U.S. patent number 3,653,659 [Application Number 05/065,369] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-04 for wrist exerciser device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Whittaker Corporation. Invention is credited to Harold Zinkin.
United States Patent |
3,653,659 |
Zinkin |
April 4, 1972 |
WRIST EXERCISER DEVICE
Abstract
An improved wrist exerciser device with a pair of pivotally
mounted hand grips which are rigidly held together along a unitary
axis. Each hand of a user alternately squeezes a hand grip against
a shaft which automatically repositions the other hand grip outward
from the shaft for the user subsequently to squeeze with his other
hand. The device can be readily adjusted with respect to the
resistance necessary to squeeze the hand grips and includes the
aforementioned hand grips, a connector which secures the device to
a shaft extending therethrough in the same plane as the hand grips,
and a tightening mechanism, including a first and second plate, the
latter bearing a resistance indicator dial, friction imparting
disc, and pivot mounting.
Inventors: |
Zinkin; Harold (Fresno,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Whittaker Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22062231 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/065,369 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/49;
482/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
23/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
23/035 (20060101); A63B 23/16 (20060101); A63b
021/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/67,79R,80,DIG.3,DIG.4,DIG.5,68 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Stouffer; R. T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An improved wrist exerciser device which comprises in
combination:
a. handle means including
1. a pair of hand grips along a generally unitary axis; and
2. a tongue interconnecting said hand grips;
b. connector means including
1. means defining an aperture extending generally parallel to said
hand grips; and
2. securing means adapted to releasably secure said connector means
to a shaft when disposed through said aperture;
c. tightening means comprising
1. a first plate secured to said connector means and disposed
adjacent one side of said tongue;
2. a second plate disposed adjacent the opposite side of said
tongue;
3. locking means extending between said plates and releasably
securing them together;
4. friction spacer means disposed between at least one of said
plates and said tongue; and
5. pivot means extending through said plates, spacer means and
tongue at a point remote from said hand grips, connector means and
locking means and adapted to adjust frictional resistance to
pivoting of said tongue relative to said plates.
2. The improved device of claim 1 wherein said pivot means
comprises a threaded shaft, a nut releasably disposed around said
shaft and fixedly secured to said first plate, a dial pointer
secured to said shaft adjacent the outer surface of said second
plate and spaced therefrom, and washer means disposed between said
dial pointer and said second plate.
3. The improved device of claim 1 wherein said hand grips and
tongue are unitary and wherein said hand grips project from
opposite sides of and adjacent one end of said tongue and include
surface indentations adapted to receive fingers of the hand.
4. The improved device of claim 1 wherein said connector means and
said first plate are unitary, wherein said means defining said
aperture comprises a split ring connector with a pair of spaced
ears and wherein said securing means comprises a threaded bolt,
disposed through apertures in said ears, and a nut on said
bolt.
5. The improved device of claim 4 wherein said locking means
includes a shaft extending through apertures in said second plate,
tongue and connector ring and wherein said aperture in said tongue
is slotted to permit pivoting of said tongue around an axis
generally parallel to said hand grips.
6. The improved device of claim 5 wherein said friction spacer
means comprise a first leather disc disposed between said first
plate and tongue and a second leather disc disposed between said
second plate and tongue and wherein said dial pointer comprises a
wing nut.
7. The improved device of claim 6 wherein said second plate
includes indicia disposed on the outer surface thereof adjacent
said pointer and wherein said handle means, connector means and
plates comprise aluminum.
8. The improved device of claim 7 wherein said pivot means
comprises a threaded shaft, a nut releasably disposed around said
shaft and fixedly secured to said first plate, a dial pointer
secured to said shaft adjacent the outer surface of said second
plate and spaced therefrom, and washer means disposed between said
dial pointer and said second plate and wherein said hand grips and
tongue are unitary and wherein said hand grips project from
opposite sides of and adjacent one end of said tongue and include
surface indentations adapted to receive fingers of the hand.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to exerciser devices.
2. Prior Art
Various devices have been provided for conditioning, developing and
rehabilitating finger, hand and wrist muscle groups. However, many
of such devices are expensive and most have no means for adjusting
the force required to turn components of the device in order to
obtain the desired exercise. Even those devices which appear to
have means for adjusting the tension or force required do not
provide means for visually and accurately indicating the extent of
that force nor for re-adjusting or recalibrating such means as
components of the device wear or loosen. Accordingly, it would be
desirable to provide a simple, inexpensive, uncomplicated unitary
device capable of performing the aforesaid desired functions in an
efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is as generally summarized in The Abstract
herein. It is particularly directed to an improved exerciser device
adapted to condition, develop and rehabilitate simultaneously the
muscle groups which control the action of the fingers, hand and
wrist. The device is constructed such that both hands alternately
exercise on the device and in so exercising automatically
reposition the device for continuing exercise. The device is
designed to be releasably connected to a shaft extending generally
in the same direction as the pair of hand grips provided for the
device.
The hand grips are in turn connected through a rearwardly extending
tongue to tightening means comprising a pair of plates spaced from
opposite sides of the tongue and pivotally connected therewith but
fixedly secured to each other. The lower plate is connected to
means securing the device to a transversely extending shaft. The
tongue and hand grips can pivot relative to the plates and shaft.
Friction spacer means are disposed between the two plates adjacent
the opposite surfaces of the tongue and means are provided whereby
the plates can be controllably proximated to the spacer means and
tongue so as to increase or decrease the resistance of the device
to have the tongue and grips pivot.
In use, the device is installed by connecting the device to the
shaft and the shaft to a support, such as a gym apparatus. The
device is gripped in a manner such that the fingers of each hand
extend over the hand grips on opposite sides of the tongue and the
thumbs of each hand hook over the transversely extending shaft.
Force is then applied to move the fingers and thumb of one hand
towards each other thereby pivoting the tongue and hand grips. The
hand grip on the side where the force is applied will move close to
the shaft. The opposite hand grip is automatically moved away from
the shaft. The fingers and thumb of the opposite hand disposed
around the shaft and second hand grip are then proximated to pivot
the tongue and move that hand grip close to the shaft. Thus,
alternate exercise of one hand and then the other can take place.
The device is simple, inexpensive and durable and is readily
adjustable with regard to the extent of resistance to pivoting.
Also, it can be recalibrated when the spacer means begin to wear by
tightening and relocating the pivoting means in the device.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the
device of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the section line 4--4 of FIG.
2; and
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Tongue and Hand Grips
Now referring more particularly to the improved wrist exerciser
device of the present invention, FIG. 1 depicts a preferred
embodiment of the device 10 in perspective view. Device 10 includes
handle means 12 comprising a pair of spaced hand grips 14 and 16,
preferably provided with finger-receiving depressions 17 on the
front surfaces thereof, and a tongue 18 interconnecting hand grips
14 and 16 at their inner margins adjacent one end 20 of the tongue.
Preferably, tongue 18 includes a flat portion 22 extending
rearwardly of the hand grips 14 and 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
portion 22 being interconnected with grips 14 and 16 through front
end 20. End 20 is at approximately a right angle to portion 22 and
extends down to grips 14 and 16, also as shown in FIG. 1.
Accordingly, portion 22 is spaced above and rearward of grips 14
and 16.
Connector Means
Device 10 is connected to a shaft 24 disposed generally parallel to
and rearward of hand grips 14 and 16, as shown in FIG. 1, by
connector means 26 which define an aperture 28 adapted to receive
shaft 24, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Thus,
aperture 28 is defined by a split ring 30 having a gap 32 and ears
34 and 36 disposed on opposite sides of gap 32 each containing
aligned apertures 38 and 40 through which securing means adapted to
secure releasably the device 10 to shaft 24 are disposed, for
example, a threaded bolt 42 to which is secured a threaded nut 44
adapted to proximate ears 34 and 36 when tightened on bolt 42.
Tightening Means
First Plate
Connector means 26 is connected adjacent its upper rearward end 46,
as shown in FIG. 3 and 4, to a rearwardly extending plate 48
generally parallel with portion 22 of tongue 18. Plate 48 is spaced
from portion 22 by spacer means 50 comprising a first disc 52 made
of leather, cork or other wear-resistant friction-imparting
material. Plate 48, together with spacer means 50 and a second
plate 54 (disposed generally parallel to but spaced from the
opposite surface of portion 22 of tongue 18, as shown in FIGS. 1-5
inclusive) form with pivot means (hereinafter described) means for
adjusting the force required to turn tongue 18 and the associated
hand grips 14 and 16 relative to shaft 24, also as hereinafter more
particularly described.
Second Plate
Second plate 54 includes on its outer (upper) surface visible
indicia, preferably in the form of a numbered dial 56 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, for indicating the force required to turn tongue 18
relative to shaft 24. A second disc 58 is disposed between plate 54
and the adjacent portion 22 of tongue 18 as a friction-imparting
portion of spacer means 50.
Locking Means
Plate 54 is fixedly secured to plate 48, preferably in a releasable
manner as by locking means 60 comprising a shaft 62 extending
through apertures 64 and 66 in the forward end of plates 54 and 48
respectively, and through an aligned aperture 68 in tongue 18, all
as shown in FIG. 2. Aperture 68 is slotted in a direction generally
along the axis of hand grips 14 and 16 to permit pivoting of tongue
18 relative to shaft 24 and plates 48 and 54. Shaft 62 is received
in tightly fitting engagement within aperture 66 in plate 48
adjacent the intersection of plate 48 and connector means 26. Shaft
62 may be threaded, tapped, wedged or otherwise releasably secured
in place within aperture 66 such that a head 69 at the opposite end
of shaft 62 abuts the outer surface of plate 54, whereby plates 48
and 54 are secured together and act as a unit.
Pivoting Means
Plates 48 and 54 are further secured to each other through pivot
means 70 adjacent the rear end of plates 48 and 54, as shown in
FIGS. 1-5 inclusive. Pivot means 70 comprises a threaded shaft 72
extending through apertures 74, 76 and 78 in plate 48, portion 22
and plate 54 respectively, and apertures 77 and 79 in discs 52 and
58 respectively, and a nut 80 threaded on the end of the shaft 72
adjacent plate 48 and dimensioned to sit securely within a recess
82 in plate 48. Shaft 72 is provided with an aperture 84 through
which a locking pin 86 holding nut 74 in place thereon is
positioned, as particularly shown in FIG. 3.
Shaft 72 is provided with a wing nut 88 spaced from the adjacent
surface of plate 54 in the area of dial 56 by a washer 90. Wing nut
88 bears an indicator pointer 92 for dial 56. Wing nut 88 is
fixedly secured to shaft 72 so that when it is turned shaft 72
turns therewith while nut 74 remains in a fixed location.
Accordingly, tongue 18 can pivot relative to plates 48 and 54.
Adjustability
Wing nut 88 can be turned to adjustably force plates 48 and 54
towards each other causing them to press with controlled force on
the interposed discs 52 and 58, thereby controlling the frictional
resistance to pivoting of tongue 18 during use of device 10. The
particular degree of force necessary to overcome such resistance to
pivotal movement of tongue 18 is indicated in a relative manner by
the position of pointer 92 relative to the indicia on dial 56. Such
force can be carefully controlled by turning wing nut 88 to the
desired position. Moreover, this force can be reproduced merely by
setting wing nut 88 and its pointer 92 in each instance to the same
location relative to dial 56.
Recalibration
Over a period of use of device 10, some wear of discs 52 and 58 may
cause the frictional resistance to pivoting of tongue 18 to
decrease for any given setting. In such an instance, pin 86 can be
withdrawn and shaft 72 unthreaded from nut 80. Shaft 72 can then be
turned slightly and then reengaged with nut 80, after which pin 86
can be reinserted. The extent of turning of shaft 72 before
reengagement can be controlled such that pointer 92 will be at zero
just before noticeable frictional resistance to pivoting of tongue
18 is encountered during turning of nut 78 and pointer 92 relative
to dial 56. That is, device 10 can thus be recalibrated to a zero
resistance reading on dial 56 for a friction-free condition in
pivoting of tongue 18.
Preferably, grips 14 and 16 are integral with tongue 18 and
connector means 26 is integral with plate 48. Also preferably,
plates 48 and 54, hand grips 14 and 16, tongue 18 and connector
means 26 are largely or totally fabricated of aluminum or other
light metal. Alternatively, one or more of such components can be
fabricated of steel, brass, durable plastic, plastic impregnated
wood or other suitable materials. The same is true of wing nut 88.
Preferably, the remaining components of device 10, except discs 52
and 58, are fabricated of hardened material, such as steel or the
like. Discs 52 and 58 can be made of any suitable material,
preferably cork, leather of the like which provide the or
cushioning and frictional resistance while minimizing wear of the
engaged surfaces of plates 48 and 54 and tongue 18.
CONCLUSION
The present exerciser device provides a novel inexpensive means for
exercising various muscle groups which control the fingers, hand
and wrist. Both hands are exercised alternately with the one device
under any selected reproducible resistance. Initially, low
frictional resistance may be used, and the resistance can be
controllably increased as muscle strength and/or physical training
requirements increase. When the device is used from time to time by
more than one person, each user at any particular time can
accurately adjust the frictional resistance via the dial setting
for his own purposes. The device can also be recalibrated as
needed. The device is of simple durable construction, is readily
connected to and disconnected from the usual types of gym
apparatus, and can be easily repaired and serviced.
Various changes, modifications, additions and alterations in the
present device can be made. All such changes, modifications,
additions and alterations as are within the scope of the appended
claims form a part of the present invention.
* * * * *