Abstract:
A hand exercise device comprises a hollow housing with a plurality of apertures extending through its outer wall. Exercise rods extend from the interior of the housing and through the apertures. The rods may have an enlarged section with a cross dimension that is greater than a cross dimension of the apertures for retaining the rods in the housing. Filler material is located within the housing interior. The filler material comprises a plurality of solid particles in frictional engagement with the portion of each rod within the housing to thereby resist sliding movement of the rods when they are either pushed or pulled by a user. Several different embodiments of the hand exercise device are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/089,943 filed on Jun. 19, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly to an exercise device for developing the muscles associated with the hand and fingers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, many individuals have focused attention on total body development through personally tailored diet and fitness programs. This is evident from the growth in fitness centers, retail sales of equipment for use at home and in physical fitness programs, and media attention to the growing public awareness of the need for proper diet and exercise and the benefits to be derived therefrom. 
     Today, fitness centers and retail stores are well-equipped with free weights and body building machines. They also generally include apparatus and other facilities for aerobic conditioning including stationary bicycles, stair steppers, and running machines. In addition, fitness centers are well known for specialized programs of fitness training. 
     Despite the wide range of equipment and programs, exercise devices for development of the hands, fingers and forearms have been largely ignored. It is notable that, despite the many expensive devices commonly found in fitness centers and retail stores, it is difficult to find equipment for increasing the strength and flexibility of the hands, fingers and forearms even though such development is important for properly utilizing the free weights and body building machines such as those commonly found in fitness centers. Even when provided, however, the development and implementation of exercise devices for the hands and fingers has lagged in comparison to other exercise devices. 
     One well known hand exerciser includes a pair of handles joined together at corresponding ends by a coil spring. Another well known hand exerciser consists of a simple rubber ball that is squeezed by the hand of a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an exercise device that is aesthetically pleasing, compact, and essentially self-contained. An exercise device according to the invention comprises a housing having at least one wall portion defining a hollow interior, at least one aperture extending through the wall portion, and at least one elongate rod having opposite ends and a center section located between the opposite ends. The center section of the at least one rod is normally located within the hollow interior and is adapted for slidable movement through the at least one aperture when the rod is pushed or pulled by a user. Filler material is located within the hollow interior. The filler material comprises a plurality of solid particles in frictional engagement with the elongate rod to thereby resist sliding movement of the rod through the at least one aperture. 
     In one embodiment, the housing is substantially of hollow spherical construction. The rod preferably includes an enlarged section positioned either at the center section of the rod or at one or both ends of the rod. The enlarged section has a cross dimension that is larger than a cross dimension of the aperture to thereby prevent separation of the rod from the housing. 
     In another embodiment, the housing includes a front end portion, a rear end portion spaced from the front end portion, and a continuous wall portion extend between, and connected to the front and rear end portions to thereby form the hollow interior. Preferably, first and second spaced apertures extend through each of the front and rear end portions with a first rod extending through the first apertures of the front and rear end portions and a second rod extending through the second apertures of the front and rear end portions. A piston head may be located within the hollow interior and connected between the first and second rods. 
     There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the preferred embodiments may readily be used as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions since they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, which are provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, in partial cross section, of a hand exercise device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an orthographic view of the hand exercise device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an exercise rod according to a second rod embodiment for use in the hand exercise device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an orthographic view of a housing of a hand exercise device according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an exercise rod for use in the embodiment of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the exercise rod taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view in partial cross section of the hand exercise device of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exercise rod according to a third rod embodiment for use with the hand exercise device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a hand exercise device according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 shows in partial cross section a hand exercise device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention positioned in the hand of a user; 
     FIG. 11 is similar to FIG.  10  and shows deformation of the hand exercise device during use; 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a hand exercise device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  12  and illustrating a ball and socket joint of the hand exercise device according to the fifth embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of an exercise rod according to a fourth rod embodiment; 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the exercise rod fourth embodiment taken along line  15 — 15  of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, in partial cross section, of a hand exercise device and showing an exercise rod according to a fifth rod embodiment mounted in a housing of the hand exercise device; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational schematic representation of the hand exercise device of FIG. 16 with two exercise rods mounted in the housing; 
     FIG. 18 is a top plan schematic representation of the hand exercise device of FIG.  16  and illustrating the relationship between the two exercise rods; 
     FIG. 19 is an orthographic, partially broken view of a hand exercise device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the hand exercise device taken along line  20 — 20  of FIG. 19; 
     FIGS. 21A to  21 C illustrate a top cross sectional view of the hand exercise device of FIG. 19 with an exercise rod assembly in first, second, and third positions, respectively; and 
     FIG. 22 illustrates the hand exercise device of FIG. 19 in the hand of a user during use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, a hand exercise device  10  according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a housing  12 , a plurality of exercise rods  14  extending out of the housing  12 , and filler material  16  located within the housing and surrounding the rods  14 . 
     The housing is preferably molded into a substantially hollow shape and is sized to fit comfortably in the hand of a user. An exterior of the housing can be formed having a spherical configuration. A plurality of apertures  18  are formed in a wall  20  of the housing between an outer surface  22  and an inner surface  24 . Although any number of apertures may be formed at any location in the wall  20 , twelve apertures are preferably formed at discreet intervals around the housing, with each aperture defining a corner of an icosahedron. The housing may be constructed of a relatively hard, transparent plastic material that is resistant to deformation from forces applied by a user&#39;s hand. It is to be understood, of course, that the housing may be formed of any suitable material, whether transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be formed into any desired shape. Any number and location of the apertures are contemplated. 
     An exercise rod  14  extends through each aperture  18  and into the interior  26  of the housing  12 . Each rod  14  includes an elongate center section  28  that is preferably substantially constant in cross section, with an inner ball section  29  connected at an inner end of the center section  28  within the housing  12 , and an outer ball section  30  connected at an outer end of the center section outside of the housing. Preferably, the center section  28  and ball sections  29  and  30  are integrally formed of a plastic material during molding. Alternatively, the center and ball sections may be formed separately and connected together through cooperating threads, adhesives, fasteners, or other well known fastening means. It is to be understood, of course, that any other suitable material may be used to form the exercise rod  14 . Each ball section  29 ,  30  is preferably greater in diameter than the apertures  18  in the housing  12  in order to facilitate engagement with fingers of a user and to prevent the rods from being separated from the housing during use and/or to prevent complete penetration of the rods into the interior of the housing. 
     The filler material  16  comprises a plurality of particles  32  that may be constructed of plastic, rubber or other elastomeric material, metal, sand, ceramic, rock, or the like, or any combination thereof, and may be uniform or irregular in shape. Each particle  32  frictionally engages surrounding particles and the rods  14 . Although the particles are preferably constructed of crush-resistant material, deformable, elastomeric-type material may additionally or alternatively be used. The size of each particle  32  is greater than a maximum distance between the center section  28  of the rod  14  and its associated aperture  18  when the rod slides within the aperture. In this manner, the particles are contained within the housing  12 . 
     In use, all of the rods  14  are at an initially extended position wherein the inner ball sections  29  are situated in the vicinity of the inner surface  24  of the wall  20 . A user then grasps the device  10  in one hand and selectively moves one or more fingers on either hand into contact with the outer ball section  30  of a selected rod. Each rod  14  is then pressed into the housing  12  until a final retracted position is reached wherein the outer ball section  30  abuts the outer surface  22  of the wall  20 . The particles  32  frictionally engage each other, the inner ball section  29  and the rod  14  to create resistance during movement of the rod. The amount of resistance can be adjusted by varying the size and shape of the particles and the rod assembly, as well as choosing a material that has a desired coefficient of friction. Once the rods are pressed into the housing  12 , they may be withdrawn to their initial extended positions to repeat the exercise. 
     With reference now to FIG. 3, an exercise rod  40  according to a second rod embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The rod  40  in this embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical body section  42  constructed of a flexible material, and a head section  44  connected to or integrally formed with the body section. The head section  44  includes three arms  46  that extend generally outwardly and away from the body  42 . The distance between the outer free ends of adjacent arms  46  is preferably greater than the cross dimensions of the apertures  18 . Therefore, the exercise rod  40  cannot be separated from the housing  12  when the head section  44  is located within the interior  26  of the housing and the body section  42  extends through one of the apertures. As in the previous embodiment, the diameter of the body section  42  is chosen such that a maximum distance between the body section and its associated aperture, while the rod slides within the aperture, is less than the particle size, so that the particles remain in the housing  12 . The exercise rods  40  may be exclusively installed in all of the apertures  18  of the housing  12 , or may be installed in some of the apertures while exercise rods  14  are installed in the remaining apertures. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 7, an exercise device  50  according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein like parts in the previous embodiment are represented by like numerals. The exercise device  50  includes a hollow, substantially spherical housing  12  and an exercise rod  56  passing through openings  52  formed in the housing. The openings  52  extend through the wall  20  from the outer surface  22  to the inner surface  24  thereof. Preferably, twenty openings  52  are provided, with a center of each opening coinciding with a corner of an imaginary dodecahedron on the housing  12 . Each opening includes three rays  54  that are oriented along the edges of the imaginary dodecahedron. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the exercise rod  56  is substantially uniform in cross section along its axial length. Preferably, the cross sectional shape of the rod  56  is oval, although other cross sectional shapes are contemplated. The rod  56  preferably has a length “A” that is greater than the diameter of the housing  12 , a width “B” that is smaller than a length of each ray  54 , and a thickness “C” that is smaller than the width of each ray. In this manner, the rod  56  can extend entirely through the housing  12  by way of openings  52  and can be selectively inserted into each ray of one or both openings through which the rod extends. Different angular orientations of the rod  56  with respect to the housing  12  can be obtained by removing the rod from one or both openings and insertion the rod into one or more different openings. 
     In addition to the benefits derived from using the exercise device  50 , such as increased strength and mobility in the hand and fingers, motivation to exercise may be enhanced byr intellectual stimulation, wherein a user determines which rods must be inserted into which pairs of openings and in which order the rods (ten in the present embodiment) should be inserted through different pairs of openings in the housing  12  without interference from other rods. 
     With further reference to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of an exercise rod  58  for use with the FIGS. 4 and 7 embodiment is illustrated. The exercise rod  58  includes a bar  60  that is similar in cross section to the rod  56 , and a ball section  62  that is connected to or integrally formed with an end of the bar  62 . Preferably, the ball section  58  is greater in diameter than the openings  52  in the housing  12  in order to prevent the rods  58  from being separated from the housing during use and/or to prevent complete penetration of the rods into the interior of the housing. 
     As shown schematically in FIG. 9, a top plan view of an exercise device  70  according to a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein like parts in the previous embodiments are represented by like numerals. As in the previous embodiments, the exercise device  70  includes a hollow, substantially spherical housing  12  and exercise rods  72   a  to  72   f  (shown in phantom line) passing through apertures  74  to  96 , respectively, with apertures  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  shown in hidden line, formed in the housing. In this embodiment, the centers of the twelve apertures coincide with the corners of an imaginary icosahedron formed within the spherical housing  12 . As shown, apertures  74  to  84  are located in an upper hemisphere of the housing  12 , while apertures  86  to  96  are located in a lower hemisphere of the housing. The exercise rods  72   a  to  72   f  extend through different pairs of apertures. By way, of example, rod  72   a  may extend through apertures  74  and  94 , rod  72   b  may extend through apertures  76  and  80 , rod  72   c  may extend through apertures  78  and  96 , rod  72   d  may extend through apertures  82  and  88 , rod  72   e  may extend through apertures  84  and  90 , and rod  72   f  may extend through apertures  86  and  92 . It should be understood that any reasonable number and location of the apertures are within the scope of the invention. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a hand exercise device  100  according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein like parts in the previous embodiments are represented by like numerals. The exercise device  100  includes a hollow housing  102  that is constructed of a soft, flexible or resilient material and an exercise rod  104  initially completely embedded in the particles  32  within the housing. The housing includes an aperture  105  that is smaller than the smallest cross section of the particles  32 , but larger than the diameter of the exercise rod  104 . The exercise rod  104  is preferably cylindrical and has a length that is smaller than the cross dimension of the housing  102 . 
     In use, the exercise device  100  can be grasped by the hand  106  of a user between the thumb  108  and fingers  110 , as shown in FIG.  10 . By squeezing the housing  102 , the user is able to push the concealed exercise rod  104  out of the housing through the aperture  108  (FIG. 11) against friction caused by the mutual engagement of the rod  104  and particles  32 . The rod  104  can then be pushed back into concealment within the housing  102 . In this manner, the user not only exercises the fingers and thumb by squeezing the housing  102 , but also by pushing the rod back into the housing. Although only one aperture and rod are shown, it is to be understood that a plurality of apertures and/or rods can be provided. 
     As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a hand exercise device  120  according to a fifth embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein like parts in the previous embodiments are represented by like numerals. The exercise device  120  includes a hollow, substantially spherical housing  122  with a plurality of ball and socket joints  124  and an exercise rod  127  (FIG. 14) adapted for slidable mounting in each joint. Each ball and socket joint  124  includes an annular socket  126  formed in a wall  128  of the housing between an outer surface  130  and an inner surface  132  of the wall. A ball  134  is mounted for rotation in the socket  126 . An annular rib  136  is formed around the circumference of the ball and serves to limit the amount of ball&#39;s rotation about two perpendicular axes, while allowing free rotation about a third axis  138  perpendicular to the first two axes. The amount of permitted rotation between the ball  134  and socket  126  in one plane is represented by arrows  140  and  142  in FIG. 13. A bore  144  extends through the ball  134  and includes three rays  146  that are sized to receive the exercise rod  127 . 
     With additional reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the exercise rod  127  comprises three ribs  148  that extend along the length of the rod. The ribs  148  are sized to be slidably received in the three rays  146  of the bore  144 . Preferably, the ribs and rays are located at 120 degree intervals about a central axis of the rod and bore, respectively. 
     With the above-described arrangement, each rod can be tilted and slid with respect to the housing  122  during exercise. The ball and socket joint  124  permits a smaller bore size than the embodiments as depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and FIGS. 4 to  7 . Accordingly, smaller particles  32  can be located within the housing  122 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 16, an exercise device  149  employing an exercise rod  150  according to a fifth rod embodiment is shown, wherein like parts in the previous embodiments are represented by like numerals. For clarity, only one exercise rod  150  will be described in conjunction with the housing  12  and particles  32  of the FIG. 1 embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the cross sectional shape of the rod  150  can be modified to accommodate any of the previous housing embodiments, and that more than one exercise rod  150  may be associated with such embodiments. 
     The exercise rod  150  is preferably formed of a relatively stiff material and extends through each aperture  18 . The rod  150  includes an elongate center section  152  and two elongate end sections  154 ,  156  extending in opposite directions from the center section  152 . Preferably, the center section and end sections extend along a common central axis, with the end sections being equal in length. The center section  152  is larger in diameter than the end sections  154 ,  156  and the apertures  18  so as to prevent separation of the rod  150  from the housing  12 . Rounded flanges  158  and  159  are formed at opposite ends of the center section  152 . The flanges provide increased contact area with the particles  32  and therefore increase resistance to movement of the rod  150  through the particles. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the larger diameter center section  152  can be replaced with outer larger diameter sections located at opposite ends of the rod  150  outside of the housing in order to prevent separation of the rod from the housing. Moreover, although the center section is shown as cylindrical in shape, the center section may be spherical oval, and so on. In an alternative arrangement, the rod  150  may be formed of a flexible material. 
     The length “D” of the rod  150  is preferably greater than a distance “E” between two apertures  18  through which the rod extends, but less than twice the distance “E.” In this manner, an outer free end  160  of the end section  156  is substantially flush with the outer wall surface  22  when the flange  159  abuts the inner wall surface  24 . Likewise, an outer free end  162  of the end section  154  is substantially flush with the outer wall surface  22  when the flange  158  abuts the inner wall surface  24 . The outer free end  162  may have a different color than the outer free end  160 , such as red and blue, so as to distinguish between which ends need to be pushed by a user toward the housing  12 . 
     In addition to exercising the hands and/or fingers, the exercise device  149  can be used as an intellectual stimulant, as shown schematically in FIGS. 17 and 18. As shown, two rods  150  are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. When pushing the rods  150  toward the housing  12 , a user must take into consideration the relative placement and orientation of the center sections  152  in order to avoid interference between the center sections during movement. Greater difficulty can be achieved by adding more rods  150 . 
     It is to be understood that the various features of the previously described embodiments can be combined to form unique structures. For example, two or more different types of rods may be combined with a single housing in order to achieve different exercise effects. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 19 and 20, a hand exercise device  180  according to a sixth embodiment of the invention is illustrated, wherein like parts in the previous embodiments are represented by like numerals. The hand exercise device  180  comprises a housing  182 , an exercise rod assembly  184  extending out of the housing  182 , and filler material  16  comprising particles  32  located within the housing and surrounding the rod assembly  184 . 
     The housing  182  includes a continuous side wall  186  that is preferably oval in cross section, with a front wall  188  and a rear wall  190  provided at opposite ends of the side wall. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one of the walls may be integrally molded to the side wall, while the other wall is attached to the side wall through adhesives, ultrasonic welding, snapfit, or other well known means of attachment. Spaced apertures  192  and  194  are formed in the front and rear walls. As in the previous embodiments, the housing may be constructed of a relatively hard, transparent plastic material that is resistant to deformation from forces applied by a user&#39;s hand. It is to be understood, of course, that the housing may be formed of any suitable material, whether transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be formed into any desired shape. 
     The exercise rod assembly  184  has a first piston rod  196  connected to a second piston rod  198  at a front rod section  200  and a rear rod section  202 . Preferably, the front and rear rod sections are curved. A piston head  204  extends between and is rigidly connected to the first and second piston rods. The piston head  204  is preferably constructed of a flat plate material. A peripheral edge  206  of the piston head  204  is spaced from an inner surface  208  of the side wall  186  to form a gap  210  through which the particles  32  may flow when the piston head is moved within the housing  182 . The interior of the housing is not completely filled by the particles  32 . 
     By way of example, and with further reference to FIGS. 21A to  21 C and  22 , the exercise device  180  is operated by positioning one or more of the fingers  110  of a users hand on the rear wall  190  of the housing  182  while the thumb  108  is positioned on the front rod section  200  of the rod assembly  184 . The fingers and thumb are then moved toward each other in order to move the rod assembly  184  with respect to the housing  182  in a direction as represented by arrow  212 . As shown in FIG. 21A, this movement causes the particles  32  to flow through the gap  210  between the piston head  204  and the side wall  186  in a direction as represented by arrows  214 . The size, number, and coefficient of friction of the particles contribute to resisting movement in the applied direction. Once the desired amount of movement is achieved, the position of the fingers and thumb may be reversed to move the rod assembly in the opposite direction as represented by arrows  216  (FIG.  21 B). Instead of using the thumb and fingers for controlling movement of the rod assembly, areas of the hand, such as the palm, in combination with the thumb or one or more fingers can be used, depending on the type of exercise desired. In addition, the exercise device  180  may be held in one hand while the rod assembly is grasped by the other hand and moved toward and away from the one hand to thereby exercise the muscles associated with the hand, wrist, and arms. It is also contemplated that the exercise device  180  may be adapted to exercise the muscles associated with the feet or other appendages. 
     It should be noted that movement of the rod assembly  184  in one direction requires substantially less force than movement in the opposite direction. When the rod assembly is moved in the direction shown in FIG. 21A, the particles  32  are transferred from an area above the piston head  204  to an empty area  217  therebelow relatively freely under the force of gravity. When the rod assembly is moved in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 21B, there is no free movement of the particles  32  since there is no longer the empty area  217  adjacent the piston head that is void of the particles. The particles  32  must therefore be forced from an area under the piston head to an area above the piston head. By changing the orientation of the exercise device  180 , the user can select appropriate resistance forces for both directions of movement of the rod assembly. For example, when the exercise device  180  is oriented in a position as shown in FIG. 21C, the resistance forces are greater than the force associated with FIG.  21 A and less than the force associated with FIG.  21 B. It should be realized that the exercise device with any reasonable number of rods and corresponding apertures is within the scope of the invention. 
     While the invention has been taught with specific reference to the above-described embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.