Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-04-17
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C473S256000, C482S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217495
ABSTRACT:
PRIOR ART
Exercise apparatus known in the prior art include devices to provide rigid bars for bending, twisting and stretching exercises as well as for swinging exercises and fashioned to simulate tennis racket, baseball bats, golf clubs and exercise bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,925 to Blundo describes a golf swing training apparatus which has a short bent shaft with several rotatable weights mounted on one end and a golf grip on the other.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,414 to Frederickson et.al. describes an exercise bar having a padded middle and turned down handles for bending and twisting exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,790 to Wheatley describes a golf training stick having a hand grip and a tubular member having a weight from 1.25 to 5 pounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,111 to Alvarez describes a practice bat having a handle with one weighted end attached by a resilient spring.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,991 to Boatright describes a isometric golf trainer which consists of a golf club shaft with an elongated head having a series of holes for attaching a cord to the end of the golf shaft for isometric exercise.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,162 to Oates describes a cylindrical exercise bar having a quick release connection in the middle so that the bar can be broken down for transportation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,391 to Seanx describes an exercise device which is a bar with two coupling joints so that the bar can be broken down into three sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,729 to Gabrielidis describes a tennis exercise aid which has a coil spring in the middle and different type handles on each end.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,588,102 to Gifford describes an exercise bar for attaching weights which have handles at each end attached by universal joints.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,281 to Wallo describes a weighted tubular practice golf club made of pipe and weighing 3 to 5 pounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,646 to Nanni describes a tubular exercising device having a sliding weight inside.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,325 to Atkinson describes a golf swing training device which has a soft cylindrical weight of 2½ to 3 ounces attached by an elastic cord to a handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,803 to Batista describes a golf swing training device which has a bag attached to a handle with the bag designed to capture a golf ball and direct it upward so that the golfer can catch the ball after he scoops it up with the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,930,342 to Graham describes a golf practice club having a pear shaped weight attached by a chain to a shore golf club handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,385,642 to Restein describes a toy having rubber balls attached to each end of a stick.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 282,477 to Estevez describes an exerciser having a sphere attached to one end of a shaft with a heart shaped handle attached to the other end.
International Patent Application number PCT/US 89/01145 describes a resilient exercise apparatus having a fiber glass-resin rod with rectangular cross-section and a rubber sheath and handles at each end which is used for bending to exercise.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This invention provides an exercise apparatus which can be used for exercise or for warming-up before play by a golfer. Although the apparatus is most advantageous for a golfer, it can be used for general exercise and for other sports. The apparatus has a particular shape, weight distribution and selected total weight to allow the golfer to use the apparatus prior to play both to loosen and strengthen the neck, shoulders, arms, back, legs, waist and the torso generally by placing the apparatus behind the neck and across the shoulders. In this position the apparatus can be flexed forward and downward for benefit to the neck and shoulder muscles. By rotating the upper body with the apparatus across the shoulders, the waist and back muscles can be loosened and strengthened. The apparatus can be gripped at either end and swung as a golf club. The total weight and distribution of the weight can help stretch, loosen and strengthen the body and muscles to improve the golf game with these exercises and the apparatus can be used in similar fashion for any athlete.
The apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical rod or shaft at the middle having a high flexure modulus so that the shaft resists bending and works the body muscles as the shaft is bent during exercise. At each end of the shaft extended hand-grips allows for holding the apparatus by either or both ends. Within the hand-grips weights of high density materials are located and shaped to give the apparatus proper balance for both torso exercises and swinging exercises as described herein. The upper torso exercises loosen, extend and strengthen the muscles of the arms, neck, back, legs and upper body which are used extensively for playing golf. These exercises improve timing, balance grip, strength and the golf swing itself. The weights can be selected to give the effect of one or many golf clubs, thereby improving the golfers' control of any playing club. The weights are located in a position on the apparatus to give the proper swing mechanics of the apparatus during the swinging exercises. The total weight is selected for both the swinging exercise, strength and torso exercises. The flexure strength of the middle section or shaft is selected to give the desired resistance for the upper torso and strength exercises, especially for the upper arms and shoulder pulls.
One arrangement of the apparatus produces an exercise apparatus symmetrical both in proportion and weight distribution about its major or central axis and about a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the shaft and the major axis of the shaft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3820781 (1974-06-01), Kane
patent: 4518162 (1985-05-01), Oates
patent: 4538806 (1985-09-01), Wilkerson
patent: 5026063 (1991-06-01), Rhodes
patent: 5083790 (1992-01-01), Wheatley
patent: 5135455 (1992-08-01), King et al.
Mulcahy John
Nisbett Robert
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