Patent Publication Number: US-2021170255-A1

Title: Abdominal weight lifter belt assembly with variable fasteners

Description:
CO-PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This Nonprovisional Patent Application is a Continuation Patent Application to Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 16/004,339 as filed on Jun. 8, 2018 by Inventor Matthew LaMarque. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 16/004,339 is hereby incorporated into its entirety and for all purposes into the present disclosure. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to athletic training devices and methods. More particularly the present invention is related to methods and devices for safely lifting and training with weights. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
     The use of supportive belts for wearing around a user&#39;s waist while lifting heavy weights is known in the prior art. More specifically, exercise devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations of rigid, wide and thick belt materials is known in the prior art. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the prior art does not disclose an exercise belt that reduces discomfort from the belt itself digging into the wearer&#39;s body during a desired full range of motion. 
     There is therefore a long-felt need to provide clothing and a method of use thereof that more conveniently and effectively provides a belt worn about a user&#39;s body while lifting or positioning weights. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Towards these and other objects of the method of the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented method”) that are made obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented belt”) provides a belt formed with two components that are detachably coupled simultaneously along respective elongate sides and at one end of each component. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invented belt, each component includes a flexible fabric coupled with a more rigid piece attached at one end of the respective component wherein one of two complementary attachment assembly pieces are respectively attached to one of the rigid pieces. The two complementary attachment assembly pieces are alternatively manually placed into (1.) an attached state and (2.) a detached state, whereby the invented belt are detachably attachable. The attachment assembly comprising the two complementary attachment assembly pieces may be or comprise a belt buckle assembly or other suitable belt end attachment device known in the art. 
     In another optional aspect of the invented belt, each fabric length may include one of a pair of complementary hook and loop fastener strips that each extend along the elongate dimension of their respective fabric length. 
     In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invented belt, one or more of the components do not include a rigid piece disposed between a flexible fabric and an attachment assembly piece. In yet another alternate preferred embodiment of the invented belt, one or more of the components do not include a rigid section at all. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 9,750,632 (Inventor: Logan; Charles P.; issued Sep. 5, 2017) titled “Lower back support system”; U.S. Pat. No. 9,526,966 (Inventor: White, Timothy; issued Dec. 27, 2016) titled “Weight lifting apparatus”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,824 (Inventor: Levenson, Bruce Adam; issued Jul. 15, 1997) titled “Weight lifter&#39;s belt incorporating strap ratchet and nylon strap”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,840 (Inventor: Kaczorowski, Wladyslaw; issued Feb. 23, 1993) titled “Clasp with a tape for binding, fixing, and tightening”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,152 (Inventors: DiMarco; Thomas J. Di Marco; Joel E.; issued Sep. 17, 1985) titled “Quick hook-up and release buckling for weight lifter belts” are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a first component of a first preferred embodiment of invented belt in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a second component of the first preferred embodiment of invented belt in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the second component  FIG. 2  in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of the first component  FIG. 1  in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of invented belt with the first component of  FIG. 1  and the second component of  FIG. 2  formed into an attached state by positioning of a first toggle buckle component of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the first toggle buckle of the second component of  FIG. 2  in an open state; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the first toggle buckle of the second component of  FIG. 2  engaged with the first component of  FIG. 1  and placing the first preferred embodiment into the attached state; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a first fabric length of a second preferred embodiment of invented belt in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a second fabric length of the second preferred embodiment of invented belt in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 10  is a back view of the first fabric length  FIG. 8  in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of the second fabric length  FIG. 9  in a detached and isolated state; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of invented belt with the first fabric length of  FIG. 8  and the second fabric length of  FIG. 9  formed in an attached state; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the first toggle buckle of the second fabric length of  FIG. 9  engaged with the first fabric length of  FIG. 8  and placing the second preferred embodiment into the attached state; 
         FIG. 14A  is a front view of a first alternate buckle assembly integrated into a preferred alternate third embodiment of the present invention and presented in an uncoupled state and replacing the detachable coupling function of the toggle buckle of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 14B  is a front view of the first alternate buckle assembly integrated into the preferred alternate third embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 14A  and presented in a coupled state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention can be adapted for any of several applications. 
     It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. 
     Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described. 
     It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. 
     When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present. 
     Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 1  is a front view of a first component  2  in a detached and isolated state, wherein the first component  2  is an element of a first preferred embodiment of the invented belt  4  (hereinafter, “the first belt”  4 ) as shown in full  FIG. 5 . The first component  2  includes a first fabric length  2 A attached to a first rigid piece  2 B. The first fabric length  2 A is attached by sewn thread  2 C with the first rigid piece  2 B. It is understood that the first fabric length  2 A may be attached with the first rigid piece  2 B by other suitable attachment means known in the art. 
     The first rigid piece  2 B is preferably three inches to four inches wide in along a Y-axis and eight inches or more along an orthogonal X-axis, and 0.25 inch thick along a Z-axis (not shown). It is understood that the Y-axis, the X-axis and the Z-axis are each mutually orthogonal to the other two axes. The first rigid piece  2 B includes a pair of registration receivers  2 D &amp;  2 E and a pair of hook-pin receivers  2 F &amp;  2 G. The hook-pin receivers  2 F &amp;  2 G each extend fully through the first rigid piece  2 B and the pair of registration receivers  2 D &amp;  2 E each preferably extend into or fully through the first rigid piece  2 B. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  is a front view of a second component  6  of the first belt  4  in a detached and isolated state. The second component  6  includes a second fabric length  6 A attached to second rigid piece  6 B. The second fabric length  6 A is attached by sewn thread  2 C with the second rigid piece  6 B. It is understood that the second fabric length  6 A may be attached with the second rigid piece  6 B by other suitable attachment means known in the art. 
     It is understood that the first fabric length  2 A and/or the second fabric length  6 A may be or comprise rayon, polyester, an elastic stretchable organic fabric, an elastic synthetic fabric, and/or other suitable fabric known in the art in singularity or combination. 
     Alternatively or additionally then the first fabric length  2 A and/or the second fabric length  6 A my comprise the stretchable fabric provided in SUPER SQUAT CENTURION™ power weight lifting clothing marketed by Titan Support Systems, Inc. of Corpus Christi, Tex.; the DETONATOR LEVER™ or the DOMINATOR PRO QR™ as marketed by Zuluglove of Toronto, Canada. 
     The second rigid piece  6 B is preferably three inches to four inches wide in along a Y-axis, eight inches or more along an orthogonal Y-axis, and 0.25 inch thick along the Z-axis (not shown). A toggle buckle  6 C is coupled x with the second rigid piece  6 B. 
     An outward fastener fabric length  8 A extends along the front side second fabric length  6 A. It is understood that in various preferred alternate embodiments of the invented belt that the outward fastener fabric length  8 A may be or comprise a hook type fastener fabric and/or a loop type fastener fabric. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a back view of the second component  6  in a detached and isolated state. The toggle buckle  6 C includes a pair of registration pins  6 D &amp;  6 E and a pair of hook-pins  6 F &amp;  6 G that extend from a toggle member  6 H. The toggle buckle  6 C further comprises an anchor  6 I that is coupled with the second rigid piece  6 B. A lever arm  6 J of the toggle buckle  6 C is disposed between and rotatably coupled with both the anchor  6 I and the toggle member  6 H. 
     It is understood that the toggle buckle  6 C may comprise or be replaced with the toggle means T as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,152 issued to inventors Thomas DiMarco and Joel Di Marco on Sep. 17, 1985 and titled “Quick hook-up and release buckling for weight lifter belts”, or other suitable hook-up and release buckling known in the art. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a back view of the first component  2  in a detached and isolated state. An inward fastener fabric length  8 B extends along the back side of the first fabric length  2 A. It is understood that in various preferred alternate embodiments of the invented belt that the inward fastener fabric length  8 B may be or comprise a hook type fastener fabric and/or a loop type fastener fabric. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the first belt  4  with the first component  2  and the second component  6  formed into an attached state, wherein the toggle buckle  6 C is engaged with the first rigid piece  2 B and outward fastener fabric length  8 A is engaged with and detachably coupled with the inward fastener fabric length  8 B. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a toggle buckle  6 C in an open state. The pair of registration pins  6 D &amp;  6 E and the pair of hook-pins  6 F &amp;  6 G extend from the toggle member  6 H. The toggle buckle  6 C further comprises an anchor  6 I that is coupled with the second rigid piece  6 B. The lever arm  6 J of the toggle buckle  6 C is disposed between and rotatably coupled with both the anchor  6 I and the toggle member  6 H. A first pin  6 K extends through both the anchor  6 I and the lever arm  6 J and rotatably couples the anchor  6 I and the lever arm  6 J. A second pin  6 L extends through both the toggle member  6 H and the lever arm  6 J and rotatably couples the toggle member  6 H and the lever arm  6 J. 
     Each hook-pin  6 F &amp;  6 G comprises a full diameter head  6 M and a reduced diameter shaft  6 N, the reduced diameter shaft  6 N extending from the toggle member  6 H and to the full diameter head  6 M. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a top view of the toggle buckle  6 C engaged with the first component  2  and placing the first belt  4  into the attached state. The pair of registration pins  6 D &amp;  6 E each respectively extend into a separate matching registration receiver  2 D &amp;  2 E; and the pair of hook-pins  6 F &amp;  6 G each respectively extend fully through a separate matching hook-pin receiver  2 F &amp;  2 G. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 8  is a front view of the first fabric length  2 A in a detached and isolated state, wherein the first fabric length  2 A is an element of a second preferred embodiment of the invented belt  800  (hereinafter, “the second belt”  800 ) as shown in full  FIG. 12 . 
     The second belt  800  does not the first rigid piece  2 B. The second belt  800  includes the pair of registration receivers  2 D &amp;  2 E and the pair of hook-pin receivers  2 F &amp;  2 G extending fully through the first fabric length  2 A. 
     The outward fastener fabric length  8 A extends along the front side second fabric length  6 A. It is understood that in various preferred alternate embodiments of the invented belt that the outward fastener fabric length  8 A may be or comprise a hook type fastener fabric and/or a loop type fastener fabric. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  is a front view of the second fabric length  6 A unattached to second rigid piece  6 B. The toggle buckle  6 C is preferably directly coupled with the second fabric length  6 A. The outward fastener fabric length  8 A extends along the front side second fabric length  6 A. It is understood that in various preferred alternate embodiments of the invented belt that the outward fastener fabric length  8 A may be or comprise a hook type fastener fabric and/or a loop type fastener fabric. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  is a back view of the first fabric length  2 A in a detached and isolated state. The inward fastener fabric length  8 B extends along the back side of the first fabric length  2 A. It is understood that in various preferred alternate embodiments of the invented belt that the inward fastener fabric length  8 B may be or comprise a hook type fastener fabric and/or a loop type fastener fabric. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  is a back view of the second fabric length  6 A in a detached and isolated state. The toggle buckle  6 C includes the pair of registration pins  6 D &amp;  6 E and the pair of hook-pins  6 F &amp;  6 G that extend from a toggle member  6 H. The toggle buckle  6 C further comprises an anchor  6 I that is coupled with the second rigid piece  6 B. The lever arm  6 J of the toggle buckle  6 C is disposed between and rotatably coupled with both the anchor  6 I and the toggle member  6 H. 
     It is understood that the toggle buckle  6 C may comprise or be replaced with the toggle means T as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,152 issued to inventors Thomas DiMarco and Joel Di Marco on Sep. 17, 1985 and titled “Quick hook-up and release buckling for weight lifter belts”, or other suitable hook-up and release buckling known in the art. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the second belt  800  with the first fabric length  2 A and the second fabric length  6 A formed into an attached state, wherein the toggle buckle  6 C is engaged with the first fabric length  2 A and the outward fastener fabric length  8 A is engaged with and detachably coupled with the inward fastener fabric length  8 B. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  is a top view of the toggle buckle  6 C directly coupled with the second fabric length  6 B and detachably engaged with the first fabric length  2 A of  FIG. 10  and placing the second belt  800  into the attached state. The pair of registration pins  6 D &amp;  6 E of the toggle buckle  6 C each respectively extend into a separate matching registration receiver  2 D &amp;  2 E of the first fabric length  2 A; and the pair of hook-pins  6 F &amp;  6 G each respectively extend fully through a separate matching hook-pin receiver  2 F &amp;  2 G of the first fabric length  2 A. 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 14A ,  FIG. 14A  is a front view of a first alternate buckle assembly  1400  (hereinafter, “the detachable buckle”  1400 ) integrated into a preferred alternate third embodiment of the present invention  1402  (hereinafter, “the third belt”  1402 ) and presented in an uncoupled state. 
     The detachable buckle  1400  is or comprises anyone of a variety of suitable detachable buckles known in the art that include a receiver element  1404  and an insertion element  1406 , to include a MOJAVE™ quick release buckle as marketed by National Molding of Miami Lakes, Fla. or other suitable quick release buckle known in the art. 
     A first loop  1408  of the third belt  1402  is formed by passing a first end length  1410  of the first fabric length  2 A through a first aperture  1412  of the receiver element  1404 ; the first loop  1408  is thereby formed, closed and durably attached with the receiver element  1404  by sewn thread  2 C that passes through the resulting doubled up first fabric length  2 A to form the first loop  1408 . 
     A second loop  1412  of the third belt  1402  is formed by passing an additional end length  1414  of the second fabric length  6 A through a second aperture  1416  of the insertion element  1406 ; the second loop  1412  is thereby formed, closed and durably attached with the insertion element  1406  by sewn thread  2 C that passes through the resulting doubled up second fabric length  2 A to form the second loop  1412 . 
     Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 14B ,  FIG. 14B  is a front view of the detachable buckle  1400  and the third belt  1402  presented in a coupled state, wherein the insertion element  1406  is detachably engaged with the receiver element  1404 . 
     While selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment, it is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.