EXERCISE APPARATUS

Abstract: The invention relates to an exercise apparatus, designed specifically for co-ordinated exercise and muscle conditioning between two people. The said design has an overall length of between 400 mm and 580 mm allowing both users to hold the apparatus and exercise without collision or impaired movement. Handles (1 + 3) are ridged or semi ridged, molded from plastic, each having a weight of less thant 300g. Said handle ends (1 + 3) are curved having a grip portion (5) and opposite end portions (7 + 9). The grip portion is generally circular in cross section and is slightly curved. The curvature is concave as viewed from the side 5 of the handles which face one and other in the illustration. This creates a comfortable hand grip. The opposite end portions are formed with a hook like configuration which provides a convenient abutment surface to allow the user to suspend said apparatus lightly in the grip for low impact sequences. Said handles (1 + 3), are colour coded to enable instruction to be related to both users in terms of forward and backward movement. Webbing (13-15) is colour coded to enable instruction to be related to the users in terms of left and right movement. Said handles (1 + 3) and webbing (13 + 15) colours combined will co-ordinate forward, back, left and right diagonal movement. Swivel points (19) allow the said apparatus to move freely in rotation during use. Link (23) is weighted from a range of 200g to 750g, 200g is required to balance of the said apparatus, whilst the increasing weight up to 750g is to attain muscle development and accommodate both male and female users. Said link attachment is conveniently in the form of a disc with apertures (23a + 23b) to facilitate fasteners 21.

Description: Exercise Apparatus The Present invention relates to exercise apparatus. The apparatus is intended for use in an exercise program for humans, Which the exercises are performed in pairs. The apparatus according to the invention comprises two rigid or semi 5. rigid handles each having a weight of less than 300g, means interconnecting the handles, which means is substantially inelastic but non-rigid allowing the handles to move together and to otherwise move relative to one another but to restrict seperation apart to fixed distance of between 400mm and 580mm, and further comprising weight means carried by or forming part of the means 0. interconnecting the handles. More particularly the weight means is disposed intermediate the two handles. The weight is in the range of between 200g and 750g . More preferably the weight means comprise a plurality of discrete weight elements which are 15. adapted to be secured exchangeably to the interconnecting means. There are a number of different value weights of from 200g to 750g. In one embodiment the interconnecting means comprises a webbing material. Preferably a length of webbing extends from each handle to a respective 20. connection with the weight means. Preferably the weights are connected to the interconnecting means by a swivel connection. More preferably, there are two lengths of webbing extending from each handle to said connection with the weight means. The length of webbing may be adjustable to adjust the distance between the handles to between 400mm and 580 mm. 25. The preferred material for the handle is a plastics material which is shaped to provide a comfortable handgrip. Preferably it is generally circular in cross-section and preferably the surfaces of the handles which face one another in use are concavely curved. Preferably at least one end of the handle has a curved or hooked configuration as a continuation of said concave 30 surface. Conveniently both ends have said hooked configuration to permit use in either orientation. It is preferred that the aforesaid apparatus be used in pairs. It is further preferred that the apparatus is colour coded. Thus we prefer to use different colours for the respective handles of each apparatus- say black to one end and white to the other, and to use different colours for the interconnecting means for 5. each one of the pairs - say red for one and blue the other. The present invention will now be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing; in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of one of the apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises two handles 1,3. The handle is moulded from 10. plastics and is less than 300g in weight. Each handle has a grip portion 5 and opposite end portions 7,9. The grip portion is generally circular in cross- section and is slightly curved. The curvature is concave as viewed from the side 5' of the handles which face one another in the illustration. This creates a comfortable hand grip. The opposite end portions are formed with a hook like 15. configuration which provides a convenient abutment surface 11. This is advantageous during light exercises as the handle can be balanced in the hand with little or no grip pressure. In this situation the uppermost abutment 11 rests against the index finger of the person holding the handle. The curved end configuration is also advantageous in more powerful exercises as will be 20. discussed further hereinafter. The two handles are interconnected by means comprising two strap-like elements 13,15. These are preferably made from a webbing material such as nylon or other synthetic woven material which is substantially inelastic - but non-rigid. Alternatively leather strapping may be used. In the illustrated 25. embodiment there are two strap-like elements 13 and two strap like elements 15, each being in the form of a loop. Each loop 13 passes through a link 17 and other ends of the strap like elements 13 are connected to the handle, the ends of one strap 13 being connected to one end of the handle, and the ends of the other strap 13 being connected to the other end of the handle. The construction for 30. strap like elements 15 corresponds. Each link 17 has a swivel connection 19 with a fastener 21. The fastener conveniently comprises a hook-like element with a spring closure element. In an alternative each strap like elements 13 and 15 passes through a bore in a respective one handles and its ends attach to a respective one in the links 17. The interconnecting means further comprises a link element 23 to which each of the fasteners 21 associated with a respective one of the two handles are attached. The link element 23 comprises at least one weight and we have found that 5. a minimum weight of 200g is advantageous to ensure smooth movement, but the weight should not be in excess of 750g, as this would introduce to much momentum into the apparatus during fast movement sequences. The link element is conveniently in the form of a disc with apertures 23 a and 23b to facilitate the fasteners 21. Simply using a webbing loop for the hand loop has 10. been found unsatisfactory as it imparts uncomfortable loading on the hand and fingers under load. To this end it is preferred that the handle is rigid or semirigid so that it does not bend to any significant extent. Further more, the curved ends to the handles serve to avoid the strap like elements impinging on the fingers when performing power exercises. 15. The aforedescribed apparatus is intended to be used by to people exercising together. Some exercises require them to use just one of the described apparatus, other exercises require them to use two. For convenience of instruction colour coding is preferred. Thus the two handles of any of one of the apparatus will be coloured differently. For example one white and one black 20 handle. Where two apparatus are required the person holds the handles of the same colour. The strap like elements of a pair of apparatus are differently coloured, for example one may be red and the other blue. Thus the apparatus with the blue webbing may be held in one hand and the red in the other hand. In giving instruction the reference to colours avoids any possible 25. misinterpretation which could result by giving direction forward, backwards rightward, leftwards

Claims: Claims The exercise apparatus (Fig 1) is designed for use in an exercise program for humans, where exercise is performed in pairs. Characterised in that co - ordinated movement will be synchronised together. 2. Characterised in that the colour code of both handles (1+3) and webbing (13+15) is essential. Instruction and commands for direction cannot be related as in a normal exercise group as each partner is facing opposite directions. Both partners would on the command of "To your right", move in opposite direction to each other resulting in confusion. 3. Characterised in that apparatus (fig 1) instruction is colour coded. webbing (13+15) on one said apparatus (fig 1) could be coloured Red the second said apparatus Blue. Partners would hold the colours to match sides. (Partner A, right hand red, Left hand blue.) (Partner B, right hand blue, left hand red.) 4. Characterised in that this would enable the instructor to substitute "To Red" instead of "to the right", or "To Blue" instead of "to the left". 5. Characterised in that similarly the handles (1+3) could be coloured Black and White. Partner A would hold two white handles, whilst partner B two black handles, substituting "To Black" for forward or "To White" for backwards. A combination of any four colours would be suitable. 6. Characterised in that front and rear diagonal commands would be a combination of the aformentioned colour coding. 7. The said apparatus comprises of semi rigid handles, (1+3) Characterised in that each having a weight less than 300g Should the handle weight (1+3) exceed this recommendation they may cause injury. An example for instance should partner A during exercise let go of a handle, it may swing freely and collide with partner B. δ.Characterised :n that the grip or handle (3+4) is moulded from plastics the shape being rounded to accommodate a hand. 9. Characterised in that the hook like configuration (11) is designed to allow the handles to rest in the hand rather than be gripped, thus reducing tension. This is essential when warming up or when performing low impact movements. Further more, the curved ends to the handles serve to avoid the strap like elements impinging on the fingers when performing power exercises. 10. Characterised in that means interconnecting handles (1+3) are substantially inelastic but non- ridged allowing the said handles to move 5. together and to otherwise move relative to one and other but to restrict separation apart to fixed distance between 400mm and 580 mm. 11. Characterised in that the distance of 400mm and 580mm is critical as inside 400 mm movement is restricted and collision between partner A and partner B when exercising would occur. Excess of 580mm will cause a 10. reduction in control of the said apparatus causing problems in co - ordination and movement. 12. The weight means (23) is disposed intermediate of the two handles. 13. Characterised in that weight (23) is in the range of between 200g and 750g. Different weights from 200g to 750g, are designed to accommodate both 15. male and female strength attributes and to allow development in muscle strength, growth and tone, with the user increasing from a weight of 200g to an acceptable level for the individual not beyond a recommendation of 750g. Excess or reduction of the recommended weight scale will impair movement and control during fast or slow exercise increasing the risk of injury. 20. 14. The webbing (13+15) or the connecting means from the handle (1+3) Characterised in that is attached to the weight by means of a swivel connection with fastener (19). The swivel joint (19) is essential without this movement between training partners would be inhibited. The fastener so ensures easy release and exchange of the varying weight sizes. 25. 15. Characterised in that the said apparatus will allow muscle development in the upper body to be co-ordinated with aerobic movement. 16. Characterised in that individual muscles in the upper body can be isolated using the said apparatus for muscle development with resistance techniques with a partner.

Inventors: MCDOWELL PETER SCOTT, MCDOWELL, PETER, SCOTT
Applicants: MCDOWELL PETER SCOTT, MCDOWELL, PETER, SCOTT
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A63B23
IPC codes: A63B21, A63B23