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US 5,205,802 AGranted
Exercise apparatus
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorWilliam J. Swisher
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorWilliam J. Swisher
Estimating the term…
An exercise apparatus for providing improved muscle conditioning via push-ups or similar exercises. The apparatus comprises an elongated body with end supports and two rotatably affixed hand grips. The elongated body has a plurality of pairs of bushing lined holes. Each hole of each pair is equally spaced from the elongated body's vertical centerline. The hand grips are rectangularly shaped having a pin extension that slidably and rotatably fits in the body's bushing lined holes. The top horizontal portion of the rectangle is an ergonomically shaped handle. The pin and, consequently, the hand grip are locked into place in the body via a spring clip which engages the pin at its free end. The spring clip engages the underside of the body such that the hand grips cannot be withdrawn from the body until the clip is removed. While being used, the user grabs the ergonomically contoured handles and performs a push-up or similar exercise. The invention allows the user to properly space the hand grips for maximum comfort and variation of exercises. While pushing up and returning down, the user can rotate his hands and wrists through a mechanically limited range of motion as demanded by the body's natural tendency to do so during such an exercise.
An exercise apparatus for obtaining improved muscle conditioning comprising a support means and hand grip means, said hand grip means being comprised of an elongated handle attached to a rigid structure having a pin attached thereto, said hand grip means being secured to said support means and being adapted to be grasped by a user, said apparatus having location adjustment means comprised of a plurality of openings through said support means and said pin having a free end fitting slidably and rotatably within said openings, said hand grip means being rotatable through only a limited range of motion of less than 360.degree. about a vertical axis during use of said apparatus, said apparatus having means for locking said hand grip means to said support for preventing unwanted removal and allowing wanted removal of said hand grip means from said support means, said locking means being comprised of a removable spring clip attached tos aid free end of said pin which interacts with the support means.
An exercise apparatus for pushups for obtaining improved muscle conditioning comprising a support means and a pair of spaced apart hand grips, said hand grips being comprised of an elongated handle attached to a rigid structure having a pin attached thereto, said hand grips being secured to said support means and being adapted to be grasped by the user, said support means and asid hand grip being capable of supporting the weight of the user doing pushups, said hand grips being rotatable through only a limited range of motion of less than 360.degree. about a vertical axis during use of said apparatus, said support means having means for changing the distance between said hand grips including a plurality of openings therethrough for engaging the pins of said hand grips, said pins fitting slidably and rotatbly within said openings, and locking means for preventing removal of said hand grip means from said support means comprised of removable spring clips for engaging said pins and interacting with said support means.
An exercise apparatus for obtaining improved muscle conditioning comprising a support means and hand grip means, said hand grip means being secured to said support means and being adapted to be grasped by a user and, said hand grip means being rotatable through a limited range of motion about a vertical axis during use of said apparatus, and further including locking means comprised of a removable spring clip adapted to be attached to said hand grip means so as to interact with said support means for preventing unwanted removal and allowing wanted removal of said hand grip means from said support means.
An exercise apparatus for pushups for obtaining improved muscle conditioning comprising a support means and a pair of spaced apart hand grip means, said hand grip means being secured to said support means and being adapted to be grasped by a user, said support means and hand grip means being capable of supporting the weight of the user doing pushups, said hand grip means being rotatable through a limited range of motion about a vertical axis during use of said apparatus, and further including locking means comprised of removable spring clips adapted to be attached to said hand grip means so as to interact with said support means for preventing unatned removal and allowing wanted rmeoval of said hand grip means from said support means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without…:…
Arrangements for attaching the exercising apparatus to the user's body, e.g. belts, shoes or gloves specially adapted therefor: to the upper limbs
Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously: push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
Apparatus for physical training, gymnastics, swimming, climbing, or fencing
Term ended 27 Nov 2011 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to an exercise apparatus used for obtaining improved muscle conditioning while performing exercises such as push-ups or the like. Exercise is any type of physical activity which employs the muscles of the human body. Exercise is obtained through sports and other physical activity which similarly works the muscles being inclusive of weightlifting, bicycling and running.
There are many types of exercise devices that have been marketed or proposed and which relate specifically to push-ups. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,525 to Rosenblad, for example, the invention disclosed is an apparatus to assist the user in performing push-ups. The Rosenblad invention incorporates handle projections which are placed on the floor and grasped by the user. The projections allow the user to obtain increased muscle conditioning by increasing the range of motion through which the user moves by placing the user at a more elevated position. The invention is adjustable for varying exercises and body types, i.e., two separate and identical handles are used and can be positioned as desired. However, the invention does not allow the user to naturally rotate the wrists or hands, seemingly providing a less comfortable and less efficient workout.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,907 to DeVries discloses a device for performing push-ups and handstands. The DeVries invention is a one piece continuous tube formed into a semi-circular base and an angled handle portion elevated relative to the base. Similar to Rosenblad, the user grabs the handle portions of two identical devices and performs a push-up, handstand or similar exercise. This invention also features increased range of motion and adjustability but does not allow the hand to rotate in its natural tendency to do so during a push-up exercise.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form which is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of an exercise apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10. The apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 is shown assembled and ready for use.
The exercise apparatus 10 is comprised of an elongated body member 11 having end supports 12 and 14 attached thereto on each end 13 and 15 and hand grips 16 and 18 rotatably affixed thereto at desired positions. The hand grips 16 and 18 can be positioned along the body member 11 such as to provide optimum muscle exercise for different muscles and maximum comfort for varying body sizes.
Referring still to FIG. 1, the elongated body member 11 is preferably hollow for light weight and is constructed of a rigid material to support the weight of a variety of users. In the preferred embodiment, the body member 11 is comprised of tubular steel or similar metal of approximately two inches in diameter. The body 11 is preferably rectangularly shaped, although other shapes are not excluded, and of a length (3 to 4 feet) to accommodate a variety of exercise positions and a variety of users. The body member 11 has a plurality of openings or holes through the top surface 20 and bottom surface 21 thereof. The openings are even in number, preferably six, and are designated as 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. These openings are arranged in pairs, 22 and 27, 23 and 26, 24 and 25, such that each opening of a pair is of equal distance from the vertical centerline of the body member 11. The diameter of the holes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 are such to accommodate press fit bushings, designated as 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37, each having an inner diameter sufficient to allow slidable and rotatable motion of the pins 40 and 42, which are attached to the hand grips 16 and 18, respectively, along a vertical axis. The bushings are of a length equivalent to the height of the body member 11 so that the ends of the bushings, while press fit, are flush with the top surface 20 and bottom surface 21 of the body member 11 (FIG. 2).