US20140066273A1

US20140066273A1 - Method and apparatus for exercising

Info

Publication number: US20140066273A1
Application number: US13/597,334
Authority: US
Inventors: Adam Jimoh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-29
Filing date: 2012-08-29
Publication date: 2014-03-06

Abstract

An apparatus including a first and second closed loop, and a first strap connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop, between the first closed loop and the second closed loop. Each of the first closed loop, the second closed loop, and the first strap may be made of a substantially inelastic material, such as a resilient cloth material. The first strap may have a first end which is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop; and the first strap may have a second end, which is opposite the first end, and which is connected to a third closed loop. The first strap may be connected to a bed, a first and second foot of a person can be inserted into the first and second closed loop, respectively; and exercises can be performed while on the bed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning exercising.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for exercising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment an apparatus is provided including a first closed loop, formed by a first elongated strap, a second closed loop, formed by a second elongated strap, and a third elongated strap connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop, so that the third elongated strap is between the first closed loop and the second closed loop. The first elongated strap may be fixed to and may come in contact with the third elongated strap along a first line of connection, and wherein the first elongated strap is substantially perpendicular to the third elongated strap along the first line of connection. The second elongated strap may be fixed to and may come in contact with the third elongated strap along a second line of connection, and wherein the second elongated strap is substantially perpendicular to the third elongated strap along the second line of connection.
Each of the first, the second, and the third elongated straps may be substantially made of substantially non elastic fiber. The third elongated strap may have a first end which is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop; and the third elongated strap may have a second end, which is opposite the first end, and which is connected to a third closed loop.
The third closed loop may include a fourth elongated strap and a tube having an inner chamber through which the fourth elongated strap passes.
The apparatus may further include an adjustment device, wherein the third elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through the adjustment device which is configured to be used to adjust a distance of the first and the second closed loops from the third closed loop. The apparatus may further include a device for adjusting the size of the third closed loop. The substantially non elastic fiber may be cotton.
The apparatus may include a ring, wherein the first elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through the ring. The ring may be a metal or a hard plastic ring.
In at least one embodiment, each of the first closed loop and the second closed loop may have a perimeter of about seventeen and one half inches.
In at least one embodiment a method is provided which may include connecting a first end of a first elongated strap to a bed, inserting at least part of a first foot of a person into a first closed loop, and inserting at least part of a second foot of a person in a second closed loop. In accordance with the method, the first elongated strap may be connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop at a second end of the first elongated strap, which is opposite the first end of the first elongated strap, so that the second end of the first elongated strap is between the first closed loop and the second closed loop. The first closed loop may be formed by a second elongated strap. The second closed loop may be formed by a third elongated strap. The first elongated strap may be fixed to and come in contact with the second elongated strap along a first line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the second elongated strap along the first line of connection. The first elongated strap may be fixed to and may come in contact with the third elongated strap along a second line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the third elongated strap along the second line of connection.
The method may further include performing a sit up exercise by the person, while the at least part of the first foot of the person is in the first closed loop and while the at least part of the second foot of the person is in the second closed loop; and while the person is on the bed.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided which may include connecting a first end of a first elongated strap to a bed, using a first hand of a person to grab a first closed loop, and using a second hand of a person to grab a second closed loop. The first elongated strap may be connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop at a second end of the first elongated strap, which is opposite the first end of the first elongated strap, so that the second end of the first elongated strap is between the first closed loop and the second closed loop. The first closed loop may be formed by a second elongated strap, and the second closed loop may be formed by a third elongated strap. The first elongated strap may be fixed to and may come in contact with the second elongated strap along a first line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the second elongated strap along the first line of connection. The first elongated strap may be fixed to and may come in contact with the third elongated strap along a second line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the third elongated strap along the second line of connection. The method may further include performing a leg lift exercise by the person, while the person is using the first hand of the person to grab the first closed loop, and while the person is using the second hand of a person to grab the second closed loop.
In at least one embodiment, the first end of the first elongated strap may be connected to the bed through a third closed loop which is connected to the first end of the first elongated strap. The third closed loop may include a fourth elongated strap and a tube having an inner chamber through which the fourth elongated strap passes. The first elongated strap may be connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through an adjustment device which is configured to be used to adjust a distance of the first and the second closed loops from the third closed loop. The method may further include adjusting the size of the third closed loop; and connecting the third closed loop to a post of the bed to thereby connect the first end of the first elongated strap to the bed. Each of the first closed loop and the second closed loop may have a perimeter of about seventeen and one half inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, right, top perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a first state;

FIG. 2 shows a front, left, bottom perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first state;

FIG. 3A shows a front, right, top close up perspective view of a first portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first state;

FIG. 3B shows a front, right top closeup perspective view of a second portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first state;

FIG. 4 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a second state;

FIG. 5A shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first state, and with a beam or board placed on a first part of the apparatus of FIG. 1, sandwiching the first part of the apparatus between the board and a ground surface, and with the board shown as a transparent object in dashed lines;

FIG. 5B shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first state, and with a post or leg inserted into an opening of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the post or leg resting on a ground surface, and with the post or leg shown as a transparent object with dashed lines;

FIG. 6A shows the configuration of FIG. 5A, with the beam or board shown as a non transparent object;

FIG. 6B shows the configuration of FIG. 5B, with post or leg shown a non transparent object;

FIG. 7 shows a front, right, top perspective view of a mattress placed on the beam of FIG. 6A and on a second beam, and with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the configuration of FIGS. 5A and 6A;

FIG. 8 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the mattress placed on the beam of FIG. 6A and on the second beam, and with the apparatus of FIG. 1 inserted so that part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 is held by the first beam and the ground surface as in FIGS. 5A and 6A, and part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 has been pulled over a top surface of the mattress;

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of FIG. 8 along with a person, wherein the person has placed at least part of a first foot through a first loop of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and at least part of a second foot through a second loop of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of FIG. 8 along with the person wherein the person is facing the opposite way from FIG. 9, and is gripping the first loop of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a first hand and the second loop of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a second hand;

FIG. 11 shows a front, right, top perspective view of another apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 11 in a third state; and

FIG. 12 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus of FIG. 11 in a fourth state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, right, top perspective view of an apparatus 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus 1 in a first state. FIG. 2 shows a front, left, bottom perspective view of the apparatus 1, with the apparatus 1 in the first state.
The apparatus 1 may include a closed loop 2, a closed loop 12, a strap 20, a clip, ring or closed loop 22, a device 26, a strap 24, a strap 27, a strap 28, a tube 30, and a covering 32.
The loop 2 includes an outer portion and/or surface 2 a and an inner portion and/or surface 2 b. The loop 12 includes an outer portion and/or surface 12 a and an inner portion and/or surface 12 b. The loop 2 may have an outer perimeter of the outer portion 2 a of about seventeen and one half inches. The loop 12 may have the same outer perimeter of outer portion 12 a of about seventeen and one half inches. Either of the loops 2 or 12 is flexible and can be arranged or flexed into a substantially circular shape having an outer perimeter of about seventeen and one half inches. In at least one embodiment, an outer perimeter of approximately that size allows insertion of at least part of a human foot, such as at least five toes of an average human foot, and insertion of at least part of a human hand, such as at least five fingers of an average human hand through either opening 4 or 14 shown in FIG. 1. This allows a person, such as person 300 to either insert one foot into loop 2 and another foot into loop 12 in order to exercise as in FIG. 9, or to insert one hand into loop 2 and another hand into loop 12 in order to exercise as in FIG. 10. Other outer perimeters for loops 2 and 12 may be possible, but in at least one embodiment, it is critical that loops 2 and 12 have the same outer perimeter and in at least one embodiment it is critical that loops 2 and 12 have approximately an outer perimeter of about seventeen and one half inches.
Referring to FIG. 1, the closed loop 2 may be fixed to (such as by sewing) and may come in contact with a strap portion 20 a of the strap 20 along a line of connection such as the edge of strap portion 20 a which is immediately adjacent the closed loop 2. Along this line of connection, an elongated strap which makes up the closed loop 2 may be at an angle, and in at least one embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the elongated strap portion 20 a of the strap 20. Similarly, the closed loop 12 may be fixed to and may come in contact with the strap portion 20 a of the strap 20 along a line of connection such as the edge of strap portion 20 a which is immediately adjacent the closed loop 12. Along this line of connection, an elongated strap which makes up the closed loop 12 may be at an angle, and in at least one embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the strap portion 20 a of the strap 20. This configuration of the closed loops 2 and 12 with respect to the strap 20, is critical in at least one embodiment of the present invention to allows the apparatus 1 to be used effectively for exercises such as situps and other exercises.
Although each of the closed loops 2 and 12 may be described as a strap or an elongated strap, the combination of closed loop 2 and 12 may actually be a single elongated strap formed into two loops 2 and 12. However, such as single elongated strap may be considered to include two integrated elongated straps for ease of description. Each of the elongated straps for close loops 2, 12, and 20 may be made of an inelastic material such as cotton. In at least one embodiment, the use of a resilient inelastic material is critical, so that during exercises, such as sit ups, the strap 20 and closed loops 2 and 12 hold feet or hands of a person firm and do not stretch substantially during the exercise. However, in at least one embodiment, the strap 20 and closed loops 2 and 12 are also flexible so that the apparatus 1 can be easily folded up and stored into a carrying case or purse. For example, in at least one embodiment, the loop 2 can be folded on top of the loop 12, and the combination of loops 2 and 12 may be folded up one or more further times. In addition the straps 28, 24, and 20 typically can be folded up or doubled up on themselves the reduce the size of the apparatus 1 for carrying.
FIG. 3A shows a front, right, top close up perspective view of a first portion of the apparatus 1, with the apparatus 1 in the first state. FIG. 3B shows a front, right top closeup perspective view of a second portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus 1 in the first state. The strap 20 includes a first portion 20 a shown in FIG. 1 and a second portion 20 b shown in FIG. 2. The strap 24 includes portions 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e, and 24 f, shown in FIG. 1. The strap 28 includes portions 28 a, 28 b, 28 c, 28 d, and 28 e, as shown by FIG. 3B.
The covering 32 may be substantially or entirely cylindrical and may be hollow. The tube 30 may be substantially or entirely cylindrical and may be hollow. The covering 32 may cover the outside of the tube 30. The covering 32 may be held on by flanges or circular ridges 30 b and 30 c shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. The flange or circular ridge 30 b is shown in close up in FIG. 3B and the flange or circular ridge 30 c may be similar or identical to the ridge 30 b but opposite from the ridge 30 b.
The device 26, as shown in FIG. 3A, may include a closed loop 26 a and a central post 26 b which cuts the closed loop 26 a in half.
The ring 22 may be made of metal. The tube 30 may be made of hard plastic. The covering 32 may be a soft cushion material. The straps 28, 24, 27, 20, and the loops 2 and 12 may be made of resilient cloth materials, which can be pulled with a force of at least one hundred pounds or more and with that force or more will not stretch or will not stretch substantially and will not break.
Referring to FIG. 3B, the strap portion 28 a is fixed such as by being sewn to, the strap portion 24 a and to the strap portion 28 e. The strap portion 28 a is connected to and/or integrated with the strap portion 28 b, which is integrated with the strap portion 28 c. The strap portion 28 c lies in a chamber 30 a, through an opening 30 d, of the tube 30 in FIG. 3B. The strap portion 28 c connects to or is integrated with the strap portion 28 d, which connects to or is integrated with the strap portion 28 e. The strap portion 28 is thus in the form of a closed triangular shaped loop in FIG. 3B, with an opening 29.
The strap portion 24 a is connected to or is integrated with the strap portion 24 b, which is connected to or is integrated with the strap portion 24 c. As shown in FIG. 3A, the strap 24 goes under a first side of the loop 26 a of the device 26, between the loop 26 a and the post 26 b, over the post 26 b, and then under an opposite second side of the loop 26 a coming out as strap portion 24 d. The strap portion 24 c is connected to and/or integrated with the strap portion 24 d which is connected to and/or integrated with the strap portion 24 e. The strap 24 goes around the ring 22 (from portion 24 d to portion 24 e), and then goes behind the post 26 b, and around the post 26 b (from portion 24 e to portion 24 f). The portion 24 e is connected to and/or integrated with the portion 24 f. The portion 24 f is fixed to small strap piece 27 which is fixed to portion 24 e. Thus portions 24 e, 24 f, and 27 form a closed loop around post 26 b.
The strap 20 is in a closed loop formed of portions 20 a and 20 b, and first ends of loops 2 and 12. The strap 20 goes around one side of the ring 22. The loops 2 and 12 are fixed, such as be sewing to the strap 20 as shown in FIG. 3A.
The use of device 26 allows the apparatus 1 to be adjusted in length as will be described. FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 1 in a first state such that the length from the start or end of opening 29 to the start or end of loops 2 and 12 is L1, which may be about 15 inches, for example. FIG. 4 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus 1 in a second state, wherein the length from the start of 29 to the start of loops 2 and 12 is L2, which may be eight inches, for example. In order the change the apparatus 1 from the first state of FIG. 1 to the second state of FIG. 4, the device 26 can be slid in the direction of the opening 29, which causes the strap 24 to have a greater amount of doubling up on itself. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3A, the strap 24, doubles up on itself from about the distance from the device 26 to the ring 22. I.e. behind strap portion 24 d is strap portion 24 e, but for the strap portion 24 b, there is only one ply or a thickness of a single strap. In contrast in FIG. 5, device 26 has been slid away from ring 22 and now there are portions 25 c and portions 25 d which coincide, i.e. two strap portions on top of each other reducing the distance from L1 in FIG. 1 to L2 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, portions 25 a, 25 b, 25 c, are portions of strap 24 which have been identified with different numbers to distinguish from different portions in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5A shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus 1, with the apparatus 1 in the first state, and with a beam or board 100 placed on a first part of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, sandwiching the first part of the apparatus 1 between the board 100 and a ground surface 150, and with the board 100 shown as a transparent object in dashed lines. FIG. 6A shows the configuration of FIG. 5A, with the beam or board 100 shown as a non transparent object. The beam or board 100 presses parts of the strap 28 and the strap 24 against the ground surface 150 to hold the apparatus 1 in place, when the loops 2 and 12 are pulled, such as in the direction D1 shown in FIG. 5A. Although shown somewhat upright in FIG. 5A, the parts of the strap 28 and 24 under the beam 100 would typically be flattened and the straps 24 and 28 would typically be made of a material flexible enough to twist back to upright position after being flattened by beam or board 100. I.e. the part of strap 24 nearest device 26 may be upright and perpendicular to the part of strap 24 flattened under the beam 100. The tube 30 and the covering 32 inhibit and/or help to prevent the apparatus 1 from being pulled out from the beam 100 while the beam 100 sandwiches the part of the strap 24 against the ground 150 as shown in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 5B shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus 1, with the apparatus 1 in the first state, and with a post or leg 204 placed in the opening 29 and against a ground surface 250. The post or leg 204 may be part of a frame 202 which part of a portion of a bed 200. FIG. 5B shows the portion of the bed 200 as a transparent object in dashed lines. FIG. 6B shows the configuration of FIG. 5B, with the part of the bed 200 shown as a non transparent object. The apparatus 1 is attached to the post 204 so that the post 204 inhibits and/or prevents the apparatus 1 from being pulled away in the direction D1, by pulling on, for example, loops 2 and 12.
FIG. 7 shows a front, right, top perspective view of a mattress 102 placed on the beam 100 of FIG. 6A and on a second beam 100 a, and with the apparatus 1 in the configuration of FIGS. 5A and 6A, so that the apparatus 1 is held by the beam 100. The mattress 102 includes a top surface 102 a. The mattress 102 and the beams 100 and 100 a are part of a bed 101 which has ends 101 a and 101 b. Also shown is ground surface 150.
FIG. 8 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the mattress 102 placed on the beam 100 of FIG. 6A and on the second beam 100 a, and with the apparatus 1 inserted so that part of the apparatus 1 is held by the first beam 100 and the ground surface 150 as in FIGS. 5A and 6A, and part of the apparatus 1 has been pulled and/or flexed over the top surface 102 a of the mattress 102.
FIG. 9 shows the configuration of FIG. 8 along with a person 300, wherein the person 300 has placed at least part of a first foot 302 through a first loop 2 of the apparatus 1 and at least part of a second foot 304 through a second loop 12 of the apparatus 1. In the configuration of FIG. 9, the person 300 can do a sit up while their feet 302 and 304 are being held in place or substantially in place by the loops 2 and 12, and generally by the apparatus 1 which is held by being sandwiched between the beam 100 and the ground surface 150.
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of FIG. 8 along with the person 300 wherein the person 300 is facing the opposite way from FIG. 9, and is gripping the first loop 2 of the apparatus 1 of with a first hand and the second loop 12 of the apparatus 1 with a second hand. In this configuration of FIG. 10, the person 300 can perform exercises such as a lifting legs 312 and 314 off of the mattress surface 102 a, while holding onto the loops 2 and 12, with hands 308 and 310 respectively.
The apparatus 1 is particularly useful, in one or more embodiments, as an aid for performance of abdominal exercises (including sit-ups). Each of the straps 20, 24, 27, and 28, and loops 2 and 12 may be semi-rigid, non-stretchable fabric in an approximately. The device 26 can be called a buckle, and may be used for optional adjustment of length such as from L1 in FIG. 1 to L2 in FIG. 4. In at least one embodiment, the device or buckle 26 may be made of hard plastic or metal. The strap 28, may be formed in the form of a “bed loop” with an opening 29, and is typically attached to the other end of the strap 24. In at least one embodiment, more than half the circumference, perimeter or length of the bed loop surrounding opening 29 is also covered by an additional thickened cylinder 30, which may be made of rubber or rigid fabric.
The user can utilize the apparatus 1 to perform abdominal exercises while lying in bed, such as bed 101 in FIGS. 9 and 10. In at least one embodiment, user can attach the distal loop at opening 29 to his bed in one of two ways. He or she can secure the bed loop at opening 29 around one of the legs of the bed, such as 204 in FIG. 6B by inserting the bed leg 204 into the open portion or opening 29 of the bed loop. Alternatively, he or she can slide the bed loop underneath the frame or side-board of the bed, such as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, where it will remain secured via the thickened rubber/fabric portion 30 and/or 32. The user can then lead the proximate portion of the apparatus 1 from the bottom of the bed to the top 102 a of the mattress 102, shown by FIG. 8, adjusting the length of the perpendicular fabric strap 24 if necessary by sliding device 26. The user secures his or her feet to the apparatus 100 by sliding each of his feet, such as 302 and 304 through one of the two adjacent loops 2 and 12, respectively, of fabric as in FIG. 9, or he or she can grab the loops 2 and 12, as shown in FIG. 10. Then, the user may simply lie down on the mattress 102 and pull his upper body/lower body forward to perform multiple resistance exercises such as sit-ups, reserve crunches etc. Thus, the apparatus 1 aims to make abdominal exercise convenient, relaxing, safe, and portable (it can fit in any ladies small purse). The user may exercise right from his or her bed, eliminating the need to travel to a gym or other facility to work out.
In at least one embodiment, the apparatus 1 is particularly safe to use because it can be used by a person on their comfortable mattress, such as 102, while they work out, instead of on a hard floor or on a board where they could hurt their neck and back while doing abdominal exercises. The person, such as person 300 in FIGS. 9 and 10 can easily fall back into their beds once they are done exercising. In addition, in at least one embodiment, the apparatus 1 can be folded up or compacted and placed into a small carrying case or into lady's small purse.
FIG. 11 shows a front, right, top perspective view of an apparatus 401 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus 401 in a third state. FIG. 12 shows a front, right, top perspective view of the apparatus 401, with the apparatus 401 in a fourth state. The apparatus 401 may be identical the apparatus 1 and may be used in a similar or in an identical manner as apparatus 1, except has to be described.
Instead of a strap 28 as for apparatus 1, the apparatus includes a strap 428, a strap 431 and a device or buckle 433, to allow an opening, such as opening 429 shown in FIG. 12 to be adjustable, i.e. of different sizes, to fit around different sized bed posts, similar or identical to post 204 in FIG. 6B.
The strap 431 includes portions 431 a, 431 b, 431 c, and 431 d. The strap 428 includes portions 428 a, 428 b, 428 c, and 428 d. The apparatus 401 also includes components 430, 432, 424, 426, 422, 420, 402, and 412 which may be identical or substantially similar to components 30, 32, 26, 22, 20, 2, and 12, respectively, for apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The portions 428 a 431 a and 424 may be sewn together or otherwise fixed together. The portion 431 a is connected to and/or integrated with the portion 431 b, which goes behind a central post of buckle 433 (similar to post 26 b in FIG. 3A but not shown in FIG. 11), and is connected to and/or integrated with the portion 431 c which is in front of the post of the buckle 433. The portion 431 c is connected to and/or is integrated with the portion 431 d, which has an end 431 e. Thus the strap 431 partially overlaps itself in FIG. 11. The strap 431 can be adjusted to overlap itself to a greater or lesser degree thereby decreasing or increasing the distance of the buckle 433 from the junction of portions 431 a, 428 a, and strap 424.
The strap 428 a is connected to and/or integrated with the strap portion 428 b, which is connected to and/or integrated with the strap portion 428 c which goes through the component or tube 430 and is connected and/or integrated with the strap portion 428 d. An end 428 e of the strap 428 can be inserted into the device or buckle 433 to attach the end 428 a to the buckle 433 and thereby form a closed loop 429 as shown in FIG. 12. The end 428 e can be pulled further into and/or through the buckle 433 to make the closed loop 429 smaller or can be only pulled into the buckle a short distance to make the closed loop 428 larger.
The apparatus 401, typically in a closed loop state surrounding opening 429 as in FIG. 12, can be attached to the bed 100 in either the manner shown in FIG. 5A or 5B; and the apparatus 401 can be used to perform abdominal exercises such as for example in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first closed loop, formed by a first elongated strap;

a second closed loop, formed by a second elongated strap;

a third elongated strap connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop, so that the third elongated strap is between the first closed loop and the second closed loop;

wherein the first elongated strap is fixed to and comes in contact with the third elongated strap along a first line of connection, and wherein the first elongated strap is substantially perpendicular to the third elongated strap along the first line of connection; and

wherein the second elongated strap is fixed to and comes in contact with the third elongated strap along a second line of connection, and wherein the second elongated strap is substantially perpendicular to the third elongated strap along the second line of connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

each of the first, the second, and the third elongated straps is substantially made of substantially non elastic fiber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the third elongated strap has a first end which is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop;

and wherein the third elongated strap has a second end, which is opposite the first end, and which is connected to a third closed loop.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the third closed loop includes a fourth elongated strap and a tube having an inner chamber through which the fourth elongated strap passes.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising

an adjustment device;

and wherein the third elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through the adjustment device which is configured to be used to adjust a distance of the first and the second closed loops from the third closed loop.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising

a device for adjusting the size of the third closed loop.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the substantially non elastic fiber is cotton.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a ring;

and wherein the first elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through the ring.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein

the ring is a metal ring.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising

an adjustment device;

and wherein the first elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through the ring and through the adjustment device; and

wherein the adjustment device is configured to be used to adjust a distance of the first and the second closed loops from the third closed loop.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

each of the first closed loop and the second closed loop has a perimeter of about seventeen and one half inches.

12. A method comprising:

connecting a first end of a first elongated strap to a bed;

inserting at least part of a first foot of a person into a first closed loop; and

inserting at least part of a second foot of a person in a second closed loop; and

wherein the first elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop at a second end of the first elongated strap, which is opposite the first end of the first elongated strap, so that the second end of the first elongated strap is between the first closed loop and the second closed loop;

wherein the first closed loop is formed by a second elongated strap;

wherein the second closed loop is formed by a third elongated strap;

wherein the first elongated strap is fixed to and comes in contact with the second elongated strap along a first line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the second elongated strap along the first line of connection; and

wherein the first elongated strap is fixed to and comes in contact with the third elongated strap along a second line of connection, so that the first elongated strap is at an angle with respect to the third elongated strap along the second line of connection.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising

performing a sit up exercise by the person, while the at least part of the first foot of the person is in the first closed loop and while the at least part of the second foot of the person is in the second closed loop; and while the person is on the bed.

14. A method comprising

connecting a first end of a first elongated strap to a bed;

using a first hand of a person to grab a first closed loop;

using a second hand of a person to grab a second closed loop;

wherein the first closed loop is formed by a second elongated strap;

wherein the second closed loop is formed by a third elongated strap;

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising

performing a leg lift exercise by the person, while the person is using the first hand of the person to grab the first closed loop, and while the person is using the second hand of a person to grab the second closed loop.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein

each of the first closed loop, the second closed loop, and the first elongated strap is made of a substantially inelastic material.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein

and wherein the first end of the first elongated strap is connected to the bed through a third closed loop which is connected to the first end of the first elongated strap.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein

19. The method claim 17 wherein

the first elongated strap is connected to the first closed loop and the second closed loop through an adjustment device which is configured to be used to adjust a distance of the first and the second closed loops from the third closed loop.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising

adjusting the size of the third closed loop; and

and connecting the third closed loop to a post of the bed to thereby connect the first end of the first elongated strap to the bed.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein