U.S. patent number 3,910,573 [Application Number 05/502,838] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-07 for four piece isometric exerciser.
Invention is credited to Michael Jamba.
United States Patent |
3,910,573 |
Jamba |
October 7, 1975 |
Four piece isometric exerciser
Abstract
An exerciser consisting of only four small parts. A two
position, narrow foot rest, two adjustable hand grips and a strong,
small size nylon rope connecting the strips to the footrest.
Completely assembled, ready for use, the exerciser weighs only
about 4 ounces. When not in use, it makes a small compact package
and storage is not a problem. By pulling on the hand grips and
pushing on the foot rest it exerts one group of muscles against
another group of muscles, involving the whole human body, providing
a handy, practical, economical, efficient, effective exercising
device. After this simple exerciser is adjusted to the individual,
no other attachments or adjustments are required.
Inventors: |
Jamba; Michael (Stamford,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23999628 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/502,838 |
Filed: |
September 3, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/0023 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/002 (20060101); A63B 021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/79R,82,81 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shapiro; Paul E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cushman, Darby & Cushman
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercising device comprising:
an elongated footrest having a central and two end portions,
said footrest having a pair of openings in its central portion,
said openings being spaced apart a distance sufficient to
accommodate one foot of a user therebetween,
said footrest having a pair of slots, one in each of its end
portions, said slots extending inwardly from the outermost portion
of said end portions towards said openings, the innermost extreme
of said slots being spaced apart a distance sufficient to
accommodate both feet of a user therebetween,
a rope having two end portions and a bight portion positioned
between said openings, and
a hand grip secured to each end portion of said rope.
2. An exercising device in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising means for adjustably positioning each hand grip on said
rope end portions.
3. An exercising device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
means for adjustably positioning each hand grip comprises a hole
extending through the hand grip, the end portion of said rope
extending through said hole and being wrapped once around said hand
grip with the free end of said end portion extending between said
hand grip and said wrapped portion of said rope end portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Daily exercise is recognized by the health authorities as
essentially beneficial to maintain good physical health. For the
lack of exercise by so many people today in all age groups, there
is a real need for a simple, handy, economically constructed,
efficient, portable, flexible, compact, practical individual
exerciser. This invention is a novel and improved exerciser
designed to tone up and strengthen the muscles, body joints and
improve the blood circulation of the whole human body and at the
same time, help to lose excess weight. This can be accomplished by
the individual using this exerciser, daily, for only one or two
minutes before getting out of bed in the morning, if desired or any
other suitable place, and for only one or two minutes just before
retiring at night. This novel, efficient exerciser reduces the time
limit for exercising the whole body, to a minimum and no other
attachments or exercisers are needed. One can use this exerciser on
a bed or any suitable level surface, in a lying down or sitting
position, which is the most relaxed and most comfortable position
to exercise.
The invention comprises four parts -- a narrow footrest having a
pair of slots each extending into the footrest from one end and a
pair of separated openings therethrough between the slots, a pair
of handgrips, and a rope attached at either end to a handgrip and
passing through the openings and slots.
It can be used daily by anyone, young or old, within reason. One
can exert as much or as little pull on their arms or push on their
legs, as desired, one has full control of this exerciser at all
times. This novel, convenient exerciser is a very practical
exerciser invented and designed to replace the old bulky,
impractical, obsolete, expensive exercisers that are not very
useful after people buy them. If an exerciser is not handy and
practical it looses its value and usefulness. Today, the average
person is not interested in becoming a champion in competitive
sports. The average person should have available a simple,
convenient, practical exerciser that will help him to keep
physically fit to maintain good health. This device can be
manufactured at a price low enough, so that each individual can own
one of his own to use. It is always adjusted to the individual user
so that it can be made ready to use in a matter of seconds.
When this exerciser is not in use, with the hand grips attached to
the rope the rope can be wound on each end of the foot rest and the
rope forced into the narrow slots at each end of the foot rest, to
keep it from unwinding. This makes a small, light, compact package
size 2 .times. 2 .times. 10 inches long, that weighs around only
four ounces when completely assembled. It can be carried in a
pocket or stored under the pillow of the bed or any convenient,
small place.
The small size of this exerciser is novel and has a very important
advantage for people living in trailers, mobile homes and small
houses because where it is used and storage is no problem, for
example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the exerciser of this invention assembled and ready to
use with two feet;
FIG. 2 shows the exerciser assembled and ready to use with one
foot;
FIG. 3 shows the exerciser ready for storage when not in use;
FIG. 4 shows a top view of the rope tied on the handgrip;
FIG. 5 shows a side view of the rope tied on the handgrip;
FIG. 6 shows a view of the handgrip;
FIG. 7 shows a partial perspective view of a plastic footrest.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts throughout the
illustrations. Referring to FIG. 1 in this position as illustrated,
the narrow two position foot rest No. 12 is wide enough for both
feet when exercising the whole body. It also illustrates the small
size, single length of nylon or suitable rope No. 13 after it is
cut to a length, long enough for tall people. The rope is threaded
thru the two small holes in the foot rest No. 12 at No. 14 and
pulled thru until both ends of the rope No. 13 are the same length
from the foot rest No. 12. Then each loose end of rope No. 13 is
forced up thru the small slots at No. 15 made at each end of the
foot rest No. 12 at 15. From here each end of the rope No. 13 is
threaded thru the small holes in the center of the hand grips No.
10 at No. 16. Then the rope No. 13 is encircled once around the
hand grips No. 10 and tied by the rope tie No. 17 as illustrated by
FIGS. 4 and 5. The distance from the hand grips No. 10 to the foot
rest No. 12 can be adjusted to any desired length, by the
individual, by simply adjusting the rope tie No. 17 at the hand
grips No. 10. The slots No. 15 on the foot rest 12 are made narrow
to offer resistance to the rope No. 13 so that the rope No. 13 does
not come out of the foot rest No. 12 too easily when inserted into
the slots No. 15.
FIG. 2. Illustrates how the narrow two position foot rest is made.
Two small holes No. 14 are bored thru a piece of wood or suitable
material such as plastic or aluminum or other material. The holes
No. 14 are large enough for the rope No. 13 to go thru the holes
easily. The size of the foot rest is approximately 1 inch by 11/2
inches by 10 inches long. The two small holes No. 14 are spaced
wide enough apart to allow one foot to be centered and rest
comfortably between the ropes No. 13 that go thru the foot rest No.
12 at No. 14. Two narrow slots are cut the same length, one at each
end of the foot rest No. 12 about 1 inch long at 15.
This is done to make it unnecessary to untie the hand grips when
changing the exerciser from one foot to a two position foot rest.
To change the foot rest all one has to do, is to turn the foot rest
over into the desired position, and by forcing the rope in or out
of the narrow slots at each end of the foot rest, this sets the
foot rest in a narrower or wider position. When the two position
foot rest is in this position as illustrated, only one foot and one
leg can be exercised, with both arms and hands holding onto the
hand grips 10.
FIG. 3. Illustrates the exerciser ready for storage when not in use
with the hand grips No. 10 left attached to the rope No. 13. The
rope No. 13 can be wound up on each end of the foot rest No. 12 and
kept from unwinding by forcing the rope No. 13 into the narrow
slots at No. 15 at each end of the foot rest No. 12, as illustrated
in FIG. 3. This makes a small, light, compact package, small enough
to be carried in a purse or pocket. It weighs about 4 ounces,
completely assembled. The rope No. 13 unwindes quickly by simply
pulling the hand grips No. 10 out away from the ends of the two
position foot rest No. 12. It is then ready for use again in a
matter of seconds.
FIG. 4. Illustrates a top view of the rope tie No. 17. Rope No. 13
is once encircled around the hand grip No. 10, showing how the rope
No. 13 crosses under the rope No. 13, as it comes out of the hole
No. 16 in hand grip No. 10. It also illustrates how the hole No. 16
in hand grip No. 10 is counter sunk a little at No. 19 to make a
cavity for the tie No. 17 to settle down into when pressure is
applied to the hand grip No. 10, as the rope tie No. 17 tightens
up.
FIG. 5. Illustrates the side view of the rope tie No. 17. The rope
No. 13 is once encircled around the hand grip No. 10, the same way
as in FIG. 4. When pressure or pull is applied to the hand grip No.
10, the encircled rope tie No. 17 around No. 10, is automaticly
forced to follow the bevel No. 18, that slants toward the center of
the hole No. 16 on the under side or opposite of the counter sunk
hole, on the hand grips No. 10. This pressure wedges the rope tie
against the straight rope No. 13, that comes out of the center hole
No. 16 of the hand grip No. 10 that leads to the foot rest No. 12.
This holds the rope No. 13 tightly in place to the hand grips No.
10, forming or completing the rope tie No. 17. At the same time
that pressure is applied to the hand grips No. 10, the rope tie No.
17 is pulled down into the counter sunk cavity No. 19 on the hand
grip No. 10. This pressure tightens up the rope tie No. 17 and
makes a secure, non slip hold on the hand grips No. 10. The harder
one pulls on the hand grips No. 10 the tighter the rope tie No. 17
holds. Since the rope tie No. 17 is not a knot, it can be easily
loosened by simply pulling slightly on the ends of the rope No. 13,
when ever it is necessary to adjust the hand grips No. 10 to a
different position. This rope tie 17 and hand grip No. 10 are very
important, novel features of this exerciser.
FIG. 6. Illustrates how the hand grips are made. A small hole No.
16 is bored thru the center of a piece of wood doweling, or any
suitable material such as plastic tubing or aluminum tubing or
other material, size three quarters of an inch outside diameter by
about 5 inches long. One side of the hole No. 16 in the hand grip
No. 10 is counter sunk slightly at No. 19, to make a cavity or room
for the rope tie No. 17, to sink into, when the rope tie No. 17 is
drawn tight. The other side of the hole No. 16 in the hand grip No.
10 is beveled No. 18 on only one side of the hole No. 16. and
slants toward the center of the hole No. 16 in the hand grip No.
10. This is done to automatically force the rope tie No. 17 toward
the center of the hole No. 16 and to wedge the rope tie No. 17
against the rope No. 13 when the rope tie No. 17 is drawn up tight,
forming a non slip rope tie No. 17, securely fastened to the hand
grips No. 10, this is another important, novel feature of this
exerciser.
FIG. 7. Illustrates only one half of a plastic two positioned foot
rest No. 12. This plastic foot rest No. 12 is oval in shape, but
can be made in any shape that is comfortable. The size is about
five eighths of an inch thick by 11/2 inches wide by ten inches
long. It can also be made in all sizes to fit the whole family. The
plastic foot rest No. 12 has the same placement of holes No. 14 and
end slots No. 15 as the one in FIG. 2. This plastic foot rest No.
12 has a slip resistant tread No. 20 on both sides of the foot rest
No. 12 that comes in contact with the bottom of the feet, making it
comfortable and more sure footed when it is used. And can be used
in the same way as foot rest No. 12 in FIGS. 1 2 and 3.
When in a sitting position and both feet are placed on the foot
rest No. 12, the hand grips No. 10 should be adjusted on the rope
No. 13 by the rope tie No. 17, to about 6 inches above the knees,
when the rope No. 13 is held taut between the foot rest No. 12 and
the hand grips No. 10. Once the exerciser is adjusted to fit the
user no other adjustment is required to exercise the whole human
body. The hand grips No. 10 are easily adjustable by pulling
lightly on the ends of the rope No. 13 at the hand grips No. 10,
this loosens the tie so the length can be adjusted. It is
unnecessary to untie the rope at the hand grips No. 10. to make
adjustments. The longer the distance between the hand grips No. 10
and the foot rest No. 12, the milder the exercise. The shorter the
distance between the hand grips No. 10 and the foot rest No. 12 the
more vigorous can be the exercise. One can start exercising in a
lying down position, with both feet on the foot rest No. 12 and
both hands on the hand grips No. 10, one starts by pushing down on
foot rest No. 12, this raises the back up as far as one desires,
then by pulling on hand grips No. 10, bending knees toward chest as
far as one desires, raising both feet upward, and rocking the body
up and down, repeating as desired.
With both feet on the foot rest No. 12 and both hands on the hand
grips No. 10 one pulls on the hand grips No. 10, bending the knees
slightly, raising the feet up as the back goes backward, using a
rocking motion, then pushing the feet and legs forward on the foot
rest No. 12, raising the back up to a half sitting position.
Continue repeating this exercise while at the same time rocking up
and down and turning the body from left to right and back again in
a turning and rolling motion. At the same time one is flexing the
arches of the feet and ankles on the narrow foot rest No. 12. This
is also a good exercise to flex and limber up the muscles and the
body joints the first thing in the morning before getting out of
bed. It takes only about a half a minute each morning and each
night to keep physically fit, this is a time saving, novel feature
of this exerciser.
The exerciser can be used to exercise only one foot and one leg,
when in a lying down position, by pushing and pulling and bending
the one knee and pulling it toward the chest as far as desired and
repeating as often as one wishes. This exercise is done with the
foot rest No. 12 in position for using only one foot and leg to be
exercised. This maybe necessary when the other leg is in a plaster
cast or for some other reason cannot be exercised.
The exerciser can be used to strengthen the back and leg muscles to
develop good posture, and also exercise muscles that are seldom
used. This is done by arching the back and middle of the body up
and down with the legs held rigid. All of the above exercises
illustrated can all be performed without changing the adjustments
of the hand grips No. 10 after the the hand grips have been
adjusted to the individual. These exercises can be performed in
moderate or in vigorous motions, depending entirely on the
individual. One has full control of this exerciser at all
times.
* * * * *