Patent Publication Number: US-11033769-B2

Title: Exercising device for muscle strengthening

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an exercise device that can be used to for muscle strengthening and fat burning. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays people, especially those at work are always lack of time to work out and keep body in shape. Statistic data shows human body when aging, develops fat more quickly around the areas of abdomen, upper arm (bingo wing), waist and thigh. The effective way for removal of the excessive fat is to train local muscle groups regularly and constantly. The frustration for people to keep this regular training is there is none of a unitary device that is simple yet multi-functional that is dedicated to precise local muscle exercise. The major problem for most relevant products on the market are either ergonomically unfavorable or complex constructed that are not comfort and easy to use, which discourage usage that results in ineffectiveness in body shaping. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for an exercise device that gives multi-function and is simple to build and reliable to use, while allowing users to perform a wide variety of exercises each provides a different form of stimulation to selected muscles of the abdomen, arms, shoulders, and legs. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, an exercise device includes a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm. The first arm includes a first arc portion, a second arc portion, and a third arc portion, wherein the first arc portion is disposed between and coupled to the second arc portion and the third arc portion, and the second arc portion and the third arc portion are equal in size and a duplicate image of each other with respect to an axis passing through a center point of the first arc portion. The second arm is coupled to the first arm via a pair of parallel bars. The first arm and the second arm are a duplicate image of each other, and the first arm, the second arm, and the pair of parallel bars form a quadrilateral frame. 
     In another embodiment, the exercise device includes a first U-shaped arm, a second U-shaped arm, a first linear bar, and a second linear bar. The second U-shaped arm opposes the first U-shaped arm and is a mirror image of the first U-shaped arm. The second linear bar opposes the first linear bar and is a mirror image of the first linear bar. The first U-shaped arm is coupled to the first linear bar and the second linear bar, respectively, and the second U-shaped arm is coupled to the first linear bar and the second linear bar, respectively, and the first U-shaped arm, the second U-shaped arm, the first linear bar and the second linear bar are connected to form a quadrilateral frame. 
     In yet another embodiment, the exercise device includes a first arm and a second arm coupling to the first arm via a pair of parallel bars. The first arm includes a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein the first member is in a round-bend configuration, and the second member and the third member are in a linear configuration. The second arm includes a first member, a second member, and a third member, and the first member of the second arm is in a round-bend configuration, and the second member and the third member of the second arm are in a linear configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise device according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a U-shaped arm in compressed configuration according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a U-shaped arm according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exercise device according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a U-shaped arm according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized with other embodiments without specific recitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise device  100  according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The exercise device  100  is generally consisted of two U-shaped (or C-shaped) arms  102 ,  104  and two bars  106 ,  108 . The U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  are located on either side of the exercise device  100 . The bars  106 ,  108  are parallel to each other and coupled to the ends of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104 , respectively, to form a quadrilateral frame. When the bars  106 ,  108  intersect with a common horizontal plane, the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  form a convex upward (when viewing from the side). That is, the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  form a general convex profile when the bars  106 ,  108  intersect with the common horizontal plane, with apex of each U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  pointing away from the bars  106 ,  108 . 
     The U-shaped arm  102  generally includes a first arc portion  103 , a second arc portion  105 , and a third arc portion  107 . The second arc portion  105  and the third arc portion  107  are coupled to the first arc portion  103 , which is in a general round-bend configuration. The first arc portion  103 , the second arc portion  105 , and the third arc portion  107  are formed as an integrated part. The second arc portion  105  and the third arc portion  107  may further include a linear portion extending outwardly in a direction away from the first arc portion  103 . In such a case, the linear portion may be in a straight configuration. Alternatively, the second arc portion  105  and the third arc portion  107  may further include a non-linear portion extending outwardly in a direction away from the first arc portion  103 . 
     The first arc portion  103 , the second arc portion  105  and the third arc portion  107  are essentially co-planar. The second arc portion  105  and the third arc portion  107  are equal in size and a duplicate image of each other with respect to an axis “C” passing through the center point of the U-shaped arm  102 . The axis “C” referred to herein is essentially perpendicular to a tangent line at the center point of the U-shaped arm  102 . 
     The second arc portion  105  has one end coupling to the first arc portion  103  and another end terminating at a distal end  110  that is directly connected to an end  118  of the bar  106 . Likewise, the third arc portion  107  has one end coupling to the first arc portion  103  and another end terminating at a distal end  112  that is directly connected to an end  122  of the bar  108 . 
     The U-shaped arm  102  and the U-shaped arm  104  are duplicate image of each other with respect to an axis “D” passing through centers of the bars  106  and  108 , respectively. Similarly, the U-shaped arm  104  generally includes a first arc portion  109 , a second arc portion  111 , and a third arc portion  113 . The second arc portion  111  and the third arc portion  113  are coupled to the first arc portion  109 , which is in a general round-bend configuration. The first arc portion  109 , the second arc portion  111 , and the third arc portion  113  are formed as an integrated part. The second arc portion  111  and the third arc portion  113  may further include a linear portion extending outwardly in a direction away from the first arc portion  109 . In such a case, the linear portion may be in a straight configuration. Alternatively, the second arc portion  111  and the third arc portion  113  may further include a non-linear portion extending outwardly in a direction away from the first arc portion  103 . 
     The first arc portion  109 , the second arc portion  111  and the third arc portion  113  are essentially co-planar. The second arc portion  111  and the third arc portion  113  are equal in size and a duplicate image of each other with respect to the axis “C” passing through the center of the U-shaped arm  102 . The second arc portion  111  has one end coupling to the first arc portion  109  and another end terminating at a distal end  114  that is directly connected to an end  120  of the bar  106 . Likewise, the third arc portion  113  has one end connecting to the first arc portion  109  and another end terminating at a distal end  116  that is directly connected to an end  124  of the bar  108 . 
     In some embodiments, the ends  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124  may be constructed as an end-cap having one side that can be removably attached to respect ends of the bars  106 ,  108 , and anther side that can be removably attached to respect ends of the second arc portions  105 ,  111 , and the third arc portions  107 ,  113 . 
     The U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  may be coupled to the bars  106 ,  108  by any suitable method, such as welding, soldering, brazing, screw fastening, adhesive bonding, or any of combination thereof to form a unitary structure. Additionally or alternatively, the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  can be removably coupled to the bars  106 ,  108  through, for example, the use of the end cap, by fasteners such as screws/bolts, or other suitable locking mechanism such as snap-fit, twist-lock engagement, or the like. 
     The U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  are dimensioned to a suitable length for comfortable human body contact. The bars  106 ,  108  can be wrapped with a soft form material  130  such as rubber, foam rubber, foam synthetic resin, or other suitable elastic material that can be comfortably grasped by a user. Portions or all of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  can also be wrapped with a soft rubber material, or any suitable compressible material such as elastic rubber. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, the first arc portions  103 ,  109  of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  is further wrapped with a soft rubber material  535 . Textures, patterns, grains, or the like, may be added to the soft form material  130  and/or the soft rubber material  535  to facilitate grasping of the exercise device  100  by the user. For example, each of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  may have a plurality of grooves (not shown) disposed around the soft rubber material  535  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , each of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  and the bars  106 ,  108  can have various cross-sectional shapes, such as round, oval, rounded polygon, rectangular, square, etc. The U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  are made of resilient materials such as metals, bamboo, plastics, rubber, wood, synthetic elastomer etc., which resists compression and which returns essentially to its original shape upon a release of an applied force. In one embodiment, the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  are flat or sheet metal plate. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the bars  106 ,  108  are engaged with human body for the compression action, the two resilient U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  (only U-shaped arm  104  is shown for clarity) produce the counterforce resistance during the movement. The counterforce resistance is translated and/or worked on targeted muscle and joint which results in reinforcement of the muscle and reduction of fat accumulation. The U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  are specifically shaped and configured using embodiments discussed below with respect to  FIG. 3  to provide the desired resistant force when being compressed. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of a U-shaped arm  300  that can be conceptually applied to, or used to replace, at least a portion of the U-shaped arms  102 ,  104  discussed in this disclosure. The U-shaped arm  300  is constructed in the form of a first part  302  and a second part  305 , wherein an end of the second part  305  is connected to an end of the first part  302 . first part  302  and the second part  305  are formed as an integrated part. The second part  305  is highlighted in gray for illustrative purposes only. The first part  302  and the second part  305  are co-planar and symmetric. The first part  302  and the second part  305  are equal in size and a duplicate image of each other with respect to an axis “E” passing through a center point of the U-shaped arm  300 . The axis “E” is essentially perpendicular to a tangent line “T” passing through the center apex  319  of the U-shaped arm  300 . 
     The U-shaped arm  300  is leveraged/modified from a standard coil spring but customized to provide resilient force. The first part  302  is generally consisted of a first arc portion  304 , a second arc portion  306 , and a linear portion  308 . The second arc portion  306  is disposed between the first arc portion  304  and the linear portion  308 . The second arc portion  306  may be coupled directly to the first arc portion  304  and the linear portion  308 . In one embodiment, the first arc portion  304  is convexly curved and the second arc portion  306  is concavely curved, with respect to the axis “E”. That is, the vertex of the first arc portion  304  is pointing away from the axis “E” while the vertex of the second arc portion  306  is pointing towards the axis “E”. The first arc portion  304  and the second arc portion  306  may have the same or similar curvature. In one aspect, the first arc portion  304  has a radius of curvature “R1” identical to the radius of curvature “R2” of the second arc portion  306 . 
     Alternatively or additionally, the second arc portion  306  may couple indirectly to the first arc portion  304 . In such a case, an intermediate portion  350  may be further disposed between the first arc portion  304  and the second arc portion  306 . The intermediate portion  350  may be a linear or non-linear portion and can be made of a resilient material, such as those discussed in this disclosure. In one example, the intermediate portion  350  is a linear straight portion coupling the first arc portion  304  to the second arc portion  306 . 
     The second part  305  includes a first arc portion  310 , a second arc portion  312 , and a linear portion  314 . The first arc portion  310  is convexly curved and the second arc portion  312  is concavely curved, with respect to the axis “E”. The first arc portion  310  and the second arc portion  312  of the second part  305  may have the same or similar curvature. 
     Likewise, the second arc portion  312  may be connected directly to the first arc portion  310  and the linear portion  314 . Alternatively or additionally, the second arc portion  312  may couple indirectly to the first arc portion  310 . In such a case, an intermediate portion  352  may be further disposed between the first arc portion  310  and the second arc portion  312 . The intermediate portion  352  may be a linear or non-linear portion made of a resilient material, such as those discussed in this disclosure. In one example, the intermediate portion  252  is a linear straight portion coupling the first arc portion  310  to the second arc portion  312 . 
     The resilient force is generated from the first part  302  and the second part  305  of the U-shaped arm  300 . Each of the first part  302  and the second part  305  consists of double-arc configuration, which can be represented by the imaginary circles “A” and “B”. This special design can be recognized by a modification from dual coil torsion springs that are deliberately integrated in a consecutive connection. The combination of the double-arc configuration allows the U-shaped arm  300  to provide resilient force that is not solely from the material but the double-arc geometry of the U-shaped arm  300 , which means even least flexible material, such as wood, can offer resilient force when formed in such double-arc configuration. When compressed, the preloaded resilient force from either side of the U-shaped arm  300  is translated and/or delivered to targeted muscle and joint which results in reinforcement of the muscle and fat burning. 
     The U-shaped arm  300  can be modified based on any coil torsion springs. For example, the resilient arm can be shaped as O-shaped coil like torsion spring. It is contemplated that additional spring(s) can be attached on the U-shaped arm  300  as resistant force adjustor. 
     Various modifications can be made to the U-shaped arms of the inventive exercise device. For example, the first arc portions  103 ,  109  of the U-shaped or C-shaped arm in this disclosure can be plurally formed in consecutive sequence to form a M-shaped configuration.  FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a portion of an exemplary U-shaped arm  400  that can be conceptually applied to, or used to replace, the U-shaped arms discussed in this disclosure. In this embodiment, the U-shaped arm  400  is configured in a M-shaped including at least a first arc portion  402 , a second arc portion  404 , and a third arc portion  406 . The first arc portion  402  and the third arc portion  406  are convex, with the second arc portion  404  being concave and disposed between the first arc portion  402  and the third arc portion  406 . The first arc portion  402 , the second arc portion  404 , and the third arc portion  406  may be co-planar and have the same or similar radius of curvature. Any number of arc portions are contemplated and can be added to provide needed resilient force for the exercise device. 
     If desired, a motion sensor, such as an accelerometer, may be integrated within the exercise device to record exercise action/number which can be connected or wirelessly connected to a digital device, such as a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, etc. 
     The exercise device of the present disclosure features a lightweight, functional, reliable and cost-effective solution to all abdominal or multifunctional training devices known in the market, which often requires complex mechanisms using mechanical torsion spring to provide resilient force. In contrast, the inventive exercise device utilizes unitary resilient U-shaped or C-shaped arms to generate resistance force completely from the arms that are made of resilient material. Therefore, there is no force created from mechanical component or assembly like torsion spring which provides artificial and mechanical force. Benefitting from uniform single resilient arm, when arms pressed the device bends naturally and generate ergonomic, natural and smooth counterforce resistance verse mechanical torsion spring used on other similar devices. The configuration of the exercise device is so simple that it is versatile in both body accommodation and outside body interaction in exercising the different muscle groups. It targets primarily on abdomen, triceps, pectorals, quadriceps (leg). Other parts of body can also be treated when appropriately engaged with the exercise device. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure thus may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.