Patent Publication Number: US-11033774-B1

Title: Exercise band bar

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/965,223, filed Jan. 24, 2020 by the same inventor (Clarke), the entirety of which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The subject matter of the present application is in the field of handheld exercise and physical therapy devices using elastic bands. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Devices for complementing the use of elastic cords and bands for exercises and physical therapy are known. 
     One example is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2017/0274239 to Barella. Barella shows an exercise bar or tube with slotted ends for inserting the knotted ends of an elastic stretch band. The bar is useful for exercises while holding the bar with two hands and anchoring the band underfoot. 
     Another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,668 to Harker. Harker shows a rigid bar or tube with slotted ends. Handles attached to the ends of a tubular, cord-like elastic member in a stirrup configuration include portions insertable into the ends of the bar, with portions of the stirrup configuration fed into the corresponding slots. The bar may be rolled to entwine a portion of the elastic member onto the bar, to shorten the length of the elastic member and increase its resistance. 
     Neither Barella nor Harker allows a flat elastic exercise band to be adjusted relative to the handlebar with good uniformity or consistency, which is critical to the proper and balanced use of such bands for physical therapy exercises. Nor do these prior devices appear to allow an efficient and uniform adjustment of an elastic exercise band attached to a handlebar “on the fly”, or while in use. The connections of the prior art bars to their elastic members also appear to place unnecessary localized strain on their respective elastic members, which would result in them wearing out faster. 
     Further, the prior art connections of the bars to their elastic members require unnecessarily complicated structures or manipulation to attach and detach the elastic members to the bars, making the changing of elastic members for different exercises slower and more cumbersome. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention comprises an exercise band handlebar device in which the ends of a wide, flat, elastic exercise or therapy band can be quickly, easily, and uniformly secured to the ends of the bar, and further which allows rapid, uniform adjustments of the band as to length and resistance while in use. 
     In a first form, the exercise band handlebar device comprises an elongated handlebar with open tubular ends, each open tubular end having a longitudinal slot through the associated sidewall portion. Each end of a wide, flat exercise band is secured in flat, full-width fashion to a rigid spreader insert rod or tube (hereafter “tube”) whose diameter is less than the inner diameter of the open tubular ends of the handlebar. The spreader insert tubes are removably inserted lengthwise into the open tubular ends of the handlebar, with the flat, full-width ends of the exercise band extending through the longitudinal slots. 
     The inserted spreader insert tubes rest in eccentric fashion against inner sidewall portions of their respective tubular ends of the handlebar, with the friction of the flat ends of the exercise bands extending across the spreader insert tubes securing the spreader insert tubes in place in the tubular ends, especially during exercises when the band is stretched and even more so when the band ends are partially or fully wound one or more times in flat, full-width fashion around the ends of the handlebar. 
     The friction of the flat, full-width, spread exercise band ends in the slots and on the outer faces of the tubular handlebar ends also allows the band to be rolled up very quickly and very uniformly by the person holding the handlebar, while in use and without any need for adjustment or manipulation of the band or any intervening structure. 
     In a further form, the connection of the ends of the exercise band to the spreader insert tubes is formed with a full-length stiffening member at each end of the band, for example a rod permanently attached to each end of the band and then inserted into a hollow interior of the spreader insert tube and secured therein in an eccentric manner, with a longitudinal slot in the spreader insert tube accommodating the exercise band. 
     The exercise band with the spreader insert tubes secured at each end may be used independently of the handlebar, if desired, with the spreader insert tubes providing individual hand grips. Multiple sets of exercise bands equipped with spreader insert tubes secured to their ends may be provided and quickly swapped in and out of the handlebar. 
     These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a person doing a standing exercise with an exercise band handlebar device according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the handlebar exercise band device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2A  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but shows the ends of the exercise band partially and fully exploded from the tubular ends of the handlebar. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but shows the exercise band partially rolled up around the ends of the handlebar. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded detail view of one of the spreader tube ends of the exercise band of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5A  is an end view of the spreader tube end structure of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5B  is an end view of the exercise band handlebar device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing a person doing a standing exercise with the exercise band wound partially around the ends of the handlebar to shorten the band. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  show different seated exercises being performed with the handlebar and exercise band structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows the exercise band structure of  FIG. 1  being used by a person independently of the handlebar. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an exercise device  10  according to the invention is shown in exemplary form in order to teach how to make and use the claimed invention. Device  10  comprises a “handlebar”  20  long enough to be securely held with two spaced hands on an intermediate portion  21  between outer ends  24 , like a barbell shaft but significantly lighter, in the illustrated example being made from a hollow plastic tube such as PVC, on the order of three feet long. The dimensions and weight and material of the handlebar  20  may vary, depending on the size, ability, and strength of the intended user. The tubing used for handlebar  20  should be sufficiently rigid that it does not significantly bow or bend under the force of exercises applied to the tubular ends through an elastic rubber exercise band  30 . 
     While handlebar  20  is illustrated in the example of  FIG. 1  as a continuously hollow cylindrical tube, it should be understood that only the outer ends  24  and their tubular open end passages  24   a  need be tubular and hollow, for a distance at least equal to the width of the exercise bands intended to be used with the handlebar, plus preferably a little farther, e.g. an inch or two. The intermediate body portion  21  of handlebar  20  may be solid, and both the intermediate body portion  21  and the tubular outer ends  24  may have non-cylindrical cross-sections, such as oval or polygonal. It is preferred, however, that the outer ends be substantially cylindrical without overly-aggressive corners or edges, in order to allow the flat ends of band  30  to be smoothly wound around the tubular ends of the handlebar when the handlebar is rotated. In the preferred example currently illustrated, both the outer and inner surfaces of the open tubular ends  24  are cylindrical. 
     Exercise band  30  is a wide flat elastic band of rubber-like material of known type, and may come in different colors and elastic strengths, as is known in the art. The width and overall length of band  30  may also vary, although a width of approximately 4-6″ (inches) is typical along with a length of several feet, trimmed to size per user (and therapist) preference. In use, the ends  32  of the band are capable of being wrapped in flat, even, full-width fashion partially or fully one or more times around the ends  24  of handlebar  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , each end  32  of band  30  extends in flat, full-width fashion from a slot  22  formed through the sidewall  24   b  of handlebar ends  24 , the slots extending partway inwardly from open ends  24   a  toward the middle of the handlebar in circumferential alignment with one another a distance equal to or greater than the width of the ends  32  of band  30  and spreader insert tubes associated with the ends of the band. The ends  32  of band  30  are each secured in flat, full-width fashion to a spreader insert “tube”  40  inserted in a respective open end  24   a  of the handlebar  20 . In the illustrated example, spreader insert tubes  40  comprise hollow plastic tubes having a length greater than the width of band  30 , such that ends  42  of inserts  40  terminate at or slightly past the ends  32  and side edges  31  ( FIG. 2A ) of band  30 , for example for an inch or so. Spreader insert tubes  40  are preferably cylindrical, as shown, of a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular open ends  24   a  of handlebar  20 . Spreader insert tubes  40  may also be solid rods rather than hollow tubes, provided that the ends  32  of the exercise band  30  are securely attached in flat fashion along the full width of the band ends across the respective tubes  40 . And while a cylindrical cross-section is preferred for tubes  40 , other cross-sections, both rounded and polygonal, are possible, again provided that their diameter or width is less than the inner diameter of the tubular ends  24   a  of the handlebar  20 . 
       FIG. 3  schematically shows the rolling and unrolling of the ends  32  of band  30  around the ends  24  of the handlebar  20 . While grasping the middle or intermediate portion  21  of the handlebar, the user simply rotates the handlebar with his or her hands in the desired direction while band  30  is under enough tension to keep ends  32  flat against the outer ends  24 , for example while the band is trapped underfoot as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . The winding or wrapping of the ends of band  30  in flat, full-width fashion around the ends of the handlebar as shown helps distribute tension evenly across the width of the band, and the variation in the amount of band wound around the ends of the handlebar each time the band is adjusted for a different user or a different exercise ensures that stress is not concentrated on the same sections of the band ends from use to use, preserving the life of the band. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B , spreader insert tubes  40  in the illustrated, preferred example comprise hollow tubes with at least one open end  42 , and are partially or fully split by a lengthwise slot  44  through the tube sidewall  43 , the slot running most or all of the length of the tube. The innermost or terminal end  32   a  of the exercise band  30  is stiffened across its width, for example with a stiffener such as a rod or dowel  33  glued, molded, or mechanically attached to the end  32   a  of the band  30 . The stiffened end  32   a  of the exercise band is inserted into the hollow interior of the spreader insert tube, with the exercise band ends  32  extending out through slot  44 . The diameter or width of the stiffener  33  and the stiffened end  32   a  of band  30  is less than the interior diameter of spreader insert tube  40 , such that the stiffened end  32   a  can be secured against an inside wall of the spreader insert tube off-center or eccentrically from the longitudinal axis of tube  40 . This off-center position can be secured with various fastening mechanisms, in the illustrated example with a plurality of radial through-bolts or spacers  46  extending through tube  40  to clamp stiffened end  32   a  of the exercise band against the inner sidewall of tube  40  against slot  44 , and/or by squeezing or pulling the ends of sidewall  43  of tube  40  that border slot  44  against the portion of exercise band  30  extending through the slot. Other structures and techniques for securing the stiffened end  32   a  of exercise band  30  inside the spreader insert tube  40  would be possible and could be used, but the illustrated structure is a currently preferred example. 
     With the innermost ends  32   a  of the exercise band  30  essentially permanently secured in spreader insert tubes  40 , spreader insert tubes  40  can be quickly and easily inserted into the open tubular ends  24   a  of handlebar  20  with the respective ends  32  of the exercise band  30  extending in flat, full-width fashion from the corresponding-length slots  22 , as best shown in  FIG. 5B . Slots  22  are preferably circumferentially aligned, as shown, so that the exercise band  30  extends evenly from the ends  24  of handlebar  20 . 
     No additional structure is needed to keep spreader insert tubes  40  and the ends  32  of the exercise band  30  securely attached to handlebar  20  for normal handling and exercise, as the friction of the flat, full-width, spread exercise band ends  32  against the edges of the slots  22  and on and around the outer surfaces of the handlebar  20  at ends  24  is sufficient to hold the spreader insert tubes  40  in place without longitudinal slippage. This effect is increased by the off-center bias location of the smaller diameter spreader insert tubes  40  relative to the axis of the tubular ends of the handlebar, as the spreader tubes  40  rest against or are tensioned against the nearest inner sidewall surface of the handlebar ends  24 . Yet, when it is desired to remove a first exercise band  30  from handlebar  20  for storage, travel, or to replace it with a band of different resistance, spreader tubes  40  and the ends  32  of band  30  in their relaxed, untensioned state, with the band ends  32  unwound from around the ends of the handlebar and relaxed or un-stretched, are easily slid out of the ends  24   a  of the handlebar. 
     Handlebar  20  is illustrated as a unitary tube, but it will be understood that handlebar  20  could be manufactured in joinable sections that can be assembled for exercise and disassembled for storage or travel. Also, handlebar  20  may be provided in a fixed length, and the tubular ends  24  then shortened by cutting or sawing in order to customize the overall length of the handlebar  20 . Further, tubular ends  24  could be supplied as separate pieces, joinable to the ends of the intermediate portion  21  of handlebar  20  by sliding or telescoping them over the handlebar with a close fit and then securing them at a desired position with mechanical fasteners or connections and/or adhesive to customize the overall length of the handlebar. 
     Description of Operation 
     In operation, the exercise device  10  illustrated above can be used for many different exercises, some of which are shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIGS. 7A-7D . By anchoring some portion of the exercise band  30  to a support or against a firm surface, including but not limited to being held to the floor underfoot, being sat upon, or being hooked to a doorknob or piece of furniture, the number of exercises capable of being performed is nearly limitless. 
     More importantly, the nature of the connection of the ends  32  of exercise band  30  to the ends  24  of handlebar  20 , with a full-width, flat presentation from the off-center position inside the tubular ends  24   a  of the handlebar out through the slots  22 , allows a very fast, very uniform, very balanced rolling and unrolling of the protruding ends  32  of the exercise band  30  onto and off the outer surface of the ends  24  of the handlebar, while the handlebar is being held in both hands by the user. This is possible even during an exercise routine when it might be difficult for the user to change position or engagement with the handlebar and exercise band, especially if limited in motion due to a physical injury that is being treated by the exercise. Further, by being rolled in flat, full-width fashion at least partially and preferably one or more times around the outer ends  24  of the handlebar relative to the point where they exit the slots in handlebar ends  24 , the ends  32  of the band  30  are evenly tensioned during use, and are rarely stressed at the same point from user to user or from exercise to exercise. Also, a single length of band  30  can be quickly adapted not only to multiple exercises but to multiple users of different height or strength by simply rolling or unrolling the ends  32  of the band  30  from handlebar ends  24  a different amount via a desired number of revolutions or partial revolutions of the handlebar. 
     It will finally be understood that the disclosed embodiments represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It should further be understood that to the extent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as a term which has long been used to describe new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of the invention supported by the above disclosure should accordingly be construed within the scope of what it teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art, and within the scope of any claims that the above disclosure supports in this application or in any other application claiming priority to this application.