Abstract:
An articulating exercise harness system includes a harness to secure a user&#39;s wrist and a handle that is selectively gripped by the user. A bracket is pivotally connected to the handle at a proximal end of the bracket. The harness is adjustably along the user&#39;s forearm relative to the position of bracket. A weight engagement member is rotatably connected to the bracket. The bracket is rotatable relative to the handle and the weight engagement member is rotatable relative to the bracket. Because the weight engagement member can rotate forward and backward on the bracket, relative to the handle, the invention can be used to both push and pull exercise weights or other loads.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to the field of exercise and manual load handling equipment. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Effective weight training is achieved by isolating desired muscles through weight repetitions, and continuing weight repetitions to exhaustion. For maximum benefit, the repetitions are performed at a consistent aerobic tempo. 
         [0006]    The isolation principle means to isolate only one targeted muscle group at a time, and consciously leave the other muscle groups out of the exercise. The difficulty is that other muscle groups that are included during an exercise or weight movement tend to contribute to the exercise and take the focus away from the targeted muscle. Non-targeted muscle groups can contribute more as the targeted muscle becomes fatigued, which is especially common at or near the end of a set of repetitive weight movements. If other muscles assist the targeted muscle, the impact of weight training is significantly reduced. 
         [0007]    In particular, the forearms and wrists tend to assist with the weight movements that are used to train the muscles of the upper body. This is undesirable because it takes the focus off of the intended muscles. The focused upper body muscles primarily include the deltoids, biceps, triceps, pectorals and trapezius muscles. 
         [0008]    Isolation of large muscles may also be important in working situations outside of the gym environment. For example, baggage handlers routinely lift numerous and sometimes, heavy luggage. Repeated lifting or movement of the luggage can cause the smaller muscles of the forearms to fatigue, which can limit the ability of the baggage handler to move large volumes of luggage during a work shift. Further, even if the baggage handler uses work gloves, his or her hands, wrists and fingers can become fatigued through repetitive use and gripping. It would therefore be advantageous for the baggage handlers to have a device that would allow them to isolate their large muscles and also allow them to grab onto luggage handles with a secure engagement means without having to grip onto luggage handles with their fingers. 
         [0009]    It has also become a growing problem for workers to lift caskets. People worldwide, but especially in the United States are routinely overweight and the combined weight of a corpse and a coffin can exceed 650 pounds. It would be extremely helpful for those workers who lift and move caskets to have a device that would allow them to isolate their large muscles and also allow them to grab onto the rails or casket handles with a secure engagement means. Such a device could also be used when the caskets are moved about during and after manufacturing. 
         [0010]    Similarly, it would be advantageous to have a device that could be used by anyone who lifts or moves heavy objects, such as at a loading dock or at a factory, to be able to isolate their large muscles and also allow them to grab onto handles on objects with a secure engagement means without having to grip onto handles or heavy objects with their fingers. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,957 (“the &#39;957 patent”) shows a weight-training cuff that fits snugly about the forearm and is used to attach directly to D-rings, which are then connected to weight training machines. The &#39;957 patent does not provide any mechanism to directly engage weight bearing members, such as dumbbells, barbells, or to directly engage overhead bars or other bars or handles connected to loads. 
         [0012]    US Patent Publication 2005/0085352 (“the &#39;352 publication”) shows a 360-degree rotator attachment for exercise equipment. The device of the &#39;352 publication provides a rotational element to the traditional front/back (or flexion and extension) activities during the lifting of weights, but does not provide any isolation of target muscle groups. 
         [0013]    What is needed is a device that would isolate the targeted muscles by securing the smaller muscles of the forearm to direct weight loads to specific upper and lower body muscles. The device should provide positive articulating engagement between the forearm and the bar on which the weights are mounted or between the forearm and a weight-bearing bar, such as a chin-up bar. The device should also allow controlled rotational movement of the forearm and wrist to direct the rotational movement to the targeted upper body muscles. 
         [0014]    Such a device could also be used by dock or factory workers to move boxes or crates, or any weighted object and may also be used by other workers to move heavy loads. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention provides a forearm harness device for muscle isolation during physical exercise and weight training. The device may be useable at the gym, with weight lifting equipment, and at home, from overhead bars, or the like. The device may also be used to lift or move weighted objects in a work environment, for example, baggage handling, casket moving, or heavy object moving, for example on a loading dock or factory. 
         [0016]    An embodiment of the invention comprises a harness to secure a user&#39;s wrist and a handle that is selectively gripped by the user. The handle need not be gripped by the user, but may be gripped for pulling or for the natural gripping reflex when lifting. A bracket is normally pivotally connected to the handle at a proximal end of the bracket. Thus, the harness and the user&#39;s arm can rotate forward and backward relative to the handle. The harness may be adjustable along the user&#39;s forearm relative to the position of bracket. A weight engagement member is typically rotatably connected to the bracket. In an embodiment of the invention, the weight engagement member comprises a plurality of hooks that can engage a desired cylindrical object during physical exercise. The bracket is rotatable relative to the handgrip and the hooks are rotatable relative to the bracket. Because the hooks can rotate forward and backward on the bracket, relative to the handle, the invention may be used to both push and pull exercise weights or other loads. 
         [0017]    The instant invention provides the unexpected result of isolating the desired upper body muscles, while providing multi-range, rotational motions to the upper range muscles through the direct, rotational connection between the device and the weight-bearing bar. The multi-range of motions results from the rotation between the hooks and the bracket, which is connected to the harness with adjustable straps. 
         [0018]    The invention also provides unexpected results of control during exercise. Because the weight engagement member, or hooks of the invention directly engage the workout equipment, such as deadweights, machines or chin-up bars, or other loads, the motion is translated directly to the user through the bracket and forearm harness. The user feels much more control of the workout equipment than if he or she were engaging the equipment indirectly with cables or the like. The feeling of control during weight movement can contribute both to safety and to motivation. The control provided by the invention allows the user to push or pull weights through the articulation of the hook member, connected to the bracket, which is connected to the harness. The articulated connection between the bracket, handle, and weight engagement members limits side-to-side movement of the user&#39;s arms, which also adds to the feeling of control by the user when moving weights. The control also contributes to safety by minimizing uncontrolled side-to-side movement of the harness or the user&#39;s arms relative to the weight being moved. 
         [0019]    The invention also eliminates the need for the user to grip bars, dumbbells or other machine or lifting handles, which reduces the fatigue of the user&#39;s fingers and wrists. 
         [0020]    An additional significant benefit of the invention is that the hooks contact the exercise equipment or other weighted materials so that personal hygiene in a public gym or other public location is not compromised. 
         [0021]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention may be better understood from the detailed description that follows and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an anterior view of an embodiment of the inventive articulating exercise harness system including hook and loop fastener straps on the harness. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a posterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an anterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system including a ring attachment adapter and hook and loop fastener straps on the harness. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  shows an anterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system with the hook members engaged with an overhead bar. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows an anterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system with a detail of a pair of ratcheting buckle assemblies. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a detail section view of a ratcheting buckle assembly taken from line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows an anterior, isometric view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system with a detail of a pair of clamp buckle assemblies. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a posterior, isometric view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of a pair of the inventive articulating exercise harness systems in use with the hook members engaged with a pair dumbbells and showing the user&#39;s palms in the open position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of a pair of the inventive articulating exercise harness system in use with the hook members engaged with a pair of dumbbells and showing the user&#39;s palms gripped around the handles. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  shows an anterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system in use with the hook members engaged with an overhead bar and showing rotation of the harness and the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  shows a posterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system in use with the hook members engaged with a barbell and showing rotation of the harness and the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  shows a posterior view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system in use with the hook members engaged with a dumbbell and showing rotation of the harness and the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  shows the inventive articulating exercise harness system in use with the hook members engaged with a handle on a weight engaging cable and showing rotation of the harness and the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system used to exercise with handles on a cable pull machine showing rotation of the hooks and brackets relative to the cable pull handles and the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system and the range of motion of the hooks and bracket about the handle and shaft. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system used to exercise by pushing up and down with handles on a parallel dip bars. 
           [0040]      FIG. 18  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system used to lift a barbell on a bench press with the hooks and barbell rotated to the outside of the user&#39;s arms. 
           [0041]      FIG. 19  shows a side view of the inventive articulating exercise harness system used to lift a barbell on a bench press with the hooks and barbell rotated to the inside of the user&#39;s arms. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    An embodiment of the invention is shown is  FIGS. 1 and 2  in which the harness H is formed from a shell  6 , which is wrapped around a user&#39;s wrist (see  FIG. 4A ), and secured with straps  8 . Straps  8  may be secured to the shell  6  with hook and loop material such as Velcro® or other desired engagement means. Pads  20 , 20   a  are positioned inside of the shell  6 , with pad  20  positioned on the posterior side of the harness H and pad  20   a  positioned on the anterior side of the harness H. Pad  20 , 20   a  may each be of the same resilient polymer material or may be of different materials of different densities. 
         [0043]    The shell may be constructed of flexible material, such as hytrell®, flexible polymer, fiberglass, or mica, or may be constructed of a more rigid material. 
         [0044]    The harness H is typically connected to a bracket  34  with adjustable straps  22 , but the harness may also be connected with a fixed, non-adjustable connection. The bracket  34  is typically substantially c-shaped and includes a handle  30  mounted between the proximal ends. The bracket  34  may also be horseshoe shaped or other desired shape. The handle  30  is typically mounted to the bracket on a shaft  26 . The shaft  26  may be constructed of nylon, alloy or carbon or stainless steel or other desired material. The handle  30  may also be constructed of a rigid or resilient polymer, wood or other metallic material. A threaded bolt with securing nuts on the ends or other mounting means may also be used to mount the handle  30  to the bracket  34  at the proximal end of the bracket  34 . The bracket  34  is free to rotate forward and backward about the shaft  26 . The length of straps  22  may be adjusted with a buckle  24  on each strap  22  so that the position of the handle  30  relative to the harness H can be changed to provide a custom fit for each user. Straps  22  are typically mounted to each end of the shaft  26  with a swivel  23 , which has a slot  25 , through which each strap passes (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). The swivel  23  allows the straps  22  to swivel freely about the shaft  26  for smooth performance of the invention during exercises and use when the forearm and harness are rotating forward and backward relative to the handle  30  and shaft  26 . 
         [0045]    A weight engagement member W is rotatably attached to the bracket  34  with a fastener, such as a pin  38 . The weight engagement member W may be a hook pair  36 , as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  or it may be a ring  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , or it may be any desired connection to engage a weight bearing load. The pin  38  is typically secured with a nut  38   a  or other securing means, such as a cotter pin, or the like. A securing pin  42  may be inserted into the pinhole  42   a,  in the hook member  36  and then into the pinhole  42   b,  in the bracket  34 . The securing pin  42  can prevent the rotation of the hook member  36 . A spring-loaded pin may also be used in place of the removable securing pin  42 . The hook pair  36  typically includes a pair of hooks  40  that extend upward from the base of the hook member  36 . The hooks  40  may include a polymeric coating or other textured coating to prevent the hooks  40  from slipping along the surface to which the hooks  40  engage. The radius of curvature or shape of the hooks  40  can be enlarged or changed to conform to the profile of the object to be engaged. 
         [0046]    The weight engagement member W may also comprise a rotating ring member  50  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The ring member  50  may be used to engage a hook on a cable end, or to engage a weight bearing or static pin member (not shown). 
         [0047]    In  FIGS. 4A and 4B , an embodiment of the invention is shown that includes hook pair  36 , comprising hooks  40 . The hooks  40  engage the bar B 1 . Bar B 1  may be an overhead bar or any bar that the user may want to push or pull. Bar B 1  may, for example, be attached to luggage, or a trashcan, or a crate, or a casket, or any other weighted object. The bracket  34  is free to rotate about pin  38 , which is rotatably connected to the hook pair  36  and is secured to the hook pair  36  by a nut  38   a  or a cotter pin, or the like. In  FIG. 4A , the anterior side of harness H is shown parallel to bar B 1 . In  FIG. 4B , the harness H is shown rotated such that the anterior and posterior sides of harness H are perpendicular to bar B 1 . The rotational arrow R indicates the rotation of the harness H and bracket  34  relative to the bar B 1 . Rotation R of the harness H and bracket  34  allows the user to isolate exercises or the movement of weight to desired muscle groups, or simply to change the desired workout, by rotating the harness H and bracket  34 . The rotation R also allows the user to direct force toward the load being moved in the most convenient possible angle. Such a situation may become desirable, for example, when moving crates on a crowded loading dock. Other situations can be imagined where it would be desirable to direct force to the load being directed with the inventive device. 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the user&#39;s palm is shown with the fingers gripping the handle  30 . Because the securing straps  8  of the harness H, secure the user&#39;s forearm within the harness H, it is not necessary for the user to grip the handle  30 . Instead, the user could also hang from the hooks  40  with his or her fingers open and not gripped around the handle  30 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a detail of a pair of ratcheting buckle assemblies is shown on the anterior side of the harness H. Each ratcheting buckle assembly includes a strap  60 , which has a plurality of ridges  76   a  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ). Gear  74 , shown in cross section in FIG.  6  is positioned inside of the buckle body  62 . Gear  74  includes notches  76  about its circumference. Gear  74  rotates on a shaft  74   a.  Strap  60  passes through buckle body  62 . The ridges  76   a  on the outer surface of the strap  60  engage the notches  76  on the gear  74 . Numbered indicia are typically positioned on the outer surface of each strap  60 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The numbered indicia provide a reference so that each strap  60  can be pulled to the same position within the corresponding buckle body  62  and so that individual settings can be recalled when the harness H is secured to a user&#39;s forearm. As the strap  60  is pulled through the buckle body  62 , the ridges  76   a  on the strap  60 , contact the notches  76  and cause the gear  74  to rotate about the shaft  74   a.  A retaining dog  75  engages the each notch  76  of the gear  74  as the gear  74  rotates. The retaining dog  75  is urged forward toward the outer surface of gear  74  with spring  72 . The user can retract the retaining dog  75  by sliding the release pin  70  away from the outer surface of the gear  74 . The release pin  70  slides in slot  70   a.  When the release pin  70  is slid away from the outer surface of the gear  74 , the retaining dog  75  no longer engages the notch  76  of the gear  74  and the gear  74  becomes free to rotate. Once the gear  74  is free to rotate, the strap  60  can be released from the buckle assembly. 
         [0050]    One or a plurality of buckle assemblies as desired may be included to secure the harness H, depending upon the amount of compression desired. 
         [0051]    An alternative buckle assembly is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The anterior side of the harness H is shown in  FIG. 7  and the posterior side of the harness is shown in  FIG. 8 . The buckle assembly includes a strap  80  and a buckle  86 . Strap  80  includes a series of ridges  82 , which are engaged by the buckle latch  86  when the buckle latch is in the closed position. The buckle latch is contained within the buckle body  85 . 
       Description of Exemplary Exercises Performed With the Invention 
       [0052]    The invention may be used for exercise workouts that include, but are not limited, to the following: 
         [0053]    Shoulders: bar upright row, dumbbell lateral raise, shrugs, standing scarecrow, military press, pull downs and straight-arm pull-up. 
         [0054]    Back: pull-ups, pull downs (lateral), cable seated low row, barbell bent-over row, dead lift, seated reverse fly, one arm row and Australian pull-ups. 
         [0055]    Legs: dumbbell lunge, dumbbell squats (beginner squats), dumbbell Bulgarian squats, Sumo squats and Romanian deadlift. 
         [0056]    Arms: dumbbell biceps curls, barbell biceps curls, cable triceps pulldowns, preacher biceps curls, cable triceps extensions, overhead bar press, cable biceps curls, triceps kickback, upright row, angled prone curls, Swiss-ball preacher curls, French press and standing concentration curls. 
         [0057]    Abdominals: standing oblique crunches, kneeling cable crunches, weighted side bends, pull-up bar leg-ups, abdominal reverse curls and high woodchopper. 
         [0058]    Chest: cable crossover, cable chest fly, dumbbell pullover, parallel bar dip, dumbbell fly, single arm external rotation, unilateral high cable fly and unilateral low cable fly. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 9 , an embodiment of the invention is shown while performing bicep curls. The harness H is secured to the user&#39;s forearm with straps  8 . Straps  8  are secured to the harness H with hook and loop fastener material, or with a buckle assembly (as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 ), or with a desired fastener to secure the harness H to the forearm. Straps  22  may be adjusted with the buckle  24  to position the handle  30 , which is mounted on the shaft  26 , to the desired position at approximately the position of the user&#39;s palm. The user&#39;s fingers are shown in an open position in  FIG. 9 , but they may also be closed around the handle  30  (handle  30  is best seen in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0060]    Still referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , the hook  40  is shown engaged with the bar B 4  of a dumbbell. As the user lifts and lowers the dumbbells, bracket  34  rotates about shaft  26 . The hooks  40 , which comprise the hook pair  36 , are connected to the bracket  34  and rotate together with the rotation of the bracket, about shaft  26 . Although not shown in  FIG. 9 , the user&#39;s forearms and wrists can be rotated about pin  38  to allow the hooks  40 , and the dumbbells to rotate. Such a rotation provides varied motion to allow the user to isolate desired muscles while performing the dumbbell lifts. 
         [0061]      FIG. 10  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention to perform bicep curls with a dumbbell, but in  FIG. 10  the user is optionally gripping the handle  30 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 11  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention with an overhead bar B 2 . The user has connected the hooks  40  to the bar B 2 . The hooks  40  may be coated with a textured material to prevent them from sliding along the bar B 2 . The user&#39;s arms are secured in the harnesses H. The user is able to rotate his forearms in the direction shown by arrow R. Such rotation allows the user to isolate the tension imposed on his body to specific muscles while moving his body upward or downward (indicated by the letter U). The straps  8  may be secured tightly enough to allow the user to relax his grip on the handle  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), which is mounted on shaft  26 . If desired, the user is also able to swing forward and backward as the harness H rotates about shaft  26 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 12  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention to raise and lower a barbell B 3 . It also shows how the user can rotate R his forearms to isolate the exercise and weight during repetitions of the movement upward and downward U. 
         [0064]      FIG. 13  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention to perform dumbbell rows with a dumbbell B. It also shows how the user can rotate R his forearms to isolate the exercise and weight during repetitions of the movement upward and downward U. 
         [0065]      FIG. 14  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention to pull on the handle B 5  of a cable, such as on a cable row exercise machine. It also shows how the user can rotate R his forearms to isolate the exercise and weight during repetitions of the movement forward and backward U. 
         [0066]      FIG. 15  illustrates the use of an embodiment of the invention to pull down on a pair of cables, for development of the back muscles. It also shows how the hooks  40  and brackets  34  rotate as the cable handles C 2  move up and down. The user could also push the cables down without gripping the handle  30 , by just using his forearms to push the harness H, which is connected to the shaft  26 , the bracket  34  and the hooks  40 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 16  illustrates the rotation R 2  of the hooks  40  and the X bracket  34  about the shaft  26 . The rotation R 2  of the hooks and bracket  34  about the shaft  26  allows the invention to be used to push bars and objects. For example, in  FIG. 17  the user is performing dips on two parallel bars B 6  by pushing his weight upward. The hooks  40  are engaged with parallel bars B 6 , while bracket  34  is free to rotate outward toward the parallel bars B 6  and away from the user. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 18 and 19  show the use of an embodiment of the invention on a bench press.  FIG. 18  illustrates the way in which the bracket  34  and hook  40  can rotate to the anterior side of the user&#39;s forearm and harness H, while  FIG. 19  illustrates the way in which the bracket  34  and hook  40  can rotate to the posterior side of the user&#39;s forearms and the harness H. 
         [0069]    The invention may also be used outside of the gym environment for activities that include, but are by no means limited to the following: 
         [0070]    baggage handlers at airports; 
         [0071]    warehouse or loading dock workers to lift boxes or crates; 
         [0072]    travelers to pull luggage during travel at airports; 
         [0073]    workers to lift and carry caskets at a burial or funeral chapel; 
         [0074]    sanitation workers to pull or lift trash cans; and 
         [0075]    household movers to move or lift furniture. 
         [0076]    The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments may fall within the scope of the invention, the claims of which follow.