Exercise device for the upper torso of a user

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an exercise device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device for the upper torso of a user.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Numerous innovations for exercise devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

[0006] A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 428,454 to Fischer et al. teaches the ornamental design for an exercise device.

[0007] A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,866 to Mattox teaches an improved wheeled exercise device which is adjustable for users of different size and muscle capability. The device comprises a wheel rotatable mounted on an axle, a pair of handgrips telescopically mounted on the axle, and a length of elastic tubing telescopically mounted on the opposite ends of the axle. A pair of pads are adjustably mounted on the elastic tubing. The pads may be moved to different points along the length of the tubing to accommodate users of different size and strength. The user kneels or stands on the pads, grips the handgrips, and rolls the wheel and axle forward, away from the pads until the user is in the prone position. Thereafter, the user rolls the axle and wheel backward, until the starting position is reached.

[0008] A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,707 to Daniel et al. teaches a device for exercising a user's upper torso that utilizes a minimum of space. A wheeled housing is provided with a handle member providing an effective grip to a user who will lean his or her body's weight against the device is coupled to one or more of the wheels to display the amount of rotation of the wheels thereby giving an indication to a user of the amount of exercise undertaken. A reader of the movement of the device has an output connected to a counter/display that is resettable. The reader is mounted in a spring loaded cavity so that an effective outwardly force brings its ball member in contact with the surface.

[0009] A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,901 to Palacios teaches an exercise apparatus of a push-pull type for exercising a person's abdominal muscles that includes a track unit formed by a track board having an upper, body supporting surface extending between front and rear ends; an elongate, track-supporting base board for extending horizontally across a floor; a knee support on the base board adjacent the rear end of the track board; and, a support member for supporting the track board pivotally connected to overlie the base board with the rear end adjacent the base board and the front end at selected elevations. A hand-grip carriage unit with a pair of hand grips and an elbow support aligned rearward of the hand-grips is removably mounted by rollers on the body supporting surface for reciprocal rolling movement therealong. An anchoring unit for a person's legs or hands, alternatively, can be releasably mounted to the front end of the track board, when elevated.

[0010] It is apparent that numerous innovations for exercise devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

[0011] ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an exercise device for the upper torso of a user that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0012] ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an exercise device for the upper torso of a user that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0013] STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an exercise device for the upper torso of a user that is simple to use.

[0014] BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an exercise device for the upper torso of a user that includes a base, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a handle assembly. The base is equilateral triangular-shaped and has an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface. The handle assembly is swivelly positioned in the uppermost surface of the base so as to allow the handle assembly to achieve a desired hand position relative to the plurality of wheel assemblies. The plurality of wheel assemblies are three and in combination with the base being equilateral triangular-shaped, prevent rocking. Each wheel assembly is rotatably mounted in the lowermost surface of the base.

[0015] The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

[0016] The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the present invention in use;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by arrow 3 in FIG. 2 of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line 4—4 in FIG. 3 of the handle assembly of the present, invention; and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line 5—5 in FIG. 3 of a typical wheel assembly of the present invention.

[0022] 10 exercise device of present invention for upper torso 12 of user 14

[0023] 12 upper torso of user 14

[0024] 14 user

[0025] 16 base

[0026] 18 plurality of wheel assemblies

[0027] 20 handle assembly

[0028] 22 uppermost surface of base 16

[0029] 24 lowermost surface of base 16

[0030] 25 three corners of base 16

[0031] 26 throughbore extending centrally through base 16

[0032] 28 blindbore in uppermost surface 22 of base 16

[0033] 30 three blindbores in lowermost surface 24 of base 16

[0034] 31 notches in lowermost surface 24 of base 16

[0035] 32 resilient donut of handle assembly 20

[0036] 34 disk of handle assembly 20

[0037] 36 uppermost surface of disk 34 of handle assembly 20

[0038] 38 lowermost surface of disk 34 of handle assembly 20

[0039] 40 handle of handle assembly 20

[0040] 42 screws of handle assembly 20

[0041] 44 threaded rod of handle assembly 20

[0042] 46 back plate of handle assembly 20

[0043] 48 uppermost surface of back plate 46 of handle assembly 20

[0044] 50 lowermost surface of back plate 46 of handle assembly 20

[0045] 52 throughbore extending centrally through back plate 46 of handle assembly 20

[0046] 54 blindbore in uppermost surface 48 of back plate 46 of handle assembly 20

[0047] 56 washer of handle assembly 20

[0048] 58 wing nut of handle assembly 20

[0049] 60 wheel of each wheel assembly of plurality of wheel assemblies 18

[0050] 62 throughbore extending centrally and horizontally through wheel 60 of each wheel assembly of plurality of wheel assemblies 18

[0051] 64 axle of each wheel assembly of plurality of wheel assemblies 18

[0052] 66 pair of retaining straps of each wheel assembly of plurality of wheel assemblies 18

[0053] 68 screws of each wheel assembly of plurality of wheel assemblies 18

[0054] Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the exercise device of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for the upper torso 12 of a user 14.

[0055] The overall configuration of the exercise device 10 can best be seen in FIG. 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0056] The exercise device 10 comprises a base 16, a plurality of wheel assemblies 18 that rotatably depend from the base 16, and a handle assembly 20 that extends upwardly from the base 16.

[0057] The specific configuration of the base 16 can best be seen in FIGS. 3-5, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0058] The base 16 is flat, equilateral triangular-shaped, and has an uppermost surface 22, a lowermost surface 24, and three corners 25.

[0059] The base 16 further has a throughbore 26 that extends centrally therethrough, from the uppermost surface 22 thereof to the lowermost surface 24 thereof.

[0060] The throughbore 26 in the base 16 is cylindrically-shaped, and has an axis that is vertically-oriented.

[0061] The uppermost surface 22 of the base 16 has a blindbore 28 that depends therein, and is wider than, communicates with, and is concentric with, the throughbore 26 through the base 16.

[0062] The blindbore 28 in the uppermost surface 22 of the base 16 is disk-shaped, and has an axis that is vertically-oriented.

[0063] The lowermost surface 24 of the base 16 has three blindbores 30 that extend therein, and are parallel to each other.

[0064] Each blindbore 30 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16 is disposed in proximity to a respective corner 35 of the base 16, is semi-disk-shaped, and has an axis that is horizontally-oriented.

[0065] The lowermost surface 24 of the base 16 further has notches 31 that are cylindrically-shaped, and extend along the axis of, to each side of, and communicate with, each blindbore 30 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16.

[0066] The specific configuration of the handle assembly 20 can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0067] The handle assembly 20 comprises a resilient donut 32 that is seated in the blindbore 28 in the uppermost surface 22 of the base 16.

[0068] The handle assembly 20 further comprises a disk 34 that is swivelly positioned in, and substantially conforms to, the blindbore 28 in the uppermost surface 22 of the base 16 so as to allow the handle assembly 20 to achieve a desired hand position relative to the plurality of wheel assemblies 18.

[0069] The disk 34 of the handle assembly 20 overlies the resilient donut 32, and has an uppermost surface 36 and a lowermost surface 38.

[0070] The handle assembly 20 further comprises a handle 40 that is inverted U-shaped, and is affixed centrally on the uppermost surface 36 of the disk 34, by screws 42.

[0071] The handle assembly 20 further comprises a threaded rod 44 that depends centrally from, by being partially threaded into, the lowermost surface 38 of the disk 34, and extends through the throughbore 26 in, and past the lowermost surface 24 of, the base 16.

[0072] The handle assembly 20 further comprises a back plate 46 that is disk-shaped, and has an uppermost surface 48, a lowermost surface 50, and a throughbore 52 that extends centrally therethrough, from the uppermost surface 48 thereof to the lowermost surface 50 thereof.

[0073] The uppermost surface 48 of the back plate 46 has a blindbore 54 that depends therein, and is wider than, communicates with, and is concentric with, the throughbore 53 through the back plate 46.

[0074] The uppermost surface 48 of the back plate 46 abuts against the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16, the blindbore 54 therein is wider than, and concentric with, the throughbore 26 through the base 16, and the threaded rod 44 extends through the throughbore 52 in the back plate 46, receives a washer 56, and threadably engages a wing nut 58 which when tightened causes the blindbore 54 in the back plate 46 and the resilient donut 32 to compress and maintain the handle 40 in a desired swiveled position.

[0075] The specific configuration of each wheel assembly 18 can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0076] The plurality of wheel assemblies 18 was chosen to be three and in combination with the base 16 being chosen to be equilateral triangular-shaped, prevent rocking.

[0077] Each wheel assembly 18 comprises a wheel 60 that is rotatably mounted in a respective blindbore 30 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16, and has a throughbore 62 that extends centrally and horizontally therethrough.

[0078] Each wheel assembly 18 further comprises an axle 64 that extends fixedly in, and equidistantly past both sides of, the wheel 60 to a pair of free ends which are rotatably received in the notches 31 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16 of an associated blindbore 30 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16.

[0079] Each wheel assembly 18 further comprises a pair of retaining straps 66 that straddle the wheel 60, are attached to the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16 by screws 68, and extend orthogonally across, and maintain in the notches 32 in the lowermost surface 24 of the base 16, the axle 64.

[0080] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0081] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an exercise device for the upper torso of a user, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0082] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.