Patent Publication Number: US-9901771-B1

Title: Removable cover for an exercise equipment handle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to removable sanitary covers for exercise equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Public and private health clubs and exercise and fitness facilities have recently enjoyed increased popularity. Over sixty-three million Americans utilized some type of health and fitness club in 2014, up 2.3% from 2013. Over the last two years, total health club visits exceeded five billion. These health clubs and exercise and fitness facilities have various pieces of exercise equipment. Equipment such as treadmills, stair-stepper machines, elliptical trainers, weight apparatus, and stationary bicycles, are commonly made available to users, as are different configurations of free weights. These types of exercise equipment have at least one thing in common: they all comprise handles which are grasped by the user during exercising. 
     Exercise equipment and free weights located in facilities to which the public is invited is utilized by numerous individuals and, as a result, so too are the handles on the equipment being used. This presents an obvious, potential sanitary hazard, since the handles, at the very least, accumulate perspiration from the different individuals using the equipment and, at worse, become contaminated with germs and bacteria which could lead to communicable disease. 
     Most fitness facilities do not have adequate staff to clean each piece of equipment after every use. Instead, they rely on users to wipe down their machines when finished by offering either spray cleaners or wipes. However, the type of cleaning product a facility offers matters less than how it is actually used; both spray cleaners and wipes can only be effective if used correctly. 
     However, much too often the equipment is not adequately cleaned or not cleaned at all. In any event, the next user has no assurance that the exercise equipment, and particularly the equipment&#39;s handles, are free from contamination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a safe and sanitary cover for exercise equipment handles. 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which acts as an antimicrobial, antiodor barrier due to the infusion of microban fibers into the cover. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which is configured to fit over or extend around the handles. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which is removable from the handles and which can then be washed and reused. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which is lightweight and portable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which comprises dot projections forming a uniform gripping pattern on the exterior surface of the cover to facilitate grasping of the handles. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cover for exercise equipment handles which comprises dot projections forming a uniform gripping pattern over the entire interior surface of the cover for maintaining the cover over or around the handles. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a cover for exercise equipment handles comprising a cylindrical body which is made of a flexible, waterproof material, infused with antimicrobial, antiodor microban fibers. The body has a plurality of dot projections forming a uniform gripping pattern extending over the entire interior and exterior surfaces of the body. The body is open at one end for facilitating the positioning of the cover over an outwardly extending exercise handle. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a single flat rectangular sheet component which can be positioned around exercise handles and secured by hook and loop attachments or equivalent attachment means. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the cover of the present invention positioned on the arm members of exercise equipment. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the interior surface of an alternate embodiment of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the exterior surface of the alternate embodiment of the cover of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention in its cylindrical form. 
         FIG. 10  shows the alternate embodiment of the cover of the present invention positioned on the arm members of exercise equipment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Cover  1  ( FIGS. 1-6 ) and cover  11  ( FIGS. 7-10 ) of the present invention each comprise cylindrical bodies  2  and  12  made of a flexible, waterproof material such as neoprene, vinyl, terry cloth, or equivalent material. It is also contemplated that the material for the covers will be infused with microban fibers F, in order to provide an antimicrobial and antiodor barrier which prevents germ accumulation and limits odors. Cylindrical body  2  comprises top end  3 , bottom end  4 , exterior surface  5  and interior surface  6 . Top end  3  has end opening  7 . Bottom member  8 , having an inside surface and outside surface  10 , extends over bottom end  4  to enclose the bottom end of body  2 . A plurality of dot projections  9  form a uniform gripping pattern over entire exterior surface  5  and interior surface  6 . A plurality of dot projections  9  extend over outside surface  10 . 
     Cylindrical body  12  of cover  11  comprises a flat, rectangular shape cover component  13 . Cover component  13  has interior surface  15  and exterior surface  16 . First connecting means in the form of attachment hooks  20  is located adjacent to lateral edge  17  of cover component  13  and second connecting means in the form of attachment loops  21  is located and secured adjacent to lateral edge  18  of the cover component. Of course, it is contemplated that attachment hooks  20  can be secured to lateral edge  18  and attachment loops  21  can be secured to lateral edge  17 . Equivalent connection means, such as buttons, snaps, etc. can be used in lieu of the hook and loop connectors. 
     A plurality of dot projections  19  forming a uniform gripping pattern extend over the entire exterior surface  15  and interior surface  16  of cover component  13 . Attachment hooks  20  and attachment loops  21  are configured to attach lateral edges  17  and  18  to form cylindrical body  12 . Cylindrical body  12  has top end  22  and bottom end  23 , both of which are open such that the cylindrical body forms an elongated cylindrical tube, open at each end. 
     In use, cover  1  is positioned over arm members  30  and  31  of exercise equipment  32 , with the arm members extending through bottom openings  7  of the cover. Cover  1  is positioned such that patterned dot projections  9  on interior surface  6  contact arm members  30  and  31  and the patterned dot projections on exterior surface  5  are available to be gripped by a user of exercise equipment  32 . 
     In use, cover component  13  of cover  11  is wrapped around arm members  30  and  31  and/or  33  and  34  of exercise equipment  32  and secured by attachment hooks  20  and attachment loops  21 . In this wrapped position, arm members  30  and  31  extend through top and bottom ends  22  and  23  of cover  11  and patterned dot projections  19  on interior surface  16  contact the arm members and the patterned dot projections on exterior surface  15  are available to be gripped by a user of exercise equipment  32 . 
     When covers  1  and  11  are in place over arm members  30  and  31 , the user can be assured that perspiration, germs, or other possible contaminants which may be on the surfaces of the arm members by prior users will not contact the user&#39;s hands. The infused microban fibers F provide an added measure of protection to the user. Covers  1  and  11  will also provide a degree of protection for subsequent users, since the covers are to be removed immediately following use. Patterned dot projections  9  and  19  on the interior surfaces of covers  1  and  11  respectively, ensure that the covers will remain stationary on arm members  30  and  31 ; and the patterned dot projections on the exterior surfaces of the covers provide the user with additional assistance in gripping the covers by providing traction to the hands of the user with little or no slippage. 
     After use, covers  1  and  11  are removed from arm members  30  and  31 . The covers can be washed and reused. 
     Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.