Weighted exercise device and securing system

The present invention is related to securing objects to a users body, to adjusting the fit for different sizes and different tensions, and to minimizing movement. The present invention is also related to holding weights against a user\'s body or another object.

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Weighted clothing and attaching items of weight against the body has become a popular way to add resistance.

Many methods are currently being used to secure weights or items of weight against the body. These include fabric and straps made of different materials both elastic and non-elastic. Also different connection and adjustment systems are used from hook and loop to mechanical fasteners such as buckles.

The short and long weighted vest and the overlap hook and loop stretch belting system were first developed by Arnold Cook in 1998 and first used in the Ironwear™\'s Uni-Vest™s, and work very well to accommodate a wide variety of body sizes. The Uni-Vest™\'s belting system has a front panel with loop material running across the panel. The belts are made of a nylon knit laminated onto a neoprene rubber sheet, are connected to the back of the vest and wrap around the left and right side from the back to the front. Each belt has a hook section on the end of the belt and secures on the loop on the front section of the vest. The belts also have loop material on the outside so that one belt can attach to the loop on the front section of the vest and the other belt can overlap the first belt and attach to the loop on the top of the first belt. However, when the belts overlap to secure around a user, they do not hold the edges of the front of the vest securely and, as a result, during rigorous exercise the front edges of the vest may bounce out from under the belt. The same problem occurs on ankle, wrist, and other weight systems where the edge of the weight is not secured and may bounce out from under the belt or strap securing it on the body. The current invention prevents the edges from moving or popping out and provides a much more secure method of attaching items to the body or to another object.

The present invention relates to securing weights or items of weight against an object such as a users body and more particularly to a wrap system to secure items to an object or the body. The present invention relates to how the wrap system secures items to the wearer\'s body or another object to prevent movement, and how it adjusts to fit different sizes. The basic wrap of the present invention is a system such as a belt, strap, band, or other flexible material used to secure an object to the body.

The present invention has double locking system, which secures both the ends or edges of the item and the ends of the wrap. Hook and loop fasteners are used to secure the end of the item to the wrap and the wrap end to the item. These connections are called “Edge Locks”. One or more wraps may be used. The wraps may or may not overlap each other to secure the weight or weighted item to the object or user. One or more “Edge Locks” may be used to prevent movement at the edges or ends.

The present invention incorporates one or more wraps. Each wrap such as a belt, strap, or band that includes an edge connection with both hook and loop material and a center area, which includes both hook and loop materials. Such that both edges or ends of the belt and the center area can lock together.

The present invention can be incorporated into many different articles of clothing. The system can be used to secure clothing with or without weights against any part of the body including but not limited to hands, arms, chest, waist, legs, or feet. The present invention can also be used, for example, to hold weighted pants against the legs of the user.

The present invention can also be used to hold objects against other objects. The present invention is most valuable for use on systems where movement is involved which might otherwise cause the ends of the object under the securing wrap to come loose.

The present invention also incorporates the use of stretch materials in the wrap(s) so that in addition to securing with the double edge locks, tension may be added to the wraps between the edge locks to help maintain position during movement or changing size of what the system is attached to, such as the changing size of muscles. The compression between the edge locks provides additional compression to help hold the object securely in place.

For example, a stretch wrap system is needed to allow for the expansion and contraction of a user\'s chest when the user breathes. Stretch wraps are also needed to allow muscles such as arm or leg muscles to move, expand and contract as the muscles are used.

The stretch wraps help for example to hold the vest front and vest back against the user, but stretch wraps are also valuable because the stretch materials between both edge locks of the double lock on the wraps help to maintain the vest in position on the body during rigorous exercise, by applying compression between the locks.

The present invention includes the use of stretch loop fabrics which hook material can attach to. Stretch loop fabrics allow for both attachment to and removement from the wraps. The present invention also includes a system for enabling and disabling one or more edge locks of the double lock system as well as modifying the elastic properties of the wrapping system.

The present invention also discloses the use of more than one locking position on the wrap. A double lock is disclosed in detail however, additional locks may be added without departing from scope of the multiple lock concept, a double edge lock is the minimum number of locks required in the disclosed invention however, any number of additional locks may be added.