Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing resilient force resistance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-08-28
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing resilient force resistance
C482S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280365
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to an upper body exercise device including a belt portion that is worn about a user's waist.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices and methods of use for exercising the upper body are well known. Many devices provide upper body exercise while the user is walking, running, or performing other physical activity. For many people, physical fitness activities include running, jogging, and skating, which are predominantly lower body intensive activities. Although these lower body intensive activities improve cardiovascular fitness and exercise the lower body, they fail to provide substantial exercise for the upper body. Equipment to be used during any of these lower body intensive activities must be easily portable.
Examples of such devices, include:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,432 to Gvoich which discloses an upper body exercising belt comprising a plurality of flexible housings having bores slidingly mounted on a waist-encircling belt, a flexible inelastic rope passing through a series of guide tubes mounted in the bores of the housings, and variable resistance means mounted to the bores;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,395 to Miller, et al. which discloses an adjustable asymmetric resistance upper body exercise device;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,707 to Bosch which discloses an exercise device including an elastic cord attached to a belt or other device worn at the waist of the user;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,647 to Castellanos which discloses an elastic resistance exercise device secured at the waist of the user;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,173 to Hopkins, Jr. which discloses a portable elastic exercising device having a single length of elastic cord passed through a flexible sheath to encompass a user's waist;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,873 to Corn which discloses an adjustable asymmetric resistance upper body exercise device;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,223 to Block which discloses an adjustable asymmetric resistance upper body exercise device; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,688 to Davies which discloses an adjustable asymmetric resistance upper body exercise device.
SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Addressing the deficiencies of the conventional art, the instant invention resolves the problems in an efficient, and cost effective manner. The instant invention, when used in conjunction with lower body activities, such as running, walking, in-line skating, etc., affords simultaneous exercise of both upper and lower body muscle groups. Beneficial aspects of this combined upper and lower body exercise are well appreciated, and include cardiovascular and overall musculature improvements.
One particular advantage of the exercise device of the present invention includes the provision of adjustable and even resistance throughout the entire range of motion of the user's arm. The adjustability of the resistance allows the user to select a different degree of difficulty from one workout to the next, or even to adjust the level of difficulty during the workout.
A further advantage of the present invention is the single point resistance adjustment device, which allows the user to quickly and efficiently adjust the level of resistance to arm motion.
Further advantages of the present invention include the provision of a resistive force which is nearly constant through a predetermined range of motion. The present invention additionally directs the resistive force opposing motion of the arm toward a point of origin which lies in a natural parallel sagittal plane including the user's shoulder. The point of origin is proximate to the natural, relaxed arm position at the side of the user. Resistance to motion of the arm thus is directed to a natural location, improving the comfort and efficiency of the exercise. In addition, the arm is subject to a force vector tending to direct the arm motion in a stress-efficient path of motion.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an exercise device that places the point of origin of all force vectors of the cords aligned in parallel saggital planes containing the user's shoulders and behind the user and below the users waist (proximate the natural, relaxed arm position of the hand).
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention and methods of construction of the same will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiments are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and methods of construction, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4441707 (1984-04-01), Bosch
patent: 4540173 (1985-09-01), Hopkins
patent: 5005832 (1991-04-01), Van Der Hoeven
patent: 5129647 (1992-07-01), Castellanos
patent: 5141223 (1992-08-01), Block
patent: 5176377 (1993-01-01), Wilkinson
patent: 5234395 (1993-08-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5328432 (1994-07-01), Gvoich
patent: 5433688 (1995-07-01), Davies
patent: 5618249 (1997-04-01), Marshall
patent: 5792034 (1998-08-01), Kozlovsky
patent: 5795274 (1998-08-01), Kasbohm
patent: 6132346 (2000-10-01), Weeks
Weber Daniel J.
Weber Jeffery A.
Donnelly Jerome W.
Klos John F.
Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lingren
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