Abstract:
A strap restraint for a device having adjustable straps is disclosed. In one embodiment, a strap restraint for an adjustable device is provided. The device has a strap with an end that doubles back through a length-adjustment mechanism and over the strap. The strap restraint includes an elastic band attached to the end, where the band encircles the strap, and a pair of flexible inelastic fastening elements attached to the end. The strap restraining permits the user to select the force with which the strap restraint holds the end against the strap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/377,700, filed Aug. 27, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to devices having adjustable straps, and in particular to restraints for straps for adjustable length exercise devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Resistance exercise devices allow a user to exercise by providing a resistance to the movement of a user&#39;s arms, legs, or torso. Thus, for example, such devices allow a user to exercise by working one muscle against another, or by working against the weight of the user, by providing a resistance to the movement of a user&#39;s arms, legs, or torso. Resistance exercise devices typically include either elastic bands or inelastic straps. 
         [0004]    In some devices, straps of variable length are provided so that the user may adjust the size of the device. It can sometimes be difficult to adjust the length of the straps. In addition, the adjustment sometimes results in excess length that can be distracting or a danger to the user. 
         [0005]    There is need to provide straps that are more easily adjusted. There is also a need to provide straps that are configured for any excess length to be easily and safely stowed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention overcomes certain disadvantages of prior art by providing straps having an easily grippable portion for adjusting the strap length. 
         [0007]    In certain embodiments, an adjustable strap for an exercise device is provided. The strap includes a length of cord attached to an end of the strap. 
         [0008]    The present invention overcomes certain other disadvantages of prior art by providing a restraining device affixed to the end of exercise device straps. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, a strap restraint for an adjustable device is provided. The device has a strap with an end that doubles back through a length-adjustment mechanism and over the strap. The strap restraint includes an elastic band attached to the end, where the band encircles the strap, and a pair of flexible elements attached to the end, where the element is inelastic, is of sufficient size to wrap about the strap, and is fastenable to the other element of the pair of elements, The force with which the strap restraint hold the end against the strap is adjustable by fastening the pair of flexible surfaces about the strap. 
         [0010]    In certain other embodiments, a strap restraint for an adjustable device is provided. The device has a strap having an end that doubles back over the strap through a strap length adjustment mechanism. The strap restraint includes a first mechanism for holding the end against the strap; and a second mechanism for holding the end against the strap. 
         [0011]    In yet other embodiments, an exercise device having adjustable straps and a strap restraint is provided. The exercise device has a strap with an end that doubles back through a length-adjustment mechanism and over the strap. The strap restraint includes an elastic band attached to the end, where the band encircles the strap, and a pair of flexible elements attached to the end, where the element is inelastic, is of sufficient size to wrap about the strap, and is fastenable to the other element of the pair of elements. The force with which the strap restraint holds the end against the strap is adjustable by fastening the pair of flexible surfaces about the strap. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments, an exercise device having adjustable straps and a strap restraint is provided. The exercise device has a strap having an end that doubles back over the strap through a strap length adjustment mechanism. The strap restraint includes a first mechanism for holding the end against the strap; and a second mechanism for holding the end against the strap. 
         [0013]    These features together with the various ancillary provisions and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, are attained by the apparatus of the present invention, embodiments thereof being shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of strap ends on an exercise device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of a strap end of  FIG. 1  at a first position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the strap ends in a second position; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are front and back views, respectively, showing the first steps in the construction of the strap end of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are front and back views, respectively, showing further steps in the construction of the strap end of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5C  is a sectional view  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 5A ; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a perspective view and a sectional view  6 B- 6 B, respectively, illustrating a method for loosening or tightening the strap restraint of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Reference symbols and names are used in the Figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein, with reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicating like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exercise device  10  including one embodiment of strap ends  100 , shown individually as strap ends  100   a  and  100   b.  Exercise device  10  is shown for illustrative purposes only, and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention, except as explicitly claimed. 
         [0023]    Exercise device  10 , for example, includes a door mount  20 , a first inelastic strap  13 , and second and third inelastic straps  11   a  and  1   b  terminating in grips  17   a  and  17   b,  respectively. Straps  11   a,    11   b,  and  13  pass through mechanisms  30 , shown as mechanism  30   a  and  30   b  that restrain the movement of strap  13 . As is further shown in  FIG. 1 , strap  13  includes a first portion  13   a  that doubles back through mechanism  30   a  as a portion  15   a  terminating at strap end  100   a , and a second portion  13   b  that doubles back through mechanism  30   b  as a portion  15   b  terminating at strap end  110   b.  The distance between grips  17   a  and  17   b  may be adjusted according to the length of portions  15   a  and/or  15   b  by pulling strap ends  100   a  and/or  100   b  away from mechanism  30   a  and/or  30   b.    
         [0024]    Examples of exercise device  10  may be found, for example and without limitation, in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,044,896 and 7,762,932, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0025]    Each strap end  100  includes a strap pull  101  and a strap restraint  103 . Thus, for example, strap end  100   a  has a strap pull  101   a  and a strap restraint  103   a,  and strap end  100   b  has a strap pull  101   b  and a strap restraint  103   b.  As discussed subsequently, strap pull  101  provides a convenient extension of strap  13  to permit the length of the strap to be adjusted. Strap restraint  103  and wraps about strap  13  to keep the strap end from moving about. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of one strap end  100  provided a first position, D 1 , as measured from mechanism  30 . Strap  11  forms a loop  12  that passes through a ring  31  and a ring  33  of mechanism  30 . Mechanism  30  is shown for connecting and adjusting straps  11  and  13  and may be, for example and without limitation, the device described in co-owned and pending in U.S. patent Ser. No. 13/194,522, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Strap  13  passes through rings  31  and  33 , with strap portion  15  extending from mechanism  30  to strap end  100 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of strap end  100  in another configuration. Specifically, strap pull  101  of  FIG. 2  has been pulled away from mechanism  30 , as shown in by the arrow in  FIG. 3 , to a larger distance, D 2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , thus shortening the distance between grips  17   a  and  17   b.  The grip-to-grip distance can be lengthened by releasing mechanism  30  and pulling on grips  17   a / 17   b.    
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B, and  5 C illustrate the construction of one embodiment of strap end  100 , where  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and are front and back views, respectively, showing the first steps in the construction of the strap end of  FIG. 2 ,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are front and back views, respectively, showing further steps in the construction of the strap end of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5C  is a sectional view  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 5A . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , strap restraint  103  includes a piece of material  400  having a length L and width  3  W, where W is the width of strap portion  17 . Material  400  forms a central portion  403  that, along with strap pull  101 , is attached to the end of strap portion  17  by stitching  406 . Material  400  also includes with equally sized wings  401  and  405  that extend away from the strap portion. Wing  401  has a fastening surface  402  on one side of material  400 , and wing  405  has a matching fastening surface  404  on the opposite side of material  400 . Matching surfaces  402  and  404  may be, for example and without limitation, a pair of matching hook and loop surfaces of a set of hook-and-loop fasteners. 
         [0030]    Next, as shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C, strap restraint  103  further includes a material  500  which is an elastic material sewn into a loop by stitching  501  and is attached to central portion  403  by stitching  503 . As shown in more detail in  FIG. 5C , wings  401  and  405  may be surrounded by elastic material  500 . Strap restraint  103  thus holds portion  15  against strap  13  with fasteners—that is, by wing  401  folded first, then wing  405  folded over wing  401 —and with the elastic of material  500 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a perspective view and a sectional view  6 B- 6 B, respectively, illustrating a method for loosening or tightening the strap restraint of  FIG. 2 . Material  500  may be pulled way from strap  13 , permitting wings  401  and  405  to be moved and adjusted to control the force by which strap restraint  103  holds strap end  101  to strap  13 . 
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment, strap restraint  103  includes wings  401  and  405 , but does not include the outer covering of material  500 . 
         [0033]    The material of strap  13  and material  400  may be, for example, a nylon webbing, such as a CORDURA® webbing. In one embodiment, W is 37 mm and L is 23 mm. The material of strap pull  101  may be, in general, any cord-like material that is relatively inelastic. The material of strap pull  101  may be, for example from 1 to 10 mm in diameter, and may form a loop that extends from 1 cm to 10 cm from the end of strap portion  17 . In one embodiment, the material of strap pull  101  is a 12 cm length of a 7 mm nylon woven cord formed into a loop approximately 6 cm in size. Material  500  may be, for example and without limitation, a 23 mm wide elastic band. 
         [0034]    Although the invention(s) presented herein have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention(s) extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention(s) and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the invention(s) herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.