HANDSTAND PUSH-UP EXERCISE DEVICE

Abstract

An exercise device for assistance with handstand push-ups is disclosed. The device may include a base, a support bar attachment mechanism removeably coupled to the base, and a support bar coupled to the support bar attachment mechanism.

Description

BACKGROUND

Handstand push-ups are an exercise in which an athlete positions her/himself in a handstand position such that the athlete is inverted with her/his head located below her/his feet and her/his hands in contact with the ground. Once stabilized, the athlete bends her/his arms to and lowers her/his body towards the ground until her/his head makes contact with the floor at which point the athlete straightens her/his arms and pushes her/his body upwardly away from the floor returning to the initial handstand position.

Experienced athletes often perform the exercise in a free standing position such that no part of the athlete's body is in contact with a support (i.e.: a wall, a fellow athlete). Yet, most athletes lack the strength and/or ability to perform such an exercise and require the additional balance provided by a support. Accordingly, until the necessary strength and/or balance are attained, the athlete may place her/his feet against a wall or have a partner hold her/his feet to prevent falling. However, even these methods of support require more strength and balance than some beginner athletes may have, thereby making the progression of learning a handstand push-up too physically challenging for some athletes. A handstand push-up exercise device configured to provide an athlete with additional support and balance when in the handstand position would enable beginner athletes to more efficiently train to ultimately achieve a free-standing handstand push-up.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure may comprise one or more of the following features and combinations thereof.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an exercise device for assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups is provided. The exercise device may include a base, a support bar, and a support bar attachment mechanism. The base includes a horizontal segment mounted more than six feet above an underlying floor. The support bar is suspended below the horizontal segment of the base and adapted to provide an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by the shins or feet of the athlete performing supported handstand pushups.

The support bar attachment mechanism is configured to suspend the support bar relative to the horizontal segment of the base and to support the athlete performing supported handstand pushups. The support bar attachment mechanism includes a pair of upper straps that extend from the horizontal segment of the base to the support bar and a pair of elastic lower straps that extend downwardly from the support bar and provide loops arranged to underlie the shoulders of the athlete performing supported handstand pushups so that the athlete is assisted by tension developed in the pair of elastic lower straps during supported handstand pushups.

These and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support bar of the handstand push-up exercise device showing a plurality of attachment mechanism retainers;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support bar shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the support bar shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the support bar shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise device showing a base, the support bar, and a support bar attachment mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise device showing an engagement member engaging a pair of lower straps;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise device showing the engagement member engaging a pair of lower straps and moving into an inverted position and engagement with the support bar and the upper straps;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise device showing the lower straps in an extended position and the engagement member in an inverted position and positioned to perform a handstand push up;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the handstand push-up exercise device showing the lower straps in a relaxed position and the engagement member positioned after having completed the handstand push-up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to a number of illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.

An illustrative handstand push-up exercise device 10 is shown in FIG. 5. The handstand push-up exercise device 10 includes a base 12, a support bar attachment mechanism 14, and a support bar 16. The base 12 and the support bar attachment mechanism 14 are removeably coupled and cooperate to provide support for the support bar 16. The support bar 16 is spaced apart from the base 12 and removeably coupled to the support bar attachment mechanism 14 to provide support to an engagement member 18. Illustratively, the engagement member 18 is an athlete 18 configured to enter an inverted handstand position and perform a handstand push-up as shown in FIGS. 6-9.

The base 12 includes at least one vertical segment 20 including an upper end 22 and a lower end 24. The base 12 further includes at least one horizontal segment 26 extending outwardly from the upper end 22 of the vertical segment 20 and configured to support the weight of the athlete 18 as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. The horizontal segment 26 forms a substantially 90° angle at an attachment point 25 to the vertical segment 20 such that when the support bar attachment mechanism 14 is removeably coupled to the horizontal segment 26, the support bar attachment mechanism 14 extends downwardly away from the horizontal segment 26 remaining spaced apart from the floor.

The support bar attachment mechanism 14 is illustratively formed from an elastic material such that the attachment mechanism 14 is configured to move between an extended position, as shown in FIG. 8, and a relaxed position, as shown in FIG. 9. The extended position is achieved by applying a constant force downwardly away from the base 12 on the attachment mechanism 14 and/or the support bar 16 away from the. Upon release of the force, the attachment mechanism 14 is configured to return to the relaxed position due to the upward biasing force towards the base 12 of the attachment mechanism 14 that is provided by the high elasticity of the material. As such, the attachment mechanism 14 is configured to convey the biasing force to the support bar 16 and, ultimately, the athlete 18. The biasing force thereby assisting the athlete in completing the handstand push-up. Illustratively, the attachment mechanism 14 is formed as a plurality of straps 14 as shown in FIG. 5. The attachment mechanism 14 includes a pair of upper straps 28 and a pair of lower straps 30.

The upper straps 28 are configured to removeably couple to the horizontal segment 26 of the base 12 and the support bar 16 such that the support bar 16 is positioned below the horizontal segment 26. Illustratively, the upper straps 28 are formed from a material with a higher modulus of elasticity than the lower straps 30, as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. This provides increased stability to the support bar 16 and maintains the length of the upper straps 28 throughout the progression of a handstand push-up. In additional embodiments, the upper straps 28 and the lower straps 30 may be formed from a material of the same elasticity. In other embodiments, the lower straps 30 may be formed from a material of higher elasticity than the upper straps 28. Further, the upper straps 28 may also be formed from a material with a heightened modulus of elasticity resulting in less stretching of the upper straps 28.

The lower straps 30 are configured to removeably couple to the support bar 16 and the athlete 18 such that each lower strap 30 includes a free end 29 when not engaged by the athlete 18. The free ends 29 are positioned below the support bar 16 and configured to engage the upper body of the athlete 18. Illustratively, the free ends 29 are configured to form at least two openings. Each opening is configured to receive a shoulder of the athlete 18 so that both shoulders are simultaneously engaged with the lower straps 30. When engaged with the lower straps 30, the shoulders of the athlete 18 are spaced apart from the floor due to the biasing force of the lower straps 30 as discussed above. Illustratively, the lower straps 30 are formed from a material of lower elasticity than the upper straps 28, as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9, to provide decreased stability to the athlete 18 and allow for movement of the lower straps 30 between the extended position and the relaxed position. The modulus of elasticity of the lower straps 30 may be adjusted by an athlete 18 based on the strength and/or balance of the athlete 18. Lower straps 30 with a high modulus of elasticity will provide greater assistance to the athlete 18 than lower straps 30 with a low modulus of elasticity. As the modulus of elasticity of the material increases, the distance that the material of the lower strap(s) 30 is able to stretch decreases. The removability of the straps 28, 30 allows for the support bar 16 to be used interchangeable with a variety of straps 28, 30 ranging in elasticity so to meet the needs of a more diverse athlete pool with varying skills and strength.

The support bar 16 is removeably coupled to the lower straps 30 and configured to engage the athlete 18. As the athlete 18 moves into the handstand position, the support bar 16 is configured to stop movement of the athlete 18 such that the forward movement of the athlete 18 is blocked by the support bar 16. Illustratively, the support bar 16 is configured to engage the lower body of the athlete 18 such that the feet of the athlete 18 are located upwardly above the support bar 16 and extending away from the lower straps 30. The support bar 16 is formed to include a surface arranged to be engaged by the shins or feet of the athlete 18 performing supported handstand pushups. This permits the athlete 18 to engage the upper straps 28 with her/his feet, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and provides additional stability to the athlete 18. By engaging the upper straps 28 and the lower straps 30 simultaneously, the athlete 18 increases the stability of the device 10 by stabilizing the straps 28, 30 with the athlete's body. To stabilize the device 10, the athlete 18 engages multiple muscle groups including, but not limited to, the abdomen, deltoids, trapezius, and upper back. Illustratively, increased engagement by the athlete 18 of the muscle groups provides increased stability while the athlete 18 is in the handstand position.

Illustratively, the support bar 16 is a substantially rectangular shaped and includes a first end 31, a second end 33, a body portion 35, an upper surface 34, and a lower surface 36, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. The first end 31 is located opposite the second end 33 and the body portion extends between the two ends 31, 33. The upper surface 34 extends upwardly away from the support bar 16 towards the horizontal segment 26, and the lower surface 36 is positioned opposite the upper surface 34 and extends downwardly away from the horizontal segment 26. The support bar 16 includes a plurality of attachment mechanism retainers 32 integrally formed in the support bar 16 and configured to receive and retain the straps 28, 30 in the retainers 32. The plurality of attachment mechanisms includes a pair of upper retainers 38 and a pair of lower retainers 40. The upper retainers 38 are formed in the upper surface 34 of the support bar 16 and configured to engage the lower straps 30 such that the straps 30 are removeably coupled to the support bar 16 throughout the athlete's handstand progression and retained in the upper retainers 38. The lower retainers 40 are formed in the lower surface 36 of the support bar 16 and configured to engage the upper straps 28 so that the straps 28 are removeably coupled to the support bar 16 throughout the athlete's handstand progression and retained in the lower retainers 40.

The upper retainers 38 are integrally formed in the upper surface 34 of the support bar 16 and are substantially U-shaped having two retainer walls 42 spaced apart from each other and an upper planar surface 44 extending between the two retainer walls 42. The retainer walls 42 extend upwardly away from the planar surface 44 such that the upper planar surface 44 is positioned below a majority of the retainer walls 42. Illustratively, each of the lower straps 30 is positioned into one of the upper retainers 38 so that each upper retainer 38 engages a single lower strap 30. The upper planar surface 44 is configured to engage a majority of the strap 30 and interact with the retainer walls 42 to block the exit of the strap from the upper retainer 38. Further, the upper retainers 38 are formed to have a depth less than the depth of the lower retainers 40.

The lower retainers 40 are integrally formed in the lower surface 36 of the support bar 16 and include a retainment flange 46, a guide ramp 48 opposite the retainment flange 46, and a lower planar surface 50 extending between the flange 46 and the guide ramp 52. The retainment flange 46 is positioned at the ends 31, 33 and extends downwardly away from the upper retainer 38 at a 90° angle relative to a longitudinal axis 41. The guide ramp 52 is located opposite the retainment flange 46 and configured to guide the upper strap 28 into engagement with the lower planar surface 50 and the retainment flange 46. Illustratively, the guide ramp 52 extends downwardly away from the upper retainer 38 at an angle less than 90° relative to the longitudinal axis 41. Further, the lower retainers 40 are formed to be positioned closer to the ends 31, 33 of the support bar 16 than the upper retainers 38.

In preparing the device 10 for use, the athlete 18 couples the upper straps 28 to the horizontal segment 26 of the base 12 and the lower straps 30 to the support bar 16. Illustratively, the upper straps 28 are removeably coupled to the segment 26 by wrapping each upper strap 28 around the horizontal segment 26 thereby creating a loop in each strap 28 and threading one end of each strap 28 through the respective loop. Further, the lower straps 30 are removeably coupled to the support bar 16 and placed in engagement with the planar surface 44 of the respective upper retainer 38 such that the strap 28 is retained in the upper retainer 38 by the retainer walls 42 flanking the planar surface 44. The support bar 16 is now prepared to be coupled to the upper straps 28 via the respective lower retainers 40. Illustratively, each upper strap 28 is placed in engagement with the respective planar surface 50 such that the strap 28 is retained in the lower retainer 40 by the retainment flange 46. The device 10 may now support the athlete 18 throughout the handstand progression.

After the initial set-up discussed above, the device 10 is configured to support and provide assistance to the athlete 18. To complete a handstand push-up using the device 10, the athlete 18 first places her/his shoulders into the loops created by the lower straps 30 as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the athlete 18 then kicks her/his feet upwardly towards the support bar 16 such that the athlete 18 is now in an inverted position and prepared to complete a handstand push-up. The athlete 18 engages the upper straps 28 with her/his feet and bends her/his arms to substantially 90° such that the device 10 is in the extended position as shown in FIG. 8. The athlete 18 is in position to press into the floor thereby moving her/his body upwardly towards the horizontal segment 26 and straightening her/his arms such that the device 10 is in the relaxed position. Upon the movement of the engagement member 18 between the relaxed to the extended position, the member 18 overcomes the bias of the straps 28, 30 while moving downwardly towards away from the base 12. The bias of the straps 28, 30 is configured to translate the upward biasing force of the straps 28, 30 to the member 18 thereby assisting the member 18 in moving upwardly towards the base 12 from the extended position to the relaxed position.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. An exercise device for assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the exercise device comprising a base including a horizontal segment mounted more than six feet above an underlying floor,a support bar suspended below the horizontal segment of the base and adapted to provide an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by the shins or feet of the athlete performing supported handstand pushups, anda support bar attachment mechanism configured to suspend the support bar relative to the horizontal segment of the base and to support the athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the support bar attachment mechanism including a pair of upper straps that extend from the horizontal segment of the base to the support bar and a pair of elastic lower straps that extend downwardly from the support bar and provide loops arranged to underlie shoulders of the athlete performing supported handstand pushups so that the athlete is assisted by tension developed in the pair of elastic lower straps during supported handstand pushups.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the support bar includes a pair of upwardly-opening channels that each receive one of the pair of elastic lower straps to provide a retainer for locating the pair of elastic lower straps in a predetermined location along the support bar.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the support bar includes a pair of downwardly-opening channels that each receive one of the pair of upper straps to provide a retainer for locating the pair of upper straps in a predetermined location along the support bar.

4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the upper straps are provided by elastic loops.

5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein the pair of upper straps have a higher modulus of elasticity than the pair of elastic lower straps.

6. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined locations for the upper straps defined by the downwardly-opening channels are closer to left and right ends of the support bar than the predetermined locations for the lower straps defined by the upwardly-opening channels.

7. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the pair of downwardly-opening channels have a height greater than that of the pair of upwardly-opening channels.

8. An exercise device for assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the exercise device comprising a base including a horizontal segment,a support bar suspended below the horizontal segment of the base, anda support bar attachment mechanism configured to suspend the support bar relative to the horizontal segment of the base and to support the athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the support bar attachment mechanism including a pair of elastic lower straps that extend downwardly from the support bar and provide loops arranged to support the athlete performing supported handstand pushups so that the athlete is assisted by tension developed in the pair of elastic lower straps during supported handstand pushups.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the support bar includes a pair of upwardly-opening channels that each receive one of the pair of elastic lower straps to provide a retainer for locating the pair of elastic lower straps in a predetermined location along the support bar.

10. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the support bar attachment mechanism includes a pair of upper straps that extend from the horizontal segment of the base to the support bar to couple the support bar to the horizontal segment.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, wherein the support bar includes a pair of downwardly-opening channels that each receive one of the pair of upper straps to provide a retainer for locating the pair of upper straps in a predetermined location along the support bar.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the upper straps are provided by elastic loops.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the pair of upper straps have a higher modulus of elasticity than the pair of elastic lower straps.

14. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined locations for the upper straps defined by the downwardly-opening channels are closer to left and right ends of the support bar than the predetermined locations for the lower straps defined by the upwardly-opening channels.

15. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the pair of downwardly-opening channels have a height greater than that of the pair of upwardly-opening channels.

16. A method for using an exercise device for assisting an athlete performing supported handstand pushups, the method comprising wrapping a pair of upper straps around a horizontal segment of a base mounted more than six feet above an underlying floor thereby creating a loop in each one of the upper straps;threading a first end of each of the upper straps through the loop formed in each of the upper straps until the upper straps are securely coupled to the horizontal segment of the base;placing each one of a pair of elastic lower straps around a support bar and into one of the pair of upwardly-opening channels integrally formed in the support bar such that a majority of the elastic lower strap is located on a planar surface of the upwardly-opening channel located between a pair of retainer walls, the each of the pair of elastic lower straps forming a loop configured to receive the shoulders of an athlete; andplacing each one of a pair of upper straps around a support bar and into one of the pair of downwardly-opening channels integrally formed in the support bar such that a majority of the upper strap is located on a planar surface of the downwardly-opening channel located between a retainment flange and a guide ramp.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising placing the shoulders into the loops created by the elastic lower straps;kicking the feet of an athlete upwardly towards the support bar so that the athlete is in an inverted position;wrapping the feet of an athlete around the upper straps;bending the arms of an athlete such that the head of an athlete is lowered towards the underlying floor;stopping movement of the arms when the head contacts the floor; andstraightening the arms of an athlete such that the head is raised towards the support bar.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pair of upper straps have a higher modulus of elasticity than the pair of elastic lower straps.