Hand-Held Wheeled Exercise Device

Abstract

An exercise device that comprises an elongated handle and a pair of wheels at each end thereof is disclosed. The handle is adapted to be held by the hand of a person and the device rolled along a surface. The handle includes a wheel attachment means at both ends thereof, such as a threaded axle. Each wheel includes a bearing means attached to the wheel proximate a center point of the wheel, and may further include a high-friction non-slip surface along an outer peripheral edge thereof. Each wheel may also further include a weighted mass such that each exercise device may be also used as a dumbbell. In use, the person grasps the handle of at least one exercise device and positions himself on the surface, holding himself above the surface by the at least one exercise device. The person may then perform exercises by rolling the at least one exercise device along the surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly to a portable hand-held wheeled exercise device.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Exercise devices have gained in popularity over the years as the public has become more aware of the benefits of staying fit and exercising. Yet, as people are busier it seems each year, exercising must be both convenient and effective. Further, people who travel frequently need a portable and encompassing means of exercising, as conventional gyms may not be available on the road.

One class of portable exercising devices is a hand-held roller that users grasp while in a push-up position on a floor or other surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,906 to Burzenski on Oct. 1, 1968 teaches such a device. In use the user grasps the device on either side of a rotatable wheel and extends himself outwardly, the wheel rolling on the floor, in various exercising directions and positions. While such a device is suitable for a certain number of exercises, the hands are always in close proximity with such a device and therefore such a device is quite limiting in the number of different exercises that can be accomplished therewith.

Two other devices, taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,590 to Young on May 26, 1964, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,821,394 to Barbeau on Jan. 28, 1958, can be used independently with each hand. However, such devices are not well formed for use with a human hand, as the handles of such devices are merely cylindrical. The ribbed handle on the -590 device is not designed for cushioning comfort but rather for providing a braking action, which is often undesirable. Similarly, the -394 device includes a spring that causes the wheels to come under a greater and greater spring biasing force the further the device is rolled, which is also often undesirable. Other less-effective but related prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,997,139 to Gardner et al. on Apr. 9, 1935; U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,913 to Chen on Oct. 7, 2003; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,162 to Landers et al. on Jul. 1, 1997.

One drawback with all of the prior art devices is that only exercises of the type heretofore described can be accomplished by such devices, namely, exercises wherein the user rolls such devices along a floor surface. All of the these prior art devices are relatively light-weight, and none of them are particularly well adapted to use with human hands with the exception of the Burzenski device. Conventional weighted dumbbells can be used for a wide variety of additional exercises, but it is not often practical to carry both dumbbells and the previously mentioned prior art devices, particularly when traveling.

Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive portable exercise device that can be used to perform floor-based rolling-handle type exercises while, at the same time, providing enough weight to allow conventional dumbbell-type exercises to be performed. Such a needed device would be shaped to accommodate the human hand while being used with a comfortable grip. Such a needed device would not slip on slick surfaces such as wooden floors, and would be easily carried in a suitcase or the like while traveling. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is an exercise device that comprises an elongated handle and a pair of wheels at each end thereof. The handle is adapted to be held by the hand of a person and rolled along a surface. The handle includes a wheel attachment means at both ends thereof, such as a threaded axle. Finger grooves may be included on one edge of the handle for conforming to the shape of the person's hand and fingers. The handle may also include a compressible cushioning surface around the outside thereof, and may be circular in cross-section, or slightly oval.

Each wheel includes a bearing means attached to the wheel proximate a center point of the wheel. The wheels each have a diameter d that is sufficient to allow a person's hand to grasp the handle, rest the wheels on the surface, without the person's fingers contacting the surface. Each wheel may further include a high-friction surface along an outer peripheral edge thereof, such that the wheel does not easily slip when in contact with the surface. Each wheel may also further include a weighted mass such that each exercise device may be also used as a dumbbell, for example.

In use, the person grasps the handle of at least one exercise device and positions himself on the surface, holding himself above the surface by the at least one exercise device. The person may then perform exercises by rolling the at least one exercise device along the surface.

The present device is an inexpensive portable exercise device that can be used to perform floor-based rolling-handle type exercises while, at the same time, providing enough weight to allow conventional dumbbell-type exercises to be performed. The present invention is better shaped to accommodate the human hand than the prior art devices, and includes a compressible, comfortable grip. Such a needed device does not slip on slick surfaces such as wooden floors, and is easily carried in a suitcase or the like while traveling. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right-side elevational view of the invention as used by a person exercising the abdominal muscles, the person being in a retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a right-side elevational view of the invention as used by the person exercising the abdominal muscles, the person being in an extended position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention as used by a person exercising the pectoral muscles, the person being in a retracted position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention as used by the person exercising the pectoral muscles, the person being in a retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates an exercise device 10 that comprises an elongated handle 20 and a pair of wheels 50. The handle 20 has two ends 24,26, and is adapted to be held by the hand 35 of a person 30 (FIGS. 4-7) and rolled along a surface 70. The handle 20 includes a wheel attachment means 40 at both ends 24,26 thereof, such wheel attachment means 40 being in one embodiment a threaded axle 100(FIG. 2). Such a threaded axle 100 includes two threaded ends 104,106. In another embodiment, the wheel attachment means 40 are plastic prongs (not shown) integrated into the handle 20, or the like. In a still further embodiment of the invention, the axle 100 may be rotatably fixed to each wheel 50, and the axle 100 may rotate within the handle 20. Those skilled in the art of attaching wheels 50 to elongated elements such as the handle 20 may devise further means of connecting the handle 20 to the wheels 50 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, finger grooves 80 may be included on one edge 28 of the handle 20 for conforming to the shape of the person's hand 35 and fingers (FIGS. 1 and 2). The handle 20 may include a compressible cushioning surface 90 around the outside thereof for additional comfort when using the device 10.

The handle 20 may be circular in cross-section (not shown), or slightly oval (FIG. 3). Preferably the axle 100 traverses the handle 20 generally at one of the focal points of the oval cross-section of the handle 20.

Each wheel 50 includes a bearing means 60 attached to the wheel 50 proximate a center point of the wheel 50. Preferably the bearing means 60, such as a roller ball bearing, includes a threaded aperture 65 therein for receiving either end 104, 106 of the axle 100. The wheels 50 each have a diameter d that is sufficient to allow a person's hand 35 to grasp the handle 20, rest the wheels 50 on the surface 70, without the person's fingers 38 contacting the surface 70. Each wheel 50 may further include a high-friction surface 110 along an outer peripheral edge 55 thereof, such that the wheel 50 does not easily slip when in contact with the surface 70. Such a high-friction surface 110 may be a layer of rubber, such as a rubber band, or a gritty or abrasive surface, for example. Each wheel 50 may also further include a weighted mass 120 such that each exercise device 10 may be also used as a dumbbell, for example.

In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing means 60 of each wheel 50 is attached to the handle 20 away from the center of each wheel 50, so that a slight oscillating effect is achieved when holding the handle 20 and rolling the wheels 50 along the surface 70. Such an oscillating effect may be beneficial with some exercises for strengthening specific arm muscles, for example.

In use, the person 30 grasps the handle 20 of at least one exercise device 10 and positions himself on the surface 70, holding himself above the surface 70 by the at least one exercise device 10. The person 30 may then perform exercises by rolling the at least one exercise device 10 along the surface 70. Extending his hands 35 away from his body and back, as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, results in exercising of the pectoral muscles. Extending his hands 35 up and beyond his head results in exercising of the abdominal and arm muscles. Other exercise moves with the device 10 may clearly be devised by those skilled in the art for exercising other muscle groups.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the exact placement of the sound emitting means 20 may vary within the pocket formed by folding the secondary page 70. The tape 90 may alternately be a dab of glue. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

an elongated handle having two ends, the handle adapted to be held by a person's hand, the handle including a wheel attachment means at both ends thereof,

a pair of wheels, each wheel having a bearing means that is attached to the wheel attachment means at one end of the handle;

whereby a person may grasp the handle and perform exercises while rolling the wheels along a surface.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the elongated handle includes finger grooves on one edge thereof for conforming to the shape of the person's hand and fingers.

3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the handle further includes an outer compressible cushioning surface.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the attachment means is an axle traversing the handle from one end to the other end, the axle having two threaded axle ends, each threaded axle end adapted for fixing to a threaded aperture of the bearing means of one wheel.

5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the bearing means of each wheel is attached to the handle proximate the center of each wheel.

6. The exercise device of claim 5 wherein each wheel is of such a diameter that when in use the person's hand does not contact the surface when the hand is grasping the handle and when the wheels are rolled along the surface.

7. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the handle is generally oval in cross-section.

8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein the axle traverses the handle generally at one of the focal points of the oval cross-section of the handle.

9. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the bearing means of each wheel is attached to the handle away from the center of each wheel.

10. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the attachment means is an axle rotatably traversing the handle from one end to the other end, the axle having two threaded axle ends, each threaded axle end adapted for fixing to a threaded aperture of one wheel.

11. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein each wheel includes a high-friction surface along the outer peripheral edge thereof such that the wheel does not easily slip when in contact with the surface.

12. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein each wheel includes therein a weighted mass, whereby the exercise device may also be used as a dumbbell.