Exercise device

Abstract

A floor exercise device is provided which comprises two generally parallel grip handles each having a leg portion and a caster assembly attached to the bottom of each leg portion. A stabilizer bar is fixed at the middle of each leg portion and a rotatable crossbar has its end secured to the middle of each stabilizer bar. Two of the caster assemblies are provided each with a locking mechanism which can prevent forward or backward movement of the device during exercise.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an exercise device and is particularly related to a floor exercise device having rollers which can be fixed in position, or which can be manipulated by the hands of the exerciser to push the rollers forward or pull them backward as desired during exercise. The device is particularly useful for strengthening the arms, the shoulders and the upper body portion of the exerciser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of exercise devices are commonly used in gyms and at home and several such devices are described in various patents and sport magazines. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,821,394 issued Jan. 28, 1958 describes a spring roller type exercise device wherein the body weight of the exerciser user is used in developing the muscles of the exerciser.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,179 B2 issued Jan. 7, 2009 describes a spring roller type pectoral exerciser which is a modification of the device described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,821,394.

In copending application Ser. No. 13/373,378, filed Nov. 10, 2011 by the present inventor, an exercise device is described comprising a double roller having a pair of elongated spaced apart rollers with a grip handle secured at the end of each roller. A compressible expandable spring is connected to the adjacent grip handle and the roller can be pushed or pulled by the exerciser by manipulating the grip handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A floor exercise device is provided which can be manipulated by the hands of the exerciser for pushing or pulling the device during exercise. The device comprises opposed spaced apart parallel grip handles, each of the handles having a leg portion, a horizontal stabilizer bar whose ends are fixed to the opposed leg portion of the grip handles. A horizontal crossbar has one end fixed to the middle of one of said stabilizer bars and has its other end secured to the middle of the other stabilizer bar. The exercise device is provided with four casters for pushing or pulling during exercise. Each caster is attached to the bottom of each leg of the grip handles by nuts and bolts or by welding. Two of the four casters, for example, the rear casters, are provided with a brake member attached to the caster and adapted, when depressed, to lock the caster and prevent forward or backward movements during the exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of the exercise device of the present invention as viewed from the right side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the exerciser of the present invention showing the three main components thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the exercise device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 generally designated by the numeral 10 comprises opposed, spaced apart and parallel grip handles 11,13 adapted to be gripped by the hands of the exerciser. Handle 11 has two leg members 15 and 17 and similarly, handle 13 has two leg members 19 and 21. A stabilizing bar such as the bar 23 is fixed at its respective ends 23a and 23b to the legs 15,17 such as by welding, and a similar stabilizing bar such as the bar 25 is fixed at its respective ends 25a,25b to the legs 19,21, such as by welding. Each stabilizer bar has a locking collar formed in the middle of each bar. As shown in FIG. 1, locking collar 27 is formed at the middle of the stabilizer bar 23 and locking collar 29 is formed at the middle of the stabilizer bar 25. An elongated crossbar 31 stretches between the crossbar 23 and 25 and has its ends 33,35 fit frictionally through the respective locking collars 27,29 (see FIG. 4). The ends 33,35 of the crossbar 31 are sized to fit within the locking collars 27,29 and are provided with spring release ball locks 37,39 which can be pulled to disengage the crossbar 31 from its locked position when desired. As shown in the drawings, each surface of the grip handles 11 and 13 is roughly textured so as to form a rough surface for improved grip of each handle. Also, the end segments of the crossbar 31 are inserted through the hollow hand grips 41,43 which themselves may be textured so as to provide a rough surface in order that they may be gripped and manipulated by the hands of the exerciser to push the device forward and backward. A rotatable hook 45 is mounted on the hand grip 41 and another rotatable hook 47 is mounted on the other hand grip 43. Each of these rotatable hooks may be rotated by the exerciser during exercise. Hand grips 41,43 are each capped at the end by the end caps 49,51.

The exercise device of the present invention is provided with four caster assemblies with each assembly being attached to the bottom of each leg of the grip handles 11,13. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each caster assembly 53 comprises spaced apart parallel plates 54,55 and a top plate 56 which is secured to the bottom of legs 15 by nuts and bolts or by welding, and a caster 53a between said plates. The plates 54,55 and the caster 53a have centrally aligned holes through which extends a rotating alignment pin member 57 which permits rotation of the caster when the crossbar 31 is manipulated forward or backward by the exerciser. The caster assembly attached to the bottom of the front leg 17 has a lock pad 59 and a lock or brake 61 attached thereto which can be depressed down in order to prevent the caster from turning and moving forward or backward. The caster assembly attached to the lower leg 19 is exactly similar in construction to the caster assembly attached to leg 15 and serves to prevent forward or backward movement of the caster. As shown in the drawings all caster assemblies are similar in construction except that the caster assemblies attached to the leg 17 and leg 21 do not include the break mechanism since they are not necessary for controlling the forward or backward movement of the device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 all caster assemblies have the same construction and are secured to the bottom of the legs by nuts and bolts or can be welded, if desired.

It must be understood that the construction of the four casters is identical for all four casters. The only difference is that two casters are provided with break mechanisms as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to prevent sliding or movement of the exercise assembly when it is in locked mode. The various components of the caster assemblies may be referred to or designated by the same reference numerals.

In order to use the exercise device of the present invention, the exerciser grips, the grip handles 41,43 while in stretched position as in the stretched position during regular push-ups. The exerciser can then push the device forward or backward as desired.

Claims

1. A floor exercise device comprising opposed spaced apart generally parallel grip handles, each of said grip handles having a leg portion, a stabilizer bar having one end attached to one of said leg portions and having its other end attached to the opposite leg portion, a crossbar extending between said stabilizer bars with one end of said crossbar fixed at the middle of one of said stabilizer bars and its other end fixed at the middle of said other stabilizer bar, a caster assembly attached to the bottom of each of said leg portions of each of said grip handles, each caster assembly adapted to rotate forward or backward when the exerciser pushes said crossbar forward or backward by pushing or pulling said grip handles.

2. A floor exerciser device as in claim 1 wherein each caster assembly is attached to the bottom leg portion of each of said grip handles.

3. A floor exercise device as in claim 1 wherein the two front or rear caster assemblies include a lock member adapted to prevent said caster assembly from rotation when said lock member is depressed down.

4. A floor exercise device as in claim 2 wherein the two front or rear caster assemblies include a lock member adapted to prevent said caster assembly from rotation when said lock member is depressed down.