Neck exerciser

Abstract

A neck and back exerciser including a cap-like device adaptable to being worn on a user's head. VELCRO attachment members mounted on the outer surface of the device engage similar VELCRO attachment members formed on confronting surfaces of a plurality of weights, allowing the weight to adhere to the cap-like device. The weights may be repositioned without removing the cap by merely stripping the weights from the cap, repositioning and reattaching the weights to the cap. A weight belt may encircle the cap and provide pockets for supporting one or more additional weights. A weight support frame assembly may be mounted on the cap-like device with the frame including an adjustable band member adaptable to being rotated relative about the cap to reposition any weight supported on the adjustable band.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A neck exercising apparatus providing a mechanical load to a user's neck and/or back, comprising: 
 a cap-like device adaptable to cover portions of a user's hair and scalp;    the cap-like device having an outer surface including a plurality of attachment members; and    at least one weight having a surface including a plurality of attachment members compatible with the outer surface attachment members,    whereby confronting attachment members on the at least one weight and the cap-like device serve to releasably fasten the at least one weight to the cap-like device to apply a mechanical load to the user's neck and/or back area.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment members include a plurality of hook and pile-like members.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment members comprise VELCRO hook and pile-like members.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of separate weights, each having a surface including a plurality of attachment members, are releasably fastened to selected portions of the outer surface of the cap-like device.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a weight belt supported on the cap-like device, with the weight belt including a plurality of pockets capable of supporting additional weights about the circumference of the user's head.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the weight belt further includes a surface having a plurality of attachment members confronting the outer surface of the cap-like device for releasably fastening the weight belt to the cap-like device.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein additional weights are disposed in the plurality of pockets, allowing a user to easily alter the mechanical load applied by the cap-like device to the user's neck and/or back.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a weight support frame having a first band of generally circular configuration extending about the cap-like device and a second, adjustable band attached at either end to the first band and capable of circumferential rotation relative to the first band.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one weight is adjustable mounted on the second band.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , a fastener assembly extends between either end of the second band and the first band, with the fastener assembly including confronting tooth-shaped portions and a threaded attachment member extending through aligned openings in the tooth-shaped portions for drawing the tooth-shaped portions into rigid engagement to fasten the first and second bands against relative movement.  
     
     
         11 . A neck exercising apparatus providing a mechanical load to a user's neck and/or back, comprising: 
 a cap-like device adaptable to cover portions of a user's hair and scalp;    the cap-like device having an outer surface including a plurality of hook and pile-like attachment members;    at least one weight having a surface including a plurality of plurality of hook and pile-like attachment members compatible with the outer surface attachment members, allowing the at least one weight to be releasably attached to the cap-like device; and    a weight belt and at least one additional weight supported on the cap-like device, with the weight belt including a plurality of pockets containing the at least one additional weight.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the weight belt further includes a surface having a plurality of hook and pile-like attachment members confronting the outer surface of the cap-like device for releasably fastening the weight belt to the cap-like device.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein additional weights are disposed in the plurality of pockets extending about the circumference of the cap-like device, allowing a user to easily alter the mechanical load applied to the user's neck and/or back by the weight belt and cap-like device.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further including a weight support frame having a first band of generally circular configuration extending about the cap-like device and a second, adjustable band attached at either end to the first band and capable of circumferential rotation relative to the first band.  
     
     
         15 . The thermal isolator device according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one weight is adjustable mounted on the second band.  
     
     
         16 . A neck exercising apparatus providing a mechanical load to a user's neck and/or back, comprising: 
 a cap-like device adaptable to cover portions of a user's hair and scalp;    the cap-like device having an outer surface including a plurality of hook and pile-like attachment members;    at least one weight having a surface including a plurality of plurality of hook and pile-like attachment members compatible with the outer surface attachment members, allowing the at least one weight to be releasably attached to the cap-like device; and    a weight support frame having a first band of generally circular configuration extending about the cap-like device and a second, adjustable band attached at either end to the first band and capable of circumferential rotation relative to the first band.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one weight is adjustable mounted on the second band.  
     
     
         18 . A method of exercising a user's neck and/or back, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a cap-like device having attachment members on its outer surface so as to cover at least portion of the user's hair and/or scalp; and    placing a number of separate weights having attachment members into contact with various areas on the cap-like device to fasten the weights to the device, so that the weights provided a mechanical load to exercise the user's neck and/or back.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , including the step of mounting a weight belt on the cap-like device and inserting at least one weight into a pocket formed in the belt to alter the mechanical load applied to the user's neck and/or back.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , including the step of mounting on the cap-like device a weight support frame assembly having a fixed band and an adjustable band, with at least one weight supported by the adjustable band.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , including the step of rotating the second band in a circumferential direction about the user's head to reposition and weight supported by the second band.