# US 5,700,231 A · Weight loss garment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,231 A - Document ID: US5700231A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/627,426 - Filed: 1996-04-04 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-04 - Inventors: William T. Wilkinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700231A ## CPC - A63B 21/00069: {Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve} - A63B 21/00185: {using resistance provided by the user, e.g. exercising one body part against a resistance provided by another body part (A63B21/068 takes precedence; isometric exercise A63B21/0023)} - A63B 21/055: extension element type - A63B 21/4005: {to the shoulder} - A63B 21/4009: {to the waist} - A63B 21/4013: {to the ankle} - A63B 21/4015: {to the foot} - A63B 21/4017: {to the upper limbs} - A63B 21/4019: {to the hand} - A63B 21/4021: {to the wrist} - A63B 21/4025: {Resistance devices worn on the user's body (A63B21/065 takes precedence)} - A63B 21/4043: {Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance (A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence)} - A63B 21/0552: {Elastic ropes or bands} - A63B 2208/0204: Standing on the feet - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A new resistance, weight loss garment worn by user will elevate the heart rate of a user so that the user can expend more calories over an extended period. The garment would contain at least one article of clothing worn on the body of the user, said article of clothing incorporating elastic resistance structures that tend to oppose normal directions of motion thereby causing extra exertion by the user that results in burning more calories over a period of time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for creating conditions for burning calories comprising placing on a user a resistance garment having elongated elastic resistance elements which offer resistance to the movement of portions of a user's body, the elongated elements having resistance characteristics which differ from other portions of the garment, placing outer clothing on the user over the resistance garment, the user performing physical activities while wearing the clothing and the resistance garment wherein the physical activities include movement of at least some portion of the body having the resistance garment thereon, the resistance elements providing resistance to the movement during the physical activities to tend to burn calories in excess of the calories that are burned during the same physical activities when only the clothing is worn, wearing the clothing and resistance garment continuously for an extended period of time, and the elongated resistance elements being located longitudinally on the arm portions of the garment and being anchored to hand stirrups. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the resistance garment is worn as part of a weight loss program and including the step of changing the resistance garment to a further resistance garment having different resistance characteristics during the weight loss program. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the resistance garment is placed directly against and in contact with the user's skin. ### Claim 4 A process for creating conditions for burning calories comprising placing on a user a resistance garment having elongated elastic resistance elements which offer resistance to the movement of portions of a user's body, the elongated elements having resistance characteristics which differ from other portions of the garment, placing outer clothing on the user over the resistance garment, the user performing physical activities while wearing the clothing and the resistance garment wherein the physical activities include movement of at least some portion of the body having the resistance garment thereon, the resistance elements providing resistance to the movement during the physical activities to tend to burn calories in excess of the calories that are burned during the same physical activities when only the clothing is worn, wearing the clothing and resistance garment continuously for an extended period of time, and the elongated resistance elements being located longitudinally on the leg portions of the garment and anchored to foot stirrups. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4 wherein the resistance garment is worn as part of a weight loss program and including the step of changing the resistance garment to a further resistance garment having different resistance characteristics during the weight loss program. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4 wherein the resistance garment is placed directly against and in contact with the user's skin. ### Claim 7 A process for creating conditions for burning calories comprising placing on a user a resistance garment having elongated elastic resistance elements which offer resistance to the movement of portions of a user's body, the elongated elements having resistance characteristics which differ from other portions of the garment, placing outer clothing on the user over the resistance garment, the user performing physical activities while wearing the clothing and the resistance garment wherein the physical activities include movement of at least some portion of the body having the resistance garment thereon, the resistance elements providing resistance to the movement during the physical activities to tend to burn calories in excess of the calories that are burned during the same physical activities when only the clothing is worn, wearing the clothing and resistance garment continuously for an extended period of time, and the elongated resistance elements being located longitudinally on the arm portions of the garment and anchored to hand wear. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the resistance garment is worn as part of a weight loss program and including the step of changing the resistance garment to a further resistance garment having different resistance characteristics during the weight loss program. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the resistance garment is placed directly against and in contact with the user's skin. ### Claim 10 A process for creating conditions for burning calories comprising placing on a user a resistance garment having elongated elastic resistance elements which offer resistance to the movement of portions of a user's body, the elongated elements having resistance characteristics which differ from other portions of the garment, placing outer clothing on the user over the resistance garment, the user performing physical activities while wearing the clothing and the resistance garment wherein the physical activities include movement of at least some portion of the body having the resistance garment thereon, the resistance elements providing resistance to the movement during the physical activities to tend to burn calories in excess of the calories that are burned during the same physical activities when only the clothing is worn, wearing the clothing and resistance garment continuously for an extended period of time, and the elongated resistance elements being located longitudinally on the leg portions of the garment and anchored to foot wear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the resistance garment is worn as part of a weight loss program and including the step of changing the resistance garment to a further resistance garment having different resistance characteristics during the weight loss program. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the resistance garment is placed directly against and in contact with the user's skin. ### Claim 13 In a resistance exercise garment having a body portion and limb portions wherein elongated elastic resistance elements are included in said garment to provide a force that resists movement of the user to cause the user to expend energy to oppose the force provided by the elastic resistance elements for enhancing the exercise value of a physical activity, the improvement being in at least a portion of said garment is made of a variable resistance fabric, said variable resistance fabric including a plurality of generally parallel first strands, said variable resistance fabric further including a plurality of generally parallel second strands perpendicular to said first strands, said second strands being elastic and having greater resistance force than the resistance force of said first strands, said second strands comprising said elastic resistance elements, and hand stirrups connected to said variable resistance fabric to provide anchor structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13 wherein said variable resistance fabric is located at spaced sections of the garment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13 including foot stirrups connected to said variable resistance fabric to provide anchor structure. ### Claim 16 In a resistance exercise garment having a body portion and limb portions wherein elongated elastic resistance elements are included in said garment to provide a force that resists movement of the user to cause the user to expend energy to oppose the force provided by the elastic resistance elements for enhancing the exercise value of a physical activity, the improvement being in at least a portion of said garment is made of a variable resistance fabric, said variable resistance fabric including a plurality of generally parallel first strands, said variable resistance fabric further including a plurality of generally parallel second strands perpendicular to said first strands, said second strands being elastic and having greater resistance force than the resistance force of said first strands, said second strands comprising said elastic resistance elements, and said variable resistance fabric being connected to foot stirrups to provide anchor structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The garment of claim 16 wherein said garment is a one piece suit having upper body and lower body portions and arms and leg portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The garment of claim 16 wherein said garment is a two piece suit having separate shirt and pants portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 wherein the resistance garment is placed directly against and in contact with the user's skin.