Patent Publication Number: US-10307636-B1

Title: Neck and shoulder exercise device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of health and amusement including apparatus for physical training, more specifically, an interface for attaching the head of a body to exercise apparatus for developing and strengthening muscles of the body. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The neck and shoulder exercise device is a harness. The neck and shoulder exercise device is adapted for use with a person. The person is further defined with a head. The neck and shoulder exercise device is worn on the head of the person. The neck and shoulder exercise device attaches to a commercially available weight machine commonly used for strength. By attaching the weights associated with the weight machine to the neck and shoulder exercise device the person can use the weight machine to train the muscles supporting the head of the person. The neck and shoulder exercise device comprises a plurality of straps, a plurality of seams, a plurality of hooks, and a fastener. The plurality of seams: 1) interconnects the plurality of straps to each other; and, 2) attaches the plurality of hooks to the plurality of straps. The fastener secures the neck and shoulder exercise device to the head of the person. The plurality of hooks are used to attach the neck and shoulder exercise device to the weight machine. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the neck and shoulder exercise device will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the neck and shoulder exercise device in detail, it is to be understood that the neck and shoulder exercise device is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the neck and shoulder exercise device. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the neck and shoulder exercise device. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an opposite side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The neck and shoulder exercise device  100  (hereinafter invention) is a harness. The invention  100  is adapted for use with a person  181 . The person  181  is further defined with a head  182 . The invention  100  is worn on the head  182  of the person  181 . The invention  100  attaches to a commercially available weight machine  183  commonly used for strength. By attaching the weights associated with the weight machine  183  to the invention  100  the person  181  can use the weight machine  183  to train the muscles supporting the head  182  of the person  181 . The weight machine  183  is a commercially available strength training machine commonly found in health clubs. A cable loop  184  refers to a cable formed with a loop in the end. The cable loop  184  is commonly used component to attach grips and handles to the weight machine  183 . The invention  100  comprises a plurality of straps  101 , a plurality of seams  102 , a plurality of hooks  103 , and a fastener  104 . The plurality of seams  102 : 1) interconnects the plurality of straps  101  to each other; and, 2) attaches the plurality of hooks  103  to the plurality of straps  101 . The fastener  104  secures the invention  100  to the head  182  of the person  181 . The plurality of hooks  103  are used to attach the invention  100  to the weight machine  183 . 
     Each of the plurality of straps  101  is a readily and commercially available webbing. The plurality of straps  101  comprises a first strap  111 , a second strap  112 , a third strap  113 , a fourth strap  114 , and a fourth strap  114 , and a sixth strap  116 . The first strap  111  is further defined with a first end  161  and a second end  162 . The second strap  112  is further defined with a third end  163  and a fourth end  164 . The third strap  113  is further defined with a fifth end  165  and a sixth end  166 . The fourth strap  114  is further defined with a seventh end  167  and an eighth end  168 . The fifth strap  115  is further defined with a ninth end  169  and a tenth end  170 . The sixth strap  116  is further defined with an eleventh end  171  and a twelfth end  172 . 
     Each of the plurality of seams  102  is a seam that makes an attachment selected from the group consisting of: 1) a first strap selected from the plurality of straps  101  to a second strap selected from the plurality of straps  101 ; 2) the first webbing  151  to a strap selected from the plurality of straps  101 ; and, 3) the second webbing  152  to a strap selected from the plurality of straps  101 . In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, each of the plurality of seams  102  is a sewn seam. The plurality of seams  102  comprises a first seam  121 , a second seam  122 , a third seam  123 , a fourth seam  124 , a fifth seam  125 , and a sixth seam  126 , a seventh seam  127 , an eighth seam  128 , a ninth seam  129 , a tenth seam  130 , an eleventh seam  131 , a twelfth seam  132 , a thirteenth seam  133 , and a fourteenth seam  134 . 
     Each of the plurality of hooks  103  is an attachment device that attaches the invention  100  to the weight machine  183 . Each of the plurality of hooks  103  is identical. The plurality of hooks  103  comprises a first hook and D ring  141  and a second hook and D ring  142 . 
     The first hook and D ring  141  is a commercially available combination of findings. The D ring attaches first hook and D ring  141  to the first strap  111  and the hook attaches the D ring to the cable loop  184 . The second hook and D ring  142  is a commercially available combination of findings. The D ring attaches second hook and D ring  142  to the first strap  111  and the hook attaches the D ring to the cable loop  184 . 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the hook of the first hook and D ring  141  is a carabiner. In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the hook of the second hook and D ring  142  is a readily and commercially available webbing. 
     The fastener  104  is a commercially available fastening device that is used to secure the invention  100  to the head  182  of the person  181 . The fastener  104  is adjustable to allow the invention  100  to be fitted to the person  181 . In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the fastener  104  is a quick release buckle. The fastener  104  comprises a first webbing  151 , a second webbing  152 , a male connector  153 , a female connector  154 , and a ring and slider arrangement  155 . The first webbing  151  is a readily and commercially available webbing. The second webbing  152  is a readily and commercially available webbing. The male connector  153  is the male connector of the quick release buckle that forms the fastener  104 . The female connector  154  is the female connector of the quick release buckle that forms the fastener  104 . The ring and slider assembly  155  is commercially available. 
     The assembly of the invention  100  is described in the following 6 paragraphs. 
     The first seam  121  attaches the first strap  111  to center of the second strap  112 . The first strap  111  is folded around the second strap  112  before the first seam  121  joins the first strap  111  to the second strap  112 . The second seam  122  attaches the first strap  111  on to first strap  111  after the first end  161  of the first strap  111  is folded. The third seam  123  attaches the first end  161  of the first strap  111  to the body of the first strap  111 . The third seam  123  attaches the first hook and D ring  141  to the first strap  111 . The fourth seam  124  attaches the face of the first strap  111  to the face of the fourth strap  114 . 
     The sixth seam  126  attaches the first strap  111  on to first strap  111  after the second end  162  of the first strap  111  is folded. The fifth seam  125  attaches the second end  162  of the first strap  111  to the body of the first strap  111 . The fifth seam  125  attaches the second hook and D ring  142  to the first strap  111 . The seventh seam  127  attaches the third end  163  of the second strap  112  and the fourth end  164  of the second strap  112  to the first strap  111 . The second strap  112  is sandwiched between the faces of the first strap  111 . The eighth seam  128  attaches the center of the third strap  113  to the first strap  111 . The first strap  111  is folded around the third strap  113  before the eighth seam  128  joins the first strap  111  to the third strap  113 . 
     The ninth seam  129  attaches the seventh end  167  of the fourth strap  114  to the face of the third strap  113 . The tenth seam  130  attaches the eighth end  168  of the fourth strap  114  to the face of the third strap  113 . 
     The eleventh seam  131  attaches the tenth end  170  of the fifth strap  115  to the second strap  112 . The tenth end  170  of the fifth strap  115  is folded around the second strap  112  before being joined together by the eleventh seam  131 . The twelfth seam  132  attaches together: 1) the fifth end  165  of the third strap  113 ; 2) the ninth end  169  of the fifth strap  115 ; and, 3) the thirteenth end  173  of the first webbing  151 . 
     The thirteenth seam  133  attaches the twelfth end  172  of the sixth strap  116  to the second strap  112 . The twelfth end  172  of the sixth strap  116  is folded around the second strap  112  before being joined together by the thirteenth seam  133 . The fourteenth seam  134  attaches together: 1) the sixth end  166  of the third strap  113 ; 2) the eleventh end  171  of the sixth strap  116 ; and, 3) the fifteenth end  175  of the second webbing  152 . 
     The male connector  153  attaches to the fourteenth end  174  of the first webbing  151 . The female connector  154  and the ring and slider arrangement  155  attaches to the sixteenth end  176  of the second webbing  152 . Methods to attach connectors and ring and sliders are well known in the textile and apparel arts. 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Band: As used in this disclosure, a band is a flat loop of material. 
     Buckle: As used in this disclosure, a buckle is a fastening that is used for joining a first loose end of a strap to a second loose end of the same strap or a different strap. A buckle further comprises a male connector that is attached to a first loose end and a female connector that is attached to a second loose end. The male connector has a pin or other structure that is generally caught by a structure formed in the female connector. 
     Carabiner: As used in this disclosure, a carabiner is coupling link that is usually formed as an oblong metal ring with one spring hinged side that is used to open and close the ring. Synonyms for carabiner include D-link. 
     Fastener: As used in this disclosure, a fastener is a device that is used to join or affix two objects. Fasteners generally comprise a first element which is attached to the first object and a second element which is attached to the second object such that the first element and the second element join to affix the first object and the second object. Common fasteners include, but are not limited to, hooks, zippers, snaps, buttons, buckles, quick release buckles, or hook and loop fasteners. 
     Findings: As used in this disclosure, findings are small decorative elements, fasteners, or tools for fit, function, or adjustment that are used with apparel or footwear. 
     Harness: As used in this disclosure, a harness is an apparatus comprising a plurality of straps and one or more fasteners that is used to fasten or anchor a first person or first object to a second object. 
     Hook: As used in this disclosure, a hook is an object that is curved or bent at an angle such that items can be hung on or caught by the object. 
     Loop: As used in this disclosure, a loop is the length of a first linear structure including, but not limited to, shafts, lines, cords, or ribbons, that is: 1) folded over and joined at the ends forming an enclosed space; or, 2) curved to form a closed or nearly closed space within the first linear structure. In both cases, the space formed within the first linear structure is such that a second linear structure such as a line, cord or a hook can be inserted through the space formed within the first linear structure. Within this disclosure, the first linear structure is said to be looped around the second linear structure. 
     Quick Release Buckle: As used in this disclosure, a quick release buckle is a specific type of buckle wherein the buckle can be readily and easily disconnected by pressing a button or pinching one of the ends of the quick release buckle. Quick release buckles are readily and commercially available. 
     Ring and Slider Arrangement: As used in this disclosure, a ring and slider arrangement is an apparatus comprising a ring component and a slider component that is used to adjust the effective length of a webbing in an application. In the ring and slider arrangement, an end of the webbing is inserted through the slider component, looped through the ring component and then reverse threaded through the slider component for a second time. By adjusting the position of the slider component relative to the webbing, the effective length of the webbing can be adjusted. Ring and slider arrangements are well known and documented in the textile arts. 
     Seam: As used in this disclosure, a seam is a joining of: 1) a first textile to a second textile; 2) a first sheeting to a second sheeting; or, 3) a first textile to a first sheeting. Potential methods to form seams include, but are not limited to, a sewn seam, a heat bonded seam, an ultrasonically bonded seam, or a seam formed using an adhesive. 
     Sewn Seam: As used in this disclosure, a sewn seam a method of attaching two or more layers of textile, leather, or other material through the use of a thread, a yarn, or a cord that is repeatedly inserted and looped through the two or more layers of textile, leather, or other material. 
     Strap: As used in this disclosure a strap is a strip of leather, cloth, or other flexible material, often with a buckle, that is used to fasten, secure, carry, or hold onto something. 
     Strip: As used in this disclosure, the term describes a long and narrow object of uniform thickness that appears thin relative to the length of the object. Strips are often rectangular in shape. 
     Textile: As used in this disclosure, a textile is a material that is woven, knitted, braided or felted. Synonyms in common usage for this definition include fabric and cloth. 
     Webbing: As used in this disclosure, a webbing is strong, close woven or knitted fabric that is used for straps or belting. As used in this disclosure, webbing is a fully formed material that is only cut to length for use. Webbing is not formed by cutting broader materials into strips. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 5  include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.