A. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for exercising a wrist of a user, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for exercising a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for wrist exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a device for exercising a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion.
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,851 to Winston.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,851 issued to Winston on Dec. 9, 1975 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 105 teaches an exercise band worn about a user's wrist for varying exercise weights inserted in a band and a flap that is folded over openings of weight-receiving compartments thereof to thereby contain the weights in their compartments during an exercise routine. The flap also has a resilient and foam pad therein, which contributes to the comfort of wearing the band.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,547 to Savio et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,547 issued to Savio et al. on May 22, 1979 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 46 teaches an arm exercising device for strengthening of the wrist, forearm, and elbow. The device includes a pair of longitudinally aligned and tubular members movable axially relative to each other. The movement is resisted by an adjustable spring force. A spring system has its length varied to adjust the tension, and thus the torsion of said spring system. One of the tubular members, preferably, is formed of a clear material in order that the adjustment can be visually observed.
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,409 to Wallisch.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,409 issued to Wallisch on Sep. 13, 1988 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 45 teaches a wrist exercise device that includes a figure eight shaped housing with circular portions, each of which has an annular channel therein. An arcuate slide is positioned within each channel, and a grip handle extends across the inner area of each circular portion and is connected to one of the arcuate slides. A stop is positioned in each channel, adjacent one end of each slide. A spring is positioned in each channel and extends between the stop and the other end of each arcuate slide.
(4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,727 to Wilkinson et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,727 issued to Wilkinson et al. on Sep. 10, 1991 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 45 teaches a wrist exercise device that includes a hollow shaft that houses a pair of compression springs. Tension disks are provided at the remote ends of the springs. The disks are moved toward and away from each other by turning a tension knob at one end of the device to increase or decrease the resistance from a pair of friction pads on each side of a handle at each end of the device. A resistance indicator is provided at one end of the device.
(5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,622 to McFarlane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,622 issued to McFarlane on Oct. 14, 1997 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 45 teaches a wrist therapy device that includes a handle, a maze mounted to one end of the handle, an object for following the man, and a weight mounted to the handle between the handle and the maze. The user grasps the handle and moves the wrist to manipulate the maze so as to move the object along the maze. The maze may be a bent wire and the object a ring encircling the wire. Alternatively, the maze may be a bent tube filled with a viscous fluid and the object a ball within the tube.
(6) U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,992 to Phillips.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,992 issued to Phillips on Nov. 24, 1998 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 49 teaches a resilient wrist support and therapeutic hand exerciser device for supporting the wrist of a person performing repetitive tasks with their wrist, hand, and fingers, such as using a computer mouse and typing on a keyboard, and for exercising the muscles of the wrist, hand, fingers and forearm of the user. A mass of tiny glass spheres having the consistency and appearance of a fine powder is enclosed in a resilient inner bladder surrounded by a resilient outer bladder, and a thin layer of powder is disposed between the exterior surface of the inner bladder and interior surface of the outer bladder to prevent theme from sticking together, to reduce friction therebetween, and to allow relative sliding movement between the surfaces. The tiny spheres provide low resistance to relative particle movement by rolling on each other upon an increase or decrease in pressure applied to the device. When placed on a flat surface beneath the wrist of a user, the device deforms slightly and conforms to the underside of the user's wrist to form a comfortable cradle-like support as the downward pressure of the wrist increases or decreases. As the wrist is moved relative to the flat surface, the device smoothly rolls between the wrist and the flat surface to provide a smooth massaging effect on the wrist while maintaining wrist support. The resilient device can be squeezed in the palm of the hand to exercise the muscles of the hand, fingers, wrist, and forearm.
(7) U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,947 to Glover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,947 issued to Glover on Oct. 19, 1999 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 91 teaches an isometric wrist exercise device that is useful for strengthening the wrist and for treating or alleviating symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. The device includes a wrist brace that adjustably encircles a user's wrist. The brace is attached to a swivel plate via a plurality of straps that extend forward from the wrist brace. The swivel plate is attached to an elongate strap with a wedge plate on its opposite end. The wedge plate can secure the elongate strap in a stationary position so that the user can place his wrist in therapeutic traction by pulling his arm against the stationary strap while selectively swiveling his wrist to find the optimum position.
(8) U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,319 to Tarail.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,319 issued to Tarail on Nov. 14, 2000 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 139 teaches an exercise grip and method for its use in coupling an object, such as a handle or a weight, to the hand of a user. The exercise grip has a body including a base portion with first and second opposing ends for retaining the handle or weight to the base portion. First and second strap portions are attached to and extend from opposite sides of the body along an axis of the body and are sized and shaped to extend around the back of the user's hand with the first strap portion extending between the thumb and forefinger of the user's hand and the second strap portion passing over the metacarpus region of the user's hand. The first and second strap portions meet and are attached to one another around the user's wrist.
(9) U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,827 to Emick.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,827 issued to Emick on Jul. 13, 2010 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 44 teaches a wrist roller exercise device that has a roller rod having opposite handle end portions, and which has a central portion, and has a spool carrier with a central balanced cable connection point. A cable is connected to the cable connection point and is also connected to an elevated frame member to secure and hold the carrier at a desired elevation above ground surface. A spool is attached on the central portion of the rod member with the rod member and the spool each being rotatable relative to the spool carrier. The spool also has a rope connection thereon. A rope that has a first rope end is attached to the rope connection and a second rope end that is connected to a weight object of desired mass. The cable supports the weight of the device so that a user can focus attention on forearm, wrist, hand, and finger muscles required to wind up the rope and to keep the device balanced on the cable and not on upper arm, shoulder, chest, and back muscles, which would otherwise be required to hold and suspend the device in the desired elevation above ground surface if not for the cable.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for wrist exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a device for exercising a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion.
Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a device for exercising a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a device that exercises a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion. The device includes a base, a pair of pivoting assemblies, a pair of resistance assemblies, and a grip. The base is placed on a support surface. The pair of pivoting assemblies extend upwardly from the base and are spaced-apart from each other to have the wrist of the user placed therebetween. The pair of resistance assemblies depend from the pair of pivoting assemblies, respectively, to the base. The grip extends from one pivoting assembly to the other pivoting assembly and is gripped by a hand of the user, and when pivoted downwardly by the hand of the user, the pair of pivoting assemblies pivot downwardly which in turn causes the pair of resistance assemblies to extend linearly upwardly and provide a resistance, and in doing so, converts the pivotal motion into the linear motion.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their constriction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
A. Introductory.
B. Configuration of Device 10.
C. Specific Configuration of Base 16.
D. Specific Configuration of Pair of Pivoting Assemblies 18.
E. Specific Configuration of Pair of Resistance Assemblies 20.
F. Specific Configuration of Grip 22.
A. Introductory.
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
B. Configuration of the Device 10.
The configuration of the device 10 can best be seen in
The device 10 comprises a base 16, a pair of pivoting assemblies 18, a pair of resistance assemblies 20, and a grip 22.
The base 16 is for placing on a support surface 24. The pair of pivoting assemblies 18 extend upwardly from the base 16, and are spaced-apart from each other for having the wrist 12 of the user 14 placed therebetween. The pair of resistance assemblies 20 depend from the pair of pivoting assemblies 18, respectively, to the base 16. The grip 22 extends from one pivoting assembly 18 to the other pivoting assembly 18, and is for being gripped by a hand 26 of the user 14 (
C. Specific Configuration of the Base 16.
The base 16 comprises a platform 28. The platform 28 of the base 16 is for resting on the support surface 24.
The base 16 further comprises a support rest 30.
The support rest 30 of the base 16 is disposed on the platform 28 of the base 16, between the pair of resistance assemblies 20.
The support rest 30 of the base 16 is ergonomically shaped for supporting a forearm 32 of the user 14 resting thereon during use (
D. Specific Configuration of the Pair of Pivoting Assemblies 18.
Each pivoting assembly 18 comprises a post 34.
The post 34 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends upwardly from the platform 28 of the base 16 to an upper end 36, are parallel to each other, and straddle the support rest 30 of the base 16.
Each pivoting assembly 18 further comprises a fulcrum 38.
The fulcrum 38 of each pivoting assembly 18 is disposed at the upper end 36 of the post 34 of an associated pivoting assembly 18.
The fulcrum 38 of each pivoting assembly 18 has a top 40 and a slot 42.
The slot 42 of the fulcrum 38 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends laterally thereacross, and depends from, and opens into, the top 40 of the fulcrum 38 of an associated assembly 18.
The fulcrum 38 of each pivoting assembly 18 further has a through bore 44.
The through bore 44 of the fulcrum 38 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends laterally thereacross, and communicates with the slot 42 of the fulcrum 38 of an associated pivoting assembly 18.
Each pivoting assembly 18 further comprises a lever arm 46.
The lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 has a forward end 48, a back end 50, and a through bore 52.
The through bore 52 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends laterally therethrough, and is disposed closer to the back end 50 of the lever arm 46 of the associated pivoting assembly 18 than the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of the associated pivoting assembly 18 so as to provide a mechanical advantage.
The lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 rests pivotally in the slot 42 of the fulcrum 38 of an associated pivoting assembly 18, with the through bore 44 of the fulcrum 38 of the associated pivoting assembly 18 in alignment with the through bore 52 of the lever arm 46 of the associated pivoting assembly 18.
Each pivoting assembly 18 further comprises a pivot pin 54.
The pivot pin 54 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends through the through bore 44 of the fulcrum 38 of an associated pivoting assembly 18 and the through bore 52 of the lever arm 46 of the associated pivoting assembly 18 to thereby allow the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 to pivot relative to the fulcrum 38 of the associated pivoting assembly 18.
The forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends downwardly, and forms a head 56.
The head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 has a plurality of through bores 58.
The plurality of through bores 58 of the head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 extends laterally therethrough, and are vertically spaced-apart.
The grip 22 extends through one through bore 58 of the head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of one pivoting assembly 18 to a corresponding through bore 58 of the head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of the other pivoting assembly 18.
The back end 50 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 is bifurcated to form a clevis 60.
E. Specific Configuration of the Pair of Resistance Assemblies 20.
The specific configuration of the pair of resistance assemblies 20 can best be seen in
Each resistance assembly 20 comprises a post 62.
The post 62 of each resistance assembly 20 extends upwardly from the platform 28 of the base 16 to an upper end 64, are parallel to each other, straddle the support rest 30 of the base 16, and are positioned behind, and in alignment with, the post 34 of the pair of pivoting assemblies 18, respectively.
Each resistance assembly 20 further comprises a hat 65.
The hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 comprises a brim 66 and a crown 68.
The crown 68 of the hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 extends coaxially upwardly from the brim 66 of the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20.
The brim 66 of the hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 is a disk-shaped brim 70.
The hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 has a central blind bore 72.
The blind bore 72 of the hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 slidably receives the upper end 64 of the post 62 of an associated resistance assembly 20 so as to allow the hat 65 of the associated resistance assembly 20 to ride up and down along the upper end 64 of the post 62 of the associated resistance assembly 20.
The clevis 60 of the back end 50 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 pivotally receives the crown 68 of the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20 so as the pair of pivoting assemblies 18 pivot, the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20 rides up along the upper end 64 of the post 62 of the associated resistance assembly 20.
The clevis 60 of the back end 50 of the lever arm 46 of each pivoting assembly 18 is pivotally maintained to the crown 68 of the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20 by a clevis pin 74.
Each resistance assembly 20 further comprises resistance member subassemblies 76.
Each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 comprises an elastomer 78.
The elastomer 78 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 depends from the disk-shaped brim 70 of the brim 66 of the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20 to the platform 28 of the base 16 so when the grip 22 is gripped by the hand 26 of the user 14 and pivoted downwardly, the pair of pivoting assemblies 18 pivot downwardly which in turn causes the hat 65 of each resistance assembly 20 to ride up along the upper end 64 of the post 62 of the associated resistance assembly 20 under the resistance of the elastomer 78 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of the associated resistance assembly 20.
Each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 further comprises an eye 80.
The eye 80 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 depends from the disk-shaped brim 70 of the brim 66 of the hat 65 of an associated resistance assembly 20.
Each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 further comprises a base hook 82.
The base hook 82 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 extends upwardly from the platform 28 of the base 16, and is in alignment with the eye 80 of an associated resistance member subassembly 76 of an associated resistance assembly 20.
Each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 further comprises an upper hook 84.
The upper hook 84 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 is disposed on an upper end 86 of the elastomer 78 of an associated resistance member subassembly 76 of an associated resistance assembly 20, and replaceably engages in the eye 80 of the associated resistance member subassembly 76 of the associated resistance assembly 20.
Each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 further comprises a lower hook 88.
The lower hook 88 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 is disposed on a lower end 90 of the elastomer 78 of an associated resistance member subassembly 76 of an associated resistance assembly 20, and replaceably engages in the base hook 82 of the associated resistance member subassembly 76 of the associated resistance assembly 20 so as to allow the elastomer 78 of each resistance member subassembly 76 of each resistance assembly 20 to be removed and changed for varying the resistance.
F. Specific Configuration of the Grip 22.
The specific configuration of the grip 22 can best be seen in
The grip 22 comprises a rod 92.
The rod 92 of the grip 22 is a straight, slender, and elongated rod 94.
The straight, slender, and elongated rod 94 of the rod 92 of the grip 22 extends through one through bore 58 of the head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of one pivoting assembly 18 to a corresponding through bore 58 of the head 56 of the forward end 48 of the lever arm 46 of the other pivoting assembly 18.
The grip 22 further comprises a handle 96.
The handle 96 of the grip 22 is a tubular handle 98.
The tubular handle 98 of the handle 96 of the grip 22 coaxially receives the straight, slender, and elongated rod 94 of the rod 92 of the grip 22, and is disposed between the pair of pivoting assemblies 18 for providing a better grip for the hand 26 of the user 14.
G. Impressions.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for exercising a wrist of a user by converting a pivotal motion into a linear motion, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
948140 | Johnson | Feb 1910 | A |
3782719 | Kuhlman | Jan 1974 | A |
3924851 | Winston | Dec 1975 | A |
4155547 | Savio et al. | May 1979 | A |
4351523 | Alexander | Sep 1982 | A |
4770409 | Wallisch | Sep 1988 | A |
5046727 | Wilkinson et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5613927 | Rothacker | Mar 1997 | A |
5676622 | McFarlane | Oct 1997 | A |
5738613 | Clayton | Apr 1998 | A |
5839992 | Phillips | Nov 1998 | A |
5967947 | Glover | Oct 1999 | A |
6146319 | Tarail | Nov 2000 | A |
7753827 | Emick | Jul 2010 | B1 |
20110045953 | Poli | Feb 2011 | A1 |