Patent Publication Number: US-8113993-B2

Title: Exercise grip for exercising pectoral muscles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bodybuilding exercises and more particularly to a specialized handle grip and method for exercising pectoral muscles. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Body strength and a well toned body have long been admired as a personal achievement and one that more and more people strive for worldwide. Presently, Millions of people workout on a daily basis for health reasons, personal satisfaction and appearance, as well as for competition. Bodybuilding as a sport began in the late nineteenth century and continued to gain in popularity into the mid and late nineteenth century. Most people are familiar with bodybuilding as a competitive sport wherein the competitors display their physiques to a panel of judges. The judges then assign points based on their aesthetic appearance to determine the winner of the competition. 
     Bodybuilding is the process of maximizing muscle hypertrophy through the combination of proper caloric intake, rest and weight training. As the sport evolved and progressed, the goals have become increasing muscle mass while also achieving muscle symmetry and definition. These goals are accomplished through improved training techniques, better nutrition and more effective equipment. Newer innovations in equipment used for the weight training aspect of bodybuilding have facilitated the targeting of specific muscle groups for development, and in many instances individual muscles can be individually targeted for sculpting by specific exercises. 
     The upper body is a primary target for development by serious bodybuilders and amateurs alike, and the most targeted muscles in the upper body are the muscles of the chest region, namely the pectoral muscles. Many exercises are available to use for development of both the major and minor pectorals and are designed around the use of either free weights or weight machines. Some of these exercises are tailored to work the upper pectorals such as the incline press, and some are tailored to work the lower pectorals. The most popular exercises that are currently used to work the lower pectoral region are the dumbbell fly, decline press, and weighted dip. Although these exercises do develop the lower pectoral area, they are very basic and can oftentimes result in the area being overworked. The result of this overworking is the creation of more muscle than is needed thus giving the chest area an unwanted drooping effect. 
     Cross cable exercises are also effective in developing the pectoral muscles. Cross cable exercises can take on various forms using either high cables or low cables. Cable exercises in general typically involve a wire rope cable threaded through a series of pulleys to properly orient the cable with respect to the individual performing the exercise. One end of the cable is affixed to a weight for providing a desired resistance, and the other end of the cable has a grip attached thereto for the individual to grasp with his hands. The most common grip is a ‘stirrup’ grip wherein a tubular handle is grasped by the individual performing the exercise and the handle is attached to the cable by a Y-shaped feature extending from the ends of the tubular handle and converging at the end of the cable, thus defining a triangularly shaped void through which the individual can place his hands to facilitate gripping the handle. 
     I have discovered that the most effective means for developing the lower pectoral muscle is by using a low cable exercise. The low cable exercise is generally one wherein the cable is oriented to provide resistance when an individual&#39;s hand is raised from an initial low position with an upward movement toward the individual&#39;s upper body. The use of standard stirrup grips when performing this exercise generally results in the palm of exerciser&#39;s hand being substantially vertically oriented and parallel with the trunk of his body at the end of the exercise. However, the low cable exercise is most effective when the exerciser&#39;s hand remains substantially parallel to the floor and facing upward. 
     Thus what is desired is an exercise grip for use during low cable pectoral exercises and that promotes maintaining the exerciser&#39;s palm in an upwardly facing orientation and parallel to the floor and a method for using the grip. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an exercise grip and a method for performing pectoral development exercises utilizing the grip that satisfies the need to maintain the exerciser&#39;s palm in a supinated or upwardly facing orientation when exercising with a cable weight system or elastometric tension cord system. The exercise grip includes a body substantially formed to receive thereon the palmer side of a human hand. The body has an upturned flange formed at an outer edge of the body to bear against the ulnar border of a human hand. An elongate finger grip extends from and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the upturned flange and is formed to accommodate the curled fingers of a human hand therearound. A thumb recess is adjacent to the finger grip opposite from the upturned flange for allowing a human thumb to bear thereagainst. The finger grip and thumb recess may be provided with a form fitting impression material, such as memory foam or clay, that conforms to the individual user&#39;s hand and retains the user&#39;s finger grip impression. A hook is affixed to the body proximate to the thumb recess to facilitate attachment to the cable of the cable weight system. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a method for performing a pectoral muscle developmental exercise utilizing a low cable weight apparatus or elastometric tension cord system. The method is performed by attaching the hook of an exercise grip to the cable of the cable weight apparatus or, alternatively, to the end of one or more elastometric tension cords that are anchored at the opposite end. The exercise grip includes an upturned flange for bearing against the ulnar border of the user&#39;s hand and wherein the hook is positioned oppositely from the upturned flange. The exercise grip is grasped with a first hand such that an ulnar border of the hand bears against the upturned flange of the grip and the thumb is positioned such that one of the thumb&#39;s metacarpalphalangeal and carpometacarpal joints is proximate to the hook. The first hand and exercise grip are rotated to a supinated position and the placed substantially at the mid-thigh area of the user&#39;s leg on the same side of the user&#39;s body. The first hand and exercise grip are translated, by utilizing only the upper arm while maintaining a slight bend in the elbow, from the user&#39;s mid-thigh area in an upwardly angular motion against the resistance of the cable weight and to the user&#39;s lower chest area on a side opposite from the first hand. The first hand is maintained in the supinated position throughout the translating step, and is then returned to the user&#39;s mid-thigh area. The supinated hand and grip can be repeatedly translated and returned to perform a plurality of repetitions. 
     The exercise method can be modified by holding the opposite forearm against the exerciser&#39;s chest in a pronated orientation and substantially parallel to the floor, and then translating the supinated hand and grip, utilizing only the upper arm while maintaining a slight bend in the elbow, from the mid-thigh area in an motion upwardly and angularly away from the user&#39;s body against the resistance of the cable weight and toward the second opposite side of the user&#39;s body to a height substantially horizontal to the height of the second opposite arm. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of an individual starting a low cable pectoral exercise repetition utilizing an exercise grip embodying the present invention, wherein the exerciser&#39;s palm is maintained in an upwardly facing orientation and substantially parallel to the floor; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the individual at an intermediate stage of performing the low cable exercise repetition of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the individual at an end stage of performing the low cable exercise repetition of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the exercise grip attached to a cable with an exerciser&#39;s hand shown in phantom in the desired palm up orientation; 
         FIG. 5  is an inverted perspective view and partial section of the exercise grip of  FIG. 4  illustrating its various features; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the exercise grip illustrating an alternate construction. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, one will also recognize that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 5  shows an exercise grip  40  which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. Exercise grip  40  is generally compatible for use with a cable weight exercise apparatus  30  configured for low cable exercises as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . While apparatus  30  can be configured in any one of a plurality of embodiments of well known exercise equipment, the basic configuration comprises a weight  32  that can be adjusted to either increase or decrease the resistive force against which the user acts. Weight  32  is attached to and responsive to the movement of cable  34  through a series of pulleys  35 ,  36 . At least one of the pulleys, such as pulley  36 , is positioned near the floor such that the user must exert an upward force at clasp  38  ( FIGS. 4-5 ) affixed to an end of cable  34  to displace weight  32  from its resting place thereby generating the desired resistive force for performing the exercise. The positioning of pulley  36  near the floor requiring an upward force at clasp  38  to displace weight  32  is generally referred to as a low cable exercise. Clasp  38  facilitates the easy attachment and removal of various grips and mechanisms to cable  34  for a variety of exercises. Alternatively, the exercise grip  40  of the present invention may be used with an elastometric tension cord system. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4-5 , an exercise grip  40  for performing a lower pectoral muscle developmental exercise is generally formed of a one piece body  41 . Body  41 , while shown in a molded resinous configuration  44 , can also be formed of cast metal, from a sheet of formable metal, or any other manufacturing method sufficient to provide the various features described herebelow. 
     Body  41  of exercise grip  40  as most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 5 , is here configured for use with a user&#39;s left hand  25  (also referred to herein as the user&#39;s first hand). Those practiced in the art will recognize that an exercise grip for use by a right hand can be configured as a mirror image of exercise grip  40 . Body  41  has a distal end  42  that to the placement of fingers  26  of left hand  25  and a proximate end  43  which extends away from distal end  42  toward the user&#39;s wrist and forearm. An outer edge of body  41  is formed as an upturned flange  52  and generally terminates at flange end  50 . Flange end  50  typically coincides with proximate end  43  although other configurations are contemplated wherein upturned flange extends beyond proximate end  43  or alternatively terminates intermediately between distal end  42  and proximate end  43 . As a minimum, flange end  50  of upturned flange  52  terminates at the wrist of the user such that upturned flange  52  bears against the outside edge of the hand defined by the fifth finger and fifth metacarpal. This outside edge is also known as the ulnar border of the hand. Most preferably, flange end  50  extends proximally beyond the wrist such that upturned flange  52  bears against the ulnar border of the user&#39;s hand, the medial side of the wrist and at least partially along the ulnar border of the forearm. The proximal extension of flange end  50  is such that upturned flange  52  bearing against the ulnar border of the user&#39;s forearm further stabilizes hand  25  with respect to the forearm. This extension thus helps prevent unwanted radial deviation or lateral rotation of the wrist as a result of forces imparted to the ulnar border of the hand by upturned flange  52 . 
     An elongate finger grip  46  extends from upturned flange  52  in a substantially perpendicular manner. Finger grip  46  can be cylindrical in cross-section or otherwise formed to comfortably allow fingers  26  of hand  25  to curl therearound and comfortably grasp finger grip  46 . A thumb recess  54  is positioned at an end of finger grip  46  opposite from upturned flange  52  and is shaped to allow thumb  28  to be placed thereagainst to aid in the grasping of exercise grip  40 . The finger grip and thumb recess may be provided with a form fitting impression material, such as memory foam or clay, that conforms to the individual user&#39;s hand and retains the user&#39;s finger grip impression. 
     A hook  56  is embedded in body  41  to facilitate the connecting of clasp  28  to exercise grip  40 . Hook  56  is positioned between proximal end  43  and distal end  42  to substantially align with the area of the metacarpalphalangeal joint (second joint from the tip of thumb  28 ) or the carpometacarpal joint (thumb joint most proximate to the wrist). Most preferably, hook  56  is substantially aligned with the metacarpalphalangeal joint and close to the palm side of the user&#39;s hand. This placement of hook  56  minimizes the torque applied to user&#39;s hand  25  and facilitates the proper orientation of hand  25  during performance of the pectoral development exercise as discussed below. 
     A planar palm rest  48  can extend inwardly from upturned flange  52  and proximally from finger grip  46  to provide an area to abut the palm of the user&#39;s hand  25 . In like manner, an opposite face therefrom defines a finger rest  58  to define an area for accommodating the tips of fingers  26  when grasping finger grip  46 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate exercise grip embodiment  140  wherein like features similar to grip  40  are identified with the same numerical index preceded by the numeral “1”. The alternate grip embodiment  140  is exemplified by an alternate construction wherein grip  140  has a central rigid core  160  to which hook  156  is anchored. Rigid core  160  is covered with a resilient layer such as resilient foam  162 . Resilient foam  162  is shaped to provide the desired contours for comfortably accommodating the contours of user&#39;s hand  25 . Resilient foam  162 , in turn, is covered with a flexible and moisture impervient layer to prevent resilient foam  162  from absorbing various bodily fluids such as perspiration. 
     Turning again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the proper method for using exercise grip  40  is illustrated. The following description is directed to an exercise using the left hand  25 . Those practiced in the art will readily recognize that the method described herein is also applicable to the right hand using an exercise grip formed as a mirror image of exercise grip  40 . Exercise grip  40  is attached to cable  34  of weight apparatus  30  by engaging clasp  38  ( FIG. 5 ) on hook  56 . The user grasps exercise grip  40  by placing the ulnar border of his left hand to bear against upturned flange  52 , curling fingers  26  about finger grip  46 , and placing thumb  28  against thumb rest  54 . The user&#39;s hand should now be placed such that hook  56  is generally aligned with the area of metacarpalphalangeal and carpometacarpal joints of thumb  28  and most preferably aligned with the metacarpalphalangeal joint (second joint from the tip of thumb  28 ). 
     Once exercise grip  40  is properly grasped in hand  25  the user rotates hand  25  to a supinated (palm up) position and then placing the supinated left hand  25  and exercise grip  40  substantially at the mid-thigh area of the left leg. The left elbow is bent slightly and maintained in that fixed bend while translating hand  25  from the mid-thigh area of the left leg in an upwardly angular motion against the resistance of weight  32  toward the user&#39;s right chest area. In a most preferable method, the user&#39;s right arm  22  is placed such that its forearm is placed against the user&#39;s right chest in a horizontal pronated position (palm down). The user&#39;s right hand is extended at the wrist so that the right palm is generally vertical and aligned with the center or sternum of the user&#39;s chest. The fingers of the hand can be curled toward the palm. In the most preferable method, the translation of the left hand terminates at a position extended from and in front of the user&#39;s right chest and to a height substantially horizontal to the height of the forearm of right arm  23 . The supinated orientation of left hand  25  is maintained throughout the translational movement. Supinated left hand  25  is returned to its starting position at mid-thigh of the left leg in a similar reverse motion. The translation and returning motions can be repeated in alternating fashion for a desired plurality of repetitions. 
     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.