Exercise apparatus, method of using, and kit therefor

Abstract

An exercise apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a belt to be worn proximate a waist of a user. The apparatus may include a right lower leg attachment device to be worn on a right lower leg of the user. The apparatus may include a left lower leg attachment device to be worn on a left lower leg of the user. The apparatus may include a right elastic connector coupled between the belt and the right lower leg attachment device. The apparatus may include a left elastic connector that is coupled between the belt and the left lower leg attachment device. Other apparatus, methods, and kits are also disclosed.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a belt to be worn proximate a waist of a user;   a right lower leg attachment device to be worn on a right lower leg of the user;   a left lower leg attachment device to be worn on a left lower leg of the user;   a right elastic connector that is coupled between the belt and the right lower leg attachment device; and   a left elastic connector that is coupled between the belt and the left lower leg attachment device.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the right and left elastic connectors comprise at least one of an elastic cord, a bungee cord, an elastic cable, an elastic band, and an elastic ring. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the right lower leg attachment device comprises a right ankle attachment device to be worn proximate a right ankle of the user, and wherein the left lower leg attachment device comprises a left ankle attachment device to be worn proximate a left ankle of the user. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the right and left lower leg attachment devices comprises at least one of an ankle strap, a foot strap, a foot stirrup, a band, a ring, a sock, a shoe, a boot, and athletic footwear. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the right and left elastic connectors are positioned so that they would be along backs of respective right and left legs of the user. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the right and left elastic connectors are designed to provide a resistance to encourage right and left legs of the user to bend to achieve angles on insides of knees that range from 120 to 160°. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for reducing resistance provided by the right elastic connector, said means including a structure on the belt. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the right and left elastic connectors are detachably coupled with the belt, and wherein each of the right and left elastic connectors are detachably coupled with the right and left lower leg attachment devices. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second right elastic connector that is coupled between the belt and the right lower leg attachment device; and   a second left elastic connector that is coupled between the belt and the left lower leg attachment device,   wherein the right elastic connector and the second right elastic connector are positioned to run along different positions of a right leg of the user, and wherein the left elastic connector and the second left elastic connector are positioned to run along different positions of a left leg of the user.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic connector that is coupled between the right lower leg and the left lower leg. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a right forearm attachment device to be worn proximate a right forearm of the user;   a left forearm attachment device to be worn proximate a left forearm of the user;   a right elastic forearm connector that is coupled between the belt and the right forearm attachment device; and   a left elastic forearm connector that is coupled between the belt and the left forearm attachment device.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the right and left forearm attachment devices comprises at least one of a wrist strap, a hand strap, a hand stirrup, a band, a ring, and a glove. 
   
   
       13 . A kit comprising:
 a belt to be worn proximate a waist of a user;   a right elastic connector to be coupled between the belt and a right lower leg of the user;   a left elastic connector to be coupled between the belt and a left lower leg of the user;   instructions on how to use the kit; and   a package enclosing the belt, the right and left elastic connectors, and the instructions.   
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of additional elastic connectors to be coupled between the belt and the respective right and left lower legs of the user, wherein the pair of additional elastic connectors have different lengths than the right and left elastic connectors. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of additional elastic connectors to be coupled between the belt and the respective right and left lower legs of the user, wherein the additional elastic connectors have different resistance to stretching than the right and left elastic connectors. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising a right ankle attachment device to be worn proximate a right ankle of the user and a left ankle attachment device to be worn proximate a left ankle of the user, and wherein each of the right and left elastic connectors comprise at least one of an elastic cord, a bungee cord, an elastic cable, an elastic band, and an elastic ring. 
   
   
       17 . A method of a user putting on an exercise apparatus comprising:
 fastening a belt around a waist;   attaching a right lower leg attachment device to a portion of a right lower leg;   attaching a left lower leg attachment device to a portion of a left lower leg;   coupling a right elastic connector between the belt and the right lower leg attachment device; and   coupling a left elastic connector between the belt and the left lower leg attachment device.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the user playing hockey while wearing the exercise apparatus. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said playing hockey comprises the user bending knees due in part to resistance provided by the exercise apparatus and the user strengthening muscles used for striding due in part to resistance provided by the exercise apparatus. 
   
   
       20 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a suit;   a plurality of attachment devices fixedly coupled with the suit at a plurality of predefined locations; and   a plurality of elastic connectors, each of the elastic connectors coupled between a pair of the attachment devices.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the suit comprises a one-piece garment. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the suit has pants. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the suit further comprises an upper body portion coupled with the pants. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of attachment devices comprise a first attachment device fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a waist position of the suit, and a second attachment device fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a right ankle position of the suit. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a guiding member operable to guide an elastic connector fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a right knee position of the suit. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of attachment devices comprise a first attachment device fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a waist position of the suit, and a second attachment device fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a right wrist position of the suit. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a guiding member operable to guide an elastic connector fixedly coupled with the suit at a predefined location proximate a right elbow position of the suit. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the attachment devices comprise attachment devices selected from rings embedded in the suit, rings coupled with the suit, hooks coupled with the suit, caribeners coupled with the suit, holes in the suit, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the suite comprises reinforced regions where the plurality of attachment devices are fixedly coupled with the suit.