Patent Publication Number: US-11033772-B2

Title: Weighted wearable training apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present application relates generally to a weighted wearable training apparatus, more particular it relates to a weighted apparatus for use on a limb for training, exercise and rehabilitation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Adding weight to a limb during exercise can have beneficial effects for an athlete during training or for individuals looking to rehabilitate after an injury. However, the positioning of added weight can affect the user&#39;s gaits and movements which can cause stress to muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. Strategically placing weights on a user&#39;s limb may limit or eliminate changes to the user&#39;s movement, allowing for proper weight training and potential improvements to the user&#39;s speed, stamina and strength. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     There is provided a weighted wearable training apparatus that has a weight shell with a front surface, a rear surface, a top, a bottom, a first side edge and a second side edge. The weight shell is adapted to cover at least a portion of a user&#39;s limb. The weight shell has a plurality of pockets on the rear surface. At least one removable weight is sized to fit within one of the pockets. At least one attachment mechanism is provided for holding the weight shell to the user&#39;s limb. 
     In one embodiment, the weight shell has at least two tiers of pockets. 
     In one embodiment, the weight shell has three tiers of pockets. 
     In one embodiment, the number of attachment mechanisms for holding the weight shell to the user&#39;s limb is equal to the number of tiers of pockets. 
     In one embodiment, the weight shell is shaped such that each consecutive tier of pockets has a width less than the tier of pockets above. 
     In one embodiment, the weight shell is shaped such that a first tier of pockets is positioned above a second tier of pockets and a third tier of pockets is positioned below the second tier of pockets. The first tier of pockets has a width greater than the second tier of pockets and the second tier of pockets has a width greater than the third tier of pockets. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one attachment mechanism is adjustable. The attachment mechanism may be a strap or any other suitable means known to a person skilled in the art. 
     In one embodiment, a female buckle connector is attached to the weight shell and a male buckle connector is attached to the at least one strap. The male buckle is sized to connect with the female buckle connector. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one removable weight is cylindrical in shape. The weight may be made of stainless steel or any other suitable material known to a person skilled in the art. Each weight may weigh between 0.25 to 0.5 pounds. 
     In one embodiment, the weight shell is adapted to fit around a shin pad. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one strap has a hood and loop fastener such as Velcro™ to hold excess strap to prevent the excess strap from moving around. 
     In one embodiment, the front surface of the weight shell is nylon. 
     In one embodiment, the rear surface of the weight shell is neoprene. 
     In one embodiment, the plurality of pockets are substantially uniform in size. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references denote like parts. The drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a weighted wearable training apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of a variation of a weighted wearable training apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the variation of a weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the variation of a weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the variation of a weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of a weight used in association with the weighted wearable training apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the weighted wearable training apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  on a hockey shin pad. 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevation view of the weighted wearable training apparatus on a hockey shin pad shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the weighted wearable training apparatus on a hockey shin pad shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A weighted wearable training apparatus, generally identified by reference numeral  10 , will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a weighted wearable training apparatus  10  has a weight shell  12  with a front surface  14 , a rear surface  16 , shown in  FIG. 2 , a top  18 , a bottom  20 , a first side edge  22  and a second side edge  24 . Weight shell  12  is adapted to cover at least a portion of a user&#39;s limb. In the embodiment shown, weight shell  12  is adapted to cover a portion of a user&#39;s lower leg. Referring to  FIG. 10 - FIG. 12 , weight shell  12  is adapted to fit around a shin pad  25 . It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that weight shell  12  may be adapted to cover different portions of a user&#39;s limb, including but not limited to the upper leg, the lower arm and the upper arm. Referring to  FIG. 2 , weight shell  12  has a plurality of pockets  26  on rear surface  16 . In the embodiments shown, plurality of pockets  26  are substantially uniform in size. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that pockets  26  may be different sizes. At least one removable weight  28  is sized to fit within one of pockets  26 . In one embodiment, front surface  14  is made of nylon. The nylon may be able to withstand normal wear and tear and extend the life of weighted wearable training apparatus  10 . It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that other types of material may be used. In one embodiment, rear surface  16  of weight shell  12  is made of neoprene. Neoprene provides elasticity so weights  28 , shown in  FIG. 3 , are held in pockets  26 . Rear surface  16  may be made of a layer of nylon covered by a layer of neoprene. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that other types of materials may also be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 , in the embodiment shown, weight shell  12  is made up of a number of layers. A top layer  29  acts as a front surface  14 . In one embodiment, top layer  29  is made of nylon. A middle layer  31  may be made of any suitable material such as nylon and provides additional stability to weight shell  12 . A bottom layer  33  acts as rear surface  16 . In one embodiment, bottom layer  33  is made of neoprene. Neoprene may allow for some stretch, which helps to hold weights  28 , shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , in place. A boarder trim  35  may serve to provide additional structural support or be used for decorative purposes. 
     Attachment mechanisms  30  are provided for holding weight shell  12  to a user&#39;s limb. In the embodiment shown, attachment mechanisms  30  include a strap  32  that has a male buckle connector  34 , such as the quick release clip shown, that connects to a female buckle connector  36 , such as the quick release buckle shown. Male buckle connector  34  can be moved along strap  32  to adjust the length of strap  32 . Female buckle connector  36  is attached to front surface  14  of weight shell  12 . Male buckle connector  34  and female bucket connector  36  allow for a quick buckling and release. Female buckle connector  36  and male buckle connector  34  may be made of plastic, metal, or any other suitable material known to a person skilled in the art. Strap  32  may have pieces of a hook and loop fastener  37  such as Velcro™ to hold excess strap  32  and prevent it from flapping during movement of the user&#39;s limb. Hook and loop fastener  37  may also be used as attachment mechanism  30 . It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that different types and positioning of attachment mechanisms  30  may be used. Attachment mechanisms  30  may be positioned to maintain weight shell  12  and weight in a preferred location on user&#39;s limb and prevent weight shell  12  from bunching up during use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , weight shell  12  has a first tier  38  of pockets  26  and a second tier  40  of pockets  26 . In the embodiment shown, weight shell  12  is shaped such that second tier  40  has a width less than first tier  38 . In the embodiment shown, first tier  38  has ten pockets, eight of which are sized to accommodate a weight  44 , shown in  FIG. 7 , and second tier  40  has six pockets, four of which are sized to accommodate a weight  44 . If 0.25 pound weights are used, this allows the minimum added weight to be 0.25 pounds and the maximum added weight to be three pounds. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that different numbers of pockets may be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , weight shell  12  has a first tier  38  of pockets  26 , a second tier  40  of pockets  26  and a third tier  42  of pockets  26 . In the embodiment shown, first tier  38  has a width greater than second tier  40  and second tier has a width greater than third tier  38 . It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the number of tiers of pockets  26  may vary depending upon the size of weight shell  12  and the use of weighted wearable training apparatus  10 . In the embodiment shown, first tier  38  has sixteen pockets, fourteen of which are sized to accommodate a weight  44 , shown in  FIG. 3 , second tier  40  has twelve pockets, twelve of which are sized to accommodate a weight  44 , and third tier  42  has six pockets, six of which are sized to accommodate a weight  44 . If 0.25 pound weights are used, this allows the minimum added weight to be 0.25 pounds and the maximum added weight to be eight pounds. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that different numbers of pockets may be used. For example, referring to  FIG. 10 - FIG. 12 , weight shell  12  with three tiers of pockets  26  may be positioned over a hockey shin pad  25  and is sized for use by an average adult. Referring to FIG.  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , weight shell  12  with two tiers of pockets  26  may be positioned over a hockey shin pad  25  and is sized for use by a child or small adult. As can be seen, in the embodiments shown, the number of attachment mechanisms  30  for holding weight shell  12  to a user&#39;s limb is equal to the number of tiers of pockets  26 . The tiers help to distribute weight across the covered portion of the user&#39;s limb. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , removable weights  28  are placed in pockets  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , weights  28  are cylindrical in shape. The cylindrical shape may allow weight shell  12  to conform around the user&#39;s limb or shin pad, shown in  FIG. 10 - FIG. 12 . It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that weights  28  may be any other shape, including but not limited to rectangular, square, trapezoid, octagon or half-circle. Weights  28  may have rounded, edged or straight cut edges  44 . Preferably, weights  28  are made of stainless steel or other metals that have a high resistance to corrosion. A person of skill will understand that any material may be used to create weights. The weights may be painted, finished or left as raw material. While the dimensions of weights  28  may vary, weights  28  are sized to fit within pockets  26 . In one embodiment, weights  28  are four inches long with a diameter of 9/16 of an inch. In another embodiment, weights  28  are four and a half inches long with a diameter of ½ of an inch. It is preferred that each weight  44  weight between 0.25 and 0.5 pounds each. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the weight of weight  44  may be greater or lesser than 0.25 to 0.5 pounds. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a user can choose which pockets  26  to place weight  44  into. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 - FIG. 4 , a weighted wearable training apparatus  10  for a user&#39;s right lower limb is shown. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 - FIG. 8 , a weighted wearable training apparatus  10  for a user&#39;s left lower limb is shown. This places female buckle connector  36  on the inside rear of the user&#39;s leg. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the user may place either weighted wearable training apparatus  10  on either leg based upon user&#39;s preference. 
     Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure unless specifically stated otherwise. 
     In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. 
     It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.