HANDLE AND HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING TO EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A handle or handle assembly for coupling to exercise or sports equipment is disclosed. The handle includes a curved upper section, an elongated middle section, and a curved lower section, wherein the lower section has a circumference greater than that of the upper and middle sections. The handle may further include a bottom portion that is flat or curved, a central attachment aperture, and an external surface grip pattern.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Patent application claims benefit and priority to Provisional Application No. 63/649,354, filed on May 18, 2024, titled “Exercise cable machine handle(s) to prevent people grabbing cable(s) directly and bring better comfort than standard rope handle(s)”, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to handle and handle assemblies which may be attached and/or coupled to exercise equipment, exercise machines, or sports equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a handle with specifically designed ergonomic curvatures which allows for versatile use and a more secure grip for a multitude of handle orientations.

BACKGROUND

Pull rope handles are commonly used attachments for cable machines in exercises like triceps pushdowns, face pulls, rope curls, and ab crunches. The most typical design features two thick braided nylon ropes joined at the top with a metal ring and finished at each end with rubber or plastic stoppers for grip. Variants include single rope handles for unilateral work, adjustable ropes for customizable length, and ball-grip handles that provide enhanced control with spherical grips.

Despite their widespread use, rope handles come with several notable shortcomings. One major limitation is the restricted grip variety—they primarily support only a neutral grip, offering little flexibility for different wrist angles or ergonomic positions. This can reduce exercise variation and increase wrist discomfort over time. Additionally, the rope texture, while durable, can be harsh on the hands and prone to slippage, especially when sweating, leading to premature grip fatigue.

Another disadvantage is the instability of the load during exercises. When used directly as a handle, ropes can twist or move unevenly under tension, which is unfavorable for movements that require rigid control or a consistent path, limiting maximum strength output. Over time, this can hinder muscle development or increase the risk of injury. The lack of structural support or wrist alignment can also contribute to joint strain during heavy or repetitive use. Durability is another concern; the braided nylon can fray quicker when used directly as a handle. Additionally, hygiene is a further concern, since it is not easy to clean existing machine ropes, straps or wires.

In light of the above disadvantages, there remains a need for a handle design or handle assembly which provides improved functionality, a more ergonomic design to reduce risk of injury, allow greater variation of hand grips, and provides a stronger structural construction which will resist cracking and general wear and tear.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides an improved handle suitable for coupling to exercise or sports equipment. The handle includes a curved upper section, an elongated middle section, and a curved lower section, where the circumference of the lower section is greater than that of the upper and middle sections. This geometry enhances grip stability and ergonomic support, particularly when pulling or pushing against resistance.

In some embodiments, the handle further includes a bottom portion that may be either curved or flat. The middle section may have a progressively increasing external slope and/or circumference from top to bottom to conform to the natural contour of a user's hand. Both the upper and lower sections may feature convex curvatures for improved ergonomics.

The handle may be composed of materials such as polymers, elastomers, rubber, metals, or a composite material. In certain embodiments, the handle comprises a multi-material construction, with an inner core made from a stronger material (e.g., metal or rigid polymer), and an external portion made from a softer or more tactile material (e.g., rubber or elastomer) to enhance grip and comfort.

Additional features may include a central attachment aperture for coupling the handle to a cable, strap, or bar, and a grip pattern on the outer surface that includes continuous parallel grooves and discontinuous longitudinal grooves to resist slipping and improve handling during use.

The cross-sectional shape of the handle may be circular, oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal, or other ergonomically suitable configurations. The middle section may also incorporate a plurality of concave grooves to further enhance the gripping experience.

Also disclosed is a handle assembly, which incorporates a handle and a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism includes internal attachment portion and an external attachment portion, which is visible outside of the handle. The external attachment portion is used for coupling and attachment to various exercise equipment, while the internal attachment portion serves to securely attach and keep in place a rope, wire, strap, fabric, bar or shaft, or other material which connects the internal and external attachment portions and forms the coupling mechanism.

The handles and handle assemblies provided herein are designed to provide ergonomic support for a variety of hand positions, particularly when pulling, pushing or performing sideways movements against a resistance force. Other advantages will become apparent and are discussed in more detail if the following sections of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure in conjunction with embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front planar view of a handle in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional internal view of a handle in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a handle assembly comprising a handle a coupling mechanism, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 shows a front planar view of a handle in accordance with other embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 shows a front planar view of a handle having finger grooves, in accordance with other embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a front planar view of a handle having finger grooves and a different first section curvature, in accordance an embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 7A shows a front planar view of a handle having a grip pattern.

FIG. 7B shows an isometric side view of a handle having a grip pattern.

FIG. 8 shows a front planar view of a handle having a flat bottom surface, in accordance with other embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 9 shows a front planar view of a handle having a flat bottom surface, in accordance with other embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 10 shows a front planar view of a handle assembly having a coupling mechanism on a top portion and bottom portion, in accordance with an embodiment disclosed herein.

FIG. 11 shows a front planar view of a handle assembly having a coupling mechanism on a top portion and bottom portion, in accordance with another embodiments disclosed herein

FIG. 12 shows a handle assembly having a coupling mechanism, which utilizes separate rungs or locations along a rope, wire, strap and/or shaft to connect to exercise equipment at different lengths.

FIG. 13 shows a handle assembly that incorporates two handles attached to a shaft coupling mechanism.

FIG. 14A shows an embodiment of a handle assembly having a coupling mechanism, which incorporates an adjustable tensioner, extension mechanism, to adjust position of the handle.

FIG. 14B shows the embodiment of the handle assembly of FIG. 14A having the same coupling mechanism, adjusted at a different longer length than the configuration shown in FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15A shows a handle assembly with a looped rope as a coupling mechanism; and

FIG. 15B shows the handle assembly of FIG. 15A incorporated on a pulldown bar.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment wherein two handles are incorporated with a triceps pull down rope.

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment wherein two handles are incorporated with a triceps pull down rope.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment wherein two handles are incorporated with a triceps pull down bar.

FIG. 19 shows an embodiment wherein two handles are incorporated with a lateral pull down bar.

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment wherein two handles are incorporated with a resistance band.

DEFINITIONS AND NOMENCLATURE

Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different companies may refer to a component by different names—this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” or “coupling” is intended to mean either an indirect or a direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.

As used herein, the term “exercise equipment” refers to any device, apparatus, machine, tool, or implement designed or adapted to facilitate physical activity, bodily training, or rehabilitation through resistance, movement, or muscular engagement. This includes, stationary or movable machines such as rowing machines, weight stacks, resistance training machines, and cable systems; free weights such as dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and weight plates; resistance-based tools such as resistance bands, medicine balls, sandbags, and battle ropes; and handheld or body-worn devices used for fitness, strength training, stretching, or conditioning, such as grip trainers, jump ropes, balance boards, and suspension training systems. Cable systems include dual adjustable pulley machines, cable crossover machines, lateral pulldown machines, low row cable machines, all-in one machines, jungle gym systems, smith machine, adjustable single-pulley machines, or wall mounted cable machines. Exercise equipment referred to herein may be motorized or manually operated, and may be intended for use in gyms, homes, rehabilitation facilities, or outdoor environments.

As used herein, the term “cable stop” refers to a fitting in cable exercise machines, which used to secure the end of a cable, rope or other connection material used in the machine. The cable stop is used to prevent the cable from slipping out of its attachment point and to ensure it does not detach from the machine's pulley system.

The term “about” is used in conjunction with numeric values to include normal variations in measurements as expected by persons skilled in the art, and is understood to have the same meaning as “approximately” and to cover a typical margin of error, such as ±15%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of the stated value. The term “about” also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial composition. Whether or not modified by the term “about,” the claims include equivalents to the quantities.

It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing “a compound” includes having two or more compounds that are either the same or different from each other. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, “and/or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

In the interest of brevity and conciseness, any ranges of values set forth in this specification contemplate all values within the range and are to be construed as support for claims reciting any sub-ranges having endpoints which are real number values within the specified range in question. By way of a hypothetical illustrative example, a disclosure in this specification of a range of from 1 to 5 shall be considered to support claims to any of the following ranges: 1-5; 1-4; 1-3; 1-2; 2-5; 2-4; 2-3; 3-5; 3-4; and 4-5.

The term “substantially” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that can be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation can vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

The term “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” as used herein, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the scope of a claim is to be interpreted to encompass the specified materials or steps recited in the claim and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Thus, the term “consisting essentially of” when used in a claim of this invention is not intended to be interpreted to be equivalent to “comprising.”

The terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure.

As used throughout this description, and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “at least one of” or “one or more of” can mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrase “at least one of X, Y or Z” can mean X; Y; Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y and Z

“A”, “an”, and “the” as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like, may be used herein. These spatially relative terms can be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms may also be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in this specification are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides a handle assembly for coupling to various types of exercise equipment, sporting equipment, and/or utility equipment. The handle assembly is ergonomically designed for comfort and grip for over seven different hand orientations, and structurally adapted to securely interface with cables, ropes, resistance bands, or other attachment systems through a coupling mechanism. The components and their configurations are described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 the handle 100 comprises various precisely designed curved sections: a curved upper section 110, an elongated middle section 120, and a curved lower section 130. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the lower section 130 has a circumference greater than that of both the upper section 110 and the middle section 120, providing a flared, bell-shaped base that resists slippage and offers increased support for the palm during gripping.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elongated middle section 120 has a sloped exterior and gradually increases in circumference from the top to the bottom, improving the ergonomic fit within a user's hand. Both the upper section 110 and lower section 130 have outwardly curved convex curvature, while the elongated middle section 120 has a slightly concave shape towards its bottom end, in the location where it meets the lower section 130.

In one embodiment, the handle 100 further comprises a bottom section 140. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 shows a bottom section which has a convex curve. In other embodiments, which can be seen in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9 the bottom section 140 may have an entirely flat surface with no curvature (FIGS. 8 and 9), or it may have a surface with slight curvature, as shown in FIG. 4. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a bottom section 140′, which has a smaller curvature, not as pronounced curvature, when compared to bottom section 140 shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, the elongated portion 120′ is also smaller in length, resulting in a slightly less elongated handle 100′, which is generally shorter in length, than the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 100 has an internal opening also referred to as a central attachment aperture 160, which is positioned along the long axis of the handle for connecting to exercise equipment such as resistance bands, cables, or other mechanical linkages. In certain embodiments, the central attachment aperture 160 is formed through the entire length of the handle. In other embodiments, the attachment aperture may only run through half the length of the handle, or a distance less than the entire length. The cross-sectional shape of the attachment aperture may be generally circular, oval, square with rounded or sharp edges, narrowed rectangular with rounded or sharp edges, or any known suitable shape.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the handle 100 is shown, where the central attachment aperture 160 has a first section 162 with a smaller circumference (or smaller opening) and a second section 164 with a larger circumference (or larger opening). This design facilitates the attachment and secure connection of a coupling mechanism, to be described in more detail in later sections of this disclosure.

The handle 100 may be constructed from a single material or as a composite structure. In certain embodiments the entire handle structure is composed of a single material, such as a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber or a metallic material. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate, ABS, polypropylene, acrylic, high-density polyethylene, polyetherimide, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene, or a combination thereof. Suitable elastomers include, but are not limited to, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), cis-polyisoprene, cis-polybutadiene (butadiene rubber, BR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and ethylene-propylene monomer (EPM). Suitable metallic materials include, but are not limited to, steel, aluminum, iron, titanium, metal alloys, or a combination thereof. It will be appreciated that other known materials may be used, in addition to those disclosed, without departing from the core inventive concepts of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the handle is comprised of a composite structure with an inner core made of a strong material, such as metal, or composite material, or rigid polymer and an external portion composed of a softer, more tactile material such as, polymer, rubber or elastomer. This configuration combines internal mechanical strength with external comfort and friction.

To further enhance grip and ergonomic properties, the external surface may include a grip pattern 200, as seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In one embodiment the grip pattern includes a plurality of grooves, including continuous parallel grooves 710 and discontinuous longitudinal grooves 720. The grooved line pattern helps to increase friction and reduce hand slippage during movement or perspiration. In other embodiments, different grip patterns may be incorporated, including but not limited to, a lattice pattern, a hexagonal pattern, raised or ribbed pattern, a randomized design pattern, or any known texturized pattern which improves friction and grip capability.

In some embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the middle section 120 can further include a plurality of concave grooves 550 and 650 respectively (which act as finger grooves), positioned longitudinally or circumferentially to further improve grip and allow for finger placement in the middle section 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a handle 600 can have an upper section 670 with indented concave curvature, opposite the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

The handle's cross-sectional shape may vary depending on the application and desired user experience. In the embodiments disclosed in the figures here, the cross-sectional shape is circular. However, in other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the handle may be oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal shape, rounded triangular, rounded quadrilateral, rounded hexagonal, or other known shapes and geometries which may accommodate various hand sizes and grip preferences.

Also disclosed is a handle assembly 300 as depicted in FIG. 3. The handle assembly 300 includes a handle 100 having a curved upper section 110, an elongated middle section 120, and a curved lower section 130 (as seen in FIG. 1). The handle assembly 300 further includes a coupling mechanism 400 for connecting the handle 100 to a variety of exercise equipment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the coupling mechanism 400 includes internal attachment portion 420 and an external attachment portion 460, which is visible outside of the handle 100. The external attachment portion 460 is used for coupling and attachment to various exercise equipment, while the internal attachment portion 420 serves to securely attach and keep in place a rope, wire, strap, fabric, bar or shaft, or other material which connects the internal and external attachment portions and forms the coupling mechanism. As an example, in FIG. 3 a rope 430 is shown.

As previously discussed, the handle 100 includes a central attachment aperture 160, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, extending along its vertical axis. The internal attachment portion 420 is inserted into the aperture 160 (first section 162 and second section 164) and affixed using one or more of the following, but not limited to: a crimp, a washer, an end fitting, a threaded nut, a flared rope end, a knotted rope end, or a combination thereof. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the rope 430 is fitted down aperture 160 and affixed in the lower section 164, through the use of a washer 426, crimp 424 and burned or flanged rope end 422, to ensure the rope 430 securely attaches within the handle 100. The external attachment potion 460, in this example, further includes a metal loop 466, coupled to a metal sleeve 464, which covers the rope connection underneath. A washer, crimp, threaded nut, or any known connection mechanism/configurations may be used for the external connection of the handle to the exercise equipment, and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is merely exemplary and non-limiting. In other examples, the external attachment portion 460 includes at least one of a metal loop, a rope cover/sleeve, a hook, an eyelet, a thimble fitting, a cable stop, a socket, a sleeve or ferrule, or a combination thereof.

In further embodiments, such as the one shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, there may be a second coupling mechanism which extends from the bottom section of the handle. For example, the second coupling mechanism 1020 shown in FIG. 10 is located at a bottom of the handle and exists the lower/bottom end of the central attachment aperture 160. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the second coupling mechanism is used as a wrist holder, for a user placing their wrist within so that further attachment and security can be ensured when grasping the handle. As for the embodiment shown FIG. 11, the second coupling mechanism 1120, which is affixed to the bottom end of the handle, can be identical to the coupling mechanism 1140 at the top of the handle. This allows for multiple attachment points of the handle, depending on the type of equipment that it will be connected to.

FIGS. 12-17 show various different embodiments of coupling mechanisms which can be utilized with the disclosed handles. The coupling mechanism 1250, shown in FIG. 12 may incorporate multiple rings or sections, which utilizes separate locations along a rope, wire, strap and/or shaft to connect to exercise equipment at different lengths. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the handle assembly 13 incorporates two handles connected to a shaft which is the coupling mechanism attaching the two handles. In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the handle assembly 1400 can incorporate a coupling mechanism which includes an adjustable tensioner, extension mechanism. This design can be used to adjust the length of the rope or wire attached to the handle, thereby adjusting the position of the handle. The embodiment shown in FIG. 15A utilizes a looped rope or wire or strap 1550 as a coupling mechanism (FIG. 15A) which can then be incorporated/attached onto a shaft or bar 1580 already existing on an exercise machine.

In additional examples, as shown in FIG. 16, two handles may be attached to a single coupling mechanism 1650, to be utilized in instances where both handles are needed for the exercise being conducted. In FIG. 17, a pulley system 1750 can be incorporated as the coupling mechanism, which allows the rope to shift in length from one handle to the other.

As shown in FIGS. 18-20, the handle may be coupled to various exercise equipment, such as a cable machine, resistance bands (FIG. 20), lateral pulldown bar (FIGS. 13 and 19), triceps pulldown bar (FIG. 18), via the external attachment portion 460, or a more generalized coupling mechanism which is already part of the exercise machine, sporting equipment, or utility equipment.

In certain embodiments, a cable stop is disclosed, where the handles described herein are attached directly to and are integrated to the resistance rope or wire of a cable machine. Therefore, it is envisioned that the handles disclosed herein are used as cable stops at the end of an exercise machine cable pulley system, so that a separate attachment accessory is not necessary.

A significant advantage of the presently designed handle includes the variety and positions available for handle placement on the handles. For example, a user may grip the handle from a top section with fingers and thumb wrapping around the first section curvature. Alternatively, the handle may be gripped from a bottom section, where the thumb is placed on the bottom curve of the handle, while the palm and fingers wrap around the middle section. Many other handle positions and grips are available due to the versatile design and curvatures of the handle.

It is to be understood that the handles disclosed herein, although primarily show to be coupled to exercise equipment can be similarly utilized and coupled to sporting equipment, physical therapy equipment, or utility equipment. Non-limiting examples of sporting equipment includes, fishing rods, wakeboarding ropes, baseball bats, tennis rackets, lacrosse stick, hockey stick, golf clubs, kayak paddles, rowing oars, waterski handles, ski poles alpine climbing handles, jump ropes, pogo stick, and so on. Some non-limiting examples of utility equipment include, cleaning devices such as brooms, mops, dustpans, plungers, scrub brushes, shovels, spades, rakes, hoes, trowel, paint roller handles, wheelbarrow handles, hammer, and so on.

The handles disclosed herein can be manufactured through processes already known, including but not limited to injection molding, 3D printing, casting, or through the use of machining tools.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps described herein may be carried out in a variety ways and that no particular ordering is required. It will be further understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A handle for coupling to exercise or sports equipment, the handle comprising:

a curved upper section;

an elongated middle section;

a curved lower section; and

wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of the upper section and middle section.

2. The handle of claim 1, further comprising a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is curved or flat.

3. The handle of claim 1, wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing external circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section.

4. The handle of claim 1, wherein the curved upper portion and curved lower section have convex curvatures.

5. The handle of claim 1, wherein the handle is comprised of a material selected from a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material.

6. The handle of claim 1, further comprising. wherein the material used in the inner core has a higher strength than the material used in the external portion.

an inner core comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or composite material; and

an external portion comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or composite material,

7. The handle of claim 1, further comprising a central attachment aperture.

8. The handle of claim 1, further comprising a grip pattern on an external surface, wherein the grip pattern has continuous parallel grooves and discontinuous longitudinal grooves.

9. The handle of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle is circular, oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal, rounded triangular, rounded quadrilateral, or rounded hexagonal.

10. The handle of claim 1, wherein the middle section further comprises a plurality of concave grooves.

11. The handle of claim 1, wherein the handle is a cable stop of the exercise equipment.

12. A handle assembly for coupling to exercise equipment, comprising:

(a) a handle comprising, a curved upper section; an elongated middle section; and a curved lower section;

wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of upper section and middle section; and

(b) a coupling mechanism for coupling the handle to said exercise equipment.

13. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle further comprises a central attachment aperture for connecting the coupling mechanism.

14. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises,

an internal attachment portion; and

an external attachment portion.

15. The handle assembly of claim 14, wherein the internal attachment portion is affixed within the central attachment aperture of the handle and the external attachment portion is coupled to an exercise machine.

16. The handle assembly of claim 14, wherein the internal attachment portion and the external attachment portion are connected by a rope, reinforced fabric, a wire, a strap, a bar or shaft, or a combination thereof.

17. The handle assembly of claim 14, wherein the internal attachment portion comprises at least one of crimp, washer, end fitting, threaded nut, a flared end, a knotted end, a burned or flared end, or a combination thereof.

18. The handle assembly of claim 14, wherein the external attachment portion comprises at least one of a metal loop, a rope cover, a hook, an eyelet, a thimble fitting, a cable stop, a socket, a sleeve or ferrule, a knotted end, or a combination thereof.

19. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of a cable stop, pulldown rope, triceps or lateral pulldown bar, resistance bands, cable machine, or a combination thereof.

20. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section.

21. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the curved upper portion and curved lower section have convex curvatures.

22. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle is comprised of a material selected from a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material.

23. The handle assembly of claim 12, further comprising.

an inner core comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material; and

an external portion comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber a metal, or a composite material,

wherein the material used in the inner core has a higher strength than the material used in the external portion.

24. The handle assembly of claim 12, further comprising a central attachment aperture which extends through the length of the handle and wherein the coupling mechanism

25. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle further comprises a grip pattern on an external surface, wherein the grip pattern has continuous parallel grooves and discontinuous longitudinal grooves.

26. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle is circular, oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal, rounded triangular, rounded quadrilateral, rounded hexagonal

27. A handle for exercise equipment, comprising:

a curved upper section;

an elongated middle section, wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing external circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section, and

curved lower section.

28. A handle comprising:

a curved upper section;

an elongated middle section;

a lower section; and

wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of the upper section and middle section.

29. The handle of claim 28, wherein the elongated middle section has a slight concave curve.

30. The handle of claim 28, wherein the curved upper portion and lower section have convex curvatures.