Variable resistance exercise apparel

Abstract

Described herein relates to a variable resistance exercise system and method of providing resistance to a target muscle group at a predetermined joint of a user. The variable resistance exercise system may be configured to provide speed-dependent, bi-directional, and/or variable resistance at the predetermined joint. Accordingly, the variable resistance exercise system, may target the predetermined joint (e.g., an elbow) and/or provide resistance against the ability of the user to flex the targeted muscle group about the predetermined joint, optimizing the effectiveness and safety of resistance training, allowing the promotion of muscle hypertrophy of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable resistance exercise system comprising:
 at least one brace configured to conform to an appendage of a user; and   an exercise apparatus configured to be disposed about a portion of a surface of the at least one brace aligning with a predetermined joint of a user, the exercise apparatus being in mechanical communication with the at least one brace, wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises:
 a base; 
 a plurality of pulleys configured to be temporarily affixed to the base; 
 at least one belt in mechanical communication with the plurality of pulleys, wherein the at least one belt is configured to encompass the plurality of pulleys; 
 a plurality of mechanical dampers disposed about at least a portion of the plurality of pulleys; and 
 wherein the plurality of mechanical dampers are configured to provide a damping coefficient upon the plurality of pulleys, thereby increasing a force required to translate the at least one belt about the plurality of pulleys. 
   
     
     
         2 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises a plurality of exercise keys, wherein the each one of the plurality of exercise keys is configured to be disposed within an opening of each respective mechanical damper of the plurality of mechanical dampers. 
     
     
         3 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein when at least one of the plurality of exercise keys is disposed within at least one of the plurality of mechanical dampers, the at least one mechanical damper is configured to provide a damping coefficient, thereby increasing a force required to operate the plurality of pulleys. 
     
     
         4 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pulleys comprises at least one ball bearing, wherein the at least one ball bearing is configured to allow the plurality of pulleys to rotate about the base of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mechanical dampers are selected from a group consisting of a small mechanical damper, a medium mechanical damper, a large mechanical damper, and a combination of thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of exercise keys are selected from a group consisting of a small exercise key, a medium exercise key, a large exercise key, and a combination of thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the small mechanical damper is configured to provide a lower damping coefficient than the medium mechanical damper, the large mechanical damper, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a computing device having at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one sensor, the at least one sensor configured to detect an exertion from at least one muscle group in mechanical communication with the predetermined joint, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed about at least one portion of the at least one brace, the exercise apparatus, or both; and   an electronic circuity disposed within the base of exercise apparatus, the electronic circuity configured to selectively supply the electronic current to the computing device, the at least one sensor, or both.   
     
     
         9 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 8 , wherein exercise data consists of a group selected from a total amount exertion by a targeted muscle group disposed about the predetermined joint of the user during the plurality of exercises, a weight of the user, a total amount of mechanical dampers comprising an exercise key, a height of the user, an age of the user, a gender of the user, and a combination of thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 9 , wherein subsequent to receiving the exercise data from the at least one sensor, the at least one processor is configured to cause the electronic circuity to supply an electric current to a display device associated with the computing device, whereby the display device is configured to provide the exercise data to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The variable resistance exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pulleys of the exercise apparatus are configured to be bi-directional. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus for providing variable resistance during an exercise, the exercise apparatus comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of pulleys configured to be temporarily affixed to the base;   at least one belt in mechanical communication with the plurality of pulleys, wherein the at least one belt is configured to encompass the plurality of pulleys;   a plurality of mechanical dampers disposed about at least a portion of the plurality of pulleys; and   wherein the plurality of mechanical dampers are configured to provide a damping coefficient upon the plurality of pulleys, thereby increasing a force required to translate the at least one belt about the plurality of pulleys.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of exercise keys, wherein the each one of the plurality of exercise keys is configured to be disposed within an opening of each respective mechanical damper of the plurality of mechanical dampers. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein when at least one of the plurality of exercise keys is disposed within at least one of the plurality of mechanical dampers, the at least one mechanical damper is configured to provide a damping coefficient, thereby increasing a force required to operate the plurality of pulleys. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of pulleys comprises at least one ball bearing, wherein the at least one ball bearing is configured to allow the plurality of pulleys to rotate about the base of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of mechanical dampers are selected from a group consisting of a small mechanical damper, a medium mechanical damper, a large mechanical damper, and a combination of thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the small mechanical damper is configured to provide a lower damping coefficient than the medium mechanical damper, the large mechanical damper, or both. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a variable resistance to a targeted muscle group at a predetermined joint of a user during a plurality of exercises, the method comprising:
 affixing a variable resistance exercise system to the user, the variable resistance exercise apparatus comprising:
 at least one brace configured to conform to an appendage of a user; and 
 an exercise apparatus configured to be disposed about a portion of a surface of the at least one brace aligning with a predetermined joint of a user, the exercise apparatus being in mechanical communication with the at least one brace, wherein the exercise apparatus further comprises:
 a base; 
 a plurality of pulleys configured to be temporarily affixed to the base; 
 at least one belt in mechanical communication with the plurality of pulleys, wherein the at least one belt is configured to encompass the plurality of pulleys; 
 a plurality of mechanical dampers disposed about at least a portion of the plurality of pulleys; and 
 wherein the plurality of mechanical dampers are configured to provide a damping coefficient upon the plurality of pulleys, thereby increasing a force required to translate the at least one belt about the plurality of pulleys; 
 
   engaging, via at least one of a plurality of exercises keys configured to be disposed within an opening of at least one respective mechanical damper of the plurality of mechanical dampers, at least one of the plurality of mechanical dampers, wherein the at least one of the plurality of mechanical dampers provides a damping coefficient on at least one of the plurality of pulleys, thereby increasing the required resistance to translate the at least one belt about the plurality of pulleys; and   performing, via variable resistance exercise system, a plurality of exercises requiring flexion, extension, or both, of the targeted muscle group, wherein a resistive force is provided to the targeted muscle group based on a total amount of engaged mechanical dampers.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the variable resistance exercise system, further comprises:
 a computing device having at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed about at least one portion of the at least one brace, the exercise apparatus, or both; and   an electronic circuity disposed within the base of exercise apparatus, the electronic circuity configured to selectively supply the electronic current to the computing device, the at least one sensor, or both.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 transmitting, via the at least one sensor, exercise data to a display device associated with the computing device of the variable resistance exercise system; and   displaying, via the at least one processor, the exercise data on the display device, wherein the display device is configured to provide the exercise data to the user via visual means, auditory means, tactile means, and a combination of thereof.