are well suited for many disabled, elderly and obese people who just cannot place stout load resistance on core muscles otherwise. They are also ideal for normal people to athletes to provide a rapid and massive body core workout while greatly reducing the load on their knees, feet, hands, elbows and spine. They are also an exercise device for obese children and adults who have great difficulty performing land-based exercises such as running, jumping, lifting weights, etc. 
         [0017]    These devices can be built, or customized to bypass many if not most disabled extremities, thus allowing the core muscles to be exercised. The devices illustrated here assume normal health, but shapes can be customized to fit disabled or partially missing extremities. 
         [0018]    This device can be produced using many different methods, materials, configurations and shapes; however all share the ability to brace or reinforce, or bypass or add support to motion to one or more extremity joints. 
         [0019]    They also have the ability to deliver greater load resistance to the muscles attached to the core muscles then are possible with the same exercise motions without the device. The devices gather most of their load resistance in similar alignment to straightened extremities so the loads can be resisted by a wide range of core muscle motions. Mechanical restrictive apparatuses (i.e. rubber bands, weights, cording, etc.) can be attached to the invention so that these devices can be used for land exercises as well. The advantages these devices can help almost every person who is wanting to or needs to strengthen their body core muscles. In my opinion the greatest advantage will be for people with disabled or even partially missing extremities, and the obese. This is because healthy extremities are no longer required to still massively load and strengthen the body core muscles. Even the ability to walk on land is not needed for someone to use these devices because their body may be supported otherwise. 
         [0020]    Muscle atrophy is a major problem for people after a partial loss of a leg or arm. These devices can be custom fit to them so that they can once again exercise the core muscles that use to drive the extremity, thus providing a powerful way to fight atrophy. Almost all traditional exercise methods assume normally functional extremities so most traditional methods and exercises are of reduced to no usefulness for the disabled. These devices can cure this problem for millions of people with disabilities. 
         [0021]    Many obese people are already maximizing the power they have in their legs just to walk so the exercise benefits an average person can receive by running are not an option for them, they run a high risk of injury by even trying to run. Because These devices can mostly to fully bypass the legs the core muscles that would drive a running exercise can be heavily loaded with exercise resistance without placing heavy loads on their legs, thus the heath benefits of these devices for the obese may be the most powerful of any exercise device ever invented. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a top view upper body device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the upper body device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the lower body device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the lower body device. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a universal (upper body or lower body) device with the detachable load resisting surface 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a universal device with a cylindrical body shell 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a users extremity (arm and leg) secured with the device 
       
    
    
       [0029]    All illustrations shown in this application use the same numerals for the same parts
         1 . Load Resistant Surface     2 . Handle     3 . Handle Attachment device     4 . Strap anchor     5 . Strapping     6 . Body Shell     7 . Structural Reinforcing Ridge     8 . Soft Washer     9 . Strap Attachment device     10 . Open Space     11 . Maximum Resistance Full-Range Core Muscle Exercising Device     12 . Connection mechanism     13 . Fin surface end     14 . Hollow Tube     15 . Detachable load resistant fin     16 . Load-resistant surface end     17 . Open aperture end     18 . Extremity     19 . Joint     20 . C-Channel     21 —Locking Washers     22 —Wing nut       
 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0052]    In use, the exercise device  11  is moved or swung in the water at a selected acceleration and momentum to create the desired resistance, torque and torsion upon the arms of the person using the exercise device. Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, the exercising device  11  is made of rigid or semi-rigid material formed into a C-channel  20  which makes up the body shell  6 . This body shell can be designed with a structural reinforcing ridge  7  to add support to joint  19  of a user. The body shell  6  envelopes, either partially or fully) the users extremity  18 . The user&#39;s extremity  18  rests inside the convex form of the body shell  6 . At one end of the body shell  6  is a load resistant surface  1  which is in the shape of an oar. The load resistant surface can have a open space centered in the load resistant surface to allow for a handle  2  to be secured to the load resistant surface  1  by a handle attachment device  3  which can comprise a soft washer  8  to secure the handle  2 . The handle would enable the user to have improved control when using the exercising device  11 . 
         [0053]    The body shell  6  is positioned on the user either between the elbow and shoulder, or between the knee and hip. The body shell  6  and the load resistance surface  1  are generally one continuous part, offering lengthwise rigidity that supports and maintains the load resistance surface  1 , thus allowing the exercise effort applied by the joints  19  and muscles that are exclusive to the extremities  18  to be mildly to heavily reduced depending on how secure and how many straps are engaged. The load resistance surface  1  can also be detachable (as depicted in  FIG. 5 ) and interchangeable with different sizes and shapes of detachable load resistant fins  15 . The body shell  6  can have a connection mechanism  12  located at the load resistant surface end  16  to be capable of receiving multiple detachable load resistant resistance fins  15  which has a means of accepting the connection mechanism  12  at the fin resistant end  13 . The connection mechanism  12  can consist of the handle assembly  3  along with locking washer  21  and wing nut  22 , but any securing device can be used to attach the fin resistant end  13  of the detachable fin  15  to the load resistant surface end  16  of the load resistant surface  1 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the straps  5  can be attached around the extremity  18  to hold the body shell  6  securely to the extremity  18 . The straps  5  can also be loosely attached to involve more effort from the extremity  18 . The strapping material is generally nylon, but can be any other pliable material. The strap  5  is connected to the body shell  6  by a strap attachment device  9  which can be snaps, rivets, adhesive, etc. The strap attachment device  9  needs to be secure enough to prevent release when the extremity  18  is in place and movement through the resistive medium (i.e. water) is taking place. The strap anchor  4  used in the illustration employs a hook and loop for closure around the extremity  18 . The strap  5  could also use straps or cords that tie or a wide verity of buckling devices as the strap anchor  4 . 
         [0055]    The exercise device  11 , especially the body shell  6  and resistance surface  1  and the detachable fins  15  are molded from plastics, metals or composite materials, or they may be carved from structural materials such as wood, or they can be a combination of these or other materials. The amount of materials used for, the length, thickness of the body shell  6 , handle  2  load resistance surface  1  and the detachable load resistant surface  15  will very depending on the size of, and exercise goals of each individual. 
         [0056]    The reinforcing ridge  7  is also optional shape component to add more structural strength lengthwise. It is not a necessary part of this device but in some cases this ridge  7  will allows for less material to be used in molding. 
         [0057]    In use, the load resistant surface  1  is positioned generally normal or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the users&#39; extremity  18  to move the water is a specific direction as the load resistance surface  1  that extends beyond the hands and feet, from the body of the user. 
         [0058]    While the illustrated embodiment is preferred, it may be desirable in some circumstances, however, that there are more or less detachable fins  15  or at different angles, or that the load resistant surface  1  or the detachable fins  15  be curved or twisted or of a different shape or formed of a different material. In use, the exercise device  11  is moved or swung in the water at a selected acceleration and momentum to create the desired resistance, torque and torsion upon the extremities  18  of the user of the exercise device  11 . 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the body shell  6  can be a hollow tube  14  through which the users extremity  18  passes through at the open aperture end  17  and secures itself around the extremity  18  without the use of the straps  5 . 
         [0060]    These devices can be produced in many shapes sizes and materials. They are not limited to 1 resistance surface; as they may be build with many. They may also have detachable and interchangeable resistance surfaces. They are not limited to one piece shell bodies nor are they limited to fixed resistance surfaces, as they can be made in one piece shells or in multiple piece shells to enhance general motions or the specific motions of a sport, job or activity. These multi piece versions can be produced with interchangeable or adjustable resistance surfaces. They can be made with resistance surfaces in other directions or that adjust to other directions, or that have attachments that offer resistance in other directions, such as the leg motion of a jumping jack. 
         [0061]    These devices can be produced from most any structural material that is save to use in water, for example they can be carved from wood or injection molded or shaped over a plug mold or by using any technique and material(s) that can be fully or partially used to reinforce or brace the extremities and create inline drag resistance. 
         [0062]    Most of the resistance these devices force is caught beyond the feet and hands by the load resistance surface or surfaces in models that may have multiple resistance surfaces. The illustrations show what may be one of the simplest embodiments for these devices. The user installs them or has help installing them in the water or sitting at the edge. 
         [0063]    The resistance directions of the loading surfaces is in relatively straight alignment with the long bones of the legs and arms therefore the load is also in alignment with the directions that the human body core muscles drive the extremities, and thus they allow as stiff of load resistance as the user can apply to a nearly full range of major core muscle motion. 
         [0064]    There are many exercises that can be preformed with these devices. They can be used from one to all four at a time. Because all of the effort to move the extremities must come from the core muscles they can fight far more resistance then the extremities can otherwise deliver to them. The user must apply effort in both the forward and reverse motions so all motions are loaded. These devices can be used through virtually all large range motions that a body core can drive its extremities.