Friction-spreader grip assembly for resistance band exercise

Abstract

A grip assembly has a core having a longitudinal axis and anchor interfaces on opposite ends, an exercise band with elastic properties, one end furled around the core, and the other, loose end extending away from the core, and a keeper strap having attachment interfaces at opposite ends compatible with the anchor interfaces of the core, the attachment interfaces engaged to the ancho interfaces of the core, the keeper strap spanning the length of the core, intimately contacting the furled exercise band. The keeper strap constrains the furled exercise band from unfurling.

Claims

1. A grip assembly comprising: a core having a longitudinal axis and anchor interfaces on opposite ends of the core; an exercise band with elastic properties, having a first end connected to and furled around the core and a second end extending from the core; and a keeper strap having attachment interfaces at opposite ends of the keeper strap attachable to the anchor interfaces of the core, the attachment interfaces engaged to the anchor interfaces of the core, the keeper strap spanning a length of the core, intimately contacting the furled exercise band; wherein the keeper strap constrains the furled exercise band from unfurling.

2. The grip assembly of claim 1 wherein the anchor interfaces are button anchors and the attachment interfaces of the keeper strap are rubber or rubber-like loops engaged over the button anchors.

3. The grip assembly of claim 1 wherein the core is cylindrical.

4. The grip assembly of claim 1 wherein the core is a hollow plastic construction.

5. The grip assembly of claim 1 further comprising an elastic safety strap having attachment loops at opposite ends of the elastic safety strap engaging the anchor interfaces such that a user gripping the grip assembly around the furled portion of the safety strap inserts a hand under the elastic safety strap.

6. The grip assembly of claim 1 further comprising an eyelet loop at one end of the core, and a safety tether having a wrist loop and a connected attachment loop, the attachment loop engaged to the eyelet loop on the core, such that a user inserts a hand through the wrist loop of the tether before gripping the the grip assembly, the safety tether constraining the grip assembly in event of accidental release from the user's hand.

7. A method for exercise with an exercise band, comprising: providing a grip assembly having a core with a longitudinal axis and anchor interfaces on opposite ends of the core, an exercise band with elastic properties, the exercise band having a first end connected to and furled around the core and a second end extending from the core, and a keeper strap having attachment interfaces at opposite ends of the keeper strap attachable to the anchor interfaces of the core, the attachment interfaces engaged to the anchor interfaces of the core, with the keeper strap spanning a length of the core, intimately contacting the furled exercise band; anchoring the second end of the exercise band to a stationary anchor; gripping the grip assembly by one hand; and moving the grip assembly toward and away from the stationary anchor.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising engaging an elastic safety strap having attachment interfaces at opposite ends to the anchor interfaces of the core, such that a user gripping the grip assembly inserts the one hand under the elastic safety strap, which aids in gripping the grip assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the anchor interfaces on the ends of the core are button anchors and the attachment interfaces of the elastic safety strap are rubber-like loops, engaging the loops over the button anchors.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the anchor interfaces on the ends of the core are button anchors and the attachment interfaces of the keeper strap are rubber-like loops, engaging the rubber-like loops over the button anchors.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising attaching a safety tether to an eyelet loop at one end of the core by an attachment loop, the attachment loop connected to a wrist loop, such that a user inserts the one hand through the wrist loop of the tether before gripping the grip assembly, the safety tether constraining the grip assembly in event of accidental release from the user's hand.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising releasing one end of the keeper strap from the core and adjusting the furled portion of the exercise band furled on the core.

13. A method for exercise with an exercise band, comprising: providing a first grip assembly having a core with a longitudinal axis and anchor interfaces on opposite ends of the core, an exercise band with elastic properties, the exercise band having a first end connected to and furled around the core and a second end extending from the core, and a keeper strap having attachment interfaces at opposite ends of the keeper strap attachable to the anchor interfaces of the core, the attachment interfaces engaged to the anchor interfaces of the core, with the keeper strap spanning a length of the core, intimately contacting the furled exercise band; providing a second grip assembly having a second core with a longitudinal axis and second anchor interfaces on opposite ends of the second core, with the second end of the exercise band connected to and furled around the second core, and a second keeper strap having second attachment interfaces at opposite ends of the second keeper strap attachable to the second anchor interfaces of the second core, the second attachment interfaces engaged to the second anchor interfaces of the second core, with the second keeper strap spanning a length of the second core, intimately contacting the furled exercise band; and gripping the first and second grip assemblies with opposite hands and exercising by stretching and releasing the exercise band between the two grip assemblies.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the anchor interfaces on the ends of the two cores are button anchors and the attachment interfaces of the keeper straps are rubber-like loops, comprising engaging the rubber-like loops over the button anchors.

15. The method of claim 13 comprising releasing the keeper strap on one or both of the two cores and adjusting a length of a portion of the exercise band extending between the first and the second gripper assemblies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of a friction-spreader grip assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1B is an elevation view of the assembly of FIG. 1A.

(3) FIG. 2A is a top view of a friction-spreader grip assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 2B is an elevation view of a keeper strap separate from the assembly

(5) FIG. 2C is a side elevation view of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

(6) FIG. 3A is an elevation view of a safety tether strap in an embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 3B is an elevation view of a friction-spreader grip assembly core according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 4 is an elevation perspective view of a friction-spreader grip assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 5 is a dimensional perspective view of a friction-spreader grip assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of employing a friction-spreader grip assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The inventor provides a unique system for a friction-spreader grip assembly enabling safe, comfortable, and efficient exercise employing resistance bands that overcomes significant drawbacks of resistance band apparatus in current practice. The present invention is described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 1A is a top view of a friction-spreader grip assembly 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an elevation perspective view of assembly 100 of FIG. 1A. For drawing simplicity, a loose, unfurled end of an exercise band 102 is shown cropped, but in application might be furled/unfurled from time to time to adjust to any length suiting the user's precise exercise needs for the intended movement. In this embodiment, friction-spreader grip assembly 100 comprises a furling-spreader core 101, a length of exercise band 102 with elastic properties, which is furled/unfurled around furling-spreader core 101, and a keeper strap 103 with elastic properties attached at each end of furling-spreader core 101 so as to traverse snugly across band 102 to prevent unintended unfurling while in use. The principal elements disclosed in this embodiment are a furler-spreader core 101 around which flat, tape-like stretchable or elastic band material 102 (commonly known as resistance bands including those widely sold under the brand TheraBand) may be furled. Keeper strap 103 prevents band 102 from unfurling unintentionally and provides for incremental adjustment of a total length of strap 102 that may be in play at any point in time. An unfurled tail portion of band 102 can be shortened by furling or lengthened by unfurling, from time to time, in either case once keeper strap 103 is released, to suit the user's needs for their particular exercise. Furler-spreader core 101 in this example is generally elongated and cylindrical in shape, so the user can easily and comfortably furl band 102 around the core and hold friction-spreader grip assembly 100 in one hand with a firm and comfortable grip with fingers encompassing and surrounding all or a portion of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 (including furler-spreader core 101, furled portion of band 102, and keeper strap 103) as a single entity. Different versions of furler-spreader core 101 can be solid, hollow, or composite, and may include internal strengtheners and/or anchoring points allowing for various ways of fastening and safety system attachments.

(13) As to composition, embodiments of furler-spreader core 101 may include any material stiff and strong enough the achieve spreading or distributing of all or part of the pull force of band 102 across the length of furling-spreader core 101, including wood, PVC, plastic, metal, polymer, composite, or any other suitable material, and may be rigid, semi-rigid or soft. As to shape, embodiments of furler-spreader core 101, in addition to the embodied cylindrical shape disclosed in this embodiment of furler-spreader core 101, may be of any other shape or contour, including oval, triangular, square, custom form, other otherwise, that is comfortable to hold in the hand, ample to furl band 102, accommodates keeper strap 103, and allows friction to act to contribute to holding band 102 fast to furler-spreader core 101 (and immediately adjacent band 102 layer(s)). As to overall proportion, embodiments of furler-spreader core 101 may be of any length and circumference, and are intended to vary relative to the width of band 102 employed (implicating the height of the friction-spreader grip assembly 100) and of various circumferences around for comfort in the hand and to target additional muscle groups including in the wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder. This example depicts button anchors 104 at end points on furler-spreader core 101 to attach keeper strap 103, as well as an eyelet anchor 105 at one end of furler-spreader core 101.

(14) FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a friction-spreader grip assembly 200, and FIG. 2C is an elevation view of assembly 200. Band 103 with end loops 203 is shown separately as FIG. 2C. End loops 203 in this example may be rubber, or a rubber-like material that can be stretched over button anchors 104. This further embodiment includes components that were previously included in FIG. 1. Those components previously introduced that have not changed in this example retain their original element number and are not reintroduced. Also note that for simplicity FIG. 2A omits band 102 in its entirety and keeper strap 103 is detached and shown in an un-tensioned state. In this example, furler-spreader core 200 is depicted as two-part construction with an inner stiffener support 201 molded internal to a padded or semi-soft surrounding material for comfortable gripping yet sufficiently firm, dense, and supportive to give shape to furler-spreader core 200 and support furling of band 102 (not shown) in or out to adjust the length to accommodate the user's exercise once keeper strap 103 (depicted detached from button anchors 104 for illustration) is released at one end.

(15) FIG. 3B is an elevation perspective view of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This further embodiment includes components that were previously included in FIG. 1. Those components previously introduced that have not changed in this example retain their original element number and are not reintroduced. FIG. 3A illustrates a safety tether 300 that may be fastened to eyelet anchor 105 to prevent accidental, uncontrolled release of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 from the user's hand in the event grip is lost during exercise while band 102 is under tension. Tether 300 comprises a fabric or cord loop 301, and a connecting string or cord 302 that may be attached to eyelet 105. A user may put loop 301 over the hand on the wrist for example.

(16) FIG. 4 is an elevation perspective view of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In this example friction-spreader grip assembly 100 is depicted with a safety strap 401 added to prevent accidental, uncontrolled release of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 from the user's hand in the event grip is lost during exercise while band 102 is under tension. Safety strap 401 may be fabric or a supple polymer and includes end loops to attach to anchors 104. The end loops may be rubber or rubber-like material to stretch over button anchors 104. The button anchors may, in some circumstances, be adapted to accommodate both the keeper strap 103 and the safety strap 104.

(17) FIG. 5 is a dimensional perspective view of a friction-spreader grip assembly 500 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In this example friction-spreader grip assembly 500 employs a hollow furler-spreader core 501, around which band 102 is furled, and through which has been threaded a different version of a keeper strap 502 consisting of a knob-ended, loop-shaped fastener of “bungee cord” type construction which has been attached back onto itself at the knob end. Keeper strap 502 snugly spans the length of furler-spreader core 501, thereby traversing over band 102 to prevent band 102 from unintended unfurling and to preserve the length of the unfurled tail of band 102 at a predetermined interval while allowing convenient detachment/re-attachment of keeper strap 502 to allow the user to furl in or furl out band 102 length from time to time as desired for the user's intended exercise. Embodiments of the keeper strap 502 may be of rubber, elastic or other stretchable materials, as well as semi-stretchable and static materials such as nylon, and include both strap (e.g., flat, tape-like shapes), round cords (including looped cords), tubes or any other shape material, and of any desired, comfortable shape, texture, and thickness.

(18) FIG. 6 is a frontal elevation view illustrating a method of using friction-spreader grip assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a preferred embodiment of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 (keeper strap 103 is not shown in drawing for simplicity) is depicted teaching a method of incorporation of a second furler-spreader core 601 and second keeper strap 103 (not shown for simplicity) (which may be similar to furler-spreader core 101 and keeper strap 103 in FIG. 1, or may employ a different embodiment of functionally similar outcome) into friction-spreader grip assembly 100 by furling the loose end of band 102 (e.g. the end not furled around furler-spreader core 101 comprising an element of friction-spreader grip assembly 100 as described) around furler-spreader 601 (employing a second keeper strap 103, which is not shown for simplicity) thereby allowing two friction-spreader grip assemblies (101 and 601)—sharing a common band 102 in their integration—as a single entity to accomplish comfortable, balanced, highly effective pull-type, opposing resistance exercises, as discussed above, of the type frequently prescribed by doctors and physical therapists to strengthen and improve shoulder stability in rehabilitation and for general wellbeing.

(19) FIG. 6 is intended to demonstrate how friction-spreader grip assembly 100 might be gripped in the user's hands during exercise with both furler-spreader core 101 and furled resistance band 102 resting in the palm of the hand and clenched fingers extending around and clasping friction-spreader grip assembly 100 and furled band 102 as an entity, with thumb in an opposing position, and the loose, unfurled end of band 102 furled around opposing furler-spreader core 101.

(20) An object of this example exercise method is to start with band 102 in a relaxed, un-tensioned state, and elbows bent at 90 degrees and held inward against the torso in a hinging movement while the hands are spread apart maintaining a constant plane parallel to the ground until fully extended sideward. For contextual purposes, the length of the draw of band 102 in this movement may begin at 20″ and might conclude at full extension at 50″ (assuming a 6′0″ male subject). As mentioned above, this stretch ratio, 2.5 to 1.0, is the maximum safe length of draw recommended in industry publications. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the friction-spreader grip assembly of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.