In general, the present invention relates to exercise devices for performing multiple exercises that focus on differing muscle groups including forearm, abdominal, and core muscles groups.
Small, hand-held exercise devices have become an increasingly popular way to work out for a variety of reasons. To begin, most hand-held exercise devices do not require a large amount of space to use or to store. Indeed, some hand-held exercise devices are small enough to be stored in a closet, under a bed, or in another discrete location. Hand-held exercise devices can also be portable. Some hand-held exercise devices can be packed in a suitcase or in a car and used when the owner is away from home. In addition, some hand-held exercise devices allow a user to work out while he or she is engaged in another activity. For example, some hand-held exercise devices can be used while a person is watching television, talking on the phone, or reading a book. Finally, hand-held exercise devices are often less expensive to purchase than larger stationary exercise devices.
Hand-held exercise devices can function in a variety of ways. Some hand-held exercise devices can assist a user in maintaining a proper form during an exercise. Other hand-held exercise devices provide resistance for a user to perform an exercise. Regardless of how the hand-held exercise device works, hand-held exercise devices are often limited to a target area or muscle group of the body. Hand-held exercise devices are also often restricted to a single exercise. For example, one hand-held exercise device may assist a user in performing exercises that work out arm muscles while a different hand-held exercise device may assist a user in performing exercises that work out abdominal and/or core muscles.
In light of these limitations, a user that wants to work out multiple parts of his or her body using hand-held exercise devices may need to acquire a large number of hand-held exercise devices. For example, if a user wants to work out his or her arms, as well as his or her core muscles, two different hand-held exercise devices may be required. Thus, a hand-held exercise device that is compact, affordable, versatile, and that can effectively workout multiple parts of the body is desirable.
In one aspect of the disclosure, an exercise device includes a first handle, a second handle, and a wheel.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the handles have outer grip portions.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the first and second handles are rotatable in opposite directions about a central axis.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the wheel is rotatably disposed about at least one of the handles.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the wheel is rotatable about the central axis independently of the relative rotation of the first and second handles.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the first handle and second handle are in direct contact with one another.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the exercise device includes at least one friction disc.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the friction disc is positioned between the first handle and the second handle.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the friction disc is made at least in part from leather.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the plane on which the wheel rotates lies between the outer grip portion of the first handle and the outer grip portion of the second handle.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the exercise device further comprises a stretchable band.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the stretchable band having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the first handle and the second end being secured to the second handle.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the exercise device further comprises a first hook secured to the first end of the stretchable band and a second hood secured to the second end of the stretchable band, wherein the first and second hooks can be selectively secured to the first and second handles.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the stretchable band further includes a pad that can be positioned behind a user's feet or legs during performance of an exercise.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the exercise device further comprises an adjustment rod secured to the first handle.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the adjustment rod has an external threaded portion at one end.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the exercise device further comprises an adjustment knob rotatably securable to the adjustment rod.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the adjustment knob has an internal threaded portion that mates with the external threaded portion on the adjustment rod.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, at least a portion of the second handle is positioned between the adjustment knob and the first handle such that as the adjustment knob is tightened on the adjustment rod, the first and second handles are brought closer together.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, a rotational resistance on the wheel is selectively adjustable by rotating the adjustment knob.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, a method for performing arm and core muscle exercises using a single exercise device includes providing an exercise device having a first handle rotatably connected to a second handle and a wheel rotatably disposed about at least one of the first and second handles, the wheel being rotatable independently of the relative rotation of the first and second handles.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the method further includes gripping the first handle in a first hand.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the method further includes gripping the second handle in a second hand.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the method further includes twisting the first and second handles in opposite rotational directions.
In another aspect that may be combined with any of the aspects herein, the method further includes rotating the wheel on a support surface to move a user's body from a prone position to a kneeling position.
In general, embodiments of the invention provide a simple and efficient hand-held exercise device that allows a user to perform different exercises and work out different muscle groups. More specifically, the embodiments disclosed herein relate to hand-held exercise devices that include handles that a user can rotate in opposite directions about an axis to exercise arm muscles. The hand-held exercise device can also include a wheel that is secured to one or both handles. A user can exercise his or her abdominal and/or core muscles by rolling the wheel on a support surface, while grasping the handles, to go from a kneeling position to prone position and back, repeatedly.
First handle 110 and second handle 120 are rotatable in opposite directions about a central axis 130. Exercise device 100 also includes an adjustment knob 150. As explained in more detail hereafter, a user can rotate adjustment knob 150 to selectively increase or decrease the rotational resistance between the first handle 120 and the second handle 130.
Exercise device 100 also includes a wheel 140. On exercise device 100, wheel 140 also rotates about central axis 130. Wheel 140 can rotate independently of the relative rotation between first and second handles 110 and 120. Wheel 140 includes an outer tread 142, which can provide wheel 140 additional traction with a support surface upon which the wheel rotates during performance of an exercise. Tread 142 can comprise, in whole or in part, a textured or non-slip material, such as rubber or foam. Adjustment knob 150 can also be rotated to selectively increase or decrease the rotational resistance on wheel 140.
As shown in
First handle 110 and second handle 120 are positioned adjacent to one another and can be in direct or indirect contact. Regardless of whether first handle 110 and second handle 120 are in direct or indirect contact, a frictional force exists between the two handles that resists rotation of first handle 110 and second handle 120 in opposite directions. The strength of this frictional resistance can be based on several different factors, including the amount of pressure that exists between the first handle 110 and second handle 120 and the materials that are in direct rotational contact with one another. Materials with a higher frictional coefficient will provide more rotational resistance than materials with a lower frictional coefficient.
In exercise device 100, first handle 110 is in indirect contact with second handle 120.
The amount of pressure exerted upon friction discs 170, 172, and 174 (or in other words, how tightly the first handle and second handles 110 and 120 are held together) can be fixed or variable. The ability to adjust the pressure that exists between handles 110 and 120 can be beneficial, as this pressure determines, at least in part, the rotational resistance between the handles. As the pressure increases, the frictional resistance also increases, making it more difficult to rotate the handles in opposite directions. In exercise device 100, the pressure between first handle 110 and second handle 120 is variable and can be adjusted by a user.
As can be seen in
In exercise device 100, wheel 140 can rotate independent of the relative rotation of and frictional resistance between first handle 110 and second handle 120. For example, as can be seen in
Exercise device 200 also includes a stretchable band 280 that is secured to exercise device 200. Stretchable band 280 includes a first end 282, which is attached to first handle 210. More specifically, first end 282 of band 280 is secured to a first hook 286, which can be detachably secured to a first anchor 290. First anchor 290 is secured to first handle 210. Stretchable band 280 also includes a second end 284, which is attached to second handle 220. More specifically, second end 284 of band 280 is secured to a second hook 288, which can be detachably secured to a second anchor 292. Second anchor 292 is secured to second handle 220.
Stretchable band 280 may also include a pad 294. Pad 294 may be a cushioned material that can be positioned behind a user's legs, feet, or another part of a user's body while the user performs an exercise with exercise device 200. While a pad 294 may make the exercise more comfortable, it is not necessary. Stretchable band 280 may lack a pad such that the stretchable band alone is positioned behind a user's legs, feet, or another part of a user's body during performance of an exercise.
The present invention also includes a method 300 for performing arm and core muscle exercises using a single exercise device.
In general, the exercise devices disclosed herein can be used to perform different type of exercises, which focus on different muscular groups of the body. Specifically, each of the various embodiments of exercise devices disclosed herein can be used to perform arm exercises as well as abdominal and core muscle exercises.
To exercise arm muscles, a user can grasp the handles of the exercise device in his or her hands and twist the handles in different directions. A rotational resistance can be applied to the handles to oppose the twisting movement of the handles. This rotational resistance can be fixed or it can be variable. A knob can be conveniently placed on any part of the exercise device to interact with an adjustment rod to selectively adjust the amount of resistance applied to the handles. The knob may, but need not, rotate about the same axis as the handles.
Further, a knob may selectively apply a resistance to rotation of the handles, rotation of the wheel, or both. For example, a wheel, or a portion thereof, could include a surface upon which pressure is applied as a first handle and second handle are moved closer together. In such an embodiment, an adjustment knob would not only control the amount of rotational resistance applied to the first and second handles, but it would also control the amount of rotational resistance applied to the wheel. In alternative embodiments, an exercise device may include two different knobs, where the first knob applies an adjustable resistance to relative rotation of the handles and the second knob applies an adjustable resistance to the rotation of the wheel.
Handles, according to the present invention, need not be straight, but can be curved or have another ergonomic shape. In alternative embodiments, handles could have multiple grip portions such that a user can exercise or target different muscles or muscle groups depending on the placement of the hands. Further, a hub about which a wheel rotates may be part of a first handle, a second handle, or the hub may be divided into two parts, with one part being formed as part of the first handle and the other part being formed as part of the second handle. In addition, the hub may not be part of either the first or second handles, but may be a separate component that is positioned between the first handle and the second handle.
In addition, a wheel need not rotate on a plane that lies between grip portions of handles. In another embodiment, a wheel may rotate on a plane that is not between grip portions of handles. For example, an embodiment of the present invention may include two wheels that rotate on two separate parallel planes. The grip portions of handles in this embodiment may be between the two planes on which the wheels rotate.
Adjustment rods, according to the present invention, need not extend through a first handle. Indeed, an adjustment rod need not extend at all into the first handle, but can be rigidly secured to an outer surface of the first handle. In such an embodiment, the first handle need not define an inner space, but can be solid. Further, an adjustment rod need not extend through a second handle or may only extend through a portion of the second handle. In such an embodiment, the second handle need not define an inner space and can also be solid.
To exercise abdominal or core muscles, a user can grasp the handles of the exercise device in his or her hands and roll the wheel on a support surface, such as a floor. The user can maintain a portion of his or her body, for example the knees, in direct contact with the support surface such that as the user rotates the wheel, the user can move his or her body from a prone position with arms extended to a kneeling position. A user could also use the exercise device of the present invention to move his or her body from a prone position to a bending position with the user's feet, but not knees, in direct contact with the support surface. A stretchable band can be attached to the exercise device to assist the user in moving from a prone position to a kneeling or bending position. The band can be secured to the exercise device and loop around the user's body. For example, the band can be positioned behind a user's feet or legs.
Anchors and hooks can be used to selectively attach and remove the stretchable band, but are not necessary. In other embodiments, the stretchable band can be secured directly to the first and second handles or other portions of an exercise device.
The exercise devices disclosed herein can include a single wheel or multiple wheels. For example, in one embodiment an exercise device could have two wheels that are positioned on outer sides of each handle. Further, the stretchable band need not form a closed loop. In alternative embodiments, an exercise device may include two elastic band members that attach to a support structure such as a wall or a door.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 61/508,475 filed on Jul. 15, 2011.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61508475 | Jul 2011 | US |