Abstract:
An athletic device for training the muscles of the upper body, in particular the arm muscles, in the course of running and walking, comprising a vest to be worn by a user, an elastically expandable strap removably disposed fastened in place across a back part of the vest and having at its ends two cuff means for connection to the arms of the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an athletic device for training the muscles of the upper body, in particular the arm muscles, in the course of running and walking, having an elastically expandable strap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During athletic endurance and weight training the intention is to stress portions of the skeletal muscles as large as possible over extended periods of time. This is the case, for example, during cross-country skiing or during swimming, i.e. in the course of types of athletics which have been particularly lauded time and again for their beneficial effects on the body. 
     During running and walking, which are the natural means of human propulsion, the legs alone are almost exclusively used and the arms perform involuntary load-free motions during running or walking. 
     In order to put more of a load on the limbs, weights are strapped to the wrist and ankles; however, these weights offer more of a resistance to the corresponding flexor muscles. However, during running and walking the more important muscles are the extensor muscles which support the body and trigger a jump. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, cost-effective but efficient athletic device which provides a load on the arms, and thus on the upper body during running and walking, thereby leading to excercise of the entire body similar to that during swimming or cross-country skiing. 
     This object is attained by the invention by providing an expandable strap, extending transversely, removably fastened in place across the back part of a vest having two arm and/or wrist cuffs at its ends. Several characteristics recited in the dependent claims represent advantageous improvements in the attainment of the object. 
     The subject of the invention not only extends to the characteristics of the individual claims but also to their combination. 
     The athletic device according to the invention acts on the involuntarily swinging arms during running and walking, because of which a constant counterforce is created, which must be overcome by the arms, by means of which the muscles of the arms and upper body are strengthened. 
     At least two regions of an elastically expandable strap of the athletic device cross on the back of the wearer at the height of the shoulder blades and are each guided in opposite directions over the shoulder of the one side and under the armpit of the other side. They act on the forearms, on which they are fastened by means of adjustable cuffs or armbands. The expandable strap extends in the form of a figure eight and is guided through the loops of a vest. The crossing point of the expandable strap is located at the height of the shoulder blades. 
     The shoulder and the back are protected against rubbing and the pressure of the straps by the vest on which the elastic straps are fixed. Furthermore, the vest maintains the expandable strap in the required position (course) and makes trouble-free putting on and removal of the athletic device possible. 
     The advantages obtained by means of the invention consist in making training by means of running more effective. Because of the concurrent load on the arms they are additionally made to move increasingly, by means of which it is intended to smooth out the course of movement and to improve the coordination of the entire movement. 
     As during swimming or cross-country skiing, the entire body is then also strengthened during running and walking. Additionally, there is no requirement for using up time for a compensating strengthening of the upper body by means of boring stationary weight training. 
     The athletic device is constructed simply and cost-effectively, easy to use and has a high intrinsic value because of its high effectiveness. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments are described in detail by means of the drawings, in which 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic device composed of a vest and an expandable strap with the two parts separated; 
     FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of the athletic device during use; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear schematic view of the athletic device during use; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of an adjustable arm and/or hand cuff disposed on the expandable strap; 
     FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a partial longitudinal area of an expandable strap with longitudinal adjustment; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover as an additional part of the athletic device; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cuff in a further development of the fastening of the expandable strap; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conical cuff; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cuff with the expandable strap extended to a grip. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The athletic device comprises an elastic expandable strap (1), a vest (2) and, if desired, a cover (3) shown in FIG. 6. The expandable strap (1) is removably fastened in place and crosses on the back (2a) of the vest (2) and is provided with two arm or wrist cuffs (4) at its ends. 
     This expandable strap (1) is made of flat webbing of rubber and/or plastic, preferably having a rectangular cross section. Because of the flat design of the expandable strap (1), it rests on the back (5) and the shoulders (6) of the person using the athletic device without causing pressure marks or rubbing. 
     It is also possible to use an expandable strap (1) having a circular or oval cross section. Furthermore, tension springs may be provided in place of the expandable strap (1). 
     The vest (2) is provided on the outer surface of its back (2a) with a plurality of flaps (7) extending along two crossing lines from the area of the shoulders to the lower back, through which the expandable strap (1) is guided and thus maintained in a crosswise or transverse manner on the vest (2). 
     The expandable strap (1) is either securely maintained on the vest (2) by closed flaps (7), or the flaps (7) are removably fixed with one end on the vest (2) by snap closures or other types of fastening means for inserting and removing the expandable strap (1), so that the expandable strap (1) can also be used without the vest (2). 
     The expandable strap (1) is in the shape of an endless strap and is guided through each one of a loop (8) of the two cuffs (4)(FIG. 4). Additionally, the expandable strap (1) may be formed of two straps which are fixed with both of their ends on the two cuffs (4)(FIG. 1). 
     In accordance with the embodiment in FIGS. 7 and 8, the expandable strap (1) is provided with eyes (12) at its ends which surround fastening hoops (13) fixed on the cuffs (4). The expandable strap (1) is fixedly maintained on the cuffs (4) by the eyes (12), i.e. the strap sections cannot be displaced in respect to the cuff (4) (move away in the longitudinal direction), so that the strap (1) is maintained secure against slipping on the cuffs (4) and therefore the sections of the strap (1) are tensed and relaxed in the course of the oppositely directed movements of the arm and thus have an effect. 
     In a preferred manner the expandable strap (1) is adjustable in the longitudinal direction for the purpose of adjusting it to different body sizes on the one hand and, on the other, to adjust its tension. 
     For this purpose the endless expandable strap (1) is separated at one point and the two ends (1a, 1b) of the expandable strap (1) are overlapped and are held together in the stepped or continuously variable longitudinal adjustment by a closure (9), such as a buckle, clamp, snap or hook closure or the like (FIG. 5). 
     In the case of the expandable strap (1) consisting of two straps, a separation and a closure (9) are provided on each strap. 
     The cuff (4) is formed by a padded ring or a closed flat band. It is also preferred to make the cuff adjustable for arms or wrists of different thickness, the cuff (4) also being separated, disposed with its two cuff ends (4a, 4b) overlapping and removably held together in a stepped or continously variable adjustment of its circumference by a closure (10), such as a buckle, clamp, snap or hook closure or the like. 
     FIG. 6 shows a cover (3) resting on the shoulders (6) and part of the back (5) of the person and covering a part of the expandable strap (1) and the vest (2), thus serving as a screen and insulator. This cover (3) may also be removably fastened on the vest (2), so that it partially covers the expandable strap (1). This cover (3) furthermore is a part of the athletic device for improving its visual appearance and serves as a protection in case the expandable strap (1) snaps by preventing uncontrolled recoil of the broken part of the strap. 
     The cover (3) can have various shapes and be made of a variety of materials and in various colors. 
     The cover (3), connected with the vest (2) if desired, forms an integral athletic device together with the expandable strap (1) and the cuffs (4) and can be simply and comfortably put on and removed. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show the athletic device in use, where it is apparent that the expandable strap (1) crosses the back (5) of the person at the height of the shoulder blades and extends over the shoulders (6) and under the armpits and from there is routed with the ends of the straps, which each have a cuff (4), to the forearms (11a) or the wrists or the hands and fastened there, so that in the course of the arm movements a pulling force is exerted on the expandable strap (1) and in this way the arms (11) are subjected to an increased load. Thus the expandable strap (1) has strap areas or straps arranged in a figure eight which each extend in the form of a letter S across the back (5) and the shoulders (6). 
     A buckle closure (10) for the cuffs (4) is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. 
     The cuff (4) is constituted by a flat cylindrical ring in accordance with FIG. 7, while the cuff (4) in accordance with FIGS. 8 and 9 is conical and corresponds to the longitudinal shape of the forearm, so that it firmly surrounds the forearm (11a). 
     The eyes (12) of the expandable strap (1) can be designed so that they slide around the fastening hoops (13) in order to obtain different lever actions. The displacement positions of the eyes (12) in relation to the fastening hoops (13) can be fixed by means of clamping elements (14) or the like. 
     In a further embodiment in accordance with FIG. 9 the ends of the expandable strap (1) are guided through clamping eyes (15) and are lengthened beyond the cuff (4) as far as a grip (16) at the end, so that the ends of the expandable strap are grasped at the grip (16). 
     The clamping eyes (15) are provided movable around the fastening hoops (13) and fixable (corresponding to the eyes (12)), by means of which a lever force can be selected and the muscles of the forearms (11a) can be stressed. 
     The vest (2) is provided with stretchable areas (2b) made of an elastic material in order to follow certain movements when the position of the expandable strap is changed.