Forearm Exercise Device

Abstract

Herein described is an exercise device used to build strength in the wrist, arm, or forearm of the user. The device has two opposing grips and a tension means for generating resistance such that when the user rotates the grips the user works the muscles in the wrist, forearm, and arm. The device herein described may be portable or free standing. The exercise device furthermore contains a means for convenient and efficient adjustment of tension.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an exercise device designed to improve strength of the muscles in the forearms.

In baseball, the speed of the bat head and keeping the bat on plane through the hitting zone is crucial for making good contact with a baseball, hitting the baseball with power, and controlling hitting direction if necessary. The same is true for other sports that involve swinging an object such as a racket, club, or stick e.g., the racket head in tennis, club head in golf, and the hockey stick in hockey. It is axiomatic that the bat head will take the proper path with superior speed only if there is sufficient strength in the hands, wrists, and forearms to keep the bat on plane. However, while critical, the muscles contained in these areas either receive little attention or are ignored by contemporary training regimens.

There are four types of muscles in the forearm: wrist flexors (wrist and grip strength), forearm flexors (wrist and grip strength), extensor muscles (elbow and wrist rotation) and brachioradialis (flex the forearm at elbow). Some training exercises such as climbing and rope pulling are helpful to strengthen wrist flexors, forearm flexors, and extensor muscles, but they do not strengthen the brachioradialis. Barbells target the wrist flexors, forearm flexors, and the brachioradialis to a very limited extent. Similarly, typical wrist rollers only target the forearm flexors and to a limited extent, the brachioradialis Grip devices only target the forearm flexors with partial engagement of the wrist flexor.

What is needed is a portable device or semi portable device that is light weight, easy to use and disassemble, provides consistent tension or resistance, and provides a total workout of all the muscle groups in the forearm, including the wrist flexor, forearm flexor, extensor and brachioradialis. What is also needed is an exercise device that provides tension consistency between forward and backward rotation of hand grips, convenient tension adjustment without the need of a special tool for doing so, as well as rapid interchangeability of parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a fully assembled portable exercise device;

FIG. 2 shows a fully assembled portable exercise device with the housing removed and tension means exposed to view;

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are close up depictions of an embodiment of an assembled and disassembled portable exercise device respectively;

FIG. 4 shows how a user operates the portable exercise device;

FIG. 5 shows a fully assembled standing exercise device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercise device designed to improve strength of the muscles in the forearms. In one embodiment, the exercise device is portable. The forearm exercise device may be comprised of a first grip assembly, a second grip assembly and a tension means. In one embodiment, the tension means comprises a threaded rod, a first washer, a second washer, a first hub, and a second hub. In one embodiment the tension means is encased in housing between two opposing grips. The threaded rod may comprise different groove ratios. In one embodiment, the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch. In another embodiment, the groove ration is about 16 grooves per inch. The first and second washers may be made materials including nylon.

In the portable forearm exercise device, the user may rotate the grips to adjust the tension of the mechanism. Once the tension is adjusted according to preference, the user applies force to the grips rotating the grips back and forth applying stress to the muscles of the forearms.

In another embodiment, the exercise device is a free-standing device. The free-standing forearm exercise device comprises two opposing hand grips and a tension means. The user adjusts the tension of the device to preference adding or removing weights on a weight support as needed. The weight support is attached to a line or chord, which is fed through pulleys and down to a grip/shaft assembly. In one embodiment, the chord is wrapped around a drum centrally located on the grip/shaft assembly. The user rotates the grips one at a time in a forward motion, wrapping the cord around the drum, and elevating the weight support with each turn.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the representative embodiments given herein. However, it should be understood that the description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a fully assembled portable exercise device 1 is shown to comprise a first grip assembly 2 and second grip assembly 3. Each grip assembly comprises a first and second grip (4 and 5) and a first and second hub (6 and 7). The grips 4 and 5 may be made of any durable material known to those of skill in the art that is strong enough to withstand the tension or force applied by the user without bend or break. For example, the grips may be made of rigid materials such as steel, plastic, rubber, or the like, as long as the grips are sufficiently strong and resistant to breaking.

The grip assembly may be manufactured as one piece or separate components. For example, if manufactured as separate components, grips (4 and 5) must be secured to hubs (6 and 7) upon assembly. In this manner, the grips may be connected to hubs 6 and 7 by weld, bolt, screw, pin, lug, rivet or any other means known to those of skill in the art. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the grips 4 and 5 are attached to the hubs 6 and 7 by weld joint.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a tension means 8 is encased in a housing 9. FIG. 2 is an alternative view of FIG. 1 with the housing 9 removed to illustrate the positioning of the tension means in an assembled portable exercise device. In this embodiment, housing 9 is cylindrical and completely encases tension means 8 concealing its components from view. FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are close up depictions of an embodiment of an assembled and disassembled portable exercise device respectively. An embodiment of the tension means 8 is shown clearly in FIG. 3. FIG. 3(B) depicts a threaded rod 10 affixed to first grip assembly 2 so that first grip 4 cannot rotate without also rotating the threaded rod 10. In this embodiment, threaded rod 10, hub 6 and grip 4 are manufactured as one piece; however, these components are not required to be manufactured as one piece and may be manufactured and assembled individually.

Threaded rod 10 is inserted through a first washer 11 wherein first washer 11 engages and rests upon hub 6. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, threaded rod 10 is inserted through a compression spring 12 wherein compression spring 12 engages and is sandwiched between first washer 11 and second washer 13, which are positioned at opposite ends of compression spring 12. First washer 11 and second washer 13 may be made of any material known to those of skill in the art that would allow the threaded rod to easily pass through first washer 11, compression spring 12, second washer 13, and into hub 7, as described more fully below, without bind. For example, first washer 11 and second washer 13 may be made of nylon or Teflon. Threaded rod 10 engages hub 7, which in this embodiment comprises interior grooves that match the threads of threaded rod 10. Insertion of threaded rod 10 into hub 7 and rotation of grip 4 and threaded rod 10 in a clockwise direction compresses the compression spring 12 resulting in increased rotational tension of the device.

Compression spring 12 is conveniently replaceable if one desires more or less tension. For example, a user only has to disassemble the portable exercise device by rotating grip 4 and thereby the threaded rod 10 counterclockwise causing threaded rod 10 to back out of and disengage hub 7. Once the threaded rod disengages the hub 7 and second washer 13 removed, compression spring 12 can be removed as well. Another compression spring of a different compression rate may then be placed onto threaded rod 10 and the process reversed to assemble the mechanism again. This can be done in a matter of seconds.

The threads on threaded rod 10 may be any direction: right handed, left handed or both. Right hand threads are configured so that clockwise rotation tightens the threaded rod to a fastener. Alternatively, left hand threads are configured so that counterclockwise rotation tightens the threaded rod to a fastener. A threaded rod with both right hand threads and left hand threads have right threads at one end of the rod, and left threads at the opposite end. The threaded rod 10 may be made of any material or alloy so long as it is strong and durable, such as steel, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, bronze, silicon bronze, copper, or proprietary alloys such as Inconel® and Incoloy®. Metallic threaded rods can be anodized, treated with black oxide, chrome galvanized, phosphate coated, or plated with silver, gold, tin, zinc, or zinc chromate. Non-metallic threaded rod can be made of plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or synthetic rubber.

In one embodiment, the threads or grooves of threaded rod 10 are distributed in such a manner as to decrease any variance in tension between turns of the grips 4 and 5 and compression of the compression spring 9 and generate a consistent tension force for the user. In one embodiment, a threaded rod with a groove ratio between about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch is suitable for the purpose of the present invention. In another embodiment, the proper groove ratio of the threaded rod is between about 14 to about 18 grooves per inch. In yet another embodiment, the proper groove ratio is about 16 grooves per inch.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in operation of one embodiment of the present invention, the user places his or her hands on a fully assembled portable exercise device 1 with or without housing 9, adjusts the tension of the device to the proper level by rotating either grip 4 or grip 5 in a clockwise direction, and then begins to rotate the hands and grips 4 and 5 backwards and forwards in opposing directions. The tension of the device works the hand, wrist, and forearm muscles predominantly, but also works additional muscles depending on the position of the device and how it is used.

Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, a free standing exercise device 14 to improve the strength of the hands, wrists, and forearms will be described herein. The exercise device 14 comprises two opposing handles or grips 15 and 16 connected by shaft 17. The grips 15 and 16 may be made of any durable material known to those of skill in the art that is strong enough to withstand the tension or force applied by the user without breaking. For example, the grips may be made of steel, plastic, rubber, or the like, as long as the grips are sufficiently strong and resistant to breaking. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the grips 15 and 16 are manufactured out of steel. The shaft 17 comprises an external shaft 18 and 19 and an internal shaft 20. The grips 15 and 16 are affixed to external shaft 18 and 19 respectively, by any means known in the art, including weld, screw, bolt, pin, cable, dowel, lug, rivet and the like. Alternatively, the grips 15 and 16 and the external shaft 18 and 19 respectively may be manufactured as a single piece.

The external shafts 18 and 19 are affixed to internal shaft 20 by any means or method available and known to those of skill in the art, such that little to no independent rotation or movement as between external shafts 18 and 19 and internal shaft 20 is possible. Centrally located along the internal shaft 20 comprises a drum 21 designed to receive a pulley line, cable, rope, or chord around its circumference as will be explained in greater detail below. The internal shaft 20 may be composed of any material available durable enough to withstand the tension applied to the structure without giving or breaking. The material used may be the same as the material used to manufacture the external shafts 18 and 19 or alternatively it may be the same. Alternatively, the grip (15 and 16), internal 20, and external shaft (18 and 19) assembly 22 may be manufactured as a single piece and made of the same material.

As explained in greater detail below, the height of the grip, internal, and external shaft assembly 22 may be adjusted on the free standing exercise device 14 for users of different height to use comfortably or for use while sitting down. This will be beneficial to athletes who have disabilities and are confined to wheelchairs.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the assembly 22 is affixed to a standing frame 23 by perpendicular supports 24 and 25 and parallel support 26. The standing frame 23 comprises vertical support members (27, 28, 29, and 30) and a base support member 31. Pulleys (32 and 33) are mounted to the standing frame 23 via top support 34 for receiving line 35. Weight support 36 is attached to line 35. The weight support 36 depicted in FIG. 5 is engineered to receive barbell or plate weights, but persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that any object of appropriate weight will be sufficient, and indeed may be attached directly to line 35 without use of weight support 36. Line 35 is fed through pulleys 32 and 33 and around drum 21.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in operation of one embodiment of the present invention, as the user applies force to grips (15 and 16), assembly 22 and thus drum 21 rotates wrapping line 35 around the circumference of drum 21. For smooth rotation of assembly 22, perpendicular supports 24 and 25 may contain bearings, grease, or some other means known to those of skill in the art to reduce friction from rotation. As the user continues to rotate assembly 22, the weight support 36 may be lifted or elevated until the weight support 35 reaches pulley 32 and is prohibited from elevating further.

A variety of materials may be incorporated into the construction of portable exercise device 1 and standing exercise device 14. For example, this inventing envisions rigid plastics, rigid metals, or a combination thereof for the grips, housing, supports, frame, pulleys, and the like.

It will be realized that the foregoing embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of this invention and are subject to change without departure to such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A forearm exercise device comprising:

a first grip assembly;

a second grip assembly;

a threaded rod;

a tension means;

the first and second grip assembly connected by threaded rod and tension means wherein counter rotation of first and second grip assemblies increases rotational tension of the device.

2. The forearm exercise device of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch.

3. The forearm exercise device of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 16 grooves per inch.

4. The forearm exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first and second washers are made of nylon.

5. The forearm exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first and second washers are made of Teflon.

6. A forearm exercise device comprising:

a first grip and a second grip;

a first hub and a second hub;

a compression spring and a threaded rod wherein said threaded rod is inserted within said compression spring;

a first washer and a second washer, wherein said first washer and second washer engage the threaded rod and the compression spring at opposite ends.

7. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 12 to about 20 grooves per inch.

8. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the threaded rod has a groove ratio of about 16 grooves per inch.

9. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first and second washers are made of nylon.

10. The forearm exercise device of claim 6, wherein the first and second washers are made of Teflon.

11. A forearm exercise device comprising: a stand up frame, a first pulley, a second pulley, a weight support, a first grip, a second grip, a drum, and a cord, wherein said cord is attached to the weight support, fed through the first and second pulleys, and wrapped around said drum such that rotation of first grip and second grip wraps the cord around said drum and elevates the weight support.