Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – User interface element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-01-09
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
User interface element
C482S093000, C482S106000, C482S108000, C016S422000, C294S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171221
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fitness exercise units, in general, and to a type of extension bar attractive for use in fitness centers, health spas and gyms, and by home gym owners, in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A person need only take a one-two minute tour of an operating fitness center, spa, or gym to observe the many different kinds of apparatus available for use. Taking a second walk-around the facility, the observer will note that many of the professional equipments are used primarily by patrons interested in body building, while other equipments are primarily used for rehabilitation exercising. Upon reflection, it would therefor become desirable if a fitness exercise unit could be had which would prove beneficial to both these classes of patrons at the center, as well as to other members who are just interested in maintaining good health. It would also be desirable, furthermore, if such a fitness exercise unit could be had for use by a home gym owner, and which could be transported about easily, from place-to-place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As will become clear from the following description, the fitness exercise unit of the present invention incorporates a spring-controlled, extension clamp, along with adjustable arm stirrups and handles for use in doing such exercises as bent-over rows, squats and lateral movements. As will also become clear below, many advantages follow from the construction:
1. By providing an extension clamp, more muscle can be worked at a lower range of motion for the same opposing weight; at the same time, by means of the extension clamp, the resistance range can be increased, again without increasing the weight.
2. Less stress is produced on the wrists, while providing an increased range of motion for the weight then being handled.
3. A wide variety of exercises can be performed, utilizing conventional barbells, pull-up bars, dumbbells, and any other type of weight bar in a manner to allow a the user to get under the center of gravity in lessening the bending over of the back, thereby reducing stress on the lumbar musculature.
4. With the spring-controlled extension clamp, a quick-lock mechanism results in allowing a circuit of exercise equipment to be made without stopping to adjust pins, locks or other weights in changing from one exercise to another.
5. With the arm stirrups being adjustable, and with the handle positioning to be described, the wrists of the user are held in a neutral position, without pronation or supination, for increased safety both for the wrists and for the arms.
6. The fitness exercise unit is easily foldable, able to be carried about in a gym bag—and only of a weight of some 12 lbs., when fabricated, for example, of stock steel.
7. The spring-controlled extension clamp is constructed with a non-slip material so that it can easily secure to any barbell, dumbbell, pull-up bar, etc., without sliding—and is adaptable to couple with weight bars of between 1 and 1½ in. diameter.
8. With the extension clamp, with the handles, and with the adjustable arm stirrups, many different exercises can be performed—such as arm curls, preacher curls, front raises, chest pull-overs, biceps maneuvers, and a variety of additional lateral movements not easily doable with present equipment, amongst others.
As will be seen from the following description, the spring-controlled extension clamp, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is of a length of 6 in. measured from the center of the clamp to the center line of the opposing left-and-right handles. In this preferred construction, the clamp is configured tubular (and of a 1 to 1 ½ in. inner diameter), with a finger control actuation for the clamp available while holding a handle in actuating the clamp open or closed. The adjustable arm stirrup is spring-loaded, to vary the degree of lateral movement available to the elbows in controlling the pressure and stresses on their joints. As will also be seen, the arm stirrups and handles are padded for comfort.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1625255 (1927-04-01), Hudgins
patent: 4720096 (1988-01-01), Rogers
patent: 5613928 (1997-03-01), Lavdone
Brodsky Charles I.
Mulcahy John
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