U.S. patent application number 10/214061 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-13 for portable exercise device.
Invention is credited to Cota, Frank, Mabe, Donald E. JR..
Application Number | 20030032536 10/214061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26908647 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030032536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mabe, Donald E. JR. ; et
al. |
February 13, 2003 |
Portable exercise device
Abstract
A portable exercise device for exercising the abdominal muscles
is disclosed. The device includes a wheel and a handle. The handle
is formed from two handle parts that are releasably attachable to
one another to form a bearing surface upon which the wheel is
mounted. Various forms of attachment mechanisms are disclosed which
lock the device into an exercise position and bear the load on the
device when used for exercising. The portable exercise device
provides a strong, lightweight, easy to use device that can be
broken down into three component parts for storage and
transportation and easily assembled to provide a device for
exercising the abdominal muscles.
Inventors: |
Mabe, Donald E. JR.;
(Huntington Beach, CA) ; Cota, Frank; (Whittier,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBLE & YOSHIDA
EIGHT PENN CENTER
SUITE 1350, 1628 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
26908647 |
Appl. No.: |
10/214061 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60310454 |
Aug 8, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/140 ;
482/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/20 20130101;
A63B 23/0211 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/140 ;
482/132 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/00; A63B
026/00; A63B 071/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable exercise device comprising: a wheel having a first
side and a second side, a first handle part including a grip, a
second handle part including a grip, wherein said second handle
part is releasably attachable to said first handle part to form a
handle, and said wheel is mountable on said handle for rotational
movement independent of, and relative to, said handle.
2. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
wheel comprises an outer portion that is slightly deformable.
3. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
handle includes a bearing upon which said wheel is mountable for
rotational movement independent of, and relative to, said
handle.
4. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
first and second handle parts are releasably attachable to each
other by a detent.
5. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
detent includes a biased locking mechanism for releasably locking
the first handle part to the second handle part to prevent relative
movement between the first handle part and the second handle part
during use of the exercise device.
6. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
detent is spring-loaded for the purpose of preventing release of
the detent during use of the exercise device.
7. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
detent is a ball detent.
8. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
detent is a threaded ball detent.
9. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
detent comprises a means for fine-tuning the ball detent.
10. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
first and second handle parts are releasably attachable to one
another by a threaded shaft affixed to one of said handle parts,
and a corresponding threaded bore in said other handle part.
11. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
outer portion of the wheel comprises a deformable polyurethane
material.
12. A portable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
grips are formed from a material having friction and wear
characteristics suitable for providing a good grip on the exercise
device by the user.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 60/310,454, filed
on Aug. 8, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a portable exercise
device.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0005] One of the more popular physical training devices that is
commercially available today is a device for exercising the
abdominal muscles. One such device is known as the so-called
"Ab-Roller." These devices are characterized by a centralized wheel
or wheels, which are designed to roll on the floor or other flat
surface and two handles of some kind affixed to the wheel or
wheels. The user grasps one handle with each hand, and kneels on
the ground bending forward so that the wheel or wheels are on the
ground in front of them. Then, the user goes forward and backward
rolling the wheel on the ground to exercise at least the abdominal
muscles.
[0006] There is a need in the art for a portable version of this
type of abdominal exercise device, which can be easily transported
and stored. There is also a need for a portable abdominal exercise
device that is lightweight and durable. There is a further need for
a portable abdominal exercise device that can be easily
disassembled for storage and reassembled for use.
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of certain embodiments of the
present invention to provide a portable exercise device, which can
be easily transported and stored.
[0008] It is a further object of certain embodiments of the present
invention to provide a portable exercise device that is lightweight
and durable.
[0009] It is a still further object of certain embodiments of the
present invention to provide a portable exercise device that can be
easily disassembled for storage and reassembled for use.
[0010] These and other objects of the present invention will be
apparent from the summary and detailed descriptions of the
invention that follow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a portable exercise device,
which includes at least one wheel and at least two handles attached
to either side of said at least one wheel. The device is
characterized by the fact that it can be easily disassembled into
two or more elements for transport and storage. For this purpose,
the device includes a releasable attachment between the at least
one wheel and the at least two handles attached either side of the
at least one wheel. The device of the present invention is
particularly advantageous in that it can be easily disassembled for
storage and transport and can be easily reassembled for use to
thereby encourage the owner to exercise when travelling away from
home.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of a portable exercise device in
accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the male handle part of a first
embodiment of the exercise device of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a female
handle part of the first embodiment of the exercise device of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a release
pin in accordance with the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the release pin
of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first
embodiment of the female handle part of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of a portion of
a female handle part in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a
male axle for use with the female handle part of FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of along the line 9-9 of
FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a side view of a suitable ball detent for use
with the female handle member 78 of FIG. 9.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ball detent shown
in FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway view of portion of the male
member shown in FIG. 8.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the female
member of FIGS. 7 and 9, which fits with the handle of FIG. 12.
[0025] FIG. 14 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a third
embodiment of the exercise device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The present invention relates to a portable exercise device,
which is especially suitable for exercising the abdominal muscles.
Like numerals in different figures represent the same elements of
the device.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of a
portable exercise device 10 in accordance with the present
invention. The device includes two main parts, a wheel 12 and a
handle 14 formed from handle parts 16, 18. Handle parts 16, 18 each
includes a grip 20, 22 on at least the outer portion of handle
parts 16, 18 for gripping by the user during exercise. Grips 20, 22
may be made from any suitable material and preferably have good
friction and wear characteristics.
[0028] In essence, handle parts 16, 18 can be readily disassembled
from one another and from wheel 12 to reduce the device 10 to three
distinct parts 12, 16 and 18. These parts 12, 16 and 18 can be
easily stored in a relatively small space and can be transported
with, for example, a business traveler. When it is desired to use
device 10, it can be easily reassembled from parts 12, 16 and 18
for use.
[0029] Wheel 12 preferably has an outer portion made of
polyurethane material so that it is soft, slightly deformable and
has good friction and wear characteristics in use. One suitable
wheel 12 for use in the invention is the type of wheel, which may
be found on scooters such as the Razor.RTM. Scooter.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a first embodiment of
handle part 16 which forms part of a device 10 that employs a
detent means to releasably attach handle parts 16 and 18 together.
In this embodiment, handle part 16 is a male handle part, and
handle part 18, shown in FIGS. 3-4, is a female handle part. Male
handle part 16 includes a grip 20, an axle 24 and a locking
mechanism 26. Axle 24 is designed to pass through a central bore
(shown in FIG. 14) having a bearing surface (shown in FIG. 14) in
wheel 12 and into a central bore 69 in female handle part 18.
[0031] Distal end 28 of axle 24 fits into central bore 69 of female
handle part 18 upon assembly. Locking mechanism 26 in axle 24
engages release pin bore 30 in female handle part 18 to lock male
handle part 16 and female handle part 18 together via a snap-fit
arrangement. Locking mechanism 26 is spring-loaded for this
purpose. Central bore 69 in female handle part 18 must have
sufficient clearance for axle 24 of male handle part 16 to slide in
and/or out easily.
[0032] Female handle part 18 includes a release pin bore 32 into
which a release pin 50 fits as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and
6. Release pin 50 includes a slot 52 into which set screw 34 fits
and also includes a head 53. Head 53 is raised up a short distance
54 from female handle part 18 to leave room for a grip, not shown,
and to allow some downward movement of release pin 50 relative to
female handle part 18 to position the bottom surface 56 of release
pin 50 flush with the end of release pin bore 32 for disengaging
locking mechanism 26 when disassembly is desired.
[0033] Below release pin 50 in release pin bore 32 there is a
distance 55, which must be sufficient to allow locking mechanism 26
to fully engage with release pin bore 32. When distal end 28 of
axle 24 is fitted into central bore 69 as shown in FIG. 6, locking
mechanism 26 engages with release pin bore 32 in female handle part
18 to lock male handle part 16 and female handle part 18 together
via a snap fit. Release pin bore 32, must also have sufficient
clearance to permit release pin 50 to move up and down relative to
female handle part 18.
[0034] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, it is not necessary
to have a slot 52 in release pin 50 and the set screw 34 is
omitted. FIG. 3 shows the release pin 50 in the position wherein
locking mechanism 26 locks female handle part 18 with male handle
part 16. FIG. 6 shows the release pin 50 in the position wherein it
disengages locking mechanism 26 to release male handle part 16 from
female handle part 18.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown another embodiment of
the present invention wherein a female handle part 78 includes a
threaded hole 79 therein to accept a spring-loaded ball detent 90.
The distal end of a corresponding male axle 76 is shown in FIG. 8.
Male axle 76 includes a slot 75 therein which aligns with the end
of ball detent 90 in female handle part 78 when the device 10 is
assembled for use. Male axle 76 passes through the central bore in
wheel 12 and into the central bore 80 of female handle part 78.
Male handle part 16 and female handle part 78 are then rotated, for
example about 90 degrees, relative to one another to lock them
together using ball detent 90.
[0036] At the end of the 90 degree travel of ball detent 90 in slot
75, the ball detent 90 is pushed into an indentation 77 to achieve
a snug fit and provides sufficient strength to the device 10 to
bear the user's weight.
[0037] FIGS. 9 and 13 depict a threaded hole 82 through one wall of
the end of the female handle part 79, which includes a central bore
69. Threaded hole 82 is designed to accept a threaded ball detent
90, as shown in FIGS. 10-11. Ball detent 90 includes a slot 93 for
insertion of a screwdriver for assembly and fine-tuning. The ball
91 is spring-loaded by a spring 105 and will require radial force
greater than that developed during normal usage to release the ball
detent 90 from the indentation 77 at the end of slot 75 on male
axle 76.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 11, the details of ball detent 90 are
shown. The ball detent 90 includes a ball 91, a slot 93 for
insertion of a screwdriver and a spring 105 which can be loosened
or tightened by screwing ball detent 90 in slot 79 of female member
78 as described above. FIGS. 12-13 show different views of male
axle 76 and female handle part 78.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 14 there is shown a further embodiment of
the present invention in an exploded view. The device 200 of FIG.
14 includes a male handle part 210, a female handle part 220 and a
wheel 230. Male handle part 210 includes a central portion 211
which is preferably made from a strong, lightweight material to
provide sufficient strength to male handle part 210 to bear the
weight of the user. Male handle part 210 also includes an outer
portion 212, which is preferably made from a soft, resilient
material having desirable frictional properties to function as a
grip for the user.
[0040] Embedded or otherwise affixed in central portion 211 is a
threaded shaft 213 provided with threads 214 on the outer surface
of the distal end thereof and may have a bearing surface 215, as
shown. Threaded shaft 213 should be made from a strong material as
it will have to bear the force of the weight of the user. Threaded
shaft 213 is designed to pass through bore 231 in wheel 230 such
that bearing surface 215 aligns with the internal bearing surface
of bore 231 in wheel 230. Threaded shaft 213 will function as an
axle for wheel 230 and thus bearing surface 215 must allow free
rotation of the internal bearing surface of bore 231 about threaded
shaft 213.
[0041] The distal end of threaded shaft 213 is designed to screw
into threaded bore 223 in female handle member 220 by virtue of
threads 224 on the internal surface of threaded bore 223, until
there it a tight fit between male handle member 210, wheel 230 and
female handle member 220. Female handle member 220 also includes a
central portion 221 which is preferably made from a strong,
lightweight material and an outer portion 222, which is preferably
made from a soft, resilient material having desirable frictional
properties to function as a grip for the user.
[0042] The preferred wheel 230 includes a central portion 232 which
forms the bore 231 and provides strength to wheel 230, and an outer
portion 233 which provides the desired frictional, wear and weight
characteristics to the wheel. Central portion 232 may be made from
metal or hard plastic materials and outer portion 233 is preferably
made from polyurethane, natural or synthetic rubbers or plastics or
other suitable materials. Similarly, central portions 211, 221 may
be made from metal or hard plastic materials and outer portions
212, 222 made be made from polyurethane, polyurethane foams,
natural or synthetic rubbers, plastics or other suitable materials
known for use as grips. Central portions 211, 221 include suitable
materials to form bearing surfaces, where required. Outer portions
212, 221 may optionally include a contour to make gripping the
device easier. One suitable contour includes a plurality of
indentations for each finger of the hand.
[0043] Many modifications and variations within the scope of the
invention will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art
from the foregoing description. The scope of the invention is not
to be limited by the specific embodiments described above.
* * * * *