PUSH-UP EXERCISE UNIT AND DEVICE
A push-up exercise unit and device is described which may enable a user to move with his or her body's natural rotation to engage additional muscle groups with reduced stress on joints. The device includes a single molded housing with a circular lower base and an integral downwardly extending facing formed around a circumference of the lower base. The housing includes a pair of facing columns formed into part of the base of the housing and forming part of the facing at opposing sides thereof to receive an end of a handle there between. The device includes a fixed base support operatively attached to the housing, and a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing to permit rotation of the contiguous handle and housing by a user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/996,152 to Stephen G. Hauser, et al., filed Jan. 18, 2008 and entitled “PUSH-UP EXERCISE UNIT AND DEVICE”, now pending. The entirety of the contents of the '152 application are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDExample embodiments in general relate to a push-up exercise unit and device for use in performing a push-up type exercise.
Push-ups are one of the oldest and perhaps most effective exercises for a human being. The push-up exercise is employed by the military and competitive sports teams around the world to gauge overall fitness. Conventional push-ups however, with the hands placed directly on a non-movable hard surface such as a floor, have limitations. Conventional push-ups place stress on wrists, elbows and shoulders, and prevent the natural rotation of muscles and joints.
SUMMARYAn example embodiment of the present invention is directed to a push-up exercise unit. The unit includes a pair of rotatable devices, one for each hand. Each rotatable device includes a horizontal handle assembly and a handle support structure. The handle support structure is configured as a single molded housing composed of a lower circular base having an integral facing extending downward from the base around a circumference of the handle support structure, with a pair of columns formed into part of the base at opposing sides of the base, each column sloping upward from the lower base to form part of the vertical facing of the handle support structure. Each device includes a pair of top end caps, each end cap meeting an upper end of a corresponding column so as to secure a respective end of the handle assembly to the handle support structure, a fixed base support operatively attached to the handle support structure, and a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing of the handle support structure to permit rotation of the contiguous handle assembly, end caps and handle support structure by a user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
Another example embodiment is directed to a push-up exercise device having a single molded housing with a circular lower base and an integral downwardly extending facing formed around a circumference of the lower base. The housing includes a pair of facing columns formed into part of the base of the housing and forming part of the facing at opposing sides thereof to receive an end of a handle there between. The device includes a fixed base support operatively attached to the housing, and a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing to permit rotation of the contiguous handle and housing by a user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
In general, the housing of device 100, inclusive of base support 115, handle support structure 120 and the separate end caps 130, can be formed by an injection molding process from a medium or heavy gauge impact plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). ABS is an easily machined, tough, low-cost, rigid thermoplastic material with medium to high impact strength, and is a desirable material for turning, drilling, sawing, die-cutting, shearing, etc.
Each of the base support 115, main handle support structure 120 and end caps 130 may be made of ABS. ABS is merely one example material; equivalent materials include various thermoplastic and thermoset materials that have characteristics similar to ABS. For example, polypropylene, high-strength polycarbonates such as GE Lexan, and/or blended plastics may be used instead of, or in addition with ABS. The materials comprising device 100 (plastic such as ABS, rubber and lightweight metal materials) provide a light yet durable exercise device 100.
An exemplary injection molding system for forming molded plastic articles included in device 100 may be the Roboshot® injection machine from Milacron-Fanuc. The Roboshot is one of many known injection molding machines for forming plastic injection molds.
Device 100 includes a solid rubber gripping surface configured as a rubberized pad 150. Pad 150 is provided on the underside of the base support 115. The pad 150 offers a friction surface when the device 100 is resting on a flat surface. The pad 150 may be adhered to the underside of the base support 115 via suitable epoxy or adhesive, for example. The non-skid rubber pad 150 grips well on carpet and hard floor surfaces.
A gap 155 is provided between the handle support structure 120 and the base support 115 to assist in permitting rotational movement of the contiguous handle support structure 120 with end caps 130 and handle assembly 140, ostensibly by providing clearance for a bearing assembly, while the base support 115 remains fixed in place. In this example, the rotational movement is facilitated by a turntable or “Lazy Susan” bearing assembly within the device 100, which is interposed between the main handle support structure 120 and base support 115. Thus, the gap 155 provided between the housing of the handle support structure 120 and base support 115 permits collective rotational movement of the contiguous upper portion of the device 100: handle support structure 120, end caps 130 and handle assembly 140.
With continued reference to
Referring to
In an example, the turntable 160 may be made of lightweight stamped aluminum plates with stainless steel ball bearings therein. For example, the turntable may be a 6″×6″ square turntable fabricated by McMaster-Carr, part number 6031K18. However, the example embodiments are not limited to aluminum turntable plates, as galvanized steel, black chromate and yellow chromate are also acceptable materials for the turntable.
With continued reference to
Use of device 100 may benefit a workout by imparting rotational movement to force various hand/shoulder orientations, enabling the user to exercise different parts of the arms and shoulders, as well as the upper and lower back. The revolving turntable 160 provides clean rotational movement, since the ball bearings housed in a generally large circular race have a space saving design which is approximately only about 5/16″ high. As an alternative, notches or detents could be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating plate of the turntable 160 to give a repeatable position capability to the user of the device 100.
The example device 100 allows the user's arms to rotate naturally during the push-up in much the same way as when the user throws a punch or presses up a dumbbell. This accelerates results by engaging more muscles and reducing strain on the joints—potentially maximizing the user's workout. The rotating base supports 115 thus permit the user's muscles to rotate through its natural arc. Examples of such natural arc of movement include throwing a punch, swinging a golf club or pressing dumbbells, for example.
Accordingly, the incorporation of the smooth, ball bearing action of the handle assemblies 140/handle support structure 120 on the non-skid base support 115 facilitate the user's workout on any hard floor surface or carpet. The example device 100 may thus enable the user to move with his or her body's natural rotation, so as to engage additional muscle groups with reduced stress on the user's joints, as compared to the conventional push-up exercise.
Each of the base support 215, handle support structure 220 and support arms 230 may be made of ABS or another thermoplastic and/or thermoset material having characteristics similar to ABS, such as polypropylene, high-strength polycarbonates such as GE Lexan, and/or blended plastics. These equivalent materials can be used in lieu of or in addition to ABS. The handle 240 may be a steel or chrome rod sheathed with a suitable rubber or plastic grip. The handle support structure 220 envelops a base support 215. The fixed base support 215 has a non-skid pad 250 on an underside thereof, similar to device 100.
Unlike device 100, each handle assembly 210 is readily detachable via a release mechanism 245 from its corresponding handle support structure 220 at a first location on an lower base 222 thereof, to be re-attached at a second location on the push-up unit so as to couple the two base supports 215 together as a tight package formed within the two base support structures 220, which mate with each other and which are secured by a locking action of the two handle assemblies 210 into the front and rear facings 225 of each handle support structure 220.
As can be seen in
With continued reference to
Each support arm 230 includes a central member 241 between the outer sidewall 232 and an inner sidewall 237. The central member 241 has an aperture 236 which aligns with aperture 233 in the outer sidewall 232 so as to receive a post 234 of the release mechanism 245. The post 234 contacts a compression spring 235 to compress the spring 235 against a counter force provided by the wall surface (shown generally at 238) of the inner sidewall 237. The central member 241 terminates at its lower end as the locking lug 217. The top surface 239 of inner sidewall 237 is shaped so as to mate flush with the rounded outer surface of handle 240.
The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. For example, the bearing systems in
Claims
1. A push-up exercise unit, comprising:
- a pair of rotatable devices, one for each hand, each device including: a horizontal handle assembly, a handle support structure configured as a single molded housing composed of a lower circular base having an integral vertical facing extending downward from the base around a circumference of the handle support structure, with a pair of columns integral with and forming part of the lower base at opposing sides of the lower base, each column having a thickness that is thicker at the lower base than at a top of the column, and having a width that is wider at the lower base and which narrows toward the top of the column, each column sloping upward from the lower base to form part of the vertical facing of the handle support structure, the column thickness and width dimensions permitting downward forces exerted by a user on the handle assembly to be dispersed, a pair of top end caps, each end cap meeting an upper end of a corresponding column so as to secure a respective end of the handle assembly to the handle support structure, a fixed base support operatively attached to the handle support structure, and a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing of the handle support structure to permit rotation of the contiguous handle assembly, end caps and handle support structure by the user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a hollow, metal handle-rod and a rubberized grip, the handle-rod being sheathed within the grip.
3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the rubberized grip has a length shorter than the metal handle-rod to expose metal between the ends of the grip and the ends of the handle-rod.
4. The unit of claim 2, wherein a first diameter of the grip at a center of the grip is wider than a second diameter at the grip ends.
5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the base support has a pad adhered to an underside thereof to provide a friction surface when the device is resting on a flat surface.
6. The unit of claim 1, wherein each column
- has a central stanchion extending between a pair of posts to be received within its corresponding end cap, and
- a generally semi-circular recess formed at its upper end for mating with a mirror image recess formed in its corresponding end cap to enclose an end of the handle assembly.
7. The unit of claim 6, wherein
- each end of the handle assembly has a chamfer,
- the stanchion on each column engages its corresponding chamfer to secure an end of the handle assembly to the handle support structure, and
- each end cap has a pair of bores to receive the posts of its corresponding column so that an end of the handle assembly is enclosed between the end cap and column of the handle support structure.
8. A push-up exercise device, comprising:
- a single molded housing having a circular lower base and an integral downwardly extending vertical facing formed around a circumference of the lower base, the housing including a pair of facing columns integral with and forming part of the lower base of the housing, each column having a thickness that is thicker at the lower base than at a top of the column, and having a width that is wider at the lower base and which narrows toward the top of the column, each column sloping upward and forming part of the vertical facing at opposing sides thereof to receive an end of a handle there between, the column thickness and width dimensions permitting downward forces exerted by a user on the handle to be dispersed.
- a fixed base support operatively attached to the housing, and
- a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing to permit rotation of the contiguous handle and housing by the user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the handle is composed of a metal handle-rod sheathed within a rubberized grip.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the rubberized grip has a length shorter than the metal handle-rod to expose metal between the ends of the grip and the ends of the handle-rod.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein a first diameter of the grip at a center of the grip is wider than a second diameter at the grip ends.
12. The device of claim 8, wherein the base support has a pad adhered to an underside thereof to provide a friction surface when the device is resting on a flat surface.
13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a pair of ends caps, each end cap in contact with an upper end of each column of the housing.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein each column
- has a central stanchion extending between a pair of posts to be received within its corresponding end cap, and
- a generally semi-circular recess formed at its upper end for mating with a mirror image recess formed in its corresponding end cap to enclose an end of the handle.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein
- each handle end has a chamfer,
- the stanchion on each column engages its corresponding chamfer to secure one end of the handle to the housing, and
- each end cap has a pair of bores to receive the posts of its corresponding column so that an end of the handle assembly is enclosed between the end cap and column of the handle support structure.
16. The device of claim 8, wherein each column of the single molded housing slopes upward from the lower base to form part of the circumferential facing.
17. A push-up exercise device, comprising:
- a single molded housing having a circular lower base and including a pair of facing columns formed into and integral with part of the lower base at opposing sides thereof to receive an end of a handle there between, each column having a thickness that is thicker at the lower base than at a top of the column and having a width that is wider at the lower base and which narrows toward the top of the column.
- a fixed base support operatively attached to the housing, and
- a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing to permit rotation of the contiguous handle and housing by a user with the fixed base support resting on a planar surface.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the housing includes an integral downwardly extending facing formed around a circumference of the lower base.
19. The device of claim 17, wherein the housing includes an integral downwardly extending facing formed around a circumference of the lower base, a lower part of each column forming part of the facing around the lower base.
20. The device of claim 17, wherein each column has an interior surface facing its opposite column and an exterior surface, a lower part of the exterior surface forming part of circumferential facing integral with the housing that extends downward from the lower base.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 17, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 23, 2009
Inventors: Stephen G. Hauser (Tarzana, CA), Mark B. Friedman (Simi Valley, CA), Alden M. Mills (Kentfield, CA)
Application Number: 12/253,297