Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a hand-held, resistance exercise device in the form of an inelastic, strapping system to be used by two people simultaneously using the bodyweight of each user to generate a resisting force in order to develop a wide range of muscles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is a resistance exercise device comprising of two non-elastic end straps attached by clamps to one removable middle strap, with two cylindrical plastic handles extending at each end of the strap, and one removable stirrup at the center of the middle strap to be used by two or more people. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    More recently, there has been a shift in exercising to work in pairs in order to increase productivity and motivation during a workout. Team building activities are aimed at improving communication and collaboration skills within groups of people working together. As team building has to do with cooperation, bridge building, planning, and effective use of resources, the benefits team building activities may bring are countless: improvement in planning skills, problem solving, decision making, time management, friendly competition, personal confidence, morale, etc. Team activities help the team in self-assessment which is very important for improving the ways of further collaboration within the group. Team activities allow for defining the team&#39;s current strengths and weaknesses, identifying any gap between the desired state and the actual state, and designing a gap-closure strategy. 
         [0003]    More importantly, participants are looking for an exercise device that can provide resistance in order to tone muscles and that can mimic weight training exercises. In order to obtain such resistance without bulky free weights, it is more convenient to use one&#39;s own body weight along with the body weight of a partner to contribute intensity to the workout. Many exercise devices available show limited results and cannot burn calories fast enough since there are no devices that allow two exercisers to simultaneously exercise their arms, legs, hips, abs, and buttocks. Though many exercise devices exist, they have not been able to alternate resistance by using the force of one user against the resistance of another to strengthen muscles. 
         [0004]    Currently there are resistance exercise devices in the form of elastic straps which cannot adequately support the weight of two users and only provide fixed resistance patterns. These elastic straps are limited in terms of the variation of exercises that can be accomplished and are usually only used by one user at a time. 
         [0005]    Another type of resistance exercise device that exists is an inelastic strap that can be attached to a fixed anchor point such as, a tree, railing, pole etc. Although this device can encompass a wider variety of exercises in comparison to the elastic strap, it is limited to working with fixed objects and does not allow the exercise participant to obtain resistance from another source and to be interactive with another user. 
         [0006]    One example of a resistance exercise device is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,141 issued to Salvino wherein there is disclosed a hand held arm and hand muscle builder with a means of varying the resistance. This device is comprised of a pair of handles attached to one end of a coiled spring with a flexible tube in the interior of the spring for providing additional tension. 
         [0007]    A second example of a resistance exercise device that has been created is U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,580 issued to Chiu wherein disclosed is a grip exercise with a gear-shaped adjusting member having a pair of handles and a receiving head located at the intersection of the two handles, and a gear-like adjusting member housed within the receiving head. 
         [0008]    A third example of a resistance exercise device as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,896 issued to Hetrick wherein disclosed is an elongated member with a grip at both ends and an anchor between the grips for attaching to a structure, where the length of the elongated member to center on an anchor when the grips are pulled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The resistance exercise device integrates every aspect of conditioning into one single exercise device—whether for training, conditioning, flexibility or rehabilitation. It incorporates resistance and stabilizing and neutralizing components in all of its exercises. 
         [0010]    The present invention enables hundreds of exercises for all body parts using a user&#39;s own bodyweight to generate variable resistance, while simultaneously allowing another user to perform a movement. One exercise participant moves in an eccentric and concentric motion, while the other user holds muscles isometrically or mirrors the other user in movement. The said embodiment involves many athletic movements with muscle and weight resistance of a partner such as pulling, rowing, twisting, pushing, etc. through a range of motion. 
         [0011]    The benefits of the device are that it uses many muscles simultaneously, it uses all three planes of motion equally, the core muscles are actively engaged, posture is improved, it prevents injury, and there is a lengthening of muscle tissue. By using functional exercises the users activate muscles and can use maximum strength. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a plane perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is illustrative of one user performing a standing row exercise with another user in a sawing-through-a-log type motion with the exercise embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is illustrative of one user moving in a rowing motion and another user remaining stationary and gripping the removable stirrup with the exercise embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is illustrative of one user performing a resistive running motion and another user placing the plastic handles and straps around the user with the exercise embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is illustrative of two users simultaneously performing an abdominal core twist positioned at each end of the exercise embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is illustrative of one user performing a single leg squat movement with another user standing stationary gripping the removable stirrup with the exercise embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIGS. 1-2  depict a resistance exercise device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and generally designated numbers  100   a,    100   b,    100   c,    101   a,    101   b,    102   a,    102   b,    103 ,  104   a,    104   b,    105   a,    105   b,    105   c,    200  and  201  respectively. 
         [0020]    In general, the present invention provides a resistance exercise device that can be used by two or more users simultaneously, and allows both users to perform numerous exercises by using the weight and muscular strength of the users to provide a resistive force and friction. Several of the features of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to  FIGS. 1-2  which show an overview of the device of the present invention, and which is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a plane perspective view of the present invention.  100   a,    101   a,    104   a  and  105   a  are plastic handles approximately 5 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter at opposite ends of the end straps.  100   b,    101   b,    104   b,  and  105   b  are the non-elastic parts of the handle approximately 5 inches in length attached to  100   a,    100   c,    105   a  and  105   c  extending to  103 .  100   c  and  105   c  are the end straps that extend to the two clamps  102   a  and  102   b.    102   a  and  102   b  are approximately 3 inches in length and 2 inches in width.  103  is the middle strap approximately 100 inches in length and 2 inches in width.  FIG. 2 . is a cross sectional view of the removable stirrup.  200  is the gripping portion of the stirrup and approximately 9 inches in length.  201  is the half circle portion of the stirrup and approximately 6 inches in height. The diameter of the stirrup is approximately 4 inches. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  In use plastic handles  100   a  and  101   a  used by first user to concentrically contract back and bicep muscles by pulling  100   c  and  103 . The second user eccentrically resisting the pull of first user with plastic handles  104   a  and  105   a  and elongating bicep, latissimus dorsi, rear deltoids, rhomboid, trapezius muscles of both users. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  In use by first user positioning right arm with  100   a  in a ninety degree angle and second arm elongated with  105   a  pulling  100   c  and  103  in a rowing motion. The second user remaining stationary as an anchor by gripping  200  and allowing first user to move  103  strap through  201 . The first user contracts and elongates the bicep, back, and abdominal muscles. The second user isometrically contracting arms, back, core and leg muscles. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  In use  103  is placed around waist of the first user in order to allow the first user to run against resistive force created by second user holding  100   a  and  105   a.  The first user is in stationary running motion while second user elongates arms and holds  100   a  and  105   a  and pulls  105   c  and  103 , to act as a resistive force. The first user strengthens leg muscles and conditions cardiovascular muscles. The second user isometrically contracts arm, back, core and leg muscles. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  In use first user grips and pulls  100   a  and  101   a  and second user grips and pulls  104   a  and  105   a  moving simultaneously in an upright core twisting motion.  103 ,  100   c  and  105   c  connect the resistive forces. For both users the arms are positioned in front of their body. The core motion activates and contracts abdominal, shoulder and oblique muscles of both users. 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  In use first user grips and pulls  100   a  and  105   a  to balance body weight on one leg, with the second leg lifted in front of the body in a single leg squat movement. A stationary second user grips  200  and provides tension against  103  and  105   c  acting as a resistive force. The first user activates leg muscles through a full range of motion concentrically and eccentrically contracting quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus, while isometrically contracting core, calves, and back muscles. The second user isometrically contracts arm, back, core and leg muscles.