BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to an ambulatory exercise apparatus, and more particularly to a hand-held exercise device adapted for use while running, jogging, or walking.

Definitions

Ambulatory Exercise Device is defined to mean any exercise device or apparatus in which oscillatory motion or forces are induced by motion or forces produced by the user with said oscillatory motion or forces aiding in or producing forces or movements contributing to the effectiveness of the exercise regimen of the user.

Rod as used in describing and defining the disclosed invention is defined as meaning any elongated body or other structure in which oscillatory motion or forces may be induced by forces or motions produced by the user of an ambulatory exercise device of which the rod is a part.

User Frequency is defined as the sum of the number of impacts of the left and right foot with the ground per minute as the user of an ambulatory exercise device walks, jogs or runs.

Description of the Prior Art

Many persons regularly and deliberately engage in an exercise regimen such as running, jogging or walking. Various hand-held devices have been developed to enhance these activities based on the natural movement of the exerciser's hands. In the past, most devices have been extremely bulky and did not satisfy the need for light weight and easily transportable exercise apparatus.

For example, U.S. Patent Number 4,334,677, issued June 15, 1982 to Robert Tata, discloses a trailer designed to be drawn by a vehicle, such as an automobile or a cart. This trailer included a hand exercise device so that the trainee could exercise his or her hands, arms and shoulders while running with the trailer.

In U.S. Application Serial Number 030,397, filed March 26, 1987, entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Use in the Exercise of the Human Body," U.S. Patent Number 4,863,159 issued September 5, 1989, entitled, "Apparatus for Use in the Exercise of the Human Body," and U.S. Application Serial Number 371,143 filed June 26, 1989 entitled, "Application for Exercise of the Human Body," all by Gordon L. Brown, Jr. , there is illustrated and disclosed an exercise apparatus comprising a flexible fiberglass rod formed from a mixture of tough, hardenable resin system and essentially longitudinal fiberglass filaments. That invention is designed for a user gripping it at both ends and attempting to bend it until both ends touch each other. These patents and patent applications disclose a rod similar to the rod utilized by the disclosed invention.

A portable product called "Heavy Hands" has recently gained popularity with joggers and walkers. Very simply, the exerciser holds a weight of between one half

pound and ten pounds and under twelve inches long in each hand while exercising. The user overcomes the force of these weights while allowing his or her hand to move rhythmically thereby enhancing the exercise benefits. Similar known weight devices are strapped to the wrists or encircle part of the forearm.

The disclosed invention provides exercise benefits similar to those of the "Heavy Hand" by virtue of their weight alone. However, the invention provides additional benefits because of the device's ability to sustain controlled, rhythmical and vertical oscillation. This feature applies oscillatory forces to the hands which may exceed the weight of the device and allows the hands to move in rhythm with the movement of the feet creating a more normal and comfortable feeling than with a weight alone.

Objects of the Invention

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved, portable and light weight, exercise device to be used during running, jogging or walking, which 1) allows the user to develop his or her forearms, biceps, triceps, shoulders and chest 2) allows the user to enhance the effectiveness of his or her exercise activity at the same time that he or she is running, jogging or walking, and in the same manner he or she is accustomed to, and 3) may be used as a defensive device against animals or people.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an exercise device which is capable of sustaining controlled, rhythmical motions or forces which aid the exercise regimen of the user in response to the motions or forces generated by the user.

Summary of the Invention

The preferred use of the ambulatory exercise device is to increase the effectiveness of walking, jogging, or running exercise regimens. When so used, the ambulatory exercise device comprising the preferred embodiment of the invention is used in pairs, one for each hand.

More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the ambulatory exercise device comprises a flexible elongated rod, selectively weighted, at a selected location or locations, near its opposed ends to resonate (oscillate) at a rate dependent on the user frequency and the natural frequency of the rod (with weights) and including a hand grip, which may be near its center. The rod is capable of sustaining controlled, rhythmical and periodic oscillation in a single plane, corresponding roughly to the natural movements of an exerciser's arm. As the vibrations (motion) of the user's arm approaches the natural resonant frequency of the rod, including the weights, if any, the magnitude of the oscillatory forces rapidly increase, with the magnitude of the increase depending on the losses in the rod and the relationship between the user frequency and the natural resonant frequency of the ambulatory exercise device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a pictorial drawing illustrating the use of the ambulatory exercise device by a runner or jogger.

Figure 2 is a pictorial drawing illustrating the ambulatory exercise device.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along section line A- ¹ (Figure 2) of the rod utilized in the ambulatory exercise device.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along section line A-A ¹ similar to Figure 4, illustrating another embodiment of the rod used in the ambulatory exercise device.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the core portion of the rod used in the ambulatory exercise device.

Figure 6 is a drawing illustrating an oscillation mode of the ambulatory exercise device.

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the forces produced by the ambulatory exercise device in response to induced oscillations.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The preferred embodiment of the invention is designed to be held in the hand of the user while running, jogging or walking. The ambulatory exercise device is preferably used in pairs with one held in each hand. Since the devices comprising the pair are substantially identical, only one member of the pair will be shown and described.

Turning now to the drawings, the user holds one ambulatory exercise device 10 in each hand 15 by grasping the hand-grip 20, which is located roughly at the mid-point of a flexible rod 30. Each device 30 weighs between 1/2 and 10 pounds, is between 1' and

12' long and includes weights 80 mounted a selected distance from the ends of the rod 30, and has an outer diameter in the range of 1/4" to 1".

Other structural features of the invention are collectively illustrated in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4. Specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a rod (as previously defined) comprising a pultruded fiberglass core 40. Coaxially positioned with respect to a sheath 50 made of an extruded thermoplastic rubber.

The core 40 has a major and a minor axis, 60 and 70, and is preferably constructed using Owens-Corning Fiberglas "E-Glass" continuous roving with the resin matrix being a vinyl ester. By weight, the roving is between 50 and 85 percent of the core 40. The core 40 has a generally non-circular, oblong or rectangular cross-section having a diameter along its major major axis 60 of 1.5 to 7 times its diameter along its minor axis, so that the core has a higher flexibility in a plane perpendicular to the major axis 60. As so described, the core 30 has a flexural modulus between 5.0 and 7.5 million psi. The core may be covered with a sheathing, as subsequently described. When so constructed, the characteristics of the device are predominately determined by the core and any weights affixed thereto.

More specifically, the core 40 includes a filament matrix, a portion of the filaments being oriented at an angle of less than 3 degrees from the neutral axis 45, a portion of the filaments containing glass fibers, a portion of the filaments also being located adjacent to the outer periphery of the core, the filaments constituting from about 35 volume percent to about 70 volume percent of the core and having an ultimate elongation design value of from about 1 percent to about

6 percent. Furthermore, the resin system constitutes from about 30 volume percent to about 65 volume percent of the core and has an ultimate elongation design value of from about 1 1/2 percent to about 12 percent. As with the preferred embodiment, the core comprising this embodiment may be covered with a sheathing.

In the preferred embodiment, the user may adjust the properties of the ambulatory exercise device 30 by attaching, removing or changing the position of the weight 80. As an example, 2.745 ounce weights attached to a rod (as configured in Figure 4) sixty inches long by 13/16" outside diameter at a point four and one half inches from the ends is excellent for a jogger whose user frequency is 168 cycles per minute.

If desired, the rod 30 is covered with a colored heat shrinkable PVC as in polyvinyl chloride tubing 90 (Fig. 4) in order to give the ambulatory exercise device a colorful external appearance. Additionally, injection molded end caps (not illustrated) may be positioned on each end of the rod to further improve its appearance.

Any alternate design for the rod 30 may be used so long as the functional characteristics of the ambulatory exercise device are maintained. For example, an alternate core 40A is illustrated in Figure 5. This alternate core 40A differs from core 40 in that it includes two substantially flat side portions connected by curved end portions.

The above described ambulatory exercise device 10 can be utilized beneficially in a variety of exercise regimens, such as jogging, running and walking or any other exercise in which both hands or arms sustain repetition, periodic or rhythmical movement or vibrations. Any exercise regimen capable of inducing

sustained rhythmical, periodic, and cyclical vibrations will cause the device to be effective. Additionally, the ambulatory exercise device may be used as a weapon to protect the user from animals or other persons.

The rod 30 is capable of sustaining controlled and rhythmical oscillations induced as a result of the exercise regimen of the user. Figure 7 depicts the preferred oscillation mode with the maximum displacement of the end of the rod illustrated at Reference Numeral 100. The energy losses associated with the vibrations are dependent on the amplitude of the vibrations and the characteristics, primarily the damping factor, of the rod. The energy losses and the relationship between the user frequency and the natural resonant frequency of the rod, in turn, determine the magnitude of the forces produced by the device and interacting with the user, as subsequently described.

A properly engineered ambulatory exercise device 10 will respond and interact with -the user beneficially to increase the benefits of the exercise regimen. The device oscillates as a result of these interactions and moves in a uniform manner, is affected by acceleration, internal forces related to oscillation, and external forces such as gravity. As a result, the ambulatory exercise device exerts forces on the user which are greater than its weight. These forces interact with the user and increase the effectiveness of the user's exercise regimen.

Due to the vibrations and losses in the rod, the characteristics of these interacting forces are quite different from the forces generated by using prior art devices such as "Heavy Hands". Since the oscillations are induced by movements or forces produced by the user and controlled by the characteristic of the ambulatory

exercise device, the user may adjust his or her movements and the device to modify the interactions. Primarily, in order to maximize the interactions the rod should have a low damping factor and the user frequency should be below but near the natural resonant frequency of the ambulatory exercise device.

The ambulatory exercise device should flex rhythmically in a single plane so as not to undesirably interact with the user's movement. For example, it should oscillate in predominantly up-down, forward-backward plane because the rhythmical movement or vibration of the user's arms will be in that plane. Side-way forces are undesirable and might put the user off balance or cause the rod to stop vibrating or vibrate in a non-rhythmical manner.

In the preferred embodiment, oscillations are primarily in a plane parallel to the minor axis. The rod flexes or bends slightly when suspended in the users hand. This tends to naturally position the rod such that its minor axis is in the vertical plane thus preventing undesirable interactions between the user and the ambultory exercise device.

It is apparent that the device need not actually be held in the hands, but may be strapped to the wrists or attached on the forearms in some manner so that the user's arm and the device interact and affect each other, as described above. Further experiments may disclose other methods of using the ambulatory exercise device.

The effectiveness of the ambulatory exercise device is dependent on the interaction of the user's movements or forces generated by the user. These interactions are, in turn , dependent on the natural resonant frequency of the ambulatory exercise device.

The ambulatory exercise device can be made with different properties, such as length, weight, and resilience, in order to accommodate different forms of exercise regimens and different users. For example, a device intended for use while walking might need to be about 10' or be of increased flexibility, or have more weight added to each end, because of a walker's lower momentum and lower user frequency. Similarly, a device intended for use while running might need to be shorter or of lower flexibility than a device for jogging. In any case, the parameters of the ambulatory exercise device are easily adjusted to the needs of the user.

The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. It will be apparent, for example, that the components of the rod 30 might be of a different shape and size, such as having a circular, rectangular or figure-eight cross-section, or being of a different diameter for the entire length of the rod or different diameters at different locations along the rod. It is also apparent that different materials, such as steel bars or extruded aluminum shapes or carbon (graphite) fiber reinforced plastics as is used in constructing tennis racket frames, could also be used. These, and other variations and modifications in the above-described device, readily apparent to those skilled in the art, could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, as long as the device is generally rod-like, is capable of sustaining a controlled, rhythmical, periodic and

repetitious oscillation and flex in one plane as a result of the oscillations. As a result of these oscillations the device interacts with the user to improve the effectiveness of the user's exercise regimen.

In order to theoretically explore the limits of the above invention, a mathematical analysis of a simplified embodiment of the device was undertaken. Simplifications were necessary because the forces applied to the ambulatory exercise device by the user were very complex.

During this analysis a study was done using a mass suspended by a spring as an equivalent of the ambulatory exercise device. Using this model it was demonstrated that oscillatory forces exceeding the mass could be produced as a result of the induced oscillations. Additionally, the magnitude of these forces are related to the losses in the system. The losses, in turn, are dependent on the damping factor.

Specifically, it is quite practical to produce forces up to 5 times the weight of the mass. Test on the preferred embodiment of the invention, described above, verify the accuracy of these calculations.

Figure 7 is a graph illustrating the forces normalized for the weight of the ambulatory exercise device, as a function of the damping factor of the experimental model of the ambulatory exercise device. From this graph it is clear that the forces generated by the device can easily exceed the force of gravity by a factor of 4. Additionally, these forces are bi-directional thus supplying a complex and unique pattern of forces greatly increasing the benefit of the exercise regimen of the arms and shoulders of the user. By modifying the

damping factor of the rod and adjusting its natural resonant frequency, the user may adjust the interaction between the device and the user. Generally, in order to maximize the magnitude of the interacting forces it is desirable to select a rod having a relatively low damping factor and operating at a user's frequency below but near the natural resonant frequency of the rod. Specifically, the forces produced by the ambulatory exercise device can be described as alternating up-down forces which interact with opposite forces supplied by the user. The letters used in Figure 7 are: "M" is the magnification factor and it indicates how much the motion of the jogger's hand is magnified in the motion of the rod's weight plus the weight on the end of the rod; "W" is the normal frequency of the rod and " " is the user frequency.