CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 62/651,804, filed on April 3, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002] This application relates to exercise equipment, namely, exercise boards that couple to exercise bands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Exercise bands are common exercise equipment used by athletes and exercise enthusiasts of all skill levels. For instance, exercise bands can be used for physical therapy, as well as more rigorous strength training exercises. However, when used for exercises, each exercise band has a specific amount of tension, which results in a very specific amount of resistance throughout the band. As a result, if an athlete wishes for a greater amount of resistance for a particular exercise, the athlete will be left with few options: using varying means for reducing the effective length of the band (e.g., stepping/kneeling on the band during exercise, tying sections of the band to one or more objects, etc.) or simply discarding the band in favor of bands with higher tensions. This can result in degradation of the exercise bands over time, and/or a waste of money and resources by requiring multiple exercise bands to enjoy a full workout.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an apparatus that allows a single exercise band to provide varying resistance levels.

[0005] Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus may include a substantially elongate board and an exercise band. The board may include a first end and a second end, the first and second ends extending along the longitudinal axis of the board; a first surface and a second surface; a first hook extending from the first end, and a second hook extending from the second end. The exercise band may include a third end and a fourth end; and a plurality of bulges located proximate the third end and extending along the length of the exercise band. The hook may be operable to couple to a bulge of the plurality of bulges.

[0006] In another exemplary' embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a hook and an exercise band. The elastic band may include a first end and a second end; and a plurality of bulges located proximate the first end and extending along the length of the band. The hook may be operable to couple to a bulge of the plurality of bulges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG I disclose an exercise system 1, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exercise band, in accordance with various embodiments, [0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an exercise band, in accordance with various embodiments; and

[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of an attachment mechanism between an exercise band and board as used in exercise system 1, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] FIG 1 is a perspective view' of an exercise system 1, in accordance with various embodiments. The exercise system 1 shown in the attached images is comprised of three main elements; (a) a portable board 10, having (b) two hooks 12 on each side that serve as an attachment point 14, and (c) two resistance bands 20, one on each side, with bulges or balls 22 along their lengths that engage the hooks 12 and thereby couple to board 10 via attachment point 14, and with handles 24 at one end (if desired) via attachment 26.

[0012] In an embodiment, the exercise system 1 allows a user to lie down (on the user ^’ s side or back, for instance), kneel or to stand on the board 10, with either one or both knees or feet and with or without shoes, to assume any desired position on the board and perform the exercises with different angles for stretching bands 20. Alternatively, the user may press board 10 against some other body part, such as an arm, back, or leg, as needed to perform the desired exercise. The board 10 may include one or more hooks 12 on each side to create one or more attachment points 14 for bulges 22 in bands 20.

[0013] In an embodiment, board 10 may be a substantially flat device. As such, board 10 includes two surfaces: a first surface; and a second surface. The first surface defines a top surface of board 10. The top surface may be the surface upon which a user stands or kneels to perform the desired exercises on board 10. Accordingly, to provide additional comfort or prevent injury to a user, the top surface may include a cushion, or some other softening means to redu ce the amount of pressure that may be applied to the user’s body part that comes into direct contact with the top surface.

[0014] In an embodiment, the second surface of board 10 may define a bottom surface. The bottom surface is generally structured to come into contact with a floor or ground surface. Accordingly, the bottom surface may include some padding that prevents damage to valuable and sensitive floor parts, undesirable interaction with a floor or ground surface that might cause damage to board 10 or cause board 10 to become dirty, or to prevent any other undesirable effect of hoard 10 coming into contact with a floor or ground surface.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the bottom surface may include coupling mechanisms to attach board 10 to another surface or device to allow for additional exercises to be performed. For instance, in order to allow a user to perform lateral pulldowns or triceps pushdowns, a resistance might need to be generated from above a user seeking to apply a downward force. As such, board 10 may include one or more adhesives, one or more hooks, one or more clasps, and/or one or more clamps, among other devices, that may couple board 10 to a ceiling or wall.

[0016] In an embodiment, hooks 12 are designed to allow for quick attachment and release of the bands 20. As such, attachment 14 extends extend perpendicular to and outward from the top of board 10, and hooks 12 extend outward longitudinally, and in a direction back toward the top of board 10. In other words, hooks 12 extend in the opposite direction from which attachment 14 originally extends from board 10, and board 10, attachment 14, and hooks 12 may all be formed intrinsically with one another as one unitary piece. As shown in FIG. 4, with respect to an individual attachment 14, each hook 12 is located at a distance from one another so as to permit passage of band 20 there between, but to prevent passage of bulge 22 there between, thereby trapping bulge 22 between hooks 12 so as to attach band 20 to attachment 14 and, in so doing, board 10.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, hooks 12 can also be configured as individual or multiple wall, floor, or apparatus-mounted devices (i.e., not attached to the portable board 12) and used with the resistance bands 16 with bulges 18 and handles 20 in the same manner as described above. Accordingly, hooks 12 may include one or more adhesives, one or more hooks, one or more clasps, and/or one or more clamps, among other devices, that may couple hooks 12 to one or more walls, floors, or apparatuses.

[0018] Attachments 14 may be structured in various alternative embodiments. For instance, attachments 14 may be a slot in board 10 such that bands 20 fit through the slot and are anchored to attachment 14 via bulges 22, which may be larger than the slot. Additionally, hooks 12 may extend substantially parallel to board 10 such that rather than attachments 14 extending perpendicular to the top of board 10, attachments 14 may extend directly outward from the longitudinal ends of board 10. In another embodiment, attachment 14 may be a clamp, and hooks 12 may be adjustable jaws of the clamp. In another embodiment, attachment 14 may be coupled to board 10, as opposed to being formed intrinsically therewith, such that attachment 14 rotates or otherwise moves along board 10 during a particular exercise. For example, board 10 may include a track, and attachment 14 may be a component of the track such that attachment 14 slides along the track during an exercise.

[0019] In an embodiment, bands 20 may have one or more bulges 22, spaced at short intervals that along band 20. Bulges 22 may be wider than the remainder of band 20, and be at least wide enough to engage and lock into hooks 12, such that bulge 22 doesn’t slide between hooks 12 and out of attachment 14. The multiple bulges 22 can be knots or balls, as shown in FIG. 3, that are attached either to the outside or inserted into a hollow band 20. Bulges themselves can be hollow, as shown by balls 22a in FIG. 3, or may be solid, as shown by ball 22b in FIG. 3. Regardless of the shape of bulges 22, when bulges 22 are set into hooks 12, bulges 22 effectively alter the length of band 20 as it is used in system 1 during exercise, thereby increasing or decreasing its useful length, and thereby decreasing or increasing the resistance applied by the band during exercise, allowing for more effective exercising at varying degrees of difficulty.

[0020] In some embodiments, handle 24 may be any handle known in the art. Alternatively, handle 24 may be rotatable along attachment 26 with respect to band 20 in order to reduce the rotatable strain imposed upon band 20, which may serve to preserve the lifespan of band 20. Handle 24 may also include various weights for added resistance during an exercise. [0021] Band 20 may be formed of various materials. For instance, band 20 may be formed of quartz fiber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, and/or other materials known in the art. In some embodiments, band 20 may be a solid band, and bulges 22 are merely wider extensions of band 22 for facilitating attachment with board 10 at attachment 14 via hooks 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0022] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, band 20 may be a hollow band whereby bulges 22 are formed by placing one or more inserts into band 20 and affixing them to specific portions of band 20. In an embodiment, inserts may be movable within band 20 This may allow band 20 to be effectively shortened to various lengths, which in turn may allow a user to adjust the level of resistance experienced using band 20 for various exercises. This makes band 20 highly customizable, allowing band 20 to be adapted to a specific user’s exercise needs and goals. A fastener may be applied to band 20 at bulges 22 in order to prevent bulges 22 from moving around within band 20. For instance, an adhesive may be applied to an insert such that the insert remains in one portion of band 20 without moving. In another embodiment, electrical tape may be applied to the outside of band 20 in order to prevent portions of band 20 surrounding bulge 22 from moving, thereby restricting the movement of bulge 22.

[0023] In another embodiment, a portion of band 20 may be inelastic and detachable from the elastic portion. For instance, a portion of band 20 may be formed of a fibrous rope, a plastic and/or metal wire, or other inelastic material, while another porti on of band 20 may be formed of elastic material such that elastic resistance (and thereby the variable resistance capable of being adjusted at the user’s will) may be located closer to a first end. As an example, band 20 may be three feet long. Two feet of band 20 may be formed of a durable wire, separated by an additional attachment coupling an elastic portion of band 20 having a length of one foot and including three closely placed bulges 22. The inelastic band may therefore have a high durability and have a longer lifespan, allowing a user to switch elastic portions at will.

[0024] Continuing this example, additional equipment may be coupled to band 20 for additional exercises. For instance, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that it is common to practice triceps pull downs using a bifurcated rope. Accordingly, at attachment 26, handle 24 may be replaced by a bifurcated rope, and the inelastic portion of band 20 may be removed from the apparatus, such that the bifurcated rope is coupled directly to the one-foot-long elastic portion of band 20. In yet another embodiment of this example, rather than a bifurcated, inelastic rope, the one-foot-long elastic portion of band 20 may couple directly via attachment 26 to a bifurcated elastic band for additional exercises.

[0025] For instance, in various embodiments, multiple bulges 22 may be equidistant from one another (e.g., each may be 2 inches apart, 3 inches apart, 4 inches apart., etc.) or may be asymmetrically distant from one another. Bulges 22 may be located closer to one end of band 20 than the other end. For instance, each of bulges 22 may be located close together Award a first end, and therefore be closer to one end of the band than the other end.

[0026] The various embodiments described herein may be implemented using a variety of means. Furthermore, the above described embodiments are presented for the purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations.