ADJUSTABLE PUSH-UP STAND

Abstract: An adjustable push-up stand having a pair of parallel spaced elevated hand grips (9, 10). The stand is of lightweight, tubular construction and is comprised of two identical end sections (1 and 2). Extension members (3, 4) telescope into the ends of sections (1, 2) and are locked by pins (7) so that the spacing between each hand grip is adjustable to accomodate the individual user without loss of the parallel relationship of the hand grips.

Description: ADJUSTABLE PUSH-UP STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment and is particularly directed to an adjustable stand for performing push-ups. In recent years, there has been a continuing upswing in the public's awareness of the importance of maintaining good physical conditioning. Concerned over the high number of cardiovascular illnesses and other chronic ailments associated with poor physical health, many people have turned to a daily routine of physical exercise. The great interest in physical conditionin has spawned the development of a multitude of health spas, fitness centers and other such commercial establishments. While many of these facilities offer excellent physical fitness programs, a large number of individuals are foreclosed from participation because they do not have the time or financial resources to devote to a professional fitness program. These individuals are, thus, left to develop their own physical conditioning programs with equipment that can be used in the home. For such a program to succeed, the exercise equipment must be readily available, inexpensive and conducive for in-home use. Typically, an individual's physical fitness program includes the perform¬ ance of a variety of exercises, including push-ups which usually represent an important part of any program. Push-ups are usually performed on the fioor or other hard surface with the palms of the hands flush against the surface. Performing push-ups in this manner subjects the wrists and forearms to undue stress and strain. To adequately relieve these stresses and strains, some form of support or stand for performing push-ups is required. Ideally, a stand for performing push-ups should have a pair of elevated parallel hand grips that the user can readily and comfortably grasp. Such a feature greatly relieves stress and strain on the user's wrists and forearms that would otherwise occur when doing push-ups with the palms flush against a flat surface. The spacing between the hand grips in the ideal push-up stand should also be adjustable to accommodate each individual user. Adjustable hand grips enable the user to adapt the stand to his or her own personal preference. An adjustable stand also permits the degree of dif¬ ficulty of the push-ups to be controlled. For example, as the spacing betwee the hand grips is adjusted outwardly and the elbows are extended laterally away from the body, push-ups become much harder to perform, thereby increasing the therapeutic effects on the arm, shoulder and chest muscles. It is also important that the hand grips remain in parallel relationship as the stand is adjusted inwardiy or outwardly. If parallelism is lost, proper griping of the hand grips would require that the hands be twisted, again placing undue stress and strain on the wrists and forearms. While the spacing between the hands can also be expanded when doing push-ups against a flat surface, a point will eventually be reached where the hands will begin to siip against the surface. On a rough surface, slippage may result in the palms and fingers being lacerated. The beneficial effects of performing push-ups with the arms expanded is, therefore, limited. In conjunction with having adjustable hand grips, the ideal push-up stand should be lightweight and compactable to conserve storage space when the stand is not in use. The stand should also be stable during use and should be usable on virtually any flat rigid surface without causing damage to the surface. Supports or stands for performing push-ups are well known in the prior art. The exercisers disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,232,863 to Roach and U.S. Patent No. 266,640 to Jennings are typical. The Roach patent discloses a fitness bar for use in doing a variety of physical exercises, including push¬ ups. A pair of elevated hand grips enhance grasping of the bar by the user. The distance between the hand grips, however, is not adjustable to individually accommodate each user or to vary the degree of difficulty of performing the push-ups. The Jennings patent discloses another stand that can be used for performing push-ups. While the hand grips of the stand may be angularly adjusted inward, the parallel relationship of the hand grips is lost. Accordingly, push-up stands known in the prior art do not meet all of the above discussed ideal characteristics. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the overall object of this invention to provide a new and improved stand for performing push-ups which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. A specific advantage of this invention is to provide a push-up stand that is light in weight, compactable and easy to store. Another specific object is to provide a push-up stand having spaced parallel elevated hand grips which can be readily adjustable to accommodate the individual user while still maintaining their parallel relationship. A still further object of this invention is to provide a push-up stand that can be used on any flat rigid surface without damage to the surface. This invention comprises a push-up stand having a pair of elevated hand grips that the user can readily grasp and adjust to his own individual preference. The frame is of tubular construction with a plurality of protective pads for preventing marring of the floor. The stand is basically comprised of two end sections sideably connected by a pair of extension members. Both the end sections and extension members are of identical tubular construction, respectively, simplifying manufacture and resulting in a stand that is much less expensive. The end sections are further comprised of a pair of parallel support members for supporting the stand on the floor or other rigid surface. A series of protective pads are provided for preventing the support members from marring the surface. The protective pads also reduce the likelihood that the stand will slide along the floor during use. An elevated hand grip portion extends between the support members of each end section. Elevating the hand grips permits them to be readily and comfortably grasped by the user. Thus, there is no undue stress and strain on the wrists and forearms as would otherwise occur when doing push-ups with the palms flush against a rigid surface. The spacing between the hand grips may be adjusted by sliding the end sections along the extension members. A securing means is provided for locking the end sections in place once the proper spacing has been established The invention, therefore, permits the stand to be adjusted to accommodate each individual user, while at the same time retaining the parallel relationship of the hand grips. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure i is a perspective view of the push-up stand according to the invention. Figure 2 is a side eϊevational view of the push-up stand shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the push-up stand shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the extension members of the push-up stand shown in Figure 1, showing the locking means in greater detail. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a number of interrelated elements, all of which are shown in at least some detail in Figure 1. Basically, the invention comprises an adjustable frame having a pair of parallel elevated spaced hand grips. As shown in Figure 3, the stand may be of tubular or similar constructio and includes two identical end sections 1 and 2. End sections 1 and 2 are sideably connected to each other by identical extension members 3 and 4. End sections 1 and 2 are configured with lower support portions ia, 2a and parallel spaced elevated hand grips 9 and 10. As better shown in Figure 2, hand grips 9 and 10 are sufficiently elevated such that they can readily be grasped by the user. Thus, there is no undue stress and strain on the user's wrists and forearms. Rubber collars 14 surround and frictionally engage support portions ia, 2a to provide stable siip-resistant support for the push-up stand. As shown in Figure 4, extension members 3 and 4 include, as a locking means, a series of holes 11 for receiving nut 5 and bolt 6 on one end and a retaining pin 7 on the other end through corresponding holes 12 and 13 in the support portions ia, 2a of end sections 1 and 2. By sliding end sections 1 and 2 along extension members 3 and 4, the spacing between hand grips 9 and 10 can be adjusted to suit the individual preference of each user. As better shown in Figure 2, the spacing can be changed while retaining the parallel relationship of the hand grips. When the desired spacing is established, end sections i and 2 may be locked into place with pins 7. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the above-described preferred embodiment will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure. It should be realized that the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus disclosed, but its scope is intended to be governed oniy by the scope of the appended claims. O PI

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. An adjustable stand for performing push-ups comprising: a base; a pair of spaced, parallel hand grips secured to said base at elevated positions above said base; and adjusting means for varying the spacing between said hand grips and always maintaining said hand grips parallel. 2. A push-up stand according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises means for varying the length of said base. 3. A push-up stand according to claim 2 wherein said base comprises at least two relatively movable base portions, and securing means for securing the relative positions of said base portions. 4. A push-up stand according to claim 3 wherein said base portions are telescopingly adjustable. 5. A push-up stand according to claim 3 comprising opposed left and right tubular frame members, each of said frame members having two parallel base portions joined to an upwardly and inwardly angled grip portion, said hand grips being located on said grip portions, and the opposed base portions of said left and right frame members being adjustably interconnected. 6. A push-up stand according to claim 5 wherein said opposed base portions are adjustably joined by apertured connecting rods, each of said connecting rods being telescopingly joined to one base portion of a set of opposed base portions by a pin received in a hole in the telescopingly joined base portion and a selected aligned .hole in said connecting rod. 7. A stand for performing push-ups comprising: a base having a pair of spaced, parallel base members extending from one side of the base to the other; an upwardly and inwardly angled grip portion at each side of said base O H connected to the ends of said base members; and a hand grip at the top of each of said grip portions. 8. A push-up stand according to claim η wherein said base members and said grip portions are tubular. 9. A push-up stand according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of resilient support collars encircling said base members. _ OMPI

Inventors: ROCKWELL GARY L, ROCKWELL, GARY, L.
Applicants: DIVERSIFIED PROD, DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTS CORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A63B23
IPC codes: A63B23