WO2013030592A1

WO2013030592A1 - Physical training exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO2013030592A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/052144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anna Mckay; Justin Dixon
Original assignee: Anna Mckay; Justin Dixon
Priority date: 2011-08-31
Filing date: 2012-08-31
Publication date: 2013-03-07
Also published as: AU2012300580A1; EP2750771A1; GB201115042D0

Abstract

A physical training exercise device comprising a bag formed of resilient sheet material comprising a body having a front portion and two ends; the bag having an opening at one end closable by a closure member; the bag having an engagement portion secured to the body; the bag having integral handles at the ends and on opposite sides of the body; the device further comprising a yoke comprising an engagement member and a harness secured to the engagement member; the harness comprising two loops configured to receive a user's shoulders in use; the yoke further comprising one or more attachments for securing an elongate member to the yoke.

Description

PHYSICAL TRAINING EXERCISE DEVICE Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a physical training exercise device.

Background to the Invention

People who are interested in their physical fitness often exercise at home, or in outdoor spaces, alone or with others, rather than, or in addition to exercising at the gym. In a home or outdoor environment, functionality and portability of equipment becomes particularly important. Many people have limited space, and if they are carrying equipment, need to ensure that the equipment they carry permits a full range of exercise so that they use different muscles and may achieve full fitness. An optimal fitness programme incorporates cardio-vascular exercise, weight-bearing exercise, and plyometric exercise.

The positive effects of many exercises are enhanced by increasing muscle load. For this reason, many people exercise whilst carrying weight - for example running with a loaded rucksack, or wearing a loaded rucksack whilst performing certain types of exercises.

There is increasing awareness of the importance of plyometric exercise as part of an exercise programme. Whereas weight training increases muscular strength (how much force can be applied), plyometric exercises increase muscular power. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to improve performance. Plyometric exercise is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities. Benefits range from injury prevention, power development and sprint performance. Combining both resistance training and plyometric training has better effects on training. Boxing/ punching, kicking and slamming (in which a heavy object such as a sledgehammer is thrown against a floor or wall) have a plyometric benefit. Although plyometric exercise does not require weights, the positive effects of many exercises are enhanced by increasing muscle load In order to achieve a full work out and achieve maximum efficacy from exercise the person exercising needs a range of equipment. If he or she is to exercise away from the gym, all of this equipment has to be transported. If exercising in a park, for example, the person exercising might take a heavy duty rucksack, and carry a "resistance bag", or sandbag, as well as a suspension trainer within it. Each of these pieces of equipment has to be separately considered. There are no pieces of equipment which combine these functions. There is a need to provide the athlete with equipment which is designed to work together to optimise functionality, to reduce the number of pieces of equipment that must be transported to provide a full work-out, and to facilitate a variety of exercises.

Resistance bags have become popular in the last few years for resistance training, to build muscle. Resistance bags are heavy, usually made of tough material, often canvas or leather, and filled with sand, gravel, lead shot, or water. Use of resistance bags provides advantages over traditional weights such as barbells or dumbbells. Examples of such bags include sand bags, "Powerbags"™, and "Bulgarian Bags"™. Resistance bags are intended primarily for weight (resistance) training and their use tends to be limited to this despite the merits of also using weights to enhance the effects of plyometric exercise. Generally, resistance bags are not intended to be thrown, and many (sandbags, for example) would split if they were used in this way. The limitation that bags must be treated carefully inhibits their use, and means that they cannot be used fully for an important category of exercise - plyometric exercise.

The present invention solves the problems identified above by providing a physical training exercise device comprising a bag and detachable yoke, such that the functions of rucksack, resistance bag, suspension trainer, drag bag, throw bag, punch bag and drag harness are combined in a single piece of equipment.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a physical training exercise device comprises a bag formed from resilient sheet material comprising a body having a front portion and two ends;

the bag having an opening at one end closable by a closure member;

the bag having an engagement portion secured to the body;

the bag having at least one handle attached or integral to the body; the device further comprising a yoke comprising an engagement member and a harness secured to the engagement member;

the harness comprising two loops configured to receive a user's shoulders in use; the yoke further comprising one or more attachments for securing an elongate member to the yoke.

The bag preferably is elongate and may be tubular or cuboid in shape.

The engagement portion and engagement member may comprise a hook and pile fastener.

In preferred embodiments, the device further comprises one or more straps with handles and attachment means. The attachment means may comprise hooks and loops or releasable clips.

The closure member may comprise a flap arranged to be closed with a clip, sliding clasp fastener, hook and pile fastener or other convenient means.

A closable liner dimensioned to be received within the bag may be provided. The liner may be composed of resilient material to accommodate ballast, for example, sand or other particulate material.

The handles may be formed from inextensible webbing.

In preferred embodiments, loops of webbing may be secured to the bag

circumferentially adjacent the ends, the handles being secured to the circumferential webbing.

The handles may be provided with a tubular grip.

The sheet material may be a polymeric textile material having sufficient strength to withstand prolonged use. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use of a physical training exercise device in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.

The present invention provides equipment designed for plyometric activity which can be carried easily, and a resistance bag which can also be used for plyometric activity without the risk of damage.

Most resistance bags are supplied ready-filled, and the contents are not removable. Filled bags are heavy and cumbersome to transport and whilst some people may wish to walk or run to a park carrying weights as part of their exercise programme, for others this is a disincentive. It also means that bags cannot be taken on planes, so that the user is deprived of their use whilst on holiday, and a time when he or she is perhaps most able to make use of them.

Currently available bags that are designed for heavy throwing (i.e. for throwing to the ground rather than simply from person to person) are not refillable. No refillable resistance bag has a fastening which could remain secure without leaking contents if subjected to heavy throwing. Some are intended to be used with contents of a minimum size in order to avoid contents leaking.

Currently available resistance bags are designed for a specific volume of contents and are sold as specified weights, in the range of 3kg to 50kg, the size of an exercise bag depending on the desired weight. This means that as the user's strength increases, he or she must buy a range of bags. The present invention provides a tillable bag which is sufficiently durable to withstand the rigours of repeated throwing, and which is able to "grow" as the user's strength increases.

In order to ensure that the bags do not flex, do not sag unduly in the middle under the weight of contents, currently available resistance bags are packed solid or fairly solid. This has meant that even where bags are tillable the ability of the user to vary the weight of the contents has been limited - this could be done only by varying the packing material and not by varying the amount of packing in the bag. In recent years suspension training has become a key part of many resistance (weight-bearing) exercise routines. Suspension trainers consist of an inelastic strap with grips/handles at each end which is looped through a second strap which is anchored to a fixed point. Suspension trainers provide a means of using the user's own weight to provide resistance. Typically, the user holds a grip in each hand and undertakes exercises in which the grips are equidistant from the anchor. A suspension trainer cannot easily be used single handedly. If a single handle was pulled the whole of the strap would be pulled towards the user. Accordingly, if the user wants to exercise using a single hand, one grip or handle must first be passed through the other effectively creating a single strap. Similarly, since the weight must be equidistant from the anchor, a suspension trainer cannot be used by two people. For the same reason, and because it consists of a single strap threaded through a loop, and does not provide a chest harness, a suspension trainer is not suitable to be anchored to an object and used with both hands as a drag harness to drag a heavy weight (usually a tyre or a purpose made 'drag sled').

The present invention solves the above identified problems of ill-matched equipment that is awkward to carry and provides limited functionality by providing multifunctional portable personal training equipment which combines the functions of a resistance bag, punch bag, kick bag, throw bag and suspension trainer, and comprises a bag or pouch having a detachable yoke attached to it, with straps attached to the yoke forming shoulder straps wherein the yoke and shoulder straps may be used together with handles to provide a suspension trainer or drag harness. .

The present invention may solve the problem that resistance bags are not variably tillable, so that the user may require different bags as his strength improves. It may also solve the problem that resistance bags have to be sold ready filled in order to ensure that contents are properly sealed, and that the right kind of filling material is used, and the correct amount to avoid undue flexing, and further, that filling materials must be kept dry to ensure that the bag does not perish.

Preferred embodiments provide a fillable bag for use as a weight in performing physical training exercises; for throwing, dragging, kicking and punching made of tough material, comprising a heavy duty fastening. The bag is preferably made of a sufficiently tough and resilient material so that it can be variably filled. The bag may be made of a material which does not rot if exposed to moisture.

Preferred embodiments may be used single handedly or by two users, and provide equipment that can be used as a drag harness for dragging a heavy weight, for example, a tyre.

Preferred embodiments provide portable multifunctional personal training equipment which can be used for many different training exercises, so that a user's exercise programme can be adapted from time to time, as the user's requirements change, and as the user's strength increases.

The invention will further be described by means of example but not in any limitative sense by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-

Figure 1 shows a bag with yoke attached;

Figure 2. shows a bag with yoke removed;

Figure 3. shows a bag with inner bag partially inserted;

Figure 4. shows a filled inner bag;

Figure 5. shows a bag in traditional rucksack shape;

Figure 6. shows a resistance bag with handles;

Figure 7. shows a straps for trebuchet throws;

Figure 8. shows a kit with outer and inner bags;

Figure 9. shows a yoke detail;

Figure 10. shows pieces forming suspension trainer;

Figure 11. shows an assembled suspension trainer;

Figure 12. shows a suspension trainer in use;

Figure 13. shows a suspension trainer in use;

Figure 14. shows an assembled drag harness;

Figure 15. shows a bag in traditional rucksack shape;

Figure 16. shows a bag in traditional rucksack shape;

Figure 17. shows rucksack tabs. Figure 1 shows a bag of the invention, with the yoke [1] attached. The straps [2] are adjustable, using buckles [3]. The opening at the top [4] is closed by closure member [5]. There are attachments [6] for securing an elongate member/ straps to the yoke. Handles [7]. are positioned at the ends and sides of the body In this example the bag is elongate, a rectangle, with seven handles formed from inextensible webbing, and the handles on the sides being integral to the reinforced seams. At the top and bottom of the bag there are double handles, one sewn onto each side of the body. Figure 1 shows these handles being held together by a hook and loop tubular grip [8]. The bag may be carried easily with the straps [2] over the shoulders. It may be filled with such amount of balast, e.g sand, or shot, as the user requires, and closed so that the contents are kept securely inside using the closure member [5]..

Figure 2 shows the same resistance bag, with the yoke removed, and the hook and pile fastening patch exposed [9]. With the yoke removed, the bag is ready to be lifted or thrown using any one or more of the handles [7]. There are no hard fixings on the bag. Any such fixings could damage either the user or the floor or walls against which the bag is thrown. The bag could also be hung, by attaching straps to one or more handles [7] and used as a punchbag or dragbag.

Optionally, the resistance bag may contain an inner bag. Use of an inner bag means that the outer bag can be kept clean and used, on its own, as a rucksack if wished. Figure 3 shows the resistance bag from the side which does not have the yoke attachment, with an inner bag partially inserted into the bag [10]. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a filled inner bag.

The resistance bag or inner bag may be filled by the user with different weights of sand or other balast. The bag can be made in different sizes, and in one embodiment has a a maximum capacity of 25 kg of sand, and can be used with quantities of 3-25 kg. Other sizes may have an aesthetic or practical appeal to certain people - for example those of slighter build, including some women, may prefer to have a smaller bag, e.g. with a maximum capacity of 15kg. The resistance bag and inner bag of the invention have a fastening which is sufficiently secure to prevent the escape of filling material, even where sand is used as a filling. Typically, the fastening is a hook and pile roll down fastening (Figure 5, [11]). Figure 5 is an example of a bag which is in the shape of a traditional rucksack (cuboid). In this example the handles [7] are made of a continuous strip of inelastic webbing [12]. This enhances the strength of the bag.

Optionally, the bag has handles as shown in Figure 6 to permit its use as a resistance bag, and as a bag for punching, dragging and throwing in a variety of different ways. Ideally there are handles at the top and on the sides of the bag to facilitate use as a resistance bag and for plyometric exercise. Optionally, the handles can be divided by a hook and pile fastener /tubular grip [8], allowing two-handed use for trebuchet throws, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows the various components of a kit using one example of the invention, with an outer bag in the form of a traditional rucksack [13], optional inner resistance bag, [14] in this case with straps [7] attached, yoke [1] and shoulder straps [15], handle attachments [16], anchor [17] and anchor strap [18], suspension trainer straps [19] and door protector [20], and optional exercise mat [21]. In this particular example, each of the bags could be used as a resistance bag for lifting, throwing, or punching. The elements shown in Figure 8 allow the user to exercise fully, employing a variety of resistance and plyometric exercises in most environments, including, for example, a hotel room, or outside e.g. in a park or at the beach. In this example, the door anchor [17] illustrated is short - a longer door anchor is also possible, minimising risk of damage to a door.

In one example, the rucksack, resistance bag, inner bag, and mat are made of tough polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the stitching, webbing and buckles are designed and made to withstand very heavy loads. The rucksack, resistance bag, inner bag, and mat may also be made of Cordura (TM)

Figure 9 shows the yoke detail. The yoke is attached to the bag using heavy duty hook and pile (Velcro™) and mailons and is secure enough to remain fixed during running and other training activities. In this example two of the attachments [6] are used to attach the shoulder straps [15] and the third middle attachment is available to be used, e.g. to atttach a drag lead.

Figure 10 shows the pieces which, when attached to the yoke, form the suspension trainer/harness Again, the anchor [17] illustrated is short - a longer anchor is also possible, minimising risk of damage to a door.

Figs 11 shows an assembled suspension trainer. The straps, being attached to a yoke [1], can be used independently, or each may be used by one person for two person use.

Figures 12 and 13 show an assembled suspension trainer in use. In Fig 12, the suspension trainer is being used single handedly, with a single grip [22], the remaining grip [23] being left free. This is not possible with other suspension trainers having a single attachment device, [such as the suspension trainer which is disclosed in US 7044896 - delet/]. Suspension trainers with a single attachment device require one grip to be interlocked with the other before the suspension trainer can be used single handedly, an exercise which takes some time.

Figures 14 shows an assembled drag harness, ready to be attached to a weight by means of the strap attached to the tab/loop at the bottom of the yoke [24]. In this example, the strap is attached to the tab/loop by means of a mailon [25]. The strap used may be one of the suspension trainer straps [19]. This is easy and quick to attach, as well as being strong.

Figures 15 and 16 show an example of the bag in which the bag is a rucksack. The rucksack has a handle at the top, [26]. and optionally, one or more handles on each side, [27]. so that the rucksack case can itself be used as a resistance bag, or for punching, or throwing, once the yoke has been removed, without removing the inner resistance bag. This has the merit of allowing the equipment to be put into use very quickly and simply.

Figure 17 shows the rucksack tabs [28], used to help stabilise the rucksack, whist removing the inner bag, by means to the user standing on them. The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated herein - in particular, features may be combined in different ways without affecting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A physical training exercise device comprising a bag formed of resilient sheet material comprising a body having a front portion and two ends;

the bag having an opening at one end closable by a closure member;

the bag having an engagement portion secured to the body;

the bag having integral handles at the ends and on opposite sides of the body;

the device further comprising a yoke comprising an engagement member and a harness secured to the engagement member;

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bag is elongate.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag is tubular.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement portion and engagement member comprise a hook and pile fastener.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising one or more straps with handles and attachment means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprise hooks and loops or releasable clips or a combination thereof.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closure member comprises a flap.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a closeable liner dimensioned to be received within the bag.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handles are formed from inextensible webbing and loops of webbing are secured to the bag circumferentially adjacent the ends, the handles being secured to the circumferential webbing.

10. A method of physical training comprising use of a device as claimed in any preceding claim.