Abstract:
An upper Body Toning Device includes adjustable handles for various grip positions providing various angles of muscle resistance. The handles may be press inward along carriage guides countered by a resistance element. Multiple resistance elements may be included that may be removable providing adjustable resistance—allowing still yet, more exercises to be performed. A vertical mounting position with accessory hands.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to exercise systems, and more particularly, to an upper body toning device. 
     Exercises devices for developing and toning the upper body typically use, for example, static handles in a fixed position. For example, chin up bars may employ straight bars bolted to a door frame or against a wall surface. The hand grip on a chin up bar can be either over hand or under hand and the hands may be spaced either closer together or farther apart. However, the resistance always remains the body weight of the person sans any additional weight tied to the user. 
     Other devices my include resistance bands that are hand held with ends pulled apart. This may be effective for movement that pulls away however offers no development for movement that opposes inward forces. Moreover, hand held bands may be difficult to balance when held. 
     Other more complex equipment may use pulley systems that require different pulleys and handles for each type of exercise performed. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an exercise device that can be fixedly mounted while providing inward pushed muscle resistance. There is also a need for a device that can provide adjustability in the handles to allow different angles of attacking muscle development. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an upper body toning device comprises mounting brackets attached to the carriage guides, a pair of carriage guides attached to ends of the mounting brackets, the carriage guides positioned parallel to one another; one handles adjustably coupled to the handle carriage that are slidable along the carriage guides, the handles adapted to be locked into a plurality of fixed positions; and a resistance element connected on one end to one of the mounting brackets and on the other end to a handle carriage attached to the carriage guides. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, an upper body toning device comprises mounting brackets attached to a pair of carriage guides, the carriage guides positioned parallel to one another; a pair of handle carriages on opposite ends of the carriage guides; one or more handles attached to each handle carriage; and a plurality of resistance elements connected on one end to one of the mounting brackets removably connected on the other end to one of the handle carriages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an upper body toning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1  as used in a laterally mounted position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1  as used in a vertically mounted position for performing curls; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 6  as used for tricep press. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a device that can be fixed to a vertical support to provide resistance to human body movements. The device promotes toning in the chest, arms, and shoulders of the user. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an upper body toning device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown wall mounted. The device  10  may include handles  18 , a pair of carriage guides  16 , and a resistance element  26  between two or more of the handles  18 . The carriage guides  16  may be parallel to one another. The handles  18  may be attached to the carriage guides  16 . In an exemplary embodiment, the device  10  may include a left and right side handle carriage  25  The handle carriage  25  may include the handles  18  arranged so that both the left and right sides of the device  10  include an upper handle  18 , and a middle handle  18 , with the resistance element  26  proximate the upper, lower and middle handles  18  and between the carriage guides  16 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the resistance element  26  may be for example, a resistance band or recoil spring. The resistance element  26  may be attached from one end to a mounting bracket  28  via fasteners  24  and from another end to an internal frame support wall  30  on the handle carriage  25 . The resistance element  26  may be attached to carriage guides  20  on the handle carriage  25  that are disposed to slide along the carriage guides  16 . In an exemplary embodiment, the device  10  may include more than one resistant element  26  per side which may be removably fastened to the support wall  30  by linkages  32  to provide adjustable resistance. A resistance level may be set by attaching from one to three resistance bands or recoil springs. A user may grasp a pair of the handles  18  (left and right side) and, for example, press the handles  18  toward one another along the carriage guides  16 . A dampener  22  may be on one of the carriage guides  16 , intermediate opposing left and right side resistance elements  26 . The dampener  22  may slow down and oppose inward movement of the handle carriage  25  toward one another. Dampeners  24  may also be at the terminal end of each carriage guide  16 , however, these dampeners are not shown for sake of illustration. 
     In one aspect, the device may include adjustable handles  18  to provide various grip positioning of exercises. For example, the handles  18  may use tilt and pivot pins (not shown) to move the handles from one position to be locked into another. The handles  18  may be placed, for example, at three fixed points of hand positioning. Thus, for example, the left and right side upper handles  18  may be positioned to project from a first pitch angle from the mounting surface while the lower handles  18  may be positioned to project from a second pitch angle from the mounting surface. 
     The device  10  may also include a mounting bracket  12  and a base  14  carrying the handle carriage  25  and carriage guides  16 . The carriage guides  16  may have, for example, a length of from about 50 inches to about 54 inches and a diameter or width of approximately 1 inch. The carriage guides  16  may be fastened to the mounting bracket and may extend from end  13  to end  17 . The Carriage guides a  16  may also have buffer rings (not shown) at the mounting bracket  12  attaching point for quiet operation. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5  the device  10  is shown wall mounted in a horizontal position with ends  13  and  17  lateral to one another and the carriage guides  16  parallel to the ground surface, The horizontally mounted device  10  may be installed about chest high for the user. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the device  10  is shown wall mounted in a vertical position with ends  13  and  17  being in-line with one another and perpendicular to the ground surface. A separate handle and cable may b attached to a linkage  32  may be drawn up (for example, when performing curling exercises) or pushed downward (for example, during tricep press-down exercises.) 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and the modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.