Tension exercise device

Abstract

A tension exercise device to be worn on the body of the user having a waist encircling belt, a thigh encircling strap on each thigh, a spacer strap extending between the waist belt and each thigh strap and an elastic band attached to either or both the waist belt, the thigh straps, and the ankle straps. The elastic band can have both ends attached to the belt and thigh straps or ankle straps or each elastic band may have one end attached to a handle to hold and pull on while exercising. Wrist straps similar to the ankle straps can also be provided. Attachment rings are located on the waist belt and all the straps for attachment of the elastic bands or as a guide of the elastic bands. The ends of the elastic bands may be attached to various locations on the belt or straps or to pull handles to provide various exercise movements while walking, jogging or jumping to increase both muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness.

1 . A tension exercise device to be worn on the body of the user, the device comprising:
 a waist encircling belt,
 a thigh strap encircling each thigh of the user,
 a spacer strap means extending between the belt and each thigh strap maintaining a predetermined distance between the belt and each thigh strap, 
 a pair of elastic bands, each having one end attached to either the belt or one of the thigh straps: and 
 the opposite end of each band attached to a handle to be grasped by a hand of the user and stretched to provide tension resistance while the user is performing exercises to strengthen various muscles. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 1  including an ankle strap encircling each ankle of the user and wherein one end of each elastic band is attached to one of the ankle straps and the opposite end of each elastic band is attached to a handle to be grasped by a hand of the user and stretched to provide tension resistance while exercising. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 2  wherein the end of each elastic band opposite to that attached to an ankle strap is attached to the belt. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 1  wherein each elastic band has a releasable clip for attachment to either the belt, a thigh strap, an ankle strap or a handle. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 1  wherein the spacer strap means are located on the left and right side of the user and contain two straps with one end of each mounted at a common point on the belt and the opposite ends mounted at a spaced apart location on the thigh strap. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein both the belt and thigh straps contain rings for attaching the ends of the elastic bands passing through the rings. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 2  wherein the belt, thigh and straps are held in place by hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each elastic band is attached to the belt and the opposite end is attached to the ankle strap. 
     
     
         9 . tension exercise device to be worn on the body of the user, the device comprising:
 a waist encircling belt,
 thigh strap encircling each thigh of the user,
 a spacer strap means extending between the belt and each thigh band maintaining a predetermined distance between the belt and each thigh strap, 
 an ankle strap encircling each ankle of the user, at least one attachment ring located on the belt, thigh strap and ankle straps, 
 at least one attachment ring located on the belt, thigh strap and ankle straps, 
 and 
 a pair of elastic bands, each having one end attached to either the belt, one of the thigh straps, or an ankle strap: and 
 the opposite end of each elastic band attached to a handle to be grasped by a hand of the user or to another location of the belt or one of the other straps. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each end of each elastic band has a releasable clip for attachment to any attachment loop located on the belt, either thigh strap, either ankle strap or either wrist strap or a handle to be grasped by a user of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the belt, the thigh strap, the ankle strap and the wrist strap, are held in place by a folded over hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         12 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a buckle is used to assist the hook and loop fastener in retaining the belt or straps. 
     
     
         13 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spacer strap means consists of a strap extending through an attachment ring on the belt on each side of the users body and extending downwardly with each end of the spacer strap attached to the thigh belt at a spaced apart location from the other end of the same spacer strap to form an inverted “V” shaped configuration. 
     
     
         14 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment rings serve not only as attachment rings for attaching the ends of the elastic bands but may also be used as guide rings by passing the elastic bands through the center of the attachment rings. 
     
     
         15 . A tension exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment rings are of “D” shaped configuration.