Elastic resistant training apparatus and methods

A training apparatus comprising:

• a module having a first end spaced from a second end;
• a first plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the first end of said module;
• a second plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the second end of said module;
• a resistance band having one end anchored to said module and being routed back and forth around respective ones of said first plurality of pulleys and respective ones of said second plurality of pulleys to a free end of said band, said band being routed around the pulleys in a manner to effect rotation of at least two pulleys in each plurality of pulleys in opposite directions when said free end of said band is extracted from said module;
• wherein the pulleys in said first plurality of pulleys rotate about different parallel axes and the pulleys in said second plurality of pulleys rotate about different parallel axes;
• wherein each pulley in said first plurality of pulleys is mounted on a first mounting axis and is rotatable about an axis offset from said first mounting axis by a first tilt angle,
• wherein each pulley in said second plurality of pulleys is mounted on a second common mounting axis and is rotatable about an axis offset from said second common mounting axis at a second tilt angle, and
• wherein said first and second tilt angles have substantially equal magnitudes and opposing directions;
• and
• wherein each pulley defines a band receiving groove having a centerline, the centerline of the groove on the side opposite the first tilt angle of two or more pulleys in said first plurality of pulleys being aligned with the centerline of the groove on the side opposite the second tilt angle of two or more respective pulleys in said second plurality of pulleys, the centerline of the groove on the side of the second tilt angle of two or more pulleys in said second plurality of pulleys being aligned with the centerline of the groove on the side of the first tilt angle of two or more respective pulleys in said first plurality of pulleys.

A training apparatus comprising:

• a module having a first end spaced from a second end;
• a first plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the first end of said module, each pulley in said first plurality of pulleys being mounted on a first common mounting axis and having a rotating axis offset from said first common mounting axis at a first tilt angle;
• a second plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the second end of said module, each pulley in said second plurality of pulleys being mounted on a second common mounting axis and having a rotating axis offset from said second common mounting axis at a second tilt angle;
• and
• a resistance band having one end anchored to said module and being routed back and forth around respective ones of said first plurality of pulleys and respective ones of said second plurality of pulleys to a free end of said band,
• wherein said first and second tilt angles have substantially equal magnitudes and opposing directions, and
• wherein at least one of said pulleys comprises a band receiving groove having a width smaller than the relaxed-state diameter of said resistance band and a depth larger than the relaxed-state diameter of said resistance band to thereby inhibit a band received within the groove from rolling.

A training apparatus comprising:

• a module having a first end spaced from a second end;
• a first plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the first end of said module, each pulley in said first plurality of pulleys being mounted on a first common mounting axis and having a rotating axis offset from said first common mounting axis at a first tilt angle;
• a second plurality of pulleys mounted proximate the second end of said module, each pulley in said second plurality of pulleys being mounted on a second common mounting axis and having a rotating axis offset from said second common mounting axis at a second tilt angle;
• and
• a resistance band having one end anchored to said module and being routed back and forth around respective ones of said first plurality of pulleys and respective ones of said second plurality of pulleys to a free end of said band,
• wherein said first and second tilt angles have substantially equal magnitudes and opposing directions,
• wherein each pulley defines a band receiving groove having a centerline, the centerline of the groove on the side opposite of the first tilt angle of two or more pulleys in said first plurality of pulleys being aligned with the centerline of the groove on the side opposite the second tilt angle of two or more respective pulleys in said second plurality of pulleys, the centerline of the groove on the side of the second tilt angle of two or more pulleys in said second plurality of pulleys being aligned with the centerline of the groove on the side of the first tilt angle of two or more respective pulleys in said first plurality of pulleys.

A training apparatus comprising:

• a module;
• a resistance band having a predetermined relaxed-state diameter;
• a plurality of pulleys, each pulley comprising a band receiving groove for receiving said resistance band therein and routing said resistance band on said module, at least one of said pulleys comprising a band receiving groove having a width and a depth dimensioned relative to the relaxed-state diameter of said resistance band to thereby inhibit the band received within the groove from rolling,
• wherein the at least one of said pulleys comprises a band receiving groove having a width smaller than the relaxed-state diameter of said resistance band, and
• wherein the at least one of said pulleys comprises a band receiving groove having a depth at least as large as the relaxed-state diameter of said resistance band.