Exercise devices – Push up device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-02-20
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Push up device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190293
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an exercise apparatus used for performing different types of push-up exercises, allowing the user to optimize positioning for individual use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exercise devices that raise and incline the user are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,252, for example, demonstrates an apparatus that can be placed on a riser or a staircase, thereby raising and inclining the user. The user can only adjust the incline, however, by raising the apparatus to the next riser of the staircase, thereby limiting the amount of adjustment. Unfortunately, the apparatus also requires the user to have access to a staircase that won't be used during the exercise routine. Another disadvantage of this apparatus, however, is the inability to easily adjust the width of the grips to allow for different sized users, or to allow target training of specific parts of the muscles exercised.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,573 reveals a set of three handles ran between a pair of triangular endplates, wherein each handle is placed a different distance from the edge of the endplates. The user can then grip one of the three handles and thereby adjust the incline off the floor, depending on which of the handles used. The variation between the lowest lift and highest lift is thereby dependent on the size of the endplates, and the placement of the handles within the endplates. Unfortunately, in order to have the opportunity for a large inclination, the endplates must be very large, thus making storage a practical issue. Furthermore, the handles are placed parallel to the floor or other resting surface, such that as the inclination angle gets large, undue stress is placed on the wrists and hands due to the handles being at oblique angles to the wrists.
The apparatus described in U.S Pat. No. 5,226,868 provides the user the option adjusting the width of the grips by placing the grips in any of a series of receiver holes. This design, however, does not provide a means of elevating the user to decrease resistance, and it maintains the handles parallel to the floor, thereby putting the wrists of the user in unhealthy angles.
Finally, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,802 provides a pair of handles that are able to rotate in a circle around an axis perpendicular to the floor in an attempt to ease the tension provided on the hands, wrists, and arms. It also provides the user the ability to change the width between the two handles to allow for various sized users, as well as spot training desired muscles.
There still remains, however, a need for an apparatus that can provide a tool easily adjustable for advancing degrees of difficulty while maintaining proper hand placement to prevent undo hand, wrist, and arm strain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides and apparatus which provides an improved method for doing push-ups. The apparatus provides adjustment means for a variety of users, while providing the user with an ergonomic handle that keeps the hands and wrists in the most comfortable and stable position for each specific user.
In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus contains a “U” shaped support base, from which a support riser mounts at the bottom of the support base. The support riser contains an adjustment mechanism consisting of a pair of adjustment plates that have notches cut into them that will support and securely hold a pin or rod. A grip interface, which is essentially a metal rod, is rotatably connected at the bottom of the support riser, and contains a pin on the shaft of the rod that interacts with the adjustment plates. By placing the pin of the grip interface in the desired notches of the adjustment plates, the user can select the inclination and elevation desired for the exercise to be performed. The interface plate notches are cut to allow the apparatus to be adjusted from a position approximately parallel to the floor to incrementally to approximately perpendicular to the floor. The grip interface then extends from the support riser over the support base, and contains ergonomic grips that provide a gripping surface approximately parallel to the body of the user, regardless of the inclination angle of the adjustment mechanism.
Optionally, the distance between the grips can also be adjusted to accommodate different sized users, and to spot-train specific areas of desired muscles. If such an enhanced feature is used, The grip interface contains a channel that rigidly connects to one grip, and provides a pivot pin holding an end of the other grip, with a set of holes drilled into the channel in a line approximately parallel to the front edge of the channel to allow the second grip to be rigidly pinned into the channel at the desired width.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3746335 (1973-07-01), Fichter et al.
patent: 4854573 (1989-08-01), Johannson et al.
patent: 5108092 (1992-04-01), Hurst
patent: 5205802 (1993-04-01), Swisher
patent: 5226868 (1993-07-01), Montgomery
patent: 5336148 (1994-08-01), Ish, III
patent: 5527252 (1996-06-01), Sather
patent: 5529558 (1996-06-01), Koenig
patent: 5536222 (1996-07-01), Banda et al.
Aydelott Richard Michael
Schuyler Richard Donald
Anderson Douglas G.
Crow Stephen R.
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