Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
[0001] Training Apparatus For Athletes and Others
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a training apparatus, and in
particular to a wearable apparatus for providing resistance while engaging in
athletic activities.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Resistance bands or tubing are used as an alternative to free
weights or weight machines for resistance training of muscle groups.
Resistance tubing has been used with a harness device to allow a user to
progress through natural motions, such as walking, running or jumping,
while subjected to the resistance offered by the tubing.
[0004] Published U.S. patent application 2003/0130098 describes a
training device for training a gliding sport athlete such as a skater, this
device including a belt that is secured about the waist of the athlete. The
belt has a front portion adapted to be worn adjacent the navel area and left
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and right side portions to be worn adjacent the right and left hips. A pair of
foot attachments are adapted to be fastened to front portions of the athlete's
feet or footwear. The device includes a first pair of cords having one end of
each cord connected to the belt and another end connected to one of the foot
attachments so as to position the first pair of cords on each side of the
right
knee of the athlete when in use. There is also a second pair of cords having
one end connected to the belt and another end connected to another of the
foot attachments so as to position the second pair of cords on each side of
left knee of the athlete. Each of the cords has an unstretched length less
than a length between the athlete's waist and his or her feet.
[0005] It is also known to provide a similar training device for walkers
and runners, this device also employing a harness mounted around the waist
of the user to which resistance tubes can be attached. The ends of the tubes
are attached to the footwear of the user, for example, to the user's running
shoes.
[0006] U.S. patent No. 6,179,760 dated January 30, 2001 describes an
exercise device for assisting a rider's leg muscles during cycling. Elastic
members are worn on the legs such that the elastic members will stretch on
the downstroke of the pedals and will contract on the upstroke to release
energy and thereby assist the legs to rotate the pedals. The elastic members
can be attached to a waist member worn about the waist of the cyclist.
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[0007] Despite these known training devices and mechanisms,
including other well known training machines, there is a need for an
improved training apparatus to develop the legs of athletes, particularly
those of skaters and hockey players. There is a particular need for such
training apparatus that can be manufactured at a reasonable cost and that
can be used with or can include elongate, elastic resistive members or tubes.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the training apparatus of this
invention, a training apparatus for skaters comprises a cover made of flexible
fabric for wearing over pants or shorts, this cover having a front and a back
and including an upper tubular section adapted for extending around a
skater's lower body. The cover further includes attached left and right leg
sections extending from a bottom end of the upper tubular section and
adapted for covering at least upper portions of the skater's legs. Connectors
are mounted on both the front and the back of the cover, these connectors
including upper connectors mounted on the upper tubular section and lower
connectors mounted on a front side of both the left and right leg sections.
Each connector includes means for forming an aperture for passage of a
flexible resistive member. The apparatus also has two separate, elongate
elastic resistive members adapted for attachment to the cover by means of
the connectors. Each resistive member is mountable on a respective one of
left and right halves of the cover so that, during use of the cover, sections
of
the respective resistive member extend along opposite sides of a respective
leg of the skater to a skate worn by the skater. The training apparatus also
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includes fastener mechanisms for securing each resistive member to a
respective one of the two skates worn by the skater.
[0009] In one exemplary version of this apparatus, the connectors are
flexible patches and the aperture provided by each of the patches is in the
form of a loop part slidably and releasably receiving its respective one of
the
resistive members.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the training apparatus of
this invention, a training apparatus for a skater comprises a flexible fabric
cover adapted for wearing over pants or shorts and having a front, a back, a
top end and a bottom end. The cover includes a main body section and left
and right leg sections extending from and connected to the main body
section and capable of covering at least upper portions of the skater's legs.
Loop-forming connectors are mounted on both the front and the back of the
cover. These connectors include upper connectors mounted on the front and
back of the main body section and lower connectors mounted on the front
side of both the left and right leg sections. Each of the connectors in use
forms a loop. Elongate elastomeric resistive members are attachable to the
cover by means of the loops formed by the connectors. At least one of these
resistive members is detachably mounted on each of the left and right halves
of the cover so that, during use of the training apparatus, sections of the at
least one resistive member extend along opposite sides of a respective one of
the legs of the skater to a skate worn by the skater and are attached to a
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fastening mechanism on the skate.
[0011] In one exemplary version of this apparatus, the connectors are
fabric patches and the loop formed by each connector slidably and releasably
receives its respective resistive member. Each resistive member can be a
stretchable tube member having two opposite ends and a mechanical
fastener secured to each of these opposite ends.
[0012] According to a further embodiment, a wearable cover for use
with elongate, elastomeric resistive members comprises a cover member
made of strong, flexible fabric for wearing on a person's lower body, this
cover member including an upper tubular section wearable over a lower
trunk region of a user's body and left and right leg sections attached to and
extending from a bottom end of the upper tubular section and adapted to
cover at least upper portions of the user's legs; and a plurality of loop-
forming connectors for mounting the resistive members on the cover
member, these connectors including at least four upper connectors mounted
on both front and back sides of the upper tubular section and four lower
connectors mounted on or adjacent a front side of the left and right leg
sections. During use of the cover, the resistive members can be mounted on
an exterior of the cover member and attached to footwear of the user in
order to enhance exercise of the legs of the user.
[0013] Further aspects and features will become apparent from the
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following description of exemplary embodiments taken together with the
accompanying drawings.
[0014] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to
show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be
made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the training
apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] Figure 2 is a rear view of the training apparatus shown in Figure
1;
[0017] Figure 3 shows a hockey player wearing the training apparatus
shown in Figures 1 and 2;
[0018] Figure 4 shows a foot strap for attaching the training apparatus
to a skate or shoe;
[0019] Figure 5 shows a clip receiving member of the foot strap of
Figure 4;
[0020] Figure 6 shows the foot strap of Figure 4 in use around an ice
skate; and
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[0021] Figure 7 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the
training apparatus.
[0022] The present invention may be embodied in a number of different
forms. The specification and drawings that follow describe and disclose some
of the specific forms of the invention.
[0023] In the accompanying drawings, a training apparatus constructed
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is noted generally by
reference numeral 10. The training apparatus 10 is comprised of a shell or
cover 22 made of flexible fabric. It is expected that in most embodiments,
the cover is formed as a pair of shorts including an upper tubular section 27
adapted for extending around a skater's lower body, a left leg sleeve 28 and
a right leg sleeve 30, the shorts sized to be wearable over traditional hockey
pants or hockey girdle. It will be appreciated that the cover can also be
formed as a pair of pants sized to be wearable over traditional hockey pants
or hockey girdle. Further, the cover can be worn over regular clothing to
train ice skaters who do not wear hockey gear. In most embodiments, the
cover is formed from nylon so that it presents a strong, low-friction surface,
but other similar low-friction materials can be used.
[0024] One or more connectors which can be in the form of patches 16
are attached to the cover. In most cases it is expected that each connector
or patch includes a looped part 16b that forms a loop. In
preferred
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embodiments, the patches are formed from nylon webbing to give them
strength and to present a low-friction surface. Other similar low-friction
materials of similar strength can be used.
[0025] In
most cases the patches are fixedly attached to the cover; this
can be achieved by reinforced stitching or some other mechanical or
adhesive mechanism for fixedly attaching the one or more patches to the
cover. In one
exemplary embodiment, the patches are dimensioned
approximately two inches by two inches, although other sizes are possible.
[0026] Each
loop-forming connector or patch can further comprise a
fixed part 16a that is attached to the cover. The fixed part is adjacent the
looped part, and the looped part is attached to the cover by the fixed part,
as
shown in Figures 1 and 2. In other embodiments, the looped part can be
attached to the cover along the portion of the looped part adjacent the cover,
or alternatively, the fixed part can be the portion of the looped part
adjacent
the cover so that the fixed part forms part of the looped part. In alternate
embodiments, the patch is attached to the cover only at its ends, e.g. by
reinforced stitching, leaving an unattached segment that, together with the
surface of the cover, forms a loop-like opening.
[0027] Each
patch connector slidably and releasably receives
therethrough at least one elongate resistive member 18, by means of the
looped part or the loop-like opening. The resistive member in an exemplary
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embodiment is an elongate flexible tube 19, such as the hollow elastomeric
resistance tube depicted in Figures 1 to 3 and 6. An exemplary version of
the tube 19 is elastic or elastomeric so that it can stretch substantially
during
use. In alternate embodiments, different resistive devices can be used, e.g.
a bungee cord, or similar mechanism for imparting resistance to the
movement of a user's legs. Preferably each end of tube 19 has a mechanical
fastener 20. The mechanical fastener can be a snap fastener, a clip, or other
similar mechanical means for connecting the ends of the tubes to a
connecting mechanism arranged on each skate.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the cover has an adjustable
waistband 12 along a top edge 32 of the cover. The waistband can be
manually adjusted by the user and releasably maintained in a desired
adjusted position by a buckle 14 attached to one or more straps or belts.
Thus the circumference of the waistband is adjustable by means of the
buckle 14. Alternatively, the buckle and straps can be replaced by a
drawstring that can be tied together at its ends, suspenders, or some other
similar mechanism for militating against downward movement of the cover,
shorts or pants during use of the training apparatus.
[0029] In one embodiment, a front side 34 (shown in Figure 1) of the
cover on each of its left and right sides has fixedly attached to it three
connectors or patches: a top outer patch 36 positioned adjacent the top edge
and an outer side edge 38 of the leg sleeve with its looped part facing the
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outer side edge; a bottom outer patch 40 positioned adjacent a bottom edge
42 and the outer side edge of the leg sleeve with its looped part facing an
inner side edge 44; and a bottom inner patch 46 positioned adjacent the
bottom edge and the inner side edge of the leg sleeve with its looped part
facing the inner side edge. In this embodiment, a rear side 48 (shown in
Figure 2) of the cover on each of its left and right sides has fixedly
attached
to it two connecting patches: a top patch 50 positioned adjacent the top edge
and substantially mid-way between the outer side edge and a midline 26 of
the cover with its looped part facing the outer side edge and angled about 45
degrees downward from the top edge; and a middle patch 52 positioned
below the top patch 50 on a horizontal plane 54 that is slightly higher than a
crotch 24 of the cover with its looped part facing the midline. The midline
identifies a plane perpendicular to the front of the cover that equally
divides
the left leg sleeve and the right leg sleeve and the upper tubular section 27
which the two leg sleeves are attached.
[0030] For
each leg of a user, the user can pass the tube through one
or more of the looped parts, and fasten the tube at its ends to the skate or
shoe using the mechanical fasteners. If the
apparatus is used to train an
ice skater, the resistive tube can be connected at its ends to a strap
connector that passes through the gap between the skate blade 58 and the
bottom of the skate boot 60 as shown in Figures 3 and 6. It will be
understood that during use of the training apparatus, sections of at least one
tube or resistive member can extend along opposite sides of a respective leg
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of a skater to the skate to which they are attached.
[0031] For
optimal muscle conditioning and training, using as an
example the exemplary embodiment wherein the cover or cover member has
fixedly attached thereon the ten patches previously described and depicted in
the figures (namely two top outer patches, two bottom outer patches, two
bottom inner patches, two top patches 50 (rear side), and two middle
patches 52 (rear side)), the user can pass one or more tubes through the
looped part of each of said five patches on each of the left and right sides
of
the cover. This can be accomplished by first passing an end of the tube
through the looped part of the bottom inner patch 46, then to the rear side of
the cover through the looped part of the middle patch 52, then through the
looped part of the top patch 50, then back to the front side through the
looped part of the top outer patch 36, and finally through the looped part of
the bottom outer patch 40, before fastening the ends of the tube to the
aforementioned strap connector 70 secured around the user's skate or shoe.
The resistance tube can also be inserted through all five patches on each side
of the cover following the reverse path. Once the one or more tubes are
inserted through the connectors or patches and fastened at the ends to the
skates or footwear of the user using the strap connectors, the user can
proceed to engage in activities, such as skating, while benefiting from the
resistance offered by the one or more tubes. Because the loop-type
connectors are in fixed positions around the user's leg and buttocks, the
resistance is optimally applied to key areas for muscular and endurance
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training while engaging in natural skating motions.
[0032] A user
of the training apparatus can alter the resistance levels
and the muscle groups targeted for resistance training on each leg. For
example, a user may decide to pass the tube through only a subset of the
looped parts on each of the left and right sides of the cover to concentrate
resistance around certain areas of the leg, or not use a tube 19 at all on one
side of the cover while using a tube 19 on the other side of the cover, so
that
one leg can be selectively targeted during training. A user
can also
substitute a tube for another tube of greater or lesser resistance, or
alternatively, pass more than one tube through the looped parts of a leg
sleeve to greatly increase resistance. Where more than one tube is used on
one of the left and right sides of the cover, ensuring that the combined width
of the tubes is less than the diameter of the looped parts facilitates the
elongation and contraction of the tube through the looped parts during use of
the apparatus.
[0033]
Through fixedly attaching the connecting patches onto the cover
by, for example, reinforced stitching, and further through fastening the ends
of the tubes using mechanical fasteners, the training apparatus can avoid the
use of Velcro which may be ill-suited to fixedly hold in place high-
resistance
resistive members in some applications.
[0034]
Certain characteristics of the cover and the one or more
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connecting patches, in some embodiments, can contribute to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the training apparatus. For example, where a looped
part is used, the looped part of each patch is sized larger than the diameter
of the tube, and in most embodiments, the cover is formed from nylon while
each patch is formed from nylon webbing. Nylon fibres characteristically are
strong and have low friction properties. The tube can therefore contract and
expand through the looped parts and over the surface of the cover during
use of the training apparatus relatively freely with minimal counter-force or
restriction to its movement. In
this way, a user is able to relatively
accurately gauge the level of resistance applied by the apparatus by
reference solely to the one or more resistance tubes used, as other sources
of resistance (such as would be created, e.g., by friction from a user's thigh
or clothing in the case of a resistance apparatus that does not utilize a
minimal friction cover) are effectively minimized in the training apparatus.
[0035]
Effectiveness and efficiency is further achieved by fixedly
attaching the connecting patches in selected fixed positions on the cover,
thereby ensuring that the placement of the tube around the muscles used
during, e.g. skating, remains relatively stationary and optimal for resistance
training (e.g., in the embodiment depicted in the figures, a tube running
through all five patches on each half of the cover is ensured to always pass
through the points where each of said patches is attached to the cover, even
while engaging in skating motions, so that resistance is always maintained
around at least the upper leg and buttock, as previously described). The
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apparatus maintains a bias in the legs to help prevent the legs from
straightening during skating, and promotes muscular and endurance
development while allowing a user of the apparatus to maintain a natural
skating motion.
[0036] In
some embodiments, the cover is kept from succumbing to
the downward force of the resistive members by the adjustable waistband
and buckle. By tightening waistband 12 (e.g. over hockey pants or a hockey
girdle) and releasably maintaining the waistband in its tightened position
using buckle 14 and attached strap(s) or belt, a user can use the apparatus
without experiencing loss of resistance from the resistance tubes as a result
of downward movement of the cover. This further contributes to the
efficiency and effectiveness of the apparatus as a means for providing
resistance during training.
[0037] In
alternate embodiments, the connecting patches can be
releasably attached to the cover, such as by snap fasteners or buttons, so
that the patches can be removed from the cover, oriented into a new
position, and reattached to the cover, in order to target different muscle
groups. It
will be appreciated that versions of the described training
apparatus(s) could be used to provide resistance training while engaging in
activities other than ice skating, such as, e.g., walking, running, jumping,
or
swimming.
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[0038] Referring to Figures 4 through 6, the flexible tubing 19 can be
releasably attached at its ends to a user's shoe or skate by one or more
receiving members 72 attached to a foot strap connector 70. Thus, each of
the mechanical fasteners 20 of the tubing 19 is releasably attached to a
respective one of receiving members 72 attached to the foot strap 70 by,
e.g., nylon webbing patches 86 forming webbing loops 87 passing through a
webbing slot 90 of the receiving member. In the illustrated embodiment, the
foot strap connector has two receiving members, each receiving a mechanical
fastener 20 connected to one end of the tubing 19. Each of the receiving
members 72 can be arranged on a respective side of the user's foot, as
shown in Figure 6. It is expected that in most cases the foot strap 70 is
comprised of nylon, although other materials of similar strength can be used.
One exemplary version of the foot strap connector has a strap width of 1.5
inches which enables the connector to have a good hold on the skate or other
footwear.
[0039] Referring to Figure 4, in some embodiments, the strap has a
Velcro hook 82-and-loop 84 arrangement, a pull tab 76 at an end of the
strap adjacent the hook-and-loop arrangement 82, 84, and a rigid plastic or
metal loop 78 at an opposite end of the strap 70 for receiving therein the
pull
tab 76 and a portion of at least the looped part 84 of the hook-and-loop
arrangement 82, 84. The pull tab 76 can be constructed from a rigid
material, such as a hard plastic, or can be formed from layers of nylon or
nylon webbing so that it has a greater thickness and strength. In some
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embodiments, the pull tab 76 can be omitted.
[0040] Where two receiving members 72 are used, a user of the
training apparatus 10 would position the foot spanning section 74 over top of
his or her foot (e.g. over a shoe or skate), so that each receiving member 72
is positioned generally on right and left sides of his or her foot, pass the
pull
tab 76 (or the loop part 84, depending on the embodiment) under the foot
(or where used with a skate, through gap 56) and through slot 80 of the loop
78 until the strap 70 is snug around the foot, and engage Velcro loops with
Velcro hooks to releasably secure the strap around the user's foot. Each
mechanical fastener 20 on an end of tubing 19 can then be releasably
secured in opening 88 of a respective one of the receiving members on one
side of the user's foot, as shown in Figure 6. The foot strap connector
provides a secure device for releasably attaching the mechanical fasteners 20
of the tubing 19. In most embodiments, the receiving members 72 are each
formed as a unitary piece, typically from a strong, rigid material such as a
metal alloy or hard plastic. This illustrated five-sided receiving member 72
has two sloping sides 73, 75 on opposite sides of the opening 88. Because
the sides 73, 75 are straight, this helps in the attachment of the fasteners
20
which are strapped onto the receiving member.
[0041] Although Velcro can be one means for releasably securing the
ends of the foot strap connector together, other means can be used, e.g.
snap fasteners, clips or hooks.
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[0042] In one exemplary form of the present training apparatus 10, the
cover can be provided with rubber or rubberlike friction strips 100, 102 on
the front and/or rear side as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These can run at an
acute angle to the horizontal plane 54 as shown. The thin strips 100, 102
can have a width of about one inch along their length and they can be
attached by sewing to the inside surface of the cover. These strips can help
to reduce relative movement between the cover and the underlying pants
and help to prevent downward movement of the cover during use of the
apparatus.
[0043] Referring to Figure 7, in a further embodiment, the one or more
connectors may each comprise or include a rigid ring or ring-like structure
92, which may be comprised of a D-ring. Where used as described in the
embodiments discussed above, each ring may pass through looped part 16b
(as shown in Figure 7) or the loop-like opening. The rings may alternatively
be secured to cover 22 using other means of fastening or other fasteners.
For example, where the ring is in the form of a D-ring (as in the embodiment
of Figure 7) the flattened side 92a of each D-ring may be disposed beneath
cover 22 to thereby be secured to training apparatus 10, with the rounded
portion 92b of the D-ring protruding to the exterior of the training
apparatus.
[0044] Where rings 92 are used, each connector slidably and releasably
receives at least one elongate resistive member 18 through ring opening 92c
(for clarity, the resistive members have not been shown in Figure 7). Rings
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92 preferably have a smooth or relatively low-friction surface that
facilitates
the passage and movement of the resistive members through opening 92c.
It will be appreciated that a wide variety of rings or ring-like structures
could
be utilized. Such structures include, but are not limited to, D-rings,
circular
rings, square or rectangular-shaped rings, and grommets. Further, while in
most cases it is expected that the rings will be metallic, they may
alternately
be formed from other rigid materials, including plastic, fibreglass, and
carbon
fiber.
[0045] It is
to be understood that what has been described are
exemplary embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims should not
be limited by the embodiments set forth above, but should be given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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