Weight Sled Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A flexible weight sled includes a main body member made from a flexible material, such as a nylon webbing, canvas, or the like. The main body member includes a weight strap and a rear weight strap that is used to attach one or more weights to the main body member in a removable manner. Two pairs of upper body pulling straps are attached to the front portion of the main body member, and in a preferred embodiment, the upper body pulling straps include a pair of handles on a distal end thereof. The weight sled may be folded or rolled up for purposes of storage and/ or transport.

Claims

1. A weight sled comprising: a main body member made from a flexible material that may be folded or rolled, a weight strap attached to said main body member for removably securing a weight to an upper surface of said main body member; a rear weight strap attached to said main body member for removably securing a weight to a lower surface of said main body member; a support strap attached to said main body member, said support strap forming a loop on a front portion of said main body member; and an upper body pulling strap attached to said loop on said support strap.

2. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, as wherein said weight strap is adjustable.

3. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, wherein said support strap is configured into a V shape.

4. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper body pulling strap is configured into a Y shape, and includes a pair of handles on distal ends thereof.

5. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, further including a second pair of handles positioned lower on the strap segments than the first pair of handles to accommodate different heights of users.

6. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, further including a weight that is removably secured to said main body member by said weight strap.

7. The weight sled set forth in claim 6, further including a rear weight strap for removably securing the lower portion of said weight to said main body member.

8. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body member is made from a nylon webbing.

9. The weight sled set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body member includes an anti-abrasion coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus in use by a user, wherein the weight sled includes a flexible main body member, a weight attached thereto by a weight strap, and a upper body pulling strap attached to the main body member;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus, showing the main body member and the weight strap being threaded through a central hole in a barbell style weight, with an indicator line showing that the free end of the weight strap is designed to be fed through a buckle for securing the weight to the main body member for use;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight sled apparatus shown in FIG. 2, wherein the weight is secured to the main body member by the weight strap/buckle assembly;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a top plan inset view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; and

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bottom side of a weight sled apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus in use by a user, wherein the weight sled includes a flexible main body member, a weight attached thereto by a weight strap and a rear weight strap, and an upper body pulling strap attached to the main body member;

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a weight sled apparatus, showing the main body member and the weight strap being threaded through a central hole in a barbell style weight, with an indicator line showing that the free end of the weight strap is designed to be fed through a buckle for securing the weight to the main body member for use; and

[0032] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight sled apparatus shown in FIG. 9, wherein the weight is secured to the main body member by the weight strap/buckle assembly and the rear weight strap/ring assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a weight sled for physical fitness exercises, as shown in FIGS. 1-10. The weight sled 10 includes a main body member 12 made from a flexible material or fabric, such as a heavy duty nylon webbing, canvas, or the like. The main body member 12 includes a weight strap 14 for removably securing a weight 16 on an upper surface of the main body member 12. The main body member 12 may also include reinforcing members 104 which secure the weight strap 14 to the main body member 12. The main body member 12 may also include a rear weight strap 100 for removably securing a weight 16 on a rear portion of the main body member 12. In a preferred embodiment, the front corners of the main body member 12 are raised and folded rearwardly, as shown.

[0034] The weight strap 14 is preferably configured to extend through a hole in the center of the weight 16, and includes a buckle 18 that allows the weight strap 14 to be tightened and secured about the weight 16, so that the weight is held in place on the upper surface of the main body member 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rear weight strap 100 is preferably configured such that the weight strap 14 extends through a ring 102 on the proximate end of the rear weight strap 100 allowing the rear weight strap 100 to be tightened and secured about the weight 16, holding the weight in place on the lower surface of the main body member 12, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. Other types of weight straps or securing means may be used, such as a snap-fit fastener or the like.

[0035] The weights 16 are preferably barbell style weights or bumper plates, which are typically circular weights defining a hole in a central portion thereof, although any suitable weights may be used. Different sized weights 16 may be used, either together or interchangeably, and it should be understood that multiple weights 16 may be attached to the main body member by using the weight strap 14 and rear weight strap 100, as desired.

[0036] The upper body pulling strap 20 is preferably in the form of a Y-shaped configuration, as shown, where one end of the upper body pulling strap 20 is attached to a front portion of the main body member 12 and extends in a forward direction, and then splits into a pair of strap segments 22, each having a handle 24, as shown in FIGS. 1-7. The strap segments 22 may also include a second set of handles 106, each of which is positioned lower on the strap segments 22 than handles 24, as shown in FIG. 8, to accommodate users of different heights.

[0037] In one embodiment, a V-shaped support strap 26 may be attached to the top of the main body member 12, so that the apex of the V is centrally positioned on a front portion of the main body member 12, and the upper body pulling strap 20 is affixed or connected to the V-shaped support strap 26 at the apex thereof, as best shown in FIGS. 1-4. The V-shaped support strap 26 is preferably sewn or otherwise attached or adhered to the main body member 12 along its length on both sides of the V, in order to distribute the towing force across more surface area of the main body member 12, as shown. Alternatively, a harness may be used instead of the handles 24, so that the harness may be attached to the user, and the upper body pulling strap 20 attached to the harness for towing the weight sled 10.

[0038] In use, a user secures the weight 16 or a plurality of weights 16 to the main body member 42 using the weight strap 14 and buckle 18 and the rear weight strap 400 and ring 402, and then grasps the handles 24 of the upper body pulling strap 20 to pull the weight sled 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. Exercises may include simply towing the weight sled 10 behind the user while the user is facing forward, or may include having the user face the weight sled and pulling the weight sled toward himself or herself by pulling on the handles 24 of the upper body pulling strap 20. Other types of exercises may be employed, as well.

[0039] When the weight sled 10 is not in use, the weight 16 may be removed from the main body member 12, and the weight sled 10 and upper body pulling strap 20 may be folded or rolled up for storage and transportation purposes. It is contemplated that the weight sled 10 and the weights 16 may be transported and/or stored in a duffel bag, sport bag, or the like.

[0040] Additionally, the main body member 12 may optionally include support strips 28 that are sewn or otherwise attached to an underside thereof, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, and these support strips 28 serve the purposes of acting as skid pads and providing additional structural support to the main body member 12.

[0041] The main body member 12 may comprise a single layer of material, or multiple layers, as desired. The weight sled 10 may also be treated or coated in order to provide additional abrasion resistance and to prevent degradation of the material due to abrasion, wear and tear and general punishment that the weight sled 10 endures during use across rough ground or surfaces. For example, a coating that is currently marketed as NanoSphere® by Murdock Webbing, may be employed to provide such anti-abrasion and water-resistance to the weight sled 10, upper body pulling strap 20, weight strap 14, and rear weight strap 100.

[0042] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.