Patent Publication Number: US-7211031-B1

Title: Portable exercise system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to exercise devices and more particularly pertains to a new portable exercise system for providing convenient weight training and exercise equipment. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of exercise devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,007 describes a folding dumbbell barbell combination. Another type of exercise devices is U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,441 having a water fillable bladder with a central handle member. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features of use, portability, and aerobic as well as weight training uses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing multiple fillable bladder which can be filled by the user to achieve a desired weight. Further the system can be held by the user, coupled to the user, or placed on the feet of the user to facilitate multiple different exercises. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable exercise system that can be emptied and folded when not in use 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable exercise system that can be packed for use away from home. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a main housing assembly having at least one bladder member designed for being filled with water to provide weight; and a coupling assembly operationally coupled to the main housing assembly, the coupling assembly being designed for selectively securing the main housing assembly to a torso of a user 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a new portable exercise system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 3  thereof, a new portable exercise system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the portable exercise system  10  generally comprises a main housing assembly  20  and a coupling assembly  50 . 
   The main housing assembly  20  includes at least one bladder member. The bladder member is designed for is filled with water to provide weight. 
   The coupling assembly  50  is operationally coupled to the main housing assembly  20 . The coupling assembly  50  is designed for selectively securing the main housing assembly  20  to a torso of a user. 
   In a preferred embodiment the main housing assembly  20  includes a first bladder member  21 , a second bladder member, a third bladder member, and a fourth bladder member. The first bladder member  21  includes a first perimeter wall  22  defining a first interior space  23 . The first perimeter wall  22  includes a first aperture  24  extending therethrough for facilitating access to the first interior space  23 . The first bladder member  21  includes a first cap portion  25  for selectively closing the first aperture  24 . The first interior space  23  is fillable with water for weight. Similarly, the second bladder member  26  includes a second perimeter wall  27  defining a second interior space  28 . The second perimeter wall  27  includes a second aperture  29  extending therethrough for facilitating access to the second interior space  28 . The second bladder member  26  includes a second cap portion  30  for selectively closing the second aperture  29 . The second interior space  28  is fillable with water for weight. The second bladder member  26  is operationally coupled to the first bladder member  21 . The third bladder member  31  includes a third perimeter wall  32  defining a third interior space  33 . The third perimeter wall  32  includes a third aperture  34  extending therethrough for facilitating access to the third interior space  33 . The third bladder member  31  includes a third cap portion  35  for selectively closing the third aperture  34 . The third interior space  33  is fillable with water for weight. The third bladder  31  member is operationally coupled to the second bladder member  26 . The fourth bladder member  36  includes a fourth perimeter wall  37  defining a fourth interior space  38 . The fourth perimeter wall  37  includes a fourth aperture  39  extending therethrough for facilitating access to the fourth interior space  38 . The fourth bladder member  36  includes a fourth cap portion  40  for selectively closing the fourth aperture  39 . The fourth interior space  38  is fillable with water for weight. The fourth bladder member  36  is operationally coupled to the third bladder member  31 . 
   A pair of pocket members  41  may be operationally coupled to a back surface  42  of the main housing assembly  20 . Each one of the pair of pocket members  41  is designed for receiving a foot of a user. The pocket members  41  facilitate using the system  10  as a weight for performing leg lifts. 
   The coupling assembly  50 , may includes a first strap member  51  and a second strap member  55 . The first strap member  51  may extend from a first side of the main housing assembly  20 . The first strap member  51  includes a first distal end  52 . The first strap member  51  includes a first closure means  53  positioned on the first distal end  52 . Similarly, a second strap member  55  may extend from a second side of the main housing assembly  20 . The second strap member  55  includes a second distal end  56 . The second strap member  55  includes a second closure means  57  positioned on the second distal end  56 . The first closure means  53  and the second closure means  57  are complimentary. 
   In an embodiment the first closure means  53  comprises a first portion of hook and loop fastener  54  and the second closure means  57  comprises a second complementary portion of hook and loop fastener  58 . 
   Preferably, a first bore  60  extends through a proximal end  61  of the first strap member  51 . The first bore  60  is designed for receiving a hand of a user. Similarly, a second bore  62  extending through a proximal end  63  of the second strap member  55 . The second bore  62  is designed for receiving a second hand of the user. The first  60  and second bores  62  facilitate grasping the system  10  for use as a weight for performing sit-ups when the main housing assembly  20  is held against a chest of the user. 
   A wrist assembly  65  includes at least one wrist bladder portion  66  and a wrist coupling portion  67 . The wrist assembly  65  is selectively couplable to a wrist of the user for providing additional weight for running and curling. 
   A second wrist assembly  68  includes at least one second wrist bladder portion  69  and a second wrist coupling portion  70 . The second wrist assembly  68  is selectively couplable to a second wrist of the user for providing additional weight for running and curling. 
   An ankle assembly  71  includes at least one ankle bladder portion  72  and an ankle coupling portion  73 . The ankle assembly  71  is selectively couplable to an ankle of the user for providing additional weight for running and leg lifts. 
   A second ankle assembly  74  includes at least one second ankle bladder portion  75  and a second ankle coupling portion  76 . The second ankle assembly  74  is selectively couplable to a second ankle of the user for providing additional weight for running and leg lifts. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 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 present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.