Patent Publication Number: US-6209135-B1

Title: Exercise vest with flexible weights

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to weighted exercise vests. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Weights are often used in strength, endurance, and muscle building exercises for increasing resistance and intensifying the workout. Free weights, such as hand weights, are useful for exercising every muscle in the body. However, they must be held by the person&#39;s or a partner&#39;s hands at all times. To enable a person to exercise solely, free the hands, and to carry the load more efficiently, weights have been attached to vests worn over the torso. Weighted vests are designed to increase muscle strength and mass during exercises that are typically known to only increase endurance. 
     A weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,267 to Watson is comprised of single-layer front and back panels, and weights adhered to recesses in the panels. The sides of the panels are connected by staps, which are uncomfortable because they do not stretch when the user&#39;s torso is bent and flexed. The panels are made of a closed cell copolymer material, which although disclosed as flexible, are thick enough to limit freedom of movement. The weights are made of a heavy metal, and coated with a plastic or rubber material. Each weight is made of a single piece of rigid metal that does not bend with the body, so that they are uncomfortable when the body is bent and flexed. The rigid weights may also cause pain when the wearer slams into another person, such as when playing a contact sport. Because they are merely adhered to the panel, the weights may be knocked off when making contact with another person. 
     Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,270 to Shine is comprised of front and back panels laced together on the sides. Bags of lead shots are inserted in pockets on the panels, and may be selectively removed for adjusting the load. Although the width of the vest is adjustable by loosening or tightening the lacing, adjusting long lacing is difficult and time consuming. Once adjusted, the lacing does not stretch when the user&#39;s torso is bent and flexed. If the lead shots are packed loosely in the bags, they will slosh around and cause discomfort and noise. If the lead shots are packets tightly in the bags, they will become very rigid and uncomfortable. 
     Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,442 to Tomlinson et al. is comprised of front and back panels joined by elastic sides that provide more comfort when the user&#39;s torso is bent and flexed. The width of the vest is adjustable by adjusting hook-and-loop straps on the front. Weights received in front and back pockets are comprised of solid lead plates surrounded by a padded coating. Although the weights are bendable by hand to conform to the body, they are not at all resilient, and are still rigid enough to cause discomfort when the user&#39;s torso is bent and flexed. The weights may also slide out of the open pockets during rigorous exercise. 
     Another weighted vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,387 to Zakrzewski is comprised of front and back panels with pockets holding rigid metal bars. Straps stretched across the pocket openings hold the bars in place. However, the long rigid bars severely limit the wearer&#39;s freedom of movement, and may cause discomfort when the user&#39;s torso is bent and flexed. 
     A common disadvantage of most prior art weighted vests is that their fabric construction cannot properly support the heavy weights, so that they sag and tear with age. The fabric panels are non-stretchable, so that they cannot fit snugly enough to prevent shifting. Yet another common disadvantage is that the weights are carried too low on the torso for comfort and proper load distribution. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, objects of the present exercise vest are: 
     to increase resistance during exercising for more rapidly building muscles with reduced repetition; 
     to be quickly adjustable in width and height to fit different wearers; 
     to properly distribute the weights on the wearer; 
     to have removable weights for adjusting the total load and weight distribution; 
     to have pockets that are easily opened for removing the weights; 
     to have pockets that securely retain the weights even during rigorous exercise; 
     to be highly flexible for comfort; 
     to have flexible and resilient weights for comfort; 
     to fit snugly enough to prevent shifting during rigorous exercise; 
     to be durable. 
     Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present weighted exercise vest is comprised of right and left front panels connected to a back panel by elastic sides and webbing straps on top. A plurality of weights are removably but snugly received in elastic pockets arranged on the front panels and the back panel. The weights are securely retained by elastic flaps over the pockets. Each panel is preferably constructed of spandex inner and outer sheets for a snug fit, rubber padding sheets between the spandex inner and outer sheets for cushioning impact, and a strong webbing sheet between the rubber padding sheets for attaching the pockets and straps. The webbing sheet generally spans the entire area of each panel for maximum durability. Each weight includes a core comprised of 90% lead shot embedded in 10% silicone rubber for providing the necessary mass, but also enough flexibility to bend with the user&#39;s body. The core is surrounded by a silicone gel shell for cushioning impacts and further improving comfort. The silicone gel shell is surrounded by a spandex shell for making insertion into the pockets easier. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the present weighted exercise vest. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a weight thereof, taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a pair of front panels thereof. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a back panel thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG.  1 : 
     A preferred embodiment of the present exercise vest is shown in a front view in FIG.  1 . It is comprised of a right front panel  10  and a left front panel  11  joined to a back panel  12  by elastic side panels  13  on the sides, and adjustable length webbing straps  14  on the top. Elastic sides  13  are preferably made of four-way-stretch spandex for snugly fitting a user. Front panels  10  and  11  are preferably shorter than back panel  12 . 
     Upper and lower tabs  15  and  16  extend from the inner end of left front panel  11 , and are separated from each other by a notch  17 . Tabs  15  and  16  are removably attachable to an inner end of right front panel  10  by hook-and-loop fasteners  18  on the outer surface of right front panel  10  and hook-and-loop fasteners  19  on the inner surfaces of tabs  15  and  16 . The width of the vest is adjustable for fitting different users by adjusting the position of tabs  15  and  16  on right front panel  10 . Since upper and lower tabs  15  and  16  are separated by notch  17 , they are somewhat independently adjustable relative to each other for independently tightening the upper and lower portions of left front panel  11  to right front panel  10 . The outer surfaces of tabs  15  and  16  are reinforced by webbing  20 . The lower edges of front panels  10  and  11 , and back panel  12  are reinforced by webbing trim  22 . Straps  14  are each comprised of an upper strap  23  connected to a lower strap  24  by a ring  25 . The length of upper strap  23  is adjustable for fitting different users of different height by pulling it through ring  25 . 
     A plurality of weights  26  are received in pockets  27  attached to front panels  10  and  11  for increasing resistance during exercising, thereby promoting muscle building, increasing strength, and increasing endurance. Weights  26  are preferably in the arrangement shown for proper weight distribution. Alternatively, more or fewer pockets may be provided, and in different arrangements. A webbing pull tab  21  is attached to each weight  26  for making removing weight  26  from pocket  27  easier. Weight  26  is easily installed by pulling out pocket  27  from under an overlapping flap  28 , inserting weight  26  in pocket  27 , and lowering flap  28  over weight  26 , as shown at the lower left pockets in FIG.  1 . Pocket  27  and flap  28  are preferably made of an elastic material, such as four-way-stretch spandex, for snugly holding weights  26  to prevent them from shifting or falling out during vigorous exercises. Weights  26  may be removed from some pockets  27  for adjusting the total weight or the weight distribution according to individual requirements. 
     FIG.  2 : 
     A rear view of the exercise vest is shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of weights  26  are received in pockets  27  attached to back panel  12 , preferably in the arrangement shown, and particularly close to the upper end of back panel  12  for proper weight distribution. Alternatively, more or fewer pockets may be provided, and in different arrangements. 
     FIG.  3 : 
     As shown in a sectional view in FIG. 3, weight  26  is comprised of a core  29  surrounded by a first shell  30  and a second shell  31 . Core  29  is preferably comprised of 90% lead shot embedded in 10% silicone rubber, so that it has the necessary mass, but also enough flexibility for bending with the user&#39;s body. Alternatively, the ratio between lead shot and silicone may be changed for adjusting the balance between mass and flexibility. First shell  30  is preferably comprised of silicone gel to provide resilience for comfort when pressed against the user&#39;s body. Second shell  31  is preferably made of spandex to protect first shell  30 , and to provide a relatively low friction surface to enable weight  26  to be easily slipped into a pocket. Without spandex second shell  31 , the sticky texture of silicone gel first shell  30  would make inserting the weight difficult. 
     FIG.  4 : 
     Right front panel  10  and left front panel  11  are shown in an exploded view in FIG.  4 . They are respectively and preferably comprised of components connected in the following order: inner four-way-stretch spandex sheets  32  and  33 , inner rubber padding sheets  34  and  35 , webbing sheets  36  and  37 , outer rubber padding sheets  38  and  39 , and outer four-way-stretch spandex sheets  40  and  41 . Hook-and-loop fasteners  19  are attached to the inner surface of inner spandex sheet  33 . Hook-and-loop fasteners  18  are attached to the outer surface of outer spandex sheet  40 . Webbing  20  are attached to the outer surface of outer spandex sheet  41 . Lower strap  24  of each strap  14  is pulled through slots  42  on outer spandex sheets  40  and  41 , through slots  43  on outer rubber padding sheets  38  and  39 , and attached to webbing sheets  36  and  37 . The inner sides of pockets  27  are positioned through holes  44  on outer spandex sheets  40  and  41 , through holes  45  on outer rubber padding sheets  38  and  39 , and attached to webbing sheets  36  and  37 . Webbing sheets  36  and  37  provide a strong anchor for straps  14  and pockets  27 , and generally span the entire area of front panels  10  and  11  for maximum durability. 
     FIG.  5 : 
     Back panel  12  is shown in an exploded view in FIG.  5 . It is preferably comprised of components connected in the following order: inner four-way-stretch spandex sheet  46 , inner rubber padding sheet  47 , webbing sheet  48 , outer rubber padding sheet  49 , and outer four-way-stretch spandex sheet  50 . The back ends of upper straps  23  are preferably joined together in a “V” shape, and attached to webbing sheet  48 . The inner sides of pockets  27  are positioned through holes  51  on outer spandex sheet  50 , through holes  52  on outer rubber padding sheet  49 , and attached to webbing sheet  48 . Webbing sheet  48  provides a strong anchor for straps  14  and pockets  27 , and generally span the entire area of back panel  12  for maximum durability. 
     SUMMARY AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the present weighted exercise vest increases resistance with weights during exercising for more rapidly building muscles with reduced repetition. It is quickly adjustable in width to fit different wearers. It has removable weights for adjusting the total load and weight distribution. It properly distributes the weights on the wearer. It has pockets that are easily opened for removing the weights. It has pockets that securely retain the weights even during rigorous exercise. It is highly flexible for comfort. It fits snugly enough to prevent shifting during rigorous exercise. It is durable. 
     Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.