Exercise Band

Abstract

This invention is directed toward an exercise band that is circular in shape, defining a central cavity with a diameter sufficient to allow average people to insert their legs into the cavity, and push in an outward direction to exercise the gluteus muscle groups. The exercise band has an inner core of a resiliently stretchable material, and an outer cover made from a material that is easily washed, to remove the sweat of the user. The connection of the two ends of the invention is accomplished through a three-fold sew-based connection. The band provides a simple, small, easily transported and stored exercise device for standing, sitting, squatting and prone exercises. Several of these bands, each with a different degree of resistance, can be combined in a set, allowing people to work up to ever-increasingly more resistant bands without having to adapt to a new shape of band.

Claims

1. A set of bands for exercising, consisting of three bands, a first band, a second band, and a third band, with each band comprising: a core, a cover, where the core is inserted into the cover, and where the cover and core comprise a band, where the band has two ends, where a first end is inserted into the second band, and the first end and the second end are attached by a means of attachment.

2. The set of bands of claim 1, where the means of attachment for each of the three bands is one or more folds, where the one or more folds result in at least three sections of the band being folded back such that there are three overlapping sections, additionally comprising one or more elements to stitching, where there one or more elements of stitching extend through all three folds, where each band has a band height, and the band height is 4.

3. The set of bands of claim 2, were for each of the three bands, the core comprises a rectangular piece of material, where the rectangular piece of material is folded over the core, where the rectangular piece of material additionally comprises a length and one or more elements of stitching, where the one or more elements of stitching extend along the entire length of the rectangular piece of material, and where the cover is folded inside out before the core is inserted.

4. The set of bands of claim 3, where each of the three bands additionally comprises a pull tab where the pull tab is attached to the fold, where the pull tab comprises a strip of material, where the strip of material has two ends, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold by the means of stitching, where the pull tab defines a pull tab cavity, where the pull tab cavity is approximately 2 inches in length.

5. The set of bands of claim 4, where the core of the first band is comprised of 66% knitted polyester and 34% latex, with an elongation of 120%+/10%, where the core of the second band is comprised of 61% knitted polyester & 39% latex, with an elongation 120%+/10%, and where the core of the third band is comprised of 70% woven polyester & 30% latex.

6. The set of bands from claim 5, where the cover of the three bands is comprised of 82% nylon and 18% Spandex.

7. A set of bands for exercising, comprising at least two bands, with each band comprising: a core, a cover, where the core is inserted into the cover, and where the cover and core comprise a band, where the band has two ends, where a first end is inserted into the second band, and the first end and the second end are attached by a means of attachment.

8. The set of bands of claim 7, where the means of attachment for each of the at least two bands is one or more folds, where the one or more folds result in at least three sections of the band being folded back such that there are three overlapping sections, additionally comprising one or more elements to stitching, where there one or more elements of stitching extend through all three folds.

9. The set of bands of claim 8, were for each of the at least two bands, the core comprises a rectangular piece of material, where the rectangular piece of material is folded over the core, where the rectangular piece of material additionally comprises a length and one or more elements of stitching, where the one or more elements of stitching extend along the entire length of the rectangular piece of material, and where the cover is folded inside out before the core is inserted.

10. The set of bands of claim 9, where each of the at least two bands additionally comprises a pull tab where the pull tab is attached to the fold, where the pull tab comprises a strip of material, where the strip of material has two ends, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold by the means of stitching, where the pull tab defines a pull tab cavity, where the pull tab cavity is approximately 2 inches in length.

11. The set of bands of claim 10, where there are three bands, where the core of a first band is comprised of 66% knitted polyester and 34% latex, and where the core of a second band is comprised of 61% knitted polyester & 39% latex, and where the cover of each of the three bands is comprised of 82% nylon and 18% Spandex.

12. The set of bands of claim 11, where the cover of each of the three bands is comprised of 82% nylon and 18% Spandex.

13. The set of bands of claim 12, where the core of the third band is comprised of 70% woven polyester & 30% latex, and where each band has a band height, and the band height is 4.

14. The set of bands of claim 7, where the number of bands is three, comprising a first band, a second band, and a third band, where the core of the first band is comprised of 66% knitted polyester and 34% latex, and where the core of the second band is comprised of 61% knitted polyester & 39% latex, and where the core of the third band is comprised of 70% woven polyester & 30% latex.

15. The set of bands of claim 14, where the cover of each of the bands is comprised of 82% nylon and 18% Spandex.

16. A band for exercising, comprising: a core, a cover, where the core is inserted into the cover, and where the cover and core comprise a band, where the band has two ends, where a first end is inserted into the second band, and the first end and the second end are attached by a means of attachment, where the means of attachment is one or more folds, where the one or more folds result in at least three sections of the band being folded back such that there are three overlapping sections, additionally comprising one or more elements to stitching, where there one or more elements of stitching extend through all three folds, where the band additionally comprises a band top and a band bottom, additionally comprising a band height, where the band height is the distance between the band top and the band bottom, where the band height is less than four inches, where the core comprises a rectangular piece of material, where the rectangular piece of material that is folded over the core, where the rectangular piece of material additionally comprises a length and one or more elements of stitching, where the one or more elements of stitching extend along the entire length of the rectangular piece of material, where the cover is folded inside out before the core is inserted, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold, where each of the two ends is attached to the fold by the means of stitching.

17. The band of claim 16, where the cover is comprised of 82% nylon and 18% Spandex, and where the band has a band height, and the band height is 4.

18. The band of claim 16, where the core of the band is comprised of 66% knitted polyester and 34% latex, with an elongation of 120%+/10%.

19. The band of claim 16, where the core of the band is comprised of 61% knitted polyester & 39% latex, with an elongation 120%+/10%.

20. The band of claim 16, The set of bands from claim 5, where the core of the band is comprised of 70% woven polyester & 30% latex.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exercise band.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a back view of an exercise band.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a right-side view of an exercise band.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a left-side view of an exercise band.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a top view of an exercise band.

[0032] FIG. 6A is a top view of an exercise band with an enlarged section.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an exercise band.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an exercise band.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention being used in a resting position.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the invention during the stretching portion of an exercise routine.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED

[0037] 19. Invention generally [0038] 20. Band top [0039] 21. Band middle section [0040] 22. Band bottom [0041] 23. Fold generally [0042] 24. Outer face [0043] 25. Inner face [0044] 26. Pull tab [0045] 27. Cross sectional view generally [0046] 28. Cover [0047] 29. Core [0048] 30. Outer fold [0049] 31. Inner fold [0050] 32. Central fold [0051] 33. Band insert [0052] 34. User of invention [0053] 35. Resting position [0054] 36. Stretching position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0055] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the cover of the exercise invention could also be referred to as the outer cover or surface of the invention.

[0056] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my invention. The invention, generally referenced as 1, has a band top 2, a band middle section 3, a band bottom 4, an outer face 6, an inner face 7, a fold 5, and a pull tab 8. The invention 1 has a core (not shown in the figure as it is covered but is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. The two ends of the invention are sewn together at the fold 5. From one of the folds, a pull tab 8 is inserted. The pull tab 8 can be used to adjust the invention during its use, and to hang the invention from a hook during times when it is not being used. In a preferred embodiment, the band is between 3 and 5 in height, while a particularly preferred embodiment has a band with a 4 height.

[0057] The outer face 6 and the inner face 7 are manufactured from a single sheet of fabric. The type of material making up this outer cover can be varied to give the exercise band different characteristics. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a series of exercise bands, each with an increasing level of resistance, is provided, such that a user of the invention can graduate up to the next level of resistance when appropriate.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, there are three separate bands, each with an increasing amount of resistance, and yet each has the same shape and size, such that a user of the invention can move up to increasingly difficult levels of resistance and yet not have to adjust to a new size or shape of an exercise band. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the beginner level of band has a core made from a blend of 66% knitted polyester and 34% latex, the intermediate level of band has a core of 61% knitted polyester and 39% latex, and the advanced level of band has a core of 70% woven polyester and 30% latex.

[0059] Through this series of exercise bands, people trying to tone their bodies can gradually work up to increasingly more resistant bands without having to change their routine because their new exercise device is of a different width, length or configuration.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a front view of an exercise band. The band top 2 and band bottom 4 define the height of the band. As discussed previously, the band can be manufactured higher or lower depending on the size and physical fitness level of the potential buyer, as well as the exercise regimen he/she intends to follow. The outer face 6 of the invention can be manufactured from a variety of materials depending on the end use intended for the invention. Covering materials can include washable, sweat-proof, water-resistant, or even breathable fabrics. This is not intending to be a complete list of the possible fabrics, but merely a suggestive list showing the types of characteristics the cover could have.

[0061] The pull tab 8 is sewn into the fold (generally referenced as 5 in other figures), and provides a handle by which, optionally, the invention can be adjusted during use and for storage when the invention is not in use. Another potential use for the pull tab 8 is for advertising logos and other promotional indicia.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a back view of an exercise band. The same parts of the invention are referenced in the discussion under FIG. 2.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a right-side view of an exercise band. This drawing illustrates the fold (generally referenced as 5) that is used to attach the two ends of the invention and shows how the pull tab 8 is sewn into the fold 5 during the creation of the fold 5.

[0064] FIG. 5 is a left-side view of an exercise band. No new components are represented by this figure.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a top view of an exercise band. This drawing shows how the fold 5 is located on one side of the invention, how the pull tab 8 extends outward from the fold 5. This figure also shows a small exploded cross-sectional view of the invention. There is an outer face 6, and inner face 7 and a core 11. The core 11 is preferably made of rubber, but could conceivably be made from elastic, braided fabric, or any other material that stretches. On either side of the core 11 are two pieces of the cover 10.

[0066] FIG. 6A is a top view of the invention with an enlarged section.

[0067] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an exercise band. This drawing provides a better view of the fold, generally referenced as 5 on other drawings. To begin attaching the two ends of the invention to each other, one end of the band is inserted into the other end at a band insert point 15. The band is then folded back on itself to create and outer fold 12, a central fold 14, and an inner fold 13. The pull tab 8 is then inserted into the gap between the inner fold 13 and the central fold 14, and the three-fold layers are then stitched together.

[0068] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an exercise band. The inner face 7 is shown in this figure, along with the band top 2 and the band bottom 4. In the cross section of the band, there is a core 11, sandwiched in between two covers 10. The outside of the outer cover is called the outer face 6, and the side of the inner cover facing the cavity in the middle of the invention is called the inner face 7.

[0069] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention 1 being used in a resting position. In this figure, the user of the invention 16 has her thighs in a relaxed position such that the resting position 17 of the invention does not place a significant load of resistance against the inner thigh muscles.

[0070] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the invention during the stretching portion of an exercise routine. In this figure, the user of the invention 16 has extended her leg forward in direction 18, placing a considerable amount of resistance on a variety of muscle groups.

[0071] It should also be noted that the invention can work with a number of exercises where the user of the invention is laying down. In between the standing, sitting, and lying down exercises, the invention works are variety of muscle groups, including but not limited to the buttocks, gluteus medius, gluteus maaximus, gluteus minimus, pensorsasciae latae muscle, bastus lateralis muscle, and abductor muscles. The bands can also be used to strengthen a user's hips, knees, and ankles, and thereby helping to decrease sciatica (low back pain, piriformis, weak hips, weak knees).

[0072] It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

[0073] All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.