Resistance garments

Abstract

Resistance garments for providing increased benefits of physical exertion are described herein. The resistance garments provide for manual adjustment or automated adjustment of the tension in resistive elements and/or rods. Adjustment devices such as clam cleats, hooks, knobs, ratchet pulleys, spring loaded pulleys, automated resistance devices, and automated ratchet pulleys are disclosed.

1 . A resistance garment comprising: 
 a first cuff and a second cuff, the first cuff and the second cuff circumscribing a portion of a wearer's body;    an adjustment device fixedly attached to the first cuff; and    a resistive element connecting the first cuff and the second cuff, wherein the resistive element couples with the adjustment device.    
     
     
         2 . The resistance garment of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is selected from the group consisting of a clam cleat, a hook, a knob, a ratchet pulley, a spring loaded pulley, an automated resistance device, and an automated ratchet pulley.  
     
     
         3 . The resistance garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a second adjustment device attached to the second cuff, wherein the resistive element couples with the second adjustment device.  
     
     
         4 . The resistance garment of  claim 4 , wherein the second adjustment device is selected from the group consisting of a clam cleat, a hook, a knob, a ratchet pulley, a spring loaded pulley, an automated resistance device, and an automated ratchet pulley.  
     
     
         5 . The resistance garment of  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the first cuff and the second cuff includes a resistance plate device.  
     
     
         6 . The resistance garment of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first cuff and the second cuff includes a resistance plate device.  
     
     
         7 . The resistance garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cuffs form part of an article of clothing.  
     
     
         8 . The resistance garment of  claim 7 , wherein the article of clothing is selected from the group consisting of a one-piece suit, pants, a shirt, a glove, a foot covering, and a harness.  
     
     
         9 . The resistance garment of  claim 1 , further comprising webbing, the webbing resisting abduction of an appendage.  
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a resistance garment to increase the benefits of physical exertion, comprising: 
 applying a first cuff and a second cuff to a wearer's body, the first cuff and the second cuff circumscribing a portion of the wearer's body;    providing an adjustment device fixedly attached to the first cuff; and    connecting the adjustment device of the first cuff and the second cuff with a resistive element.    
     
     
         11 . A resistance garment comprising: 
 at least one resistive plate device to be worn by a person, the resistive plate device having a plurality of baffles, wherein each baffle is secured to at least one neighboring baffle by a rubberized material.    
     
     
         12 . The resistance garment of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more resistive elements connecting a pair of the resistive plate devices.  
     
     
         13 . The resistance garment of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of springs that link neighboring baffles.  
     
     
         14 . The resistance garment of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more elastomeric lines.  
     
     
         15 . The resistance garment of  claim 11 , further comprising an adjustment device mounted on the resistive plate device.  
     
     
         16 . The resistance garment of  claim 15 , wherein the adjustment device is selected from the group consisting of a clam cleat, a hook, a knob, a ratchet pulley, a spring loaded pulley, an automated resistance device, and an automated ratchet pulley.  
     
     
         17 . A resistance garment comprising: 
 a first cuff disposed at a distal end of a body part;    a second cuff disposed at a proximal end of the body part; and    a rod connecting the first cuff and the second cuff.    
     
     
         18 . The resistance garment of  claim 17 , wherein the rod is a flexible rod.  
     
     
         19 . The resistance garment of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible rod comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber aid carbon nanotubes.