Abstract:
Exercise devices that can be worn on the hand or foot utilizing resistance from the air to perform the exercises. The exercise device comprises a fitting member and a resistance member connected to the fitting member. The fitting member is configured to be worn on a limb, such as the hand or foot so that the user does not have to hold anything during the exercise. Additional weights can be added to the exercise device, but the overall apparatus remains small and relatively lightweight so that it may be easily carried in luggage and used on the go.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is in the field of exercise devices that use inertia and/or air resistance to enhance the exercise, and more particularly, such exercises that use flipper-like arm or leg extensions to create such resistance forces. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are numerous exercise devices on the market. Most of them tend to be bulky and expensive because they require a frame or structure in combination with weights, elastic bands, or other resistance mechanisms to provide a resistive force during the exercise routine. Some devices utilize a framework along with only the user&#39;s own body weight, but these often are insufficient due to the limited degree to which the user can vary the load or effect of the load for the exercise or accommodate the variety of body weights. These exercise systems likewise tend to be bulky as substantial framework is normally involved. Therefore, there is still a need for an exercise device that provides sufficient resistance, variability, and diversity to perform several exercises and that is lightweight and readily portable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The exercise device and method of the present invention comprises one or more flipper or fin-like resistance members attached to fitting members that may be worn, such as on the user&#39;s hands, arms, legs, or feet. The user dons the exercise devices and then moves resistance members back and forth in short linear movements such that the air resistance effect of the short linear movements and/or the inertial effect from the changes in the direction of the short linear movements work targeted muscle groups for the exercise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in which the user is moving the resistance member back and forth in short vertical linear movements. 
         FIG. 1C  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in which the user is moving the resistance member back and forth in short horizontal linear movements. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the resistance member is rotatably attached to a hand fitting member. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the fitting member is designed to attach to the users forearm. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the resistance member is rotatably attached to a foot fitting member. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the fitting member is designed to attach to the user&#39;s lower leg. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one exercise utilizing one embodiment of the present invention for the hands and moving the resistance members back and forth generally perpendicular to the floor, thereby exercising a given combination of muscle groups. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another exercise in which the user exercises different muscle groups than in  FIG. 6  simply by rotating the user&#39;s arms and moving the resistance members back and forth generally parallel to the floor. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another set of exercises in keeping with one embodiment of the present invention by utilizing four such resistance members. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the present invention that uses an attachment bridge member so that the user can move the attached resistance members only in unison. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  in use. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of one example of an attachment bridge connector in keeping with the present invention as taken from the plane XI in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of the attachment bridge connector of  FIG. 11  but in a detached position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     One embodiment of the present invention comprises an exercise device and method for exercising many different muscle groups and comprising one or more resistance members  200  attached to either a hand fitting member  100  or foot fitting member  300 . The hand fitting member  100  comprises a proximal portion  102  and a metacarpal portion  104  adjacent to the proximal portion  102 . When properly worn, the proximal portion  102  covers some portions of the user&#39;s hand, wrist, and/or forearm, and the metacarpal portion  104  covers the metacarpus region of the hand. In some embodiments, the hand fitting members  100  may also comprise a distal portion  106  extending from the metacarpal portion  104  away from the proximal portion  102 . When worn properly, the distal portion  106  covers the phalanges, i.e., fingers. 
     The hand fitting member  100  allows the resistance member  200  to be attached to the hand (or wrist or arm) in one of a number of possible ways so that the user does not have to use his or her fingers to grip the resistance members  200 . The hand fitting member  100  configured for the hand may be generally a modified glove in the same way a swim fin is snugly fit to a swimmer&#39;s foot. As a result, the user need not hold on to anything in order to perform the exercises. In some embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may have a single compartment  108  where most of the hand and fingers reside. In other embodiments, each finger or group of fingers is separated into separate compartments. A thumb-hole  110  may be created to free the thumb and allow it to protrude out from the hand fitting member  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may terminate near the wrist area. This will allow the user to perform exercises to strengthen many muscle groups of the body, including although not limited to the upper arms, chest, shoulders, back, and abdominal muscles, as discussed below, but also the user&#39;s fingers, wrist, and forearm. In other embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may extend over at least a portion of the forearm, such as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This will allow the user to focus the exercises on the muscle groups such as upper arms, chest, shoulders, back, and abdominal muscles. 
     In some embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may be made from a flexible yet durable material. By way of example only, the hand fitting member may be made from, the elastomeric materials used in commercially available swim fins, such as spandex, nylon, neoprene, leather, cotton, and the like. The flexibility of the hand fitting member  100  allows the user to perform exercises to strengthen the fingers and the forearm in addition to the core shoulder, chest, back, and abdominal muscles. 
     In some embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may be made from a sturdy and more rigid material. By way of example only, the hand fitting member  100  may be made from plastic, wood, metal, and the like. The rigidity of the hand fitting member  100  may allow the user to focus the exercises to the upper arms, shoulders, back, and chest. It also provides improved durable connection between the hand fitting member  100  and the resistance member  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the hand fitting member  100  may be made from a combination of flexible material and rigid material to provide comfort and flexibility to perform various exercises while also providing stability and durability. In some embodiments, the resistance member  200  may extend up into the hand fitting member  100  to provide additional stability for the connection between the hand fitting member  100  and the resistance member  200 . 
     The foot fitting member  300  is like a piece of footwear modified to be connected to the resistance member  200 . Examples of types of footwear that can be modified include, but are not limited to, swim fins, shoes, boots, socks, ankle braces, and the like. Like typical footwear, the foot fitting member  300  has a single compartment  308  into which the foot can be inserted. The compartment is defined by a proximal portion  302  that covers the ankle and a portion of the leg, and a metatarsal portion  304  that covers at least a portion of the bottom of the feet (or metatarsus region), particularly at the arches, and the dorsal portion of the foot and the ankles. Anterior  306  and posterior  307  portions may remain open to allow the toes and heel to be exposed. In some embodiments, the compartment  308  may further be defined by anterior and posterior portions to fully cover the entire foot like a shoe. 
     In some embodiments, the proximal portion  302  may terminate just above the ankle. This embodiment is useful for exercising the ankles, the legs, the gluteus maximus, the abdominal muscles, and the back, but also the ankles and calf muscles. 
     The foot fitting member  300 , like the hand fitting member  100 , may be made from a flexible yet durable material. By way of example only, the foot fitting member  300  may be made from cotton, nylon, leather, spandex, and the like. The flexibility of the foot fitting member  300  allows the user to perform ankle exercises to strengthen the ankles as well as the legs, gluteus maximus, abdominal muscles, and back muscles. 
     In other embodiments, the foot fitting member  300  may be made from a sturdy and more rigid material. By way of example only, the foot fitting member  300  may be made from metal, plastic, wood, and the like. The rigidity of the foot fitting member  300  allows the user to focus the exercises on the legs, gluteus maximus, abdominal muscles, and back muscles. 
     In some embodiments, the foot fitting member  300  may be made from a combination of flexible material and rigid material to provide comfort and flexibility to perform various exercises while also providing stability and durability. In some embodiments, the resistance member  200  may extend up into the foot fitting member  300  for a more sturdy connection. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments, the proximal portion  302  may extend up to the lower leg. This embodiment is useful for exercising the upper legs, the gluteus maximus, abdominal muscles, and the back. 
     Preferably, the resistance member  200  is flat with two surface areas  202 ,  204  like a fin, flipper, or paddle. The member also may be generally symmetrical about a central axis A, as shown in  FIG. 1A . For example, the resistance member  200  may be generally rectangular, quadrilateral, or oval in shape, having a proximal end  206  attached to the fitting members  100  or  300  and a distal end  208  opposite the proximal end  206 . The resistance member  200  may be connected to the fitting member  100  or  300  in such a way as to be rotatable about the central axis A, such as shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  4 A, and  4 B. For example, the resistance member  200  may be connected to the fitting member  100  or  300  via a rotatable mount  210 . The rotatable mount  210  may have a first member  212  fixed to the fitting member  100  or  300  and a second member  214  fixed to the resistance member  200 . The first and second members  212  and  214  may then be coupled in a rotatable fashion. 
     For example, the rotatable mount  210  may be a ball and socket joint, or two flat surfaces, each having a mating keying member so that the resistance member  200  may be rotated 90° and then temporarily locked at that angle relative to hand or foot fitting member  100 ,  300 . The mount  210  may thus allow the resistance member  200  to be rotated in a graded fashion, such as 45° or through other angles other than just 0° and 90° so that additional exercises and body movements may be achieved. In addition, the mount  210  not only allows the resistance member  200  to rotate about an axis A, but may also to move in two dimensions relative to the fitting member  100  or  300 . In other words, besides a rotational movement about a longitudinal axis A defined by the fitting member  100  or  300 , the resistance member  200  may also be moved side-to-side or up-and-down relative to the longitudinal axis A of the fitting member. 
     In another embodiment, the first and second members  212 ,  214  may have mating surfaces  216 ,  218  in which the two members  212 ,  214  can rotate relative to each other along their mating surfaces  216 ,  218 . One of the members  212  may have one or more stops  220  or detents projecting out from or adjacent to its mating surface  216  with each stop  220  angularly spaced apart from another around a circular periphery, whereas the other mating surface  218  may have a plurality of reciprocal notches  222  on or adjacent to its mating surface  218  with each notch  222  angularly spaced apart from another around a circular periphery in such a way that each protruding stop  220  can be seated in one of the notches  222  simultaneously. In some embodiments, a tension device (not shown) may be placed at the centers of the mating surfaces  216 ,  218  to bias the mating surfaces  216 ,  218  together. Rotation of the one of the members  216  or  218 , either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion, causes each of the protruding stops  220  to dislodge from their respective notch  222  and proceed to slide along the mating face  216  or  218  containing the notches  222  until the protruding stops  220  are seated into their respective adjacent notches  222 . 
     In some embodiments, each stop/notch pair  220 ,  222  may be spaced apart along a circular perimeter approximately 90° from another stop/notch pair. For example, in one embodiment, there may be two stop/notch pairs  220 ,  222  or four stop/notch pairs, each pair spaced apart on a circular perimeter approximately 90° apart. This allows the resistance member  200  to have at least two orientations. To illustrate, if a user is wearing the exercise device on his hands with his arms stretched out in front of him with his palms facing each other, the fin-like resistance members  200  extending out from the fitting members  100  or  300  may have their respective flat surfaces  204  of the fin-like resistance members  200  facing each other, thereby assuming a vertical orientation. Waving the user&#39;s hands in short back and forth movements, like a clapping action, would create the inertial and air resistance for the exercise. When one member  218  of the mounting device  210  is rotated 90° on each resistance member  200 , the flat surfaces  202 ,  204  will be facing up or down, thereby assuming a horizontal orientation. Now, an up-and-down motion would create the inertial and air resistance for an exercise. In this orientation, a clipping-like, back and forth motion would likewise create the inertial resistance but much less air resistance. 
     In some embodiments, the stop/notch pairs  220 ,  222  may be angularly spaced apart from each other by less than 90°. This will permit more than two orientations for the resistance member so that air resistance can be created by movements in more than just an up-and-down or side-to-side motion to increase the range movements, and concomitantly the range of muscle groups affected, that can be attained for an increased variety of exercises. 
     In some embodiments, the resistance member  200  may be integrally formed with a fitting member. In such an embodiment, at least for the exercise device for the hand, as shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , in order to change the motion that creates the air resistance, the user may simply rotate his hands. Additional straps  230  may be provided to increase the stability of the resistance member  200  on the fitting member  100  or  300 . 
     The resistance member  200  may be connected to the fitting member either at the base portion  104  or the distal portion  106 . Preferably, for the hand fitting member  100 , the resistance member  200  is attached at the distal portion  106 . For the foot fitting member  300 , the resistance member  200  may be attached to the metatarsal region  304 . 
     In some embodiments, the resistance member  200  may be removably attached to the fitting member  100  or  300 . This allows the user to remove one resistance member  200  and put on another resistance member. This may be useful if a resistance member  200  or a fitting member  100  or  300  is damaged and only one of the two needs to be replaced. This is also useful if the user wants to increase the resistance created by the resistance member  200  or try out fins or flippers of different shapes or materials. Thus, the resistance member  200  may come in a variety of shapes and sizes creating different levels of resistance. By way of example only, the resistance member  200  may be rectangular in shape with the short side attached to the fitting member  100  or  300  and the long sides extending away from the fitting member  100  or  300 . To increase the resistance, another resistance member may have dimensions (length and/or width) that are greater than the first resistance member. The increased dimensions may also increase the weight and distribute the weight differently depending on a number of factors, including dimensions and thickness. Therefore, the weight of the resistance member  200  can also be controlled by changing a number of factors. 
     The weight of the resistance member  200  can also be changed without having to change the resistance member  200  itself. For example, the resistance member  200  may be configured so that external weights  400  can be attached to the resistance member  200 . For example, the resistance member  200  may have one or more pockets  402 . Alternatively, or in addition to, the fitting member  100  or  300  may have a one or more pockets  404 . In these embodiments, pockets  402  and  404  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A, and  4 A as comprising two overlapping pouches, but Applicant contemplates other configurations, including pockets with snaps or zippers, or the like. The purpose is the same, to allow for the placing and securing of weights of given locations to affect resistance felt during an exercise. 
     In some embodiments, alternatively or in addition to, any pockets  402 ,  404 , the fitting member  100  or  300  or the resistance member  200  may contain a fastening means  240  to secure a weight  400 . For example, the fastening means  240  may be a hook-and-loop fastener, snap buttons, hooks, zippers, tongue and groove, rails, magnets, and the like. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a modified tongue and groove can be used in which the tongue is bent and the groove is a reciprocal bent slot. In the tongue and groove embodiments and other embodiments in which the weight  400  slides into place, the weight  400  may further comprise a stop  406  to prevent the weight  400  from falling off the fitting member  100  or  300  or the resistance member  200 . The stop  406  may be a secondary fastener like any of the fastening means recited above. Alternatively, the stop  406  may be a protrusion, detent, and the like to retain the weight on the resistance member  200  during an exercise, but to allow the weight to be easily removed or exchanged with other weights between exercises. 
     The weights  400  may come in a variety of weights and sizes. This also permits the user to increase the weights  400  to increase the intensity of the exercise. In some embodiments, one weight  400  may be placed on each exercise device. In other embodiments, some weights  400  may be double in length and configured to attach to both the left and right hand exercise devices at the same time or to attach to both the left and right foot exercise devices at the same time (not shown). Using double length weights  400  in this way, the user can perform exercises in which he or she must move his or her hands or feet synchronously, such as moving them up-and-down in unison thereby achieving yet further different exercises. 
     Alternatively, the resistance members  200  may be attached using an attachment bridge  500 , such as the one shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In this embodiment, the resistance members could come with connector members  240  configured to receive one or more connector members  540  on the attachment bridge so that the two resistance members  200  may be easily formed into a temporarily locked pair of resistance members that can only move in unison. The connector members may have grooves and ridges, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , or other similar snap-like configurations so that the two resistance members  200  remain locked together during the exercise but readily detached from one another between exercises if desired. 
     The exercise method then is to don the exercise device on the hands and/or the feet as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 , and wave one&#39;s straightened arms or legs up-and-down, or side-to-side in tiny quick strokes, repeatedly using the affected muscles to fight against the inertial and air resistance created by the short back and forth movements of the resistance members  200 . In some embodiments, one may select among resistance members  200  of various dimensions (length, width, and thickness) and weights or resistance members  200  having holders to hold one or more weights  400 . 
     That is, the user may put on his right hand (or arm) a first exercise device comprising a glove-like fitting member with a flipper-like resistance member extending beyond his finger tips. He may put on his left hand (or arm) a second exercise device comprising a similar glove-like fitting member and flipper-like resistance member. The user then moves his right and left arms back and forth in short linear movements such that the front and back faces of the flat faces of the resistance members push through the ambient air causing an opposing force that pushes back against these movements. The inertia of the resistance members also create an opposing force that pushes back against these movements. As a result, the user exercises the predetermined upper body and arm muscle groups. 
     The user can also exercise his legs in the same way, putting on right and left fins or flippers that extend out from the bottoms of the user&#39;s feet and moving his right and left legs back and forth in short linear movements. As a result, the ambient air interact with the broad front and back faces of the paddle or flipper-like resistance members to create opposing forces that push against these movements, and the inertia of the resistance members also create opposing forces that push back against these movements. As a result, the user exercises predetermined muscle groups in the lower body and legs. 
     The user may add weights to either sets of resistance members, either in pockets or other spaces provided or on the ends using friction-fit ridges as shown in  FIGS. 1A through 4B , to enhance the given exercises, and the user may lock together pairs of resistance members using an attachment bridge so that the user must move two limbs in unison. As such, the user may perform exercises on many muscle groups in the back, chest, shoulders, abdominals, glutes, and legs in a small, highly portable package utilizing inertial and air resistance to provide resistance training without needing any bulky weights or support structures. 
     While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.