Abstract:
An exercise belt which includes resilient connectors which connect a back panel with overlapping front panels, said overlapping front panels containing compressible hemispherical protruding elements which apply localized pressure to the abdomen of the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved exercise belt and more particularly, to a belt to be worn encircling the waist of the user, including a back panel, two front panels that overlay over the abdomen, and resilient connectors between the ends of the back panel and the front panels, whereby the compressible hemispherical protruding elements at the inside front of the belt apply localized pressure to the abdomen of the user. 
     2. Description of Related 
     Various types of exercise belts are known in the art. Generally, conventional exercise belts comprise a plurality of prongs with sponge-like inside surfaces, a plurality of springs containing movable balls, massaging elements, a plurality of rubber balls, resiliently expansible sections, a plurality of rollers and/or a plurality of protruding elements disposed thereon, respectively, 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,207 to Christensen, Jr. discloses a belt having prongs extending inwardly through a layer of sponge-like compressible material fastened to the inside surface of the belt. The length of the prongs and the thickness of the layer are about the same, so that when the belt presses tightly against the wearer, the sharpened tips of the prongs will stick into the flesh of the wearer. With the prongs and the layer positioned to overlie the wearer&#39;s abdomen, the wearer will be encouraged to contract the abdominal muscles, thereby reducing the pressure of the belt against the wearer and minimizing the irritation produced when the prongs stick into the wearer&#39;s flesh. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,843 to Kojigian, Jr. discloses a belt including a back panel, side panels and overlapping front panel sections provided with Velcro fasteners. Tubular pockets in the side panels each contain a helical spring. A steel ball is freely movable within each spring. The movements of the wearer of the belt will cause movement of the balls between the ends of the springs, and the resulting vibrations will produce stimulation of the wearer&#39;s muscles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,608 to Simsian discloses an exercising apparatus fitted with a belt for applying massage stimulation to the user&#39;s midsection during exercise. As shown in FIG. 7, the belt carries a group of massaging elements in the form of hollow compressible rubber bulbs. An air vent in each of the massaging elements allows air to fill and exhaust from the elements as they expand and contract. Other forms of the massaging elements are shown in FIGS. 8-13. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,257,957 to Kost discloses an appliance including a cradle supporting an array of soft rubber balls mounted for rotation on vertical spindles in the cradle. The balls engage and massage the abdomen of the user of the appliance, while the user is in a stretched upright posture. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,324,043 to Greene, U.S. Pat. No. 1,382,700 to Whalen, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,220,593 to Watson disclose belts including a resiliently expansible section employing helical tension springs, respectively 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,039 to Ehren discloses a body massager which is formed by a loop of an elastic rod-like material carrying spaced rollers that impart a massaging stimulation to the user. The use of the massager about the midsection of the user is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The rollers may be formed of yieldable material. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 324,422 to Powell discloses a belt appearing to have an array of protruding elements carried on the inside surface of the belt and hook-and-loop elements at ends of the belt. 
     However, such conventional exercise belts suffer from a number of problems, including the fact that they do not apply localized pressure to the abdomen of the wearer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise belt which eliminates the above problems encountered with conventional exercise belts. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercise belt including at least one compressible protruding element provided at the inside front of the belt for applying localized pressure to the abdomen of the wearer. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a belt which encircles the waist of the user, including a back panel, two front panels that overlap over the abdomen, and resilient connectors provided between the ends of the back panel and the front panels wherein the resilient connectors, in the form of helical tension springs, overlie pads that contact the sides of the user&#39;s waist. On the inner surface of the inner one of the front panels are provided a plurality, e.g. three, hemispherical protrusions of spongy resilient material. The protruding elements contact the abdomen of the user and provide stimulation to the abdominal muscles as the user moves, while also performing an exercise function. Hook-and-loop fastener found between confronting surfaces of the overlapping front panels allows the size of the belt to be adjusted to accommodate different users. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise belt which is simple in structure, inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance. 
     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5A is a top view of an attachable sponge massage member of the exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5B is a top view of an attachable electric massage member of the exercise belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6A is a view illustrating the exercise belt according to the present invention, as worn by the wearer; and 
     FIG. 6B is a side view illustrating the exercise belt according to the present invention as worn by the wearer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the exercise device as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , comprises an exercise belt  10  to be worn encircling the waist of the wearer  35  which includes a back panel  11 , and a first front panel  12  and a second front panel  13  that overlap the abdomen  36  of the wearer  35 , and resilient connectors such as a first pair of springs  21  and a second pair of springs  22  which extend between the ends of the back panel  11  and the front panels  12  and  13 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the resilient connectors, in form of helical tension springs  21  and  22 , overlie pads such as a first sponge  14  and a second sponge  15  that contact the sides of the wearer&#39;s waist (FIGS.  6 A and  6 B). Advantageously, the first and second springs  21  and  22  are disposed within spring tubes  20 , respectively. The spring tubes  20  are made of a plastic material in order to maintain a proper contour (FIG.  1 ), while performing an exercise. 
     Referring in detail to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the exercise belt  10  includes a first Velcro type tape  18  disposed on the inside surface of the first front panel  12  and a second Velcro type tape  19  disposed on the outside surface of the second front panel  13 , which may allow the size of the exercise belt  10  to be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of wearers. 
     Also, the exercise belt  10  further includes a hook  16  and a loop  17  which hook together to accommodate different users. 
     As shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 5B, two hemispherical protrusions  27  are disposed in the ball vibration pocket  26  of an electric massage member  25  disposed on the inner surface of the second front panel  13 . The electric massage member  25  can be connected to an electrical source, for example, a battery  30  through an electric wire  28  and a plug  29 . The electrical massage member  25  has a first massage Velcro type tape  33  disposed on the bottom thereof for fastening to a second massage Velcro type tape  34  disposed on the inside of the second front panel  13 . When the exercise belt  10  is not being used, the electric massage member  25  can be readily removed from the second front panel  13  by separating the first and second massage Velcro type tapes  33  and  34  by simple manual movement. The hemispherical protrusions  27  are resilient massage balls which are made of sponge material. 
     Referring in detail to FIGS. 2,  3  and  5 A, on the inner surface of the second front panel  13  are three hemispherical protrusions  32 , i.e., sponge balls which define the sponge massage member  31 . The sponge massage member  31  has the first massage Velcro type tape  33  disposed on the bottom thereof for fastening to or separating from the send massage Velcro type tape  34 . A plurality of the protruding balls, e.g., two or three, protruding balls  27  and  32  are positioned to contact the abdomen  36  of the wearer  35  and provide stimulation to the abdominal muscles as the wearer  35  moves, while exercising. 
     Also, the exercise belt  10  according to the present invention further includes an auxiliary spring  23  disposed in parallel within the pair of springs  21  as shown in FIG.  3 . The auxiliary spring  23  is fixed to both spring attachments  24 . 
     Accordingly, when the exercise belt  10  is worn while performing various exercises, the muscles of the abdomen and back are stimulated and massaged by the springs  22  and  23  through the sponges  14  and  15 , and the hemispherical protrusions  27  and  32  of spongy resilient material thereby applying localized pressure to selective parts of the body, particularly the abdomen. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of the claims.