Apparel – Body garments – Coats
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-09-11
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
Coats
C002S102000, C482S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286146
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to an exercise vest and, more particularly, to a weighted training vest adapted for wearing during physical activities such as walking or hiking by persons interested in increasing their strength and endurance.
2. Description of Related Art
It is common for athletes interested in developing greater strength, muscle tone or endurance to carry additional weight on their body in one manner or other. For example, some athletes carry additional weight in the form of dumbbells while walking, jogging or doing aerobics; others wear weights around their wrists, ankles or waist at all times or during specific physical activities.
Typically, the relative number of calories burnt and the degree of muscle strengthening that occurs during a physical activity depends on the resistance that muscles have to overcome. Carrying added weight imposes greater resistance upon the leg muscles, as well as other muscles involved in a physical activity, thus strengthening them. Furthermore, to overcome the additional resistance exerted by the weights, more calories need to be burned to allow the muscles to work harder. Therefore, the added resistance also helps a person to burn more calories and loose body fat. Increased muscle strength and less body fat is a sign of greater fitness and physical well being.
Conventional methods of weight training include confined movements that work isolated groups of muscles. This can possibly result in an imbalance in muscle strength and can increase the chance of injury. For a balanced increase in muscle strength, it is preferred that the strengthening is accomplished by adding weight to a person's body while exercising in a natural manner. Further, it is desirable for the weight to be evenly distributed about the body and gradually added in variable, progressive and controlled increments. Thus, a training device is needed that can help strengthen all muscles involved in walking, or hiking, in a naturally balanced and controlled manner.
While weighted training vests have, in the past, been used to impose increased muscle resistance above the waist, such vests have suffered from several deficiencies. For example, the weights carried in the prior art vests have the tendency to bounce around, constituting a source of discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, they fail to provide a means for incrementally increasing the carried weight that distributes the weight evenly and uniformly about the wearer's body. The prior art training vests can become uncomfortably heavier on one side or the other, thereby throwing off the wearer's balance, rhythm and concentration. An additional shortcoming of some conventional vests is that vigorous movement by the wearer causes the weights to shift position or even fall out of the vest. Further, most prior art training vests fail to include additional compartments that allow the wearer to carry equipment other than the weights.
Thus, an improved training vest is needed that can comfortably and safely hold a variable number of weights and other equipment in a fixed position relative to the wearer's body, such that the total weight of the vest is evenly distributed around the body of the wearer, and so that weight can be incrementally added or removed as needed.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is directed to a weighted exercise vest adapted for wearing on the upper body of a person during walking, hiking or similar physical activities. The vest has front and rear compartments in which multiple weights may be inserted. The compartments securely hold the weights therein when the wearer is engaged in physical activity. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the compartments are designed to hold individual weights and are uniformly spaced apart to allow for the weights to be selectively and evenly distributed around the body of the wearer in predetermined positions. The compartments snugly fit the weights inserted therein and include fasteners to prevent them from bouncing around, falling out or changing position during physical activity.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the weight-containing compartments are formed as elongated tubular ribs or pockets and are located across the back, front or sides of the vest. In particularly preferred embodiments, the vest also includes a single pocket sized to fit other equipment such as a portable CD or cassette tape player. The pocket might advantageously be located on the upper back portion of the vest. Additionally, the pocket preferably is closable by a single flap which may be fastened by a button, zipper, buckle or other means equivalent in function or structure.
Preferably, the vest is made of fabric or other suitable material that can be worn comfortably around the mid-torso of a person. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the weight-containing compartments or pockets is made from elastic material or includes elastic lining or bands to snugly hold the weights or other equipment inserted therein. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the vest has air-pervious panels, for example on the left and right sides, to allow for air circulation between the body of the wearer and the vest.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, one or more straps, including fasteners commonly used in the art, are utilized to fasten and adjust the vest to the body of the wearer. One or more embodiments of the invention include additional adjusting means, for example on the sides of the vest, to allow for readjusting the size of the vest for a comfortable fit. The above features and other advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings and the ensuring claims.
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Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
Trojan Law Offices
LandOfFree
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