Method and apparatus for exercise with forced pronation or supination

An exercise machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a seat mounted on the frame;
• a sub-frame pivotally mounted to the frame to pivot about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis parallel to and displaced from the first horizontal axis, the sub-frame including a pair of spaced, parallel, angularly oriented pivot axes, lying substantially perpendicular to the first and second horizontal axis;
• a pair of handles, each having a first end pivotally connected to the sub-frame at one of the angularly oriented pivot axes, and a second end provided with a handgrip;
• and
• structure for resisting movement of the handles, wherein movement of the handles and sub-frame against the resisting structure and about the first horizontal axis, between a first location and a second location, will be translated into lateral motion of the handgrips about the angularly oriented pivot axes such that each of the handgrips will move in curved planes from a first location spaced laterally from a vertical plane bisecting the exercise machine to a second location substantially inwardly from the first location.

An exercise machine comprising:

• a stationary frame;
• a seat mounted to the frame;
• a pair of handles pivotally connected relative to the frame, each of the handles having a first end and a second end provided with a handgrip;
• and
• a sub-frame pivotally mounted on the frame to pivot about a first horizontal axis and defining a pair of spaced, parallel, angularly oriented pivot axes, lying perpendicular to the first horizontal axis about which pivot axes the second ends of the handles are swung inwardly and outwardly relative to the seat, the sub-frame including a pair of laterally extending rigid arms, each having a proximal end connected to a first end of one of the handles and a distal end, the sub-frame further including a pair of transfer links, each having a first end joined in a swivel connection to one of the distal ends of the rigid arms and a second end pivotally attached to the frame about a second horizontal axis substantially parallel to the first horizontal axis, wherein movement of the sub-frame and handles about the first and second horizontal axes, will be translated into lateral motion of the handles about the pivot axes such that each of the handgrips will move in curved planes from a first location to a second location.

A machine providing adjustable resistance for arm and shoulder exercise movements comprising:

• a frame;
• a seat mounted on the frame;
• a sub-frame pivotally mounted on the frame to pivot about a first horizontal axis against the adjustable resistance, the sub-frame including a pair of spaced apart and parallel second pivot axes, lying substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal axis;
• a handle mounted at its proximal end to the sub-frame at each second axis for pivotal movement thereabout and extending from each second axis so that a handgrip at the handle distal end is positioned on each side of the seat;
• and
• means for compelling the handles to pronate or supinate by pivoting about their respective second axis as the sub-frame is pivoted about the first horizontal axis, the sub-frame being constructed and arranged to provide an exercise wherein movement of the sub-frame and handles about the first horizontal axis, between a first location and a second location, will be translated into pronation and supination movements of the handgrips about the respective second pivot axes.

An exercise device for producing forced pronation and supination movements in the hands of the user, the device comprising;

• a frame including a horizontal first axis;
• a sub-frame pivoting about the first axis, the sub-frame including:
• a pair of sub-frame levers having first and second ends, the first end being proximate the first axis;
• means operatively connected to the sub-frame for resisting pivotal movement of the sub-frame levers about the first axis;
• a pair of handles, each located for gripping by the user and connected to one sub-frame lever, at the second end thereof, for pivotal movement about a second axis, the second axes each being proximate a lever second end;
• and
• means for pivoting each handle about its second axis in a predetermined relationship relative to the sub-frame lever as the sub-frame levers pivot about the first axis.

An exercise machine for providing selectively variable resistance through a range of motion comprising;

• a frame including a horizontal first axis;
• a seat mounted on said frame;
• a pair of rigidly joined first members pivotally mounted to said frame for rotation against the selectively variable resistance about said horizontal first axis, said first members each including one of a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel second axes oriented substantially perpendicular to said horizontal first axis;
• a pair of second members each having a mounting end pivotally connected to one of said first members and a handle for rotation about one of the second axis, the handle having a handgrip at the distal end thereof;
• and
• linkage means for causing said second members to pivot about said second axes as said first members are caused to pivot about said first axis so that said handle ends converge along predetermined curved paths as said first members pivot from a first position to a second position thereby providing a pronating movement at the handgrip.

A method for forcing a pronation or supination movement of the hand in combination with forearm movement relative to the upper arm in an exercise routine comprising the steps of:

• providing a lever having a length that is substantially perpendicular to, and rotates about, a first axis;
• gripping the lever about a handgrip, the handgrip having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the forearm, to rotate the lever about the first axis;
• resisting the rotation of the lever about the first axis with a selected resistance;
• pivoting the handgrip with respect to the lever about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the forearm;
• and
• rotating the handgrip in a predetermined relationship relative to the lever, so that the gripping hand is caused to pronate as the lever rotates in one direction and supinate as the lever rotates in the opposite direction about the first axis.

A method for forcing pronation or supination movement of the hand in combination with forearm movement relative to the upper arm in an exercise routine comprising the steps of:

• providing a lever having first and second pivotal axes;
• mounting the lever for pivotal movement about the first axis;
• providing a hand grip in substantially perpendicular alignment to the forearm, the hand grip being mounted rotatably about the second pivotal axis so as to allow rotation of the hand grip thereabout, the second axis being substantially parallel to the forearm;
• connecting the handgrip so that rotation of the lever about the first axis forces rotation of the handgrip about the second axis;
• and
• providing a selected resistance to the rotation of the lever about the first axis;
• and gripping the hand grip to manually rotate the lever against the selected resistance and simultaneously force pronation or supination of the gripping hand.