Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus that is adapted for use with a leg exercising machine on a surface, the exercise apparatus includes a support beam having a longitudinal axis, the support beam including a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with the longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, wherein there is also a means for removably engaging the support beam proximal end portion to the leg exercising machine. Further included in the exercise apparatus is a grasping arm having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, the first end portion is affixed to the distal end portion, wherein operationally an individual user of the leg exercising machine grasps with their hand the arm for stability and support to effect a soft skeletal joint support wherein the user can engage in upper body exercise as well using the arm.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus that is adapted for use with a leg exercising machine on a surface, said exercise apparatus, comprising: (a) a support beam having a longitudinal axis, said support beam including a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with said longitudinal axis spanning therebetween; (b) means for removably engaging said proximal end portion to the leg exercising machine; and (c) a grasping arm having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, said first end portion is affixed to said distal end portion, wherein operationally an individual user of the leg exercising machine grasps with their hand said arm for stability and support to effect a soft skeletal joint support wherein the user can engage in upper body exercise as well using said arm.

2. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for removably engaging is constructed of a bar clamp.

3. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support beam has a means for lockably adjusting a selected distance as between said proximal and distal end portions to operationally accommodate different user heights.

4. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for lockably adjusting is constructed of a telescoping section having an inner and an outer telescoping element such that said inner telescoping element is partially disposed within said outer telescoping element wherein a pin is removably received into a plurality of matched holes that that are disposed in both of said inner and outer telescoping elements to operationally removably lock said selected distance.

5. An exercise apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said grasping arm is sized and configured as a crankshaft type shape with a pair of grasping points that are at substantially opposing radial positions relative to said lengthwise axis, further said first end portion is rotatably received into said distal end portion such that operationally reciprocating exercise motion of the user's upper body translates into rotational motion of said grasping arm.

6. An exercise apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said crankshaft type shape includes a first end portion rotational couple that is rotationally engaged to said distal end portion such that said grasping arm freely rotates about said lengthwise axis while precluding movement axially along said lengthwise axis, said rotational couple is affixed to a first offset arm that is affixed to a first crank throw for a left hand grasping point, a first crank throw axis is positioned parallel to said lengthwise axis separated by said first offset arm, further said first crank throw is affixed to a second offset arm that is equal and opposite in position to said first offset arm that is affixed to an intermediate section that has an intermediate axis that is co-incident to said lengthwise axis, said intermediate section is affixed to a third off set arm that is affixed to a second crank throw for a right hand grasping point, a second crank throw axis is positioned parallel to said lengthwise axis separated by said third offset arm, wherein said first crank throw and said second crank throw are substantially equally radially opposed to one another in position about said lengthwise axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the exercise apparatus that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine showing specifically the support beam with the proximal and distal end portions, the means for removably engaging the proximal end portion to the leg exercising machine, the grasping arm in the form of a crank shaft type configuration that is rotationally coupled to the distal end portion to axially retain the crankshaft along the lengthwise axis and facilitate free rotation about the lengthwise axis;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine showing specifically the support beam with the proximal and distal end portions, the means for removably engaging the proximal end portion to the leg exercising machine, the grasping arm, further shown is the user with the user's arms, hands, upper body, height, and reciprocating exercise motion of the user's upper body;

[0023] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the exercise apparatus that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine showing specifically the support beam with the proximal and distal end portions, the means for removably engaging the proximal end portion from the leg exercising machine, also shown is the means for lockably adjusting a selected distance between the proximal and distal end portions, plus the grasping arm with the first and second end portions; and

[0024] FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the exercise apparatus that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine showing specifically the support beam with the proximal and distal end portions, the means for removably engaging the proximal end portion from the leg exercising machine, also shown is the means for lockably adjusting a selected distance between the proximal and distal end portions, plus the grasping arm with the first and second end portions.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

[0025] 50 Exercise Apparatus [0026] 55 Leg exercising machine [0027] 60 User [0028] 65 Arms of the user 60 [0029] 70 Hands of the user 60 [0030] 75 Left hand of the user 60 [0031] 80 Right hand of the user 60 [0032] 85 Upper body of the user 60 [0033] 90 Movement of the user's 60 arms 65 and hands 70 [0034] 95 Grasping by the user 60 [0035] 100 Different user 60 heights [0036] 105 Surface [0037] 110 Support beam [0038] 115 Longitudinal axis of the support beam 110 [0039] 120 Proximal end portion of the support beam 110 [0040] 125 Distal end portion of the support beam 110 [0041] 130 Means for removably engaging the proximal end portion 120 to the leg exercising machine 55 [0042] 135 Bar clamp for the means 130 [0043] 140 Grasping arm [0044] 145 First end portion of the grasping arm 140 [0045] 150 Second end portion of the grasping arm 140 [0046] 155 Lengthwise axis of the grasping arm 140 [0047] 160 Affixed of the first end portion 145 to the distal end portion 125 [0048] 165 Selected distance between the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions [0049] 170 Means for lockably adjusting the selected distance 165 [0050] 175 Telescoping section [0051] 180 Inner telescoping element [0052] 185 Outer telescoping element [0053] 190 Partially disposed inner telescoping element 180 in the outer telescoping element 185 [0054] 195 Pin [0055] 200 Plurality of matched holes disposed in the inner 180 and outer 185 telescoping elements [0056] 205 Crank shaft type configuration for the grasping arm 140 [0057] 210 Grasping points [0058] 215 Opposing radial position of the grasping points 210 relative to the lengthwise axis 155 [0059] 220 Reciprocating exercise motion of the user's 60 upper body 85 [0060] 225 Rotational motion of the grasping arm 140 [0061] 230 Rotational couple of the first end portion 145 [0062] 235 Free rotation of the grasping arm 140 [0063] 240 Precluding movement axially along the lengthwise axis 155 [0064] 245 First offset arm [0065] 250 First crank throw [0066] 255 Left hand grasping point [0067] 260 Axis of the first crank throw 250 [0068] 265 Parallel position of the first crank throw axis 260 to the lengthwise axis 155 [0069] 270 Second offset arm [0070] 275 Substantially equal and opposite position of the second offset arm 270 to the first offset arm 245 [0071] 280 Intermediate section [0072] 285 Intermediate axis of the intermediate section 280 [0073] 290 Co-incident position of the intermediate axis 285 and the lengthwise axis 155 [0074] 295 Third offset arm [0075] 300 Second crank throw [0076] 305 Right hand grasping point [0077] 310 Axis of the second crank throw 300 [0078] 315 Parallel position of the second crank throw axis 310 the lengthwise axis 155 [0079] 320 Substantially equally radially opposed position as between the first crank throw 250 and the second crank throw 300

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] With initial reference to FIG. 1 shown is an upper perspective view of the exercise apparatus 50 that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine 55 showing specifically the support beam 110 with the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions and the means 130 for removably engaging the proximal end portion 120 to the leg exercising machine 55. Further FIG. 1 shows the grasping arm 140 in the form of a crank shaft type configuration 205 that is rotationally coupled 230 to the distal end portion 125 to axially retain 240 the crankshaft 205 along the lengthwise axis 155 and facilitate free rotation 235 about the lengthwise axis 155.

[0081] Continuing, FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus 50 adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine 55 showing specifically the support beam 110 with the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions and the means 130 for removably engaging the proximal end portion 120 to the leg exercising machine 55. Also FIG. 2 shows the grasping arm 140, further shown is the user 60 with the user's arms 65, hands 70, upper body 85, height 100, and reciprocating exercise motion 90, 220 of the user's upper body 85.

[0082] Next, FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the exercise apparatus 50 that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine 55 showing specifically the support beam 110 with the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions and the means 130 for removably engaging the proximal end portion 120 from the leg exercising machine 55. Also shown in FIG. 3 is the means 170 for lockably adjusting a selected distance 165 between the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions, plus the grasping arm 140 with the first 145 and second 150 end portions.

[0083] Further, FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the exercise apparatus 50 that is adapted to attach to the leg exercising machine 55 showing specifically the support beam 110 with the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions and the means 130 for removably engaging the proximal end portion 120 from the leg exercising machine 55. In addition FIG. 4 shows the means 170 for lockably adjusting a selected distance 165 between the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions, plus the grasping arm 140 with the first 145 and second 150 end portions.

[0084] Broadly the present invention is the exercise apparatus 50 that is adapted for use with the leg exercising machine 55 on a surface 105, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The exercise apparatus 50 includes the support beam 110 having the longitudinal axis 115, the support beam 110 including the proximal end portion 120 and the opposing distal end portion 125 with the longitudinal axis 115 spanning therebetween, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Wherein there is also the means 130 for removably engaging the support beam 110 proximal end portion 120 to the leg exercising machine 55, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0085] Further included in the exercise apparatus 50 is the grasping arm 140 having the first end portion 145 and the opposing second end portion 150 with the lengthwise axis 155 spanning therebetween, the first end portion 145 is affixed 160 to the distal end portion 125, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Wherein operationally the individual user 60 of the leg exercising machine 55 grasps 95 with their hand 70 the arm 140 for stability and support to effect a soft skeletal joint support wherein the user 60 can engage in upper body exercise 85 as well using the arm 140, see in particular FIG. 2.

[0086] As an option for the exercise apparatus 50, the means 130 for removably engaging is preferably constructed of a bar clamp 135, as seen in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0087] A further option for the exercise apparatus 50, wherein the support beam 110 can have the means 170 for lockably adjusting the selected distance 165 as between the proximal 120 and distal 125 end portions to operationally accommodate different user 60 heights 100, see FIG. 2 in particular, plus FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. Further, on the means 170 for lockably adjusting is preferably constructed of a telescoping section 175 having an inner 180 and an outer 185 telescoping element such that the inner telescoping element 180 is partially disposed 190 within the outer telescoping element 185 wherein a pin 195 is removably received into a plurality of matched holes 200 that that are disposed in both of the inner 180 and outer 185 telescoping elements to operationally removably lock the selected distance 165, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, also see FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0088] Yet a further another option for the exercise apparatus 50, wherein the grasping arm 140 can be sized and configured as the crankshaft type shape 205 with a pair of grasping points 210 that are at substantially opposing radial positions 215 relative to the lengthwise axis 155, further the first end portion 145 is rotatably received into the distal end portion 125 such that operationally reciprocating exercise motion 220 of the user's 60 upper body 85 translates into rotational motion 225 of the grasping arm 140, see in particular FIG. 1 and then FIG. 2.

[0089] Continuing, for the crank shaft type shape 205 for the exercise apparatus 50, the crankshaft type shape 205 can include a first end portion 145 rotational couple 230 that is rotationally engaged to the distal end portion 125 such that the grasping arm 140 freely rotates 235 about the lengthwise axis 155 while precluding movement axially 240 along the lengthwise axis 155, see in particular FIG. 1. The rotational couple 230 is affixed to a first offset arm 245 that is affixed to a first crank throw 250 for a left hand 75 grasping point 255, a first crank throw 250 axis 260 is positioned parallel 265 to the lengthwise axis 155 separated by the first offset arm 245, further the first crank throw 250 is affixed to a second offset arm 270 that is equal and opposite 275 to the first offset arm 245 that is affixed to an intermediate section 280 that has an intermediate axis 285 that is co-incident 290 to the lengthwise axis 155, again see FIG. 1. The intermediate section 280 is affixed to a third off set arm 295 that is affixed to a second crank throw 300 for a right hand 80 grasping point 305, a second crank throw 300 axis 310 is positioned parallel 315 to the lengthwise axis 155 separated by the third offset arm 295, wherein the first crank throw 250 and the second crank throw 300 are substantially equally radially opposed 320 to one another about the lengthwise axis 155.

CONCLUSION

[0090] Accordingly, the present invention of an exercise apparatus and method of using the same has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so modifications the changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.