TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to exercise equipment and in particular but not limited to exercise equipment employing an extension to provide a greater range of movement of a limb to augment the force exerted by a weight comprising the load applied to that limb. More particularly the exercise device employs an arm extension that permits arm crossover in a swinging motion of a user's arms while using such exercise devices.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It is well known to utilise weights to apply load to muscles in order to strengthen the muscles and improve overall health. Most exercises involve repetitions, involving some kind of swinging movement or pulling movement against a load comprised of a static weight. Some weights involve handles as in dumbbells or bars and in other situations intervening machinery as in cables, pulleys and lifting frames are employed so that a range of weight bearing exercises may be carried out to the beneficial effect on the user.

[0003] It is also well known to provide some form of fitting or other device which may be secured to a limb and which carries the additional weight used for a particular exercise. These types of devices can include for example iron shoes which may be fitted to the feet and having projecting stubs to carry bilateral weights or simply weight packs that can be strapped to a limb and in general these weights are secured more or less directly around the limb or at its extremity or include in the case of the hands a handle which is held, and again that weight is usually very close to the hand of the user.

[0004] A search of the prior art has revealed the following patent specifications which are apposite the present invention all of which involve a handgrip, a weight, and the forearm of the user. US Patent 4,943,052 (Powers) describes a forearm mounted exercise device where, in one embodiment a weight is suspended away from the forearm on an apex of a V-frame, the V-frame being used to exercise the biceps of a user. The V-frame has two legs. A handle at one end of one leg of the V-frame is gripped by the user while the other end of the other leg of the V-frame is strapped to the users forearm. There are many problems arising from the V-frame, it is inherently unstable hence the need for a round-the-arm strap, it can not be readily adjusted and it only has a single handle option. US Patent 9,211 ,436 (Torres) illustrates a rigid J-shaped frame that suffers from similar problems to the Powers invention that also restrict its use. It is more stable in so far as the user’s forearm fits between side plates. There is no prospect for adjustment nor would it be possible to adapt for adjustment. The side plates are also restrictive and are prone to strike when a device in each hand is used in any crossover exercise. US Patent 7,303,507 (Jozsa) describes another forearm mounted device having a hand grip and which locates weight near the hand grip. The weight is on a stub which stub can rotate about the axis of the handgrip to adjust the weight position. Spaced opposed C-shaped forearm mounts may be slid apart on telescopic guides to adjust the forearm fitting. Weights may be added or removed from the stub. It is effectively a free weight dumbbell. Similar to Torres it has frame parts outside of the forearm which are also restrictive and are prone to strike when a device in each hand is used in any crossover exercise.

[0005] Other examples of forearm based exercise devices are disclosed in the following US Patents: US4, 109,908 (Pugh et al.), US4,231 ,569 (Rae), US4,345,756 (Hoagland),

US4.607.840 (Harper), US5.540.640 (Povilaitis), US6.340.341 (Purcell) and US10, 188,894 (Wang).

[0006] The above prior art is considered exemplary only, each are included only to aid understanding the present invention. The inclusion herein should not be considered to be an admission that any one or more are common general knowledge anywhere. However, they do illustrate that in terms of the common integers that each of the prior art possess with the present invention, namely a handgrip, a weight, and the forearm of the user that many inventors have thought on variations and therefore the art may be described as a“crowded art”. The present invention is a new combination of these integers so in this sense, in terms of the inventiveness of the present invention, the selection of any claimed integers from the prior art must first involve the rejection of other integers from that same prior art.

OUTLINE

[0007] In one broad aspect there is provided an exercise device comprising spaced apart first and second body mounts, a weight holder and limb extension, the limb extension having a proximal end adjacent a limb and distal end, the device having a centre of gravity when a weight is held by the weight holder, the weight holder being at or adjacent the distal end so that the centre of gravity of the device, including the weight, may in use, be located at a position outboard of the limb of a user to increase the moment relative to a swinging or pushing movement of a limb. In one embodiment there is an alternative to the prior art exercise devices by creating a limb extension having a cantilevered limb extension unit so that the centre of gravity of the device may be located at a position outboard of the limb to increase the moment relative to the swinging or pushing movement of the limb.

[0008] While the present invention is described in relation to a hand held arm extension unit it will be appreciated that the unit could be embodied in a situation where it is not hand held but is strapped to the user and thus certain exercises could be accomplished in relation to any of the limbs of the user utilising the teachings of the present invention. In the following description wherever reference is made to application of the present invention to an arm or both arms of a user and it will be understood that wherever arm is used in the present specification the present invention could also be applied to a leg or for that matter any part of the body where a cantilevered extension could be used.

[0009] In one aspect there is provided an exercise device having one end fittable to a limb of a user and a cantilevered weight carrying limb extension, the limb extension having a free end adapted to set the center of gravity of the device outboard of the centreline of the user's limb.

[0010] In another aspect there is provided an exercise method where an exercise device supports a centre of gravity of the device outboard of the centreline of the user's limb during a swinging action of the limb.

[0011 ] The said one end typically includes a limb attachment which in the case of an arm extension typically comprises one or more handles where there is typically a hand control means adapted for a user making a swinging movement of the user's hand in concert with the exercise device, adjacent the handle is an armrest or arm support associated therewith so that the hand control is mechanically interconnected to the arm extension via the armrest or arm support. [0012] The limb extension typically comprises an extension arm unit extending along the arm from the hand control to the arm support with the cantilevered weight carrying arm extension projecting away from the arm support so that the cantilevered weight is outboard of the arm during a swinging movement of the arm. While the extension arm unit may comprise parts that extend along the arm on opposite sides of the arm it is preferable that it extend in use along the arm substantially behind and outside the forearm of the user.

[0013] In one preferred form the exercise device has a pair of orthogonally set handles, an armrest, an arm extension with a free end adapted to hold a weight. Typically, the device is non-straight having an arm section which in use extends along a user's arm and then the arm extension projects outwardly. The whole device may be a non-straight integrated unit and may be articulated rather than integral. It may be fully adjustable in length along each section and each section in angular relation as may the handles be angularly adjustable. At least one handle may be stowable. The juxtaposition of the handles may be such that they are gripped following a rotation of the user's wrist while the armrest is against the user's forearm near the elbow.

[0014] The handles are secured to the device adjacent at least one storage hollow so that a handle may be pivoted relative to the arm to a stowed position. At least one handle may be in the form of a stirrup.

[0015] In at least one implementation of the method a user is positioned with arms extending bilaterally and a said device in each hand so that the user is exercised via the swinging movement of the hands through an upward arc to a crossover position of the hands above the user. In at least one version of this implementation of the method, a user is positioned supine on a bench with arms extending bilaterally and a said device in each hand so that the user is exercised via the swinging movement of the hands though an upward arc to the crossover position of the hands above the user. This implementation of the method may be accomplished using either handle for control.

[0016] In an especially preferred form the device is fully adjustable wherein the arm sections are telescopic and may be secured at preset positions and the arm sections are articulated with cooperating projections and recesses of clamp assembly between then enabling angular adjustment and securing at a particular angle. Alternatively each adjustment may be continuously variable.

[0017] With the foregoing in mind in a preferred form there is further provided an arm extension unit adapted to extend along the forearm of a user from a hand control to a forearm support, the device having three degrees of adjustment, the limb extension being retractable toward a user’s forearm, the arm extension unit being retractable along a user’s forearm and the limb extension and arm extension being pivotally connected together intermediate the hand control and forearm support.

[0018] Typically, there is an arm extension unit adapted to extend along the forearm of a user from a hand control to a forearm support, the arm extension unit being generally narrower than the forearm of a typical user. More typically there are two hand controls which may be moveable to stowed positions on swivel mounts.

[0019] In an especially preferred form the device has three degrees of adjustment, the limb extension being retractable toward a user’s forearm, the arm extension unit being retractable along a user's forearm and the limb extension and arm extension being pivotally connected together intermediate the hand control to a forearm support.

[0020] Preferably, the device is retractable toward a user’s forearm, the arm extension unit being retractable along a user’s forearm and the limb extension and arm extension being pivotally connected together intermediate the hand control to a forearm support. Preferably, these adjustments may be lockable at preset positions. Preferably, the limb extension and arm extension are pivotally connected together intermediate the hand control to the forearm support.

[0021] Typically, the handles having respective handgrips, the juxtaposition of the handgrips being such that they may be positioned so that they may be alternately gripped following a rotation of the user's wrist while the armrest is against the user's forearm near the elbow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order that the present improvements may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:-

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 4 through 8 illustrate various exercise regimes using a device according to the present invention;

Figures 9 to 11 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figures 12 to 14 are respective perspective, side and end views illustrating layout of a further embodiment.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

[0023] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 3 there is illustrated an exercise device 10 having handles 11 and 12, an armrest 13, an extension 14 and a free end 15. In this embodiment the free end 15 includes a clamp 16. The handle 11 is configured as a stirrup.

[0024] Bridging between the handles 11 and 12 is an arm section 18 which extends along a user's arm as illustrated in Figure 4 and in the embodiment illustrated the whole device is non-straight integrated unit as shown at 17. The arm extension and section 18 may be articulated rather than integral. They may also be adjustable in length and angular relation as may the handles.

[0025] As more closely illustrated in Figure 3 the handles 11 and 12 are secured to the arm section 18 via a bracket 19, pins 20 and nuts 21 and 22 so that the handles may be pivoted relative to the integrated arm 17. The handles may be moved for different exercises, for example see the handle positions in Figure 4 and in Figures 5 and 6.

[0026] It should be clear from the configuration of the device that the handles 11 and 12 are used by simple rotation of the user's wrist while keeping the forearm resting on the armrest 13. The lift frame 18 has a hollow interior so that the handle 12 may be rotated into the section 18 when the handle 12 is not being used. Various non-limiting exercise examples will now be described.

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates one exercise where the handle 12 has been stowed or removed and the handle 11 is used wherein a user 23 is positioned supine on a bench 24 with arms 25 and 26 extending bilaterally so that the user is exercised via the swinging movement of the hands 27 and 28 along the line of the arrows 29 and 30 to the crossover position of the hands illustrated at 31. Each exercise device 10 carries, in this case on its free end, a dumbbell 32, 33 and as can be seen the dumbbell is located outboard of the centreline of the user's arm and the dumbbell remains on the same side of the user while the hands 27 and 28 crossover to opposite sides of the centreline of the user. Thus this exercise provides in overlap an increase in the range of movement for this particular exercise compared to the prior art.

[0028] Referring to Figure 5, like numerals illustrate like features, in this case the user 23 utilises the handle 12, in each exercise device and carries out repetitions as shown.

[0029] In Figure 6 user 23 is positioned similar to Figure 4 but in this case uses his hands in a rotated position utilising handle 12 rather than handle 11.

[0030] Figure 7 is a further exercise arrangement where the user 23 utilises the handle 11 in a standard position whilst swinging the arms so that they overlap similar to the illustration at Figure 4.

[0031] Figure 8 again illustrates another exercise, this case utilising the handles 12.

[0032] Figures 9 through 11 illustrate another exercise device 34, in this case it is employs handles 11 and 12 as previously described, clamp 16 and an armrest 13 However, the arm sections 35 and 36 are telescopic and may be secured by a thumb screw 37 and 38 as depicted in Figure 11. In addition each of the arm sections 35 and 36 are articulated at a center pin 39 with cooperating projections and recesses 41 through 44 of clamp assembly 45 enabling angular adjustment.

[0033] Referring now to Figures 12 through 14 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention comprising an exercise device 100 having an armrest 101 and arm extension 102 adapted to extend along user's forearm and a weight carrying arm extension 103 which has a clamp 104 so that a weight (not shown) may be clamped at the distal end of the section 103. The section 103 has a retractable telescopic section 105 so that it may be extended inwardly and outwardly and there is a spring loaded stop pin 106 so that the position of the extension 105 may be selected and secured in place. The arm section 103 is pivoted to the section 102 at 107. Likewise the arm section 102 has a telescopic section 108 and a stop pin 109 is employed so that the telescopic section may be secured in place. The handle 110 is shown in its stowed position and to this extent in this embodiment the telescopic section 108 has a swivel end 111 so that the handle 110 may be swung around to the opposite to that shown in Figures 12 to 14 so that it may be used in preference to the handle 112. The handle 112 is on a stirrup assembly similar to the previous embodiments. It will be appreciated that the drawing Figures 12 through 14 are layout and partially exploded with the handle 110 not shown connected but it will be appreciated that a bolt extends through the centre of the handle 110 and is secured to the telescopic portion 108. Likewise the armrest 101 is secured to the section 102 by welding or bolting or otherwise being suitably secured.

[0034] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims.