Resistance Member Assembly, System, and Method for use with an Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

A resistance member assembly including a resistance member having a pair of opposing ends separated by a length and a retention bulb coupled to at least one of the opposing ends, a resistance member frame including an upper portion and a lower portion having a proximal end and a distal end defining a resistance member channel therebetween, the resistance member channel sized to receive one of the pair of opposing ends of the resistance member therein, and a seat at the distal end, the seat including a pair of opposing sidewalls tapering inwardly toward each other and each having a terminal upper end and a bottom support surface extending a distance beyond the terminal upper end of the pair of opposing sidewalls, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the bottom support surface defining a seat sized and shaped to prevent a movement of the retention bulb in a lateral direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A resistance member assembly comprising:
 a resistance member including:
 a pair of opposing ends separated by a length; and 
 a retention bulb coupled to at least one of the opposing ends, the retention bulb having an outer dimension; 
   a resistance member frame including an upper portion and a lower portion opposite the upper portion, at least one of the upper and lower portions having:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal and distal ends defining a resistance member channel therebetween, the resistance member channel sized to receive one of the pair of opposing ends of the resistance member therein; and 
 a seat at the distal end, the seat including:
 a pair of opposing sidewalls tapering inwardly toward each other and each having a terminal upper end; and 
 a bottom support surface extending a distance beyond the terminal upper end of the pair of opposing sidewalls, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the bottom support surface defining a seat sized and shaped to prevent a movement of the retention bulb in a lateral direction. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retention bulb has a bulbous shape; and   at least a portion of the retention bulb is of a non-deformable material.   
     
     
         3 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the pair of opposing sidewalls define a gap between the terminal upper ends of the pair of opposing sidewalls.   
     
     
         4 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retention bulb includes a terminal end having a user gripping surface sized to receive a portion of a user's hand around the user gripping surface.   
     
     
         5 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a retaining fastener coupled to the proximal end of the resistance member frame, the retaining fastener spanning a width of the resistance member channel and including a free end.   
     
     
         6 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the resistance member frame includes a right side and a left side opposite the right side, at least one of the right side and the left side including a recessed portion at the proximal end of the resistance member frame, the recessed portion adjacent the free end of the retaining fastener.   
     
     
         7 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resistance member includes:
 a relaxed position with a relaxed circumference; and 
 a stretched position with a stretched circumference, the stretched circumference being less than the relaxed circumference; and 
   the resistance member channel includes a top width in coupling communication with a bottom width, the top width being smaller than both the bottom width and the relaxed circumference of the resistance member.   
     
     
         8 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resistance member housing defining a resistance member conduit for receiving the resistance member therein.   
     
     
         9 . The resistance member assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lateral direction is a direction away from the proximal end toward the distal end of the resistance member frame.   
     
     
         10 . A resistance member system for use with an exercise apparatus, the resistance member system comprising:
 a resistance member assembly, the resistance member assembly including:
 a resistance member having:
 a pair of opposing ends separated by a length; and 
 a retention bulb coupled to at least one of the opposing ends, the retention bulb including an outer dimension greater than a dimension of the resistance member; and 
 
   a resistance member frame defining at least one resistance member channel sized to receive one of the opposing ends of the resistance member therein, the resistance member frame including a U-shaped body sized to contour an axle, the U-shaped body including:
 an upper portion and a lower portion, at least one of the upper and the lower portion having:
 a proximal end including a retaining fastener coupled thereto, the retaining fastener spanning a width of the resistance member channel; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end; and 
 a seat at the distal end, the seat including:
 a pair of opposing sidewalls; and 
 a bottom support surface shaped to receive and contour the retention bulb, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the bottom support surface defining a seat sized and shaped to prevent a movement of the retention bulb in a lateral direction. 
 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The resistance member system according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a resistance member housing defining a resistance member conduit for receiving the resistance member therein.   
     
     
         12 . The resistance member system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the resistance member includes:
 a relaxed position including a relaxed width thereof; and 
 a stretched position including a stretched width thereof, the stretched width being less than the relaxed width; and 
   the resistance member channel includes a top width in coupling communication with and smaller than a bottom width, the top width smaller than the relaxed width of the resistance member.   
     
     
         13 . The resistance member system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the pair of opposing sidewalls each include a terminal upper end; and   the bottom support surface of the seat protrudes a distance beyond the terminal upper end of the pair of opposing sidewalls in a direction away from the proximal end of the resistance member frame.   
     
     
         14 . The resistance member system according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the pair of opposing sidewalls taper inwardly toward each other and the terminal upper ends of the pair of opposing sidewalls, the terminal upper ends of the pair of opposing sidewalls defining a gap in coupling communication with the resistance member channel.   
     
     
         15 . The resistance member system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the retention bulb is of a non-deformable material.   
     
     
         16 . The resistance member system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the retention bulb includes a circular body tapering inwardly from the outer dimension to a second outer dimension smaller than the outer dimension.   
     
     
         17 . A method of coupling a resistance member system to an exercise apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a resistance member assembly, the resistance member assembly including:
 a resistance member having:
 a pair of opposing ends separated by a length; and 
 a retention bulb coupled to at least one of the opposing ends, the retention bulb including an outer dimension greater than a dimension of the resistance member; and 
 
 a resistance member frame defining at least one resistance member channel sized to receive one of the opposing ends of the resistance member therein, the resistance member frame including a U-shaped body sized to contour an axle, the U-shaped body including:
 an upper portion and a lower portion, at least one of the upper and the lower portion having:
 a proximal end including a retaining fastener coupled thereto, the retaining fastener spanning a width of the resistance member channel; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end; and 
 a seat at the distal end, the seat including: 
 a pair of opposing sidewalls; and 
 a bottom support surface shaped to receive and contour the retention bulb, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the bottom support surface defining a seat sized and shaped to prevent a movement of the retention bulb in a lateral direction; 
 
 
   inserting at least one of the opposing ends of the resistance member within the resistance member channel such that the retention bulb is disposed within the seat aperture; and   coupling the resistance member frame to an axle of an exercise apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing a resistance member housing defining a resistance member conduit for receiving the resistance member therein; and   coupling the resistance member housing to a second axle of the exercise apparatus before coupling the resistance member frame to the axle of the exercise apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 sliding one of the opposing ends of the resistance member in a direction away from the proximal end of the resistance member frame to unseat the retention bulb from the seat aperture;   stretching the resistance member; and   removing the resistance member from the resistance member channel.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the axle includes a pair of wheels coupled to opposing ends thereof.