Pliable object wrapping device for activating and exercising muscles and method of activitaing and exercising

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a muscle activating and exercising device and a method of activating and exercising muscles of the human body. More particularly, it relates to an elongated device that is pliable enough to be wrapped around an object. Such device also has an outer surface that creates a frictional fit between the device and the wrapped object. The wrapped object could be, for example, a wrist or ankle on a human limb or a location on a portion of sports equipment (e.g., a lacrosse stick, baseball bat, hockey stick, golf club or tennis rack). The present invention also relates to a method of activating muscles using a pliable device. Through such a method, a user can, for example. build muscle strength and / or reduce muscle tremors.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]When strengthening and otherwise calling for one's muscles to be used or otherwise activated, users often use one of a various selection of weighted apparatuses. Examples of such apparatuses include dumbbells, weighted rings, barbell plates, kettle bells, medicine balls, and an array of other apparatuses. Depending upon the muscles to be exercised or otherwise activated, the user may select to use a weight apparatus of a certain weight, configuration, size and contact surface. For example, one might use weighted wrapping bands on wrists and / or ankles in one's efforts to activate and exercise the limbs to which such apparatuses are attached. Conversely, an athlete might use a weighted ring on his or her sports equipment, be it a bat, lacrosse stick, golf club, hockey stick, or other hand held equipment, to activate and exercise the muscles that operate and move the equipment.[0002]For instance, one set of instances in which user may wish to exercise a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a flexible device that can be wrapped around an object and tightly connected to it without damaging or moving it. The device consists of an inner material, usually a lead rod or similar elements, placed inside a more flexible outer material. The outer material can engage with the surface of the object using friction, and there is a force fit connection between the inner and outer materials, eliminating the need for adhesive or other means of fixing them. The device has closing elements to keep the inner material within the outer material. The device is pliable and can be easily wrapped and unwrapped, with minimal force required.

Problems solved by technology

The problem with the existing art in this area is that the weights used with such muscle activation and exercising (such weights attached to limbs directly or to sports equipment) typically are not variable in their location (e.g., ring weights position themselves where their inner diameters are the same as the outer diameters of the portion of the sports equipment they encompass) and tend to have the freedom to move in desirable ways is many instances (e.g., in relation to the hand or foot or along the length of the applicable sports equipment).

One problem here, however, is that the holding of the weight in the hands activates and / or exercises additional muscles (e.g., hand and finger muscles) and does not give the user the freedom to use his or her hands for other purposes during such times.

A shortfall of many of the prior art weighted apparatuses is their inability to be wrapped around objects with relatively small circumferences and still fit snuggly to such object.

Oftentimes the weights are also sized for a specific and predetermined circumference, which does not allow for variability in the size of the object with which the weights can be used or the location at which the weights can be attached.

For example, the apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,967A can be attached to or wrapped around an object, but it is limited in its variability in accommodating, in one configuration of the apparatus, objects of various circumferences and placement at various locations of such objects.

The design and configuration of its core do not suggest ample pliability.

Yet again, however, the reference does not suggest that the core has an adequate level of pliability.

Use of the apparatus also the manipulation of the varying weights that seems overly tedious.

Like the other two referenced apparatuses, this device also seems to lack desirable pliability needed to foster the use of the device in a wide variety of situations.

The prior art includes devices that appear relatively cumbersome to use and to secure in place, with the apparent possibility of constant undesirable movement or transfer of the weight along the length of the attachment location.

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