Patent Publication Number: US-6213921-B1

Title: Light weight exercise apparatus

Description:
This application is a division of U.S. appln Ser. No. 09/023,156, filed Feb. 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,049. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to exercise apparatuses, and pertains more particularly to a light weight exercise apparatus for use in exercising a user&#39;s arm musculature. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Different types of light weight exercise apparatuses have been designed over the years for exercising various areas of a user&#39;s arm. Particularly, hand-held apparatuses that totally surround a user&#39;s hand or that provide a straight support just for the user&#39;s wrist have been developed in order to strengthen a user&#39;s hand, wrist area, forearm or upper arm during exercise. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,240 (“ &#39;the Rigler patent”) describes a heated hand exerciser in the form of a straight shell that encloses the individual&#39;s hand and a portion of the forearm. Electrical heating coils are wrapped around the shell to maintain the hand or arm in heated surroundings. A compressible handgrip is located inside of the exerciser that the user grips to perform a kneading action in order to exercise the user&#39;s hand in a heated environment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,916 (“ &#39;the Beaumont patent”) describes another type of exercise apparatus in which a flat platform is used to support the lower arm and wrist of a user. A strap secures the user&#39;s arm to the platform and a gripping bar at the end of the platform is provided for gripping by the user&#39;s hand. A series of coaxially aligned adjustable weights are supported by a post positioned on the side of the platform opposite the gripping bar for alignment of the weights to the user&#39;s hand. This maintains a desired center of gravity proximate to the gripping bar and concentrates the exertion by the user during exercise. 
     Although the above described exercise apparatuses provide some means for exercising a user&#39;s arm musculature, exercise apparatuses that can be used during light weight exercise and provide maximum muscular contraction and extension are desired. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that provides proper placement of a user&#39;s hand and wrist during light weight exercise. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that is simple in design, easy to use, economical to manufacture and low in cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objectives are realized in a light weight exercise apparatus that includes a support including a first part extending along a portion of the lower arm of the user and a second part extending from the first part and having first and second portions. The first portion is an outwardly curved portion for supporting the wrist and hand of the user and the second portion is a portion extending downward and outward from the first portion to form a retaining portion for further supporting and substantially surrounding the hand of the user. The retaining portion further includes a grip portion attached to and extending across the width of the retaining portion to be gripped by the hand of the user. 
     As illustrated in the embodiments, the retaining portion is a cup or trough-shaped structure that provides support for the user&#39;s hand and additional weight for the apparatus. As shown in further embodiments, the retaining portion can also be modified to include a cavity for accommodating material so that more weight can also be added to the exercise apparatus or to include a slot or aperture for permitting a portion of the user&#39;s hand to extend through the wall of the retaining portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exercise apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 along the line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of another embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the present invention along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the present invention along the line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-5 show an exercise apparatus  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the exercise apparatus  10  is a small light weight exercise apparatus that can be used for toning and exercising the user&#39;s arm. Indeed, the light weight and portability of the apparatus  10  allows the user to exercise just with the apparatus or use the apparatus as an additional exercise element during an aerobic workout. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the exercise apparatus  10  comprises an elongated support  20  which has a first part  22 , shown as substantially straight, which extends along the lower arm  2  of a user  1 . The support  20  further includes a second part  24  which has a first portion  26  for supporting the wrist  3  and hand  4  of the user and a second portion  28  that further supports and substantially surrounds the user&#39;s hand and is adapted to retain weight means therein. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first portion  26  of the second part  24  is curved or bent outwardly so that the wrist of the user is flexed outwardly when supported in the exercise apparatus  10 . The forward end of the outwardly curved portion  26  provides support for the user&#39;s hand. The second portion or retaining portion  28  extends downward and outward and substantially around the user&#39;s hand  4 , i.e., around all the surfaces of the hand when clenched in a fist except the palm and upper parts of the fingers, to also support the user&#39;s hand in its cup or trough-shaped structure. The retaining portion  28  also provides added weight to the exercise apparatus  10  based upon its cup or trough-like structure. Gripping means or a grip portion  40  that is gripped by the user&#39;s hand is positioned in a hollow portion  30  defined by the retaining portion  28 . 
     To hold the exercise apparatus  10  to the user&#39;s arm, attachment means or a strap  50  as shown in FIG. 1 are used so as to secure the apparatus  10  to the user&#39;s arm. The strap  50  passes through slots  52  formed in the arm support part  22  of the support  20  and is secured to the arm of the user by some type of engaging means, such as hooks, fasteners or the like. Other forms of attachment means, such as bindings, ties, clamps or the like may also be used. 
     As previously noted, the grip portion  40  is positioned in the retaining portion  28  of the apparatus  10 . As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the grip portion  40 , extending across the width of the retaining portion  28 , is inserted in opposite apertures  42  in the retaining portion  28  for gripping by the user&#39;s hand and to help maintain extension of the wrist during exercise. The grip portion  40 , however, can also be secured in the retaining portion  28  through any type of securing means or engaging means, such as, for example, recesses, indentions, adhesive, fasteners, bolts, or the like. The grip portion  40  can also be formed with the retaining portion  28  to produce the exercise apparatus  10  as a one piece unit. 
     Based upon the structure of the apparatus  10 , the contour and length of the outwardly curved portion  26 , the positioning of the grip portion  40  in the retaining portion  28  and the contour and shape of the retaining portion  28 , such helps to place the wrist  3  of the user when supported in the apparatus  10  in a substantially maximum outwardly bent condition. Although the exercise apparatus  10  as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is for light weight exercise, exercise benefits are still obtained due to the extension of the wrist  3  along the wrist support portion  26  and the placement of the hand  4  in the retaining portion  28 . This placement causes substantially full extension of the wrist  3  and, as a result, provides maximum contractions, extension and reflection of the user&#39;s arm musculature when the user moves his or her forearm up and down, i.e., curls, with the exercise apparatus  10 . 
     A greater effect, however, can be realized when further weight is placed in the retaining portion  28  of the apparatus  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the retaining portion  28  can extend to a depth beyond that needed to accommodate the user&#39;s hand to define a cavity  32  in its bottom portion  44  that is bordered by the inner surface of the wall  12  of the apparatus  10 . This cavity  32  is adaptable to accommodate additional weight. The cavity  32  can accordingly be filled with any type of material, e.g., sand, foam, gel, plastic, metal or the like filler material, to increase the weight of the apparatus  10  thereby enhancing the user&#39;s workout. 
     The apparatus  10 , however, is also not limited to having a cavity only in the retaining portion  28  but can also have a cavity, similar to the cavity  32  as shown in FIG. 4, extend throughout or in particular sections of the apparatus  10 . Such a hollow cavity filled with material could also provide additional weight to the apparatus  10 . As another example, a cavity could be created in the wall  12  of the apparatus between its inner and outer surfaces  14  and  16 . This cavity could also be filled with some type of material to also increase the weight of the apparatus  10 . 
     A further embodiment of the exercise apparatus  10  is also shown in FIG. 5 in which the retaining portion includes an aperture or open slot  32 A that permits the user&#39;s hand to extend through the wall  12  of the apparatus  10 . The open slot  32 A extends substantially across the width of the retaining portion (as shown by ghosted lines in FIG. 3) and substantially from slightly beyond where the curved portion  26  begins to curve through to the bottom portion  44 A of the retaining portion  28 A. The retaining portion  28 A and the slot  32 A, however, are not limited to the illustrated embodiments as shown, but may be any shape or configuration, as needed, to accommodate the user&#39;s hand as well as provide weight for the apparatus. As also illustrated in FIG. 5, a grip portion  40 A extends across the retaining portion  28 A and the slot  32 A and attaches to the retaining portion  28 A through apertures  42 A (as shown by ghosted lines in FIG.  3 ). 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  is secured to the lower arm of the user with the apparatus  10  extending along the underside of the lower arm of the user and curls downward and outward to form the retaining portion  28 . The user&#39;s hand slides under and grasps the grip portion  40  which extends between the apertures  42 . 
     With the exercise apparatus  10  attached to the lower arm of the user  1 , the arm of the user is first held in a fully extended down position. The user then curls the arm so that the hand  4  and lower arm  2  are brought up and toward the chest. The user then with a steady motion uncurls the arm to lower the hand  4  and the lower arm  2  downward and away from the body. During these motions, the user&#39;s wrist  3  remains outwardly bent and fully extended due to the outwardly curved portion of the support part. As a result, maximum exertion of the user&#39;s arm musculature occurs. However, the user is not limited to just this type of exercise with the apparatus  10 , but can perform other types of exercises with the apparatus  10  depending upon the user&#39;s needs. 
     It will be appreciated that the exercise apparatus  10  is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but can be a variety of sizes depending on the size of the user and weight desired for the apparatus  10  itself. In addition, the exercise apparatus  10  can be any type of material, e.g., metal, wood, plastic, polycarbonate material or the like rigid material that can be used for light weight exercise. Furthermore, the grip portion  40  positioned in the retaining portion  28  which the user grasps during exercise also provides weight in the apparatus  10  and can be varied as well so as to be any type of desired material and/or weight. The grip portion  40  could also be extended through the apertures  42  so that additional weight can be added to the apparatus  10  for a more strenuous workout. 
     The retaining portion  28  of the exercise apparatus  10  of the present invention is also not limited to the illustrated embodiments as shown but may be a variety of forms and shapes that substantially surround the user&#39;s hand so as to provide some form of support and weight for the apparatus  10 . The retaining portion  28  may also have structure that permits retention or incorporation of weight therein. 
     In all cases it is understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention. For example, the exercise apparatus  10  is contemplated as a solid structure but can also be separate elements that combine to form the apparatus. Numerous and varied other configurations, such as a hollow or partially hollow structure that can be formed by a variety of means can be readily devised in accordance with the principles of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.