Exercise Device

Abstract

An exercise device for performing resistance exercises may include a discontinuous exercise frame, a first detachable handle connected to a first cable to extend over a first pivotable pulley device being detachably connected to the exercise frame and a second detachable handle connected to a second cable to extend over a second pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame. The exercise device may include a third detachable handle connected to a third cable to extend over a third pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame, and the exercise device may include a fourth detachable handle connected to a fourth cable to extend over a fourth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame. The exercise device may include a fifth detachable handle connected to a fifth cable to extend over a fifth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame, and the exercise device may include a sixth handle being connected to a sixth cable which may extend over a sixth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame. The exercise frame may be substantially circular, and the exercise device may include a platform to connect to the exercise frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise device and more particularly to an exercise device that provides resistance to the legs, abdominal, chest, back, shoulder, arm and hand.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Injuries to the hand, wrist and/or forearms (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, surgically repaired wrists and the like) typically require prolonged periods of physical therapy and rehabilitation in an attempt to fully recover and reclaim full strength and improved range of motion to the injured muscles, tendons and ligaments in the affected areas. There is currently a great need for a hand, wrist and forearm rehabilitative device that facilitates a user's ability to recover full strength and full range of motion to the injured region. There is also a great need for the exercising device that facilitates the strengthening and the full range of motion in the hands, wrists and forearms for users who exercise with the device, enabling users to deliver more strength and increased range of motion in athletic activities that require such capabilities, including, but not limited to golf and tennis.

[0003] Numerous hand, wrist and forearm exercising and rehabilitating devices are provided in the prior art. A few examples of such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,933 issued to Cedro; U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,813 issued to Macdonald; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,309 issued to Fox. Despite the great variety of exercising and rehabilitative devices available there remains a need for a device capable of providing users with a means of strengthening the muscles, ligaments and tendons of an injured wrist, hand or forearm with the support of the healthy wrist, hand or forearm, while simultaneously improving the full range of motion.

[0004] Additionally, there remains a need for a device that will shorten the duration of rehabilitation time typically required for rehabilitating an injured hand, wrist and/or forearm, and enable the user to substantially regain full strength and range of motion to the injured region. There is also a need for an exercise device the will enable a user to strengthen and build muscles, as well increase the full range of motion for the user's arms, legs, abdominal, just, back, hands, wrists and/or forearms by engaging in exercising protocols that use the device.

[0005] In human anatomy, the shoulder is that part of the body where the arm attaches to the torso. Articulations between the upper arm bone, the collarbone, the shoulder blade, and the associated muscles, ligaments, and tendons that attach these three bones together make up the shoulder joints. A properly working shoulder is flexible over a wide range of motion required in the arms and hands. However, this tremendous range of motion also makes the shoulder extremely unstable, far more prone to dislocation and injury than other joints.

[0006] The shoulder is one of the most commonly injured joints in the body. This is due to the complex arrangement of the surrounding ligaments and tendon muscle groups that are needed for, first, stabilization of the joint, and then, second, for providing a coordinated movement of the shoulder through a three-dimensional space at varying velocities of acceleration and deceleration. Unlike the hip joint, which includes a bone socket for support, the shoulder lacks a bone socket and relies solely on the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments for support and stabilization.

[0007] The rotator cuff is an anatomical term given to the group of small muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. Moving the shoulder through space requires the coordinated activation and deactivation of the rotator cuff while permitting the larger power muscle group, such as the deltoid and pectoral muscles, to provide the needed acceleration and torque when engaged in any type of throwing or swinging activity. Sports that place high demands on such coordinated efforts include baseball, football, tennis, volleyball, golf, and racquetball, just to name a few. Essentially any activity that requires the use of the arm needs shoulder stability and control to function. These may be anything from hanging a jacket on the coat rack to playing ping-pong or basketball, or holding onto the rope while water skiing.

[0008] Shoulder exercises typically are intended to strengthen the shoulder, thus preventing injury; or to rehabilitate the shoulder after injury or surgery. The most basic equipment for the aid of strengthening of the shoulder is the dumbbell. Free-weights allow front to back, up and down, or side-to-side exercises. The larger power muscles are strengthened while the small stabilizing muscle groups are ignored. Exercise rubber bands or tubes, and cable weight systems function similar to free weights. That is, unidirectional strengthening of muscle groups. By varying the technique of how the tube or the cable is pulled, a person may exercise some specific rotator cuff muscles. However, these exercise movements work on only a few muscle groups at a time in a unidirectional manner without the ability to vary the level of intensity during the workout period. The above is equally true for arms, legs, abdominal, chest and back

[0009] A device, the Bodyblade (U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,262), does require the coordinated efforts of a few opposing muscle groups during the exercise routine. It also has a benefit of allowing the individual to vary the intensity of the workout while in the midst of doing the workout by varying the speed or magnitude at which one moves the Bodyblade. However, again, it lacks multidirectional, proprioceptive training of all of the surrounding shoulder muscle groups at the same time.

[0010] The Dyna-Flex Pro Gyro Trainer or the Dyna-Flex Power Ball Gyro Trainer are hand-held devices that use gyroscopic principle for strengthening primarily of the wrist and forearm. However, these trainers include limitations such as (1) that the resistance cannot be varied much during use as it is preset predominantly by the pull of the cord in the rotor groove, and (2) very little resistance or workout ability can be transferred to the shoulder joint. The Center Force Golf Dyna Max Core Gyro Trainer, although an excellent device, it again strengthens primarily the wrist and forearm grip strengths. The shoulder muscle groups are not isolated for dedicated strengthening because this device has to be gripped onto tightly by the hand, thus the effect of the exercise is directed to the hand, wrist, and forearm via the gripping force that is required while holding onto this device.

[0011] The most expensive and complex piece of machinery that physical therapy and rehabilitation centers posses is the Upper Body Ergometer (UBE). This essentially is a freestanding machine with two crank peddles that allow the user to peddle through as if "riding the bicycle" with the arms. Variable resistances may be set. Drawbacks of the UBE include its expense, non-portability, and lack of variability for training of different shoulder muscle groups.

[0012] As noted above, traditional shoulder exercise devices provide exercises in a unidirectional--side-to-side or up and down--manner. However, the shoulder functions in a complex multidirectional manner through three-dimensional space. Although traditional exercises provide some benefits, they lack an ability to strengthen and educate the shoulder in a multidirectional manner that is needed for the numerous types of demands placed upon the shoulder by an infinite number of types of activities. Thus, there is a need for an improved shoulder exercise device for shoulder strengthening and rehabilitation.

SUMMARY

[0013] An exercise device for performing resistance exercises may include a discontinuous exercise frame, a first detachable handle connected to a first cable to extend over a first pivotable pulley device being detachably connected to the exercise frame and a second detachable handle connected to a second cable to extend over a second pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

[0014] The exercise device may include a third detachable handle connected to a third cable to extend over a third pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame, and the exercise device may include a fourth detachable handle connected to a fourth cable to extend over a fourth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

[0015] The exercise device may include a fifth detachable handle connected to a fifth cable to extend over a fifth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame, and the exercise device may include a sixth handle being connected to a sixth cable which may extend over a sixth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

[0016] The exercise frame may be substantially circular.

[0017] The exercise device may include a platform to connect to the exercise frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the exercise device of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of another exercise device of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the exercise device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] This patent discloses an exercise device to strengthen and rehabilitate, the legs, the abdominal, the chest, the back, the arm, the shoulder, the wrist and the hand.

[0023] The present invention provides for resistance exercises for the legs, the abdominal, the chest, the back, the hand, wrist, arm and shoulder of the user and may provide resistance simultaneous exercise for each of the legs, the abdominal, the chest, the back, hand, wrist, arm and shoulder of the user.

[0024] The present invention provides for the resistance to be applied from directly above the user, resistance to be applied directly at substantially shoulder height of the user and the resistance to be applied below the shoulder height of the user. The angle that the resistance applied may be varied in accordance with the needs of the user, and the angle of resistance applied may be different for each of the legs, the abdominal, the chest, the back, the hand, the wrist, the arm and the shoulder of the user.

[0025] The exercise frame 201 may be used to provide rehabilitation of substantially all muscle groups of the user by providing toning of the muscles, strengthening of the muscles and significantly improving the range of motion for the user.

[0026] The exercise frame 201 may be adapted for fitness and aerobatic training of substantially all muscle groups, and the exercise frame 201 may be adapted for muscle building, may be adapted for weight management of the user and may be adapted for resistance training of substantially all the muscles of the user. The present invention may be adapted to use free weights at the side, front or back of the user.

[0027] The present invention may include an exercise frame 201 which may be a discontinuous circular shaped frame which may have a circular cross-section, and oval cross-section or and multi-sided cross-section and the exercise frame 201 may be connected to a central platform 203 which may be positioned on a support surface 205. The exercise frame 201 may be a continuous frame or the exercise frame 201 may be used without the central platform 203. The present invention may include a pulley device 112, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123 which may be detachably and pivotably connected to an exercise frame 201 and the pulley device may provide a pivot point for a cable 105 so that the cable 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 151 may extend and retract along the pulley device 112, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123 and may pivot so that the user may receive resistance exercise from many locations with respect to the exercise frame 201. Consequently, the user may be positioned directly under the exercise frame 201 may be positioned in front of the exercise frame 201, may be positioned to the rear of the exercise frame 201 and may be positioned to either side of the exercise frame 201. Furthermore the user may be positioned with a combination of these positions, for example to the front and side of the exercise frame 101. Advantageously, these features allow the user significant flexibility in obtaining exercise resistance. The user may be sitting in a chair or wheelchair and obtain the exercise resistance. The user may be lying on the support surface or may be standing or kneeling around the exercise frame 201.

[0028] A first handle 101 may be detachably connected to a first cable 131 which may extend around the first pulley 112 which may extend around the eighth pulley 125 and may be detachably connected to the first weight 153 which may be in a change with lighter or heavier weights in order to decrease or increase the resistance to the user.

[0029] Furthermore, the exercise frame 201 may include a second handle 103 which may be positioned at substantially the top of the exercise frame 201 and which may be detachably connected to a second cable 133 which may extend around a second pulley device 113 and may extend around the seventh pulley device 119 and which may be detachably connected to the second weight 115 which may be on a opposite/opposed side of the exercise frame 201. The second weight 115 may be heavier or lighter in order to provide additional or less resistance to the user.

[0030] At a lower position which may be substantially at shoulder height, the exercise device 100 may include a third handle 105 which may be connected to a third cable 135 which may extend around the third pulley device 115 and which may extend around the seventh pulley device 119 and may be detachably connected to the second weight 155.

[0031] At a lower position which may be substantially at the feet of the user, the exercise device may include a fourth handle 107 which may be connected to a fourth cable 137 which may extend around a fourth pulley device 117 and which may extend around the seventh pulley device 119 and which may be detachably connected to the second weight 155.

[0032] At a lower position which may be at shoulder height, the exercise device 100 may include a fifth handle 109 which may be opposed in position to the third handle 105 and which may be connected to a fifth cable 139 which may extend around the fifth pulley device 121 and which may extend around the eighth pulley device 125 and which may be connected to the first weight 153.

[0033] At a yet lower position which may be substantially at the feet of the user, the exercise device 100 may include a fifth handle 109 which may be detachably connected to a fifth cable 139 which may extend around the fifth pulley 121 and which may extend around the eighth pulley 125 and which may be detachably connected to the first weight 153.

[0034] The user may stand, sit or lie on the platform 203 or alternatively on the support surface 205 which may be connected to the exercise frame 201. The user may grasp the first handle 101, the fifth handle 109 or the sixth handle 111 to pull against resistance generated by the first weight 153 which may be connected to the first cable 131, the fifth cable 139 or the six cable 151, respectively. Likewise, the user may grasp the second handle 103, the third handle 105 or the fifth handle 109 to pull against resistance generated by the second weight 155.

[0035] At the opposed lower position which may be substantially at the feet of the user, the exercise device 100 may include a sixth handle 111 which may be detachably connected to a sixth cable 151 which may extend around the six pulley 123 and may extend around the eighth pulley 125 and may be detachably connected to the first weight 153.

[0036] The cable 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 151 may be formed from metal, plastic, cloth or other appropriate material and may be flexible in order to extend around the pulleys 152, 153, 155, 157, 121, 123, 119, 125 and may be non-stretchable or may be stretchable (in order to provide inherent resistance which may eliminate the need for the weights 153, 155). The cables may be tubing, ropes, cables, wires or other devices. The flexible cable may be bands such as bungee bands having variable resistance in a band to allow the user a flexible workout.

[0037] The exercise frame 201 may be circular, oval, two-sided, three sided, four sided, five sided, six sided or any other appropriate shape. The platform may be removable and foldable.

[0038] The pulleys 1112, 113, 115, 117, 121, 123, 119, 125 may be detachably connected to the exercise frame 201 and may be attached to other positions and may include other pulleys.

[0039] The weights may be detachably connected in order to change the resistance by changing the weight size.

[0040] The exercise frame 201 may include additional support members such as bars in order to provide support and to provide additional exercise opportunities such as chin-ups etc.

[0041] The handle 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111 may be a gripper or any other type of attachment device.

[0042] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates another exercise device 300 which may include the exercise frame 201 and may include a first handle 101 which may be detachably connected to a first cable 131 which may extend over a first pulley device 112 and may extend over a central pulley device 126 which may be pivotably connected to a rear frame member or rear wall 303. The first cable 131 may be detachably connected to a third weight 157.

[0043] The exercise device 300 may include a second handle 103 which may be detachably connected to a second cable 133 which may extend over a second pulley device 113 and may extend over the central pulley device 126 to be detachably connected to the third weight 157.

[0044] The exercise device may include a third handle 105 which may be detachably connected to a third cable 135 which may extend over the third pulley 115 and which may extend over the central pulley 126 to be detachably connected to the third weight 157.

[0045] The exercise device may include a fourth handle 107 which may be detachably connected to a fourth cable 137 which may extend over the fourth pulley 117 and which may extend over the central pulley 126 to be detachably connected to the third weight 157.

[0046] The exercise device 100 may include a fifth handle 109 which may be connected to a fifth cable 139 which may extend over a fifth pulley 121 and which may extend over the central pulley 126 and which may be connected to the third weight 157.

[0047] The exercise device 100 may include a sixth handle which may be connected to a sixth cable 151 which may extend over the sixth pulley 123 and which may extend over the central pulley 126 and which may connect to the third weight 157.

[0048] The cables 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 151 are retractably connected to at least one of the first weight 153, the second weight 155 or the third weight 157.

[0049] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises, comprising: a substantially circular discontinuous exercise frame; a first detachable handle connected to a first cable to extend over a first pivotable pulley device being detachably connected to the substantially circular discontinuous exercise frame; a second detachable handle connected to a second cable to extend over a second pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the substantially circular discontinuous exercise frame.

2) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises as in claim 1, wherein the exercise device includes a third detachable handle connected to a third cable to extend over a third pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

3) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises as in claim 1, wherein the exercise device includes a fourth detachable handle connected to a fourth cable to extend over a fourth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

4) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises as in claim 1, wherein the exercise device includes a fifth detachable handle connected to a fifth cable to extend over a fifth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

5) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises as in claim 1, wherein the exercise device includes a sixth handle being connected to a sixth cable which may extend over a sixth pivotable pulley being detachably connected to the exercise frame.

6) (canceled)

7) An exercise device for performing resistance exercises as in claim 1, wherein the exercise device includes a platform to connect to the exercise frame.

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