Abstract:
Left and right resistance devices are configured and arranged in different ways to accommodate different types of exercises. In one arrangement, the resistance devices are connected to respective ends of a bar. In one exercise, a person stands on the bar and pulls on handles connected to flexible members emanating from the resistance devices. In another exercise, a person sits down, supports the bar on her feet, and pulls on the handles. In another arrangement, the resistance devices are instead connected to a pole, and the person pulls on the handles. In yet another arrangement, the resistance devices are connected to a person&#39;s hands and/or feet, and the flexible members are connected to a harness secured about the person&#39;s torso.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Disclosed herein is subject matter that is entitled to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/281,021, filed Nov. 12, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for exercising muscles of the human body, and more specifically, to exercise equipment that may be carried by a person without assistance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide improved portable exercise apparatus and methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one sense, the present invention may be described in terms of a portable exercise kit for use by a person. One such kit preferably includes an elongate bar, a left resistance device selectively mounted on a left end of the bar, and a right resistance device selectively mounted of a right end of the bar. A left force receiving member is connected to a flexible member emanating from the left resistance device, and a right force receiving member is connected to a flexible member emanating from the right resistance device. The bar is preferably configured to support the foot of a standing person, and alternatively, to be supported on the feet of a sitting person. 
     Another such kit preferably includes a harness, a left resistance device sized and configured to be held in a person&#39;s left hand, and a right resistance device sized and configured to be held in a person&#39;s right hand. The harness is connected to a flexible member emanating from the left resistance device, and to a flexible member emanating from the right resistance device. The resistance devices are also sized and configured to be secured to a person&#39;s respective left and right feet. Yet another kit includes a post strap in addition to the harness. Moreover, the bar described above with reference to the first kit may be combined with these other kits to create still more kits. 
     The present invention may also be described in terms of methods of exercise performed by a person, and such methods may be described with reference to any of the foregoing kits. For example, one such method involves a first mode of operation, wherein the bar is placed on a support surface, and the person stands on an intermediate portion of the bar, and a second mode of operation, wherein the person sits on the support surface, and uses her feet to hold the bar at an elevation above the floor surface. In each mode, the person uses her left arm to extract a flexible member from the left resistance device, and uses her right arm to extract a flexible member from the right resistance device. 
     In another method, a person dons the harness, secures the left resistance device in her left hand, and secures the right resistance device in her right hand. She connects the harness to a flexible member emanating from the left resistance device, and to a flexible member emanating from the right resistance device. She then moves her left arm to extract the flexible member from the left resistance device, and moves her right arm to extract the flexible member from the right resistance device. Many features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       With reference to the Figures of the Drawing, wherein like numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view a person performing a first exercise with exercise equipment configured and arranged in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a person performing a second exercise with exercise equipment configured and arranged in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a person performing a third exercise with exercise equipment configured and arranged in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned front view of a resistance device that is shown in use in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another partially sectioned front view of the resistance device of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially sectioned end view of an alternative base member and an alternative embodiment resistance device that may be substituted for those shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially sectioned perspective view of the base member of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of two of the resistance devices of  FIGS. 4-5  configured and arranged to facilitate a fourth exercise in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a person P exercising with equipment configured and arranged according to the principles of the present invention. The person P is standing with one foot F on a base member  200 . The base member  200  includes a flat elongate bar  210  that is preferably stamped from a sheet of steel. Left and right toe cups  280  are preferably secured to respective left and right segments of the bar  210 . Each toe cup  280  is preferably a conventional bicycle toe cup that is secured to the bar  210  by at least one screw. The toe cups  280  are not used during the exercise shown in  FIG. 1 , but are useful for certain other types of exercise, including the exercise shown in  FIG. 2 , for example. 
     Left and right brackets  260  are secured to respective left and right ends of the bar  210 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , each bracket  260  is sized and configured to receive and releasably retain a respective resistance device  600 . In some respects, including certain aspects of construction, operation, and use, the resistance devices  600  are comparable to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,607 to Ihli, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,001 to Ihli, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. On alternative embodiments, different types of resistance arrangements may be used in the alternative, including, for example, the isokinetic resistance devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,740 to Loubert et al., which is also incorporated herein by reference. Operation of the resistance devices  600  is described with reference to  FIGS. 4-5 . 
     Among other things, the resistance device  600  includes a housing  692  that defines notches at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00. At least the notches at 3:00 and 9:00 are interrupted by respective steel pins  698  that cooperate with the main body of the housing  692  to define strap receiving slots. A strap  606  is selectively inserted through each slot and secured to itself via hook and loop type fasteners. The strap  606  accommodates usage of the resistance device  800  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  shows one end of the base member  200  with the understanding that an opposite end is a mirror image thereof. A receptacle  260  is rigidly secured to an end of the base member bar  210 . The receptacle  260  preferably includes a C-shaped frame member  262  and a somewhat similarly shaped latch member  266 . The frame member  262  is preferably a flat steel bar that has been formed into the desired configuration, and welded in place onto the base member bar  210 . A lower end of the frame member  262  is bifurcated or pronged for reasons discussed below. The latch member  266  is preferably an injection molded plastic part that fits into the frame member  262 , and that is preferably secured in place by at least one screw. The latch member  266  defines an inwardly facing periphery that matches an external periphery defined by the resistance device housing  692 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the resistance device  600  nested inside the receptacle  260  and ready for use as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , for example. The resistance device  600  is moved into this arrangement by feeding the top of the housing  692  into the top of the receptacle  260 , and then sliding the bottom of the housing  692  past a latch  268  on the receptacle  260 . The latch  268  is configured to snap into alignment with a complementary portion of the resistance device housing  692  as the resistance device housing  692  arrives at the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The latch  268  may be described as an integrally formed leaf spring on a lower end of the latch member  266 . In order to remove the resistance device housing  692  from the receptacle  260 , the latch  268  must be deflected downward between the pronged ends of the frame member  262 . This arrangement facilitates convenient connection of the resistance device  600  to the base member  200 , and convenient removal of the resistance device  600  from the base member  200 . Moreover, the housing  692  is preferably configured to accommodate reorientation of the resistance device  600  relative to the receptacle  260  when the strap  606  is removed from the housing  692 . 
       FIGS. 4-5  show components of one of the resistance devices  600 . Each resistance device  600  includes a flexible member or resistance cable  620  that is extracted from housing  692  when the extraction force exceeds an adjustable level of resistance, and that is rewound into the housing  692  when tension in the cable  620  falls below the rewind force exerted by a spring within the housing  692 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cable  620  is wound about a sheave  680 , which in turn, is mounted on a rotatable shaft  615  via a conventional one-way clutch bearing  685 . A hub  655  is rigidly secured to the shaft  615 , and a steel cylindrical cap  656  is rigidly mounted on the hub  655  to define a resistance drum. A stainless steel brake band  666  is secured about a portion of the cap  656  with a Kevlar brake strip sandwiched therebetween. The brake band  666  cooperates with the resistance drum to provide resistance to rotation of the shaft  615  in either direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a coiled rewind spring  690  is nested within a compartment defined by the sheave  680 . An inner end of the spring  690  is anchored to the housing  692  via a peg  608 , and an opposite, outer end of the spring  690  is anchored to the sheave  680  via a flange  682 . As a result, the spring  690  biases the sheave  680  to rotate in a first rotational direction relative to the shaft  615  and the housing  692 . The sheave  680  rotates together with the shaft  615  and relative to the housing  692  in an opposite, second rotational direction in response to extraction of the cable  620 . Thereafter, when the cable  620  is released, the rewind spring  690  rotates the sheave  680  relative to the shaft  615  to retract the cable  620  within the housing  692 . 
     A knob  630  is rotatably mounted on an end of the housing  692 , and rotates relative to the housing  692  to adjust the level of resistance associated with the resistance drum. The housing  692  includes a bracket or frame member  616  that is preferably a stamped metal part. The frame member  616  is preferably secured in place between opposing “halves” of the housing  692  by means of internal structure on the housing shells, as well as fasteners that secure the halves to one another. A first rivet or other suitable fastener secures a first end of the brake strip  665  to a first portion of the frame member  616 . A second rivet or other suitable fastener secures an opposite, second end of the brake strip  665  to a discrete, second portion of the frame member  616 . The second rivet also preferably secures an end of the tension band  666  to the second portion of the frame member  616 . 
     An opposite end of the tension band  666  is secured to a slide block  676  by means of a separate fastener, which is preferably a screw. The slide block  676  is threaded onto a bolt  677 , and the slide block  676  bears against the frame member  616  in a manner that prevents rotation while allowing linear travel of the former relative to the latter. The bolt  677  is rotatably mounted within upper and lower openings in the frame member  616 . An upper end of the bolt  677  is keyed to the knob  630 , and a lower end of the bolt  677  is rigidly fastened to a nut  678 . A thrust bearing is preferably disposed between the knob  630  and the frame member  616  to accommodate relative rotation therebetween. The foregoing elements cooperate to rotatably mount the bolt  677  in a specific position relative to the frame. A lower end of the frame member  616  is configured and arranged to limit downward travel of the slide block  676  along the bolt  677 . On an alternative embodiment, a pin or other suitable stop is preferably secured to a lower section of the bolt  677  to function as the stopping means. 
     When the knob  630  is rotated in a first direction, tension in the tension band  666  increases, and when the knob  630  is rotated in an opposite, second direction, tension in the tension band  666  decreases. In either case, tension in the brake material  665  remains relatively unaffected, while compression of the brake material  665  against the cap  656  increases or decreases in direct relation to the change in tension in the tension band  666 . On a working embodiment of the device  600 , the resistance experienced by a user is smooth and predictable through a range of 2 to 40 pounds in response to less than two full rotations of the knob  630 . 
     A re-directional bearing assembly  640  is movably mounted on top of the housing  692 , and the cable  620  is routed through the re-directional bearing assembly  640  to accommodate extraction of the cable  620  in any direction having an upward component relative to the top of the housing  692 . Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the re-directional bearing  640  is located at one of six available “corner locations” on the housing  692 , and furthermore, that it need not occupy an orthogonal or parallel orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment bolt  677 . 
     A bead or stop  624  is rigidly secured to an external portion of the cable  620 , and the bead  614  is too large to fit through the opening defined by the re-directional bearing assembly  640 , thereby preventing the distal end of the cable  620  from becoming lost inside the housing  692 . A carabineer clip  622  is connected to an outer distal end of the cable  620  to releasably connect the cable  620  to any of various force receiving members, including a conventional force receiving member, such as the handle shown in FIG. 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,001, for example. 
       FIGS. 1-2  show conventional left and right handles  90  connected to respective carabineers  622 . Each handle  90  includes a strap having an intermediate portion routed through a hand grip tube, and opposite ends that are joined together about a ring. Each ring is clipped onto a respective carabineer  622  in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the person P is standing with one foot F on the base member  200 , and with respective handles  90  in her left and right hands H. Among other things, this arrangement allows the person P to contemporaneously perform both a lunge exercise with her lower body and a low row to low press exercise with her upper body. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the person&#39;s left and right feet F are situated in respective toe cups  260  on the base member  200 , and the person&#39;s left and right hands H are grasping respective left and right handles  90 . The person P is sitting on a floor surface and using her feet F to hold the base member  200  at an elevation above the floor surface. Among other things, this arrangement allows the person P to perform a row-type exercise. 
       FIG. 3  shows two resistance devices  600  removed from the base member  200 , and alternatively secured in respective hands H of a person P. Also, two additional resistance devices  600  are secured to the person&#39;s respective feet F, via respective foot straps  360  and  366 . Each foot strap  360  is secured in a loop about a respective resistance device  600  and a central portion of the person&#39;s foot F. Each foot strap  366  is secured in a closed loop about a respective resistance device  600  and the person&#39;s ankle. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the person P is occupying a supine position on a floor surface G, with her arms and her legs extending generally perpendicularly upward from the ground surface G. The person is wearing a harness  400  having a torso belt  404  that forms a closed loop about her torso, and left and right shoulder straps  402  that extend over her shoulders and between front ends connected to respective front segments of the torso belt  404  and back ends connected to respective back segments of the torso belt  404 . Left and right foam blocks  408  are secured to respective left and right sides of the torso belt  404 , and connection rings are connected to the torso belt  404  at outboard locations relative to respective foam blocks  408 . The foam blocks  408  move the rings away from the person&#39;s sides, and the rings are connected to respective carabineers  622 . Among other things, this arrangement facilitates contemporaneous arm press and leg press exercises. 
       FIG. 8  shows two of the resistance devices  600  secured to an elongate vertical support structure  80 , such as a pole, for example. A pole strap  800  forms a closed loop about the pole  80  and both of the resistance devices  600 . Straps  606  extend about respective resistance devices  600 , and about respective portions of the pole strap  800 , as well. This arrangement facilitates a variety of lower body exercises when positioned a first distance above a ground surface, and a variety of upper body exercises when positioned a relatively greater, second distance above a ground surface. 
     Persons skilled in the art will recognize that the subject present invention may be described in terms of methods with reference to the foregoing embodiments. For example, the present invention may be described in terms of a method of exercise performed by a person using a kit including a left resistance device, a right resistance device, and a body harness. One such method involves donning the harness; securing the left resistance device in one&#39;s left hand; securing the right resistance device in one&#39;s right hand; connecting the harness to a flexible member emanating from the left resistance device; connecting the harness to a flexible member emanating from the right resistance device; moving one&#39;s left arm to extract the flexible member from the left resistance device; and moving one&#39;s right arm to extract the flexible member from the right resistance device. 
     The present invention may also be described in terms of a method of exercise performed by a person with a bar having a left resistance device mounted on its left end, and a right resistance device mounted on its right end. One such method involves alternative first and second modes of operation. In the first mode of operation, placing the bar on a support surface, and standing on an intermediate portion of the bar. In the second mode of operation, sitting on the support surface, and using one&#39;s feet to hold the bar at an elevation above the floor surface. In each said mode of operation, using one&#39;s left arm to extract a left flexible member from the left resistance device, and using one&#39;s right arm to extract a right flexible member from the right resistance device. 
     Recognizing that this disclosure will enable persons skilled in the art to derive various alternative embodiments and applications, the scope of the subject invention should be limited only to the extent of the claims set forth below.