WO2024003531A1

WO2024003531A1 - Improvements in exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2024003531A1
Application number: PCT/GB2023/051651
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Gary BOWLES
Original assignee: Bowles Robert Gary
Priority date: 2022-06-28
Filing date: 2023-06-23
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Also published as: GB202209443D0; GB2620126A

Abstract

An exercise apparatus hand and foot connector assembly comprises a main loop of flexible material having an attachment point and a bar having a first aperture adjacent its first end and a second aperture adjacent its second end. The flexible material of the main loop is threaded through the first and second apertures such that the first and second ends of the bar are slidably attached to the main loop. The bar divides the main loop into a first opening defined by the bar and a first portion of the main loop that comprises the attachment point and a second opening defined by the bar and a second portion of the main loop. Slidably adjusting the position of the bar adjusts the size of the first and second openings such that a user may securely retain a foot in the second opening. The connector assembly comprises means to limit the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar.

Description

Improvements in exercise apparatus

The present invention relates to improvements in exercise apparatus.

In particular the present invention relates to an exercise apparatus hand and foot connector assembly that is suitable for interchangeably connecting a hand or foot of a user to an item of exercise apparatus.

Suspension trainers have a pair of adjustable inelastic straps supported by a single central anchor or two separate anchors with a handle and foot strap at the end of each inelastic strap.

These devices enable a wide variety of exercises to be performed where the user's bodyweight provides resistance that may be varied by the angle of the user's body in relation to the floor and the anchor point(s). The foot straps allow the user to suspend one or both feet off the floor to perform a variety of exercises.

Due to the wide range in sizes of user's feet it is beneficial for the foot straps to be adjustable in size. Some suspension trainers achieve this with the use of buckles and/or Velcro.

A disadvantage of such adjustment methods is that it is time consuming to adjust the straps and awkward to adjust when a user's foot is already in a foot strap, meaning that adjustment needs to be made prior to inserting a foot and some guesswork is required to adjust the foot straps to the right size.

Such straps also make it difficult for the user to get their feet in and out of the foot straps as there is little clearance after adjustments have been made.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

According to the present invention there is a provided an exercise apparatus hand and foot connector assembly comprising: a main loop of flexible material having an attachment point; a bar having a first aperture adjacent its first end and a second aperture adjacent its second end; wherein: the flexible material of the main loop is threaded through the first and second apertures such that the first and second ends of the bar are slidably attached to the main loop; the bar divides the main loop into a first opening defined by the bar and a first portion of the main loop that comprises the attachment point and a second opening defined by the bar and a second portion of the main loop; slidably adjusting the position of the bar adjusts the size of the first and second openings such that a user may securely retain a foot in the second opening; wherein: the connector assembly comprises means to limit the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar.

By providing a connector assembly having a bar that is slidably movable within a main loop a user may grip the bar with a hand when desired, and may readily adjust the position of the bar so as to use the second opening as a foot securement. By limiting the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar a user is able to comfortably grip the bar with a hand without a portion of the main loop interfering with their grip.

In some embodiments the connector assembly comprises means to limit the distance that the bar may move away from the attachment point such that at least 20% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 30% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 40% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 50% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening.

In some embodiments the connector assembly comprises at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar. In some embodiments the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved is attached to the main loop at first and second joints that are either side of and spaced from the attachment point.

By attaching the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved towards the main loop at first and second joints that are either side of and spaced from the attachment point the bar is prevented from sliding past the first and second joints in the direction of the attachment point.

In some embodiments the bar comprises a passage extending between its first and second ends and the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved extends therethrough.

In some embodiments the flexible material forming the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved is in the form of a strap.

In some embodiments the connector assembly comprises a secondary loop of flexible material that limits the distance that the bar may move away from the attachment point.

In some embodiments the flexible material forming the main loop is in the form of a strap.

In some embodiments the first and second apertures of the bar are substantially in line with a wall of the bar.

In some embodiments the first and second apertures of the bar are substantially in line with a wall of the bar that part-defines the second opening.

In some embodiments the attachment point is connected to an inelastic strap, or is connected to a coupling to link the connector assembly to an inelastic strap.

In some embodiments a coupling is the form of a carabiner.

In some embodiments the connector assembly is part of a suspension trainer apparatus. In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art hand and foot connector assembly;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hand and foot connector assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the connector assembly of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the connector assembly of Figure 2 with its bar moved so as to enlarge its second opening;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of Figure 2 in use when retaining a user's foot;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bar of the connector assembly of Figure 2.

A prior art hand and foot connector assembly 1 for suspension trainer apparatus comprises a loop 2 of webbing strap and second loop 3 of webbing strap, both of which pass through tubular bar.

First loop 2 comprises an attachment point at which first loop 2 is attached to an inelastic strap 5 that in may be linked by a user to an anchor point (not shown).

In use a user may grip bar 4 with a hand or may insert a foot into opening 7 such that it is retained therein.

Second loop 3 comprises an adjustment buckle 6 to adjust the size of opening 7 that is defined by bar 4 and second loop 3 so as to suit the size of a user's foot.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 and the present invention, a hand and foot connector assembly 8 for suspension trainer apparatus comprises a main loop 9 of webbing strap.

Main loop 9 is formed of a length of webbing strap that has its free ends connected together at an attachment point 16 from where a length of inelastic material 17 may either extend to an anchor means or may comprise a coupling such as a carabiner (not shown). Connector assembly 8 comprises bar 10 that has adjacent a first end substantially rectangular first aperture 11a and has adjacent a second end substantially rectangular second aperture lib.

Bar 10 is attached to main loop 9 by virtue of main loop 9 being threaded through first and second apertures 11a, lib. Thus bar 10 is slidably attached to main loop 9.

Bar 10 divides main loop 9 into a first opening 12 (defined by bar 10 and a first portion of main loop 9) and a second opening 13 (defined by bar 10 and a second portion of main loop 9).

Bar 10 is substantially cylindrical and tubular, having openings at its first and second ends into tubular passage 14.

In the present embodiment apertures 11a, lib are in line with a part of the cylindrical wall 10a of bar 10 that part-defines second opening 13.

Aligning apertures 11a, lib with a wall of bar 10 enables bar 10 to be moulded as a single piece to minimize manufacturing costs.

In other embodiments, apertures 11a, lib may be positioned differently, for example in line with the centre of bar 10 or between the centre and the edge of bar 10.

In the present embodiment bar 10 is formed of aluminium. In other embodiments bar 10 may be formed of any suitably strong, substantially rigid material such as a plastic material or a metal. Bar 10 may comprise a covering such as foam.

Connector assembly 8 further comprises a secondary loop 15 of webbing strap.

Secondary loop 15 is formed of a length of webbing strap that has its free ends connected together at attachment point 16.

Secondary loop 15 is smaller than main loop 9 as it is formed of a length of webbing strap that is shorter than the length of webbing strap used to form main loop 9. Secondary loop 15 is threaded through passage 14 of bar 10 and thereby limits the distance that bar 10 may move from attachment point 16.

Thus, as illustrated in Figure 3 when bar 10 is slid on main loop 9 to its greatest extent away from attachment point 16 around 30% of the length of main loop and bar 10 define second opening 13.

This results in a user being able to grip bar 10 with a hand and to pull thereon without second opening 13 being closed by bar 10 and a portion of main loop 9 thereby interfering with the hand of the user.

In this mode of use force of a user's hand is transmitted from bar 10 to attachment point 16 by means of secondary loop 15.

Secondary loop 15 is stitched to main loop 9 at first and second joints 18a, 18b that are either side of and spaced from attachment point 16.

Joints 18a, 18b thereby limit the distance that bar 10 may be slid towards attachment point 16, and thereby limit the size of second opening 13.

The size of second opening 13 may be readily adjusted by a user by sliding bar 10 on main loop 9. A user may thereby readily adjust the size of second opening 13 to a desired size so as to insert a foot 19 therein as illustrated in Figure 5.

Once a user's foot 19 is placed into second opening 13 the size of the opening 13 may be reduced by sliding bar 10 onto the user's foot 19, thereby securing foot 19 in place for the duration of the exercise.

When the exercise is finished bar 10 can be slid towards attachment point 16 thereby increasing the size of opening 13 and allowing the user to remove their foot 19.

When adjustments to the size of second opening 13 have been made and the "feet in" exercises are being performed the position of bar 10 is maintained partly by friction between the main loop 9 and apertures 11a, lib and partly by the user's weight tensioning main loop 9 and creating an inward force on either end of bar 10.

In this mode of use force of a user's foot transmitted to attachment point 16 by means of main loop 9.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An exercise apparatus hand and foot connector assembly comprising: a main loop of flexible material having an attachment point; a bar having a first aperture adjacent its first end and a second aperture adjacent its second end; wherein: the flexible material of the main loop is threaded through the first and second apertures such that the first and second ends of the bar are slidably attached to the main loop; the bar divides the main loop into a first opening defined by the bar and a first portion of the main loop that comprises the attachment point and a second opening defined by the bar and a second portion of the main loop; slidably adjusting the position of the bar adjusts the size of the first and second openings such that a user may securely retain a foot in the second opening wherein: the connector assembly comprises means to limit the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 comprising means to limit the distance that the bar may move away from the attachment point such that at least 20% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 30% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 40% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening, or at least 50% of the length of the main loop and the bar define the second opening.

3. The connector assembly of any preceding claim comprising at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved away from the attachment point such that second opening cannot be substantially closed by the bar.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved is attached to the main loop at first and second joints that are either side of and spaced from the attachment point.

5. The connector assembly of claim 3 or 4 wherein the bar comprises a passage extending between its first and second ends and the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved extends therethrough.

6. The connector assembly of any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the flexible material forming the at least one portion of flexible material to limit the distance that the bar may be moved is in the form of a strap.

7. The connector assembly of any preceding claim comprising a secondary loop of flexible material that limits the distance that the bar may move away from the attachment point.

8. The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the flexible material forming the main loop is in the form of a strap.

9. The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first and second apertures of the bar are substantially in line with a wall of the bar.

10. The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first and second apertures of the bar are substantially in line with a wall of the bar that part-defines the second opening.

11. The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the attachment point is connected to an inelastic strap, or is connected to a coupling to link the connector assembly to an inelastic strap.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein a coupling is the form of a carabiner.

13. The connector assembly of any preceding claim wherein the connector assembly is part of a suspension trainer apparatus.