A HANDLE OF A SKIPPING ROPE HAVING A HAND-GRIP STRUCTURE

Abstract: An exercising apparatus used as a handle of skipping rope and/or a hand-grip, wherein two handle-members (1), (1') are connected at one end by a spring means which also functions to bias the two handle members apart, or connected at one end by a hinge structure and biased apart by a helical coil spring retained in the longitudinally extending grooves, and the two handle members (1), (1') are closed or diverged away by displacing the position of a retaining means. And an electronic counting device is provided to the exercising apparatus to count the gripping times and skipping times using a single electric counter. And said electronic counting device is also provided to a handle for a skipping rope or a hand-grip to count the exercising times. And a thumb-grip structure is provided to the handle (or handle member) of a skipping rope with/or a hand-grip structure to be engaged by the user's thumb.

Description: DESCRIPTION TITLE OF INVENTION A HANDLE OF A SKIPPING ROPE HAVING A HAND-GRIP STRUCTURE TECHNICAL FIELD Present invention relates to an exercising apparatus which can he used as a handle of a skipping rope set and/or a hand-grip provided with a rotatable or fixed thumb-grip structure and/or an electronic counting device. o BACKGROUND ART ' The mechanical counters used in a conventional hand¬ grip or a skipping rope handle are not convenient nor use¬ ful because they produce clicking noises when used, and moreover,the mechanical, parts * of which are easily out of 5 order when used for a long time. And further, -a counter, used in a hand-grip counts only the gripping times and a counter used in a skipping rope set also only counts the skipping times respectively. In other words, there is no device that counts the gripping times and skipping times o together using only one counter. And, according to medical study, in an individual's hand there are twenty muscles that act upon all the. fingers. Of these twenty muscles, nine muscles (Flexor pollicis long¬ us, Abductor pollicis longus, Extensor pollicis brevis, 5 Extensor pollicis longus, Abductor pollicis brevis, Flexor p.ollicis brevis, Opponens pollicis, Abductor pollicis, and Palmar interossei) move the thumb and the remaining eleven muscles move the four fingers excluding the thumb. These eleven muscles are Flexor digitoru superficialis, Flexor o digitorum profundus, Extensor digitorum, Extensor digiti minimi, Extensor indicis, Lumbricals, Palmar interossei, Dorsal interossei, Flexor digiti minimi brevis, Abductor " digiti minimi brevis, and Opponens digiti minimi. Therefore, when using a conventional hand-grip, such 5 as the one in Figure 18A, one handle (Q) of the hand-grip is positioned on the palm and the other handle (Q') is grasped by the four fingers excluding the thumb as shown in Figure 18A. Under these conditions, if it is desired to- develop the hand muscles, one squeezes the two handles (Q) , Q 1 ) toward each other by drawing the four fingers ex¬ cluding the thumb inwardly in the dirction of arrow P of Figure 18A.. c However, in this position the muscles exercised are only just the eleven muscles that act upon the four fin¬ gers excluding the thumb, because the fingers that apply the force of muscles to draw the two handles (Q),(Q f ) toward one another are only four fingers excluding the -* Q thumb• Accordingly, with, a conventional hand-grip, the nine muscles that act upon the thumb could not be exercised nor developed sufficiently in any case. In the same way, in case of a conventional one-part -15 skipping rope handle,one grasps the handle ( ), such as the one in Figure 18B, by drawing the four fingers exclud.- iag the thumb inwardly in the direction of arrow P of Figure 18B. Accordingly, with a conventional skipping rope handle, one grasps: the handle uncomfortably and soon 2 0 feels fatigued. And, in case, of my prior British Patent Application Number 83o4166, west Germany Pat. Appln. o;. P 33o4973.4— 15, etc., a thumb-grip structure is provided to one of the handle members to overcome above said defects of a conven- 25 tional hand-grip or a conventional skipping rope handle. But in case of my'prior applications, as the thumb-grip is fixed to any one side of the first handle member 1 ' , it is impossible to grip one thumb-grip structure with right and left thumb alternatively. In other words, the user must 3 0 . use two hand-grip structures for both hands. Consequently, the hand-grip structures (especially the spring members) must be constructed ' in .both handles of a skipping rope. Therefore, the production cost and selling price are inevitably.high. Further, it is very inconvenient and 35 troublesome for the users that they have to use two hand¬ grip structures. With these points in mind, it is the objects of the present invention to provide an improved exercising apparatus used as a handle of a skipping rope and/or a hand-grip. DISCLOSURE OF INVENFION An exercising apparatus used as a skipping rope hand- le and/or a hand-grip according to the present invention comprises two handle members which are connected at the first end parts by a coil spring or a hinge-structure. And one of the handles or handle members has a rotatable or a fixed thumb-grip and to the second end part of the 1o other handle member is attached a supporting, means to con¬ nect a skipping rope. An electronic counting device is provided to the handle for counting the number of rotations said supporter makes and/or for counting the number of gripping times. 1 It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercising apparatus which can be used as a handle of a skipping rope and/or as a hand-grip with an electronic counting device which can overcome the defects of conven¬ tional mechanical counters and/or can count the gripping 2o times and skipping times respectively using only one elec¬ tronic counter. Another object of the. present invention is to proviαe above -said exercising apparatus with a rotatable thumb-grip to be engaged by both thumbs without any distinction for 25 right or left hand. A further object of the present invention is to pro¬ vide above said exercising apparatus with longitudinally extending grooves which are- formed..in the facing surfaces of the handle members to receive the " spring stably. 3o And a further '" object of the present invention is to provide above said electronic counter-and a rotatable thumb-grip to hand-grip.. - And a further object of the present invention is to provide above said electronic counter to a conventional -^ bar-shaped skipping rope handle having a fixed thumb-grip. And a further object of the present invention is to provide above said electronic counter to a conventional bar-shaped skipping rope handle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring more specifically to the drawings, the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter. Figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention in which a rota¬ table thumb-grip and an electronic counting device are provided to the handle members.. - Figure 2 is a side view of the handle of Figure 1 , with the handle members being closed on one another. - j0 Figures 3A,3B,3C, and 3D are fragmentary and .per- ' -. spective views of the first handle member with a rotatable thumb-grip. Figure 3D is a bottom view of Figure 3B. /__ - Figure 4 is a perspective and exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 1 Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4, with the handle members being closed on one another, partly in section. Figure 6 is a side view of^Figure 4,with the handle members being diverged away from each other, partly in section. o Figures 7A and 7B are sectional views of the lines L-L'and M-M' in Figure 5, respectively. Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of the third and fourth embodiment of the present invention, which are comprised of most of the elements in Figures land 4 5 excluding the supporting means only to be used as a- hand¬ grip. Figures 1oA and 1oB are perspective views of the hand—grip of Figure 8 being engaged by the left and right hand respectively. o Figure 11A is a perspective view of the fifth embo¬ diment of the present invention, in which a conventional bar-shaped skipping rope handle is provided with an elec¬ tronic counter and a fixed thumb-grip. Figure 11B is a perspective view of the sixth embo- 5 diment of the present invention, in which a conventional bar-shaped skipping rope handle is provided with an elec¬ tronic counter. Figures 12A, 12B,12C, 12D,and 12E are fragmentary and perspective views of the second handle member 1 show¬ ing the positions of contact-points, switching ' points, and the retaining means. Figures 13A, 13B, and 13C are perspective and ex- e- ploded views of the end wart of the second handle member and supporting means, which show the positions of con¬ tact-points and contact-strips. Figure 14 is a block diagram of a circuit employed in the present invention. - |0 Figure 15 is a circuit diagram of a counting system to count the skipping times and gripping times alterna¬ tively. /-_ - Figure 16 is a circuit diagram of a counting system for a hand-grip. figure 17 is a circuit diagram or a counting system for a skipping rope handle. Figures 18A and 18B ar " perspective views of a con¬ ventional hand-grip and a conventional skipping rope hand¬ le. 2 0 In .case of using present invention as a handle of a skipping rope, the drawings show handles intended mostly for the left hand, it being understood that that for the right hand, if desired, can be made similar. And like numerals refer to like parts throughout. And all the el- 25 ements or members are made of such known materials as wood , plastic, iron, and any other known materials. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the handle A is formed in two handles members (or the first handle member 3o 1'and the second handle member 1) which are connected to¬ getherat the first end parts of the two handle members by a coil spring 13A which acts to bias the two handle membeis apart, and also can be used for exercising the user's grip. More specifically, the first handle member 1' is tapered 35 to a point, from the first end part 24 attached to the spring 13A, and the second handle member 1 is shaped in a complementary manner, so that, when the two handle mem¬ bers are closed, they form together a cylindrical struc..-- ture that is almost the same shape and size of a conyen- tional skipping rope handle. And finger receiving grooves 61, 62, 63 f 64 are formed on the round back of the second handle member 1 for the fingers excluding the thumb to rest 5 stably as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The little finger,ring finger, middle finger,and fore finger rest in the respec¬ tive finger . receiving grooves 61, 62,63,and 64. These fin¬ ger receiving grooves are also formed in the other embo¬ diments of the present invention such as shown in Figures 1o 4,8,9,and 11A. If desired, the two handle members can be held in clo¬ sed position as shown in Figure 2 by a retaining means, in the for*m of a ring 5'-which can slide axially in a con¬ cavity 4 in the second end part 27 of the second handle 15 member 1. When righthand-most position as -shown in Figure 1 , the ring 5 is free of the first handle member 1 ' , which is free to move away from the second handle member - , If it is moved to the lefthand-most position as shown in.Figure 2, the ring.5 overlies a cut-out portion 2 of the first * ' 2o handle'member 1' and retains the latter to form a cylin¬ drical handle. For connecting- a skipping rope 16 to the handle, a supporting means comprised of a supporter 8 with a pro¬ trusion 7 and a ring-member 9 is used. The supporter 8 25 united with a protrusion 7 having in its stem a con¬ necting hole 6 is located in a recess 1o of a ring-member 9, with the protrusion 7 passing through a central aperture 11 in the ring-member 9; the ring-member 9 is then screwed to the end of the second handle member 1 through the holes 3o 37by- bolts 36 as shown in Figures 1,2, and 4. The support¬ er 8 is retained by the ring-member 9 but can be readily rotated to that member relatively. The skipping rope 16, then, can be * connected to the second handle member 1 by means of a link 15 secured in the 5 connecting hole 6 of the protrusion 7. This link 15 toge¬ ther with the rope 16 can also be detachable from the hand¬ le if the user wants to use this apparatus as a hand-grip only. Referring now to counting device, the shaft of the second handle member 1 is provided with a well-known el¬ ectronic counter 4o, reset button 42, and a power source 41, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The counter 4o is comprised of various well-known elements such as a buffer-amplifier, a voltage-to-frequency converter, an electronic digital counter, and a digital display unit. Figure 14 shows the block diagram of the circuit using these elements. A battery or any other known electric power source can be used as the power source. And the power source is to be housed in the shaft of the second handle member 1 with a well-known sliding or hinged tr'ap ' door to close the power source compartment. The numeral 41 denotes the power source altogether with the trap door and power source compartment. But it is expressed "the power source 41" in this description for' convenience. ■ * And electrical leads extend from the power source 41 , through inside of the second handle member i, to numerous o electrical contacts. On the inner surface of the first handle member 1 ' , a contact-strip 44 is attached thereon and is projected out slightly higher than the surface level of the inner surface to contact with the contact- points 43 and 43' when the two handle members 1 and 1 ' * are closed. The location of the contact-strip 44 is shown in Figure 3D. Namely it is located somewhere in between the hole 38 and the end of the first handle member 1 ' . And, on the inner surface of the second handle member 1, contact-points 43 and 43" are installed, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, to be exactly contacted with the contact- strip 44. O the concavity 4 made for the ring 5 to slide axially, contact-points 45, 46 and switching-strips 47, 48 are installed as shown in Figures 12A to 12E. Figure 12A shows the concavity 4 with the contact—points 45 and 46. In this drawing, the ring 5 is not drawn for convenience. In Figure 12B, the switching-strips 47 and 48 are in¬ stalled near to the contact-points 45 and 46 in such a manner that said points 45, 46 and said strips 47, 48 are in a superimposing relationship respectively. Namely, without any external pressures, the switching- strips 47 and 48 are so attached as to be not normally con¬ tacted with the contact-points 45 and 46. And in this drawing, the ring 5 is also not drawn for convenience. Figure 12C shows the concavity 4 with ring 5, all the con¬ tact-points and switching-strips being attached. In this drawing, the ring 5 is positioned on the middle of the con¬ cavity 4, so that no switching-strip is contacted with the contact-point. in ' Figure 12D, the ring 5 being moved to -' o the lefthand-most position overlies the cut-out portion 2 of the first handle member 1'forming a skipping rope handle as shown in Figures 2 and 5. In this case, the switching-strip 47 is pressed by the ring 5, and at the same time, contacts the contact-point.45. And in turn, in 5 Figure 12E, the ring 5 being moved to the righthand-most position overlies and presses the switching-strip 48. And in this case, t e switching-strip 48 contacts the contact- point 46. And as shown in Figures 13A, * 13B, and 13C,on the inner o surface of the ring-member 9. are installed contact-strips 5o and 5o'. And contact-points 1 and 51' are installed at the end side of the second handle member 1 to contact said contact-strips 5o and 5o' when the ring-member 9 is attached to the second handle member 1. And a contact- 5 strip 49 is installed on the supporter 8 slightly higher than the surface level of the supporter 8 in order to be contacted with these contact-strips 5e and 5o' The circuit will now be described with reference to the Figure 15. A first electrical lead 54 from the counter °. 4o extends and is connected to the contact-points.45 and 46. A fourth electrical lead 55 from the switching-strip 47 extends to the contact-point 51 contacting the contact- strip 5o. And the electrical lead 57 from the contact- point 51' contacting the contact-strip 5o*' extends to a 5 second electrical lead 59 which is connected to the counter 4o. And a third electrical lead 56 from the switching-, strip 48 extends to the contact-point 43, and the elec¬ trical lead 58 " from the contact-point 43' is also con¬ nected to the second electrical lead 59 which extends to the counter 4o. Further, the fifth and sixth electrical leads 53,53' from the power source 41 are connected to the counter 4o. Numerals 44 and 49 denote the contact-strips. And numeral 42 denotes the reset button. All these contact-points-, contact-strips, and switch¬ ing-strips are attached to the handle members and other elements by means of bolts or adhesives, and are also con¬ nected to the electrical leads by soldering, welding, or any other known methods. In addition, all of the elements o used in counting system are so made and installed as to be insulated perfectly. The counting processes are as follows. At first, if desired to use the present invention as a skipping rope handle, the user moves the ring 5 to the lefthand-most 5 position and retains the first handle member 1' in position as shown in Figures 2 and 5. At this moment, ' the ring 5- naturally overlies and presses the switching-strip 47 to contact the contact-point 45. Thus, the current flows from the power source 41 , through the counter 4o and o the leads 54,55,to the contact-strip 5o. And it also flows from the power source 41 , through the counter 4o and the leads 59,57,to the contact-strip 5o' (see Figure 15). Under these conditions, the user tarns the skipping . rope connected to the supporter 8. 5 Every time the supporter 8 rotates * , the contact-strip 49 contacts the contact-strips 5o, 5o p and produce pulse signals. These signals are transmitted, through the el¬ ectrical leads * , to the counter and display the skipping times * . o And in turn, if desired to use present invention as a hand-grip, the user moves the ring 5 to the righthand-most position to diverge away the closed two handle members 1: and 1 '- from each other. At this time, the switching-βtrip 47 is separated from the contact-point 45. and the ring 5 3 overlies and presses the switching-strip 48 to contact the contact-point 46. Thus-, the current flows from the power source 41, through the counter 4o and the electrical leads 54,56, to the contact-point 43. And it also flows from the -1 o- power source 41 , through the counter 4o and the electrical leads 59,58, to the contact-point 43 * (see Figure 15). Under these conditions, everytime the two handle members are closed, the contact-strip 44 contacts the contact- points 43, 43' and produces pulse signals. These signals are transmitted, through the electrical leads, to the cou¬ nter 4 r β and display the gripping times. As hitherto explained, by displacing the position of the ring 5,- the user can count the skipping times and o gripping times * alternatively with a single counter. Figures 1 and 4 also show another feature of the present invention in which a rotatable thumb-grip is provided to a handle member. Namely, a rotatable thumb- grip 3o is connected to the first handle member 1 r by means 5 of a protrusion 31 which is projected upwardly from the flat portion 34 of the rotatable thumb-grip 3o. The pro¬ trusion 31 is fitted into a slot 38 which is positioned adjacent to the second end part 25 of the first handle member 1"- as- shown in Figure 3A. And, a pin 33 is passing o through an opening 32 located in the stem of the protrusion 31 as- * shown in Figure 3B» This pin 33 retains the protru¬ sion 31 in position and prevents the whole rotatable thumb- grip 3 ' o to be slipped out from the slot 38 of the first handle member 1'. Accordingly, the rotatable thumb-grip 5 3o can be rotated from right side of the first handle mem¬ ber 1 ' as shown in Figure 3B to the left side as shown in Figure 3C and vice versa. Namely, when the rotatable thumb-grip 3o is positioned at the right side of the first handle member 1 ' , the user engages hig/her lef thumb on o the rotatable thumb-grip 3o as shown in Figure 1oA. And in turn, being pushed to rotate to the left side, the rotatable thumb-grip 3o is positioned at the left side of the first handle member 1''. Thus, the user engages his/ her right thumb on the rotatable thumb-grip 3o as shown in >-> Figure 1oB. (the Figures 1oA and 1oB are drawn to show the hand-grip only. These are quoted here only to show the positions of the thumb for convenience ) , Accordingly, the user can develop all the muscles of both thumbs with this hand- rip structure A as shown in Figure 1(or the hang-grip structure 01 Figure 4). And further, as the flat porτion 34 oi xhe .rotatable thumb-grip 3o is positioned beneath the first handle r,em- er 1', τ e flax portion 34 projects out as thickly as its thickness from the surface level of the first handle mem¬ ber 1' as shown in Figure 3D. Accordingly, a means 35 is - formed in the inner surface of the second handle member 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 4 for the flat portion 34 to be o received when the two handle members 1 andl " are closed as shown in Figures 2 and 5. As- : described earlier, with a conventional hand-grip, the nine muscles that act upon the thumb could not be '- exercised nor developed sufficiently in any case. And with 5 a conventional skipping rope handle, one grasps the handle uncomfortably and soon feels fatigued. But in present invention, as * a user engages his/her thumb on the thumb-grip 3o and pushes the thumb to the direction of arrow T and draws the remaining fingers ex- ■ o eluding the thumb to the direction of arrow P of Figure 1oA. All the muscles can be developed evenly and effec¬ tively when performing a hand-.grip exercise, and further, one can grasp the handle more stably and comfortably when turning the skipping rope. 5 And in case of my prior applications, as the thumb- grip is fixed to any one side of the first handle member 1 ' , the hand-grip structure with a fixed thumb-grip must be constructed in both handles of a skipping rope for the user's both hands. But if the hand-grip structure has o the rotatable thumb-grip 3o, one hand-grip structure is sufficient for the user to develop all the muscles of both hands. Thus, one handle of a skipping rope can be the one in Figure 1(or Figure 4) with rotatable thumb-grip, and the other handle can have the shape of a simple bar with 5 a fixed thumb-grip such as the one in Figure 11A.. Con¬ sequently, as one handle of a skipping rope set does not need to have the structure of a hand-grip(especially the spring element), the production cost and selling price can - 2-- be reduced greatly. Further, when using present inven¬ tion as a hand-grip only, one hand-grip having a rota¬ table thumb-grip is sufficient for the user to develop all the muscles of both hands. Accordingly, the user does not need to use two hand-grips having a fixed thumb-grip. The Figures 4,5, and ' 6 show the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the- spring 13A in Figure 1 is substituted by a hinge structure which plays the role of connecting the two handle members 1 and o 1'. The first end part 26 of the second handle member 1 is formed with a tongue 2o, the part being arcuately cut away on either side. The corresponding first end part 24 of the first handle member 1 » has two outwardly sharped, downwardly directed, ribs 18 which define between them 5 a slot S, which is complementary to the tongue 2o, thus forming a tongue and groove joint. A pivot pin 21 atta¬ ches the two handle members 1 " and 1 together, the pin 21 passing through holes 19 in the tongue 2o and ribs 18. When the two handle members are so attached together, the o ribs 18 are retained in the arcuate cut away parts of the second handle member 1. A helical compression spring 13B is located between the two handle members 1 and 1" as shown in Figures 4,5, and 6c And further, in the facing surfaces of the two 5 handle members 1 ''and 1, the longitudinally extending first and second recessed portions 23A and 22A are carved out respectively for the spring 13B to be retained and laid down as shown in Figure 5. And a cavity 23A' is made deep in one of the side walls of the first recessed portion 23A o of the first handle member 1 «for the upper end 13C of the spring 13B to be rotatably secured. The position of the cavity 23A' is shown in Figure 7A which is a sectional view of the line L-L 1 ' in -Figure 5. And a "— : 1"shaped stria 22B is formed deep in one of the side walls of the 5 second recessed portion 22A fβr the lower end 13D of the spring 13B to be inserted and slidably retained. This stria 22B is also shown in Figures 7A and 7B which is a ' sectional view of the line M-M" in Figure 5. And at the righthand-most part of the second recessed portion 22A, a means 22A' is formed to receive the whole lower part of the spring 13B when the spring 13B stands upwardly as shown in Figure 6. If desired to use present invention as a handle of a skipping rope, under such position as the two handle members 1 ' and 1 being diverged away from each other as ' shown in Figure 6, the user draws the first handle member 1" a lit¬ tle more upwardly. Accordingly, the lower end 13D of the spring 13B together with the whole lower part, of the spring 13 ' B is also drawn upwardly to the right-angled point of the stria 22B. At this time, the user pushes: the whole lower part of the spring 13B to the direction of arrow R as shown in Figure 6, and closes the two handle members 1* and 1 to each other. Thus, the spring 13B is slidden to the direction of arrow R and laid down in the first and . second recessed portions 23Aand 22A. After closing the two handle members * - 1 * and 1 , the user moves the ring 5 to the lefthand-most position to form a cylindrical skipping rope handle as shown in Figure 5-. And, if desired to use the present invention as a hand¬ grip, the user moves the ring 5 to the righthand-most posi¬ tion and makes the two handle members Y and 1 diverged away from each other. At this time, as the upper end 13C of the spring 13B is rotatably secured to the cavity 23A' and the lower end 13D of the spring is slidably retained in the stria 22B, the whole lower part of the spring 13B moves to the direction of the arrow F as shown in Figure 6. And, after the.lower end 13D together with the whole lower part of the spring 13B moves to the right-angled point of the stria 22B, then, the lower end 13D moves downwardly to the deep end 22B* of the stria 22B. At this moment, the whole lower part of the spring 13B is also positioned in the means 22A'. Consequently, as the upper end 13C of the spring 13B is rotatably retained in the cavity 23A'and the whole lower part of the spring 13B is retained in the means 22A 1 , the spring 13B can't be removed out of the handle mem¬ bers 1' and 1 nor slipped into the first and second recessed portion 23A and 22A of itself unless it is intentionally drawn upwardly and pushed into said recessed portions 23A and 22A by the user. Then, using this hand-grip structure B, the user can exercise and develop his/her grip. And further, as the spring 13B can be laid down in the recessed portions 23A and 22A, the two handle members 1" and * 1 and retaining . means 5 are not affected by the elasticity of the spring * 13B. Accordingly, the user can ' grip this handle B more firmly and stably when does * rope jumping, and also carrys it as * a simple bar with ease and convenience when using it only as a hand-grip by removing out the skipping rope 16 and link 15. The third and fourth embodiment of the present inven- tion are shown in Figures 8 and 9. As described earlier, present invention can be used as a hand-grip by removing. ou the link 15 together with the rope-16 from the support¬ ing means connected to the second handle member 1. But, on occasion calls, some users, may want to use the present invention only, as a hand-grip provided with a rotatable thumb-grip and/or an electronic counting device without making and attaching any supporting means(8,9), link(15), and rope(T6) from the outset. This requirement can be easily met by removing outthe ring - member 9 having the contact-strips 50, 50' and supporter 8 having the contact-strip 49 from the second handle member 1 in Figure 1 or Figure 4 and connecting the circuit as shown in Figure 16. Namely, the electrical lead 54 from the counter 40 directly extends to contact- point 43. And the electrical lead 58 from the contact- point 43' also extends directly to the counter 40. And the electrical leads 53, 53' from the power source 41 are connected to the counter 40. Therefore, in these embo¬ diments, the contact-points 45,46 and switching-strips 47, 48 are not installed on the concavity 4. When the user closes the two handle members, the contact-strip 44 con¬ tacts the contact-point 43 and 43' and produces pulse sig¬ nals. These signals are transmitted to the counter and display the gripping times. And when the user wants to carry this hand-grip as a cylindrical simple bar by clos¬ ing the two handle members with the ring 5, the contact- strip 44 also contacts the contact-points 43 and 43'. But, in this case, the current can be broken by the reset but- ton 42. Of course, if the user does not want any count¬ ing device, these counting elements may not be installed. The other parts are all the same as those in the prior embodiment of Figure 1 or Figure 4. And, the rota¬ table thumb-grip 30 can also be rotated from the right side of the first handle member 1' to the left side and vice versa. Accordingly, with this hand-grip C of Figure 8 (or hand-grip D of Figure 9), the user can engage his/ her left and right thumb alternatively as * shown in Figures. 10A and 10B, and develop all the muscles of both hands. And further, as the normal shape of a conventional hand¬ grip is that of a diverged twig, it is very inconvenient and troublesome to carry along. But in the present inven¬ tion, by displacing the position of the ring 5, the hand¬ grip C(or D) can be so closed to form a cylindrical simple ar as shown in Figures 8 and 9 that they can be carried - along with ease and convenience. As described earlier, if desired to use the present invention as a handle of a skipping rope, the user cloaes the two handle members 1', 1 and makes a cylindrical skip- ping rope handle. Namely, one handle of a skipping rope can be the one in Figure 1(or Figure 4) with rotatable thumb-grip 30, and the other handle of a skipping rope can have the shape and size of one-part bar having a fixed thumb-grip such as the one in Figure 11A. This thumb-grip 3 is fixed to any one side of the body H of the handle E as shown in Figure 11A, adapted to be engaged by the user*s thumb, thus enabling the user to grip the handle E more tightly and stably. In this embodiment of Figure 11A, the- counting device may not be installed. Further, on occasion calls, some user may want to use the present invention only as a handle of a skipping rope provided with an electronic counting device and a fixed thumb-grip, or some users may want a handle of a skipping rope with only an electronic counting device. These requirements can also be easily met by substi¬ tuting a one-part bar shaped handle for such members of prior embodiments as two handle members with retaining means and spring means, and connecting the circuit as shown in Figure 17. Namely, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 11A in which a skipping rope handle E is provided with an electronic coun¬ ting* . device and a fixed thumb-grip 3 which is projected on the right side of the body H of the handle to be en- gaged by the left hand. For right hand, the fixed thumb- grip 3 is projected on the left side of the other handle (not shown). Figure 11B shows * the sixth embodiment of the present-invention in which a handle F of a skipping rope is provided with an electronic counting device. The counting elements and counting circuits employed in the handle E of Figure 11A and the handle F of Figure. 11B are transferred from or the same as s *<•*o • me of those in the prior embodiments. Namely, inside of the handle are mounted a power source 41, a reset button 42, and an elec- tronic counter 40. The contact-strip 49 on the support¬ er 8 and the contact-strips 50,50' on the inner surface of the ring-member 9 are also the same as those in the prior embodiments such as shown in Figures 13A,13B,and 13C. The circuit diagram is shown in Figure 17. The electrical lead 54 from the electronic counter 40 extends, through inside of the handle, via the contact-point 51, to the contact-strip 50. And the electrical lead 57 from the contact-point 51' contacting the contact-strip 50' extends to the counter 40. And the electrical leads 53, 53' from the power source 41 are connected to the electronic cou¬ nter 40. Numeral 42 denotes the reset button. When the user rotates the skipping rope connected to the supporter 8, the contact-strip 49 contacts the contact-strips 50 and 50', and produces pulse signals. These signals are trans- mitted to the counter 40 and display skipping times. The handle described hitherto .enables one device to be used both as a handle for a skipping rope set and as a hand-grip. And the rotatable thumb-grip(or the fixed thumb-grip; connected to a handle member enables the user to develop all the muscles of the thumb and/or to grip the handles more firmly and effectively. And further, the electronic counting device enables the user to count the skipping times and gripping times with a single elec- tronic counter, and further, it improves many defects of a conventional counter used in a conventional skipping rope handle or in a conventional hang-grip. /_, -

Claims: CLAIMS : Claim 1. A skipping rope handle, comprising: a first handle member (1') being substantially semi¬ circular in cross-section and having a first end part (24). - a gripping portion, and a second end part (25); a second handle member (1) being substantially semi¬ circular in cross-section and having a first end part (26)^ a gripping portion, and a second end part (27); coil spring means (13A) operatively positioned be¬ 0 tween said first and second handle members (l'') > (1) hav¬ ing a first end (14A) connected to said first end part (24) of said first handle member (1') and a second end (14B)connected to said first end part (26) of said second handle member (1) for biasing said first and second..handle 5 * members- (l''),(l) away from each other and for. providing a resistance for an individual grasping said first and second handle members (l'),(l) and attempting to compress them together; supporting means including a ring-member (9) being o mounted relative to said second end part (27)of said second handle member (1) and a supporter (8) being rota¬ tably secured in a recess (10) of said ring-member (9) for attaching a jump rope to said second handle member (1); retaining means (5) in the shape of a ring axially 5 displaceable along said first and second handle members (1"), (1) for retaining said handle members together, said retaining means (5) being mounted in a concavity (4) adja¬ cent to said second end part (27) of said second handle member (1) wherein, upon actuation, said biased handle 0 members (1''), (1) are retained to form said skipping rope handle of a substantially circular cross-section;and finger receiving grooves (61,62,63,64)formed on the round back of the second handle member (1) forthe fingers excluding the thumb to rest stably, 5 and further includes a rotatable thumb-grip (30), said rotatable thumb-grip (30) fits into a slot (38) formed abjacent said second end part (25) of said first handle member (1'; by means of a protrusion (31 ) project- -19- ing from a flat portion (34) of said rotatable thumb- grip (30;, said protrusion (31) of said rotatable thumb-grip (30; being rotatably retained in said slot (38; by means of a pin (33; passing through an opening (32; in said protrusion (3D, said inner surface of said second handle member (1; further includes means (35) formed therein for receiving said flat portion (34) of said rotatable thumb-grip (30; upon closing said first and second handle members (1'), (1; together, 2. A skipping rope handle according to claim 1, wherein said coil spring means (13A; is replaced by a hinge structure (18,19,20;, said hinge structure including: a hinge pin (21) for pivotally connecting said first end part (24; of said first handle member {l 1 ) ' to said first end part (26; of said, second handle member (i;; a cylindrical helical spring (13 ; having upper and lower ends (13C), (13D) positioned within longitudinally extending first and second recessed . portions (23A), (22A) within facing inner surfaces of said first and second handle members (1''), (1), wherein said cylindrical helical spring (13B) is laid down and hidden from view within said first and second recessed portions (23A), (22A) upon actua- tion of said retaining means (5); said first recessed portion (23A) has located therein a cavity (23A*; deep in the side thereof for retatably securing said upper end (13C) of said cylindrical helical spring (13B); said second recessed portion (22A) has located therein a stria (22B) for inserting and slidably retaining said lower end (13D) of said cylindrical helical spring (13B); and said second recessed portion (22A) further includes means (22A » ) for stably positioning a lower portion of said cylindrical helical spring (13B when said spring (13B) stands upwardly. 3. A skipping rope handle according to claim 1, further including an electronic counting system, comprising: a Power source (41); a reset button (42); counter means (40) for counting the number of rota¬ tions said supporter (8;makes while an individual is jump- ing rope and for counting the number of gripping times; said counter means (40; including a buffer amplifier, a vol age-to-frequency converter, an electronic digital counter, and a digital display unit; means for providing pulse signals to said counter means(40)via a plurality of electrical leads; said means for providing pulse signals includes a contact strip (44) on the inner surface of said first handle member (l 1 ) and contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (l) wherein said strip (44) and points (43,43') contact upon closing of said first and second handle members (l'),(l), contact points (45,46) and open Switching strips(47,48) on said concavity (4) wherein said points (45,46) and strips (47,48) are in a superimposing relationship , contact points (51,51') at "the end of said second handle member (1) and contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9) wherein said points (51,51') and strips (50,50') are in electrical contact upon securing said ring-member (9) to said second handle member (1), and a contact strip (49) on said- supporter (8) wherein said strip (49) operatively engages with said strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9); said plurality of electrical leads include a first lead (54) extending from said counter (40; to said contact points (45,46; on said concavity (4) through said sceond handle member (1), a second lead (59) extending from said counter (40) to at least one (43') of said contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1) and to at least one (50') ' of said contact strips (50,50*) on the inner surface of said ring-member (9), a third lead (56) extending from one (48) of said switching strips (47,48) on said concavity (4) to one (43) of said contact points (43, 3') on the inner surface of -21 - said second handle member (1), a fourth lead (55) extending from one (47) of said switching strips(47,48) on said concavity (4), through oner (51 ; of said contact points (51,51') at the end of the ' - ■ second handle member (1;, to one (50; of said contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9;, and fifth and sixth leads (53,53') extending from said power source (41) to said counter (40;, wherein upon actuation, a flow of current is converted to said contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1; or to said contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9) by displacing the position of said retaining means (5) along the length of said skip_ ping rope handle. 4. A skipping rope handle according to claim 2, further including an^electronic counting system, comprising-: a power source (41 J; a reset ' button (42); counter means (40; for counting the number of rota¬ tions said supporter (8) makes- while and individual is jumping rope and for counting the number of gripping times; said counter means (40; including a buffer amplifier, a voltage-to-frequency converter, an electronic digital counter, and a digital display unit; means for providing pulse signals to said counter means (40) via a plurality of electrical leads; said means for providing pulse signals includes a contact strip (44) on the inner surface of said, first hand-: -le member (l 1 ) and contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1 ) wherein said strip (44) and points (43,43') contact upon closing of said first and second handle members (l 1 ), (1), contact points (45,46) and open switching strips (47,48) on said concavity (4) wherein said points (45,46) and strips (47,48) are in a superimposing relationship, contact points (51,51') at the end of said second handle member (1) and contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9) -22- wherein said points (51,51') and strips (50,50') are in electrical contact upon securing said ring-member (9) to said second handle member (1), and a contact strip (49) on said supporter (8) wherein said strip (49) operatively engages with said strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9); said plurality of electrical leads include a first lead, . (54) extending from said counter (40) to said contact points (45, 46) on said concavity (4) through said second handle member (1 ), a second lead (59) extending from said counter (40) to at least one (43') of said contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1) and to at lea^t-one (50') of said contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9), a third lead (56; extending from one (48) of said switching strips (47,48) on said concavity (4 * ) to one (43) of said contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1), a fourth lead (55) extending from one (47) of said switching strips (47,48) on said concavity (4), through one (51) of said contact points (51,51") at the end of the second handle member (1), to one (50) of said contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9), and fifth and sixth leads (53,53') extending from said power source (41) to said counter (40), wherein upon actuation, a flow of current is converted to said contact points (43,43') on the inner surface of said second handle member (1) or to said contact strips (50,50') on the inner surface of said ring-member (9)by displacing the position of said retaining means(5) along the length of said skip- * ping rope handle. 5. A hand grip, comprising: a first handle member (1') being substantially semi- circular in cross-section and having a first end part (24). a gripping portion, and a second end part (25); a second handle member (1; being substantially semi¬ circular in cross-section and having a first end part (26; gripping portion, and a second end part (27); coil spring means (13A) operatively positioned be¬ tween said first and second handle members (1';, (1)» having a first end (14A) connected to said first end part (24) of said first handle member (1') and a second end (14B) connected to said first end part (26) of said second handle member (1 ) for biasing said first and second handle members (1'), (1) away from each other and for providing a resistance for an individual grasping said first and second handle members (1*;, (1) and attempting to compress them together; retaining means (5; in the shape of a ring axially displaceable along said first and second handle members: (1'),{ : 1) ' together, said retaining means (5) being mounted in a concavity (4) adjacent to said second end part(27) of said second handle member (1),wherein, upon actuation, said biased handle members (l'),(l) are retained to form said- hand-grip of a substantially circular cross-section; finger receiving grooves (61,62,63,64) formed on the round back of the second handle member (1) for the fingers excluding the thumb to rest stably; a rotatable thumb-grip (30); said rotatable thumb-grip (30) fits into a slot (38) formed adjacent to said second end part (25) of said first handle member (1*) by means of a protrusion (31) project- ing from a flat portion (34) of said rotatable thumb-grip (30) wherein said. protrusion (31) of said rotatable thumb- grip (30) is rotatably retained in said slot (38) by means of a pin (33) passing through an opening (32) in said pro¬ trusion (31); said inner surface of said second handle member (1) further includes means (35) formed therein for receiving said flat portion (34) of said rotatable thumb-grip (30) upon closing said first and second handle members (l' ! ),(1) together. 6. A hand-grip according to claim 5, wherein said coil spring means (13A) is replaced by a hinge structure (18,19,20) said hinge structure including: a hinge pin (21 ; for pivotally connecting said first end part (24) of said first handle member (1') to said first end (26) of said second handle member (1); a cylindrical helical spring (13B) having upper and lower ends (13C), (13D) positioned within longitudinally extending first and second recessed portions (23A),(22A) within facing surfaces of said first and second handle members (l'),(l), wherein said cylindrical helical spring (13B) is laid down and hidden from view within said first and second recessed portions (23A), (22A) upon actuation 0 of said retaining means.(5;; said first recessed portion (23A) has located therein a cavity (23A') deep in the side thereof for rotatably securing said upper end (13C) of said cylindrical helical spring (13B;; -> said second recessed portion (22A) has located therer- in a stria (22B) for inserting and slidably retaining said lower end (13D) of said cylindrical helical spring (13B); and said second recessed portion (22A) further includes 0 means (22A') for stably positioning a lower portion of said cylindrical helical spring (13B) when said spring (13B) stands upwardly. 7. A hand-grip according to claim 5, further including: 5 a power source (41); a reset button (42;; and counter means (40) for counting the number of times made while an individual squeezes said first and second 0 handle members (l'),(l) into a contacting relationship; said power source (41), reset button (42), and coun¬ ter means (40) being mounted on or within the body of said second handle member (1); said inner surface of said second handle member (1; 5 further includes two contact points (43,43'); the inner surface of said first handle member (1 ' ; includes a contact strip (44) for producing pulse signals when said two contact points (43,43') engage said contact strip (44); -25- said power source (41) includes two electrical leads (54,58) extending from said power source (41) to said contact points (43,43'') via said electronic counter means (40). 8. A hand-grip according to claim 6, further includ¬ ing: a power source (41); a reset button (42); and counter means (40) for counting the number of times made while an individual squeezes -said first and second handle members (1'),(1)into a contacting relationship; said power source (41), reset button (42), and count¬ er means (40) being mounted on or within the body of said second handle member (1); said inside surface of said second handle member (1) further includes two contact points (43,43') ; the inner surface of said first handle member (1*) includes a contact strip (44) for producing pulse signals when said two contact points (43,43') engage said contact strip (44); said power source (41) includes two electrical leads (54,58) extending from said power source (41) to said contact points (43,43') via said electronic counter means (40). 9. A skipping rope handle according to claim 1, wherein said handle is a simple bar shape and substantially circular in cross-section, including: a fixed thumb-grip (3) projecting from said handle (H) for engaging an individual's thumb and providing a more stable, effective grip; finger receiving grooves (61,62,63,64) formed on the round back of the second handle member (1) for the fingers excluding the thumb to rest stably; a power source (41); a reset button (42); an electronic counter (40); said ring-member (9) includes contact strips (50,50') positioned on the inner surface thereof; said supporter (8) includes contact strip (49) posi¬ tioned thereon for producing pulse signals upon engagement with said contact strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9); said power source (41) includes two electrical leads (54, 57) extending from said power source (41) to said contact strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9) through said handle (H) via said electronic " counter (40). 10. A skipping rope handle according to claim 1, wherein said handle is a simple bar shape and substantially circular in cross-section .including: a power source (41); a reset button (42); and an electronic counter (40); said ring-member (9; including contact strips (50,50'; positioned on the inner surface thereof; said supporter (8) includes a contact strip (49) ^positioned thereon for producing pulse signals upon engage¬ ment with said contact strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9); • said power source (40) including two electrical leads (54,57) extending from said power source (41; to said contact strips (50,50') of said ring-member (9) through said handle (H') via said electronic counter (40).

Inventors: CHO MYUNG HO, CHO, MYUNG, HO
Applicants: MYUNG CHO HO
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63B5
IPC codes: A63B5, A63B23