U.S. patent application number 10/832115 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for muscle conditioning device.
Invention is credited to Schwendeman, Cory.
Application Number | 20040266593 10/832115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33544184 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040266593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwendeman, Cory |
December 30, 2004 |
Muscle conditioning device
Abstract
While performing push-ups, the individual pushes against a pair
of swivel devices between his hands and the floor or other
supporting surface. As his body is raised, he twists the swivel
devices in mutually opposite first directions through arcs of
180.degree. or more, and as his body is lowered back toward the
floor, he twists the devices in mutually opposite second directions
through 180.degree. or more. The combined pushing and twisting
actions increase the conditioning of muscles in the wrists and arms
not otherwise fully exercised by conventional push-ups. Each swivel
device includes a non-rotatable base and a swivel member rotatably
secured to the base for carrying out the twisting action about an
upright axis. Each swivel device has a gripping handle to
facilitate clenching of the user's hand substantially into a fist
as he performs the conditioning routine.
Inventors: |
Schwendeman, Cory; (Olathe,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY WILLIAMS LLP
2405 GRAND BLVD., SUITE 400
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108
US
|
Family ID: |
33544184 |
Appl. No.: |
10/832115 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60465744 |
Apr 25, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/14 20130101;
A63B 23/12 20130101; A63B 23/1236 20130101; A63B 21/4035
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/140 |
International
Class: |
A63B 026/00; A63B
071/00 |
Claims
1. A muscle conditioning device comprising: a base adapted to rest
on a horizontal supporting surface; and a swivel member rotatably
secured to said base and adapted to be manually twisted by a user
about an axis of rotation passing through the base while the user
pushes forcefully downwardly against the member, base, and
supporting surface.
2. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, said swivel
member including a handle adapted to be gripped by a user during
the twisting and pushing action.
3. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, said handle
comprising a bar spaced above said base and extending in transverse
relation to said axis.
4. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 3, said bar
being so disposed that said axis of rotation intersects the bar
intermediate opposite ends thereof.
5. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, said swivel
member including a generally U-shaped body having a pair of
laterally spaced apart arms projecting generally upwardly away from
said base and a bight interconnecting said arms generally adjacent
the base, said swivel member further including a gripping handle
spanning said arms adjacent upper ends thereof in spaced relation
to the base.
6. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 5, said base
having a spindle projecting upwardly therefrom, said bight of the
swivel member being journalled on the spindle.
7. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 6, further
comprising an anti-friction component between the bight of the
swivel member and the base.
8. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 7, further
comprising a non-skid surface on a bottom side of said base.
9. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 8, said
non-skid surface comprising a non-skid, compressible pad secured to
the bottom side of the base.
10. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an anti-friction component between the base and the
swivel member.
11. A muscle conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a non-skid surface on a bottom side of said base.
12. In a muscle conditioning method, the improvement comprising:
while performing push-ups on a supporting surface, pushing against
a pair of swivel devices on the supporting surface with the user's
hands to raise and lower the user's body and simultaneously
twisting the devices with the user's hands about respective upright
axes.
13. In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in claim 12, said
twisting being carried out in one direction with each hand during
raising of the user's body and in the opposite direction during
lowering of the user's body.
14. In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in claim 13, said
twisting in each direction being approximately 180.degree..
15. In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in claim 12, said
pushing action being carried out with the user's hands clenched
around handles on the swivel devices.
16. In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in claim 15, said
upright axes of the twisting motion passing generally
longitudinally through the forearms of the user.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of provisional
application Ser. No. 60/465,744, filed Apr. 25, 2003, incorporated
into the present application by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of muscle
conditioning devices and methods for strengthening muscles of the
human body
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0003] Many athletes such as martial artists, boxers and pitchers
perform extensive physical conditioning exercises to strengthen
their arms while improving the quick muscle response of the muscles
in each arm. Push-ups are often performed as part of such
exercises, wherein the person's body is positioned parallel to the
floor with only their toes and hands touching the floor or other
flat surface. The exerciser then repetitively raises and lowers the
body while pushing against the floor with his hands, keeping the
back and legs straight. While conventional push-ups are helpful for
some of the muscle groups, there are several smaller muscle groups
in the forearms and upper back that may not be fully exercised by
this technique.
[0004] The present invention provides a way of obtaining improved
and more effective conditioning of various muscle groups used when
punching or throwing. In the present invention, as the person
pushes away from the floor and then lowers himself back down to the
floor as in conventional push-ups, he simultaneously rotates his
forearms by 180.degree. or more to more nearly simulate the actual
throwing or punching actions performed during such activities.
Preferably, the person's hands are clenched to form fists during
the pushing and twisting motions.
[0005] In one preferred form of the invention, a pair of swivel
devices are grasped by opposite hands of the user alongside
opposite sides of his body. Instead of pushing directly against the
floor or other supporting surface, the exerciser grips and pushes
against the swivel devices to raise and lower his body in
repetitive motions while simultaneously twisting the devices about
upright axes that are generally aligned with and pass through the
user's forearms during the exercise routine. Each swivel device has
a sturdy, normally horizontally extending handle that is gripped by
the user and which is rotatably secured to a stationary base having
a non-skid lower surface that engages and remains in place against
the floor or other surface during the workout. Foam grips on the
handles of the devices and foam pads on the bottom sides of the
devices increase the user's comfort during workouts. The relatively
lightweight, portable nature of the devices allows them to be
transported to and used at any number of different convenient
locations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a muscle conditioning
device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention and useful in carrying out the steps of my novel
method;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view thereof taken
substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device
illustrating the different components thereof; and
[0011] FIGS. 6 and 7 are illustrations of the manner of using a
pair of the devices in performing an exemplary exercise
routine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the
specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the
invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of
example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the
present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments.
[0013] Each muscle conditioning device 10 includes a base 12
adapted to rest on a horizontal supporting surface such as a floor,
and a swivel member 14 rotatably secured to base 12 and adapted to
be manually twisted about an axis of rotation passing through the
base. Swivel member 14 includes a generally U-shaped body 16 formed
from a piece of sturdy plate material such as steel to present a
pair of laterally spaced, upstanding arms 18 and 20 that are
interconnected at their lower ends by a bight portion 22.
Preferably, arms 18, 20 taper as their upper ends are approached
and are rounded at such upper ends to avoid the presence of sharp
comers or points. Preferably, bight 22 has its opposite lateral
edges convexly rounded to likewise avoid the presence of sharp
comers and the like.
[0014] Swivel member 14 further includes a handle 24 formed in part
by a tubular cross bar 26 that is rigidly affixed at its opposite
ends to the upper, inside surfaces of arms 18 and 20. Cross bar 26
is adapted to extend essentially horizontally during use of device
10 and is spaced above bight 22 a sufficient distance that the
user's knuckles and fingers have more than adequate clearance to
facilitate easy gripping of handle 24. Preferably, a tubular, foam
sleeve or grip 28 encircles bar 26 to provide comfort and
facilitate a secure gripping action.
[0015] Bight 22 has a centrally disposed hole 30 that receives a
short, upright spindle 32 defining the axis of swiveling or
twisting movement of swivel member 14. Spindle 32 has an enlarged,
circular head 34 and a shank that includes an intermediate portion
36 of somewhat smaller diameter than cap 34 and an end portion 38
that is smaller in diameter than intermediate potion 36. Due to the
enlarged diameter of head 34 relative to hole 30, head 34 remains
above hole 30 and slightly overlaps adjacent portions of bight
22.
[0016] Base 12 includes a flat, rigid base plate 40 provided with a
nonskid bottom surface presented by a foam pad 42. Pad 42 is bonded
or otherwise suitably affixed to the bottom side of base plate 40
and conforms in shape to the configuration of base plate 40 as
viewed in plan. In one preferred form of the invention, base plate
40 is shaped somewhat in the nature of a cross to present legs or
arms that project outwardly beyond the lateral dimensions of swivel
member 14 for added stability during use. Although base 12 is
disclosed as being portable, it may also be immovably affixed to
the floor or other supporting surface.
[0017] Base plate 40 has a centrally disposed hole 44 that is sized
to receive reduced diameter end portion 38 of spindle 32. The
lowermost termination of end portion 38 is substantially flush with
the bottom surface of base plate 40 and is preferably welded or
otherwise suitably rigidly affixed to such bottom surface in order
to render spindle 32 stationary relative to base plate 40. Spindle
32 thus rotatably secures swivel member 14 to base 12 and provides
the axis of rotation 46 about which swivel member 14 twists and
turns during use. Handle 24 of swivel member 14 is aligned directly
above axis of rotation 46 and is intersected thereby. Preferably,
handle 24 is bisected by axis 46 so that equal portions of the
length thereof are disposed on opposite sides of axis 46 between
the axis and the corresponding arms 18 and 20. As viewed in cross
section in FIG. 4, it will be seen that handle 24 is also
symmetrical with axis 46 in a transverse sense.
[0018] To facilitate rotation of swivel member 14 about axis 46,
suitable anti-friction means such as thrust bearings or a simple
Nylon disc 48 are provided between the bottom of swivel member 14
and base plate 40. Disc 48 is provided with a central hole 50
corresponding in diameter to hole 30 in swivel member 14 so as to
rotatably receive enlarged diameter portion 36 of spindle 32.
Although in one form of the invention anti-friction means such as
disc 48 are utilized to reduce the effort needed to twist swivel
member 14 about axis 46, in an alternative embodiment suitable
resistance increasing structure (not shown) may be provided to
increase the effort required to twist swivel member 14 and thus
provide an additional degree of muscular workout for the user.
[0019] One manner of suggested use of the conditioning device 10 is
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown therein, the user in many
respects performs conventional push-ups against a floor 52 or other
suitable surface, placing his toes against the floor, keeping his
body straight and rigid, and using his arms to raise and lower his
body toward and away from floor 52. In accordance with the present
invention, however, instead of placing his hands flatly against
floor 52, the exerciser grips one of the devices 10 in each hand
and places bases 12 against the floor on opposite sides of his body
at the same locations as he would normally directly engage the
floor with his palms. With handles 24 gripped tightly in almost a
complete fist, he then raises and lowers his body by pushing
against handles 24. Simultaneously, using handles 24, he twists the
two swivel members 14 in mutually opposite directions through
included angles of 180.degree. or more to thus exercise the muscles
in the wrists and forearms that would typically be used in a
throwing or punching action. It will be seen in this respect that
each swivel member 14 is rotated about its axis of rotation 46
during this routine and that such axis extends generally upwardly
through and in alignment with the user's forearms. Preferably, as
the user lowers his body toward floor 52, each swivel member 14 is
rotated in a first direction, and then as his body is raised away
from floor 52, each swivel member 14 is rotated in an opposite
direction.
[0020] It will be seen that this basic exercise routine can be
varied substantially to provide different degrees of workout as may
be necessary or desirable. When the exercise routine is completed,
the conditioning devices may simply be picked up and removed to a
convenient storage location.
[0021] The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on
the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably
fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not
materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the
invention as set out in the following claims.
* * * * *