Belt For Wearing Around A Body Center

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a belt for wearing around a body center of an athlete while exercising, comprising a padding portion. The padding portion has a seat pad for sitting thereon, and at least one elastic portion wherein the belt has a circumferential length without the application of external force. Under the application of external force, the circumferential length of the belt can be reversibly increased by at least 8%, preferably by at least 20%, by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion.

Claims

1. A belt for wearing around a body center of an athlete while exercising, comprising: a padding portion, the padding portion having a seat pad for sitting thereon; and at least one elastic portion, wherein the belt has a circumferential length in the absence of external force, wherein under an external force, the circumferential length of the belt can be reversibly increased by at least 8% by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion.

2. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt forms a closed curve.

3. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt comprises at least one belt arm adjoining the padding portion.

4. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt comprises at least two elastic portions.

5. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the seat pad is formed in one piece.

6. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a cover, in which cover the seat pad is arranged and by which cover the seat pad is enveloped, the cover being water-repellent.

7. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the seat pad includes a seat pad material, which seat pad material has a compression hardness of at least 32 kPa at 25% compression and/or at least 60 kPa at 50% compression.

8. The belt according to claim 1, wherein, viewed over an entire length of the padding portion, a width of the padding portion has exactly two maxima separated from one another.

9. The belt according to claim 8, wherein a distance between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion is between 30% and 70% of the length of the padding portion.

10. The belt according to claim 8, wherein the width of the padding portion between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion assumes a minimum value which minimum value is between 100 mm and 300 mm.

11. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the width of the padding portion at each of its two maxima is between 140 mm and 330 mm.

12. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the length of the seat pad is between 200 mm and 600 mm.

13. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the seat pad is between 8 mm and 30 mm.

14. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt, without external force acting on the belt, has, over the entire height of the smallest width of the belt, a constant inner circumference.

15. The belt according to claim 1, wherein the seat pad has chamfered edges.

16. The belt according to claim 1, wherein under an external force, the circumferential length of the belt can be reversibly increased by at least 20% by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion.

17. The belt according to claim 6, wherein the cover is waterproof.

18. The belt according to claim 9, wherein the distance between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion is between 40% and 60% of the length of the padding portion.

19. The belt according to claim 11, wherein the width of the padding portion between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion assumes a minimum value which minimum value is between 185 mm and 220 mm.

20. The belt according to claim 11, wherein the width of the padding portion at each of its two maxima is between 210 mm and 250 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

[0080] FIG. 1 a simplified schematic oblique view of a belt according to the invention with a padding portion and intermediate pieces,

[0081] FIG. 2 an alternative form of the padding portion as well as the intermediate pieces for a belt according to the invention,

[0082] FIG. 3 a schematic top view of a seat pad that can be used in the padding portion shown in FIG. 2,

[0083] FIG. 4 an oblique view of the seat pad shown in FIG. 3, and

[0084] FIG. 5 another view of the seat pad shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0085] In general, the same parts are given the same reference signs in the figures.

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic oblique view of a belt 1 according to the invention for wearing around a body center of an athlete while exercising. This belt 1 comprises a padding portion 2, the padding portion 2 having a seat pad 3 for sitting thereon. Further, the belt 1 comprises a belt arm 10 which adjoins the padding portion 2 on both sides. As a result, the belt 1 permanently forms a closed curve. The belt 1 further comprises a first elastic portion 6 and a second elastic portion 8, both of which are located in the belt arm 10. Between the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8, the belt arm 10 comprises a belly portion 7. This belly portion 7 is arranged opposite the padding portion 2. Since the belt 1 forms a permanently closed curve, the belt 1 is permanently in a closed state. In the absence of external force, the belt 1 has a circumferential length. In the present embodiment, this circumferential length is 80 cm. However, this circumferential length can also be greater than or less than 80 cm. Preferably, the circumferential length without external force corresponds to the waist circumference of the wearer of the belt 1. However, regardless of how great the circumferential length of the belt 1 is without external force, the circumferential length of the belt 1 can be reversibly increased by at least 20%, and thus also by at least 8%, under the action of an external force by elastic stretching of the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8. This means that as soon as the external force is removed, the circumferential length of the belt 1 returns to the value it had without the external force.

[0087] Without external force acting on the belt 1, the belt 1 has a constant inner circumference over its entire width. Thus, without external force acting on the belt 1, the belt 1 has a constant inner circumference over the entire height of the smallest width of the belt 1.

[0088] By having the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8, the belt 1 can be worn around the waist area as well as around the hip area. For example, when the belt 1 is worn around the waist region, the belt 1 may be loosely guided around the waist region against the body and therefore be subject to very little external force. Since, under the action of an external force on the belt 1, the circumferential length of the belt 1 can be reversibly increased by at least 20% by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion, the belt 1 can be effortlessly slid along the body starting from the waist region towards the legs to the waist region of the body and worn around the waist region. This sliding of the belt 1 can easily be done with the belt 1 in the closed state. To fulfill this functionality, it was also sufficient if the circumferential length of the belt 1 can be increased by 8% by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion. Therefore, in another embodiment, the belt can also be designed in such a way that the circumferential length of the belt can be increased by only 8% by elastic stretching of the at least one elastic portion.

[0089] In FIG. 1, a parallel projection of the belt 1 onto the plane of representation is shown so that all sizes designated as width are upright in the plane of representation. The belt 1 is thereby shown arranged so that the padding portion 2 faces the viewer, while the portion of the belt 1 or belt arm 10 opposite the padding portion 2, i.e., the abdominal portion 7, is located behind the padding portion 2 and is partially obscured by the padding portion 2. Thus, in FIG. 1, the padding portion 2 is shown oriented such that its length is measured horizontally aligned in the plane of representation.

[0090] In the present embodiment, the padding portion 2 is formed by a cover 11 with the seat pad 3 arranged in the cover 11. In this case, the seat pad 3 is firmly sewn into the cover 11. In the present embodiment example, the cover 11 is water repellent and waterproof. In addition, the cover 11 is breathable. However, it is not required that the cover 11 be breathable. Also, it is not required that the cover 11 is water repellent or even waterproof. In the present embodiment example, the cover 11 is made of polyester. However, in variations thereon, the cover 11 may also be made of another material.

[0091] In that the padding portion 2 is formed by a cover 11 with the seat pad 3 arranged in the cover 11, the belt 1 is three-layered in the padding portion 2, the seat pad 3 forming one of these layers. In the present embodiment example, the seat pad 3 is formed in one piece and is made of cellular rubber. The cellular rubber used has a compression hardness of 35 kPa at 25% compression and 70 kPa at 50% compression. The seat pad 3 has a length of 390 mm and a thickness of 16 mm. Further, the seat pad 3 has a varying width when viewed along its length. At its longitudinal ends, its width is 155 mm. In between, the width of the seat pad 3 has two maximum values of 230 mm each with a local minimum value of 155 mm arranged between the two maxima when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0092] As can be seen in FIG. 1, padding portion 2 has two longitudinal ends. The belt arm 10 connects to padding portion 2 at these longitudinal ends. For this purpose, padding portion 2 is sewn to the longitudinal ends of belt arm 10 at each of its longitudinal ends with a seam 4N2, 2N5. At these longitudinal ends, a width of the padding portion 2 is about 160 mm. The belt arm 10 has a substantially equal width of also about 150 mm along its entire length. Therefore, the width of the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8 is also about 150 mm each. In addition, the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8 each have a length of about 70 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm.

[0093] The shaping of the padding portion 2 essentially follows the shaping of the seat pad 3. Starting from its longitudinal end with the seam 4N2, the padding portion 2 widens constantly over about a quarter of its length to a first maximum of its width. This maximum width subsequently extends over about 12% of the length of the padding portion 2. Thereafter, the width of the padding portion 2 tapers again until it reaches a local minimum of the width in the central region of the padding portion 2. This local minimum has a width that is slightly greater than the width of the longitudinal ends of the padding portion 2 and extends over about 5% of the length of the padding portion 2. Thereby, this local minimum of the width of the padding portion 2 with half of its length lies exactly on half of the length of the padding portion 2. Since the padding portion 2 is mirror-symmetrical as well as the seat pad 3, the second half of the padding portion 2 towards the second longitudinal end of the padding portion 2 with the seam 2N5 is mirror-symmetrical to the previously described, first half of the padding portion 2. Thus, the width of the padding portion 2, viewed over the entire length of the padding portion 2, has exactly two maxima separated from each other. At each of these two maxima, the width of the padding portion 2 is 225 mm. A distance between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion 2 measured along the length of the padding portion 2 is 106 mm. Between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion 2, the width of the padding portion 2 assumes a minimum value, which minimum value is 160 mm.

[0094] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a circular reflector 9 is arranged on the padding portion 2 for reflecting light. This is located on the side of the padding portion 2 facing away from the support, the center of the reflector 9 being located on half of the length as well as on half of the width of the padding portion 2 and its radius being approximately one third of the minimum width of the padding portion 2.

[0095] As already mentioned, the padding portion 2 is sewn to the longitudinal ends of the belt arm 10 at each of its longitudinal ends by a seam 4N2, 2N5. In this connection, the belt arm 10 has an intermediate piece 5 following the seam 2N5, to which intermediate piece 5 the first elastic portion 6 is connected. Thereby, the intermediate piece 5 is sewn to the first elastic portion 6 on its side opposite the seam 2N5 by a seam 5N6. Further, the first elastic portion 6 is sewn to the belly portion 7 by a seam 7N6 on its side opposite the seam 5N6. Similarly, the belt arm 10 has an intermediate portion 4 adjacent to the seam 4N2, to which intermediate portion 4 the second elastic portion 8 is adjacent. Thereby, the intermediate piece 4 is sewn to the second elastic portion 8 with a seam 8N4 on its side opposite to the seam 4N2. Further, the second elastic portion 8 is sewn to the belly portion 7 with a seam 8N7 on its side opposite to the seam 8N4. By means of the two intermediate pieces 4 and 5, it is achieved that the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8 are located opposite each other on the belt 1. Thus, when the belt 1 is correctly worn by a wearer, the first elastic portion 6 and the second elastic portion 8 are located on both sides of the wearer, while the abdominal portion 7 is located in the area of the wearer's abdomen, while the padding portion 2 is located in the area of the lower back or in the area of the buttocks, depending on whether the wearer wears the belt 1 around the waist area or around the hip area.

[0096] FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of a padding portion 202 and two intermediate pieces 204 and 205 which can be used in a belt according to the invention. The shape of this padding portion 202 and of the two intermediate pieces 204 and 205 differs from the shape of the padding portion 2 and the intermediate pieces 4, 5 of the belt 1 shown in FIG. 1. The padding portion 202 is shown in FIG. 2 in the same orientation as the padding portion 2 is shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the width of the padding portion 202 is measured in the vertical direction in the representation of FIG. 2, while the length of the padding portion 202 is measured in the horizontal direction in the representation of FIG. 2. The thickness of the padding portion cannot be seen in perspective, as it is measured perpendicular to the plane of representation.

[0097] The padding portion 202 shown in FIG. 2 has the same symmetries as the padding portion 2 of FIG. 1 and also the same course of the width as the padding portion 2 of FIG. 1. Thus, the width of the padding portion 202, viewed over the entire length of the padding portion 202, also has exactly two maxima separated from each other. At each of these two maxima, the width of the padding portion 202 is 225 mm. However, a distance between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion 202, measured along the length of the padding portion 202, is 50% of the length of the padding portion 202 in the case of the padding portion 202 shown in FIG. 2. However, between the two maxima of the width of the padding portion 2, the width of the padding portion 202 also assumes a minimum value, which minimum value is 205 mm. Thus, the width of the padding portion 202 shown in FIG. 2, as viewed along the padding portion 202, has a value in its minimum located between the two maxima that is greater than the width of the padding portion 202 at its longitudinal ends.

[0098] The intermediate pieces 204 and 205 shown in FIG. 2 are square like the intermediate pieces 4, 5 already shown in FIG. 1, but unlike the intermediate pieces 4, 5 shown in FIG. 1, they do not have right-angled corners. Thus, the side of each of the intermediate pieces 204 and 205 shown in FIG. 2 that is connected to the padding portion 202 has the same width as the padding portion 202 at its longitudinal ends. As a result, the intermediate portions 204 and 205 and the padding portion 202 can each be connected to each other in a stepless manner. The side of each of the intermediate portions 204 and 205 facing away from the padding portion 202 is slightly smaller than the side connected to the padding portion 202, with the opposing sides of each intermediate portion 204 and 205 being centered with respect to each other. In particular, the padding portion 202 together with the intermediate pieces 204 and 205 may also provide the shape of the cover of the padding portion 202, wherein two appropriately shaped pieces of textile are laid flush over one another and then joined together at the edges with seams. A seat pad (e.g. the seat pad 203 shown in FIG. 3) can be inserted between these two layers and additionally secured against displacement by seams.

[0099] In an alternative embodiment of the padding portion 202, the padding portion 202 together with the intermediate pieces 204 and 205 comprise two correspondingly shaped textile pieces, which are laid flush over one another and then joined together at the edges with seams. In such an alternative embodiment, the seams 4N2 and 2N5 are absent. In this case, the seat pad 203 (shown in FIG. 3) is secured against displacement within the padding portion 202 by its fit.

[0100] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the seat pad 203, which can be used in the padding portion 202 shown in FIG. 2. The seat pad 203 is shown oriented in such a way that its length in the representation is horizontal and its width in the representation is vertical in the plane of representation.

[0101] The seat pad 203 shown in FIG. 3 has similar dimensions to the seat pad 3 described in connection with FIG. 1. For example, the seat pad 203 described in FIG. 3 also has a length 3A of 390 mm and a thickness of 16 mm. Further, the seat pad 203 has a varying width when viewed along its length. At its longitudinal ends, its width 3B is 160 mm. In between, the width of the seat pad 203 has two maximum values 3D of 230 mm each with a local minimum value 3C of 200 mm located between the two maxima when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0102] The seat pad 203 comprises two main surfaces of different sizes, both of which are aligned parallel to the plane of representation in the illustration of FIG. 3. The larger main surface 3.3 (shown in FIG. 5) is on the side of the seat pad 203 facing away from the viewer, the shape of this larger main surface 203 forming the outline of the seat pad 203 in the representation of FIG. 3. The smaller main surface 3.1 of the seat pad 203 facing the viewer and the larger main surface 3.3 of the seat pad 203 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that their geometric centers of gravity lie one above the other in the plane of representation. The maxima of the width of the smaller main surface 3.1 lie on the same length value of the seat pad 203 as the maxima of the width of the larger main surface 3.3. The two main surfaces 3.1, 3.3 are connected via the circumferential edge 3.2.

[0103] FIG. 4 shows an oblique view of the seat pad 203 shown in FIG. 3, allowing the smaller main surface 3.1 and the edge 3.2 of the seat pad 203 to be seen, which edge 3.2 connects the two main surfaces 3.1 and 3.3.

[0104] FIG. 5 shows another representation of the seat pad 203 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this representation, the two main surfaces 3.1 and 3.3 of the seat pad 203 are perpendicular to the plane of representation, so that only their length and distance from each other can be seen. The distance between the two main surfaces 3.1, 3.3 is the thickness 3F of the seat pad 203. Based on this representation, it can be seen that the seat pad 203 has chamfered edges 3.2. The chamfered edges 3.2 of the seat pad 203 have an angle of 45? to the larger main surface 3.3 of the seat pad 203 and an angle of 135? to the smaller main surface 3.1 of the seat pad 203.

[0105] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Thus, the belt can be manufactured with masses different from those indicated above, in particular smaller and also larger masses. Thus, the belt can be adapted in different sizes for persons of different heights, slimmer and firmer build. Also, the belt can thereby be adapted to the different sizes of children. In one embodiment not shown in the figures, the belt includes a pocket, such as a pocket for a cell phone, located on the belt opposite the padding portion of the belt when the belt is closed. Also, the padding portion may have a shape other than that shown. For example, the belt may include only an elastic portion. The elastic portion may also be disposed in the padding portion. Further, only an elastic portion without a belly portion may also close the belt to form a closed curve. Also, a closing mechanism may be provided in the belt to allow the belt to be opened. Furthermore, the seat pad may have a different shape than the one shown and may also have different masses and dimensions than the ones mentioned above. Furthermore, it is also possible that the edge of the seat pad is arranged at a different angle to the main surfaces or has a different shape, such as a curved surface.

[0106] In summary, a belt is provided for wearing around a body center of an athlete while exercising, which belt can support the wearer of the belt while performing running sports and other activities performed while standing, as well as while performing sports activities while sitting, while being easy and comfortable to use.