US3910577A

US3910577A - Exercising device

Info

Publication number: US3910577A
Application number: US402870A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Boyle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-02
Filing date: 1973-10-02
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07

Abstract

An exercising device which comprises a web which can be draped over a limb which is to be exercised. The device includes pouches in which circular weight plates can be received. The pouches are open at one end so that the weights can be interchanged.

Description

United States Patent [191 Boyle [45] Oct. 7, 1975 1 1 EXERCISING DEVICE [76] Inventor: John J. Boyle, 208 Jobs Lane,

Williamstown, NJ. 08094 [22} Filed: Oct. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,870

[52] U.S. Cl. 272/57 R; 272/80; 272/84 [51] Int. Cl. A63B 23/04 [58] Field of Search 272/57 R, 57 D, 67, 80, 272/81, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,609 6/1884 Wood 224/43 1,047,212 12/1912 Hamilton 272/57 R 2,408,160 9/1946 Brunner 272/57 D 3,278,184 10/1966 Rosenbaum .4, 272/57 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 830,606 1960 United Kingdom 272/80 Primary Examiner-RichardC. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or F irm- Se'idel, Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT An exercising device which comprises a web which can be draped over a limb which is to be exercised. The device includes pouches in which circular weight plates can be received. The pouches are open at one end so that the weights can be interchanged.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1975 t ct. 7, ten

f 2 0 Sheet 1 Sheet 2 of 2 U8. Patent Oct. 7,1975

, EXERCISING DEVICE This invention relates to exercising devices and more particularly to an exercising device of the type which may be draped over the limb which is to be exercised.

Post-operative convalescences after orthopedic hip, knee or other joint surgery requires that the patient exercise in order to prevent the muscles from atrophying. Typically, this is accomplished by exercising with weights. Typically sand bagsare used. Other exercising devices presently available have means for providing variable weights. However, the weights must be specially designed so that they can be received in receptacles in the device. A

Furthermore, with exercising devices used heretofore there is a real danger that the device can slide down the limb beingexercisedto injuretthe patient.

The device disclosed herein obviates these disadvantages by providing pouches in which ordinary bar bell weights can be supported. 1

Furthermore, a portion of the device is comprised of frictional material so that the likelihood that the exercising device can slide along the limb being exercised is substantially reduced. Thus, theperson exercising can use the device without fear of damage to the head or groin.

Still further, reinforcing and padding means are provided on each of the pouches so that the device cannot damage surfaces; 5 a u Generally, the invention relates tozan exercising device comprising first and second pouches in which weights'can be received and a web interconnecting the pouches..A flexible member which is connected to the web can be coupled to each of the pouches to retain the weights therein. Means are provided on the outer portion of each pouchifor reinforcing them and preventing the pouches from marring surfaces..."

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing two presently preferred embodiments; it being understood, however, that this; invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is. a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the exercising device illustrated in FIG. 1. i

FIG. 3 is-a top plan view of the exercising device illustrated in FIG. 1. r Y

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan viewof the exercising device illustrated'in FIG. 3. a

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the exercising device.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, one embodiment of an exercising device is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. It comprises a web 12 with pouches l4 and 16 at each end.

Weights such as ordinary bar bell plates 20 may be received in and supported within the pouches l4 and 16.

The web 12 may be comprised of a suitable flexible material such as nylon or the like. It may have a generally hour glass shape with enlarged end portions 22 and a reduced intermediate portion 24 which is adapted to lie across the limb of a person.

Preferably, the web is made of frictional material or is treated in such a way to increase friction between it cannot open the seams.

. snaps.

material The pouches are definedby means 26 and 28 which may be made from the same material that the web is made from. Preferably, each of the

means

26 and 28 is stitched to the enlarged p0rtions2-2 of web 12 about their peripheries so that the pouc'hes are formed with

openings

30 and 32.

A Web'36 of reinforcing material 22 is stitched to the bottom of each

pouch

14 and 16. The purpose of the web is to reinforce the bottom of each pouch so that even though the device is'used repeatedly, the weights Preferably, the web is made from a woven material or of some other material having a degree of softness so thatwhen the device is loweredonto a table orother surface a sufficient amount of padding is provided to prevent it from marring the surface. I i

The weights are retained within their respective pouches by a suitable closure. As illustrated in the drawing,'theclosures may comprise an elongated flexible member 40. Preferably, the member is a woven belt. At its mid portion it is connected to the intermediate portion 24 of web 12 by stitching 42. The stitching firmly secures the flexible member 40 to the device. Additionally, the extension of the stitching 42 through the back surface 44 of the web 12 further promotes the frictional capabilitiesof the device when it is draped over a limb. v

The free ends of the elongated flexible member 26 may be providedwith suitable fasteners s'uch as snaps 48.,Thes e snaps are engaged by corresponding snaps 50 which are adjacent the opening in each pouch l4 and 16.

The .use of snaps permits the elongated flexible member to be quickly removed from over the pouches l4 and l6 so that the weights therein can be readily exchanged.

such as buckles ,or the like could be used in lieu of the FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention 10' which is substantially the same as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, each of the elements illustrated in FIG. 5 which are the same as those elements illustrated in FIG. .1. are identified by the same numeral, however, that numeral is followed by a prime. r i

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a strap 54 having its ends 56 connected to web 12'. Ends 56 may be connected directly to flexible member 40 by stitching. The strap 54 is arranged so that it extends laterally of the exercising device so that the loop 52 formed therein can be hooked over the heel or hand of the person performing the exercise.

In order to use the exercising device, the patient selects suitable weights. Any convenient weight such as those which accompany bar bells are particularly suitable. Thus, bar bell weights are wafer shaped so that they slip very conveniently into the pouches l4 and 16. The elongated flexible member 40 is closed over the weights and the

fasteners

48 and 50 are secured. The device may then be draped over the ankle, or the wrist or the knee. Exercising is accomplished by raising and lowering the limb a number of times. The likelihood of the device sliding along the limb is substantially reduced by virtue of the fact that the back of the web is made of a frictional material and also by the frictional force generated by the stitching 42.

As strength returns to the limb being exercised, the weights can be removed from the pouches l4 and 16 and weights of additional size placed therein.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 provides a safeguard in the form of strap 54 to assure that when the weights are raised high above the head or the body and there is a likelihood that some slippage of the device will occur that a proper restraint is in place.

In each embodiment of the invention, the pouches can be designed so that they fit the contours of the weights being used. However, it is preferred that the sides of the pouches be rounded and their bottom be rounded in order to provide a seat for the weights.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments thereof it is apparent that other forms and embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but rather, only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: I

1. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprising first and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible web interconnecting said pouches, each of said pouches having at least one opening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facing relation to each other when lying flat and so that the openings are accessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directly over a limb, means including at least one flexible member connected to said web and having a pair of fasteners, a complementary fastener coupled to each pouch adjacent the opening therein so that said first mentioned fasteners may be coupled to a complementary fastener for removably retaining a weight in said pouches, a central portion of said web being narrower than the portion of said web adjacent said pouches, each of said pouches extending over substantiallythe entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal to the width, each pouch having a third dimension which is small relative to said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate, and means on the outer portions of each pouch remote from its opening for reinforcing said pouches and preventing said pouches from marring surfaces.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said web has the general shape of an hour glass with the enlarged portion thereof forming one side of each pouch and the reduced portion being adapted to lie on a limb which is being exercised, and a portion of the surface of said web is provided with means for increasing frictional engagement withrthe limb so that it will not slip while exercising.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pouches is defined by a portion of said web and a facing member, and said facing member is con- 'nected to said web by stitching,

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible member is sufficiently long so as to extend from each complementary fastener to the other, said flexible member overlying said web, an intermediate portion of said flexible member being secured to said web, whereby each of the free end portions of said flexible member cooperate with one of the pouches and overlie its associated pouch opening for removably retaining weights in the pouches. 1

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing means comprises strips of woven material that are stitched to said pouches.

6. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 including a weight in each of said pouches.

7. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sides of said pouches are generally parallel and their bottoms are round.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 including a strap for extending around an ankle, said strap having its free ends connected to said web at a location on the web between the openings to said pouches.

9. An exercising device as defined in claim 8 wherein said strap is made of woven material and the ends of said strap are stitched to an intermediate portion of said flexible member.

10. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprising first and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible web interconnecting said pouches, a central portion of said web being'narrower than said pouches, each of said pouches having at least one opening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facing relation to each other when lying flat and so that the openings are accessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directly over a limb, each opening extending across substantially the entire width of its pouch, each of said pouches extending over substantially the entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal to the width, each pouch having'a third dimension which is small relative to said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate, each pouch having generally straight sides connected to a rounded bottom.

Claims

1. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprising first and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible web interconnecting said pouches, each of said pouches having at least one opening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facing relation to each other when lying flat and so that the openings are accessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directly over a limb, means including at least one flexible member connected to said web and having a pair of fasteners, a complementary fastener coupled to each pouch adjacent the opening therein so that said first mentioned fasteners may be coupled to a complementary fastener for removably retaining a weight in said pouches, a central portion of said web being narrower than the portion of said web adjacent said pouches, each of said pouches extending over substantially the entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal to the width, each pouch having a third dimension which is small relative to said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate, and means on the outer portions of each pouch remote from its opening for reinforcing said pouches and preventing said pouches from marring surfaces.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein said web has the general shape of an hour glass with the enlarged portion thereof forming one side of each pouch and the reduced portion being adapted to lie on a limb which is being exercised, and a portion of the surface of said web is provided with means for increasing frictional engagement with the limb so that it will not slip while exercising.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pouches is defined by a portion of said web and a facing member, and said facing member is connected to said web by stitching.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flexible member is sufficiently long so as to extend from each complementary fastener to the other, said flexible member overlying said web, an intermediate portion of said flexible member being secured to said web, whereby each of the free end portions of said flexible member cooperate with one of the pouches and overlie its associated pouch opening for removably retaining weights in the pouches.

10. An exercising device for persons sitting or lying down comprising first and second flexible pouches for receiving weights, a flexible web interconnecting said pouches, a central portion of said web being narrower than said pouches, each of said pouches having at least one opening at one end thereof so that the openings are in generally facing relation to each other when lYing flat and so that the openings are accessible at the upper ends of the pouches when the web is directly over a limb, each opening extending across substantially the entire width of its pouch, each of said pouches extending over substantially the entire width of the device and having a depth substantially equal to the width, each pouch having a third dimension which is small relative to said width and depth so as to be capable of securely receiving a circular weight plate, each pouch having generally straight sides connected to a rounded bottom.