Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for strength training while participating in full contact sports.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional football thigh pads include a curved shape typically with three ridges formed across the pad. These known football thigh pads have a rigid element and are covered completely by a shock absorbing material. The mass of the conventional football thigh pads is typically a couple of grams as a primary object of their design is to provide adequate protection with minimal weight, such as, to not slow down a running back during a game.

Weighted suits for working out to increase strength training and/or calorie burning typically include one or more weights added to ankles and/or wrists. Special suits adapted to carry unpadded weights in pockets located on the thighs and elsewhere increase a risk of injury to the wearer and/or other players if these known suits are used during a full contact football practice.

There is a need for a device having increased weight for strength training while providing the needed safety and protection of the user and other players for full contact sports.

This invention relates to an exercise apparatus and a method for strength training while participating in a full contact sport, such as, football. The exercise apparatus includes at least one conforming plate for covering at least a portion of a thigh and at least one removable element attaching to the conforming plate. A resilient material covers at least a portion of the conforming plate and covers at least a portion of each removable element. According to an embodiment of this invention, the removable element includes weighted members and/or spacer members. Desirably, the weighted members are padded. Different combinations of weighted members and spacer members provide various total weights for the exercise apparatus depending upon the level desired by the user.

An attachment device, such as a hook and loop fastening system mounts the removable elements with respect to the conforming plate. Typically, three removable elements are included with each conforming plate.

The conforming plate and the weighted member include any desired mass. The weighted members, for example, may have a mass of between about 0.1 kilograms and about 1.5 kilograms, and desirably, amass of about 0.45 kilograms. The conforming plate, for example, may have a mass of between about 0.25 kilograms and about 1.0 kilograms, and desirably, a mass of about 0.45 kilograms.

The invention further includes an exercise garment covering at least a portion of the thigh with at least one plate pocket as a part of the exercise garment. The plate pocket desirably is positioned with respect to the thigh and receives at least a portion of the conforming plate. The plate pocket is accessible from an outside and/or an inside of the exercise garment. The plate pocket may include a cover flap maintaining the conforming plate within the plate pocket. The plate pocket may include a closure further keeping the conforming plate within the plate pocket.

The exercise garment includes shorts, pants, bibs and/or any other suitable apparel item. The exercise garment may include a suitable waist support. Other pockets for hip pads and tail bone pads maybe included, for example. According to an embodiment of this invention, the weighted thigh pad is known as or sold under the name THUNDER THIGHS™.

According to an embodiment of this invention, the exercise apparatus includes a pair of conforming plates positionable with respect to a top of a pair of thighs, three longitudinal removable elements attaching to each of the conforming plates where the removable elements are selected from weighted members or spacer members. This embodiment further includes a resilient back material covering a back portion of each conforming plate. The spacer member may include a rigid backing. This embodiment further includes a resilient front material covering a front portion of each conforming plate and the front resilient material has a plurality of apertures corresponding to each of the removable elements. This embodiment further includes a resilient removable element material covering at least a front portion of each removable element including both the weighted members and the spacer members resulting in a permanently padded configuration. This embodiment further includes a fastening system attaching each removable element to one of the conforming plates.

This embodiment of the invention also includes an exercise pant for covering the pair of thighs. A pair of plate pockets, as a part of the exercise pant and positioned with respect to the top of the pair of thighs, receives one of the conforming plates and the three removable elements. A flap covers an opening of each pocket and a closure secures the flap with respect to each pocket.

The invention also includes a method of strength training including the step of providing a conforming plate for attaching removable elements, selecting a desired number of weighted removable elements, selecting a desired number of spacer removable elements, attaching the removable elements to the conforming plate to form a weighted thigh pad, mounting the weighted thigh pad with respect to a thigh, moving the thigh and the weighed thigh pad, participating in a full contact sport with the weighted thigh pad, and protecting the thigh and other players with the weighted thigh pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of an exercise apparatus, according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view of an exercise apparatus, according to an embodiment of this invention;

Continue reading about Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use...
Full patent description for Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use patent application.
###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill
Next Patent Application:
Individual workout system
Industry Class:
Exercise devices

###

Design/code © 2009 FreshContext LLC/Freshpatents.com. Website Terms and Conditions - Also read: About this Page
Patent data source: patents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Information published here is for research/educational purposes only (and in conjunction with our Keyword Monitor) and is not meant to be used in place of the full USPTO patent document/images or a comprehensive patent archive search. Complete official applications are on file at the USPTO and often contain additional data/images (Freshpatents is currently text-only). FreshPatents.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO or firms/individuals or products/designs/ideas related to listed patents.

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Weighted thigh pad exercise apparatus and method of use patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 2.0629 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , paws