Abstract:
The present invention comprises a novel push-up device which is configurable by user body characteristics and by predetermined conditions for range of motion so as to guide an exerciser to perform a push-up which meets such predetermined range of motion and exercise form criteria. Through the use of the device of the present invention, exercisers are able to perform push-ups that meet predetermined range of motion criteria regardless of their body characteristics and receive feedback based upon whether the exercise was properly performed or not.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise devices and more particularly to a device for performing push-ups according to standardized requirements. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     It is well known that exercise is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy body and confronting the effects of aging. Many educators and physical fitness professionals believe that a life-long commitment to physical fitness is best promoted by encouraging participation at an early age. One manifestation of this belief is the presence of physical education programs in the vast majority of schools within the United States and elsewhere. 
     In response to a concern that American children scored lower than their European counterparts on a battery of physical fitness tests, the President&#39;s Council on Youth Fitness was founded on Jul. 16, 1956 to encourage American children to lead healthy, active and physically fit lives. The council has evolved over the years and is presently known as the President&#39;s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). 
     One aspect of the PCPFS&#39;s mission is the administration of the “President&#39;s Challenge” program. During the 2000-2001 school year, more than 30,000 schools took part in this program and more than 4 million children participated. One program component of the overall President&#39;s Challenge program is the “Physical Fitness” component. This program calls for children to participate in a battery of physical fitness tests that include tests such as those known as “Curl-ups”, “Shuttle run”, “Endurance run”, “V-sit Reach”, “Pull-ups”, “Sit and Reach” and “Right Angle Push-Ups”. 
     Students may elect among alternative exercises in some cases but they must meet the minimum requirements in order to receive an award. Awards vary based upon qualifying standards. For example, in order to receive the “Presidential Physical Fitness Award” boys and girls must score above the 85 th  percentile on five tests. The “National Physical Fitness Award” is given to those that score above the 50 th  percentile on these five tests. States and various organizations may also offer other awards based upon specific qualifying criteria. For example, Virginia offers the “Virginia Wellness Award” to students in Virginia schools that meet specified criteria that do not rise to the level of the “Presidential Physical Fitness Award” or the “National Physical Fitness Award”. 
     While the tests are relatively easy to administer to the children, unfortunately, some level of subjectivity exists in connection with the performance of the tests. As a result, children sometimes tend to either intentionally or unintentionally exploit this subjectivity in order to achieve performance levels that they might not be able to obtain if the exercises were down according to proper standards and form. For example, in the case of right angle push-ups, the proper form (and the most difficult way to perform the exercise) occurs when the student&#39;s lower arms are at a substantially right angle with their shoulders during the range of motion. The proper exercise motion also requires students to start by lying face down on a mat or on the floor in push-up position with hands under shoulders, fingers straight, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart, and with the toes supporting the feet. The student should then straighten his or her arms while keeping his or her back and knees straight, and then the student should lower the body until there is a 90-degree angle at the elbows, with the upper arms parallel to the floor. The student should go down at least until there is a 90 degree bend at the elbows and then back up. 
     Various ways of doing the exercise such that they deviate from proper form can make the exercise both easier to do and less effective as an indicator of upper body strength. For example, students may seek to count as a full push up, a motion that is significantly less than the desirable range of motion described above. Alternatively, students may perform the complete range of motion but only with one side of their body (i.e. only one shoulder goes down to the required bottom of motion rather, than both). 
     In addition to the above described physical fitness testing that occurs in schools in connection with the Presidential Physical Fitness program and otherwise, various other contexts call for physical fitness testing and in particular physical fitness testing wherein subjective exercises can be more easily controlled to ensure that exercises are being performed according to a defined form and procedure. For example, military training situations such as boot camp and ongoing physical training exercises and evaluation call for at least some level of objective measurement and evaluation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a device which allows a user or an observer to engage in, or observe, respectively, a controlled motion push-up exercise meeting specific range of motion criteria. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable and user-friendly device which provides direct feedback on range of motion during a push-up exercise. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a push-up device which provides feedback to an exerciser with respect to push-ups meeting the specific range of motion criteria. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device which is easily customizable for use by exercisers with a variety of body configurations including different arm sizes, different shoulder widths and different heights. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that guides an exerciser toward a push-up range of motion through which the exerciser can gain maximum benefit in terms of exercise results. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are obtained through the use of a push-up device which is configurable by user body characteristics and by predetermined conditions for range of motion so as to guide an exerciser to perform a push-up which meets such predetermined range of motion and exercise form criteria. Through the use of the device of the present invention, exercisers are able to perform push-ups that meet predetermined range of motion criteria regardless of their body characteristics and receive feedback based upon whether the exercise was properly performed or not. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the push-up exercise device described herein consists of three primary components. The first component of the push-up exercise device of the present invention is a push-up Guide Box. The Guide Box is placed on the floor or on a mat and the exerciser performs push-ups above two guide legs extending from the Guide Box component of the device. The Guide Box also preferably contains an audible feedback means such as a bell which rings when a push-up with the correct range of motion is performed. A buzzer or other sound making device may also be used as may a digital counter which registers the number of push-ups. A second component of the device comprises an arm length/shoulder width sizing unit (Sizing Unit). The Sizing Unit is employed to configure the Guide Box according to specific user body characteristics so that the proper range of motion for the push-up exercise is obtained. The final component of the push-up exercise device is a set of Arm Length Extenders which are selected based upon measurements obtained from the Sizing Unit for a particular individual&#39;s body characteristics. Based upon measurements obtained from t Sizing Unit, a pair of Arm Length Extenders are selected and placed in the appropriate location in the Guide Box Legs in preparation for the push-up exercise. 
     As will be described in greater detail below, the device comprising the present invention offers a number of advantages and may be employed in a variety of contexts. For example, the device may be configured so that those performing push-ups using the device of the present invention are necessarily meeting the required format and range of motion required to obtain awards such as the President&#39;s Challenge Physical Fitness award. Alternatively, the device may be employed in applications where it is necessary or desirable to ensure that those doing push-ups are using a form and range of motion that meets pre-defined standards such as in connection with physical fitness evaluations conducted in the military context. The device of the present invention further provides the ability to guide exercisers toward push-ups that are the most beneficial in terms of training results regardless of whether testing or evaluation is being performed or not. 
     These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration showing the Sizing Unit component of the present invention as may be used by an exerciser to measure lower arm length; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the Arm Length Extender component of the present invention as housed by a carrying unit; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an exerciser performing a pushup using the Guide Box component of the device of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a cut-away, close up view of a Guide Box leg particularly in the area containing a switch using in connection with the audible alarm aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is now described generally to provide the reader with an overview of the device and its use according to the preferred embodiments. Following the general description, a detailed discussion of each of the components, their use and the way they work together is provided. 
     In general terms, the components of the present invention work together to provide a user with a framework in which he or she can perform a controlled motion push-up. Each of the three primary components of the present invent plays a role in providing this framework and allowing the user to configure the device so as to guide him or her to the push-up range of motion that is desired. 
     In order to so configure the push-up device of the present invention, the person who will perform the push-up or an assistant (e.g. a physical education teacher, drill sergeant, etc.) runs through the sizing process as now generally described. First, the person who will perform the push-up (referred to herein as the “user”) positions the Sizing Unit such that one end rests in the crook of the arm where the lower arm and the upper arm meet (more discussion of the proper positioning as related to the body anatomy is provided below) and a “lower arm” measurement is taken. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, color-coded ranges may be used such that they key to the arm length extenders next discussed. 
     One the “lower arm” measurement is taken and a color code has been obtained for the individual user, the user selects a pair of Arm Length Extenders which are color-coded to match the user&#39;s lower arm length range measurement. These Arm Length Extenders are then placed within the receiving area of the two guide legs within the Guide Box component such that the height of the guide legs with the Arm Length Extenders off of the ground generally represents the correct position for the lower range of the push-up motion. 
     Next, the Sizing Unit is used to take an upper body breadth measurement for the particular user. This measurement is used to position the guide legs of the Guide Box at the correct distance from one another to ensure that at the lower range of the push-up motion, the Arm Length Extenders are contacted by the correct portion of the upper body particular at the base of the rotator cuff in both the left and right shoulders. 
     Once the Guide Box, and particularly the guide legs containing the appropriate Arm Length Extenders, is correctly positioned as described above, the user commences the performance of push-ups starting from the top of the range, lowering the upper body to the bottom of the range, raising back up to the top of the range and then repeating the motion as many times as possible. The user ranges through this motion while positioned laterally above the guide legs of the Guide Box such that at the bottom of the range of the motion, the base of the user&#39;s rotator cuffs at each shoulder contact the respective Arm Length Extender. The motion then continues down slightly further against the pressure of a spring to the point where an audible alarm is activated indicating the completion of a successful push-up meeting the pre-defined range of motion criteria. At this point the user returns to the high point of the range of motion and repeats the process. 
     Now that the overall process and use of the push-up device of the present invention has been described at a high level, a more detailed description of the components and their use is next provided. FIG. 1 is an illustration of the Sizing Unit component  100  of the present invention showing its use in measuring lower arm length. In preparing for a push-up exercise using the push-up device of the present invention, the user first places Sizing Unit  100  in position as is shown in FIG.  1 . As can be seen in the Figure, end piece  110  rests in the portion of the arm where the user&#39;s lower arm  130  meets the user&#39;s upper arm  140 . In order to obtain the best measurement, it is preferred that the user&#39;s upper arm  140  make a right angle with the user&#39;s lower arm  130  during the measurement. The user grasps hand grip  150  in his or her hand while taking the measurement and moves hand grip  150  by sliding hand grip  150  along inner pipe  160  until the user&#39;s lower arm  130  is extended and is at a right angle with the user&#39;s upper arm  140  or as close thereto as possible. 
     At this point, a measurement, which is reflective of the length of the user&#39;s lower arm  130  generally extending from just below the bicep to the middle of the user&#39;s palm, may be taken and read through window  155 . Although not shown, hand grip  150  and particularly the ranging window  155  thereof may contain a needle or some other pointing device which points to the measurement scale on inner pipe  160  in order to obtain an accurate reading. The measurement is typically taken in inches but may be taken in any other unit of measure so long as the associated Arm Length Extenders  220  are sized according to the same unit of measure. Arm Length Extenders are shown in FIG.  2 . Although only the two outside Arm Length Extenders  220  are labeled as such in FIG. 2, each of the tubes in the Figure are Arm Length Extenders  220  of varying lengths and are present in pairs on the carrying unit  200  shown in FIG.  2 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lower arm length ranges are used with each arm length range corresponding to a specific Arm Length Extender  220 . Thus, for example, a push-up device according to the present teachings may include five arm length ranges comprising extenders of 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 inches. For each arm length covered, a pair of Arm Length Extenders  220  are present on carrying unit  200 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, Arm Length Extenders  220  may be color coded to various ranges on the measurement scale located on inner pipe  160  of Sizing Unit  100 . Thus, for example, the range from 8½ inches to 9½ inches may be color coded black and correspond to the 9″ Arm Length Extender pair  220  while the range from 9½ inches to 10½ inches may be color coded red and correspond to the 10″ Arm Length Extender pair  220  and so on. Of course other ranges are possible with finer or broader increments depending upon the number of pairs of Arm Length Extenders  220  which are made available. 
     Sizing Unit  100 , may in one embodiment, be constructed from PVC piping which is readily available in home improvement, plumbing stores as well as many other sources. In a preferred embodiment, hand grip  150  is freely slidable over the majority of the length of inner pipe  160 . This is accomplished by selecting apertures in hand grip  150  which are just slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of inner pipe  160 . Further, plastic end cap  190  ensures that hand grip  150  remains on inner pipe  160 . Plastic caps  170 ,  180  and  195  may also be used in constructing Sizing Unit  100  in order to avoid the appearance of open piping on either end piece  110  or hand grip  150 . 
     As will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art, Sizing Unit  100  may be constructed from many different materials in addition to PVC piping. For example, various metals such as aluminum, may be used. Further, alternate arrangements and configurations for Sizing Unit  100  may also be employed in determining the user&#39;s lower arm length without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention so long as the component employed is able to obtain a reasonably accurate measurement. 
     Based upon the measurement obtained for lower arm length through the use of Sizing Unit  100 , a pair of Arm Length Extenders  220  are selected from the carrying unit  200  and are placed in the guide box leg receptacles in order to reflect the proper height off the floor for the bottom end of the user&#39;s range of motion based upon lower arm length. The carrying unit  200  is shown in FIG.  2 . As can be seen, the carrying unit  200  not only serves as place to store a plurality of Arm Length Extender pairs, but it may also serve as a holding place for Sizing Unit  100 . It may also contain a handle  230  for carrying the set of Arm Length Extenders  220  and the Sizing Unit  100 . 
     Any amount of Arm Length Extenders  220  may be made available and such selection may include various potential sizes depending upon the expected users. For example, in elementary and junior high school applications, a selection of Arm Length Extenders  220  with relatively smaller sizes may be made available while in military applications, the universe of available Arm Length Extenders  220  may include longer sizes. 
     In the example shown in FIG. 2, the Arm Length Extender  220  selection includes pairs of Arm Length Extenders  220  sized at 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 inches. This selection is generally a good choice for elementary or middle school applications based upon known typical arm length sizes for children in that age range. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, when a pair of Arm Length Extenders  220  are selected, they are placed in respective hollow tubes  310  comprising the vertical portion of each of a pair of guide legs  330  associated with Guide Box  300 . Hollow tubes  310  should be of a sufficient diameter to accept all possible Arm Length Extender pairs  220  that may be used. Guide Box  300  is constructed such that guide legs  330  are movable to adjust the distance between them based upon the upper body breadth measurement taken with Sizing Unit  100 . Once the measurement is taken, plastic cap  195  of hand grip  150  is placed on top of one guide leg  330  and either plastic cap  170  or  180  is placed on top of the other guide leg  330  and guide leg distance apart is set such that it matches the upper body breadth measured by Sizing Unit  100 . 
     One the selected Arm Length Extender pair  220  is placed within hollow tubes  310  and the guide legs have been set to the correct distance apart, the exerciser  350  is ready to begin push-up exercises. Exercises are conducted such that exerciser  350  starts at the upper range of motion and then lowers himself or herself down until the upper body region at the base of each respective rotator cuff touches and then slightly pushes down on each of the pair of Arm Length Extenders  220  located within hollow tubes  310 . 
     Arm Length Extenders  220  preferably include a solid base at the bottom which may be constructed from, for example, rubber such as in the case of rubber plug which may be inserted into the bottom of the hollow PVC piping comprising Arm Length Extenders  220 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, push button switch  430  is located at the bottom of hollow tube  310 . This is shown in FIG.  4 . Push button switch  430  is configured such that when fully depressed, the switch is “on” and a circuit may be completed. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the weight of Arm Length Extender  220  is not sufficient to depress push button switch  430  however, when exerciser  350  performs a push up and contacts and then pushes down Arm Length Extenders  220 , push-button switch  430  may be easily and fully depressed. In a preferred embodiment, it is necessary for Arm Length Extender  220  to be pushed down in hollow tube  310  approximately ¼-½ inch in order to fully depress push button switch and close the circuit. 
     Thus, when exerciser  350  travels in the downward direction and his upper body contacts Arm Length Extenders  220  and then slightly depresses them, a circuit may be completed. In a preferred embodiment, a basic circuit which would be easily understood by one of skill in the art may be constructed such that a bell or some other audible device rings only when both push button switches  430  are depressed simultaneously. This ensures positive feedback only when exerciser  350  fully completes the downward range of motion with respect to both the left and the right sides of the upper body. Other alternatives are also possible such as a circuit in which the audible device only sounds when only one but not both of push button switches  430  are depressed at any moment in time. In this case, an audible alarm would reflect negative feedback that a push-up down motion was completed but only with respect to one side of the upper body. 
     The audible device (not shown) may comprise a bell which is contained within Guide Box  300 . Such a bell and the associated circuit may operate through the use of 9 Volt battery or some other power source which is light weight, easily transportable and offers a reasonable length of time before running out of power. 
     Additionally, although not shown, the device of the present invention may provide a counter device which counts the number of push-ups performed according to the specified range of motion. Such counters are readily available and substantially the same circuit used for tripping the bell when a push-up is done can also be used for the counter. It is also possible to include both an audible alarm and a counter with the device so that user feedback may be audible as well as numeric indicating correct push-ups accomplished and the number thereof. 
     The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims, and by their equivalents.