US20120028770A1

US20120028770A1 - Portable exercise device and method

Info

Publication number: US20120028770A1
Application number: US13/193,733
Authority: US
Inventors: Leighton Barchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-31
Filing date: 2011-07-29
Publication date: 2012-02-02

Abstract

A portable exercise device comprising: a support member, configurable to be installed such that it is generally stationary when in use; a first rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising: a first housing attached to the support member; a first grip rotatable within the first housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and where the first grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the first grip; a second rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising: a second housing attached to the support member; a second grip rotatable within the second housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and where the second grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the second grip. A method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising: grasping grips in a chin-up position; pulling body up towards the grips; rotating grips into a pull-up position; finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a pull-up position; beginning to lower body back to a starting position; rotating the grips of both hands back to a chin-up position; and completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a chin-up position. A method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising: grasping grips in a pull-up position; pulling body up towards the grips; rotating grips into a chin-up position; finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a chin-up position; beginning to lower body back to a starting position; rotating the grips of both hands back to a pull-up position; and completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a pull-up position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES

The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/369,687 filed on Jul. 31, 2010, by Leighton Barchi, entitled “Double Up Revolutionary Pull-Up Bar”, the entire contents of which are fully incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a portable, personal exercise device, and more particularly to a personal exercise device that allows for the rotation of the hands, wrists, and/or arms during the exercise.

BACKGROUND

Presently, there is an increased awareness of the importance of good health. The medical industry has made significant technological advances, and people are more aware of the positive effect that proper diet and exercise can have on life expectancy. Toward that end, an increasing number of people closely monitor their diets and participate in some form of physical exercise in order to maintain their health and increase their chances of living longer.
The active and busy lifestyles of many individuals often necessitate an exercise program that can be completed in a short period of time without having to travel a long distance to a gym or other exercise facility. The ability to exercise outdoors in one's neighborhood is often negatively impacted by adverse weather conditions, limited number of daylight hours, traffic, and the prevalence of criminal activity. Therefore, indoor exercise in one's home, office or hotel room is often the best and most convenient choice for a place to exercise. Perhaps the most common indoor exercises are pull-ups and chin-ups. Such types of exercise require minimum equipment in terms of size and cost. Pull-ups and chin-ups may be done on any convenient horizontal bar or support which may be grasped by a user. Such activities may be performed using any number of devices of modest cost and size that may be mounted with respect to a door opening. The great majority of devices of this type requires coupling through screws or the like to the periphery of a door opening. Such coupling, however, normally involves defacing of the door that leaves an unsightly appearance when the device is removed.
One other disadvantage of a straight pull-up or chin-up bar is that it limits the number of exercises, and therefore, the number and type of muscles that can be exercised. Also, since the hands are in a static position during the pull-up or chin-up exercise, strain may be placed on the hands, wrist, arms, back, and chest while performing the exercise. In addition, there is no known portable exercise device that allows for performing a pull-up and/or chin-up while being able to rotate hands, wrist, and/or arms during the exercise. Such an exercise may lead to better training and exercise.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable exercise device that overcomes the above and other disadvantages.

SUMMARY

The disclosed invention relates to a portable exercise device comprising: a support member, configurable to be installed such that it is generally stationary when in use; a first rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising: a first housing attached to the support member; a first grip rotatable within the first housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and where the first grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the first grip; a second rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising: a second housing attached to the support member; a second grip rotatable within the second housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and where the second grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the second grip.
The invention also relates to a method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising: grasping grips in a chin-up position; pulling body up towards the grips; rotating grips into a pull-up position; finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a pull-up position; beginning to lower body back to a starting position; rotating the grips of both hands back to a chin-up position; and completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a chin-up position.
The invention, in addition, relates to a method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising: grasping grips in a pull-up position; pulling body up towards the grips; rotating grips into a chin-up position; finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a chin-up position; beginning to lower body back to a starting position; rotating the grips of both hands back to a pull-up position; and completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a pull-up position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the disclosed portable exercise device with the grips rotated about 180′;

FIG. 3 is a cut away view of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a cut away view of the disclosed portable exercise device with the grips rotated about 180°;

FIG. 5 is bottom view of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the disclosed portable exercise device with the grips rotated about 180°;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one rotatable hand grip device;

FIG. 10 is a top view of one end of the disclosed portable exercise device;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed portable exercise device attached to a doorway;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the disclosed portable exercise device installed in a doorway;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a disclosed method; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another disclosed method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 discloses a side view of the portable exercise device 10 being used by a user 14, the user's two arms shown 18, 22. The device comprises a support member 26. The device 10 may be configured to removeably attach to any structure that is suitable for supporting a user, such as, but not limited to a wall, ceiling, stairs, door, doorway, or door jamb. Examples of attachment means are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The device comprises a first and second connecting members 30, 34. In one embodiment, the connecting members 30 and 34 may be fixed to the support member 26. In other embodiments, the connecting members 30, 34 may be slideably attached to the support member 26 and locked in place by the user using any suitable locking means, including, but not limited to: set screws; collars, locking pins; etc. Attached to each of the connecting members 30, 34 is a rotatable hand grip device 38, 42. As shown in FIG. 1, the user's two hands 46, 50 are grasping or holding on to the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42. In FIG. 1, the user's hands 46, 50 are orientated so that the palms are generally facing in the same direction as the user's face, or in other words, the user is in position to do a pull-up. In FIG. 2, the user's hands rotated a grip within each of the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42 in an “inward” direction so now the palms of the hands 46, 50 generally face in a direction opposite the user's face. The rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42, may be spaced apart to be generally shoulder width apart with respect to a user. The distance between the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42 may range from about zero inches to about 40 inches, and preferably will range from about 22 inches to about 26 inches.
FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view through the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42. In this view, one can see the grips 54, 58 in each of the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42. Those grips 54, 58, in one embodiment, rotate with respect to the housing 62, 66 of the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42. The grips 54, 58 may be knurled, or may have cushioning. The grips 54, 58 rotate generally in an imaginary plane that is parallel to the local surface of the earth, or if the local surface of the earth is irregular, the imaginary plane is generally perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity. The grips 54, 58 are generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to either of the grips 54, 58, when doing an exercise such as a pull-up or a chin-up, or a combination of both. The housings 62, 66 are generally non-rotatable with respect to the support member 26 and the connecting members 30, 34. FIG. 4 shows the grips 54, 58 rotated generally about 180° with respect to the FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 shows a bottom cross-sectional view through the rotatable hand grip devices 38, 42. The support member 26, in this view, can be seen to comprise two parallel bars 27, 28. However, in other embodiments, the support member 26 may comprise a single bar. In this view, the first grip 54 is shown attached to a first inner race 70. A first outer race 74 is attached to the first housing 62 (First housing 62 is not shown for clarity). A set of rolling elements 78 is located between the first inner race 70 and first outer race 74. The rolling elements 78 may be any suitable type of rolling element, including, but not limited to, balls, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers, tapered rollers, and spherical rollers. The inner race, outer race, and rolling elements thusly form a bearing. Hence, the first grip 54 can rotate with the first inner race 70 with respect to the first outer race 74 and the support member 26. Similarly, the second grip 58 is shown attached to a second inner race 82. A second outer race 86 is attached the second housing 66 (second housing 66 is not shown for clarity). A set of rolling elements 78 are located between the second inner race 82 and second outer race 86. Thus, the second grip 58 can rotate with the second inner race 82 with respect to the second outer race 86 and the support member 26. FIG. 6 shows the grips 54, 58 rotated about 90° with respect to the grips in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the grips 54, 58 can rotate freely with respect to the outer races 74, 86.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the disclosed portable exercise device 10. In this view, the ends of the support member can be seen, and, in one embodiment, the two parallel bars 27, 28 may attach to each other via U-shaped connections 90, 94. In the shown embodiment, the U-shaped connections 90, 94 may be cushioned, to make the U-shaped connections more suitable for performing exercises. In addition, the cushions will help protect the walls, door jamb, doorway, or moldings when using the device for chin-ups, pull-ups, or other exercises, see FIGS. 11 and 12. In still other embodiments, the two parallel bars 27, 28 may not be in direct connection at all, see FIG. 10, for example. In this view, the first and second connecting members 30, 34, are shown connecting the parallel bars 27, 28 to the housings 62, 66 of each of the rotatable hand grip device 38, 42. In one embodiment, the first and second connecting members 30, 34 may be made out of any suitable material, including but not limited to: bent sheet metal, and molded plastic. The first and second connecting members 30, 34 may be connected to the housings 62, 66 via any suitable attachment means 90 including but not limited to rivets, screws, welds, adhesive, etc. In addition, the first and second connecting members 30, 34 may also be connected to the support member 26 via any suitable attachment means 94 including but not limited to rivets, screws, welds, adhesive, etc. FIG. 8 is a side view of the device 10 from FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the rotatable hand grip device 38. In this view, the inner race 70 may have a channel 98 for the bearings 78, which will allow the bearings to handle radial loads, but will also allow the bearings to handle axial loads, such as the load generated by a user hanging from the grips 54, 58. The channel 98, therefore may be slightly offset from the radial plane of rotation, such that it will be angled from the radial plane of rotation by about 30° to about 60° and preferably about 45°, see angle α in FIG. 9. Also seen in this view, the attachment means 94, may be a rivet that attaches the connecting member 38, to the bars 27, 28, and to the housing 62 or first outer race 74.
FIG. 10 is another embodiment of the disclosed portable exercise device 10. However, in this embodiment, the two parallel bars 27, 28 are not connected by a U-shaped connection, but rather simply may terminate without connecting to each other. In this embodiment, the terminal ends of the each of the bars 27, 28 may have cushions 98.
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the attachment means for attaching the device 10 to a doorway 102. The attachment means may be similar to that used by other pull-up bars, such as the Pro Fit Iron Gym Pull Up Bar, which uses leverage to hold itself to the doorframe. FIG. 11 shows that the two parallel bars 27, 28 are attached via attachment means 122, 126 to a first curved member 106, and a second curved member 110, respectively. The attachment means may be any suitable attachment means, including, but not limited to, welds, machine screws, rivets, screws and bolts, adhesive. Attached to the top of both curved members is a bumper member 114. As shown, the bumper member 114 rests on top of the molding 118 in the door frame. FIG. 12 shows a view from the other side of the doorframe, and, in this view, the cushioned U-shaped attachment means 90, 94 are against the molding 122 of the other side of the door way.
The disclosed portable exercise may be used in many ways. FIG. 13 shows just one method of use. At act 200 the user grasps the grips in a pull-up position, that is with palms of the hand facing away from the user. At act 204, the user pulls his body up towards the grips or exercise device. At act 208 the user rotates the grips into a chin-up position, that is with his palms facing towards him. At act 212 the user has pulled himself to the top of the exercise position, but with his hands in a chin-up position. At act 216, the user begins to lower his body back to the starting position. At act 220, the user rotates the grips of both hands back to a pull-up position, that is with the palms of his hands again facing away from him. At act 224 the user completes the first repetition of his exercise back at the start position, with his hands in the pull-up position, and at the bottom of the exercise.
FIG. 14 shows another exercise the user may perform. At act 228 the user grasps the grips in a chin-up position, that is with palms of the hand facing the user. At act 232, the user pulls his body up towards the grips or exercise device. At act 236 the user rotates the grips into a pull-up position, that is with his palms facing away from him. At act 240 the user has pulled himself to the top of the exercise position, but with his hands in a pull-up position. At act 244, the user begins to lower his body back to the starting position. At act 248, the user rotates the grips of both hands back to a chin-up position, that is with the palms of his hands again facing toward him. At act 252 the user completes the first repetition of his exercise back at the start position, with his hands in the chin-up position, and at the bottom of the exercise.
The disclosed invention has many advantages. The disclosed portable exercise device allows a person to do pull-ups on independently-rotating grips or hand-holds. The rotatability of the grips allows the user to do front pull-ups: pull-ups with pronated palms facing away; rotate both hands simultaneously to do under-handed chin-ups: pull-ups with supinated palms facing the body; mixed-grip pull-ups (one hand front, one hand under); rotating a single hand during a pull-up from front to under; and alternate hand pivots during an exercise. The portable exercise device allows a user to engage more muscle groups during a single pull-up set without changing grips. The disclosed device allows one to rotate the grips so one can start in a chin-up position, rotate to a pull-up position, and back to a chin-up position, all during the execution of pulling oneself up to the bar/grips, thereby exercising many more muscles as compared to doing a straight pull-up or a straight chin-up. Of course, one will recognize that a user can start in a pull-up position, rotate to a chin-up position, and so forth, during the execution of pulling oneself up to the bar/grips.
It should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable exercise device comprising:

a support member, configurable to be installed such that it is generally stationary when in use;

a first rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising:

a first housing attached to the support member;

a first grip rotatable within the first housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and wherein the first grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the first grip;

a second rotatable hand grip device attached to the support member, the rotatable hand grip device comprising:

a second housing attached to the support member;

a second grip rotatable within the second housing, the rotation taking place generally within an imaginary plane that is generally perpendicular to the direction of earth's gravity, and wherein the second grip is generally sized so that a user's hand can grasp and hold on to the second grip.

2. The portable exercise device of claim 1, wherein the support member may be removably attached to a doorway.

3. The portable exercise device of claim 1,

where the first rotatable hand grip device further comprises;

a first outer race fixedly attached to the first housing;

a first inner race fixedly attached to the first grip;

a plurality of rolling elements located between the first outer race and the first inner race, and configured to allow the first inner race to rotate with respect to the first outer race;

where the second rotatable hand grip device further comprises;

a second outer race fixedly attached to the second housing;

a second inner race fixedly attached to the second grip; and

a plurality of rolling elements located between the second outer race and the second inner race, and configured to allow the second inner race to rotate with respect to the second outer race.

4. The portable exercise device of claim 1,

where the first rotatable hand grip device is slideably attached to the support member,

where the second rotatable hand grip device is slideably attached to the support member;

and where both the first and second rotatable hand grip devices may be locked in place with respect to the support member, with the first and second grips still able to rotate with respect to the first and second housings, respectively.

5. The portable exercise device of claim 3, wherein the rolling elements can sustain both radial and axial loads.

6. The portable exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first attachment means attached to the support member;

a second attachment means attached to the support member;

a first curved member attached to the first attachment means at generally a first end of the first curved member;

a second curved member attached to the second attachment means at generally a first end of the second curved member;

a bumper attached generally to the second end of the first curved member and to the second end of the second curved member;

wherein the bumper is configured to rest against a top of a doorway molding, allowing a user to use the grips to pull the user up for exercise.

7. A method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising:

grasping grips in a chin-up position;

pulling body up towards the grips;

rotating grips into a pull-up position;

finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a pull-up position;

beginning to lower body back to a starting position;

rotating the grips of both hands back to a chin-up position; and

completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a chin-up position.

8. A method of using a portable exercise device with rotating grips, the method comprising:

grasping grips in a pull-up position;

pulling body up towards the grips;

rotating grips into a chin-up position;

finishing pulling body to the top of the exercise position, but with hands in a chin-up position;

beginning to lower body back to a starting position;

rotating the grips of both hands back to a pull-up position; and

completing a repetition of the exercise back at the start position, with hands in a pull-up position.