Elastic exercise device

Abstract

An elastic exercise device is provided, which is made of an expanded elastomer that has the strength and elasticity suitable for performing tension-type exercises. The device preferably consists of a single elongated piece or of an endless loop of desired size and shape. The device can have various cross-sectional profiles, such as a fully filled cylindrical configuration, a tubular configuration, an oval or flat band configuration or a multistrand configuration. The device can be made from elastomer materials such as neoprene or polyethylene by extrusion, casting or injection molding.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to an elastic exercise device. In particular, it relates to a tension-type exercise device, such as a cord, band, tube or loop, made of an expanded elastomer material. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many elastic exercise devices, such as bands, cords, tubes, loops and the like, have been disclosed in the past. Examples of such devices may be seen from U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,663,641; 2,224,103; 3,655,185; 3,807,730; 3,819,177; 3,838,852; 4,019,734; 4,033,580; 4,040,620; 4,059,265; 4,090,706; 4,195,835; 4,121,827; 4,251,071; 4,852,874; 5,614,300; 5,945,060 and 6,287,242. All such exercise devices are made of rubber or similar solid elastomers, and most of them require handles or similar attachments to facilitate their use. [0003] Due to the type of material used, namely a solid elastomer, the resilient member of the device must be thin enough to provide adequate stretchability in order to perform tension-type exercises. Such resilient...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an elastic exercise device that will obviate or greatly reduce the disadvantages of known exercise devices described above.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to produce a simple, safe and multi-functional elastic exercise device, made of a single component which could readily be used anywhere by anyone.

Problems solved by technology

Such resilient members are hard to the touch and essentially not compressible when squeezed by hand during the exercises.

This makes such devices uncomfortable for a hand grip, and hence the provision of handles or other features to provide a more hand grippable surface.

Also, such devices are even less comfortable in contact with various parts of the exerciser's body when performing different types of workouts.

Another well recognized drawback of presently known elastic exercise devices is that when they are grasped at their ends, either by means of handles or by wrapping them around the fingers and then pulled by the exerciser, the tension progressively increases with the stretching rather than being constant throughout the exercise routine.

This produces an uneven result when exercising the various muscles of the body.

Another disadvantage of the presently known and used elastic exercise devices made from solid elastomers, such as rubber or thermoplastic materials, is that they snap-back if suddenly released after stretching.

This back-snapping property of such devices is very inconvenient and even dangerous if by accident the device is released when fully stretched.

For the above reasons, despite their considerable number and variety, known elastic exercise devices have not achieved a widespread use, particularly in home environments.

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