U.S. patent application number 11/161707 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for elastic resistance exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Richard DeMarinis, Harold F. JR. Murphy.
Application Number | 20060040813 11/161707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35910359 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060040813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murphy; Harold F. JR. ; et
al. |
February 23, 2006 |
ELASTIC RESISTANCE EXERCISE APPARATUS
Abstract
An elastic resistance exercise apparatus having a movable clamp
that attaches to a wall mounted cylindrical pipe or rod. The
position of the clamp is continuously adjustable over the entire
length of the pipe or rod by squeezing and releasing the ends of
the clamp. The clamp then remains in the selected position. At one
end of the clamp is an eye hook to which elastic resistance
attachments may be hitched.
Inventors: |
Murphy; Harold F. JR.; (Mays
Landing, NJ) ; DeMarinis; Richard; (Mays Landing,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANLEY H. KREMEN
4 LENAPE LANE
EAST BRUNSWICK
NJ
08816
US
|
Family ID: |
35910359 |
Appl. No.: |
11/161707 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60522146 |
Aug 20, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/148 ;
482/121; 482/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0442 20130101;
A63B 21/0552 20130101; A63B 71/023 20130101; A63B 21/16 20130101;
A63B 21/169 20151001; A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 2208/0204
20130101; A63B 21/4013 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/148 ;
482/092; 482/121 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/00 20060101
A63B021/00; A63B 21/02 20060101 A63B021/02 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus comprising a first member (302) and a
second member (202) wherein: a) the first member comprises a first
straight element from which a first curved element (301), having a
cylindrical first concave and first convex face, protrudes from one
end of the first straight element and from which a second straight
element protrudes from the opposite end of the first straight
element such that a plane that passes completely through the member
can be constructed so as to pass through the first and second
straight elements and the first curved element, and wherein: (i)
said first straight element further comprises a cylindrical hole
(307) drilled therethrough, said hole being drilled parallel to the
plane; (ii) said second straight element has a smaller cross
sectional area in a direction parallel to the plane than the first
element; and, (iii) a cylindrical element (305) protrudes from the
second straight element on the same side as the concave face, said
cylindrical element being perpendicular to the second member and
parallel to the plane; (b) the second member (202) comprises a
third straight element from which a second curved element (201),
having a cylindrical second concave and second convex face,
protrudes from one end of the third straight element and from which
a fourth straight element protrudes from the opposite end of the
third straight element, and a fifth straight element (203) that
protrudes from the third straight element perpendicular to the
fourth straight element on the same side as the concave face, such
that a plane that passes completely through the member can be
constructed so as to pass through the third, fourth, and fifth
straight elements and the second curved element, and wherein: (i)
said third straight element further comprises a cylindrical hole
(207) drilled therethrough, said hole being drilled parallel to the
plane; (ii) said fourth straight element has a smaller cross
sectional area in a direction parallel to the plane than the third
element; (iii) a cylindrical element (205) protrudes from the
fourth straight element on the same side as the concave face, said
cylindrical element being perpendicular to the second member and
parallel to the plane; and, (iv) said fifth straight element (203)
further comprises a cylindrical hole (204) drilled therethrough,
said hole being drilled parallel to the plane; (c) a rubber bushing
(8) placed between the first and third straight members; (d) a
connecting rod passing through the first and third straight members
via the cylindrical holes (207) and (307) drilled therethrough, and
also passing through rubber bushing (8); (e) a spring (5) connected
on one end to the cylindrical element (305) protruding from the
second straight member and on the other end to the cylindrical
element (205) protruding from the fourth straight member; and, (f)
an eye hook (6) firmly attached to the fifth straight member (203)
and passing through the hole (204) drilled through the fifth
straight member.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a
cylindrical rod (9) about which the apparatus is clamped firmly in
place in a variable position by the first (301) and second curved
elements (201).
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an elastic
member (11) having handles that is hooked onto eye hook (6) by a
claim (12).
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein the number of handles
is two.
5. A method of preparing the apparatus of claim 3 for use
comprising: a) squeezing the first (302) and second (202) straight
members together open and close the clamping first (301) and second
(201) curved elements; b) adjusting the position of the apparatus
along the length of rod (9); and, c) hooking the elastic member
(11) onto the eye hook (6).
6. A method of using the apparatus of claim 4 comprising manually
flexing the elastic member in such a was as to provide tension,
thereby exercising the limb that flexes the elastic member.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising flexing the elastic
member by holding both handles with two hands.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising flexing the elastic
member by holding one handle with one hand.
9. The method of claim 6 further comprising wrapping one handle
around a foot, ankle, or shin, and flexing the elastic member using
leg movement.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is the U.S. non-provisional
counterpart of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/522,146 filed on
Aug. 20, 2004 which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety thereto. This patent application claims the benefit of and
priority to said provisional application.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] People have used adjustable exercise units with removable
elastic attachments for at least the last century. U.S. Pat. No.
680,556 granted to H. W. Wieland on Aug. 13, 1901 discloses his
EXERCISER which comprises an adjustable length strap with a first
metal unit having a support hook that clamps to the top of a door
with an adjustable screw and a second metal unit (identical to the
first metal unit) having a support hook that clamps to the bottom
of the door with an adjustable screw. The strap also has a movable
clamp to which elastic exercise attachments may be affixed. The
movable clamp may be positioned almost anywhere on the strap. Over
the years, there have been a number of portable elastic exercise
units that clamp onto doors. Representative among these are
described in the following U.S. Patents: TABLE-US-00001 PATENT NO.
INVENTOR DATE TITLE 4,830,365 March May 16, 1989 Home Fitness Gym
5,571,064 Holm Nov. 05, 1996 Elastic Exercise Device With Segmented
Handle 5,601,518 Weintraub Feb. 11, 1997 Portable Exercise Device
5,766,118 Conner Jun. 16, 1998 Apparatus For Exercising Abdominal
Muscles 5,839,994 Elbogen Nov. 24, 1998 Portable Musculature
Exercising Device 6,322,483 Rotella Nov. 27, 2001 Adjustable Strap
And Band Exercise Device Mountable on Door
[0003] A number of similar devices are currently sold for mounting
on walls. These are not portable devices. For example, Lifeline USA
mounts a right angle rail on a wall. The rail has closely spaced
holes into which two brackets are clamped. An elastic attachment is
hitched to one of the two brackets and pivoted about the other. The
brackets may be fastened to any of the holes, thereby allowing for
non-continuous height adjustment. Prepak also sells a wall mounted
rail unit that uses a single bracket with non-continuous height
adjustment. Synergy Rehab Systems sells a wall mounted short pipe
around which an attachment may be wrapped. This system provides for
continuous height adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present application discloses a device that comprises a
special clamp comprising two metal parts held loosely together at a
junction by a rod connecting the two parts and held separated by
tension from a spring. When squeezed together, the two parts pivot
at the junction thereby opening the clamp for secure positioning on
a cylindrical member. The rod-spring combination provides a
mechanical bias for the clamp at the junction pivot so that the
clamp tends to return to its original position once the squeezing
pressure is released. Except for the spring and rod arrangement,
the clamp operates very much like a clothespin. One of the two
metal parts is larger than the other. A closed eye hook is
permanently affixed to the end of the larger part. The device
further comprises a metal pipe or rod that is mounted to a wall. By
squeezing and releasing the ends of the clamp, the clamp may be
positioned anywhere along the pipe or rod. Removable elastic
attachments may be hitched to the eye hook.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the clamp. FIG. 1(a) shows the
clamp in the normally closed position. FIG. 1(b) shows the clamp in
the open position when squeezed at the points shown.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the component parts of the
clamp. FIG. 2(a) shows the large part while FIG. 2(b) shows the
small part.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the clamp attached to
a cylindrical pipe or rod.
[0008] FIG. 4 shows the clamp affixed to a pipe or rod with an
exercise attachment hitched to the clamp eye hook.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows how exercise attachments may be hitched to the
eye hook and removed therefrom.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows how the device may be positioned to permit
horizontal arm and shoulder exercise.
[0011] FIG. 7 shows how the device may be positioned to permit
vertical arm and shoulder exercise.
[0012] FIG. 8 shows how the device may be positioned to permit leg
exercise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the clamp 1. Large part 2 and
small part 3 are attached together by a connecting rod (not shown)
passing through rubber bushing 8. Spring 5 separates parts 2 and 3.
The parts are free to pivot around point 4. Eye hook 6 is affixed
to large part 2. FIG. 1(a) shows the clamp in the normally closed
position. The ends of parts 2 and 3 are held together at confluence
7. FIG. 1(b) shows the clamp in the open position when squeezed at
the points shown. Here, the ends of parts 2 and 3 are held apart at
confluence 7.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the component parts of the
clamp. FIG. 2(a) shows the large part 2 while FIG. 2(b) shows the
small part 3. Parts 2 and 3 each have a curved end, 201 and 301,
and a straight member 202 and 302. The straight member 202 is
larger than straight member 302. In large part 2 only, another
straight member 203 juts out perpendicular to member 202. A hole
204 to house eye hook 6 is drilled through member 203. Holes 207
and 307 for connecting the parts at their pivot point are drilled
through parts 2 and 3 respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, a spring (not shown) is held in place by protrusion 205 and
305.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of clamp 1 attached to a
cylindrical pipe or rod 9. The ends of parts 2 and 3 are held apart
at confluence 7 by pipe or rod 9, but are held together around pipe
or rod 9 by compressive force from spring 5 (not shown). The clamp
is held tightly in a fixed vertical position on pipe or rod 9, but
may rotate around the pipe or rod in the horizontal plane. An end
of connector 10 is shown in the figure. Connectors 10 fit through
hole assemblies (206 and 207) and (306 and 307) and through rubber
bushing 8.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows exercise attachment 11 hitched to clamp 1
around eye hook 6 using an attaching hook 12. FIG. 5 shows how an
exercise attachment may be hitched to clamp 1 by manually attaching
hook 12 to hook 6.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows how the device may be positioned to permit
horizontal arm and shoulder exercise, and shows a subject using the
device in this manner. FIG. 7 shows how the device may be
positioned to permit vertical arm and shoulder exercise, and shows
a subject using the device in this manner. FIG. 8 shows how the
device may be positioned to permit leg exercise, and shows a
subject using the device in this manner.
* * * * *