FIELD

[0001] The invention concerns an exercise device, in particular but not exclusively, an exercise device for strength / resistance training.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Strength training (also referred to as resistance training) is the use of resistance to effect muscular contraction to build strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles. Strength training is based on the principle that muscles of the body will work to overcome a resistance force when required to do so. Athletes engaged in a repeated and consistent resistance training program will experience strengthening in those muscles being exercised. A well-rounded fitness program includes resistance training to improve bone, joint function, bone density, muscle, tendon and ligament strength as well as aerobic exercise to improve heart and lung fitness, flexibility and balance exercises.

[0003] Various types of exercise equipment are known for use in resistance training. Many such resistance training equipment include pull handles connected to cables, weights or other forms of resistance. In use, a person will grip the handle to cause some movement against a resistive force, for example the force required to lift an amount of weights. One drawback of conventional handles is the fact that they normally have a fixed point of attachment, therefor offering a limited range of movement which do not account for the rotation of a user's hand or wrist as the user's hand extends through the range of motions required to perform a particular type of exercise. Such limitation may result in injury due to unnatural stresses imparted to a user's joints, tendons and/or ligaments.

[0004] Published US patent application 2010/0113234 seeks to address the above problems by providing an ergonomically designed pull handle which avoids unnatural stresses in a user's body. The pull handle of that US application includes one or more axes of rotation in the pull handle.

OBJECT

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative exercise device for use in strength / resistance training. SUMMARY

[0006] According to a first aspect there is disclosed herein an exercise device for strength training, the exercise device including: a device frame for operative coupling to a load during a strength training exercise, the device frame defining a device track; and a handle assembly for operative attachment to the device frame, the handle assembly including (i) a hand grip to be held by a user during the strength training exercise, and (ii) a track follower formation attached to the hand grip, the track follower formation operatively adapted for movement along the device track during the strength training exercise.

[0007] Preferably the device frame includes at least one connector for operative coupling to an elongate body.

[0008] Preferably the at least one connector includes a flange having an aperture to facilitate attachment to the elongate body.

[0009] Preferably the device frame includes a plurality of connectors.

[0010] Preferably the device frame includes a first frame member and an opposing second frame member.

[0011] Preferably the first frame member is releasably secured to the second frame member.

[0012] Preferably the first frame member is releasably secured to the second frame member with a plurality of fasteners.

[0013] Preferably each fastener includes a nut and a bolt.

[0014] Preferably the first frame member and the second frame member are of identical construction.

[0015] Preferably the handle grip is elongate and longitudinally extends along a handle grip axis, the handle grip being attached to the track follower so as to be adapted for pivotal motion about the handle grip axis.

[0016] Preferably the device frame defines a curved device track.

[0017] Preferably the track follower is curved as to be complemental to the curved device track. [0018] Preferably the handle assembly is adapted to undergo rotational movement as the track follower is moved along the device track.

[0019] Preferably the handle assembly includes a device track engagement formation adapted for engaging a complemental handle assembly engagement formation of the device track.

[0020] Preferably the device track engagement formation includes at least one groove and the handle assembly includes at least one outwardly extending protrusion adapted to be received within the at least one groove.

[0021] Preferably the device frame defines a connector track.

[0022] Preferably the connector track includes a connector track base and a connector slot formed within the device frame.

[0023] Preferably the flange of the at least one connector is adapted to pass through the connector slot.

[0024] Preferably the at least one connector includes a connector body wherein the flange outwardly extends from the connector body, the connector body adapted to be secured between the connector track base and the connector slot with the flange passing through the connector slot, wherein the connector flange is adapted to be moved along the connector slot.

[0025] Preferably the at least one connector is a first connector and the device frame includes two connectors, wherein the flange of each connector passes through the connector slot and wherein each connector flange is adapted to be moved along the connector slot.

[0026] In an embodiment (i) the device track is a first device track and the exercise device includes a second device track, and (ii) the handle assembly is a first handle assembly and the exercise device includes a second handle assembly.

[0027] In a second aspect there is disclosed herein an exercise device for strength training, the exercise device including: a device frame for operative coupling to a load during a strength training exercise, the device frame defining a device track; a handle assembly for operative attachment to the device frame, the handle assembly including (i) a hand grip to be held by a user during the strength training exercise, and (ii) a track follower formation attached to the hand grip, the track follower formation operatively adapted for movement along the device track during the strength training exercise; and a resilient body operatively coupled to the device frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a user employing a first embodiment exercise device during a strength training exercise;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment exercise device of Figure 1 without a resilient body;

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the exercise device of Figure 2;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of different positions of a handle assembly of the exercise device of Figure 2;

[0033] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of different positions of a connector of the exercise device frame of Figure 2;

[0034] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the handle assembly illustrating pivotal movement of a grip handle about a longitudinal grip handle axis;

[0035] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a user employing a second embodiment exercise device during a strength training exercise;

[0036] Figure 8 is a schematic front view of exercise device of Figure 7;

[0037] Figure 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the exercise device of Figure 7

[0038] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment exercise device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Figure 1 shows a user employing an embodiment exercise device, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10, to perform a strength training exercise. The exercise device 10 includes two device frames 12 which are connected to a resilient body 14. The resilient body 14 includes a plurality of resilient bands 16. By having the user stand on the resilient bands 16, the device frames 12 are coupled to a load when the resilient bands 16 are stretched. As a result, the muscles of the user's body are caused to work to overcome the resistance force created by the stretched resilient bands 16. During this strength training exercise muscle fibres of the user are broken down. In the days following the exercise the fibres will repair and grow stronger to meet demands placed thereon when next using the exercise device 10.

[0040] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the device frame 12 frame includes a first frame member 18 and an opposing second frame member 20 which are releasably secured to each other. The first and second frame members 18, 20 each includes a track portion 22 which co-operate to define a device track 24 when the first and second frame members 18, 20 are secured to one another. The first and second frame members 18, 20 are of identical construction and can be aligned so that fastener openings 26 of the first and second frame members are located in register so as to be secured with fasteners 28. In this embodiment the fasteners 28 each include a bolt 30 and nut 32.

[0041] The exercise device 10 further includes a handle assembly 34 for operative attachment to the device frame 12. The handle assembly 34 includes a hand grip 36 held by a user during a strength training exercise. The handle assembly 34 further includes a track follower formation 38 attached to the hand grip 30. The track follower formation 38 is operatively adapted for movement along the device track 24 during the strength training exercise.

[0042] As shown, the device frame 12 defines a curved device track 24. The track follower formation 38 is curved so as to be complemental to the curved device track 24. The handle assembly 34 is adapted to undergo rotational / pivotal movement as the track follower formation 38 is moved along the device track 24. The rotational / pivotal movement of the handle assembly 34 is illustrated in Figure 4.

[0043] The handle assembly 34 includes a device track engagement formation 40 adapted for engaging a complemental handle assembly engagement formation 42 of the device track 24. The device track engagement formation 40 includes a number of grooves 44 and the handle assembly 34 includes a number of outwardly extending protrusions 46 adapted to be received within the grooves 44. The device track engagement formation 40 also includes a number of outwardly extending protrusions 48 and the handle assembly 34 includes a number of non-illustrated grooves for receiving the protrusions 48.

[0044] The device frame 12 includes two connectors 50 which are operatively adapted to couple to an elongate body, in this embodiment the resilient body 14. Each connector 50 includes a connector body 51 and a connector flange 52 outwardly extending from the connector body 51. The connector flange 52 defines an aperture 54 to facilitate attachment to the resilient body 14.

[0045] The device frame 12 defines a connector track 56 which includes a connector track base 58 and a connector slot 60 formed within the device frame 12. The dimensions of the connector flange 52 and the connector slot 60 is such that the flange 52 is adapted to pass through the connector slot 60. Furthermore, the dimensions of the connector body 51 is such that the connector body 51 is adapted to be secured between the connector track base 58 and the connector slot 60. The connector flange 52 is adapted to be moved along the connector slot 60 so that the connector 50 can be moved around the device frame 12 as shown in Figure 5. The purpose of the movable connectors 50 is to provide a user with the ability to change direction of the device frame 12 orientation when the user is required to do a pull forward to the chest exercise, the device frame 12 does not get in the way of the user's wrist.

[0046] Referring to Figure 3 the handle grip 36 is elongate and longitudinally extends along a handle grip axis 62. The handle grip 36 is attached to the track follower formation 38 so as to be adapted for pivotal motion about the handle grip axis 62. This pivotal movement is illustrated in Figure 6.

[0047] Figures 7 to 9 show a second embodiment exercise device 70. In this embodiment the exercise device 70 includes a first and second device track 72, 74, coupled via a central portion 73, which respectively engage a first handle and second handle assembly 76, 78. The first and second handle assemblies 76, 78 are adapted to undergo rotational movement respectively within the first and second device track 72, 74 in the manner discussed above. The exercise device 70 also includes a number of connectors 80 which, unlike the connectors 50 of the exercise device 10, are fixed in numerous positions about the exercise device 70. By securing a resilient body in different positions a user is provided with numerous exercise positions.

[0048] The exercise device 70 allows a user to conduct exercises on both sides of the body independently. The rotating handle assemblies 34 allow a user to position their hand grip at different angles to work different parts of the body. Typically, the hand assemblies 76, 78 are adapted for rotation through 360°.

[0049] Figure 10 shows a third embodiment exercise device 90. The exercise device 90 is similar to the exercise device 70 in that it includes a first and second device track 92, 94 coupled via a central portion 93, which respectively engage a first handle and second handle assembly 96, 98. The first and second handle assemblies 96, 98 are adapted to undergo rotational movement respectively within the first and second device track 92, 94 as discussed above. The exercise device 70 also includes a number of connectors 100 which are fixed in numerous positions about the exercise device 90. However, unlike the exercise device 70, the exercise device 90 also includes a number of connectors 102 which are able to undergo movement in a manner similar to the connectors 50 of the exercise device 10.

[0050] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.