Belt

Abstract

This particular invention is a sports athletic training/physical therapy/rehab belt that is comprised of one full body member with handles at both ends. The invention is used in combination with a stability ball. The exercise motions are performed by taking the user's body off the ground while in a plank position, arms fully extended. In some positions, the user's legs are fully extended, weight on the tips of his/her toes. The user places each hand on the side of the stability ball, holding the handles of the invention while his/her body is suspended in the air. The present invention is an exercise device that has a physical therapeutic/rehabilitation application. The invention was designed for athletes, persons in physical therapy, and rehabilitation.

What I claim as my invention is: 
     
         1 . A sports athletic training/physical therapy/rehab weight supporting belt comprised of:
 (a) A fabric body member including an elongated central body portion, and a pair of tapered end portions each of which progressively converges in the direction away from said central body portion;   (b) Said body is consisting of four layers;   (c) Said end portions are consisting of handles at both ends.   
     
     
         2 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein the four layers are comprised of:
 (a) Two inner layers of padded fabric;   (b) Two outer layers, substantially coextensive in size and shape with said inner layers and joined thereto, of a breathable padding therein yieldingly compressible and shape-restoring padded material, having a thickness greater than that of said outer layers;   (c) An outer layer of stretchable, breathable fabric substantially conterminous in shape and size with said layers and joined thereto;   (d) Said four layers being in substantial overlying registration with respective surfaces being combined with one another to provide a sandwich combination and configured to define said belt.   
     
     
         3 . The belt of said  claim 2 , wherein the four said layers are enclosed in a webbing material. 
     
     
         4 . The belt of said  claim 2 , wherein the four layers therein include a rigid stitch fastening to said layers to said body of belt, therein sandwiching layers of said material, therefore creating a coextensive body of material. 
     
     
         5 . The belt of said  claim 2 , wherein the exposed margins of said sandwiched layers are enclosed in an overlying narrow closely woven marginal fabric beaded and stitched thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The handles of said  claim 1 , are a pair of transversely extending handles longitudinally of said central body portion at opposite ends of said central body portion adjacent to said tapered end portions, respectively said to support the claim therein to hold the weight of a sports person/user. 
     
     
         7 . The handles of said  claim 1 , are made of a hard-plastic material centered to fit the hand of the user, which is covered by a neoprene sponge with a thickness of 3.2 mm; width rim of 28.2 mm creating a true grip for the user, a non-slip grip. The handles are held in place by a strong webbing material that runs through the center of the handles fastened to the elongated body of the belt, by a narrow closely woven 2-inch marginal fabric folded over, fastened with a breaded stitch. 
     
     
         8 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means includes an elongated webbing member at least coextensive with and fastened to said belt and adapted to be secured to a set of handles.