Adjustable Elastic Resistance Bands

Abstract

Adjustable exercise assemblies which provide a mechanism for varying the resistance of the elastic band for strength training. The adjustable exercise assemblies generally comprise an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends, a handle comprising an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hand-held grip portion disposed therebetween, and an anchoring member configured for receiving a user's foot. The hand-held grip portion comprises a chamber configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member. The upper flange may comprise any one or a combination of a plurality of apertures or looped members configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures and/or looped members. The anchoring member comprises a retaining member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member and a stirrup member coupled to the retaining member.

1 . An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:
 an elongated elastic member comprising first and second end portions;   a rigid hand-held grip and a plurality of apertures disposed directly on the rigid hand-held grip, the apertures being arranged to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end portion of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures; and   an anchoring member comprising an attachment means configured to retain the second end portion of the elongated elastic member.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated elastic member is a tubular cord made of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprises a tapered inner cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second end portion comprises a stop having a shape corresponding to and is retained within the tapered inner cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the anchoring member further comprises a stirrup. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid hand-held grip further comprises a chamber configured to receive the first end portion of the elongated elastic member. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid hand-held grip further comprises a flange and wherein the plurality of apertures is disposed in the flange. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the hand-held grip further comprises an ergonomic gripping portion. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of apertures are configured in a triangular pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber is disposed internal of the gripping portion. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:
 an elongated elastic member comprising first and second ends;   a handle comprising an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hand-held grip portion disposed therebetween, the hand-held grip portion comprising a chamber configured to receive the first end of the elongated elastic member and the upper flange comprising a plurality of apertures configured to fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end of the elongated elastic member is woven through the plurality of apertures;   an anchoring member configured for receiving a user's foot, the anchoring member comprising a retaining member configured to retain the second end of the elongated elastic member and a stirrup member coupled to the retaining member.   
     
     
         12 . An adjustable exercise assembly comprising:
 an elongated elastic member comprising first and second end portions;   a handle comprising a plurality of looped members pivotally coupled to the handle, the plurality of looped members being configured to adjustably and fixedly retain the elongated elastic member when the first end portion is woven through the plurality of looped members;   an anchoring member configured to retain the second end portion of the elongated elastic member.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 12  comprising two or more looped members pivotally coupled to the handle at a coupling point. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the handle further comprises an upper and lower portions, an internal chamber therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a flange adjacent the upper portion and coupling the plurality of looped members. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the hand-held grip further comprises an ergonomic gripping portion. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable exercise assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the anchoring member further comprises a stirrup member configured for receiving a user's foot