Abstract:
An exercise device for exercising hand, wrist, arm, and upper body muscles having adjustable force resistance and a force setting indicator. The exercise device includes a housing, a first handle connected to one end of the housing, a second handle connected to the opposite end of the housing, an inner spring disposed inside the housing, and an outer spring disposed inside the housing. The outer spring is connected to the inner spring and encases the inner spring. An adjuster knob disposed on the second handle and coupled to the inner spring and configured to adjust a tension of the inner spring and compression of the outer spring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to an exercise device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device having adjustable resistance force. 
         [0002]    Several strength and rehabilitation training exercises require the user to work the wrists, hands, arms and upper body muscles. Current exercise devices have proven successful in strengthening one of the muscles. However, some known exercise devices are not particularly efficient in strengthening together the hand, wrist, arms and upper body muscles. In addition, current exercise devices for strengthening these muscles may be limited to one force of resistance that depends on the target muscle. In view of this, the user is required to have a separate exercise device to exercise the muscles of the wrist, hand, arms and upper body. Unfortunately, requiring different exercise devices requires additional space and investment. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for providing an exercise device that may allow the user to strengthen different muscles of the upper extremities at the same time, over a range of resistive forces, using one piece of equipment in multiple planes of movement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, an exercise device includes a housing, a first handle connected to one end of the housing, a second handle connected to the opposite end of the housing, an inner spring disposed inside the housing, and an outer spring disposed inside the housing, the outer spring connected to the inner spring and encases the inner spring, and an adjuster knob disposed on the second handle and coupled to the inner spring and configured to adjust a tension of the inner spring and compression of the outer spring. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise device includes a housing, the housing encases an inner spring sleeve, an inner spring disposed inside the inner spring sleeve, and an outer spring connected to the inner spring, the outer spring encasing the inner spring sleeve, a first handle connected to one end of the housing, a second handle connected to the opposite end of the housing, an adjuster knob including a threaded rod having one end connected to a spring mounted nut, the spring mounted nut coupled to the inner spring, the threaded rod moves the spring mounted nut adjusting a tensile force on the inner spring. 
         [0006]    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 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exercise device having an adjustable resistance force according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the exercise device in use; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective front view of the exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective front view of the exercise device of  FIG. 2  showing the exercise device in flexion and rotation of an adjustable knob; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the exercise device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exercise device taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a detailed view of a horizontal translation of a spring mounted nut for the exercise device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exploded view of the exercise device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    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 mace 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. 
         [0015]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0016]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an exercise device for hand, wrist, arm, and upper body muscles at the same time over a range of resistive forces using one piece of equipment in multiple planes of movement. In addition, the present invention provides an exercise device that adjusts the force of resistance including a force indicator. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exercise device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A user  12  may use the exercise device  10  to strengthen, for example, his/hers hand, wrist, arm, and upper body muscles at the same time over a range of resistive forces. 
         [0018]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2-7 , the exercise device  10  may include a housing  44 , a first handle  34  connected to one end of the housing  44 , a second handle  16  connected to the opposite end of the housing  44 , and an adjuster knob  14  connected to the second handle  16 . The housing  44  may enclose an inner spring sleeve  40 , an inner spring  38  inside the inner spring sleeve  40 , and an outer spring  42 . The inner spring sleeve  40  may be made of a noise suppressant material. The inner spring sleeve  40  may be made of latex, rubber, silicon, or foam. The inner spring  38  may fit snuggly in the inner spring sleeve  40 . The inner spring  38  may be made of material that stretches under applied tensile forces and returns to original length when the tensile force is removed. The inner spring  38  may be made of steel using left or right wound coil construction. The outer spring  42  may be made of a material that may bend and rotate under tensional loading, while maintaining column height under compressive loads. The winding direction of the outer spring may be opposite to the winding direction of the inner spring  38 . 
         [0019]    The housing  44  may be to cover the outer spring  42 . The housing  44  may be a hollow tubing. The housing  44  may be made of latex, rubber, silicon, cloth or foam. The housing  44  may provide pinch protection. The housing  44  may provide noise and vibration reduction. The housing  44  may include ornamental decorations or advertisements. The ornament decorations may be figures and/or logos. The housing  44  may have a geometrical shape. The shape of the housing  44  may conform to the outer spring  42 . The housing  44  may be 1.5 inches in diameter and the same length as the outer spring  42 . 
         [0020]    The first handle  34  may allow the user  12  to grasp one end of the exercise device  10 . The first handle  34  may be a hollow handle. The first handle  34  may be made of sturdy material. The first handle  34  may be made of plastic, resin, metal, wood, composite material, or polymer. The size and shape of the first handle  34  may depend on the size and shape of the housing  44 . 
         [0021]    The second handle  16  may allow the user  12  to grasp the opposite end of the exercise device  10 . The second handle  16  may be made of the same material as the first handle  34 . The size and shape of the second handle  16  may depend on the size and shape of the housing  44 . 
         [0022]    A handgrip material  35  may be fit onto the outer periphery of the first handle  34  and/or the second handle  16  to provide a comfortable grip. The handgrip material  35  may be made of a material that provides cushioning and wear resistance, including cushioned tape, leather, rubber, vinyl, or foam. The grip material  35  may be either friction fit over the handles  34 ,  16  or bonded thereto by means of any suitable adhesive. The handgrip material  35  may be a machined or molded surface texture in the first handle  34  and/or the second handle  16 . 
         [0023]    The adjuster knob  14  may allow the user  12  to adjust a bending force of the exercise device  10 . In addition, the adjuster knob  14  may provide the exercise device  10  with an additional gripping surface. The adjuster knob  14  may be made of the same material as the first handle  34 . The adjuster knob  14  may include notches  15  for easy operation. The adjuster knob  14  may have a machined or molded surface texture for easy operation. 
         [0024]    A window  24  may be located on the second handle  16 . The window  24  may be made of transparent material. The window  24  may be made of transparent acrylic, transparent rigid plastic or glass. The window  24  may allow the user  12  to check the setting of the resistance force. 
         [0025]    The first handle  34  may include an end cap  20  to cover the open end of the first handle. The end cap  34  may be vented. The end cap  20  may be made of the same material of the first handle  34 . 
         [0026]    The second handle  16  may enclose an indicator sleeve  18  and an adjusting force system  22 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36 . The indicator sleeve  18  may provide the bearing surface for the compression of outer spring  42 . The indicator sleeve  18  may provide the bearing surface for the threaded adjuster  22  to turn in. The indicator sleeve  18  may provide the bearing surface to react the tensile load on inner spring  38 . The indicator sleeve  18  may be made of the same materials of the first handle  34 . The indicator sleeve  18  may comprise two identical halves mated together. A threaded adjuster  22  may be encased by the indicator sleeve  18 . The threaded adjuster  22  may be a threaded rod made of plastic or metal. The threaded adjuster  22  may allow the inner spring  38  to be moved in the axial direction. A washer  28  may be connected to one end of the threaded adjuster  22 . A spring mounted nut  36  may be connected to the opposite end of the threaded adjuster  22 . The spring mounted nut  36  may have a central bore for passage of the threaded adjuster  22 . The spring mounted nut  36  may be connected to one end of the inner spring  38 . 
         [0027]    A shim  26  may be operatively connected to the threaded adjuster  22  near the end of the second handle  16 . The shim  26  may include a bored hole to allow the passage of the threaded adjuster  22 . The shim  26  may provide the adjuster knob  14  with a bearing surface. The shim  26  may be made of a sturdy material. The shim  26  may be made of non-stick material, e.g. Teflon®, plastic, or metal. A spring pin  30  may engage the adjuster knob  14  to the threaded adjuster  22 . The spring pin  30  may be made of plastic resin, rigid plastic, wood, or metal. 
         [0028]    An end cap  32  may be placed at the end of the second handle  16 . The end cap  32  may cover the spring pin. 
         [0029]    The user  12  may rotate the adjuster knob  14  to apply a torque through the spring pin  30  and into the threaded adjuster  22 . The spring mounted nut  36  may be fixed to the inner spring  38 . Thus, when drawn by the threaded adjuster  22 , it applies tensile load to the inner spring  38 . The inner spring  38  then transmits the force to the outer spring  42  in compression. The inner spring  38  and the outer spring  42  may provide an outwardly resistance force against the inward adjustment of the threaded adjuster  22 . The spring mounted nut  36  may have an indicator that can be seen through the window  24  to show force applied to the inner spring  38 . By increasing the tension on the inner spring  38 , while increasing the compressive force on the outer spring  42 , it increases the bending stiffness of the overall exercise device  10  enabling a range of stiffness settings. 
         [0030]    The user  12  may grasp the exercise device  10  by the first handle  34  and the second handle  16 . The user  12  may bend the exercise device  10  by bending the first handle  34  and the second handle  16 . The bending movement exercises, tones and develops arm, hand and wrist and upper body muscles. 
         [0031]    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.