Abstract:
An apparatus comprises: a first cylindrical handle rotatable about a first cylindrical axis; a second cylindrical handle rotatable about a second cylindrical axis disposed such that the first handle and the second handle form an angle of less than 180 degrees; and a resistance adjuster operable to adjust a rotational resistance of the first handle about the first cylindrical axis and the second handle about the second cylindrical axis.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application titled “FOREARM, WRIST AND HAND STRENGTHENER”, application No. 61/138,934 filed Dec. 18, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an exercise device and, more specifically, relates to an exercise device that works to strengthen the forearms, wrists, and hands of a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a first cylindrical handle rotatable about a first cylindrical axis; a second cylindrical handle rotatable about a second cylindrical axis disposed such that the first handle and the second handle form an angle of less than 180 degrees; and a resistance adjuster operable to adjust a rotational resistance of the first handle about the first cylindrical axis and the second handle about the second cylindrical axis. 
         [0004]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exercise device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the exercise device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows an internal view of the exercise device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the exercise device taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows another cross-sectional view of the exercise device taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0012]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an exercise device for strengthening the forearms, wrists, and hands of a user that may be used by having the user grip and twist a pair of handles of the device to rotate the handles about its axis, thus exercising the user&#39;s forearms, wrists, and hands. Further, the resistance of the handles to being twisted and rotated may be adjusted, thereby enabling a user to increase or decrease the resistance of the handles to being twisted in order to adjust to the level of difficulty desired. 
         [0013]    Referring now to the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the exercise device  10  may comprise a pair of handles  16 , such as cylindrical rods, that may be partially enclosed in a housing. The two handles  16  may be situated such that they form an angle of less than 180 degrees between the two handles  16 . In one exemplary embodiment, the two handles  16  may be situated such that they form an angle of approximately 90 degrees between the two handles  16  in order to better optimize the ergonomics of the exercise device  10 . 
         [0014]    A user may use one hand to grip one handle  16  of the exercise device  10  and may use another hand to grip the other handle  16  of the exercise device  10 , and may exercise his body by twisting the handles  16  of the device  10  so that the handles  16  rotate about its axis. To adjust the resistance of the handles  16  to rotating about its axis, the user may adjust a tension handle  18  that may be part of a resistance adjuster of the exercise device  10 . In one exemplary embodiment, the user may rotate the tension handle  18  in one direction in order to equally increase the resistance of both handles  16  and may rotate the tension handle  18  in an opposite direction in order to equally decrease the resistance of the handles  16 . In another exemplary embodiment, the tension handle  18  may be connected to the housing and may be situated so that it juts out of the housing and bisects the angle formed by the two handles  16 . 
         [0015]    Further, The housing may be shaped to allow the two handles  16  to be situated such that the two handles  16  form an angle between them of less than 180 degrees and more typically approximately 90 degrees, such as by situating each handle  16  such that they are each 45 degrees from vertical in opposite directions, in order to provide better ergonomics for a user of the exercise device  10 . In one exemplary embodiment, the housing may be molded such that the angle between the handles  16  remains stationary. In another exemplary embodiment, two halves  12  and  14  of the housing may be attached together with six sets of housing nut and bolt pairs  16  that fit into holes  38  on the housing. 
         [0016]    Further, each of the handles  16  may have a portion exterior to the housing and a portion inside the housing. The portion of the handles  16  exterior to the housing may be wrapped with a handle grip. The portion of the handles  16  inside the housing may each be in contact with a friction block  34 . Retaining washers may be used to secure the handles  16  and prevent the handles  16  from slipping out of the housing. The retaining washers may be slid over the handles  16  and secured via retaining roll pins driven through each of the handles  16 . In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining roll pins may be driven through holes drilled approximately 1⅝ inch from the ends of the handles  16  situated within the housing. 
         [0017]    Each of the two friction blocks  34  may be situated parallel to one of the two handles  16  and may comprise a concave shape on the side of the friction blocks  34  that contact the handles  16 , in order to provide a better fit between the friction blocks  34  and the handles  16 . Further, the surface of the friction blocks  34  may be abrasive, in order to create a level of resistance as the handles  16  rotate against the sides of the friction blocks  34 . A tension block  32  may be situated between the friction blocks  34  and may contact both of the friction blocks  34  at the same time. In an exemplary embodiment, the resistance of the handles  16  rotating about its axis may be determined by the level of pressure put on the handles  16  by the friction blocks  34 , such as how tightly the friction blocks  34  contact the handles  16 . 
         [0018]    A tension handle  18  may be connected to a threaded cylindrical rod  20 . The threaded cylindrical rod  20  may thread through a flange weld nut  24  having a threaded interior so that a portion of the threaded cylindrical rod  20  may be situated within the housing of the device past the flange weld nut  24 . In an exemplary embodiment, the flange weld nut  24  may be inserted into a slot in the housing at a position that bisects the angle created by the handles  16 . A tension roll pin  22  may be inserted perpendicularly through a drilled hole in the threaded cylindrical rod  20  and may stick out of both sides of the threaded cylindrical rod  20 . The tension roll pin  22  may be positioned such that the flange weld nut  24  may be situated between the tension roll pin  22  and the portion of the threaded cylindrical rod  20  outside of the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, the drilled hole may be approximately ½ inch from an end of the threaded cylindrical rod  20  enclosed within the housing. The threaded cylindrical rod  20  may be threaded through the tension washer  26  so that the tension washer  26  may be supported by the threaded cylindrical rod  20  and the tension roll pin  22 . 
         [0019]    A tension spring  30  may be placed around the threaded cylindrical rod  20  so that the tension washer  26  may support the tension spring  30 . The tension spring  30  may contact and press into a hole in the tension block  32 , thus causing the tension block  32  to more tightly contact the friction blocks  34 , such that an equal amount of resistance may be applied to both of the two handles  16  by the tension block  32 . 
         [0020]    As a user rotates the tension handle  18 , such as by turning the tension handle  18  clockwise, the threaded cylindrical rod  20  may rotate and move towards the tension block  32 , thus causing the tension spring  30  to put more pressure onto the tension block  32 , thus causing the tension block  32  to even more tightly contact the friction blocks  34 , thus causing the friction blocks  34  to even more tightly contact the handles  16 , and thus increasing the resistance of the handles  16  by making it harder for the handles  16  to rotate about their axes. 
         [0021]    As the user then rotates the tension handle  18  in another direction, such as by turning the tension handle  18  counter-clockwise, the threaded cylindrical rod  20  may then rotate and move away from the tension block  32 , thus causing the tension spring  30  to lessen its pressure onto the tension block  32 , thus causing the tension block  32  to lessen its pressure on the friction blocks  34 , thus causing the friction blocks  34  to lessen its pressure on the handles  16 , and thus decreasing the resistance of the handles  16  by making it easier for the handles  16  to rotate about their axes. 
         [0022]    In one exemplary embodiment, the handles may be typically made of aluminum tubing, but may be made of various materials such as, but not limited to wood, plastic, aluminum, steel or any other metal or metal alloy. The handle grips may typically be made of plastic, but may be made of various materials such as but not limited to rubber, plastic, neoprene, or foam. The housing may be typically made of plastic, but may be made of various materials such as but not limited to cast iron, plastic, or milled aluminum. The tension block may typically be made of plastic, but may be made of various material such as but not limited to wood, aluminum, cast iron, or plastic. The friction blocks may typically made of a polyoxymetylene plastic such as DELRIN™, but may be made of various material such as but not limited to TEFLON™, DELRIN™, nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or polypropylene. The tension spring may typically be made of spring steel, but may be made of any suitable material. The retaining washers may typically be made of plastic, but may be made of various material such as but not limited to steel, aluminum, or plastic. The handle grips may typically be attached to the handles via adhesives, but may be attached via any suitable means. 
         [0023]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.