WRIST EXERCISER
United States Patent 3764131
A pair of slightly conical, hollow and substantially identical hand grips are sleeved at their adjacent ends snugly upon the opposite ends of a connecting member for relative rotation. Nut and bolt members extending lengthwise within the grips engage transverse wall sections within the grips for adjusting the frictional engagement of the grips with the connecting member. Additional, larger and hollow hand grips can be mounted upon the smaller hand grips to increase the diameter of the manually gripped surfaces.
US Patent References:
Wrist exerciser
Anderson - October 1926 - 1604333
WRIST EXERCISER
McKinney - May 1972 - 3666267
Wrist exerciser
Anderson - October 1926 - 1604333
WRIST EXERCISER
McKinney - May 1972 - 3666267
Application Number:
05/329029
Publication Date:
10/09/1973
Filing Date:
02/02/1973
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Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A63B23/14; A63B23/035; A63B21/22
Field of Search:
272/67,68,79D,83A,84,DIG.3
Primary Examiner:
Oechsle, Anton O.
Assistant Examiner:
Stouffer R. T.
Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows
1. A device for use in strengthening the arms, wrists and hands of a human being, comprising: a pair of substantially identical, hollow and slightly conical hand grips, whereby each grip has a large end and a small end, both grips being open at both ends thereof, each grip having a transverse wall intermediate the ends thereof, said wall having a central opening therethrough;
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of each grip at the small end thereof diverges from the wall toward the small end of the grip; and including a pair of second, hollow hand grips open at one end of each and having a transverse wall at the other end thereof, said end wall having an integral and axially inwardly projecting cylindrical extension spaced from and substantially concentric with said hand grip, the radially outer surface of said cylindrical extension converging toward its axially inner end for snug, removable engagement with the internal surface at the small end of the first-mentioned hand grip, whereby said second hand grip increases the diameter of the gripping surface of the device.
1. A device for use in strengthening the arms, wrists and hands of a human being, comprising: a pair of substantially identical, hollow and slightly conical hand grips, whereby each grip has a large end and a small end, both grips being open at both ends thereof, each grip having a transverse wall intermediate the ends thereof, said wall having a central opening therethrough;
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of each grip at the small end thereof diverges from the wall toward the small end of the grip; and including a pair of second, hollow hand grips open at one end of each and having a transverse wall at the other end thereof, said end wall having an integral and axially inwardly projecting cylindrical extension spaced from and substantially concentric with said hand grip, the radially outer surface of said cylindrical extension converging toward its axially inner end for snug, removable engagement with the internal surface at the small end of the first-mentioned hand grip, whereby said second hand grip increases the diameter of the gripping surface of the device.
Description:
This invention relates in general to a device for use in exercising the hands, wrists and/or arms of a human being and, more particularly, to a type thereof in which the diameter of the manually gripped surfaces and the resistance to relative rotation thereof can be easily adjusted.
Devices for use in exercising the hands, wrists and/or arms are well known and have been widely used for therapy, for increasing strength and merely for healthful exercise. However, existing devices of the general type disclosed herein have had two main drawbacks, namely, their manually gripped surfaces are relatively fixed in diameter and/or their resistance to relative rotation cannot be readily and accurately adjusted.
In the area of therapy, it is known that the diameter of the manually gripped surface may require changing during the course of treatment. Also the resistance to rotation may also require periodic adjustment. For example, the patient may not be able, following an accident, to grasp initially a hand grip of a small diameter. Thus, it is desirable to start with a large diameter grip and work down.
Also, there may be occasions where a larger hand grip is required for one hand than for the other.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of a manually engageable device for use in exercising the arms, wrists and/or hands of a human being.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a device, as aforesaid, which can be readily adapted to grips of various sizes by changing the diameter of the gripping surfaces, and in which the resistance to the exercising movement, here rotational, can be easily adjusted without the use of special tools.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a device, as aforesaid, which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is completely safe for use by anyone capable of operating it, and which can be autoclaved after use.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent to persons familiar with devices of the general type disclosed herein upon reading the description and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an exercising device embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragment of FIG. 2 illustrating a modified structure.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line V--V in FIG. 3.
For convenience in reference, the terms "left", "right" and words of similar import as used herein shall have reference to the device of the invention as appearing in FIG. 1. The terms "inner", "outer" and derivatives thereof shall have reference to the geometric center of said device or components thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing a substantially tubular device including a pair of slightly conical hand grips resistively rotatably and telescopically mounted at their adjacent ends upon a substantially cylindrical connecting member. The hand grips and connecting member are adjustably held together by nut and bolt means. Enlarged hand grips can be telescopically mounted upon the aforementioned hand grips to increase the diameter of the manually gripped surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The exercising device 10, a preferred embodiment of which is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a pair of hand grips 11 and 12, which are preferably substantially identical, a connecting member 13 and a bolt 14 with a nut on the threaded end.
The left hand grip 11, for example, is hollow, open at both ends and, in this embodiment, has a slightly conical outer surface 22 which converges toward its outer or leftward end. However, said outer surface 14 could be exactly cylindrical. The grip 11 has a transverse wall 16 near to, but spaced from, the small, outer end of the grip. The wall 16 has a central opening 17 with an enlarged portion 18 at its outer end of hexagonal configuration for receiving and nonrotatably holding a nut 19. The bolt 22 is received through the opening 17 for engagement with the nut 19.
The internal surface 23 of the grip 11 is circular in cross section and diverges away from the wall 16. The internal surface 24 of the grip 11 is also circular in cross section and diverges outwardly from the wall 16.
The grip 12 has a wall 16A with a central opening 17A through which the bolt 22 extends. A washer 26 covers the enlarged portion 18A so that the head 27 of the bolt 22 will not wear into said portion 18A. The grip 12 has internal surfaces 23A and 24A which are preferably identical with the corresponding surfaces in grip 11.
The external surface of the connecting member 13 tapers convergingly toward both ends from about the center thereof so that its two tapered surfaces 28 and 29 correspond in slope to the tapers of the internal surfaces 23 and 23A, respectively, on the grips 11 and 12. This arrangement affords an extended, telescoping contact between the connecting member 13 and the grips 11 and 12, which contact produces a controllable friction, hence resistance to the relative rotation, between these elements.
FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged hand grip 32, which mounts upon the smaller hand grip 11 in order to provide a larger manually gripped surface. The grip 32 is hollow, slightly conical and open at its larger end. An integral, annular end wall 33 partially covers the small end of the grip 32 and it has an integral, inwardly projecting and cylindrical extension 34 with a slightly conical outer surface 36 which is snugly but removably, and telescopically engageable with the internal surface 24 on the grip 11. By this means, the grip 32 can be quickly mounted upon the grip 11 for rotation therewith. The diameter of the grip 32 can be selected as desired.
It will be apparent that another grip, like grip 32 and of the same or a different diameter, can be mounted upon grip 12 in the manner set forth above with respect to grip 11.
The grips 11,12 and 32, and the connecting member 13 are all preferably made from a shock resistant plastic capable of being autoclaved.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
Devices for use in exercising the hands, wrists and/or arms are well known and have been widely used for therapy, for increasing strength and merely for healthful exercise. However, existing devices of the general type disclosed herein have had two main drawbacks, namely, their manually gripped surfaces are relatively fixed in diameter and/or their resistance to relative rotation cannot be readily and accurately adjusted.
In the area of therapy, it is known that the diameter of the manually gripped surface may require changing during the course of treatment. Also the resistance to rotation may also require periodic adjustment. For example, the patient may not be able, following an accident, to grasp initially a hand grip of a small diameter. Thus, it is desirable to start with a large diameter grip and work down.
Also, there may be occasions where a larger hand grip is required for one hand than for the other.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of a manually engageable device for use in exercising the arms, wrists and/or hands of a human being.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a device, as aforesaid, which can be readily adapted to grips of various sizes by changing the diameter of the gripping surfaces, and in which the resistance to the exercising movement, here rotational, can be easily adjusted without the use of special tools.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a device, as aforesaid, which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is completely safe for use by anyone capable of operating it, and which can be autoclaved after use.
Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent to persons familiar with devices of the general type disclosed herein upon reading the description and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an exercising device embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragment of FIG. 2 illustrating a modified structure.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line V--V in FIG. 3.
For convenience in reference, the terms "left", "right" and words of similar import as used herein shall have reference to the device of the invention as appearing in FIG. 1. The terms "inner", "outer" and derivatives thereof shall have reference to the geometric center of said device or components thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing a substantially tubular device including a pair of slightly conical hand grips resistively rotatably and telescopically mounted at their adjacent ends upon a substantially cylindrical connecting member. The hand grips and connecting member are adjustably held together by nut and bolt means. Enlarged hand grips can be telescopically mounted upon the aforementioned hand grips to increase the diameter of the manually gripped surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The exercising device 10, a preferred embodiment of which is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a pair of hand grips 11 and 12, which are preferably substantially identical, a connecting member 13 and a bolt 14 with a nut on the threaded end.
The left hand grip 11, for example, is hollow, open at both ends and, in this embodiment, has a slightly conical outer surface 22 which converges toward its outer or leftward end. However, said outer surface 14 could be exactly cylindrical. The grip 11 has a transverse wall 16 near to, but spaced from, the small, outer end of the grip. The wall 16 has a central opening 17 with an enlarged portion 18 at its outer end of hexagonal configuration for receiving and nonrotatably holding a nut 19. The bolt 22 is received through the opening 17 for engagement with the nut 19.
The internal surface 23 of the grip 11 is circular in cross section and diverges away from the wall 16. The internal surface 24 of the grip 11 is also circular in cross section and diverges outwardly from the wall 16.
The grip 12 has a wall 16A with a central opening 17A through which the bolt 22 extends. A washer 26 covers the enlarged portion 18A so that the head 27 of the bolt 22 will not wear into said portion 18A. The grip 12 has internal surfaces 23A and 24A which are preferably identical with the corresponding surfaces in grip 11.
The external surface of the connecting member 13 tapers convergingly toward both ends from about the center thereof so that its two tapered surfaces 28 and 29 correspond in slope to the tapers of the internal surfaces 23 and 23A, respectively, on the grips 11 and 12. This arrangement affords an extended, telescoping contact between the connecting member 13 and the grips 11 and 12, which contact produces a controllable friction, hence resistance to the relative rotation, between these elements.
FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged hand grip 32, which mounts upon the smaller hand grip 11 in order to provide a larger manually gripped surface. The grip 32 is hollow, slightly conical and open at its larger end. An integral, annular end wall 33 partially covers the small end of the grip 32 and it has an integral, inwardly projecting and cylindrical extension 34 with a slightly conical outer surface 36 which is snugly but removably, and telescopically engageable with the internal surface 24 on the grip 11. By this means, the grip 32 can be quickly mounted upon the grip 11 for rotation therewith. The diameter of the grip 32 can be selected as desired.
It will be apparent that another grip, like grip 32 and of the same or a different diameter, can be mounted upon grip 12 in the manner set forth above with respect to grip 11.
The grips 11,12 and 32, and the connecting member 13 are all preferably made from a shock resistant plastic capable of being autoclaved.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.