Abstract:
Device for practicing exercises, sports, gymnastics and different physical activities, which join various techniques and concepts of eastern and western theories related to exercise, sports, and health; such a device comprising of a belt adjustable to the abdomen region of the user, which incorporates a sliding component with an optional blocking system to be crossed by two elastic straps of adjustable length, each strap having at the end a removable fastening system for the extremities of the user.

Description:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention refers to a device for exercises, sports, gymnastics and various activities that join Eastern and Western techniques, concepts, and theories related to exercise, sports and health.  
       ANTECEDENTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     At the present time western health culture is based, in large part, on the elimination of stress, the fulfilment of prevention exams, the maintenance of healthy nutrition, and actively, the practice of exercise and gymnastics.  
         [0003]     Especially in the West, this kind of exercise or gymnastics practice is focused on three areas: muscular exercise, aerobic exercise (cardiovascular), and stretching.  
         [0004]     On the other hand, eastern health culture gives equal significance to the body, mind, emotions and spirituality in addition to integrating all of them, the (body, mind, and soul), toward this end using concepts, theories, techniques and skills like traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong or Yoga, in which the balance between body, mind and spirit, is intended with a sense of aesthetic and an energy interchange in order to achieve the balance between Ying and Yang which provides peace and health. These concepts, theories and arts are applicable to any kind of sport, exercise or daily activity.  
         [0005]     The device of the present invention intends, therefore, to facilitate, improve and optimize the practice of exercises, sports, gymnastics or other activities (calligraphy, dance, and theatre, among others) by joining concepts and theories of both cultures and by providing the individual that uses the device with the advantages of both cultures, as it is not currently known that any other devices would serve the same purpose.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The device of the present invention is for the practice of exercises that joins techniques, concepts and theories of the West and of the East in relation to exercise, sports and health; that joins the western gymnastics technique that focuses on muscular exercise, aerobics, and stretching with the eastern technique which works properly with relaxation, concentration, breathing, and the corporal position, as well as biodynamic and energetic flow; combined with the stimulation of the acupunctural and energetic channels of the body and of the groin area, the meditation in motion and the promotion and development of the “Dan Tien” (energetic Centre developer of strength and gravity of the body situated beneath the navel).  
         [0007]     The device is used by means of specific exercises, or during the development of any kind of activity, sport or exercise; achieving a greater training for muscular and aerobic strength, a better comprehension of the centre of gravity and the development of strength in the user situated at the lower abdomen, a coordination between the lower and higher parts of the body as well as of the upper and lower limbs and an integration of the whole body, physically and emotionally for better performance and use of training time, as well as the activation of energetic centres, channels and meridians. All of the above functions as facilitated by the device, improve the performance of the specific activity or sport engaged in as well as the health, well-being, and physical and psychological equilibrium of the user.  
         [0008]     In addition, the device of the present invention can be used in conjunction with the practice of any kind of sport or activity of western or eastern inspiration. Examples of such sports and activities include aerobics, step, walking, jogging, golf, baseball, tennis, disco, weight, javelin, dance, aquatic, martial arts: Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido, boxing and so forth.  
         [0009]     According to the invention, the device comprises a belt that is firmly adjusted to the user&#39;s waist in the abdomen region, which helps to avoid inguinal hernia, protects the lumbar zone, and creates a consciousness of the middle torso area, which is indispensable to promote during the performance of the exercise or practice facilitating the development of inherent benefits, for example, greater strength, among other things.  
         [0010]     The belt of the device comprises a component for the sliding passage of two straps at the center of gravity of the user, which is the strength-generating and energy-interchanging zone of the lower abdomen. The ends of the straps are fixed to the extremities of the user, preferably at the ankles and wrists, to facilitate coordinated movement.  
         [0011]     The movement of the straps through the sliding component can be blocked to achieve the independent exercise of the user&#39;s extremities.  
         [0012]     The straps are elastic and are adjustable in length in order to adapt to the size of the user or to the exercise or sport to be practiced. As a result, the stretching of the straps during exercise or the activity is possible regardless of whether the sliding component, situated at the belt, is blocked or not; consequently, the extremities can be either independent from or related to each other.  
         [0013]     The straps will be fastened to the users extremities in a comfortable fashion. All the materials used that are in contact with the skin are hypoallergenic and preferably natural.  
         [0014]     There are several functional possibilities of the device depending on different combinations in arrangement of the straps with regard to each of the extremities and depending on the different objectives and benefits to be achieved. One of these possibilities consists in crossing the straps relating the inferior left extremity (ankle) with the superior right one (wrist), and vice versa with the other strap. The device functions as well without crossing the straps by relating the superior and inferior extremity of the same side with each of the straps. Another possibility consists in connecting with one strap the inferior extremities and with the other strap the superior ones. Further, another possibility, as mentioned before, consists of immobilizing the straps in order to make the extremities independent during exercise. The preferred way of using the straps of the invention involves placing the sliding passage component at the front part of the body, although it can also be used on the back side of the body as well at the same height as the torso level previously mentioned, thereby with the strings passing through the back side of the body (behind the torso—back—and behind the and legs). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a view of a preferred embodiment of assembly of the device of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the details of the casing for the sliding passage component of the straps for the device of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic lateral view of the sliding passage component of the straps for the device of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of the extremities of the straps, the curl and the hook to which a small cushion is fixed.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a detail of one of the small cushions that are fixed to the limbs of the user.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows another preferred embodiment of assembly of the device of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a detail of the casing for the sliding passage component of the straps for the device of the present invention according to the assembly shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic lateral view of the casing of the sliding passage component for the straps of the device of the present invention according to the composition shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPLISHED PRACTICES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     The device  1  of the invention comprises a belt  2  preferably around 4 cm wide, which is adjusted to the user&#39;s waist beneath the navel, and is provided with a belt buckle  3  and buttonholes  4  to be adjusted at a maximum. The belt is preferably composed of natural hypoallergenic materials, for instance leather.  
         [0024]     On the belt, in the area of the lower abdomen, a piece  5  of sliding passage component which can be optionally blocked is fixed, for two elastic straps  6  that extend at their ends in curls  7  provided with hooks  8  for detachably fixing with the removable small cushion  9  which can be fastened to the ankles and wrists of the user. There is an economical way of producing the invention in which the hooks are not required when the cords are directly fixed to the small cushion.  
         [0025]     The thickness of the straps  6  can vary, and can vary from approximately 7 to 12 millimetres, with a length of approximately 1.80 metres. The thickness of the straps will influence their elasticity and therefore the level of training, allowing for higher or lower muscular and aerobic training, as well as other characteristics of the invention  
         [0026]     The length of the straps is adjustable so that the straps can adjust to the size of the user and also influence the training effort by a lengthening or shortening of the straps. The adjustment is made by means of buckles  10  which also define the ends of corresponding curl  7 .  
         [0027]     On the other hand, the small cushions  9  are made up of natural and hypoallergenic materials, preferably incorporating a soft stuffing which minimizes the traction made by wrists and ankles. These small cushions integrate a belt  11  to be fixed to the joint by an adhesive (fastener) base, and a ring  12  on which is fixed the corresponding hook  8 , or directly the corresponding curl at the end of the cord.  
         [0028]     Piece  5  is made up of a case  13  internally threaded with a blind bottom  5   a , projecting out perpendicularly of the external side  14  of the belt. This case is provided with holes  15  on the perimeter for an easy passageway for the straps  6 , which will be able to slide freely through them and on some channels  5   b  inserted in the blind bottom of the case which assist in their movement. Threading till the end a threaded piston rod  16 , will strangulate the straps impeding their movement through the interior of the case, the straps will be immobilized, as they are trapped against the bottom of the channels  5   b ; or loosening the threaded piston rod a bit without removing it completely will permit the free movement of the straps for use with the various techniques previously mentioned.  
         [0029]     The case will preferably have four holes on the same level with regard to its axis, situated close by pairs in a lower and upper sense and with the straps sliding in this instance in parallel through the interior of the case. In the situation they cross each other, they will do so at the upper exterior part of the case as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0030]     In another preferred embodiment of assembling the invention, the peripheral holes are situated in two levels with respect to the axis of the case, with two holes brought face to face diametrically in less depth and four holes brought face to face diametrically two against two, out of phase 90°, correspondingly with two of them projected against the other two situated in less depth as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In this last instance the straps can cross each other at the interior of the case in a coplanar way or at different depths.  
         [0031]     Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the way to put it in to practice, it should be taken into account that the dispositions previously indicated and represented in the attached drawings are susceptible to modification of details on the condition that the fundamental principle will not be altered.