Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Abstract of the Disclosure
This invention provides a method of exercising your arms via a backpack
apparatus. The backpack
has a foam cushioned canvas anterior section with two adjustable shoulder
straps and a nylon
posterior section with pockets.
A stiff plastic interior posture board is sandwiched and riveted between the
foam cushioned canvas
anterior section and the nylon posterior section. The posture board has holes
drilled into exposed
shoulder extensions. An adjustable rubberized belt is riveted to the posture
board base. The belt fits
snuggly around the user's waist thereby stabilizing the base of the apparatus.
Securing and
tightening the shoulder straps of the backpack then immobilizes the apparatus.
Flexible rubber tubing is attached through exposed, raised shoulder extension
holes. The user pulls
on the tubing thus exercising the arms. Exercise variety occurs by pulling in
different directions.
Exercise intensity varies by changing the thickness of the tubing. Arm
exercises are performed
while walking, running, shadow boxing, bending, standing or sitting while
wearing this portable
exercise apparatus.
Arm Toner Exercise Backpack
This exercise device provides a unique, portable method of aiding muscle
toning and muscular
development of arms and shoulders. Users are able to combine aerobic
activities such as walking,
running, or shadow boxing with anaerobic activities such as biceps curls, arm
and triceps extensions
- both indoors and outdoors.
Background of Invention
Exercising and toning arms and shoulders has long been known and extensively
practiced in a
portable manner outdoors using free weights, toning ropes or walking sticks.
In gymnasiums or
homes arm exercises are also done using free weights, benches or cables
attached to immobile
apparatuses or walls. Toning ropes are also used in homes and gymnasiums but
are usually
anchored to immovable objects or are placed underfoot and thus anchored to the
floor.
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- Existing portable exercise device patents such as CA2233427, CA251859,
CA2717313 or
CA2342302 are portable because they can be carried to various locations, but
they must be anchored
to immobile objects such as doorways or airplane seats and many of them
involve leg exercises. An
immobile anchor point creates a fixed point of exercise resistance. Repetitive
identical exertions
will more quickly achieve specific desired muscle gains than pulling or
pushing exercises that rely
only on the user's musculature as the opposing anchor point. As the user
tires, their opposing
anchor point wavers thus limiting specific muscle gains and increasing chances
of muscle strain
from unintended exertions.
The arm toner exercise backpack's anchor points are the neck tube and the
holes in the shoulder
extensions of the posture board. Once the shoulder straps and waist belt are
tightened onto the user
these aforementioned points are immobile relative to the user. The user can
now perform arm
exercises such as triceps extensions with anchored toning ropes or cords in a
consistent repetitive
manner while walking or running - both indoors and outdoors.
The positioning of the holes in the posture board extensions behind and above
the shoulders
decreases the chances of ropes chafing skin and tearing clothing. It also
decreases the likelihood of
muscle strain when compared to using unanchored toning ropes while walking or
running.
When the arm toner exercise backpack is properly installed, the user's
shoulders are pulled back and
the chest expands thus improving posture and creating the opportunity for more
effective exercising.
Another advantage comes from the exercise apparatus design. The foam covered
anterior portion
covers the user's back and shoulders while the wide rubberized adjustable belt
covers the waist and
stomach area. Exercising with the backpack apparatus burns calories and the
design configuration
traps and increases body heat. Extra perspiration will occur thus creating
increased weight loss.
In addition, an advantage results from the very nature of a backpack's
portability. Toning ropes of
varying resistance, cords for the neck tube as well as food, water and cell-
phone can be carried in
the pockets of the backpack.
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Summary of the Invention
Arm Toner Exercise Backpack: Considered broadly, this invention has
similarities in design to
most backpacks. However this backpack is designed to exercise the user's arms
and shoulders
through a variety of aerobic and anaerobic activities. This is possible
because of its unique design.
The arm toner exercise backpack apparatus has a stiff plastic or wood posture
board sandwiched
between the cushioned canvas anterior layer and the nylon cloth posterior
layer of the backpack.
The stiff posture board fits between the outer and inner layers except at the
shoulders where the
board protrudes above the backpack and above the shoulders. The posture board
is riveted between
the anterior and posterior layers.
Holes are drilled into the posture board in the exposed shoulder area. As
well, a horizontal plastic
tube is attached to the posture board below the neck area. In addition,
grommets are installed in the
lower part of the shoulder straps near the waist area. A six to eight inch
wide rubberized belt is
riveted to the base of the posture board as well as through the anterior and
posterior layers.
To properly employ the exercise backpack, the user chooses toning ropes or
cords he or she is
supplied with. The toning ropes are threaded and fastened through the shoulder
holes, the neck tube
or the waist grommets. The exercise apparatus is then placed on his or her
back. The shoulder
straps are tightened and the rubberized belt is pulled around the waist and
tightened using VelcroTM
fasteners. The arm toner exercise backpack is now ready to use. The user pulls
or pushes on the
toning ropes or cords to help develop muscle strength or tone.
The arm toner exercise backpack's portability allows its use indoors or
outdoors. It can be used
while walking, running, shadow boxing, bending, standing or sitting.
Simultaneously, the user can
be performing a variety of anaerobic activities such as punching exercises,
biceps curls, or triceps
extensions.
In the drawings, which form part of this specification:
Fig. 1 is a back view of the anterior canvas layer of the exercise backpack
including the shoulder
straps.
Fig. 2 is a back view of the plastic or wood interior posture board.
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- Fig. 3 is a back view of the exterior nylon layer of the exercise
backpack.
Fig. 4 is a back view of the rubberized waist belt to be riveted to the base
of the posture board.
Detailed Description of the Invention
In the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention illustrated, the
anterior cloth layer,
Fig. 1, comprises a left side (1) shoulder strap and a right side (10)
shoulder strap, which
respectively connect to left side buckle strap (3) and right side buckle strap
(8) thus allowing the arm
toner exercise backpack to be tightened to the user's shoulder.
The body of Fig. 1 itself consists of two layers of canvas with one-half inch
thick foam padding
sewn in place between the canvas layers.
A left side grommet (4) is inserted below buckle strap (3) and a right side
grommet (7) is inserted
below right side buckle strap (6).
Toning ropes can be inserted through grommets (4) and (7).
Holes (2), (5), (6), (9) and (11) are drilled in Fig. 1 to allow riveting to
posture board Fig. 2, as well
as posterior layer Fig. 3, and waist belt Fig. 4 using only holes (5) and (6).
A particularly unique feature of the arm toner exercise backpack is Fig. 2,
which is enclosed
between Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. This interior posture board Fig. 2, is made of 1/2
inch thick LEXANTM
plastic or 3/8-inch thick plywood. It is riveted through holes (2), (5), (6),
(9) and (11) to the anterior
layer Fig. 1 and the posterior layer Fig.3. It is also riveted through holes
(6) and (9) to the waist belt
Fig. 4.
Once it is riveted together, the anterior layer Fig. 1 and posterior layer
Fig. 3 are sewn together
along the outside edges leaving the shoulder extensions (12) and (13) and the
neck tube (17) of Fig.
2 exposed. The user is able to install toning ropes or cords through any of
holes (14), (15), (16),
(18), (19) or (20) as well as neck tube (17) of Fig. 2. The toning ropes are
secured using clips,
toggles, hand knots or any similar fastening device.
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The left shoulder extension (12) and right shoulder extension (13) are
approximately 2 inches by 2
inches in size and extend from the main body of Fig. 2, which is 12 inches by
16 inches. The top of
Fig. 2 is scooped down at the neck to prevent neck injury and accommodates the
neck tube, which is
fastened in position.
The nylon cloth posterior layer, Fig. 3 is riveted through holes (2), (5),
(6), (9) and (11) next to the
posture board Fig. 2 and the anterior layer Fig. 1 as well as through holes
(5) and (6) to the waist
belt Fig. 4. Nylon cloth pockets (21) and (22) are sewn onto the posterior
layer and hide rivet hole
(11).
The six to eight inch wide rubberized adjustable waist belt Fig. 4 is
consecutively riveted through
holes (5) and (6) to the lower portion of Figures 3, 2 and 1. The waist belt
tightens around the waist
with VelcroTM attachment (23).
The Embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
defined as follows:
1. In a backpack frame the combination of a canvas covered foam anterior layer
with shoulder
straps, a rigid interior posture board layer with exposed shoulder extensions
containing
drilled holes, a nylon cloth posterior layer with pockets and a rubberized
adjustable waist
belt having the first 3 items riveted and sewn together with the waist belt
item riveted to the
base of the first 3 items.
2. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the posture board is riveted to
the foam encased
anterior layer with the exposed shoulder extensions positioned above and
behind the
shoulder.
3. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the adjustable rubberized waist
belt is riveted to
the base of the interior posture board and to the anterior layer.
4. The advantageous positioning of the drilled holes in the shoulder
extensions above and
behind the shoulder blades as in Claim 2 to allow the toning ropes or cords to
be fastened
and pulled without rubbing or chafing the user's shoulders.
5. The horizontal neck tube secured to the posture board, of Claim 1, below
the neck. A 24-
inch cord or toning rope is threaded through the tube creating the opportunity
for side to side
pulling exercises or above the heart hand positioning while walking.
