Abstract
A personal exercise device comprising a hoop-form tube containing ball weights for circulation, a handlebar cross-bridge spanning the tube diametrically and formed by a pair of bars extending side-by-side in spaced-apart, parallel relation across the tube. Pairs of elongate hand-grips are mounted transversely on the cross-bars such that the hand-grips can be grasped to orbit the device overhead to inevitably train core muscles of the trunk/torso when training muscles of the body extremities such as the arms and shoulders. The hand-grips can be parallel for exercising core muscles on opposite sides of the boy evenly; divergent for a semi-supinated grip; or convergent for a semi-pronated grip. Alternative handlebars are a single, zig-zag bar with hand grips on successive straight portions; a circular/wheel with hand-grips at intervals, mounted concentrically within the hoop by resilient supports bridging the hoop and handlebar; two arcuate bars spanning the hoop with hand-grips at intervals.
Claims
1. A personal exercise device comprising: a hoop-form tube of diameter configured to be sufficient to encircle a users body; at least one weight contained for circulation in the tube; a cross-bridge handle spanning the hoop-form tube; and, a pair of elongate hand grips located in spaced apart relation on the cross-bridge handle at locations spaced apart inwardly of the hoop-form tube and extending transversely of the cross-bridge handle, so that a standing user swinging the hoop-form tube in a generally horizontal orbit overhead by grasping respective hand grips with respective hands can develop sufficient centrifugal force in the circulating weight to impose alternate push-pull exercising stresses on respective muscles of the users arms, shoulders and upper back, to exercise the component agonist and antagonist muscles while relaying/radiating sufficient exercise stresses to train the core muscles of the trunk/torso including the abdominal and lower back muscles, wherein: the cross-bridge handle comprises a pair of parallel, cross-bar members extending in spaced-apart relation in a plane of the hoop and the hand grips span respective cross-bar members; the hand grips extend in parallel relation whereby core muscles on opposite sides of the body are stressed equally; a further pair of elongate hand grips are mounted on the cross-bridge handle to extend transversely thereof at respective locations spaced inwardly of respective hand grips of the pair oft hand grips which extend in parallel relation, the hand grips of the further pair being divergent to produce a semi-supinated grip; and an additional pair of elongate, hand grips are mounted on the cross-bridge handle to extend transversely thereof in spaced-apart relation, at locations spaced inwardly of respective hand grips of the pair of hand grips which extend in parallel relation, the hand grips of the additional pair being convergent to produce a semi-pronated grip.
2. The personal exercise device according to claim 1 wherein respective hand grips of the pair of divergent hand-grips alternate on the cross-bridge handle with respective hand grips of the additional pair of hand-grips which are convergent.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In order that the invention may be readily understood, specific embodiments thereof will now be described With reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment;
(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment;
(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the user standing while operating either embodiment in an overhead or frontal orbit;
(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the user walking on a treadmill while orbiting the hoop overhead;
(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the user orbiting the hoop while lunging;
(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the user orbiting the hoop at the completion of a squat;
(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the user orbiting the hoop during an intermediate stage of a squat;
(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the user orbiting the hoop while performing a split squat;
(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the user orbiting the hoop while supine on his back;
(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic view of various substantially horizontal planes of an overhead orbiting operation by a user;
(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another embodiment with an pair of side-by-side, parallel hand grips spanning parallel, spaced apart bars of a handle bridging a hoop and an outer pair of side-by-side, oblique, semi-supinated, hand grips held by a user;
(13) FIG. 12 is a schematic view of another embodiment with only a pair of side-by-side, semi-pronated grips spanning parallel, spaced apart bars of a handle bridging a hoop;
(14) FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another embodiment with only a pair of side-by-side, parallel hand grips spanning parallel, spaced apart bars of a handle bridging a hoop:
(15) FIG. 14 is a schematic view of another embodiment with an pair of longitudinally offset (contra-lateral), parallel hand grips respective mounted in line on respective parallel, spaced apart bars of a handle, bridging a hoop;
(16) FIG. 15 is a schematic view of another embodiment with hand grips mounted at intervals on a pair of respective oppositely curved, convexly facing, handle bars bridging a hoop in side-by-side relation;
(17) FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a further embodiment with hand grips mounted at intervals on concavely facing handle bars bridging a hoop in side-by-side relation;
(18) FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment in which a circular handlebar with hand grips distributed at equal intervals therearound is concentrically mounted within a hoop by four rubber shocks;
(19) FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment in which a single handlebar cross-bridge spanning a hoop diametrically is formed zig-zag fashion with straight portions having hand grips mounted thereon such that successive hand-grips extend transversely, permitting multiple grip variations;
(20) FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment in which two pairs of cross-bridge handles overlap/intersect orthogonally, each cross bridge having three, hand grips, equally spaced apart in line permitting multiple grip variations for contra-lateral gripping;
(21) FIG. 20 is a schematic, fragmentary, plan view of another embodiment in which perpendicular and oblique hand grips are mounted at respective ends on respective cross bars by springs for a cushioning effect;
(22) FIG. 21 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of another embodiment in which in an otherwise bridgeless structure, two hand grips are mounted at their respective ends to a hoop to extend spaced apart in parallel side-by-side, by relatively stiff springs.
PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION
(23) As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the exercise device comprises a circular, hoop-form tube 1 containing a plurality of ball weights 2 and a handle-forming cross-bridge 3 diametrically spanning the hoop. The handle-forming cross-bridge comprises a pair of straight bar members 4 connected at respective opposite ends to the inner circumference of the hoop to extend thereacross in parallel, spaced apart, side-by side relation and a series of (six) cylindrical hand-grips 5, connected in spaced apart relation at respective opposite ends to respective bar members to extend in spanning relation transversely thereof. The outermost pair of hand-grips 6 extend in parallel relation to each other, the adjacent, middle pair 7 are divergent, providing a semi-supinated grip and, the innermost pair 8 are convergent, providing a semi-pronated grip. A ball insert hatch 10 is provided in the tube and a cover 11, for closure thereof.
(24) The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the first, but comprises only a single pair of hand grips, which are parallel. Typical dimensions are shown.
(25) As shown in FIG. 3, the hoop can be orbited overhead or in front of the body by a standing user; in FIG. 4, overhead, while exercising on a treadmill; FIG. 5, overhead when performing a lunge; at the completion of a squat (FIG. 6); at an intermediate stage of a squat (FIG. 7); at the completion of a split squat (FIG. 8); and, when supine, lying on a back (FIG. 9)
(26) As shown in FIG. 10, although remaining substantially horizontal during orbit, there is a tendency for the front and rear of the hoop to tilt slightly, out from the precise horizontal plane during orbit in response to the change in position of the weight(s) during circulation.
(27) FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, respectively, show the user positioned to orbit the hoop in front of the body by grasping a divergent pair of hand-grips 7 in a semi-supinated grip; grasping a convergent pair of hand-grips 8 in a semi-pronated grip; and, grasping a pair of hand-grips 6 extending parallel in side-by-side relation, each different grip exercising exercising particular sets of muscles to different degrees as discussed above.
(28) As shown in FIG. 14, respective parallel hand grips 6 of a pair are located remotely at respective opposite ends of, and extending axially with, respective parallel cross bars, for employing a contra-lateral grip exercising different muscle sets to different extent.
(29) In FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively, individual hand grips 5 are mounted at intervals on a pair of respective oppositely curved, convexly facing, handlebars 12 bridging a hoop in side-by-side relation and, (FIG. 16), on concavely facing handle bars 13 bridging a hoop in side-by-side relation. These enable the user to adopt a variety of diverse grips by varying their chosen hand grips from the most adjacent to the most remote pairs of semi supinated to semi-pronated for exercising particular selected sets of muscles with precision.
(30) The suspension arrangement shown in FIG. 17 in which a circular handlebar 14 with hand-grips 5 distributed therearound is mounted concentrically within the hoop by radially extending spring members 15 (metal or elastomeric) provides both a well cushioned exercise action with less strain of the wrists and a choice of gripping positions. Locating hand-grips 5 on successive straight portions of a zig-zag single handlebar cross bridge 14, as shown in FIG. 18, enables a variety of hand grip positions to be accommodated to increase the variety of muscles to be exercised/trained using only a single device.
(31) The matrix arrangement of hand-grips 5, on orthogonally extending handlebar pairs shown in FIG. 19, also increases the choice of hand positions with a commensurate increase in the variety of muscles trained with only a single device.
(32) Additional versions of cushioned hand-grips are shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. In the former, the hand grips 6 and 7 are suspended transversely on the parallel cross-bars entirely by metal coil springs 17 on respective ends while in FIG. 21, in-line springs 18 mount respective ends of parallel hand-grips 6 directly to the hoop.
(33) The hoop is made of K resin so th at it is both lightweight and extremely strong. The cross-bar and hand grips are of polyamide nylon and the grips comprise sleeves of TPE. The ball weights should be stainless steel.
