Patent Publication Number: US-11638851-B2

Title: Neck exercise device and system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/849,505, entitled “Neck Exercise Device and System”, and filed on Jun. 24, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/322,867, entitled “Neck Exercise Device and System”, and filed on May 17, 2021, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/477,827, entitled “Neck Exercise Device and System”, and filed on Sep. 4, 2014, now patented as U.S. Pat. No. 11,007,405, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/873,417, entitled “Neck Exercise Device and System” and filed on Sep. 4, 2013, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments relate generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to neck exercise devices and systems for neck strengthening, conditioning, toning and/or rehabilitation and methods of making the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some conventional neck exercise devices, such as traditional weightlifting head harnesses, may include a chain to attach the harness to one or more weights. The chain may be attached to the head harness at two attachment points. Thus, some conventional neck exercise devices may be cumbersome to use and may offer limited exercise options. 
     Embodiments were conceived in light of the above-mentioned needs, problems and/or limitations, among other things. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some implementations can include a neck exercise device comprising a head harness having an adjustable headband and a first cranial strap having each end attached to the headband. The device can also include a second cranial strap having each end attached to the headband and an adjustable chin strap. The device can further include a plurality of attachment members. 
     The plurality of attachment members can include a first attachment member disposed adjacent to an area where a first end of the first cranial strap attaches to the headband, and a second attachment member disposed adjacent to an area where a second end of the first cranial strap attaches to the headband. The plurality of attachment members can also include a third attachment member disposed adjacent to an area where a first end of the second cranial strap attaches to the headband, and a fourth attachment member disposed adjacent to an area where a second end of the second cranial strap attaches to the headband. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a bottom view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a front view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a top view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a front view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view diagram of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram of an example neck exercise device resistance band and wall anchor in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows a top view of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. In particular, the device  100  includes an adjustable headband  102 , a headband adjustment member  104 , a first cranial strap  106 , a second cranial strap  108 , a first attachment member or point  110 , a second attachment member or point  112 , a third attachment member or point  114 , a fourth attachment member or point  116 . 
     The headband  102  and cranial straps  106 / 108  form a head harness. The headband  102  is configured to extend circumferentially around a user&#39;s skull from forehead around the side of the head to the occiput and back around to the forehead. The first cranial strap  106  extends from one side (or temple) region of the skull to the opposite side of the skull and is attached at both ends to the headband  102 . The second cranial strap  108  extends from the forehead over the top and crown of the wearer&#39;s head to the occipital region and is attached at both ends to the headband. The headband  102  and cranial straps can be formed from 2-inch black heavy polypro webbing or other suitable material. The first cranial strap  106  and second cranial strap  108  can be attached to each other (e.g., stitched together) at a location where the two cross at the crown of the head harness. 
     The headband  102  includes an adjustment member, which can include a slide (e.g., a 2-inch plastic triglide slide or the like) and 2-inch hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro or the like). The attachment members or points can include a 2-inch welded metal D ring (e.g., steel D ring) or other suitable attachment point. Each attachment point  110 - 116  can be attached to the headband  102  with webbing passing through the attachment point and being secured (e.g., stitched) at each end of the webbing to the headband  102 . The attachment points  110 - 116  (e.g., D rings) can be oriented vertically with respect to the horizontal plane of the headband when being worn, e.g., the D rings can extend from the headband in a similar fashion to the orientation that a human ear extends from the head. It will be appreciated that the D rings could be oriented in other orientations as well. Each attachment member (e.g., D ring) can have an orientation the same as, or different from, the other D rings. 
     It will be appreciated that although four attachment points are shown in the example embodiment, there could be more or less attachment points in an embodiment. 
       FIG.  2    shows a bottom view of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. In addition to the elements described above,  FIG.  2    shows a chin strap having a first portion  202  and a second portion  204 . The chin strap can be formed from 1-inch black heavy polypro webbing or other similar material and attached (e.g., stitched) to the headband  102 . The chin strap portions ( 202  and  204 ) can each include 1 inch hook and loop fastener to secure the chin strap on a wearer. At least one portion of the chin strap can also include an adjustment member, such as a 1-inch plastic Wide Mouth Heavyduty Triglide Slide (made by YKK), or the like. 
     In operation, a first chin strap portion can be fed through an adjustment member of the other chin strap portion. The chin strap can be tightened so as to help secure the head harness to a user&#39;s head for exercise, and the chin strap can be secured with the hook and loop fastener. One of the chin strap portions can include an adjustable pad configured to slide along the chin strap portion 
     Also, the inside surfaces of the head harness can have padding, such as a 4 mm neoprene with plain backing (or other suitable material) applied (e.g., stitched). The headband and straps can be assembled (e.g., stitched) with heavy duty thread. 
       FIG.  3    shows a front view of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. In particular,  FIG.  3    shows a front view of the neck exercise device with chin straps portions  202 / 204 , and cranial straps  106 / 108 . 
       FIG.  4    shows a top view of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment. In  FIG.  4   , the head harness  100  is shown with a resistance band  406  (e.g., bungee cord or other suitable elastic material) attached via two carabiners  402 / 404 . The carabiners are configured to attach each end of the resistance band to a respective attachment point (e.g.,  110 ,  114 ) of the head harness  100 . The resistance band  406  can be a single a band with each end having a respective carabiner ( 402 / 404 ) attached. 
     In operation, one or both ends of the resistance band  406  can be attached to a respective attachment member (e.g.,  110 - 112 ) and one side or the middle of the resistance band  406  can be temporarily secured (e.g., by hand, foot, wall anchor hook and/or other attachment) and then the head (with the head harness attached) can be moved such that the resistance band  406  generates force against the neck thereby stretching, conditioning and/or strengthening the neck muscles as the head is moved in at least partial opposition to the force of the resistance band  406 . 
     The configuration (e.g., four D rings attached directly to the headband, with one each at the front, rear, left and right sides of the headband respectively) and orientation (e.g., each attachment member being vertically oriented with respect to the horizontal plane of the headband) of the attachment members can provide numerous advantages in terms of the types of resistance that can be provided and, therefore, the types of exercises that can be performed with an embodiment. For example, an exercise can include side to side head (leaning the head toward one of the shoulders) movements with the resistance band ends attached the front attachment member and/or the rear attachment member to provide resistance to the neck. The head movements can include front and back movements (leaning head forward towards the chest and backwards towards the back) with one or both ends of the resistance band attached to the left side attachment member and/or right-side attachment member. The head movements can also include rotational movements with resistance to the neck provided by passing one end of the resistance band through the front attachment member (e.g., D ring) and then through either the right-side attachment member or left side attachment member and finally attaching the end of the resistance band to the rear attachment member. The free end of the resistance band is pulled to the side opposite the side attachment member the band passes through, and the head is rotated in a direction opposite the pulled free end of the resistance band thus applying resistance to the rotation of the neck. 
       FIG.  5    shows a front view of an example neck exercise device in accordance with at least one embodiment.  FIG.  5    shows the resistance band  406  attached to the head harness via carabiners  402 / 404  attached to respective attachment points  116 / 112 . 
       FIG.  6    shows a top view of an example neck exercise device showing elements described in conjunction with  FIGS.  4  and  5   . 
       FIG.  7    is a diagram of an example neck exercise device resistance band  406  and wall anchor  702  in accordance with at least one embodiment. The wall anchor can be attached to a wall or other surface to temporarily secure the resistance band  406  for performing one or more neck exercises. 
     It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, a neck exercise device and system and method of making the same. 
     While the disclosed subject matter has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be, or are, apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicants intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.