Strength Training And Exercise Vest System And Method Of Use

Abstract

A set of strength training and exercise equipment associated system, and associated methods of use are disclosed. The equipment and system includes various combinations of a vest ( 1, 120 ), stretch cords ( 40, 129, 135, 150, 151, 152 ), handles ( 44, 53, 60, 64 ), foot straps ( 70, 133 ), thigh straps ( 107, 132 ) and bars ( 75, 86, 93, 100 ). The methods of use include a multitude of strength training exercises that can be done using the disclosed equipment and system.

1 . A strength training and exercise system comprising:
 an openable and reclosable vest having a zipper closure, waist tightening strap, second tightening straps, one or more pockets, an adjustable shoulder tightening mechanism, an inner lining and an outer shell, and loops at multiple upper and lower locations on the left and right side of the surface of said vest and on the shoulder portions of said vest;   multiple stretch cords, each having two ends, each end having an openable and reclosable hook;   multiple handles having loops for engagement with said hooks on said stretch cords;   said hooks on said stretch cords being removably engaged to one or more of said loops on said vest and one or more handles;   said loops on said vest being configured at various locations on said vest to permit a variety of exercises by pulling said stretch cords in multiple directions including upwardly, downwardly, forwardly, laterally, and across the user's body parallel to the ground and at multiple angles relative to the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 multiple foot straps, each foot strap having loops on the top, side and rear heel portions of said strap. 
 
     
     
         3 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a bar having one or more slidable loops for engaging said hooks on said stretch cords. 
 
     
     
         4 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a foot bar having at least three loops for engaging said hooks on said stretch cords; 
 said bar having two foot stirrups for engaging the feet of the user. 
 
     
     
         5 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 stretch cords that are in the range of about 4 inches to about 6 inches in length. 
 
     
     
         9 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 three pairs of stretch cords wherein one pair is approximately 6 inches to approximately 12 inches in length, a second pair is approximately 8 to approximately 14 inches in length, and a third pair is approximately 16 to approximately twenty eight 28 inches in length. 
 
     
     
         12 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 11  comprising:
 said first pair of stretch cords are stretchable to a length of approximately 22 to approximately 26 inches, said second pair of stretch cords are stretchable to a length of approximately 32 to approximately 40 inches, and said third pair of stretch cords are stretchable to a length of up to approximately 70 inches. 
 
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 a bracing member located at a rear portion of said vest. 
 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 15  wherein said bracing member is removably secured within a pocket located in a rear portion of said vest. 
     
     
         18 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 17  wherein said pocket has an arcuate, tapered configuration that tapers from a wider, zipper closable open end at the bottom of said vest to a narrower, closed end at the top of said vest. 
     
     
         19 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 15  wherein said bracing member has an arcuate, tapered configuration that tapers from a wider, bottom end to a narrower, top end. 
     
     
         20 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 15  wherein said bracing member is a composite with a rigid substrate portion facing away from a user of said vest and a compliant portion facing toward a user of said vest. 
     
     
         21 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 20  wherein said rigid substrate portion is a rigid polymer and said compliant portion is a closed cell foam. 
     
     
         22 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 15  comprising:
 a tightening strap on said vest located proximate to a center of said bracing member; and wherein said tightening strap on said vest located proximate to the center of said bracing member runs within a back portion of said vest such that said bracing member is located between a user's spine and said tightening strap. 
 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The strength training and exercise system of  claim 1  comprising:
 an anterior bracing member located at a front portion of said vest. 
 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 24  wherein said anterior bracing member is removably secured within a pocket located in a front portion of said vest. 
     
     
         27 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 24  wherein said anterior bracing member has a tapered configuration that tapers from a wider, top end to a narrower, bottom end. 
     
     
         28 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 24  wherein said anterior bracing member is a composite with a rigid substrate portion facing away from a user of said vest and a compliant portion facing toward a user of said vest. 
     
     
         29 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 28  wherein said rigid substrate portion is a rigid polymer and said compliant portion is a closed cell foam. 
     
     
         30 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 1  comprising:
 an elongate forearm sleeve for wrapping around a user's forearm; 
 a plurality of loops on said forearm sleeve for engaging said hooks on said stretch cords. 
 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 1  comprising:
 a knee sleeve for wrapping around a user's knee having opposing front and rear apertures; 
 a plurality of loops on said knee sleeve for engaging said hooks on said stretch cords. 
 
     
     
         33 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A strength training and exercise system comprising:
 an openable and reclosable vest having closing means to secure said vest in a closed condition, and a plurality of loops located on the surface of said vest;   at least one cord having two ends, at least one end having an openable and reclosable attachment means for being removably attached to one of said plurality of loops on said vest;   at least one handle operatively connected to the other end of said cord;   said plurality of loops on said vest being configured at various locations on said vest to permit a variety of exercises by pulling or pushing said at least one cord in multiple directions; and wherein said vest includes at least one of a bracing member at a rear portion of said vest and/or an anterior bracing member at a front portion of said vest.   
     
     
         37 . The strength training and exercise system according to  claim 36  wherein the pull and push resistance of said cord is adjustable. 
     
     
         38 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of using a strength training and exercise system, said method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an exercise system having
 an openable and reclosable vest having closing means to secure said vest in a closed condition, and a plurality of loops located on the surface of said vest, 
 at least one stretch cord having two ends, at least one end having an openable and reclosable attachment means for being removably attached to at least one of said plurality of loops on said vest, said at least one stretch cord having a resting length of between about 4 inches and about 14 inches, 
 at least one handle operatively connected to the other end of said stretch cord, 
 said plurality of loops on said vest being configured at various locations on said vest to permit a variety of exercises by pulling said at least one stretch cord in multiple directions, 
   wearing said vest;   attaching one end of said at least one stretch cord to at least one of said plurality of loops on said vest;   and pulling said at least one handle away from said vest to elongate said at least one stretch cord.   
     
     
         42 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the step of connecting a second stretch cord to the handle and the loop on the vest to which the first stretch cord is connected. 
     
     
         43 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining first and second stretch cords having the same length and strength resistance and attaching them to the vest; 
 pulling on the stretch cords while walking or running and travelling a distance from the starting point; 
 stopping to change the connection points of the stretch cords on the vest so as to change the direction of resistance on the handles and varying the muscles 
 activated by pulling on the stretch cords; and 
 continuing walking or running while pulling on the stretch cords. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining first and second stretch cords having the same length and strength resistance and attaching them to the vest; 
 obtaining third and fourth stretch cords having a length or strength resistance that is different from the length or strength resistance of the first and second stretch cords and temporarily storing the third and fourth stretch cords in one or more pockets on the vest; 
 pulling on the first and second stretch cords while walking or running and travelling a distance from the starting point; 
 stopping to remove the first and second stretch cords from attachment on the vest and attaching the third and fourth stretch cords on the vest so as to change the length of the stretch cords or to change the strength resistance felt in the handles during use; and 
 continuing walking or running while pulling on the stretch cords. 
 
     
     
         45 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the steps of:
 connecting a first pair of stretch cords between foot straps and loops on the vest and connecting a second pair of stretch cords between handles and loops on the vest; and 
 performing a squat and a lift with handles. 
 
     
     
         46 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the step of:
 performing a squat and twist motion with arm extensions using handles. 
 
     
     
         47 . The method of using a strength training and exercise system of  claim 41  further comprising the step of:
 performing a squat with an overhead press using handles. 
 
     
     
         48 .- 80 . (canceled)