Abstract:
An exercising machine for developing multiple muscle groups by combining two distinct exercise elements into a single attenuated movement. The device includes multiple support housings each with upstanding handgrips extending therefrom. Each handgrip has spring resistant elements interconnected with said housings allowing for axial opposing resistant rotation.

Description:
This is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/579,229, filed May 30, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,023. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to exercising machines in which repetitive resistant movement by the user exercises different parts of the body. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have relied on a variety of different structural configurations adapted to exercise various muscle groups of the human body. Typically, exercise machines are developed and designed for specific purposes while others provide for multiple exercises on the same machine. 
     Historically, weights have been used to provide resistance to muscle movements while other devices use resilient bands, springs, etc. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,286 an exercise machine is disclosed having multiple exercising elements both for the legs and the arms of the user on independent movement planes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,442 is directed to an exercising device which imparts multiple manipulations and maneuvers during exercise. Pivoted arms extend from the main support frame having handgrips thereon. This device provides resistance for the user&#39;s arms in both directions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,757 discloses a method and apparatus for exercise with forced pronation or supination movement of the hands and arms in conjunction with the novel range of motion. A sub-frame supports a set of two pivoting levers each of which has incrementally adjustable weights to provide resistance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards exercising machines which have multiple function within a single apparatus. According to the present invention, the exercising machine comprises a base, an upstanding support post with an arm support assembly pivotally secured thereto. The arm support assembly has engagement arms with hand grip elements so that the user can grip the respective arms while lying on a bench positioned thereunder and provide for a three part exercise in which the assembly is raised vertically, the hands are twisted under resistance and simultaneously the arms are drawn together under resistance. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the exercising device of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the exercising device; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the exercising device as seen in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an illustrative top plan view with arm movement range indicated in dotted lines; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the resistance handgrip assembly in its rest and energized positions respectively; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the handgrip assembly; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate form of the hand resistant handgrip portion of the invention positioned for independent use; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the alternate hand resistant handgrip shown in FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the alternate hand resistant handgrip of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an exercise device  10  can be seen having a U-shaped base  11  defined by a pair of spaced parallel tubular members  12  and  13  interconnected by a cross member  14 . An upstanding engagement socket  15  extends from the cross member  14 . A tubular support post  16  is registerable within and extends from the engagement socket  15 . The post  16  has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures at  17  within. The framework as hereinbefore described provides a structure by which supports the mechanism of the present invention. 
     An arm assembly  18  of the present invention has a central support tube  19  with an arm mounting bracket  20  on one end thereof. The central support tube  19  is intum pivotally secured to the support post  16  by pairs of interconnected pivot pin pairs  21  and  22 , best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The pivot pin pairs  21  and  22  are connected by a respective apertured links  23 . It will be evident from the above description that the relative height of the arm assembly  18  can be adjusted vertically by repositioning the pivot pin pairs  21  on the upstanding support posts  16 . 
     The arm mounting bracket  20  extends transversely across the end of the central support tube  19  and is comprised of a pair of vertically spaced horizontally disposed apertured angle irons  24  and  25 . The pair of pivoted lever arms  26  and  27  are pivotally secured inwardly of the respective ends of the arm engagement bracket  20  by pivot bolts  28 . Each of the pivot lever arms  26  and  27  have an angular extension at  26 A and  27 A with an upstanding band engagement rods  26 B and  27 B. A secondary pair of band engagement rods  29  and  30  extend vertically from the engagement arm bracket  18  adjacent the intersection of the hereinbefore-described central support tub  19 . 
     The pivoted lever arms  26  and  27  extend angularly outwardly from the pivot bolts  28  to respective hand grips assemblies  31  secured on their distal ends. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5A,  5 B and  6  of the drawings, it will be seen that each of the handgrip assemblies  31  includes a fixed tubular support brace  32  with an upper spring mounting plate  33  extending thereacross. A central shaft  34  extends through the mounting plate  33  with a handgrip  35  secured thereto below the tubular support brace  32 . A spring engagement plate  36  is secured to the shaft  34  opposite end in spaced relation to the spring mounting plate  33 . Multiple spring mounting posts  37  extend from the respective perimeter corners of the spring mounting plate  33  and spring engagement plate  36  with pairs of spring elements  38  secured therebetween as best seen in FIG. 5A of the drawings. It will be evident that by rotation of the hand grips  35  the multiple spring elements  38  will be engaged imparting progressive spring resistance to the hand grips  35  during movement as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B of the drawings. 
     Weight rods  39  extend at right angles from the respective lever arms  26  and  27  adjacent the hereinbefore-described handgrip assemblies  31 . The weight rods  39  provide the selective progressive placement of free weights  40  shown in broken lines thereon for additional lifting resistance to the lever arms  26  and  27  of the assembly. Resilient bands  41  are removably positioned between the pivot pin pairs  22  and respective restraining pins  22 A selectively engaged on the main support post  16  in spaced relation to the hereinbefore described pivot pin pairs  21  as will be best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The resilient bands  41  impart resistance (upon elongation) to the movement of the central support tube  19  and arm assembly  18  from a first position shown in solid lines to a second position illustrated in broken lines. 
     Additionally, resilient bands  41  are also used to interengage between the upstanding band engagement rods  29  and  27 B and  30  and  26 B, best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The resilient bands  41  so used provide lateral kinetic resistance to the respective lever arms  26  and  27  as they are drawn inwardly towards one another as indicated in dotted lines of FIG. 4 of the drawings. 
     In use, a bench B shown in broken lines is positioned within the U-shaped base  11  so that the user (not shown) would lay prone on the bench B facing the arm assembly  20  as is typical in many exercising venues. 
     The sequence of exercises accomplished by the exercising device of the invention is as follows. The user thus positioned on the bench B grips the hand grips  35  and pushes upwardly against the resilient bands  41  and auxiliary free weights  40  if used while simultaneously twisting hand grips  35  against the spring resistance while drawing the arms towards one another against the resilient bands  41  thereby imparting an effective three exercising elements within one set of repeatable movements. 
     As noted, the lifting effort i.e. resistance afforded to the user against the arm assembly  20  can be increased by the placement of the auxiliary weights  40  as hereinbefore described. The exercise can thus be repeated providing a unique work out to the user in a single exercising station. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the spring resistance of the hand grip  31  can be adjusted by adding or deleting springs  38  or replacing same with higher rated springs as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  of the drawings, an alternate hand grip assembly  42  can be seen having a support housing  43  with a central rod  44  extending therefrom with hand grip fittings  45  secured to the rod&#39;s free ends. 
     Oppositely disposed pairs of reinforcing lugs  46  extend from respective inner corner surfaces  43 A,  43 B,  43 C and  43 D of the housing  43 . The lugs  46  each have an apertured attachment point  47  thereon. The central rod  44  has a bearing disk  44 A integral with the rod  44  which provides a bearing retainment of the rod within the housing  43 . A spring engagement element  48  extends from the end of the rod  44  within the housing  43 . 
     A plurality of spring members  49  extend from the spring engagement disk  48  to the respective apertured attachment points  47  of the lugs  46  as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. A handgrip assembly  15  secured to the rod  44  having a U-shaped frame  51  and a handle  52  secured therebetween. A bearing plate  53  extends from the housing  43  upon which bearing disk  44 A engages. 
     It will be seen that upon rotation of the handgrip  45  in either rotational direction as indicated by rotational arrows RA that spring resistance will be imparted thereto. The housing is preferably molded of synthetic resin material having a ground engaging base lip  49  about its perimeter edge. 
     In this alternate form the handgrip assemblies  42  are to be used by placing the housing  43  directly on the ground with the hand grips  45  facing upwardly. The user (not shown) positions themselves over the hand grips engaging same in a “push-up position” and performs push-up exercises while twisting the respective grips  45  in either rotational direction. Such an exercise imparts not only the typical arm improvement, but also the added benefit of the twisting motion as the exercise is performed. 
     It will therefore be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.