Abstract:
An exercising device includes an elongated tube with a central axis that is filled with a particulate material of a selected weight. The particulate material shifts within the elongated tube to provide flexibility along the length of the tube and wherein the elongated tube compresses when pressure is applied thereto.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/532,107 filed on Dec. 22, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an exercise weight which was an elongated tubular cover and filled with a particulate material that is flexible so it may conform to various portions of the body. In particular, the exercise weight has a length that is retainable over the shoulders, around the neck or mid-section and includes stirrups or hand loops at the opposite ends of the elongated tubular cover which carry fasteners or a buckle to permit forming the weight into a loop or circular enclosure.  
         [0003]     In the prior art, various types of exercise weights have been used, including multi-functional devices that have various hinged sections, and form elongated weights that can be lifted and twisted. Elongated bars with handles at opposite ends have been used as well. Additionally, the use of flexible members that are elongated and can be grasped by the hands have been provided.  
         [0004]     However, a versatile, adjustable length, conformable and flexible weight that can be used in an enclosed loop, or in an elongated form, is desirable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention includes an exercising device having an elongated tube with a central axis that is filled with a particulate material of a selected weight. The particulate material shifts within the elongated tube to provide flexibility along the length of the tube and wherein the elongated tube compresses when pressure is applied thereto. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the elongated flexible weight of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the elongated flexible weight along section line  2 -- 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the elongated flexible weight secured in a loop about a waist of the exerciser;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the flexible weight of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention in a curved position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention in a loop configuration;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a flexible hand weight of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of the flexible hand weight of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exerciser resistance training with the flexible weight of the present invention being looped about a fore arm of the exerciser;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the exerciser of the present invention exercising shoulder muscles with less resistance than in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an exerciser using a single elongated weight to vary resistance;  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an exerciser using a plurality of flexible elongated weights positioned about the exercisers waist;  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of an exerciser gripping the first and second handle straps for doing lifting exercises;  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an exerciser gripping the elongated flexible weight and doing arm exercises;  
         [0020]      FIG. 15  is another perspective view of an exerciser gripping the elongated flexible weight and doing arm exercises;  
         [0021]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an exerciser employing a flexible elongated weight about a nape of the exerciser and performing leg exercises;  
         [0022]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an exerciser engaging a foot through a loop of the elongated weight and performing leg exercises;  
         [0023]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the exerciser coiling a flexible weight about a leg to reduce a resistance of the weight while performing leg exercises;  
         [0024]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the exerciser coiling a flexible weight about the leg and performing leg raising exercises while lying on a side; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the exerciser having a flexible weight coiled about the arm and performing arm raising exercises. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     A flexible weight of the present invention is illustrated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible weight  10  has an elongated sleeve or tube  12  filled with a selected amount of a particulate material or granular material  14  such that the flexible weight  10  has a desired weight.  
         [0027]     After being filled with the particulate material or granular material  14 , the tube  12  is closed at its ends  16  and  18 . The tube  12  can be seamed in a suitable manner by sewing it at its ends and along a length, if desired, and can be made of a material that can be pre-formed into a tubular shape with one end open for filling. The tube  12  can be closed by sewing it together or with adhesives or heat sealed, or in other ways as well. The granular material  14  is generally a dry material such as a dry sand, small rock, various type of metal shot, hollow spheres, and the like.  
         [0028]     The tube  12  has a generally circular cross section and a central axis  13  running the length of the tube. The tube  12  is generally of a cloth-like material so that it is comfortable against the skin of a person, and which is a durable material as well to avoid excessive wear.  
         [0029]     Optionally, the tube  12  may be covered by a sleeve  11 . The sleeve  11  is preferably removable from the tube  12  and is capable of being washed to remove dirt and perspiration and also to provide additional protection to the exerciser.  
         [0030]     The tube  12  includes at least one loop  20  at one end  16  of the tube. The loop  20  can be used as a hand grip or a foot stirrup as well as being positioned on a limb. Preferably, a buckle  22  is attached to the loop  20  and engages a strap  24  attached to the other end  18  of the tube  12 . The strap  24  can be used as a hand grip or positioned through the buckle  22  to define a loop of a selected perimeter. The buckle  22  secures the strap  24  in a selected position thereby securing the flexible weight  10  around a portion of the exerciser&#39;s body such as a torso or waist  42  of an exerciser  40  as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The exerciser can utilize the flexible weight  10  secured about the waist  42  while walking, jogging, in-line skating, or other aerobic activity such as martial arts and performing leg exercises including squats or lunges.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , a second loop  26  can be attached to the other end  18  of the tube  12  instead of the strap  24 . The second loop  26  can also be used as a hand grip or a foot stirrup. The loops  20 ,  26  define openings that are of size to receive an arm or leg of the exerciser  40 . The loops  20 ,  26  and the strap  24  can be made of a material that can either be a non-stretch fabric, rope and the like, or if desired, can be an elastic material such as rubber or suitable elastomer. The material for the loops  20 ,  26  and the strap  24  can also run continuously along the entire outer or inner surface of the tube  12  to help in the structural integrity of the design.  
         [0032]     At the outer end of each of the loops  20 ,  26 , there alternatively may be an adjustable fastening mechanism  28  that includes mating elements  30 ,  32  that can be joined together or held together in some manner. A non-exhaustive list of fastening mechanisms  28  include a buckle, a snap, a hook and loop fastener such as that sold under the Velcro trademark and a buckle with a hasp engaging holes in the other loop. It is apparent that other types of fasteners can be used as well.  
         [0033]     An adjusting buckle  21  is attached to the loop  20  to vary the overall circumference of the elongated weight  10  when positioned into a loop. It is apparent that a second adjusting buckle may also be attached to the loop  26  to further adjust the circumference of the elongated weight  10 .  
         [0034]     The tube  12  can be of any desired length, but for example, a length of about 3 feet has found to be acceptable. A tube diameter of approximately 3-4 inches also is found acceptable. This diameter can vary from about 2 inches up to about 12 inches depending on the weight that is desired. The particulate material  14  can be from 2 pounds up to in excess of 100 pounds depending on the desires of the users, and provides weight suitable for muscle exertion by the exerciser while exercising.  
         [0035]     The tube  12  may have indicia  34  to indicate a selected weight or may have indicia which corresponds to a weight  34 . By indicia is meant any distinctive marking such as printing, a color or a design.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it is also within the scope of the present invention for a flexible weight  50  to be configured to be hand-held and having a generally cylindrical configuration with a central axis  51 . The hand-held weights  50  include an elongated tube  52  that is filled with a selected amount of particulate material or granular material and is sealed at both ends  54 ,  56 . The particulate material shifts within the tube  52  such that the hand-held weight conforms to a grip of the exerciser  40 . The hand-held weights  50  are retained to the exerciser&#39;s hand  44  by a retaining strap  58 . The retaining strap  58  is secured to the elongated sleeve  52  and can is sized to receive some or all of the digits of the hand.  
         [0037]     The retaining strap  58  is sized to receive all four digits of the hand as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the retaining strap  58  can be sized to receive only one digit as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . It is also within the scope of the present invention for the retaining strap  58  to receive two or three digits.  
         [0038]     The elongated flexible weight  10  can be used separately from the hand held weights  50 . The elongated flexible weight  10  can also be used at the same time as the hand held weights.  
         [0039]     The flexible elongated weights  10 ,  50  can be used to perform all of the exercises that can be performed with a rigid barbell or dumbbell. One advantage of the flexible elongated weights  10 ,  50  is that the particulate material shifts within the tube  12 ,  52 , thereby reducing or eliminating the likelihood of the exerciser injuring his/her foot or hand if the flexible weights  10 ,  50  is accidentally dropped upon the exerciser. The flexible weights  10 ,  50  when dropped will conform to the foot or hand and not injure the exerciser.  
         [0040]     Additionally, a single elongated flexible weight  10  is useful at providing different resistances depending upon a distance D from a center of gravity the flexible elongated weight  10  from the joint that is being articulated by flexing and isolating muscles or muscle groups. By way of example, referring to  FIG. 10 , the weight  10  may be positioned along a length of the arm  48 , where the particulate material  14  shifts within the elongated tube to conform to the contour of the arm  48 . Positioning the elongated weight  10  upon the arm  48  shifts the center of gravity proximate the shoulder joint defined by the distance D, and the resistance to the shoulder muscles is lessened as the arm is raised and lowered by articulating the shoulder joint  49 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the same weight is hanging from the arm  48  near the hand  49 , the resistance is increased as the arm  48  is raised and lowered by articulating the shoulder joint  49  because the center of gravity is a further distance D from the shoulder joint  49 . The flexible weights can be positioned anywhere along the length of the arm  48  to increase or decrease the resistance by shifting the distance D from the center of gravity of the weight to the joint being articulated.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the exerciser  40  can insert the arm through the loop  20  and coil the flexible weight  10  about the arm to adjust the distance D from the shoulder joint  49  to the center of gravity of the flexible weight  10  and thereby varying the resistance on the shoulder muscles. The coils can be moved toward the hand to increase the distance D and therefore the increase the resistance on the shoulder muscles or the coils can be shifted toward the shoulder joint  49  and thereby decrease the resistance on the shoulder muscles by decreasing the distance D.  
         [0043]     As the weight  10  is positioned further from the articulating joint  49 , the resistance is increased and as the weight  10  is positioned closer to the articulating joint  49 , the resistance is decreased. Therefore, the exerciser can achieve a variety of resistances with the same flexible weight  10 , and eliminates the need to add or reduce weight from a barbell or retrieve a different weighted dumbbell. Varying the position of the flexible weight  10  on a leg  47  to vary the resistance to a muscle or muscle group is also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , another method of use of a single flexible weight  10  that provides a varying amount of resistance is to place a first portion  15  of the flexible weight on a surface such as a bench or the exerciser&#39;s lap  45  and lifting only a second portion  17  of the weight  10  by articulating a joint or joints. As more of the weight  10  is positioned upon the surface or lap  45  by increasing a length of the first portion  15 , the muscles used to articulate the joint incur less resistance. Conversely, as the length of the first position  15  decreases, the length of the second portion increases  17  and the resistance upon the muscles used to articulate the joint increases. By varying the lengths of the first portions  15  of the elongated flexible weight  10  upon the surface or lap  45 , a length of the second portion  17  also varies and thereby varies the resistance to a muscle or group of muscles while employing only one weight. In contrast when rigid weights are used to exercise, different weights have to be added to or removed from a barbell or a different set of dumbbells must be used, both of which increase the time and inconvenience in exercising.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the elongated flexible weight  10  of the present invention is also useful in quickly decreasing the amount of weight being lifted thereby allowing the exerciser to continue exercising as the isolated muscles fatigue. A plurality of elongated flexible weights  10  are positioned about the waist  42  or upon the nape  43 . As the muscles being exercised fatigue one or more of the flexible weights  10  are removed from the exerciser by removing the weight from the nape of the neck or unfastening the buckle  22  and allowing the elongated weight  10  to drop. This procedure can be repeated until no elongated weights  10  remain on the exerciser  40 .  
         [0046]     The elongated flexible weight  10  and/or hand weights  50  are also useful in performing a number of exercises that can be performed using a barbell or a dumbbell. The flexibility of the elongated weight  10  allows a variety of exercises to be performed with a single weight.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  illustrates a user  40  holding the loops  20 ,  26  for lifting in the hands  44 . Aside from grasping the loops  20 ,  26 , the tube  12  itself can be gripped by the user&#39;s hand  44  at any portion along the tube  12 , the exerciser  40  can perform various exercises and aerobic motions, like curls, press&#39;s and others, such as forearm exercises.  FIG. 14  shows the exerciser  40  holding the elongated tube  12  proximate the ends  14 ,  16  with both hands for performing curls and other upper body exercises, thereby moving both arms simultaneously, or for moving one arm and then the other. Reversing the position of the weight  10  so the major portion of the tube  12  is above the hands  44 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , permits the exerciser  40  to upright raise exercises and allows for additional exercising versatility.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 16 , the weight  10  is formed into the loop and is placed around the neck  41  and about the nape  43  of a user  40 . In this illustration, the elongated weight  10  adds additional weight to the body, so that doing “squats” by flexing the knees and hips exercises the leg muscles. When positioned about the nape  43 , the elongated flexible weight  10  conforms to the exerciser&#39;s shoulders and chest, thereby allowing the back to be in the proper position because the weight is distributed about the spine. The position or location of the weight  10  also serves for adding resistance to movements like lunging, stepping, skating, walking and jogging.  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  shows a leg raise exercise where a foot  45  is positioned within the loop  20 . By inserting the foot  45  into the loop  18  and holding the weight along a leg  47 , the leg muscles can be exercised by front, rear and sideways movement.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , the elongated weight  10  can be coiled about the leg  47  to move the center of gravity a distance from the articulated joint and thereby change the resistant to muscles being exercised with a single weight. As the coils are wound tightly to ward the foot  45 , the center of gravity is shifted from the articulating hop or knee joint. Conversely, as the distance between the coils is increased, the center of gravity is shifted toward the articulating knee or hip joint thereby decreasing the resistance upon the muscles being exercised. The elongated weight  10  can also be coiled about the arm  48  in a similar fashion to increase or decrease the resistance while using a simple elongated weight.  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the exerciser  40  can lay on his/her side with the elongated weight  10  coiled about the leg  47  with the foot  45  positioned within the loop  20 . The exerciser  40  grips the other loop  26  and can perform a variety of leg raises that exercise the upper leg, hip flexor and buttocks. By adjusting the position of the coils about the leg  47 , the resistance created with one elongated weight  10  can be increased by positioning the coils proximate the foot  45  or the resistance decreased by spacing apart the coils such that a center of gravity is nearer the muscles being exercised.  
         [0052]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.