Portable exercise equipment

Abstract

A portable exercise device includes an anchor portion, a swivel portion, one or more elongate straps, springs or elastic cords, and handles. The swivel portion may allow the elongate straps to rotate without getting tangled. The springs may be placed in series or in parallel with at least part of the elongate straps. Two or more springs, of different lengths, may be placed in parallel to achieve a changing spring constant of the system, depending on displacement of the handle.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion comprising an obstruction device connected by a first anchor strap to a second anchor strap, the second anchor strap comprising an opening and a connector, the exercise system configured to be selectively anchored, firmly secured, and/or clamped to a horizontal object or a vertical object along the height of a standing user by the obstruction device or the opening;   a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end, the upper strap portion configured to be adjustable in length;   a first handle and a second handle, both handles configured to be optionally attached together for holding in one hand during use of the portable exercise system; and   at least a first spring and a second spring, the springs configured to be optionally connected to each other in a series to form a resistance band during use of the portable exercise system;   wherein said anchor portion is at least one of connected and connectable to said first elongate strap and said second elongate strap using a swivel connector, the swivel connector being sized to prevent free movement of the first and second elongate straps through the swivel connector and limiting the length of said first and second elongate straps;   wherein each of said first and second handles may be connected to the anchor portion by each of said respective first and second elongate straps, including the detachable lower strap portion and the upper strap portion of each elongate strap, each lower strap portion capable of being connected to its respective upper strap portion at a first upper connector and to its respective handle at a second lower connector;   wherein for each elongate strap, the second lower connector of each detachable lower strap portion is detachable from its respective handle and may be optionally reattached to its respective upper strap portion;   wherein each lower strap portion is also capable of being connected at or above the first end of the resistance band by the first upper connector;   wherein the first upper connector comprises at least one of an anchor, swivel, clip, carabineer, or an additional attachment; and   wherein the exercise system is configured to have at least three modes of operation:
 a first mode in which at least the first spring and second spring are disposed parallel to at least part of, respectively, the lower strap portion of the first elongate strap and the lower strap portion of the second elongate strap, wherein each spring is attached to the exercise system at the first upper connector and the second lower connector of its respective elongate strap; and wherein each lower strap portion is attached to its respective upper strap portion by its respective first upper connection and attached to its respective handle by its respective second lower connector; 
 a second mode in which at least the first spring and second spring is attached to the exercise system at the first upper connector of its respective elongate strap, wherein each spring is also attached to the exercise system at its respective handle; and wherein the second lower connector of each detachable lower strap portion is detached from its respective handle to expose only each respective spring to tension; 
 a third mode in which the at least the first spring and second spring are connected in a series to form the resistance band, wherein the resistance band comprises a first end and a second end, wherein at least one lower strap portion is connected at or above the first end of the resistance band at its respective first upper connector, and wherein the second lower connector of each detachable lower strap portion is detached from its respective handle to expose only the resistance band to tension. 
   
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , further comprising third and fourth springs, wherein in the first mode of operation:
 the third spring is disposed parallel to the first spring and at least part of the lower strap portion of the first elongate strap, the third spring attached to the exercise system at both the first upper connector of the first elongate strap and the second lower connector of the first elongate strap; and   the fourth spring is disposed parallel to the second spring and at least part of the lower strap portion of the second elongate strap, the fourth spring attached to the exercise system at the first upper connector of the second elongate strap and the second lower connector of the second elongate strap; and   wherein in the second mode of operation:
 the third spring is attached to the exercise system at the first upper connector of the first elongate strap, and the third spring is also attached to the exercise system at the first handle; and 
 the fourth spring is attached to the exercise system at the first upper connector of the second elongate strap, and the fourth spring is also attached to the exercise system at the second handle. 
   
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein in the third mode of operation the third and fourth springs may be connected in a series along with the first and second springs to form the resistance band. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein in the third mode of operation the third and fourth springs are connected in a series to form a second resistance band, wherein the second resistance band comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein at least one lower strap portion is connected at or above the first end of the second resistance band at its respective first upper connector, and the second lower connector of each detachable lower strap portion is detached from its respective handle to also expose the second resistance band to tension. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth springs are different lengths compared to said first and second springs when unstretched. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein the third and fourth springs are the same size compared to the first and second springs when unstretched. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second springs comprises an elastic exercise band. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second elongate straps comprises static nylon webbing. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein said anchor portion comprises an obstruction device and at least one strap. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein said anchor portion comprises an obstruction device and at least one band. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second springs is connectable to said anchor portion. 
     
     
         13 . A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion;   a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end;   a first handle and a second handle;   a first spring and a second spring; and   a swivel connector;   wherein the first spring and the second spring are connected to each other in a series to form a resistance band, the resistance band having a first end and a second end;   wherein the resistance band is connected to the first and second handles at the second end of the resistance band; and   wherein the first end of the resistance band is also connected to at least one of:
 the anchor portion via the swivel connector, such that the anchor portion is configured to rotate independent of the resistance band; 
 the upper strap portion of at least one elongate strap; 
 the first upper end of the lower strap portion of at least one elongate strap; or 
 the second lower end of the lower strap portion of at least one elongate strap. 
   
     
     
         14 . The exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be continuously adjustable in length. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second elongate straps comprises two nylon straps. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise system of  claim 15 , wherein said two elongate nylon straps are sewn together at generally consistent intervals. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion is at least one of connected and connectable to said first and second elongate straps using the swivel connector. 
     
     
         18 . A portable exercise system comprising:
 an anchor portion;   a swivel connector;   a first elongate strap and a second elongate strap, each elongate strap comprising an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion continuous with the upper strap portion, the lower strap portion having a first upper end and a detachable second lower end;   a first handle and a second handle; and   a first spring and a second spring, each spring having a first end and a second end;   wherein said anchor portion is at least one of connected and connectable to said first and second elongate straps using the swivel connector;   wherein the lower strap portion of each elongate strap is capable of being connected to its respective upper strap portion at a first upper connector and to its respective handle at a second lower connector;   wherein the first end of the first spring is at least one of connected and connectable to the first elongate strap;   wherein the first end of the second spring is at least one of connected and connectable to the second elongate strap;   wherein the second end of the first spring is at least one of connected and connectable to the first handle;   wherein the second end of the second spring is at least one of connected and connectable to the second handle;   wherein the second end of the first spring is at least one of connected and connectable to the first end of the second spring to form a resistance band with a first end and a second end;   wherein the first end of the resistance band is at least one of connected and connectable to the anchor portion using the swivel connector;   wherein the first end of the resistance band is at least one of connected and connectable to the first or second elongate strap at the first upper connector of the strap;   wherein the first end of the resistance band is at least one of connected and connectable to the first or second elongate strap at the second lower connector of the strap; and   wherein the second end of the resistance band is at least one of connected and connectable to the first or second handle.   
     
     
         19 . The exercise system of  claim 18 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be secured to at least part of a door. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise system of  claim 19 , wherein said anchor portion is secured to at least part of a door by placing at least part of said anchor portion between said door and a door frame associated with said door, and closing said door. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise system of  claim 18 , wherein said anchor portion is configured to be secured to and wrapped around a generally stationary object.