Abstract:
A grip exercise apparatus includes a bar having first and second opposed end portions and an intermediate center portion. A weight is attachable by a flexible weight support or line to the center portion of the bar and is wound and unwound about the center portion of the bar as the first and second end portions are rotated by a user&#39;s hands gripping the first and second end portions The weight may comprise a single weight element attached to the weight support or a weight carrier in the form of a closeable container adapted to receive individual weight elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to exercise apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Art 
     Various exercise devices have been created to strengthen different muscles of the human body for general health or for added strength and for flexibility for specific activities or sports. 
     Many sports use a hitting element, such as a baseball bat, golf club, tennis racket, etc. A strong handgrip is essential for proper bat, club or racket movement and contact with a ball. 
     However, some general purpose exercise equipment which can be used to strengthen a user&#39;s grip or to increase forearm strength is typically bulky, expensive, requires interchangeable weights or attachments and regular use at an exercise facility. 
     What is needed is a simple, inexpensive, affordable, easy to use exercise device for strengthening a user&#39;s handgrip and forearms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an exercise apparatus particularly suited for exercising and strengthening a user&#39;s handgrip and forearms. 
     In a preferred aspect of the invention, the exercise apparatus includes a bar having first and second opposed end portions, with each of the first and second end portions having hand grippable shapes. A weight is extensibly and retractably attached to the bar for movement toward and away from the bar as the bar is rotated by a user&#39;s hands gripping the first and second end portions. 
     The exercise apparatus further includes a windable and unwindable weight support attached to the weight and to a center portion of the bar. The weight support is windable and unwindable about the center portion of the bar as the bar is rotated. 
     The exercise apparatus also includes a weight carrier having an interior chamber adapted for receiving one or more weight elements. The weight element can include a plurality of discrete weight elements. 
     The center portion of the bar includes first and second spaced annular flanges, each disposed at an inner end of the first and second end portions of the bar. A support extends between the first and second spaced flanges. The weight including a weight support is connected to the cylindrical portion. 
     In one aspect, the bar is formed as a unitary, one-piece body. 
     In another aspect, the first and second end portions of the bar have a tapered or contoured exterior shape extending between a large diameter outer end and a smaller diameter inner end. 
     The grip exercise apparatus of the present invention provides an easy to use, portable, lightweight, inexpensive exercise device for strengthening a user&#39;s hand and forearm muscles to provide the user with a stronger grip for use in gripping and swinging various articles, such as sports equipment including golf clubs, baseball bats, tennis rackets, etc. The grip exercise apparatus may also be used for therapeutic purposes to strengthen injured hands, wrists and/or forearms. The grip exercise apparatus has a small shape to facilitate easy portability and storage thereby enhancing its use in many different locations which will facilitate repeated use of the exercise device. One or more discrete weight elements may be removably attached to the weight support coupled to the bar-shaped grip element to also facilitate easy portability and convenient storage since the weight elements can be disengaged from the grip element when not in use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to following detailed description and drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grip exercise apparatus according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the grip exercise apparatus depicted in a use position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawing, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, there is depicted a grip exercise apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus  10  includes a bar-shaped grip element formed of first and second end portions  12  and  14  which are interconnected by an intermediate, center portion  16 . 
     The grip exercise apparatus or grip element  10  is illustrated as having a one-piece, unitary construction. However, it will be understood that the first and second end portions  12  and  14  and the center portion  16  may be formed as separate, distinct elements which are integrally joined together, such as by the use of fasteners, adhesive, interlocking connections, etc. 
     The grip element  10  may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, wood, metal, or combinations thereof. In a preferred example, the grip element  10  is formed of a one-piece, unitary, molded plastic material. 
     The first and second end portions  12  and  14  have a smoothly contoured or tapered shape extending from a hemispherically shaped, smooth outer end portion  18  and  20 , respectively, to a smaller diameter inner portion  22  and  24 . Although the shape of each of the first and second end portions  12  and  14  is illustrated as having a smoothly tapered cross section extending from the larger diameter outer end portions  18  and  20  to the smaller diameter inner portions  22  and  24 , it will be understood that each of the first and second end portions  12  and  14  of the grip element  10  may have a constant cross section, cylindrical shape or a sinuous shape. 
     The inner end portions  22  and  24  of the first and second end portions  12  and  14  are unitarily connected to an annular flange  26  and  28 , respectively. The flanges  26  and  28  form part of the center portion  16 . The annular flanges  26  and  28 , which are illustrated as being contiguous with the first and second end portions  12  and  14 , respectively, have a larger diameter than the diameter of the inner end portions  22  and  24  of the grip element  10 . 
     The center portion  16  includes a support member  30  in the form of a rod or pin extending between and joined to each of the flanges  26  and  28 . The support  30  has a significantly smaller diameter than the diameter of the annular flanges  26  and  28  and is centrally disposed between the flanges  26  and  28  along a longitudinal axis extending between the outer ends  18  and  20  of the first and second end portions  12  and  14 . In this manner, the annular flanges  26  and  28  and the support  30  define a centrally located, annular recess to permit coiling or winding and unwinding of a weight support, as described hereafter, about the support  30  and between the annular flanges  26  and  28 , with the flanges  26  and  28  functioning to retain the coiled weight support therebetween. 
     A weight attachment, denoted generally by reference number  36 , is attachable by a weight support  38  to the center support  30  of the grip element  10 . The weight attachment  36  preferably includes a weight carrier  40  in the form of a container, such as a flexible bag having a closed interior accessible through an open end  42 . Weight elements  44 , which are illustrated by way of example only in the form of a plurality of golf balls, are removably mountable within the weight carrier  40 . Any number and different type of weight elements  44  may be inserted into the weight carrier  40  to provide any desired total weight, including variably selectable weight in increments up to a maximum weight, such as  25  pounds, for example only. In addition to golf balls, the weight elements  44  may include sand or other particulate material, coin rolls, or any other element capable of adding a noticeable weight to the grip element  10 , including a single mass material, such as a block of lead or other metal. 
     It will also be understood that the weight elements  44 , when such weight elements have a suitable shape or are in the form a single mass, may be directly connected to the weight support  38  by tying one end of the weight support  38  to the weight element  44  thereby dispensing with the need for the weight carrier or container  40 . 
     The weight support  38  is in the form of an elongated, substantially non-extensible line, string or cord  39 , such as a cotton or nylon line or cord. The line  39  may be provided in any length, with a length of between 24 and 30 inches being preferred. One end of the line  39  is removably or permanently affixed to the weight carrier  40  or directly to the weight element  44  as described above where the weight element  44  lends itself to direct connection to the weight support  38 . The other end of the line  39  is connected to the support  30  in the center portion  16  of the grip element  10 . The attachment to the center support  30  may be implemented by tying one end of the weight support  38  about the center support  30 . Alternately, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a through bore  41  is formed in the center support  30  for receiving one end of the weight support  38  which is then tied about a portion of the center support  30 . 
     The grip exercise apparatus or grip element  10  of the present invention lends itself to easy portability as the weight element or elements  44  can be removed from the weight carrier  40  thereby enabling the grip element  10  to be easily stored in a briefcase or suitcase or even a pocket since the overall length of the grip element  10  is approximately 10 inches, by example only. When it is desired to use the grip element  10 , any readily available weight elements  44  may be inserted into the weight carrier  40 . 
     In use, the first and second end portions  12  and  14  are gripped by each hand of the user as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Use of the grip element  10  can start with the weight support  38  in an extended position as shown in FIG. 2 extending toward th ground or in a coiled position as partially shown in FIG. 1 about the center support  30 . With the weight carrier  40  and the weight element(s)  44  suspended at the full length of the weight support  38  as shown in FIG. 2, the user then alternates rotation of his or her hands and the first and second end portions  12  and  14  in one direction, such as away from the user. This has the effect of coiling the weight support  38  about the center support  30  and causing the weight carrier  40  and the internally disposed weight elements  44  to rise toward the grip element  10 . At any convenient position or when the weight carrier  40  reaches the annular flanges  26  and  28  on the grip element  10 , the user can reverse the direction of rotation of the first and second end portions  12  and  14  causing an uncoiling or extension of the weight support  38  and movement of the weight carrier  40  away from the grip element  10 . 
     This winding and unwinding sequence can be repeated for any number of repetitions as desired by the user. Further, the user may also vary the amount of weight by changing the number of weight elements in the weight carrier  40  between sets of repetitions. 
     The bi-directional rotation of a user&#39;s hands to raise and lower the weight elements will exercise and strengthen the hand, wrist and forearm muscles of a user thereby increasing the user&#39;s grip strength. 
     When the exercise has been terminated, the user can leave the weight elements  44  in the weight carrier  40  when storing the grip element  10  or the user can remove the weight elements  44  from the weight carrier  40  to enable the grip element  10  to be stored in the smallest possible volume. 
     In summary, there has been disclosed a unique grip exercise apparatus which is lightweight, portable, easy to use, is capable of receiving varying weights, in a single mass or in selectable incremental amounts, to facilitate exercise by users in a wide range of locations.