Universal, adjustable exercise system user interface with looped tension member and pulley for connection to resistance

Abstract

An exercise system includes a looped tension member including a closed loop. A first body-engagement member and a second body-engagement member are slidably attached to the looped tension member. A loop pulley has a base and a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to the base. The first body-engagement member and the second body-engagement member are slidable to define a first and second end portions, and first and second side portions of the looped tension member when the first and second body-engagement members are loaded to place the looped tension member under tension. The first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member and the loop pulley are arranged so that when the looped tension member is loaded in tension, the first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member engage a same side of the wheel of the loop pulley.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise system comprising:
 a looped tension member comprising a tension member secured to form a closed loop;   a first body-engagement member slidably attached to the looped tension member;   a second body-engagement member slidably attached to the looped tension member; and   a loop pulley having a base and a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to the base,   wherein the first body-engagement member and the second body-engagement member are configured to be engageable with a body of a user to place the looped tension member under a tension, and the first body-engagement member and the second body-engagement member are slidable upon the tension member to define a first end portion and a second end portion of the looped tension member and to define a first side portion and a second side portion of the looped tension member when the looped tension member is under the tension, and   wherein the first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member and the loop pulley are disposed so that when the looped tension member is loaded in tension, the first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member engage a same side of the wheel of the loop pulley.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the looped tension member comprises a means for adjusting a length of the looped tension member. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein the looped tension member includes a second means for adjusting the length of the looped tension member. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the tension member is a strap. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , further comprising a superimposed-load means, the superimposed-load means being engaged with the base of the loop pulley. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 5 , wherein the superimposed-load means includes a superimposed-load tension member with a first end engaging a tensile-load means and a second end engaging the base of the loop pulley. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , further comprising an anchor pulley having a base and a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to the base, wherein the superimposed-load tension member engages the wheel of the anchor pulley, and the superimposed-load means comprises a weight. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , further comprising a length-adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the looped tension member. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second length-adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the looped tension member. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , further comprising an angled standing surface for engaging a foot of the user to support the user. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein a first grip has a principal length extending from a first end to a second end, and the tension member engages the first grip at or near the first and second ends, so that a torque exerted on the first end of the first grip is offset or balanced by a second torque exerted on the second end of the first grip. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise method comprising:
 engaging a left hand of a user with a with a first grip and a right hand of a user with a second grip of a user-interfacing pulley system of an exercise system, the user-interfacing pulley system including:
 a looped tension member comprising a tension member secured to form a closed loop; and 
 a loop pulley having a base and a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to the base, 
 wherein the first grip is slidably attached to the looped tension member, and the second grip is slidably attached to the looped tension member, 
 wherein the first grip and the second grip are configured to be engageable with a body of a user to place the looped tension member under a tension, and the first grip and the second grip are slidable to define a first end portion and a second end portion of the looped tension member and to define a first side portion and a second side portion of the looped tension member when the first grip and the second grip are loaded to place the looped tension member under tension, and 
 wherein the first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member and the loop pulley are disposed so that when the looped tension member is loaded in tension, the first side portion and the second side portion of the looped tension member engage a same side of the wheel of the loop pulley; 
   pulling on the looped tension member using at least one of the left hand and the right hand to place the looped tension member under tension; and   applying force to the looped tension member or reciprocating the looped tension member.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise method of  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting a length of the looped tension member using a length-adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise method of  claim 12 , wherein the exercise system further comprises a superimposed-load means, and the exercise method further comprises at least one of exerting force against or doing work against the superimposed-load means. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise method of  claim 14 , further comprising using at least one of the first grip and the second grip to twist one of the first grip and the second grip to increase a pronation-supination force required for the user to perform at least one of a pronation or a supination with respect to at least one of the left hand and the right hand of the user.