Elastic exercise device

Abstract

An elastic exercise device is provided, which is made of an expanded elastomer that has the strength and elasticity suitable for performing tension-type exercises. The device preferably consists of a single elongated piece or of an endless loop of desired size and shape. The device can have various cross-sectional profiles, such as a fully filled cylindrical configuration, a tubular configuration, an oval or flat band configuration or a multistrand configuration. The device can be made from elastomer materials such as neoprene or polyethylene by extrusion, casting or injection molding.

1 . An exercise device comprising a stretchable resilient member essentially consisting of an expanded elastomer, having size, shape, strength and elasticity suitable for performing tension-type exercises.  
   
   
       2 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , consisting of a single stretchable resilient member made of the expanded elastomer.  
   
   
       3 . An exercise device according to  claim 2 , in which said single stretchable resilient member is an elongated open-ended piece having a length between 3 and 10 feet (0.9 m-3 m).  
   
   
       4 . An exercise device according to  claim 2 , in which said single stretchable resilient member is in the form of a closed loop.  
   
   
       5 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer is expanded neoprene.  
   
   
       6 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer is expanded polyurethane.  
   
   
       7 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitride rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene-propylene polymer, fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer, fluorosilicone polymer, chlorosulfonated polyethylene polymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer and a plastisol.  
   
   
       8 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer is an open cell expanded elastomer.  
   
   
       9 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer is a closed cell expanded elastomer.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer has a volumetric expansion to solid ratio (expansion/solid) of between about 2 and 10.  
   
   
       11 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer has a tensile strength of between about 100 psi and 500 psi (7 kg/cm 2 -35 kg/cm 2 )  
   
   
       12 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer has an elongation to break of between about 100% and 600%.  
   
   
       13 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which said expanded elastomer has a specific weight of between about 10 lbs/ft 3  and 25 lbs/ft 3  corresponding to a density of between about 0.15-0.40.  
   
   
       14 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member is formed by extrusion.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member is formed by casting.  
   
   
       16 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member is formed by injection molding.  
   
   
       17 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member has the shape of an elongated cylindrical piece with a circular cross-section having a diameter of between about 0.75 inch and 1.5 inch (1.9 cm-3.8 cm).  
   
   
       18 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member has the shape of a tube with a hollow core in the middle, an outer diameter of between about 0.75 inch and 1.5 inches (1.9 cm-3.8 cm) and the hollow core diameter of between about 0.25 and 0.5 inch (0.6 cm-1.2 cm).  
   
   
       19 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member has the shape of a multi-strand cord.  
   
   
       20 . An exercise device according to  claim 1 , in which the stretchable resilient member has the shape of an oval or flat band.  
   
   
       21 . An exercise device comprising a stretchable resilient member made of an expanded elastomer having a volumetric expansion to solid ratio of between about 2 and 8, a density of between about 0.15 and 0.40, a tensile strength of between about 100 psi and 500 psi (7 kg/cm 2 -35 kg/cm 2 ) and an elongation to break of between about 100% and 600%, said stretchable resilient member having a length of between about 3 ft and 10 ft (0.9 m-3 m) and a cross-sectional area of between about 0.45 in 2  and 1.75 in 2  (2.9 cm 2 -11.3 cm 2 ).