Abstract:
A motorized belt and roller device utilizes pressure-applying rollers to facilitate weight loss. The belt is arranged to reciprocate over an extended distance, and to apply sufficient pressure via the rollers to cause breakdown of fat cells in the abdominal region. The belt and roller device, including a moving mechanism, may be mounted on a treadmill.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to an exercise device, and in particular to a motorized belt and roller device that utilizes pressure-applying rollers to break down fat cells in a user&#39;s abdominal region. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Numerous vibration or massage-type devices have been proposed to assist in weight loss. Such arrangements have conventionally utilized a vibrating strap to massage tissues in areas contacted by the vibrating strap. 
         [0005]    An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,038,587, which is said to reduce pockets of fat known as “cellulite” that are typically found on a person&#39;s buttocks or thighs by (a) providing resistance to a pulling force exerted by the user, thereby serving as an exercise device to assist in overall fat loss, and (b) vibrating to provide a “massaging” effect that is said to reduce the amount of cellulite. Both the resistance and massaging effects are accomplished by providing a strap that is looped around a body part of the user, the user pulling against the strap to provide the resistance effect, and the strap being coupled to a motor that vibrates the strap to provide the massaging effect. In one embodiment, the strap is provided with rollers or wheels  120  arranged to “press into the tissue adjacent the contact surface for greater contact” (col. 7, lines 17-19 of U.S. Pat. No. 8,038,587). In addition, a swivel arm can be provided to increase the resistance force provided by the strap “to provide a deeper massaging effect and better reduce cellulite” (col. 7, lines 32-36). 
         [0006]    Although it is possible that the massaging effect described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,038,587 might be useful for reducing “cellulite” of the type found on a person&#39;s buttocks or thighs, i.e., fat that has collected immediately adjacent the person&#39;s skin and therefore is clearly visible, massage or vibrations are much less effective, if at all, for reducing the type of abdominal or “visceral” fat that extends throughout a person&#39;s abdominal region, including between organs, and that is visible as bulges in a person&#39;s stomach and sides rather than in the person&#39;s buttocks and thighs. This type of fat is far more dangerous than cellulite, and much more difficult to reduce. 
         [0007]    Other conventional vibration or massaging arrangements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,416,519; 6,443,876; 3,945,637; 3,915,158; 3,899,115; 3,727,608; 3,495,637; and 781,683. These devices share the concept of using a vibrating belt to achieve a messaging effect, either through friction or through rotating elements on the belt, and include devices designed to massage abdominal regions as well as devices that concentrate on the user&#39;s buttocks or thighs. For example, in the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,637, vibration of the strap is achieved by linkage to pedals of a stationary bicycle, while U.S. Pat. No. 781,683 discloses a device in which a belt with rotating balls is moved back and forth by a manual, alternating pulley arrangement. Like the device disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 8,038,587, discussed above, each of these devices is intended to provide a massaging effect through the use of vibrations, but none is intended to actually break down fat cells. Instead, the prior device simply provide a massaging effect that vibrates the fat cells, without stressing them sufficiently to cause their break down or disintegration, and subsequent absorption by the human body. 
         [0008]    The present invention, in contrast, utilizes mechanisms similar to those disclosed in the patents listed above, but in a way that actually does lead to the destruction of fat cells, and in particular the abdominal or visceral fat cells now understood to be responsible for, or contribute to, a wide variety of ailments or diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and various types of cancer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is accordingly an objective of the invention to provide an exercise arrangement that causes sufficient movement to actually break down abdominal or visceral fat cells, as opposed to merely causing the fat cells to vibrate in place. 
         [0010]    This objective is achieved, in accordance with the principles of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by providing an exercise apparatus that includes a belt or strap that extends from behind the user and around the user&#39;s front and sides, the belt or strap including rotating members that engage the user&#39;s front and sides, and the belt or strap being coupled to a moving mechanism that provides extended reciprocating movement of the belt or strap such that the rotating members apply substantial inwardly-directed forces over the entire front and side section of the user&#39;s body around which the belt or strap extends. 
         [0011]    By “extended reciprocating movement” is meant a range of movement that exceeds four inches, and is preferably six to ten inches or greater, such that the rotating members do not merely vibrate in place, but rather travel a correspondingly extended distance over the user&#39;s body, and such that the reciprocating movement from the rear of the user&#39;s body exerts at least 10 pounds of force, and preferably 12 to 15 pounds or greater on the moving pressure points of contact between the rotating members and the user&#39;s body. 
         [0012]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the amount of pressure applied by the rotating members, i.e., at least 10 pounds of force, will be sufficient to cause discomfort to most users, but that the discomfort will motivate rather than deter the user because it is reminder that the exercise is working by breaking down the fat cells to which the pressure is applied. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, in a preferred arrangement, the belt or strap may be mounted on a treadmill, such that the amount of pressure is in part determined by the speed of the treadmill. 
         [0014]    Still further, according to a preferred embodiment, the belt or strap is arranged to extend around the user&#39;s midsection and has a width of several inches, and preferably at least four inches, to extend over a substantial portion of the midsection and thereby target the area where abdominal or visceral fat is most prevalent, the belt or strap of this embodiment preferably including multiple rows of rotating members. 
         [0015]    According to a further aspect of the preferred embodiment, the rotating members may be in the form of rotating spheres, although it is also within the scope of the invention to substitute rollers or other rotating elements. 
         [0016]    The moving mechanism for the belt or strap may be, by way of example and not limitation, a rack and pinion driven by a rotary motor, a gear/belt arrangement connected to the motor of an exercise machine such as a treadmill, a linear drive, and any other arrangement capable of reciprocating motion over an extended distance as defined above. 
         [0017]    According to a fat cell breaking exercise method of the invention, the belt or strap is caused to extend around the abdominal area of a user such that the rotating members contact the front and sides of the user, and the belt is reciprocated over an extended distance, as defined above, while exerting a force of at least ten pounds, in order to not only vibrate, but actually break down, the fat cells over which the rotating member is moved. 
         [0018]    These and other features of the invention will become apparent based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description presented below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exercise apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top, partially cut-away, view of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a belt or strap moving mechanism that may be used with the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a belt or strap that may be used with the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Throughout the following description and drawings, like reference numbers/characters refer to like elements. It should be understood that, although specific exemplary embodiments are discussed herein there is no intent to limit the scope of present invention to such embodiments. To the contrary, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments discussed herein are for illustrative purposes, and that modified and alternative embodiments may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a preferred exercise apparatus includes a moving mechanism housing  1  containing a moving mechanism  2  attached to belt or strap  3 . The moving mechanism housing  1  is situated on an adjustable pedestal or stand  4 . Pedestal or stand  4  is arranged to be adjustably positioned with respect to a base  5  in order to enable the height of the moving mechanism and strap to be adjusted so that the belt or strap  3  extends around the abdominal area or waist of a user  8 . The relative vertical position of stand  4  and base  5  may, by way of example and not limitation, be adjustably fixed by inserting a pin or key  6  into one of a plurality of apertures  7  in a manner that is well-known to those skilled in the art of exercise equipment. 
         [0026]    The moving mechanism  2 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is removably attached to ends of the belt or strap  3 . As illustrated, the moving mechanism includes a rack  10  and pinion  11  coupled by a shaft  12  to a motor  13 . The motor  13 , or a transmission (not shown) between the motor  13  and the pinion  11 , causes the pinion to rotate in two directions and the rack  10  to move linearly back-and-forth over an extended distance, thereby causing the belt or strap  3  to move by a corresponding amount. The extended distance needs to exceed four inches, and is preferably six to ten inches or greater, so that the belt or strap  3  does not merely vibrate in place but rather travels a correspondingly extended distance over the user&#39;s body. 
         [0027]    The belt or strap  3  is provided with rotating members  15 , illustrated as spherical, but which may also be in the form of cylindrical rollers or rollers having other shapes, including rollers with irregular shapes or protrusions. The rotating members  15  engage and exert pressure on the user&#39;s midsection as the belt or strap  3  reciprocates back and forth over an extended distance in response to movement of the rack  10  and pinion  11 . The reciprocation not only causes the rotating members  15  to travel along the surface of the user&#39;s body, but also is sufficiently fast that the belt or strap  3  applies pressure substantial pressure on the user&#39;s body, and therefore on abdominal or visceral fat cells that are well below the surface of the user&#39;s skin. In order to break down the fat cells, the reciprocating movement should be fast enough that the reciprocating members exert at least 10 pounds of force, and preferably 12 to 15 pounds or greater, on the moving pressure points of contact between the rotating members  15  and the user&#39;s body. This can be achieved by causing the strap to complete a back and forth cycle at least once every two seconds, although this number is variable depending on how much pressure the user applies by pushing on the strap, and the length over which the belt or strap  3  travels. In addition, it will be appreciated that since the preferred pressure can cause substantial discomfort, the reciprocation frequency should be variable and include lower frequencies that cause less discomfort and allow the user to gradually get used to the pressure before applying sufficient pressure to start to affect fat cells. 
         [0028]    Although a rack and pinion mechanism is illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the moving mechanism  2  may take the form of a gear/belt arrangement connected to the motor of an exercise machine such as a treadmill, a linear drive, and any other arrangement capable of reciprocating motion over an extended distance as defined above. 
         [0029]    Details of a preferred embodiment of the strap or belt  3  are shown in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, the belt or strap  3  is made up of a relatively wide front section  20  that extends around the sides and front of the user&#39;s body, and to which the rotating members  15  are mounted. Front section  20  including a plurality of cords or wires  21  having openings into which are fitted axles  26  extending from the rotating members  15  in a direction transverse to the direction of the cords or wires  21 , so that the rotating members  15  are free to rotate in the longitudinal direction of the cords or wires  21 , which is the direction of movement of the belt or strap  3 . It will be appreciated that the material and construction of the front section  20  may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention, as may the width of the front section, although the width should preferably be sufficient to cover a significant portion of the area of the user&#39;s body in which abdominal fat is present. It is possible to provide belts or straps  3  of different sizes and/or constructions for different users, including variations for adult men, adult women, and children, and/or additional variations for person&#39;s of different weight and/or height. 
         [0030]    Extending from two sides of the front section  20  are cords  22  that couple the front section to the moving mechanism  2 . At least one, and optionally both, of the cords should include a clasp or clip  23  that enables the respective cord  22  to be removably attached to, for example, a ring  24  extending from rack  10  of the moving mechanism  2 . One of the cords  22  may also optionally be fixedly attached to ring  24  on the opposite side of the rack  10 , for example by a mating ring  25 . It will be appreciated that the illustrated fastening arrangements or fasteners are exemplary only and may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0031]    Returning to  FIGS. 1-3 , the fat-destroying exercise device of the invention may optionally be combined with another exercise device such as a treadmill to allow the user to more easily control and vary the pressure exerted by the belt or strap  3  based on the speed of the movement on the treadmill. As illustrated, the treadmill includes a frame  30  and a moving belt  31 , both of which are conventional, as well as a display/control unit  32 . The display unit may include controls (not shown), in the form of buttons or a touchscreen that provides start/stop functions for the moving mechanism  2  and/or main treadmill motor, speed control for the moving mechanism  2  and/or main treadmill motor, treadmill tilt control, and optional other functions such as programmable speed variations, heart rate monitoring, mp3 player or smartphone docking, videos, a fan, and so forth. Numerous such functions will occur to those skilled in the art and may be included in the display/control unit  32 . 
         [0032]    Finally, the invention provides a fat-destroying exercise method that utilizes the apparatus described above, and involves the steps of securing a belt or strap to a moving mechanism, the strap extending around the front side of the user&#39;s body, and reciprocally moving the strap over an extended distance, as defined above, while applying sufficient pressure, also as defined above, to break down abdominal or visceral fat cells in the user&#39;s body.