Patent Publication Number: US-7909746-B2

Title: Push-up exercise apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the area of sporting goods and pertains more particularly to exercise equipment related with push-up exercises. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the staple exercises performed in strength training is the push up. The push up is used to increase musculature in the upper body. Through the range of motion in a traditional push up, the pectorals, triceps, etc. are accessed in order to allow a person to vertically translate their body in an upwardly direction away from the ground. 
     The push up exercise is typically performed with a user&#39;s hands directly underneath their shoulders. Often, the elbows are disposed at a right angle with the upper arms disposed substantially parallel with the ground. As a result, the load displacement can be harsh for some user&#39;s with weakened wrists, elbows and attendant joints. These discomforts can ultimately discourage a person from performing push ups with proper technique. 
     In addition, another problem found in the exercise of a typical push up is the fact that push ups do not necessarily strengthen all of the muscles found in the upper body. Since the push up is typically performed at the same angle, only a fraction of a person&#39;s upper body muscles are firing in order to lift and lower a person&#39;s body during the exercise. 
     Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is an apparatus which enables a user to access and target a larger number of upper body muscles with a modified push up utilizing a pronating push up apparatus. The apparatus should be customizable, and should enable a user to properly execute a proper push up. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to modify the traditional push up exercise. The present invention enables a user to pronate his or her wrists, forearms, and upper arms throughout the push up exercise. This pronation, in turn, accesses the firing of more muscles in the pectorals, triceps, etc. Whereas the traditional push up exercise only enlists a fraction of the muscles, the present invention targets a larger number of muscles. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus which trains the upper body muscles to attain “muscle memory” in the sense that the exercise apparatus forces a user to counterbalance him or herself to perform a push up. This “muscle memory” imparted to a user can be expedient in the application of various sporting activities. 
     It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to yield faster results with respect to the strength training of upper body muscles. By incorporating a larger range of muscles for the push up, a user will be able to strengthen more muscle groups more efficiently and effectively. The user will thereby be able to attain their workout goals in a shorter time period. 
     It is an object of the present invention to reduce the load or stress of a user&#39;s body weight upon the wrists, forearms, or other extremities. By enabling for pronation of a user&#39;s arms, less stress is placed upon said body parts. Moreover, the pronation of a user&#39;s arms may allow for a more diffused weight load on those body parts. 
     It is an object of the present invention to allow a user to increase their range of motion when performing the push up exercise. By increasing the range of motion throughout the exercise, a user will become more flexible, thereby augmenting their strength training exercises. 
     It is an object of the present invention to increase muscle performance for athletes desiring more power from their upper body. The present invention may impart greater upper body strength to those athletes who require more explosion from the muscle groups found in the upper body. 
     It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to increase core strength using an innovative rounded member (arcuate member). Through the use of the arcuate member, a person can increase his or her core strength, namely, the upper back muscles, the lower back muscles, and the abdominal muscles as well as other attendant muscle groups. The arcuate member forces a user to balance themselves, which, in turn enlists the usage of a wider array of core muscle groups found in the midsection of a person&#39;s body. These core muscle groups are important for the enhanced performance in golf, baseball, softball, tennis, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a unique apparatus is used for the purpose of enabling a person to strengthen their upper body core muscles with an improved push up exercise. The present invention is described in enabling detail below. 
       FIGS. 1-15  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. An Improved Push-Up Exercise Apparatus for the purpose of strengthening core muscles in a person&#39;s  575  back, abdomen, and attendant muscle groups  100  includes a swiveling base  102 , a handle  101 , and an arcuate member  115 . The swiveling base  102  is in communication with the arcuate member  115 . The handle  101  is connected with the swiveling base  102 .  FIGS. 17-19  illustrate how the Push-Up Exercise Apparatus  100  is used in operation. 
     In some preferred embodiments the swiveling base  102  is comprised of first swiveling assembly  150  and a second swiveling assembly  151 . The first swiveling assembly  150  is comprised of a first ball thrust bearing plate  155  and a top plate  156 . The first ball thrust bearing plate  155  is rotatably affixed to the top plate  156 . The second swiveling assembly  151  is comprised of a second ball thrust bearing plate  175  and a cover plate  176 . The second ball thrust bearing plate  175  is rotatably affixed to the cover plate  176 . The first swiveling assembly  150  and second swiveling assembly  151  are in communication with the upper plate  195 . The second swiveling assembly  151  is in communication with the posterior plate  199 . Both the first ball thrust bearing plate  155  and the second ball thrust bearing plate  175  comprise a ball thrust bearing  555  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 7  illustrates that both the first swiveling assembly  150  and the second swiveling assembly  151  are rotatably disposed around a screw  135 . 
     It should be pointed out here that in some preferred embodiments, the Push-Up Exercise Apparatus  100  may utilize other means of creating a “lazy susan” apparatus aside from ball thrust bearings. For this reason, the scope of the present invention is not meant to be limited to only ball thrust bearings. 
       FIGS. 8-10  illustrate that in some preferred embodiments the Push-Up Exercise Apparatus  100  may further include an arcuate member base  600  for the purpose of stabilizing the Push-Up Exercise Apparatus  100  for some users. The arcuate member base  600  is comprised of a housing  601  and a housing base  602 . The housing  601  is sized to accept the arcuate member  115 .  FIG. 10  illustrates another preferred embodiment of a cross-member base  655 . 
     It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are numerous changes that may be made in embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the invention taught herein by specific examples is limited only by the scope of the claims that follow.