Exercise devices – Hand – wrist – or finger – Involving wrist rotation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-31
2001-11-06
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Hand, wrist, or finger
Involving wrist rotation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312359
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to exercise apparatus.
2. Description of the Art
Various exercise devices have been created to strengthen different muscles of the human body for general health or for added strength and for flexibility for specific activities or sports.
Many sports use a hitting element, such as a baseball bat, golf club, tennis racket, etc. A strong handgrip is essential for proper bat, club or racket movement and contact with a ball.
However, some general purpose exercise equipment which can be used to strengthen a user's grip or to increase forearm strength is typically bulky, expensive, requires interchangeable weights or attachments and regular use at an exercise facility.
What is needed is a simple, inexpensive, affordable, easy to use exercise device for strengthening a user's handgrip and forearms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an exercise apparatus particularly suited for exercising and strengthening a user's handgrip and forearms.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the exercise apparatus includes a bar having first and second opposed end portions, with each of the first and second end portions having hand grippable shapes. A weight is extensibly and retractably attached to the bar for movement toward and away from the bar as the bar is rotated by a user's hands gripping the first and second end portions.
The exercise apparatus further includes a windable and unwindable weight support attached to the weight and to a center portion of the bar. The weight support is windable and unwindable about the center portion of the bar as the bar is rotated.
The exercise apparatus also includes a weight carrier having an interior chamber adapted for receiving one or more weight elements. The weight element can include a plurality of discrete weight elements.
The center portion of the bar includes first and second spaced annular flanges, each disposed at an inner end of the first and second end portions of the bar. A support extends between the first and second spaced flanges. The weight including a weight support is connected to the cylindrical portion.
In one aspect, the bar is formed as a unitary, one-piece body.
In another aspect, the first and second end portions of the bar have a tapered or contoured exterior shape extending between a large diameter outer end and a smaller diameter inner end.
The grip exercise apparatus of the present invention provides an easy to use, portable, lightweight, inexpensive exercise device for strengthening a user's hand and forearm muscles to provide the user with a stronger grip for use in gripping and swinging various articles, such as sports equipment including golf clubs, baseball bats, tennis rackets, etc. The grip exercise apparatus may also be used for therapeutic purposes to strengthen injured hands, wrists and/or forearms. The grip exercise apparatus has a small shape to facilitate easy portability and storage thereby enhancing its use in many different locations which will facilitate repeated use of the exercise device. One or more discrete weight elements may be removably attached to the weight support coupled to the bar-shaped grip element to also facilitate easy portability and convenient storage since the weight elements can be disengaged from the grip element when not in use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5547441 (1996-08-01), Mora
patent: 5620398 (1997-04-01), Moriarty
patent: 6099437 (2000-08-01), DeMers
Richman Glenn E.
Young & Basile PC
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