Upper body exerciser assembly

[0002] None.

[0003] This invention generally pertains to body exercise equipment for human use, and particularly concerns an upper body exerciser assembly that may be utilized advantageously for the improvement of human upper body joint and muscle conditioning.

[0004] Many different constructions of upper body exercise equipment for human use are presently known in the United States. U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,287 issued to Nicoletti discloses a circular upper body exercise device which has diametrically-opposed fixed handles that facilitate doing upper body trunk rotation exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,405 granted to Oren et al. teaches a pivoted handgrip for upper body exercisers that involve an attached or added weight resistance. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,349 issued to Vittone discloses an upper body exerciser that has pivoted handgrips and also involves working-out against added or attached weights.

[0005] I have devised a novel upper body exerciser that does not require the use of attached or added weight resistance in order to obtain improved upper body joint and muscle conditioning and also that utilizes improved handgrips for the exerciser device.

[0006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during consideration of the descriptions, drawings, and claims which follow.

[0007] The present invention basically is comprised of tubular metal frame having a full-circle or nearly full-circle configuration, diametrically opposed hand grip mounts positioned in the plane of the tubular frame and welded to it, and improved bearing-supported handgrips carried by the tubular frame handgrip mounts and adapted to fully rotate in the plane of the tubular frame handgrip mounts. The invention tubular metal frame is sized to completely surround the upper torso of the human user of the assembly.

[0008] FIG. 1 is plan view of a preferred embodiment of the upper body exerciser assembly invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the assembly of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the assembly of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a section view taken at line 44 of FIG. 2;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a handgrip installation section view taken at line 5—5 of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a handgrip molded half;

[0014] FIG. 7 is section view illustrating the joined relationship of co-operating handgrip halves; and

[0015] FIG. 8 is plan view of an alternate embodiment of the upper body exerciser assembly invention.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, upper body exerciser assembly 10 is a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is basically comprised of a stainless steel tubular metal frame 12 having a nearly full-circle configuration, a pair of diametrically-opposed handgrip mounts 14 and 16 welded to frame 12 as shown in FIG. 5, and a pair of handgrip subassemblies 18 each installed in and carried by one of handgrip mounts 14 and 16. In the FIGS. 1 through 7 embodiment of the invention there are further included balancing weights 20, inserted inside tubular frame 12 at each end, and the friction-fit end closures 22. Such weights function to balance assembly 10 gravitationally relative to an axis passing through the geometric centers of handgrip mounts 14 and 16. The embodiment 100 of the invention illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings incorporates a rigid tubular metal frame 102 that has a full-circle configuration, and accordingly does not require the insertion of weights to obtain gravitational assembly balancing.

[0017] As shown in the section view of FIG. 5, assembly 10 further includes ball bearings 24. Also as shown in that view, handgrip subassembly 18 is preferably comprised of two identical handgrip halves 18a.Each handgrip half 18a(see FIG. 5) is preferably molded of a plastic resin having high impact strength such as high-density polyethylene. Further, co-operating handgrip halves 18aare joined together using a conventional high-strength adhesive, selected to be compatible with the plastic resin employed, at the time of the insertion of ball bearings 24 and completion of each handgrip subassembly 18.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 6, handgrip half 18ais provided with integrally molded bearing recesses 30 and 32 which each function to contain a respective ball bearing 24. Also, each handgrip half 18ais provided with co-operating (upon assembly) tapered joinder projections 34 and tapered joinder recesses 36. Elements 34 and 36, are integrally molded in the handgrip half, are alternated in position with each other, and provide the surfaces for cementing each pair of co-operating handgrip halves 18atogether. FIG. 7 illustrates the co-operating relationships which exist between the elements 30 through 36 upon the joining of handgrip subassembly halves 18a.

[0019] Upper body exerciser assembly 10 is sized so the user can conveniently position his torso within tubular frame 12 with arms extended straight and holding handgrip subassemblies 18. Repeated rightward and leftward full twisting of the user's body at the waist while properly holding assembly 10 will markedly improve the conditioning of the user's upper body joints and muscles.

[0020] Various changes may be made to the shape, size, proportioning, and materials of construction of the disclosed invention without departing from the meaning, scope, or intent of the claims which follow: