Surface Stabilized Safety Enhanced Free-Weights
Surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights and exercise methods that offer the benefits of free-weight resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and body positioning exercises with increased effectiveness, versatility, and safety.
U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/898,954, filed Nov. 1, 2013
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIXNot Applicable
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to exercise equipment and methods of exercising.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is always a need for new and improved exercise equipment and methods of exercising to benefit the health and fitness of people.
One very well known piece of exercise equipment is the dumbbell, which is used for resistance exercises, such as bicep curls. Dumbbells typically have two hexagonal or disc shaped weights attached to either end of a straight handle, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 1,672,944, Jowett, 1928 (“Dumb bell”).
Another known piece of exercise equipment is the push-up handle, which is used to enhance the safety and effect of the bodyweight push-up exercise, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,218, Vayntraub, 2012 (“Convex shell for push-up handle”). Combining the concept of a push-up handle with a dumbbell has been attempted, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,031, Ngu, 2010 (“Weight adjustable dumbbell for performing push up”).
Exercises based on body positioning and movement, such as yoga exercises and core stabilization exercises, are also well known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,536, Aarons, 2004 (“Yoga support system and method”).
There is no existing exercise equipment or exercise method, however, that safely and effectively offers a combination of the benefits achieved from all of the above. Attempting to use existing dumbbells and push-up handles to perform various body positioning and movement exercises would be unsafe and ineffective because they do not offer sufficient stability and balancing and there is a danger that their structures, which include protrusions, metallic surfaces, and sharp edges and corners, would come into contact with and injure the body during such exercises.
All patents and patent applications referenced herein are incorporated in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in a reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition or use of that term herein, the definition or use of the term herein shall apply.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe inventive subject matter is directed to new exercise equipment and methods of exercising that offer the benefits of free-weight resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and body positioning and movement exercises with increased effectiveness, versatility, and safety.
A surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight according to one embodiment of the invention includes a handle attached to the top of a base member having an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber, a bottom side that is planar and has a rounded shape, and an interior weight member, where the bottom side of the base member has a perimeter that extends beyond the perimeter of the handle when viewed from above. The inventive subject matter further includes embodiments in which the handle includes an interior metal rod attached to the base member's interior metal weight, such that the weight of the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight is more concentrated in and under the handle than on the periphery of the base member. Preferred dimensions are also provided for these embodiments. The inventive subject matter further includes embodiments in which the base member has an exterior surface with no sharp corners or edges, a tread on the bottom side, and adjustable internal weight members, so that a range of weights can be achieved without altering the exterior dimensions of the base member.
The inventive subject matter further provides for new exercise methods in which a person can use surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights to effectively and safely transition between open kinetic chain exercises and closed kinetic chain exercises to achieve the benefits of free-weight resistance training, bodyweight exercises, and body positioning and movement exercises.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawing in which like numerals represent like components.
There are many possible embodiments of the invention, some of which are described below.
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The handle 101 is comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber and preferably has a radius of approximately 0.7 inches. The term “approximately” as used herein contemplates a deviation of 25 percent. The handle is ergonomically designed to enhance the safety of many existing and novel exercises. Many people cannot tolerate end-range wrist extension when performing quadruped or prone on hands exercises, such as a push-up, plank, or core training. Often times people with wrist problems will refrain from doing body weight exercises due to increased wrist, hand, or elbow pain. By using the ergonomic design of the handle, the wrist is held in neutral allowing for decreased symptoms and increased function during body weight exercises. The hand placement can be switched from using the handle to supporting the body weight, to inverting the fingers for more comfortable open kinetic chain exercises. The handle may also include grooves or finger indentations to facilitate the hand-grip.
The distance from the top of the handle 101 to the bottom of the base member 100 is preferably approximately 4.2 inches. The base member 100 and handle 101 are shown as preferably being attached by way of a contiguous molded exterior surface of at least one of plastic or rubber, however they could be separable components attached by various structures and methods known to those having skill in the art, such as screws, nuts and bolts, glue, and clamps. The base member 100 and handle 101 are further shown as preferably having exterior surfaces with no outward facing sharp edges or corners.
One of the primary advantages of the invention is that it allows fluid transition from open kinetic chain exercises to closed kinetic chain exercises, or simultaneous use of both on opposite sides of the body.
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Additionally, some yoga type exercises although extremely beneficial for the musculoskeletal system, are too demanding on the wrist, and other programs are utilized in its place. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight system facilitates yoga-type exercises such as table top illustrated in
The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight system can be utilized in a fitness setting but also has specific rehabilitation properties. Most of our daily work and home activities are performed in a sitting position or flexed posture of the spine. Computer work for example creates postural changes of the shoulder girdle, cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar spine, and pelvic girdle. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight system allows for rehabilitation professionals to direct cervical stabilization exercise for the neck, upper and mid-back through movements while in a plank or quadruped position. While holding the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights in a plank position, the patient would retract the neck toward the ceiling to better strengthen anterior cervical musculature, and to improve additional stabilizing muscles. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight system also significantly improves upper back, mid back, and shoulder girdle musculature during these positions.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of these specific embodiments. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments, but shall include all embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight comprising:
- a base member comprising: an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber; a bottom side that is planar and has a rounded perimeter shape; and an interior weight member;
- a handle comprising; opposing ends; an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber;
- wherein the opposing ends of the handle are each attached to the top of the base member; and
- wherein the bottom side of the base member has a perimeter that extends beyond the perimeter of the handle when viewed from above.
2. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein:
- the handle further comprises an interior rod having opposing ends;
- wherein the opposing ends of the handle's interior rod are attached to the base member's interior weight member;
- wherein the weight of the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight is more concentrated in and under the handle than on the periphery of the base member.
3. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the bottom side of the weight member has a tread.
4. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the outward facing exterior surface has no sharp corners or edges.
5. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 having one or more adjustable internal weight members, so that various total weights can be achieved without altering the exterior dimensions of the base member.
6. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the base member and the exterior surface of the handle are further comprised of one contiguous mold of at least one of plastic or rubber.
7. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the rounded shape of the bottom side of the base member is oval.
8. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the base member's bottom side are approximately 6 inches by 8 inches.
9. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the radius of the handle is approximately 0.7 inches.
10. The surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight of claim 1 wherein the distance from the top of the handle to the bottom of the base member is approximately 4.2 inches.
11. A method of exercising performed by a human comprising the steps of:
- addressing two surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights;
- gripping the first surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight with a first hand;
- gripping the second surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight with a second hand;
- positioning each wrist in a neutral position, such that each wrist is not significantly bent;
- performing open kinetic chain exercises with weight resistance by moving one or more of the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights through the air;
- performing closed kinetic chain exercises by securing one or more of the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights on the ground; and
- transitioning between the open kinetic chain exercises with weight resistance and the closed kinetic chain exercises without releasing the grip on the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights and without directly touching the ground with either hand.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights comprise:
- a base member comprising: an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber; a bottom side that is planar and has a rounded perimeter shape; and an interior weight member;
- a handle comprising; opposing ends; an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber;
- wherein the opposing ends of the handle are each attached to the top of the base member; and
- wherein the bottom side of the base member has a perimeter that extends beyond the perimeter of the handle when viewed from above.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weights comprise: wherein the bottom side of the base member has a perimeter that extends beyond the perimeter of the handle when viewed from above;
- a base member comprising: an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber; a bottom side that is planar and has a rounded perimeter shape; and an interior weight member;
- a handle comprising; opposing ends; an exterior surface comprised of at least one of plastic or rubber;
- wherein the opposing ends of the handle are each attached to the top of the base member; and
- wherein the handle further comprises an interior rod having opposing ends;
- wherein the opposing ends of the handle's interior rod are attached to the base member's interior weight member;
- wherein the weight of the surface stabilized safety enhanced free-weight is more concentrated in and under the handle than on the periphery of the base member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2014
Publication Date: May 7, 2015
Inventor: Derek White (Charleston, SC)
Application Number: 14/530,330
International Classification: A63B 21/06 (20060101); A63B 21/00 (20060101); A63B 23/12 (20060101); A63B 21/068 (20060101);