Patent Publication Number: US-2010130337-A1

Title: Exercise device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/117,776, filed Nov. 25, 2008, and titled PUSH-UP EXERCISE DEVICE, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is generally related to exercise devices for aiding a user to perform resistance exercises in a variety of body positions. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices that allow a user to change positions of his hands and arms (and, optionally, knees or feet) while performing a set of push-up exercises to strengthen various muscles of the body, such as those found in the arms, legs, chest, back, and abdomen. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Exercise devices have become particularly popular in the past few decades as people have become increasingly concerned about health and body image. Infomercials abound in which a variety of exercise equipment is touted to provide convenient ways to build muscle tone and burn fat. Devices that are small, simple to use, and inexpensive provide good alternatives to expensive gym memberships, especially in light of current difficult economic times. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally comprise an exercise device with a hand grip movable along a surface by a user. The hand grip has a braking device that allows the user to selectively prevent the hand grip from moving along the surface. Some embodiments of the hand grip have a handle, a base plate coupled to the handle, wheels coupled to the base plate, and a brake grip coupled to a brake plate. The brake plate preferably contacts the surface when the user grips the brake grip. The exercise device may also include optional knee/foot dollies and resistance bands. The user of the exercise device is able to change positions of his arms and/or legs, thereby allowing him to do push-ups and/or similar exercises in varying body positions, and hence allowing him to exercise a wide variety of muscles. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It shall be noted that the accompanying drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are thus not to be deemed limiting of the invention&#39;s scope. The drawings help explain the invention in added detail. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the push-up device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged, exploded view of the hand grip in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A through 3D  show several views of another embodiment of a hand grip. 
         FIGS. 4A through 4D  show several views of yet another embodiment of a hand grip. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4D , except that  FIG. 5  additionally shows an outside casing. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a knee/foot dolly. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings (hereby expressly incorporated as part of this detailed description), sets forth specific numbers, materials, and configurations in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings, will enable one skilled in the relevant art to make and use the present invention. 
     One purpose of this detailed description being to describe the invention so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention, the following description sets forth various specific examples, also referred to as “embodiments,” of the present invention. While the invention is described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it shall be understood, because the embodiments are set forth for explanatory purposes only, that this description is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. Indeed, it is emphasized that the present invention can be embodied or performed in a variety of ways. The drawings and detailed description are merely representative of particular embodiments of the present invention. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention. The various embodiments will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements are generally designated by like alphanumeric characters throughout. 
     The present invention comprises a push-up device  100 , an initial example of which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The push-up device  100  allows a user to vary his arm and/or leg positions while doing push-up exercises. This ability to permit a wide range of motion while doing push-ups results in a unique and simple device that allows the user to strengthen and exercise a variety of body muscles. It shall be noted that, while the device  100  and its various embodiments are herein described as useful for push-up exercises, they may also be used to perform other types of exercises. 
     The push-up device  100  comprises hand grips  102 , and, optionally, knee/foot dollies  104 . The hand grips  102  allow the user to use his hands and arms to alternate between rolling the hand grips  102  on a surface and braking or holding them still with respect to the surface. The optional knee/foot dollies  104  allow the user to use either his knees or feet to roll the dollies  104  on the surface. The rolling functions of the hand grips  102  and the knee/foot dollies  104  allow the user to change positions of his arms and legs, thereby allowing him to do push-ups and similar exercises in varying body positions. Preferably, the surface upon which the hand grips  102  and/or dollies  104  roll comprises a ground or floor. However, the surface could also be a wall or other surface suitable for rolling the grips  102  or dollies  104 . 
     To use the particular embodiment of the device  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a user grasps the hand grips  102  at a handle  106  and pulls up with his fingers so as to push a brake grip  106   a  through a hole  106   b  in the handle  106 . This action, in turn, via levers  138  or other suitable mechanisms, pushes brake bars  108  downward. The brake bars  108 , in turn, push a brake plate  110  down onto the surface so as to effectively prevent wheels  116  from rolling. The user may then do a push up or other similar exercise. When the user desires to change positions of his arms, he releases his grip on the brake grip  106   a , thereby allowing the brake plate  110  to release (aided, optionally, with a spring  136  or other mechanism), and thereby allowing the wheels  116  to roll. 
     The handle  106  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  further comprises a top piece  106   d , grip padding  132  for the user&#39;s comfort, and end caps  134  for holding various parts of the handle  106  together. It shall be noted that brake bars  108  can be of any suitable shape, and that their function of moving the brake plate  110  can also be performed by a single brake bar  108  or by more than two brake bars  108 . Springs  140  may be coupled to the brake bars  108  in order to aid in pushing the brake bars  108  up and down. Moreover, the brake grip  106   a , as well as other parts of the device  100 , can be of any shape suitable to perform their respective functions. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the hand grips  102  further comprise handle arms  106   c  that are coupled to a base plate  114  via an optional outside casing  112 . In the embodiment shown, the handle arms  106   c , outside casing  112 , base plate  114 , and wheels  116  are coupled together in a fixed relation with respect to the brake bars  108  and brake plate  110 . The brake plate  110  may be comprised of any material suitable for stopping or minimizing movement of the hand grip  102  along the surface. In some embodiments, the brake plate  110  may be made of one material, but another material (for example, a rubber strip or pad) may be coupled to the bottom of the brake plate  110 . 
       FIGS. 3A through 3D  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a hand grip  202  in which a brake grip  206   a , instead of extending downward from a handle  206 , extends upward with respect to a surface  211  upon which the hand grip  202  rolls. Hence, levers or other mechanisms (not shown) for pushing a brake plate  210  down onto the surface  211 , are not enclosed in the handle  206  but instead are located below the brake grip  206   a . One non-limiting example of a lever mechanism comprises a rocker piece. Note that  FIG. 3C  shows the brake plate  210  being pushed down onto the surface  211  when a user&#39;s hand pulls up on the brake grip  206   a .  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 D show the hand grip  202  in a default position wherein the brake plate  210  is raised from the surface  211 , thereby allowing wheels  216  to roll along the surface  211 . 
       FIGS. 3A through 3D  also show examples of a grip padding  232 , an outside casing  212 , and a brake plate  210  that differ in shape from those shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The brake plate  210  is rectangular and has ridges thereon (as opposed to the diamond-shaped brake plate  110  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). However, it shall be noted that the present invention should not be limited to brake plates of any particular shape; the brake plates can be made in any variety of shapes. Also,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show optional anchors  300  for attaching resistance bands, the use of which will be elaborated upon further herein. 
       FIGS. 4A through 4D  and  FIG. 5  illustrate yet another embodiment of a hand grip  302  in which a scissor lift  303  is used to move a brake plate  310 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , when a user pulls up on a brake grip  306   a , the brake plate  310  is pushed down onto a surface  311 , thereby preventing wheels  316  from rolling. Scissor lift  303  preferably includes a spring  301  for raising the brake plate  310  back up when the user releases the brake grip  306   a . Base plate  314  preferably includes a hole  307  through which the brake grip  306   a  and scissor lift  303  can move. In addition, a grip pad  309  is coupled to the brake grip  306   a  in this embodiment, but not all embodiments need include a grip pad  309 . The brake plate  310 , of course, can be formed in any suitable shape besides those shown herein. Also, the wheels  316  are here shown to be coupled to the base plate  314  via screws  305 , but the wheels  316  may be glued to or otherwise appropriately coupled to the base plate  314 . 
       FIGS. 4A through 4D  and  FIG. 5  also show examples of features similar to those shown previously, such as a handle  306 , grip padding  332 , and anchors  400  for optional resistance bands. Note that the hand grip  302  is shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4D  without an outside casing, but the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 5  includes an outside casing  312 . Thus it shall be noted that embodiments of the invention may or may not include an outside casing  312 .  FIG. 5  also shows a brake pad  310   a  that is coupled to the brake plate  310  when assembled. As with any embodiments of the present invention having a brake plate, the brake plate  310  may or may not include a brake pad  310   a.    
     Having now discussed in detail various embodiments of the hand grip, embodiments of the knee/foot dollies shall now be discussed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a padding  122  on the knee/foot dollies  104  is attached to a base piece  124 , which base piece  124  is, in turn, attached to wheels  126 . Removable knee padding  120  fits in a cavity in the padding  122 . If a user desires to do push-ups or similar exercises in a position wherein he is anchored from his knees, he can place his knees on top of the knee padding  120  if he desires. Alternatively, the user can do push-ups or similar exercises wherein he is anchored from his feet. This can be done by removing the knee padding  120  and placing his feet inside the cavity remaining in the padding  122 . In some embodiments, the user&#39;s toes may partially poke through and be supported by a hole  130  in the base piece  124 . In some embodiments, a support (not shown) shaped to receive the user&#39;s foot is located on the base piece  124  beneath the hole  130  or elsewhere. Such a support might, for example, be cup-shaped to support the user&#39;s toes. Whether the user desires to use his feet or his knees, the knee/foot dollies  104  allow the user to vary positions of the knees or feet when doing a set of push-ups or similar exercises. 
     The user may also secure the knee/foot dollies  104  around his knees or feet by means of optional straps  118 . The straps  118  may comprise two separate strips used to secure the user&#39;s knee or foot, or may comprise a single strip (not shown) with notches at one or more ends so as to allow the user to select which notch to use to attach the straps  118  to the knee/foot dolly  104 . Other types of appropriate straps  118  can also be used to secure the user&#39;s knees or feet to the knee/foot dollies  104 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show an embodiment of a knee/foot dolly  504  comprising a top piece  521  and a base piece  524 . The top piece  521  has a crevice  523  shaped to receive a user&#39;s foot as well as a user&#39;s knee (although some embodiments may be shaped to receive only a user&#39;s foot or only a user&#39;s knee). Thus, the user can choose to place either his foot or his knee in the crevice  523 , depending on whether he desires to do exercises while anchored by his feet or by his knees. Top piece  521  and base piece  524  may be integrally formed or may be separate pieces joined together. Moreover, top piece  521  and base piece  524  may be made of any type of material suitable for supporting a knee or foot. Some non-limiting examples of such materials include padded, semi-padded, or relatively hard materials. Moreover, wheels  526  are coupled to base piece  524  via screws  527  or by other suitable means. An anchor  513  is also shown on both sides of the knee/foot dolly  504 . The anchor  513  can anchor optional resistance bands (discussed further herein) and/or can anchor straps (not shown) to secure the dolly  504  to the user&#39;s knee or foot. 
     It shall be noted that it is within the scope of the invention to provide other means to stop the wheels of the hand grips from rolling. For example, to illustrate using the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bottom edge of the outer casing  112  could be designed to act as a brake by contacting the surface. In addition, a braking device could be provided to directly contact and stop the wheels  116  from rolling. Also, in some embodiments, the default state of the hand grip  102  could be in a braked state instead of a rolling state. Thus, the user would need to push up upon grip  106   a  or otherwise activate a device on the hand grip  102  in order to allow the hand grip  102  to roll. One possible example of braking being activated by some other means than by gripping the grip  106   a  includes, but is not limited to, pushing a button on the handle  106 . Any other suitable means for activating the braking function is also to be considered part of the present invention. 
     It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the rolling motion of the hand grips and/or knee/foot dollies via any number of wheels located in any configuration. Also, other embodiments could allow for movement of the hand grips or knee/foot dollies across the surface, including, but not limited to embodiments that provide a gliding type of motion. Furthermore, the wheels preferably roll freely in any direction on the surface, but it is within contemplation of this invention to provide limits to the direction and/or extent of the rolling motion. The wheels described herein are generally spherical, but other shapes can be used, including, but not limited to disc-shaped wheels. The wheels may be attached by screws, glue, or any other suitable means. 
     The hand grips and knee/foot dollies of the present invention may have their various parts located in ways so as to optimize the center of gravity and balance of the devices. Again, to illustrate using the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the base of the handle arms  106   c  can be designed to sit below the top of the wheels  116  for a lower center of balance and added leverage. Likewise, in the knee/foot dollies  104 , the tops of the wheels  126  can be located above the base piece  124  for a lower center of gravity. 
     As mentioned previously, one or more resistance bands (not shown) may optionally be provided to add resistance to the user&#39;s workout. For example, a resistance band may be coupled to anchors  300  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) or anchors  400  (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) so as to extend across the outside of the user&#39;s back. In this manner, when the user does a push-up or other similar exercise, the resistance band provides a force of resistance in the opposite direction that the user is trying to move. A resistance band might also be placed between two knee/foot dollies by being coupled to anchors such as those shown at  513  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Also, a resistance band may be placed between a hand grip and a knee/foot dolly by being coupled to their respective anchors. Anchors have been herein shown generally in the shape of one or two half circles, but can be a single circle, a half circle, or of any suitable shape. Some embodiments of the present invention may not include any anchors on either the hand grips or the knee/foot dollies. 
     The parts of the present invention may be made of any material and be made into any shape that will accomplish the functions of the present invention. The invention is not limited to any particular materials or shapes that are described herein. Also, parts described as separate parts may be formed integrally, and parts described as being formed integrally may be comprised of separate parts. 
     It is underscored that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments herein should be deemed only as illustrative. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.