Portable functional training device

Abstract

A lightweight portable device allows a user to accomplish both the exercises of a functional cable machine and a bodyweight suspension trainer. The device can include at least one non-elastic cord or strap, each retractably attached to a reel. The reel has a locking mechanism and a variable resistance mechanism. When the locking mechanism is engaged, it keeps the strap or cord in a fixed location. This allows the user to perform bodyweight suspension training exercises. The variable resistance mechanism of the reel can increase or decrease the amount of force that is needed to be applied to move the reel, thus giving the user the ability to perform the variable resistance exercises of a functional cable machine. The resistance mechanism can be designed as compact and lightweight, thus making the device able to be portable and compact in size.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising:
 at least one spool;   a housing encasing the spool;   at least one strap or cord wrapped around each of the at least one reel and extending from the housing;   a locking mechanism engageable to lock a fixed length of cord extending from the housing;   a retraction mechanism retracting the at least one strap or cord into the housing when the locking mechanism is disengaged; and   at least one variable resistance selector operable to adjust an amount of force necessary to extend a portion of the at least one strap or cord from the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor point for attaching the housing to a fixed structure. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment point disposed at a distal end of the strap or cord. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one strap or cord is non-elastic. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , further comprising an exercise attachment connected to the attachment point. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stopper disposed at an end portion of each of the at least one strap or cord, the at least one stopper preventing the at least one strap or cord from being retracted into the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction mechanism includes at least one fixed spring providing a first level of resistance to pulling the at least one strap or cord from the at least one reel. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one first spring providing a second level of resistance to pulling the at least one strap or cord form the at least one reel when at least one first spring lock is disengaged therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one second spring providing a third level of resistance to pulling the at least one strap or cord form the at least one reel when at least one second spring lock is disengaged therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reel is two reels. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise device comprising:
 at least one reel;   a housing encasing the at least one reel;   an anchor point for attaching the housing to a fixed structure;   a non-elastic strap or cord wrapped around each of the at least one reel and extending from the housing;   at least one locking mechanism engageable to lock a fixed length of the non-elastic strap or cord extending from the housing;   an attachment point disposed at a distal end of the strap or cord;   at least one retraction mechanism retracting the strap or cord into the housing when the locking mechanism is disengaged; and   at least one variable resistance selector operable to adjust an amount of force necessary to extend a portion of the strap or cord from the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , further comprising an exercise attachment connected to the attachment point. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , further comprising a stopper disposed at an end portion of the strap or cord, the stopper preventing the strap or cord from being retracted into the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the retraction mechanism includes at least one fixed spring providing a first level of resistance to pulling the strap or cord from the at least one reel. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one first spring providing a second level of resistance to pulling the strap or cord form the at least one reel when at least one first spring lock is disengaged therefrom. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one second spring providing a third level of resistance to pulling the strap or cord form the at least one reel when at least one second spring lock is disengaged therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . A method of exercising comprising:
 mounting an exercise device to a fixed structure, the exercise device including at least one reel, a housing encasing the at least one reel, a strap or cord wrapped around each of the at least one reel and extending from the housing, at least one locking mechanism engageable to lock a fixed length of the strap or cord extending from the housing, at least one retraction mechanism retracting the strap or cord into the housing when the at least one locking mechanism is disengaged, and at least one variable resistance selector operable to adjust an amount of force necessary to extend a portion of the strap or cord from the housing;   extending a desired length of the strap or cord from each of the at least one reel;   engaging the locking mechanism to fix the desired length and prevent the desired length from retracting into the housing; and   performing a bodyweight suspension exercise.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 disengaging the at least one locking mechanism to cause the strap or cord to retract into the housing;   setting the at least one variable resistance selector to a desired resistance for extending the strap or cord from each of the at least one reel; and   performing a functional cable machine exercise by pulling the strap or cord from the housing against the desired resistance.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the strap or cord is non-elastic.