WEARABLE ARM EXERCISER USEABLE WHILE WALKING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wearable arm exerciser usable while walking and, more specifically, to a wearable arm exerciser usable for walking, including webbing belts passing from a user's chest through the user's shoulders and crossed in an X shape to fasten the overall wearable arm exerciser, left and right elastic strings coupled, in front or behind, to the webbing belts, handles coupled with the elastic strings to produce tension in the elastic strings, and a waist string, for exercising biceps, which is elastic and connected to the handles, wherein as the plurality of elastic strings and the waist string are connected to upper and lower parts, respectively, of the handles, tension may be produced by the elasticity of the waist string when the user moves up and down his arm while walking, contracting and relaxing the biceps, as well as triceps, and thus leading to a maximized upper body exercise effect.

Claims

1. A wearable arm exerciser usable for walking, comprising: webbing belts (110) passing from a user's chest through the user's shoulders and crossed in an X shape; a pair of elastic strings (120) coupled to the webbing belts (110) via first connecting rings (113) and second connecting rings (114) connected to the webbing belts (110) to, together with the webbing belts (110), form closed loops; and handles (130) grabbed in the user's hands and having first sides connected with handle couplers (131) coupled at lower points of the pair of elastic strings (120), wherein the elastic strings (120) are extended to contract triceps by pulling the handles (130) when moving the user's arms from a front to a back while walking.

2. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 1, further comprising: a waist string (140) having both ends detachably connected, via third connecting rings (132), to second sides of the handles (130) coupled to the pair of elastic strings (120) and passing over the user's waist or butt, wherein the waist string (140) is extended to contract biceps when moving the user's arms from the rear to the front.

3. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 1, wherein the handles (130) are positioned at lowermost points of the elastic strings (120) when the user walks upright.

4. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 1, wherein the webbing belts (110) are provided with coupling means (112) for length adjustment and coupling and decoupling.

5. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 1, wherein each of the elastic strings (120) is formed of one or more wires, and wherein first covering means (123) and second covering means (124) are provided to surround the elastic strings (120) to prevent the user from being injured by the elastic strings (120) when the elastic strings (120) are disconnected, the first covering means (123) and the second covering means (124) spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.

6. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 1, wherein the elastic strings (120) are knotted to restrict movement of the elastic strings (120) from the handle couplers (131), and wherein the elastic strings (120) are knotted so that a distance between the user's back and the handle couplers (131) is larger than a distance between the chest and the handle couplers (131).

7. The wearable arm exerciser of claim 2, wherein the webbing belts (110) and the pair of elastic strings (120) form closed loops, and wherein the webbing belts (110), the elastic strings (120), and the waist string (140) are coupled together at the handles 130 to form a second closed loop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall wearable arm exerciser useable while walking according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an overall wearable arm exerciser useable while walking according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a wearable arm exerciser useable while walking according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a left side view illustrating a wearable arm exerciser useable while walking according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating a wearable arm exerciser useable while walking according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a wearable arm exerciser while walking when a user extends his arm while wearing the wearable arm exerciser according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a wearable arm exerciser while walking when a user flexes his arm while wearing the wearable arm exerciser according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 8A is a view illustrating an exercise effect of a user's triceps when the user extends his aim;

[0052] FIG. 8B is a view illustrating an exercise effect of a user's biceps when the user flexes his arm; and

[0053] FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating an example in which a user wears a should joint rehabilitation exerciser according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0054] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings to be easily practiced by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0055] The present invention relates to a wearable arm exerciser 100 useable while walking, which enables natural movement of both arms and legs while walking upright. The wearable arm exerciser 100 basically includes

[0056] webbing belts 110 coupled with a fastening means 111 to stably fasten the structure to a user's body to start from the user's chest, pass through the user's shoulders and cross each other in an X shape,

[0057] a pair of elastic strings 120 coupled with first connecting rings 113 and second connecting rings 114, which are connected to the webbing belts 110 on the user's chest and back, through first connecting means 121 and the second connecting means 122, respectively, while passing upper and lower parts of the shoulders, formed of an elastic single or multiple wires, and forming closed loops with the webbing belts 110, and

[0058] handles 130 connected, at ends thereof, with handle couplers 131 coupled with lower ends of the pair of elastic strings 120 to, when the user's arms are moved, apply tension of the elastic strings 120 to the user's body at an upper and lower part of the handle couplers 131.

[0059] The wearable arm exerciser 100 further includes a waist string 140 connected, via waist couplers 141, to third connecting rings 132 located opposite the handle couplers 131 with respect to the (pair of) handles 130 to exercise biceps brachii. At this time, the waist string 140 is a long elastic string with both ends connected with the waist couplers 141 to be coupled with the handles 130. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 the handle couplers 131 and the waist couplers 141 produce a gap for insertion when pressed, for coupling and decoupling, by the user to move their part and, when the pressure is removed, the part is moved back to its original position to prevent the inserted ring from escaping off. The handle couplers 131 and the waist couplers 141 may have any other configurations for coupling or decoupling. The same is true for the first connecting means 121 and the second connecting means 122 described below.

[0060] The elastic strings 120 and the handles 130 of the present invention are used in both hands. Thus, two elastic strings 120 and two handles 130, one on one side of the chest and the other on the other side of the chest, are installed.

[0061] The shoulder joint consists of three bones, i.e., clavicle, scapula, and humerus and their related muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Shoulder joint means a joint where the clavicle and the humerus meet together, in a narrow meaning, and all joints which are formed as the three bones, in a broad meaning. When a problem with the shoulder joint arises, all of the user's activities which are routinely done, such as washing or bathing, are limited.

[0062] Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking in which, as the user moves his arms while walking, the elastic strings 120 produce tension that is then transferred to muscles around the shoulders and repetitive extension and flexion of the arms leads to contraction and relaxation of the around-shoulder muscles, reinforcing muscular functionality, prompting body fluid circulation, allowing for recovery of the flexibility of shoulder joint, preventing shoulder disease, and relieving pain.

[0063] The webbing belts 110 are formed of straps that are non-extendable against strong impacts and that, starting from the user's chest, pass the user's shoulders and cross each other in an X shape. The webbing belts 110 are connected to the elastic strings 120, with the X-shaped crossing of the belts facing the user's back, to be worn on the user's shoulders.

[0064] When the user pulls the detachable left and right handles 130, which are coupled to the elastic strings 120 connected up and down to the webbing belts 110 to form closed loops, after wearing the webbing belts 110, the elastic strings 120 may extend in the direction when the user's arms move and remain in tension.

[0065] The webbing belts 110 have the fastening means 111 to stably fasten the structure to the user's body to be crossed in an X shape on the user's back. The fastening means 111 have fastening holes spaced apart in three or four directions, to allow the webbing belts 110 to be inserted, crossed, thereto.

[0066] The fastening means 111 may be distinctively provided for men or women. The fastening means 111 may be polygonal in shape when used for men, according to the first embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and be circular in shape when used for women, according to a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5. The above-described shape of the fastening means 111 depending on whether it is used for men or women is merely an embodiment and the fastening means 111 may be produced in other various shapes.

[0067] Where formed in three directions, the fastening holes may include a first fastening hole, a second fastening hole, and a third fastening hole. Where formed in four directions, according to the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the fastening holes may include a first fastening hole 111a, a second fastening hole 111b, a third fastening hole 111c, and a fourth fastening hole 111d.

[0068] When provided for men's use, the fastening means 111 may have an upper side wider than a lower side to allow the webbing belts 110 to be coupled in a broader area and thus stably fastened for male adults with broad shoulders.

[0069] When provided for women's use, the fastening means 111 which is circular in shape has a first fastening hole 111a, a second fastening hole 111b, a third fastening hole 111c, and a fourth fastening hole 111d which have the same shape and project in four directions.

[0070] Coupling means 112 each of which is formed by a female buckle member and a male buckle member which are cable of length adjustment and coupling and decoupling of the webbing belts 110 are provided to the webbing belts 110 to allow the user to perform length adjustment and coupling and decoupling even without taking off the wearable arm exerciser 110 already worn.

[0071] The coupling means 112 are placed on the user's chest near the shoulders when the user wears the wearable arm exerciser 100.

[0072] Thus, the user may easily adjust length after wearing the wearable arm exerciser 100 of the present invention.

[0073] The coupling means 112 are provided to allow for length adjustment and are formed of a female coupling member at one side thereof a male coupling member at an opposite side thereof to, when coupled together, enable coupling of the webbing belts 110 and, when decoupled from each other, allow the wearable arm exerciser 100 from being removed the user's body.

[0074] The fastening means 111 formed as a clip to fasten the webbing belts 110 crossed in an X shape on the user's back is provided at the webbing belts 110, keeping the webbing belts 110 separated left to right.

[0075] The first connecting means 121 and the second connecting means 122 are provided at the first connecting rings 113 and the second connecting rings 114 which are provided at both ends of the webbing belts 110 and are coupled with the elastic strings 120. The elastic strings 120 are coupled with the handles 130 via the handle couplers 131.

[0076] The first connecting rings 113 and the second connecting rings 114 are formed as closed rings. The first connecting means 121 and the second connecting means 122 are formed as rings that may be open and closed to be coupled to or decoupled from the first connecting rings 113 and the second connecting rings 114.

[0077] The webbing belts 110 have shoulder pads 115 which are formed of flexible rubber or plastic and which allow the webbing belts 110 to be stably fastened onto the user's body with reduced friction on the user's shoulders.

[0078] The detachable, ring-shaped first connecting means 121 and second connecting means 122, respectively, are provided at both ends of the elastic strings 120. First covering means 123 and second covering means 124 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval to surround the elastic strings 120.

[0079] The first covering means 123 and the second covering means 124 function to prevent friction to the user's body when the elastic strings 120 extend or contract while preventing an accident that may occur when the elastic strings 120 are disconnected. In other words, the elastic strings 120 may impact and injure the user's body by their own elasticity. However, where an elastic string 120 is disconnected, the elastic string 120 is first moved inside the covering means and, thus, the user may be prevented from injury.

[0080] The first covering means 123 and the second covering means 124 each are formed of an empty tube with a width enough to allow the elastic string 120 to freely travel back and forth thereinside.

[0081] The elastic string 120 may be formed of a single or multiple wires depending on the strength of exercise. Where the elastic string 120 is formed of four wires, there are provided larger rings 124 hung on the four wires and a smaller ring 126 hung on two of the four wires.

[0082] When the handle assembly 131 is hooked onto the larger ring 125, the user needs to hold and pull the handle 130 with more power and, when the handle assembly 131 is hooked onto the smaller ring 126, the user may pull the handle 130 with less power than when the handle assembly 131 is hooked onto the larger ring 125. As such, the strength of exercise may be adjusted.

[0083] The elastic strings 120 are detachably coupled at both ends thereof to the webbing belts 110 so that the webbing belts 110 and (one pair of) left and right elastic strings 120 form closed loops. Thus, when a force occurs anywhere in the elastic string 120, the overall elastic string 120 is tensioned and, when tension occurs at a side in the middle of the elastic string 120, the tension may be separated from where the tension occurs, and the first connecting ring and the second connecting ring of the webbing belts 110 are pulled and tensioned. Therefore, when the user swings to move up or down his arm so that the handle grabbed in the hand 130 is moved, the handle assembly 131 coupled with the handle 130 is tensioned from the handle 130, allowing the elastic string 120 to extend at the front and rear of the shoulder. Meanwhile, the handle coupler 131 is coupled to the elastic string 120 with a room enough to allow the elastic string 120 to be moveable from the elastic string 120, and the elastic string 120 is tensioned by the handle 130 in a proper position depending on the user's body.

[0084] The handle 130 is provided to be moveable between the first covering means 123 and second covering means 124 spaced apart from the elastic string 120 at predetermined intervals and is coupled with the ring-shaped handle coupler 131 that may be open and closed.

[0085] The handle 130 connects the handle assembly 131 to a middle of the elastic string 120, i.e., the armpit, allowing the tension exerted to the elastic string 120, which is extended to the front and rear of the user's body when the user pulls the handle 130, to evenly be distributed.

[0086] At this time, the handle coupler 131 of the handle 130 is connected at the user's armpit which is around the middle of the elastic string 120, allowing the handle 130 to be positioned at the lowest point of the elastic string 120.

[0087] The upper part of the handle 130 is connected to the elastic string 120 via the handle assembly 131, and a waist string 140 is connected to the third connecting ring 132, which is provided at the lower part of the handle 130, via a waist coupler 141as such, both the upper and lower part of the handle 130 are elastically connected.

[0088] The waist string 140, which is provided as a separate elastic string from the elastic string 120 and passes the rear (waist or butt) of the user, is connected to the third connecting rings 132 which are provided at lower parts of the left and right handles 130 on the user's body, so that the muscles in the front of the upper arm and in the front of the shoulder are strongly tensioned when the arm moves from a lower and rear position to an upper and front position. In other words, the handles 130 are coupled at both sides of the waist string 140 and the elastic strings 120, forming a second closed loop. According to the present invention, as the closed loop is formed without an opening between first sides of the handles 130 and the elastic strings 120, when extension and flexion (or back-and-forth movement) with respect to the main joint is repeated, the upper and lower parts and the front and rear of the arm are simultaneously tensioned, leading to movement of the arm when walking.

[0089] When the user moves his arm from the back to front to flex the main joint of the arm as shown in FIG. 8B, the waist string 140 is extended as shown in FIG. 7, producing tension and hence contracting biceps and deltoid and supraspinatus. When the user extends his arm from the front to back as shown in FIG. 8A, the elastic strings 120 inside the first covering means 123 and the second covering means 124 are extended to produce tension and hence contracting triceps. Such flexion and relaxation leads to movement of the user's arm as the user walks, thereby raising exercise effects.

[0090] The waist string 140 is formed of an elastic string with waist couplers 141 formed at both ends thereof and is positioned on the user's waist or butt.

[0091] The third connecting ring 132 may be formed of a closed triangular ring. The waist coupler 141 is formed of a plastic ring that may be open and closed to be hooked to or unhooked from the third connecting ring 132.

[0092] The waist ring 140 may be covered with a covering means, as are the elastic strings 120, to be prevented from friction.

[0093] The waist ring 140 may be inserted through the loops of the pants, allowing the wearable arm exerciser to be stably worn.

[0094] The handles 130 are coupled with the elastic strings 120 and the waist string 140, giving strong stimulation to the arms, and thus an exercise effect, when the user pulls the handles 130 from a rear to front position, from a front to rear position, from a lower to upper position, or from an upper to lower position. In other words, an exercise effect is achieved when the arm is moved backward, as well as forward, while walking.

[0095] When the handle 130 is moved down, the triceps may be strongly tensioned and, when the handle 130 is moved up, the biceps and deltoid may be strongly tensioned.

[0096] The handle 130 may include a rear part 130b and a front part 130a which is formed of a pad with a predetermined thickness and width and surrounding the back of the hand when the rear part 130b is grabbed by the user. The user's hand may be inserted between the front part 130a and the rear part 130b and may thus be stably placed.

[0097] Such a structure of the handle 130 allows the user to hang his hand on the handle 130 without tightly holding it when his arm feels fatigue. Thus, the user may relax and recover from fatigue.

[0098] In the wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking as described above, the user wears the wearable arm exerciser 100 by putting it on his shoulders, with the webbing belts 110 and the elastic strings 120 coupled together, adjusts the length to fit the user's body, and then holds, in his hands, the handles 130 coupled to both sides of the elastic strings 120, which are placed on the user's chest and under the armpits and alternately pulling the right and left handles 130 while walking to thereby do upper body exercise.

[0099] The armpits are depressed parts on the sides of the chest and under the shoulders, which contain lots of fat and a large sweat gland and lymph node group under the skin and where major nerves and blood vessels pass, and is susceptible to adhesion in such a disease as frozen shoulder and hard to exercise. However, exercise on the wearable arm exerciser 100 of the present invention may prompt lymph circulation at or around the armpits and relax muscles.

[0100] Meanwhile, the user's arm may be more tensioned and stimulated when the user pulls the handles 130, with the handle couplers 131 hooked to the large rings 125, than with the handle couplers 131 hooked to the small rings 126. The user's arm may be relatively less tensioned and stimulated when the user pulls the handles 130, with the handle couplers 131 hooked to the small rings 125, than with the handle couplers 131 hooked to the large rings 126. By so doing, the strength of exercise may easily be adjusted. Thus, the user may start to do exercise with the handle couplers 131 hooked to the large rings 125 and, when feeling more fatigue over time, hook the handle couplers 131 over to the small rings 126 to adjust the strength of exercise.

[0101] At this time, the elastic strings 120 may allow the handle couplers 131 to be loosely coupled thereto to be movable as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, or the elastic strings 120 may be fastened to the handle couplers 131 by allowing the handle couplers 131 to be hooked to fastening rings where the elastic strings 120 are knotted as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Alternatively, the handle couplers 131 may be connected to the knotted elastic strings 120 directly or via the small rings 126 without any fastening ring.

[0102] The knot may refer to any structure that may restrict movement of the handle couplers 131 by fixing the handle couplers 131 in place. The handle couplers 131 may be coupled to the elastic strings 120 directly or by adding fastening rings to the respective sides of the elastic strings 120. The knots may prevent the handle couplers 131 from moving along the elastic strings 120, reducing friction against the elastic strings 120 and thus preventing noise and wear. The knots may be formed as elastic or hard fastening rings (refer to the enlarged view of FIG. 6).

[0103] The length of the elastic string 120 which is divided by the knot may be determined so that the distance between the handle coupler 131 and the user's back is larger than the distance between the user's chest and the handle coupler 131. This may naturally result from the positions where the webbing belts 110 are coupled with the elastic strings 120 and provide sufficient tension to the elastic strings while protecting the shoulders, thus increasing exercise effects.

[0104] As such, in the wearable arm exerciser 100 with the large rings 125 and small rings 126, according to the present invention, the user may adjust the strength of exercise by repositioning where the handles 130 are coupled without the need for taking off the wearable arm exerciser.

[0105] Further, the present invention may be tightly worn on the user's body so that it may be put on a dress suit or training suit, thus allowing the user to exercise during a spare time at work or taking a walk. If the user pulls out his hands from the handles 130 and puts his hands in the clothes, it may not be noticed from outside whether the present invention has been worn or not. Thus, the user may do exercise while doing routines.

[0106] Further, the present invention allows the user to do exercise even when seated and is not noticed when the user puts a coat on the wearable arm exerciser. As such, the present invention presents superior portability and wearability and enables the user to do exercise while working or resting.

[0107] As such, the present invention allows the user to work or move, with it worn, and allows the user to easily exercise anytime as long as he has a short break time.

[0108] Further, the present invention, by its excellent wearability and portability, allows the user to do exercise even when seated in the same way as he can in other positions. In particular, while standing or sitting, the user may do exercise on the wearable arm exerciser, with his left hand put in the right handle 130 or with his right hand put in the right handle 130. This way enables exercise in various directions and leads the user to exercise fitting the user's environment while stimulating various upper body muscles.

[0109] Meanwhile, a shoulder joint rehabilitation exerciser 100, according to the present invention, has a stabilizer 150, which extends from the webbing belts 110 and makes a coupling on the user's chest. The stabilizer 150 adjusts the distance between the webbing belts 110 to allow the user to stably wear the wearable arm exerciser 100. The stabilizer 150 includes a female coupler and a male coupler which are connected to extensions 151 from the webbing belts 110 and which are easily coupled to or decoupled from each other.

[0110] Thus, according to the present invention, a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable for walking includes, in its basic structure, webbing belts 110 passing from a user's chest through the user's shoulders and crossed in an X shape, one or more elastic strings 120 coupled, in front or behind, to the webbing belts 110, and handles 130 coupled with the elastic strings 120 to produce tension and further including a waist string 140 which is connected to the handles 130 to exercise triceps, wherein, as the elastic strings 120 and the waist string 140 are connected to the upper and lower parts, respectively, of the handles 130, the muscles around the shoulder joints may be tensioned by back-and-forth movement and upper-and-lower movement of the arm that arise when the shoulder joint moves while walking, thereby producing an exercise effect to reinforce shoulder muscles and preventing or relieving shoulder disease.

[0111] Further, in the wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, according to the present invention, the user may exercise the triceps by pulling down the elastic strings 120 ahead of the shoulders and may also exercise biceps, deltoid, and supraspinatus that are used when the arm extends to move from a rear to front position or from a lower to upper position.

[0112] Further, in a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, according to the present invention, the connecting means are connected to the middles of the elastic strings 120, i.e., around the armpits so as to evenly distribute tension applied to the elastic strings 120 on the front and rear of the user's body when the handles 130 are pulled, and a separate elastic string, i.e., the waist string 140, is connected to the connecting rings 132 provided under the handles 130 to pass over the rear part (waist or butt) of the user's body to strongly tension the muscles in the front parts of the upper arm and shoulder when the arm is moved from a rear to front position or from a lower to upper position, thereby increasing the exercise effect.

[0113] Further, a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking may be easily produced in a simplified structure including webbing belts 110 crossed in an X shape on the user's back, elastic strings 120 coupled with the webbing belts 110, and handles 130 coupled to the elastic strings 120 and a waist string 140 connected to the handles 130, in which as the user couples the elastic strings 120 to the webbing belts 110 on the shoulders, wears the wearable arm exerciser 100, and repeatedly pulls the handles 130 while walking, the wearable aim exerciser 100 enables steady upper body exercise along with leg exercise.

[0114] Further, in a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, the structure of the wearable arm exerciser 100 in which the left and right elastic strings 120 are connected to the webbing belts 110 so that tension is delivered to the left elastic string 120 when the right handle 130 is pulled enables a natural, simultaneous, and balanced posing of the same load of exercise to both arms during the course of swinging the arm forward and backward, and after a predetermined degree of tension is formed by pulling down the handle 130, back-and-forth movement is performed, steadily delivering a predetermined degree or more of tension to the arms during the course of exercise and hence giving rise to increased physical endurance.

[0115] Further, according to the present invention, a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking is formed of an elastic material to be tightly worn on the user's body so that it may be put on a dress suit or training suit, thus allowing the user to exercise during a spare time at work or commuting or taking a walk.

[0116] Further, in the wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, both the handles 130 may be pulled in opposite directions to allow muscles in a wider area to be used.

[0117] Further, a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, according to the present invention, may be worn while walking or jogging to enable upper body (muscles around the arms and shoulders) exercise in a natural way and with the expectation of balanced development of upper and lower body muscles and the prevention or mitigation of various musculoskeletal diseases from the shoulders through the main joints to the wrists.

[0118] Further, according to the present invention, a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking may be adjusted in length while being worn and be easy to wear or remove.

[0119] Further, in a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, the elastic strings 120 each formed of one or more wires may be separated by the first covering means 123 and the second covering means 124, thereby preventing friction against the user's body and injury due to the elastic string 120 when disconnected.

[0120] Further, in a wearable arm exerciser 100 usable while walking, the strength of exercise may be adjusted by varying the thickness of the elastic strings 120 coupled to the webbing belts 110 or the number of the elastic strings 120.