Abstract:
An apparatus and system are disclosed for a fitness stick. The apparatus includes an elongated rod having a center point, a first end, and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the first end, and a second track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the second end. Any point along the second track is reflectively symmetrical to a corresponding point on the first track about a central plane extending through the center point and orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated rod. The system includes the apparatus, first and second hand-slides, and a resistance band coupling the first hand-slide with the second hand-slide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/219,675 entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR A FITNESS STICK” and filed on Jun. 23, 2009 for Li Si Yang, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to exercise devices, and more particularly relates to a fitness stick for promoting proper form during physical exercise. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    People exercise for a variety of reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, improving athletic abilities, weight loss, or merely for enjoyment or entertainment. Exercise also helps increase self-esteem by improving an individual&#39;s perception of their body. 
         [0004]    Exercise can generally be grouped into three broad categories based on the overall effect they have on the body. The three groups are flexibility exercises, aerobic exercises, and anaerobic exercises. An individual&#39;s training regimen will combine exercises from each group according to the individual&#39;s goals. For example, a person training for a marathon will focus more on aerobic exercises than a weight lifter. Regardless of the goal, proper form is critical. 
         [0005]    Form is a specific way of performing an exercise to avoid injury and increase strength. The lack of proper form will result in injury and furthermore reduces the desired effectiveness of the exercise. For example, many exercises are designed to target a specific group of muscles. The lack of proper form leads to the body utilizing secondary muscle groups and reducing the desired effectiveness of the exercise. 
         [0006]    Proper form is also important in non-strength training exercises. For example, it is easy when doing yoga to make a mistake with even the most basic poses. This can lead to strains, sprains, and chronic aches. Therefore, it is important that a person practice proper form regardless of the type of exercise to minimize injury and maximize the desired effect. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus and system that helps an exerciser maintain proper form throughout an entire range of motion. 
         [0008]    The present disclosure 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 devices. Accordingly, the present disclosure has been developed to overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. 
         [0009]    The apparatus is provided with an elongated rod having a center point, a first end, and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the first end, and a second track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the second end. Any point along the second track is reflectively symmetrical to a corresponding point on the first track about a central plane extending through the center point and orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated rod. 
         [0010]    The apparatus also includes a first hand-slide having an attachment device, a hand grip, and a track guide. The attachment device slidably couples the first hand-slide to the elongated rod. The track guide is formed having a shape selected to engage the first track and maintain the first hand-slide in the same rotational orientation as the first track about the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod. The apparatus also includes a second hand-slide that is similar to the above described first hand-slide. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a resistance band having a first end coupled with the first hand-slide and a second end coupled with the second hand-slide. In a further embodiment, the elongated rod is formed of at least two sections. The sections are rigidly couplable to form the elongated rod. 
         [0012]    The system, in one embodiment, includes an elongated rod having a center point, a first end, and a second end, a first track extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the first end, a second track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the second end, first and second hand-slides, and a resistance band coupling the first and second hand-slides. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the apparatus includes the elongated rod, first and second tracks, and at least two elongated sections rigidly couplable to form the elongated rod. In this embodiment, the tracks are formed in the surface of the elongated rod, each track having a cross-sectional profile selected to engage a track guide. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second tracks are embedded into the surface of the elongated rod and each is formed of a magnetic material selected to engage a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the first and second tracks are configured as teeth embedded in the surface of the elongated rod, the teeth selected to engage corresponding gears in a track guide. In another alternative embodiment, the first and second tracks are embedded into the surface of the elongated rod, each track having a cross-sectional profile selected to engage the finger of a user. 
         [0014]    Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in any single embodiment of the disclosure. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0016]    These features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In order that the advantages of the disclosure will be readily understood, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a fitness stick; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cross section of the fitness stick; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a detachable hand grip; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a cross section of the fitness stick equipped with two tracks; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates a hand-slide equipped with two track guides; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view of a cross section of the fitness stick equipped with a magnetic track; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of a cross section of the fitness stick equipped with a gear track; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6   c  is a perspective view of a cross section of the fitness stick equipped with a finger track; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7   a  illustrates a hand-slide equipped with a magnetic slider; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7   b  illustrates a hand-slide equipped with a gear slider; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates the fitness stick equipped with a resistance mechanism; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  illustrates the collapsibility of the fitness stick. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to offer a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a fitness stick  100 . The fitness stick  100  facilitates a series of exercises while helping the exerciser maintain correct form. Also, the fitness stick helps users stretch and move their body through a full range of motion, thereby improving a user&#39;s lifestyle. In certain embodiments, the fitness stick  100  may comprise an elongated rod  102 , tracks  104   a  and  104   b,  and hand-slides  106   a,    106   b.    
         [0033]    The elongated rod  102  is a lengthened shaft of rigid material. For example, the elongated rod  102  may be a cylindrical wooden rod with a diameter in the range of between about 1 and 3 inches. In one embodiment, the diameter of the elongated rod is about 1⅜ inches (3.49 cm). The elongated rod has a length of about two yards (1.82 m). The elongated rod  102  may comprise any length or diameter. For instance, a manufacturer of the elongated rod  102  may customize the diameter and length to match the preferences of a particular exerciser. A taller user may require a longer elongated rod  102 , while a user with small hands may require an elongated rod  102  with a smaller diameter. 
         [0034]    Further, the elongated rod  102  may be formed of any rigid material. In other words, the elongated rod  102  may be manufactured from wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, carbon fiber, and the like. Also, the elongated rod  102  has a weight selected according to a user&#39;s specification. For example, a user may desire a heavier rod to increase muscular resistance during exercising. 
         [0035]    In certain embodiments, the fitness stick  100  includes tracks  104   a - b.  The tracks  104   a - b  are formed by grooves that extend away from the longitudinal center of the elongated rod  102 . The term “tracks,” as used herein, refers to a longitudinally-running indentation or channel in the surface of the elongated rod  102 . Further, the tracks  104   a - b  may spiral around the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102  as the tracks  104   a - b  extend away from the center of the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the track  104   a  may begin at a specified starting point near the center of the elongated rod  102 . The track  104   a  ends at a specified ending point near the end of the elongated rod  102 , where the ending point is on the same side of the elongated rod  102  as the starting point. The starting point is also closer to the center of the elongated rod  102  than the ending point. In certain embodiments, the starting point may be the same as the center point of the elongated rod  102 . In a further embodiment, the ending point may be one end of the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0037]    In at least one embodiment, the track  104   b  is reflectively symmetrical with the track  104   a  about a plane extending through the center of the elongated rod  102  and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102 . In other words, a point lying on the track  104   a  has the same coordinates in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis as a point lying on the track  104   b.  The points on the track  104   a  lie the same distance from the center point along the longitudinal axis as the points on the track  104   b  but in an opposite direction from the center point along the longitudinal axis. In an alternative embodiment, the track  104   b,  after reflecting the track  104   a  through the plane, may be rotationally offset around the longitudinal axis. 
         [0038]    In certain embodiments, hand-slides  106   a - b  may fasten to the elongated rod  102 . The term “hand-slides,” as used herein, refers to a slidable mechanism that permits a user to grasp the elongated rod  102  at specific locations. Further, the hand-slides  106   a - b  may rotate around the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102  at the same rotational rate as the tracks  104   a - b.  The hand-slides  106   a - b  may maintain the same rotational orientation as the tracks  104   a - b  by extending a guide into the tracks  104   a - b.  The guide prevents the hand-slides  106   a - b  from rotating about the elongated rod but allows the hand-slides to move along the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102 . By grasping the hand-slides  106   a - b,  a user can maintain the center point of the elongated rod  102  at the same position between their hands, while keeping their hands at the same rotational position. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section  200  of the elongated rod  102  according to one embodiment. The cross section  200  may comprise a track  204  and the elongated rod  102 . According to one embodiment, the track  204  may run at a slight angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102 . The angle of the track may comprise any pitch that requires the hand grips to be at mirrored locations about the center plane of the elongated rod  102 . For example, the track  204  may only revolve around the elongated rod  102  once. By going around the elongated rod only once, every rotational position on one side of the center point of the elongated rod  102  is unique. Therefore, when an exerciser uses a hand-slide, their hands are always located at mirrored locations about the center plane of the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0040]    The track  204 , in one embodiment, revolves around the elongated rod  102  multiple times. For example, the track  204  may encircle the elongated rod two times. The number of revolutions that the track  204  revolves around the elongated rod  102  is selected according to a user&#39;s preferences. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view diagram illustrating a hand-slide  306 . The hand-slide in  FIG. 3  includes a track guide  302 , and attaching surfaces  304   a - b.  In at least one embodiment, the hand-slide  306  is formed from fabric. In a further embodiment, the hand-slide  306  may be made from plastic, metal, leather, and the like. 
         [0042]    In certain embodiments, the hand-slide  306  may comprise a track guide  302 . The track guide  302  is a thicker portion of the hand-slide  306  that is contoured to engage the track  204 . By engaging the track  204 , the track guide  302  prevents the hand-slide from rotating around the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102  unless the hand-slide  306  moves longitudinally along the track  204 . When the hand-slide  306  moves longitudinally along the track  204 , the hand-slide  306  may rotate around the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102  at the same rate that the track  204  rotates around the longitudinal axis of the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0043]    The track guide  302 , for example, comprises a pouch attached to the hand-slide  306 . The pouch may contain any material that helps it maintain a shape that matches the shape of the track  204 . For example, beans may fill the pouch. Alternatively, the pouch may contain sand, beads, paper, plastic, and the like. In a further embodiment, the track guide  302  is formed of a molded piece of material shaped to fill the track  104 . The molded material may comprise plastic, metal, wood, and the like. 
         [0044]    In certain embodiments, the hand-slide  306  detaches from the elongated rod  102 . When the hand-slide  306  detaches from the elongated rod  102 , the hand-slide  306  may include attachable surfaces  304   a - b . The attachable surface  304   a  engages the attachable surface  304   b.  The attachable surfaces  304   a - b  may attach to one another with hook and loop fasteners, buckles, zippers, laces, buttons, and the like. In at least one embodiment, where the track  204  extends to the end of the elongated rod  102 , the hand-slide  306  may detach by sliding off the end of the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0045]    In a further embodiment, the hand-slide  306  is not detachable from the elongated rod  102 . In this embodiment, the hand-slide  306  is manufactured from any material as outlined above. In one embodiment, the hand-slide  306  may be molded from a material such as plastic or metal. Further, the hand-slide  306  comprises a gripping surface applied to the hand-slide, the gripping surface aides a user in grasping the hand-slide  306  more effectively. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the elongated rod  102  having a plurality of tracks on each side of the center point of the elongated rod  102 . In certain embodiments, the elongated rod  102  may comprise the tracks  402   a - b.  The tracks  402   a - b  may rotate at the same rotational rate around the elongated rod  102 . The tracks  402   a - b  run parallel to one another along the elongated rod  102 . Further, the track  402   a  may lie on the opposite side of the elongated rod  102  from the track  402   b.  In another embodiment, the track  402   a  and the track  402   b  may lie at any position around the circumference of the elongated rod  102 . For example, the circumference of the elongated rod  102  may be five inches. 
         [0047]    The center of the track  402   a  may lie one inch along the circumference of the elongated rod  102  from the center of track  402   b . In other words, the distance between the two tracks, taken along the circumference of the rod, is a constant one inch. Alternatively, the center of the track  402   a  may lie 2.5 inches away from the center of the track  402   b  along the circumference of the elongated rod  102 . Further, in at least one embodiment, the center of the track  402   a  may lie 1.6 inches away from the center of the track  402   b  along the circumference of the elongated rod  102 , and the center of the track  402   b  may lie 1.7 inches away from the center of a third track along the circumference of the elongated rod  102 . The tracks may run parallel to one another throughout their length. 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  illustrates a hand-slide designed to slide on an elongated rod  102  with multiple tracks as shown in  FIG. 4 . The hand-slide  500  may comprise an attaching surface  504   a  and an attaching surface  504   b,  where the attaching surfaces  504   a - b  function similarly to the attaching surfaces  304   a - b  in  FIG. 3 . Further, the hand-slide may comprise the track guides  502   a - b,  where the track guides function similarly to the track guide  302  in  FIG. 3 . The track guides  502   a - b  may fit into the locations of multiple tracks as described in relation to  FIG. 4 . For example, when two tracks rotate around the elongated rod  102 , the track guides  502   a - b  may fill in the two different tracks. The hand-slide  500  may comprise a number of track guides  502  which correspond to the number of tracks rotating around the elongated rod  102 . 
         [0049]    In a further embodiment,  FIGS. 6   a - c  and  7   a - b  illustrate alternative embodiments of the track along with corresponding hand-slides.  FIGS. 6   a - c  illustrate tracks on an elongated rod according to various embodiments, while  FIGS. 7   a - b  illustrate hand-slides according to various embodiments. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6   a  shows an elongated rod  602   a  equipped with a magnetic track  604   a.  The magnetic track  604   a  spirals around the elongated rod  602   a  similarly to the way that the track  102   a  in  FIG. 1  spirals around the elongated rod  102 . The magnetic track  604   a  may comprise a metal attracted by a magnet, a magnetic material, a mixture of metal and magnetic material, and the like. Further, the magnetic track  604   a  may extend away from the elongated rod  602   a,  be embedded into the surface of the elongated rod  602   a,  be contained in a protective case, and the like. 
         [0051]    Similarly,  FIG. 7   a  shows a hand-slide  706   a  equipped with a magnetic slider  704   a.  The magnetic slider  704   a  may slide along the surface of the magnetic track  604   a,  spiraling around the elongated rod  602   a  at the same rate that the magnetic track  604   a  spirals around the elongated rod  602   a . The magnetic slider  704   a , in one embodiment, is a series of magnets attached to the hand-slide  706   a.  For example, a series of molybdenum magnets may be sown into a fabric hand-slide  706   a  at a pitch that matches the pitch of the magnetic track  604   a.  In certain embodiments, the magnetic slider  704   a  may comprise one solid magnet, a series of magnets, a metal attracted by magnets, and the like. In another embodiment, the magnets may be arranged to provide resistance against sliding, to increase exertion during a workout. 
         [0052]      FIG. 6   b  shows an elongated rod  602   b  equipped with a gear track  604   b.  The gear track  604   b  spirals around the elongated rod  602   b  in a manner similar to the track  102   a  of  FIG. 1 . The gear track  604   b  may comprise a series of small grooves designed to receive gear teeth. Further, the teeth of the gear track  604   b  may be indentations in the wood, inlaid metal, and the like. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7   b  shows a hand-slide  706   b  equipped with a gear slider  704   b.  The gear slider may comprise a series of rotating gears that engage the gear track  604   b.  The gears in the gear slider  704   b  may rotate as the gear teeth move through the gear track  604   b.  As the hand-slide  706   b  moves along the surface of the elongated rod  602   b,  the hand-slide  706   b  may spiral around the elongated rod  602   b  at the same rate that the gear track  604   b  spirals around the elongated rod  602   b.  In certain embodiments, the gear slider  704   b  may comprise gears manufactured from plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, and the like. 
         [0054]      FIG. 6   c  shows an elongated rod  602   c  equipped with a finger track  604   c.  The finger track  604   c  spirals around the elongated rod  602   c  similarly to the way that the track  102   a  in  FIG. 1  spirals around the elongated rod  102 . The finger track  604   c  may comprise a groove that is contoured to allow a human finger to slide through the track, removing the need for a hand-slide. Further, to allow fingers to slide through the finger track  604   c,  the finger track  604   c  may be inlaid with a friction reducing material, including wax, polished metal, plastic, polished wood, and the like. 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of the hand-slide, particularly when resistance inhibits the motion of the hand-slides along the elongated rod  102 . In  FIG. 8 , the hand-slides  106   a - b  further comprise a resistance band fastener  806 . Also, a resistance band  804  may connect the hand-slide  106   a  to the hand-slide  106   b.    
         [0056]    In certain embodiments, the resistance band fastener  806  may comprise a mechanism that secures the resistance band  804  to the hand-slides  106   a - b.  For example, the resistance band  804  may attach to the hand-slides  106   a - b  with hooks, hook and loop fasteners, notches, snaps, and the like. In at least one embodiment, the resistance band may permanently connect to the hand-slides  106   a - b.  In this embodiment, the resistance band fastener  806  may comprise a molded connection point that connects to the resistance band  804 . In another embodiment, the hand-slides  106   a - b  may connect to other forms of resistance. For example, the resistance bands may connect to a cable pulley system, where the cable pulley system connects to weight resistance. The hand-slides may connect to other forms of resistance including a plurality of resistance bands, bendable rods, and the like. 
         [0057]      FIG. 9  shows that the fitness stick may separate into different sections for storage and transportation. For example, the fitness stick  900  may comprise elongated rods  902   a - b,  a male rod fastener  904 , a female rod fastener  906 , and tracks  104   a - b.  The tracks  104   a - b  function as identified above. 
         [0058]    In certain embodiments, the fitness stick  900  may detach into two separate pieces, an elongated rod  902   a  and an elongated rod  902   b.  The elongated rod  902   a  may comprise a male rod fastener  904  and the elongated rod  902   b  may comprise a female rod fastener  906 . The elongated rod  902   a  may connect to the elongated rod  902   b . To connect the elongated rods  902   a - b,  the male rod fastener  904  may fit into the female rod fastener  906 . The male rod fastener  904  and the female rod fastener may connect in different ways, including threaded fasteners, sockets, and the like. When the elongated rod  902   a  connects to the elongated rod  902   b,  the tracks  104   a - b  must be reflectively symmetrical as previously described. 
         [0059]    The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.