Abstract:
A ergonomic handle having an inner ring with a center opening, a bearing assembly attached around the circumference of the inner ring, a two-piece outer ring attached around the bearing, a grip attached to opposite sides of the center opening of the inner ring, and a mounting point fixed to the surface of the outer ring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a multipurpose handle, and specifically to an ergonomic handle.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Handles are ubiquitous. They are found on everything from doors to garbage cans to exercise equipment. Handles come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but have a single commonality: they provide a grasping surface for a hand. A characteristic shared by most handles is that the handles are rigid and are rigidly mounted. These handles have little or no ability to accommodate the dynamic and changing forces upon the arm and hand that grasps them.  
           [0005]    Human hands and arms are capable of a tremendous range of flexion and rotation when they are young and healthy. This range permits humans to perform everything from delicate brain surgery to brute-force weight lifting. However, as the hands and arms age, the original range and abilities are diminished. Part of the reason for the diminished capabilities is the cumulative abuse they are subjected to. For example, the typical handle forces the arms and hands to conform to it. Thus, as a garbage can is lifted up to chest height, the force upon the hands shifts from a mostly vertical vector to a mix of vertical and horizontal. The force vector becomes even more horizontal if the person holds the garbage can against the chest to aid in stabilizing the can. However, during this lifting, the orientation of the handles on the garbage can does not change to reduce the stresses on the arms and hands. The handles are oriented in their original position, horizontally. The wrists and fingers must stretch and bend to compensate for the handle.  
           [0006]    Another example is weight training equipment. Unless using free weights, the handles on a typical weight machine do not permit motion about three axes. At best, the typical cable-mounted weight machine handle permits rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cable. In weight-lifting, it is often desirable to have some flexibility in the handle&#39;s position to work different muscles. Typical handles are not capable of meeting this demand. However, even where the handles are not rigidly mounted, such handles are typically capable of relieving strain only along one or two axes.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,113, issued to Ronald W. Roepke in August 1994, discloses a multi-position grip system for barbells which includes rotatable coupled arcuate or hemiarcuate members.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,133, issued to Terry M. Haber et al. In March 1995, discloses an appendage interface assembly for exercise machine which includes semicircular support members with friction brakes and position indicators.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,300, issued to Charlie H. Hightower in February 2000, discloses a rotating grip barbell which includes a pair of carrier rings in a barbell. The carrier rings are incorporated into the bar so that the longitudinal axis of the bar bisects each grip.  
           [0010]    None of the above patents describes an ergonomic handle that automatically aligns itself to relieve stress and strain on a person&#39;s joints and can adapted to be used anywhere an ergonomic handle is desired.  
           [0011]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a ergonomic handle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The ergonomic handle of this invention is a multi-axis multipurpose handle which may be incorporated into new products or retrofitted into existing products. The ergonomic handle comprises an inner ring, a two-piece outer ring, a bearing assembly, a grip and a mounting point.  
           [0013]    The inner ring comprises an interior opening and interior surface, wherein the interior surface includes accommodations to secure a grip, and a bearing surface around the circumference. The two-piece outer ring comprises a bearing surface around the inside perimeter and includes accommodations for a mounting point on the circumference. The two-piece outer ring is separated into its component halves and assembled with the inner ring captured within and coplanar with the outer ring&#39;s halves. The halves of the two-piece outer ring are secured to each other. Upon assembly, the inner ring&#39;s bearing surface is immediately adjacent to the outer ring&#39;s bearing surface, and the captured inner ring turns freely within the outer ring. The grip spans the interior opening of the inner ring and is secured across that opening. The grip is attached to the desired equipment via the mounting point. The grip may be attached to the desired equipment via the mounting point, or the entire handle may be affixed to the side of the desired equipment via an inset or depression in the desired equipment. This mounting method permits rotation of the handle within at least two axes, preserving the ergonomic functionality of the handle.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to disclose a handle assembly that may be used wherever an ergonomic handle is desired.  
           [0015]    It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic handle that relieves stress and strain on joints of the arms, hands and shoulders.  
           [0016]    It is a further object of the invention to disclose an ergonomic handle that may be easily retrofitted into existing equipment.  
           [0017]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a handle for weight lifting equipment that permits the user to position his arms or hands in a position to achieve a more effective workout.  
           [0018]    Yet another object of the invention is to disclose a handle that permits an exercise machine to more closely approximate the feel of free weights.  
           [0019]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0020]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of an ergonomic handle attached to weight equipment according to the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ergonomic handle according to the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an ergonomic handle according to the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a detail view of an ergonomic handle keyway according to the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a detail view of a ball and socket eyelet for an ergonomic handle according to the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of ergonomic handles incorporated into a weight bar according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0027]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    The present invention is an ergonomic handle comprising an inner ring, a two-piece outer ring, a bearing assembly, a grip and a mounting point.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of an ergonomic handle attached to weight equipment according to the present invention. Here, a pair of ergonomic handles  10  are shown suspended from cables. This mounting technique permits hands to move within three axes simultaneously, greatly enhancing the exercise and reducing unwanted strain.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ergonomic handle according to the present invention. The ergonomic handle comprises an inner ring  12  within a two-piece outer ring  14 . The halves of the outer ring  14  are held together around the inner ring  12  by a plurality of fasteners  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners  16  are screws. Between the inner ring  12  and the outer ring  14  is a bearing assembly  22  (see FIG. 3). The bearing assembly  22  permits the inner ring  12  to rotate freely within the outer ring  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the bearing assembly  22  is a set of ball bearings. The grip  18  is fixed within the inner ring  12 . A mounting point  20  is secured to the outer ring  14  and provides a means to attach the ergonomic handle to the desired equipment, including doors on structures, handles on industrial equipment, exercise equipment, trash cans and other bulky and heavy objects. The mounting point  20  is shown with an eyelet  34  fixed to it for easy attachment of the ergonomic handle to a cable, but the mounting point  20  may be fixed directly to the desired equipment as well.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an ergonomic handle according to the present invention. The inner ring  12  includes an inner race  28  around the circumference. The radius of the inner race  28  is sized to be equal to the radius of the balls in the bearing assembly  22 . Each half of the outer ring  14  includes an outer race  30 , wherein the radius or the outer race  30  is also sized to be equal to the radius of the balls in the bearing assembly  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the diameter to the outer surface of the inner ring  12 , is slightly less than the diameter of the inner surface of the outer ring  14 . The difference amounts to a few thousandths of an inch. This permits the inner ring  12  to turn freely within the outer ring  14 , with the only contact being the balls in the bearing assembly  22 . The bearing assembly  22  provides a low-friction means for providing rotation of the inner ring  12  within the outer ring  14 , and also serves to hold the inner ring  12  and outer ring  14  together. The vast majority of the surface of each ball of the bearing assembly  22  is within the inner race  28  and outer race  30 . In addition, the gap between the inner ring  12  and the outer ring  14  is far too small to permit the bearing assembly  22  to fall out. Thus, the bearing assembly  22 , the inner ring  12 , and the outer ring  14  are mutually secured.  
         [0032]    Each half of the outer ring  14  includes part of a mounting recess  32 . The mounting recess  32  retains the mounting point  20  when the outer ring  14  is assembled. The mounting point  20  permits the ergonomic handle to be attached to anything the user envisions, either as a replacement handle or as a new handle. The mounting recess  32  is shown as a circular cutout in the outer ring  14 . This permits the mounting point  20  to swivel, providing more flexibility to the user and further relieving unwanted strain. As shown, the mounting point  20  is fixed to an eyelet  34 .  
         [0033]    The grip  18  may be fixed or may rotate about its longitudinal axis. Where is desired, the rotation may be interrupted by a keyway assembly incorporated into the grip  18  and inner ring  12 . The key way assembly comprises a female key  24  within the ends of the grip  18 , and a male key  26  mounted to the inner ring  12 . The amount of rotation of the grip  18  is dependent upon the relative angular measurements of the male key  26  within the female key  24 . If the male key  26  subtends the same angular measurement as the female key  24 , the grip  18  will be unable to rotate. As the female key  24  subtends a larger angle, or the male key  26  subtends a smaller angle, the permitted rotation of the grip  18  increases. In another embodiment, a spring  25  is attached between the female key  24  and the male key  26 . The spring  25  acts to rotate the grip  18  to a neutral, centered position when the grip  18  is released from the grasp of a user.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a detail view of an ergonomic handle keyway according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the male key  26  is fixed to the inner ring  12 , and female key  24  is incorporated into a grip  18  that may be able to rotate. The amount of rotation is variable depending upon the interaction and interference between the male key  26  and the female key  24 . As shown in FIG. 4, the male key  26  and female key  24  are about evenly matched. This indicates that the grip  18  will be able to rotate only very little or not at all. Selectively removing material from the male key  26 , or increasing the size of the female key  24 , or both will enable the grip to rotate the desired amount. In many cases it is undesirable to permit rotation of the grip  18  beyond 180 degrees, to prevent the inner ring  12  and outer ring  14  from contacting the user&#39;s hand, wrist or arm.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is a detail view of a ball and socket eyelet for an ergonomic handle according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the eyelet  34  is fixed to a swivel ball  36 . The swivel ball  36  is captured and retained within a swivel socket  38  that is incorporated within a mounting point  20 . This arrangement may be implemented where extra swiveling capability is needed or where the mounting point  20  is not permitted to turn within the mounting recess  32 .  
         [0036]    The interaction between the bearing assembly  22 , the inner ring  12 , and the outer ring  14  is shown. Each ball of the bearing assembly  22  engages and is retained in the convergence of the inner race  28  and the outer race  30 , which are incorporated into the inner ring  12  and the outer ring  14 , respectively. The outer ring  14  is held together by a plurality of fasteners  16 , and the mounting point  20  is captured between the two halves of the outer ring  14  within the mounting recess  32 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pair of ergonomic handles incorporated into a weight bar according to the present invention. In this embodiment, each of the ergonomic handles has a plurality of mounting points  20  that permits each handle to pivot within the weight bar. Additionally, each handle has a plurality of springs  40  to limit the amount of pivot available to the user. In the preferred embodiment, the grips  18  will have little or no allowable longitudinal rotation. Rotation about the grip&#39;s  18  longitudinal axis is irrelevant for the weight bar because the user can rotate the entire bar along that axis with his hands or wrists. However, the inner ring  12  is free to turn within the outer ring  14 . Thus, movement is available along all three axes to suit the user&#39;s tastes and needs.  
         [0038]    In a like manner, the ergonomic grip may be incorporated into a wide range of devices, including rowing machines, or oars in water craft. This is a boon to those who suffer from arthritis or limited and painful movement of joints.  
         [0039]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.