Abstract:
An exercise apparatus is presented that allows for adjustments in height, and optionally width between hand grips, while maintaining an ergonomic grip that is substantially parallel to the user&#39;s body, regardless of the adjustment used.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an exercise apparatus used for performing different types of push-up exercises, allowing the user to optimize positioning for individual use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise devices that raise and incline the user are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,252, for example, demonstrates an apparatus that can be placed on a riser or a staircase, thereby raising and inclining the user. The user can only adjust the incline, however, by raising the apparatus to the next riser of the staircase, thereby limiting the amount of adjustment. Unfortunately, the apparatus also requires the user to have access to a staircase that won&#39;t be used during the exercise routine. Another disadvantage of this apparatus, however, is the inability to easily adjust the width of the grips to allow for different sized users, or to allow target training of specific parts of the muscles exercised. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,573 reveals a set of three handles ran between a pair of triangular endplates, wherein each handle is placed a different distance from the edge of the endplates. The user can then grip one of the three handles and thereby adjust the incline off the floor, depending on which of the handles used. The variation between the lowest lift and highest lift is thereby dependent on the size of the endplates, and the placement of the handles within the endplates. Unfortunately, in order to have the opportunity for a large inclination, the endplates must be very large, thus making storage a practical issue. Furthermore, the handles are placed parallel to the floor or other resting surface, such that as the inclination angle gets large, undue stress is placed on the wrists and hands due to the handles being at oblique angles to the wrists. 
     The apparatus described in U.S Pat. No. 5,226,868 provides the user the option adjusting the width of the grips by placing the grips in any of a series of receiver holes. This design, however, does not provide a means of elevating the user to decrease resistance, and it maintains the handles parallel to the floor, thereby putting the wrists of the user in unhealthy angles. 
     Finally, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,802 provides a pair of handles that are able to rotate in a circle around an axis perpendicular to the floor in an attempt to ease the tension provided on the hands, wrists, and arms. It also provides the user the ability to change the width between the two handles to allow for various sized users, as well as spot training desired muscles. 
     There still remains, however, a need for an apparatus that can provide a tool easily adjustable for advancing degrees of difficulty while maintaining proper hand placement to prevent undo hand, wrist, and arm strain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides and apparatus which provides an improved method for doing push-ups. The apparatus provides adjustment means for a variety of users, while providing the user with an ergonomic handle that keeps the hands and wrists in the most comfortable and stable position for each specific user. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus contains a “U” shaped support base, from which a support riser mounts at the bottom of the support base. The support riser contains an adjustment mechanism consisting of a pair of adjustment plates that have notches cut into them that will support and securely hold a pin or rod. A grip interface, which is essentially a metal rod, is rotatably connected at the bottom of the support riser, and contains a pin on the shaft of the rod that interacts with the adjustment plates. By placing the pin of the grip interface in the desired notches of the adjustment plates, the user can select the inclination and elevation desired for the exercise to be performed. The interface plate notches are cut to allow the apparatus to be adjusted from a position approximately parallel to the floor to incrementally to approximately perpendicular to the floor. The grip interface then extends from the support riser over the support base, and contains ergonomic grips that provide a gripping surface approximately parallel to the body of the user, regardless of the inclination angle of the adjustment mechanism. 
     Optionally, the distance between the grips can also be adjusted to accommodate different sized users, and to spot-train specific areas of desired muscles. If such an enhanced feature is used, The grip interface contains a channel that rigidly connects to one grip, and provides a pivot pin holding an end of the other grip, with a set of holes drilled into the channel in a line approximately parallel to the front edge of the channel to allow the second grip to be rigidly pinned into the channel at the desired width. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, but rather by the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the grips lowered to the lowest position. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a side view of FIG. 1, demonstrating adjustment of the grips. 
     FIG. 2 b  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the adjustment plate is in the secured position. 
     FIG. 2 c  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the adjustment plate is being adjusted. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, incorporating a secondary means of raising the grips. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the grip interface and the grip of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 a  is a top view of the grips of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the curved handles of the grips face toward each other. 
     FIG. 5 b  is a top view of the grips of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the curved handles of the grips face away from each other. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative grip embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative grip embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 a  is a perspective view of a grip interface assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 b  is a top view of a grip interface assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the grips are adjusted in close proximity to each other. 
     FIG. 8 c  is a top view of a grip interface assembly of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the grips are adjusted away from each other. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, a push-up exercise apparatus  10  includes a support base  12  that provides stability to the apparatus. The support base  12  generally extends the same direction as the remainder of the apparatus, thus providing a high degree of stability both during storage and during operation. The support base  12  has a general “u” shape with two long stabilizers connected by a crossbeam. Attached to the crossbeam is a pair of adjustment plates  22 , which is in turn moveably attached to one or more grips  20 . 
     As depicted in FIGS. 2 a,    2   b,  and  2   c,  the grips  20  are locked into place by securely placing a height adjustment locking pin  28  into the desired one of several adjustment notches. The grips  20  are securely locked into a desired height, as shown in FIG. 2 b,  when the height adjustment locking pin  28  is pushed into the bottom of the desired adjustment notch  21 . The slide pin  26  seats at the bottom of slide groove  24  keeps the grips  20  from inadvertently slipping out due to the angle of the slide groove  24 . In order to adjust the height of the grips  20 , the user simply pulls on the grips  20  in a direction co-linear with the grips  20 . When pulled, the slide pin  26  slides to the top of the slide groove  24 , and allows the height adjustment locking pin  28  to be extended past the edges of the adjustment notches  21 . The slide pin  26  now becomes a pivot point for rotating the grips  20  to the desired height. The user then pushes the grips  20  in a co-linear direction with the grips  20 , until the height adjustment locking pin  28  seats in the bottom of the desired adjustment notch  21 , and the slide pin  26  seats at the bottom of the slide groove  24 . Alignment notches  21  are arranged such that the grips  20  can be angularly adjusted incrementally from horizontal to vertical, thus giving a wide range of height adjustment. Alternately, a series of holes (not shown) cut into the adjustment plates could be used, with a simple bolt or rod placed through the holes to secure the adjustment. 
     FIG. 3 demonstrates an additional height adjustment incorporating the adjustment of FIGS. 2 a,    2   b,  and  2   c  with a vertical riser  14 , which is rigidly attached to the support base  12 . The vertical riser  14  has a plurality of vertical adjustment holes  16  milled into the riser  14 , wherein the adjustment plates  22  can be vertically raised to the desired height, and then securely held by inserting a height adjustment pin  17  into the desired vertical adjustment hole  16 . The adjustment plates  22  can optionally have a plurality of wheels  18  mounted on the adjustment plates  22  such that they interface with the vertical riser  14 , and smoothly glide upon the surface of the vertical riser  14  when being adjusted. The wheels  18  can also act as a shock absorber for the grips  20  when a moment is applied about the height adjustment pin  17 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, a grip interface  31  is demonstrated, wherein the grip interface  31  at one end attaches to the adjustment plates (not shown) and at the other end has a plurality of grip extension locking holes  32  milled into the grip interface  31 . The grip interface  31  is hollow on an end, and allows for the insertion of a grip handle  30 . The grip handle  30  has a set of holes (not shown) milled in desired locations such that the holes can be aligned with the grip extension locking holes  32 . The grip handle  30  is inserted into the grip interface  31  to the desired length and orientation, and then locked into place by placing a grip extension locking pin  34  into the grip extension locking holes  32 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b,  the grip handles are curved at the end opposite the end that mates with the grip interface  31 , thereby providing an ergonomic surface that provides proper angles for the user to hold the grips  30 . The grips  30  may or may not have a padded surface for comfort of the user, as desired. The grips  30  can be attached to the grip interface  31  such that the curved ends face each other (as shown in FIG. 5 a ), face away from each other (as shown in FIG. 5 b ), face down, or any combination thereof. Alternative grips can have many different shapes, as demonstrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, without changing the scope or intention of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 8 a,    8   b,  and  8   c  demonstrate a method of adjusting the width between the grips (not shown) such that the user can spot train specific areas of the muscles used. As such, a width adjustment channel  40  is attached at one end to the adjustment plates (not shown). Within the width adjustment channel  40  are two grip interfaces  42  and  44 . Grip interface  44  is pinned to the width adjustment channel  40  through a grip securing hole  52 , using a grip securing pin  53 . Grip interface  44  can be pivoted about grip securing pin  53  to move the grip interface  44  laterally closer to, or away from, grip interface  42 . When the user obtains the desired distance between grip interfaces  42  and  44 , grip interface  44  is rigidly pinned into place by inserting a grip width adjustment pin  55  through grip adjustment hole  54  and channel adjustment hole  56 . Alternately, a channel adjustment slot (not shown) could be used in conjunction with a clamp mechanism, such as a wing nut assembly, to offer infinite width adjustment. Grip interface  44  has a grip pivot plate  51  mounted on one side, which contains a grip pivot shaft  50 . Grip interface  42  is pinned to the width adjustment channel  40  through the grip securing hole  46  by placing a grip securing pin  47  therein. Grip interface  42  also has a grip pivot interface  48  that interacts with the grip pivot shaft  50 , thereby giving a second pin point to hold grip interface  42  securely in place. The proximal placement of the grip pivot shaft  50  in relation to grip securing pin  47  provides a lateral movement of grip interface  42  in the opposite-direction of the movement of grip interface  44 , thereby increasing the relative distance between grips (not shown) with each movement. 
     FIG. 9 then displays a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the push-up exercise apparatus can be adjusted to allow the user to select the optimal width between grips, and the optimal height to provide incline desired by the user, while providing an ergonomically desirous grip at any adjustment. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification be considered in all aspects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of the equivalence of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.