APPARATUS TO REDISTRIBUTE VERTICAL LOAD FORCES HORIZONTALLY

Abstract

An exercise apparatus constructed from two loops held together by tubing segments that enable the loops to move freely with respect to one another while preventing them from separating. The loops form a gap between them, into which a weighted object is placed. When horizontal forces are applied that tend to pull the loops apart from each other, the gap becomes smaller and the weighted object is captured. The object can then lifted using both loops by both horizontal and vertical forces.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Present US patent application is the nonprovisional counterpart of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/650,825 having the same title and filed on Feb. 8, 2005. This Present Application claims the benefit and priority of said Provisional Application which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety thereto.

BACKGROUND

Small weighted dumbbells are frequently used while exercising. The dumbbells exert a vertical gravitational downward force which is counterbalanced by a person lifting the dumbbell. It is often desirable for a person exercising with a dumbbell to also exert a horizontal force that is proportional to the weight of the dumbbell. To do this, an apparatus is necessary to redistribute some of the force in the horizontal direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Present Invention comprises two loops joined together by two segments of tubing. The loops are fabricated from a flexible material such as nylon rope. The loops move freely and tighten about an weighted object placed between the loops upon the application of a horizontal force that tend to pull the loops apart. The object may now be lifted by maintaining the horizontal force. Another application of the Present Invention is that it is used to distribute the weight of the lifted object between two hands. Heavy objects may therefore be lifted jointly by two people, and the weight can be distributed between them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the Present Invention where the loops are continuous.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the Present Invention where the loops are formed by knotting.

FIG. 3 demonstrates how the Present Invention may be used to grasp a dumbbell at one end. FIG. 3(a) shows it being lowered over the dumbbell. FIG. 3(b) shows it being tightened about the dumbbell.

FIG. 4 illustrates how a dumbbell may be lifted using the Present Invention. FIG. 4(a) shows the loops fully extended in the horizontal direction. FIG. 4(b) shows the more usual position of the loops while the dumbbell is being grasped.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the forces exerted by both hands when an object is lifted by the Present Invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the Present Invention. Loops 1 and 2 are joined together by tubing segments 3 and 4. The tubing segments may be flexible or rigid, and they may be curved or straight. The loops are fabricated from a flexible material such as nylon rope that is often used for climbing. The material may be a rope or strand having one or several filaments. Both loops 1 and 2 are enclosed inside each of the tubing segments 3 and 4. The inside diameter of each tubing segment, 3 and 4, is greater than twice the diameter of a loop, and is chosen sufficiently large to enable the loops which they enclose to move freely within the tubing. Tubing segments 5 and 6 enclose loops 1 and 2, respectively, to form handles that make the device easy to use. The handles are desirable but not necessary. The handles may be flexible or rigid, and they may be curved or straight. The loops are configured to form a central gap 7 between the two loops. When an object is placed inside gap 7, and forces are exerted to pull the loops apart, the gap becomes smaller and ultimately captures the object. The loops do not separate since they are held together by tubing segments 3 and 4. The object may now be lifted by exerting horizontal and vertical forces on the loops using handles 5 and 6.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the device where the loops are formed by knotting together rope segments at 8 and 9. Not only can the loops be formed by joining the ends of rope segments 8 and 9 by knotting, but the ends may be joined together by splicing, gluing, or welding.

FIG. 3 shows how the device may be used to grasp a dumbbell. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the device is held by placing handles 5 and 6 in each hand respectively, and lowering the device over the dumbbell in the downward direction as shown. It is critical that gap 7 be large enough to fit over dumbbell 10. As shown in FIG. 3(b), once the gap surrounds the dumbbell 10, gap 7 can be narrowed by pulling handles 5 and 6 in opposite directions horizontally. Eventually, the two loops choke the dumbbell so that it may be lifted.

FIG. 4 shows how the dumbbell is lifted. In FIG. 4(a), the handles are fully extended, and a vertical force is applied to both handles which lifts the dumbbell. As will be seen, the handles cannot be fully extended while the dumbbell is being lifted since the applied force necessary to both grasp and lift the dumbbell is infinite. FIG. 4(b) shows the more likely configuration of the handles with respect to the dumbbell.

FIG. 5 shows the forces necessary to lift an object having a weight W with the device while holding it in both hands. Points L and R represent the left hand and right hand, respectively. If an object having weight W is lifted by two hands, each hand will experience a vertical lifting force of w/2. If the loops form an angle θ with the horizontal, the horizontal force exerted by each hand would necessarily be $\frac{W}{2}\cot \theta .$
The resultant force would be $\frac{W}{2}\csc \theta .$
Clearly, as θ becomes smaller, the cotangent of θ and the cosecant of θ becomes larger, and consequently, the horizontal force becomes larger. Ultimately, an infinite force is required to maintain the loops at an angle of 0° with the horizontal.

Claims

1. An apparatus that redistributes forces comprising:

a. two overlapping closed loops formed from flexible strands, each strand comprising at least one filament; and,

b. two tube segments, each enclosing both loops, wherein the inside diameter of each tube segment is greater than the combined thickness of both strands, and chosen to be sufficiently large to enable both loops to move freely with respect to each other;

wherein the two loops intersect to form a gap of varying size depending upon the overlap position of the loops with respect to one another, into which a weighted object may be placed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube segments are flexible.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube segments are rigid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube segments are curved.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube segments are straight.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filaments comprising the strand are twisted around each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filaments comprising the strand are not twisted around each other, and are free to move independently with respect to one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filaments comprising the strand are bonded to each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two handles formed from tube segments, wherein one handle encloses the strand of one loop and the other handle encloses the strand of the other loop, said handles being located on opposite ends of the apparatus so as to conveniently enable the application of opposing horizontal forces and the necessary vertical force to lift the weighted object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handles are flexible.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handles are rigid.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handles are curved.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handles are straight.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each loop is formed by joining the ends a strand together.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ends are knotted together.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ends are spliced together.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ends are glued together.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ends are welded together.