Abstract:
An accessory device for use with an elliptical cross training machine comprises two like-configured attachments, each of with generally comprises a handle attachment bracket, a substantially horizontal stabilizer bar, a combined palm push pad/handle attachment bracket, a fixed handle, and a push palm pad. The fixed handle and the palm pad are fully and rotatably movable around and about the stabilizer bar. Each is also longitudinally movable along the stabilizer bar to provide inward and outward movement of the fixed handle and the push palm pad relative to the original handle positions of the elliptical cross trainer to which they are attached. The accessory device allows the user to have a combined platform to push from, in a form that is similar to doing a push up from the floor, as well as a fixed point handle that presents to the user at a more natural shoulder angle.

Description:
This application claims the benefit and priority of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/167,187 filed Apr. 7, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise machines and equipment, the component parts that are used in such machines and equipment, and to the various accessories that can be used with such machines and equipment. More particularly, it relates to an accessory device that can be used with elliptical cross training machines, or “elliptical cross trainers,” of the type that incorporate leg exercise for simulating walking, jogging and climbing, and that also incorporate arm exercise for simulating push-ups and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Elliptical cross training exercise machines, or “elliptical cross trainers” as they are more often referred to in the industry, are a type of exercise equipment that guide the user&#39;s feet along a generally elliptical-shaped curve to simulate the motions of jogging and climbing. Two foot pedals are used to accomplish these motions. Two handles are, in turn, connected to the pedals, the handles being moveable generally forwardly and rearwardly, in parallel motion and one handle to each side of the user&#39;s torso. Relative to the user&#39;s body, however, it is known that the handles are in a relatively “fixed” position. 
     One limitation of this fixed positioning is that the average distance between the two handles is typically too wide for many users, particularly women, de-conditioned individuals and older individuals. In the experience of this inventor, this distance causes each of the shoulders of such individuals to be engaged at a contra-indicated angle, thereby over-utilizing the small muscle group commonly referred to as the “rotator cuff.” The rotator cuff is not a single muscle. In actuality, it is a number of smaller muscles that work together to stabilize the shoulder. The contra-indicated angle mentioned above, and the motion that results from it, may or may not cause an immediate injury and many times does not. Over time, however, this action is known by this inventor to cause small micro-tears in any number of the smaller muscles resulting in acute swelling and severe pain. Also, because of the acute angle, it is not uncommon for tendinitis to flare at the muscle insertion points. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable that an accessory device be conceived that effectively brings the handles of an elliptical cross trainer closer together. It is also desirable to devise such an accessory device that would provide quick and simple adjustability for accommodating a wide variety of user sizes. It is further desirable to construct such an accessory device such that a combined platform to push from, in a form that would be similar to doing a push up from the floor, is presented together with a fixed point handle that presents at a more natural shoulder angle. In this fashion, the combined push pad/fixed handle accessory device would work to isolate the pectoral major muscle and the pectoral minor muscle during the concentric motion of the handle movement of the elliptical cross trainer. This would allow for ease of motion and less shoulder involvement from an otherwise contra-indicated angle, which would be eliminated by use of the accessory device. Additionally, and from the improved position provided through the use of the accessory device, the user of the elliptical cross trainer could work more comfortably. That is, a larger muscle group would be utilized as the “primary” mover and more calories would be burned, together with a higher level of VO2 max (maximum volume of oxygen consumed per unit of time) would be realized. Because of the limited angle from either the push pad or the fixed handle, this accessory device could be adapted for use in a shoulder or cardio rehabilitation situation. Each of the foregoing is an objective of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the accessory device of the present invention, structural elements are provided that allow the user of the elliptical cross trainer to bring his or her hands and arms into a position that prevents the contra-indicated angle and over-utilization of the rotator cuff as mentioned above. Specifically, the accessory includes two like-configured attachment devices, each of with generally comprises a handle attachment bracket, a substantially horizontal stabilizer bar, a combined palm push pad/handle attachment bracket, a fixed handle, and a push palm pad. The handle attachment bracket is vertically movable and positionable along the length of the handle of the elliptical cross trainer to accommodate the height of the user. The fixed handle and the palm pad are fully and rotatably movable around and about the stabilizer bar. Each is also longitudinally movable and variably positionable and fixable along the stabilizer bar to provide inward and outward movement of the fixed handle and the push palm pad relative to the original handle positions of the elliptical cross trainer to which they are attached. This functionality serves to accommodate users having various shoulder widths. This accessory device allows the user to have a combined platform to push from, in a form that is similar to doing a push up from the floor, as well as a fixed point handle that presents to the user at a more natural shoulder angle. 
     The foregoing and other features of the accessory device of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top, rear and left side perspective view of a typical elliptical cross training machine of the type that the accessory device of the present invention is used with. 
         FIG. 2  is a top, rear and left side perspective view of the accessory devices of the present invention as they would be attached to a pair of handles of the elliptical cross training machine shown in  FIG. 1 , with the upright tubular handles being illustrated in phantom view. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged and rear elevational view of one of the accessory devices shown attached to that handle of the elliptical cross training machine illustrated in  FIG. 1  which would be to the user&#39;s left during use. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the accessory device illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the accessory device illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the accessory device illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the accessory device illustrated in  FIG. 3  after a portion of the device has been rotated 180° . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like-numbered elements refer to like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an elliptical cross trainer, designated generally by the numeral  100 . As shown, the trainer  100  includes a pair of handles  92 ,  94 . In application, the user would move the handles  92 ,  94  alternatively forwardly and backwardly, in cadence with the user&#39;s concentric stepping motion. It is to be understood that the type of elliptical cross trainer  100  that the device of the present invention may be used with is not limited to the specific type shown in  FIG. 1  as any number of such trainers would allow for proper usage of such device as will be apparent in the following description. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a pair of accessory devices that are constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown, each accessory device being designated generally by the numeral  10  and each device  10  being used in tandem with the other. As shown, the device  10  comprises several key elements. Specifically, the device  10  comprises a handle attachment bracket, generally identified  20 , a stabilizer bar  30 , and a combined push pad/handle attachment bracket  40 . Generally, the handle attachment bracket  20  is used to affix the device  10  to an upright handle  92 ,  94  of an elliptical cross trainer  100  of the type shown in  FIG. 1 . The stabilizer bar  30  extends generally inwardly from the handle  92 ,  94  that it is attached to. Additionally, the combined push pad/handle attachment bracket  40  has a fixed handle  60  disposed to one side of it. Disposed opposite the fixed handle  60  is a palm push pad  70 . 
     The handle attachment bracket  20  includes, in a first preferred embodiment, an attachment means that generally comprises an inner attachment bracket portion  22  and an outer attachment bracket portion  24 , each bracket portion  22 ,  24  being disposed to the outer surface of the handle  92  to which it would be attached. See  FIG. 3 . It is to be understood, however, that each accessory device  10  comprises the same elements, although only one such device  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 7 . 
     The handle attachment bracket  20  also includes a hinge means  21 , the hinge means  21  being common to one side of each bracket portion  22 ,  24 . Again, see  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it will be seen that the handle attachment bracket  20  also includes a securing means comprising, in the preferred embodiment, a generally U-shaped first securement receiver  26  that is fixedly attached to the outer attachment bracket portion  24  and a second securement receiver  28  that is fixedly attached to the inner attachment bracket portion  22 . Rotatably captured within the second receiver  28  is one end of a securement bolt  27 , the opposite end being threaded and having a like-threaded knob  29  that is rotatable about it to secure the bracket  20  to the handle  92 . 
     Finally, the bracket  20  includes a cushioning means  23 ,  25  for each bracket portion  22 ,  24 , respectively. The securing means could comprise other tightening and un-tightening mechanisms for removably securing the accessory device  10  to either handle  92 ,  94 . In this fashion, the device  10  can be quickly and easily positioned and re-positioned along the length of the handle  92 ,  94 , depending upon the setting desired or required by the particular user of the elliptical cross trainer  100 . The handle attachment bracket  20 , or portions of it, could be fabricated from a metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or other material, and such is not a limitation of the present invention. 
     The stabilizer bar  30  is, in the preferred embodiment, a substantially tubular metal structure having a proximal portion  32 , a medial portion  34  and a distal portion  36 . See  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Although the bar  30  is preferably a tubular metal structure, it too could be fabricated from plastic, carbon fiber, or other suitable materials and such is not a limitation of the present invention. The bar  30  could also be fabricated as a structure that is solid instead of tubular. Being tubular, however, reduces the overall weight of the device  10  and is a design choice or expediency. The proximal portion  32  of the stabilizer bar  30  is attached to the handle attachment bracket  20  at a point  28 . The distal portion  36  of the stabilizer bar  30  can include an end-cap  35  to prevent the user from being exposed to any sharp edge along the distal portion  36 . 
     The combined push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  comprises a rotatable and substantially C-shaped central bracket portion  42  the purpose of which is to allow the push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  to rotate about the tubular stabilizer bar  30  as well as to move along its length to any point that lies between the proximal portion  32  and the distal portion  36  of that bar  30 . See  FIG. 4 . This range of positioning is intended to accommodate any number of differently-sized users of the elliptical cross trainer  100 . It is also to be understood that the bracket  40  includes securement means for quickly and easily affixing the bracket  40  in any number of positions along the stabilizer bar  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the securement means comprises a first bracket portion  41  and a second bracket portion  43 , the first and second bracket portions  41 ,  43  being positionally secured by means of a connector  45  having a quick-release camming action by means of a lever  47 . See  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , in particular. It is to be understood that the securement means could be alternatively configured within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, it is to be understood that the material that the combined push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  is fabricated from is not a limitation of the present invention. 
     The bracket  40  includes a first extension member  44  and a second extension member  46 , the first and second extension members  44 ,  46  being substantially co-linear, the purpose of which will be apparent later in this detailed description. Again, see  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . The first and second extension members  44 ,  46 , in the preferred embodiment, are each a substantially tubular structure, but need not be. The extension members  44 ,  46  could also be fabricated as structures that are solid instead of tubular. As was true of the stabilizer bar  30 , the extension members  44 ,  46 , or one of them, being tubular can result in the reduction of the overall weight of the device  10  as a design choice. 
     The first extension member  44  of the push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  includes a transverse member  48  and an end cap  49 . See  FIG. 6 . The second extension member  46  of the push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  comprises a fixed handle  60  that includes, in the preferred embodiment, a padded handle portion  62  and an end cap  65 . The type of padding that is used in the padded handle portion  62  is not a limitation of the present invention. Additionally, it may be desirable to integrally form the handle portion  62  and end cap  69  as a single structure. As alluded to earlier, this fixed handle  60  is disposed 180° opposite the first extension member  44  of the bracket  40  mentioned above. In application, the fixed handle  60  substitutes for that portion of the handle  92 ,  94  of the elliptical cross trainer  100  that the user would normally use when using the trainer  100  without the accessory device  10 . 
     The palm push pad  70  comprises a front face  72  and a back face  74 . Extending rearwardly from the back face  74  is a pair of attachment members  76 . See  FIGS. 3 through 6 . A hole (not shown) is defined within each of the attachment members  76  to accommodate a retention member in the form of a retaining pin  82  that extends through the transverse member  48  and a hole (not shown) that is defined within it as well as a hole (also not shown) that is defined in the first extension member  44  of the bracket  40 . This configuration allows the palm push pad  70  to rotate about the retaining pin  82  to simulate the movement made during a push up but also providing a device that does not stress the user&#39;s wrists during use. A knob  84  is also provided for securement of the pad position if such is desired or required. See  FIG. 4 . It is to be understood that the palm push pad  70  and its various component parts as described herein may be fabricated of metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or any number of other materials, such not being a limitation of the present invention. It would also be possible to include a cushioning or non-slip material (not shown) to the front face  72  of the pad  70  for added comfort and safety for the user. 
     Although the foregoing accessory device  10  and its component parts have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the construction and the arrangement of components, some of which have been alluded to, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as it is described. 
     In application, the user would open a handle attachment bracket  20  by spreading the hinged bracket portions  22 ,  24  apart, placing the bracket  20  around a handle  92 ,  94 , one to each of the two handles  92 ,  94  of the elliptical trainer  100 . The user would then adjust the height of the accessory device  10  such that it is disposed in a suitable vertical position for the user&#39;s comfort. Once the device  10  is properly aligned in the vertical position, the handle attachment bracket  20  can be secured in that vertical position by the locking or securement means. In the preferred embodiment, that is accomplished by rotating the bolt  27  about the second receiver  28  and into the U-shaped first receiver  26  and then rotating the knob  29  to tighten the knob  29  against the first receiver  26 . It is to be understood that the same positioning is accomplished with the second accessory device  10  that is used in parallel with the first device  10 . 
     The user would then loosen the palm push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  by rotating the lever  47  to loosen the C-shaped central bracket portion  42  and then moving it longitudinally along the stabilizer bar  30  such that the user would be in a position to comfortably and properly use either the palm push pad  70  or the fixed handle  60  of the accessory device  10 . The lever  47  is then rotated back to a tightening position. It is to be understood that the same positioning is accomplished with the second accessory device  10  that is used in parallel with the first device  10 . 
     Once both of the accessory devices  10  are in position, and the user has determined the proper vertical and horizontal positioning of the handle attachment bracket  20  and the palm push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40 , respectively, the user can rotate the fixed handle  60  and the palm pad  70  about the stabilizer bar  30  in such a way that the fixed handle  60  is facing upwardly or downwardly, and in the same way with the palm push pad  70 . See, for comparison,  FIGS. 3 and 7 .  FIG. 7  shows the fixed handle  60  facing upwardly. This rotation is also effected by use of the lever  47  in conjunction with the bracket  40 . As the user begins the process of exercising on the elliptical trainer  100 , the fixed handle  60  is used to replace the normal hand position on the handles  92 ,  94 . If the user wants to utilize the elliptical trainer  100  in such a way that he or she is simulating a “push up” action, then the palm pad  70  would be rotated along the stabilizer bar and fastened into place by means of the palm push pad/fixed handle attachment bracket  40  and lever  47  so that the user can put the palm of his or her hand along the front face  72  of the palm pad  70 . See  FIG. 3 . In that position, the palm pad  70  will be allowed to rotate about the pivot point  82  and simulate the action of a floor push up as previously described.