RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

63/153,228 filed February 24, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference in their entireties for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The disclosure herein relates generally to items for use in strength training exercises. More particularly, disclosed herein is an exercise staff and its method of use.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional exercise staffs, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Patent No.

9,126,075, commonly include springs and weights for providing exercise resistance. What is needed is an exercise staff with improvements in resistance adjustability, size adjustability and coupling features.

SUMMARY

[0004] Examples of a variable force pneumatic exercise staff and associated methods in accordance with the present disclosure address one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0006] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is shown in a compressed configuration;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of the example variable force pneumatic exercise staff of FIG. 1, but wherein the pneumatic cylinder is shown in an extended configuration;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an example cylinder housing, as taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 4, but wherein the resistance controller is shown threadedly rotated into a partially open state in order to enable air to restrictedly flow between the proximal chamber and the ambient environment;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic partial top view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the staff includes an example resistance setting indicator associated with an example resistance controller;

[0013] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic partial top view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the staff includes an example pressure gauge which may be in pressure communication with, for example, the proximal chamber of the pneumatic cylinder; [0014] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic partial top view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the staff includes an example dynamometer to measure and indicate the power of the user using the staff;

[0015] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff shown in a disassembled state;

[0016] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one example pneumatic cylinder shown in an extended configuration;

[0017] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic partial perspective view of the of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the resistance controller is shown having been threadedly removed from the resistance control port;

[0018] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic partial perspective view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff, showing an example of a handle interface element affixed to the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder by way of a handle interface fastener;

[0019] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic end view of the handle interface element and handle interface fastener of FIG. 13;

[0020] FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic partial perspective view illustrating staff first ends of respective staff segments being coupled together by mutual threaded engagement with a staff segment coupler;

[0021] FIG. 16 is a further diagrammatic partial perspective view illustrating staff first ends of respective staff segments being coupled together by mutual threaded engagement with a staff segment coupler; [0022] FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic top view of one example variable force pneumatic exercise staff comprising two staff segments rigidly coupled together by way of a segment coupler;

[0023] FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of one example handle element;

[0024] FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one example end cap element being threadedly attached to an example handle element;

[0025] FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one example end cap element;

[0026] FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic side view of the example end cap element of

FIG. 20;

[0027] FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along lines 22-22 of

FIG. 21;

[0028] FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic side view of one alternate example variable force pneumatic exercise staff in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the handle element defines a grip axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the pneumatic cylinder;

[0029] FIGS. 24-29 are diagrammatic front views showing a sequence in which a user is implementing an example method of using a variable force pneumatic exercise staff, and one or more of the compression and extension movements are performed simultaneously with a corresponding outward or inward motion of the user’s arms with respect to the user’s torso; [0030] FIGS. 30 is a diagrammatic view showing a user manually adjusting the extension resistance force or the compression resistance force of the staff by way of the resistance controller;

[0031] FIGS. 31 is a diagrammatic view showing a user demonstrating a safety aspect of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the pneumatic cylinder dampens its spring-biased movement toward the compressed configuration, thereby preventing accidental crushing and pinching injuries to adjacent body parts;

[0032] FIGS. 32 and 33 are diagrammatic front views showing an alternate sequence in which a user is implementing an example method of using a variable force pneumatic exercise staff, wherein the compression and extension movements are performed simultaneously with a corresponding bicep motion;

[0033] FIGS. 34 and 35 are diagrammatic perspective views showing the user of an example variable force pneumatic exercise staff conveniently adjusting the resistance controller in the middle of a set of exercise repetitions without requiring disruption of the grip of each hand on the staff;

[0034] FIGS. 34 and 35 are diagrammatic perspective views showing the user of an example variable force pneumatic exercise staff conveniently adjusting the resistance controller in the middle of an exercise movement without requiring disruption of the grip of each hand on the staff;

[0035] FIG. 36 is diagrammatic view showing the user of an example variable force pneumatic exercise staff applying compressive force on the staff with palms facing one another rather than being gripped around the staff;

[0036] FIG. 37 is diagrammatic view showing the user of an example variable force pneumatic exercise staff demonstrating how compression and extension exercises may be performed simultaneously with a corresponding rotation (e.g., twisting) of the handle element about the longitudinal axis with respect to the pneumatic cylinder;

[0037] FIG. 38 is diagrammatic view showing the user of an example variable force pneumatic exercise staff demonstrating how asymmetric weighting of the staff about its center point may facilitate warm-up and range-of-motion swinging exercises;

[0038] FIG. 39 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view illustrating a example of handle interface element with a spring biased pin for selectably engaging corresponding pin engagement apertures in the handle element, thereby allowing a user to selectively adjust the overall length of the exercise staff;

[0039] FIG. 40 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 39, but wherein the spring-biased pin is shown having been inwardly-depressed against the spring bias, thereby allowing the axial position of the handle interface element to be slidably adjusted within the handle element;

[0040] FIG. 41 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 40, but wherein the axial position of the handle interface element is shown being adjusted within the handle element; and

[0041] FIG. 42 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 39, but wherein the axial position of the handle interface element is shown having been locked in a different axial position with respect to the handle element by way of the spring biased pin engaging a different pin engagement aperture in the handle element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views. [0043] With reference to the several drawings, embodiments of a variable force pneumatic exercise staff are shown generally at 100, and may preferably comprise at least one staff segment 102. The staff segment 102 preferably includes a pneumatic cylinder 106 and a handle element 108.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the pneumatic cylinder 106 may be elongated along a longitudinal axis 104. The pneumatic cylinder 106 may have a handle engagement end 114 and a staff first end 110 disposed oppositely of one another along the longitudinal axis 104. A cylinder length 118 may be being defined, for example, by the distance between the handle engagement end 114 and the staff first end 110. The pneumatic cylinder 106 may be actuatable between a compressed configuration (see, for example, FIGS. 1 and 3), and an extended configuration (see, for example, FIGS. 2 and 4) such that the cylinder length 118 is greater in the extended configuration than in the compressed configuration. The cylinder length 118 may preferably be at least 6 inches greater when the pneumatic cylinder 106 is in the extended configuration than when the pneumatic cylinder 106 is in the compressed configuration.

[0045] The handle element 108 may be affixed to the handle engagement end

114. For example, a handle interface element 170 may be affixed to the piston rod 142 and configured to threadedly engage the handle element 108 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13). Alternatively or in addition, referring to FIGS. 39-42, the handle interface element 170 may include spring-biased pins 206 configured to selectively laterally- engage corresponding pin engagement apertures 208 in the handle element 108. In certain such embodiments of the staff 100, this allows a user to conveniently and selectively adjust the overall length of the staff 100. A pin spring 210 may be provided to provide the spring biasing of the spring biased pin 206, and the spring bias may be configured to be overcome by application of a pin force F _¾ by a user. It is further envisioned that other length-adjustable connection mechanisms may be used to adjustably affix the handle interface element 170 to the handle element 108. [0046] Referring to FIG. 3, the handle element 108 may define a grip axis 134 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 104. In the alternative, referring to FIG. 23, the handle element 108 may define a grip axis 134 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 104. The handle element 108 may optionally include a hand grip surface 136 which is frictionally enhanced. Such frictional enhancement may be by way of, for example, frictional a rubber coating, cloth tape or knurling. The handle element 108 may preferably be configured to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis 104 with respect to the pneumatic cylinder 106. Preferably, the rotatability is unrestricted, allowing continuous rotation of the handle element 108 in either direction about the longitudinal axis 104 with respect to the pneumatic cylinder 106. The handle element 108 may include an end cap element 122 which may be selected or modified based upon aesthetic or functional objectives. By way of example, the end cap element 122 may be selectably replaceable with heavier or lighter versions of the end cap element 122, depending upon how the user wishes to adjust the center of gravity of the staff 100.

[0047] The pneumatic cylinder 106 may is configured to user-adjustably provide

(i) an extension resistance force 162 for resisting the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the extended configuration, and (ii) a compression resistance force 160 for resisting the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the compressed configuration.

[0048] Particular embodiments of the pneumatic cylinder 106 may include a resistance controller 124 configured to allow a user 200 of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 to manually adjust the extension resistance force 162 and the compression resistance force 160. Such manual adjustment may be by way of, for example, rotation of the resistance controller 124. Referring to FIG. 6 for example, threaded rotation of the example resistance controller 124 in a counter-clockwise direction may transport the resistance controller 124 from fully sealing engagement with resistance control port 148 (as shown in FIG. 4) to at least partially open the control port 148 to fluid communication with the ambient environment 154 (as shown in FIG. 6). This allows the user to conveniently and selectively restrict the airflow 182 between the ambient environment 154 and the proximal chamber 144 of the pneumatic cylinder 106. This, in turn allows the user to set the amount of extension and/or compression resistance provided by the pneumatic cylinder 106, and the starting configuration for that resistance.

[0049] In particular embodiments of a variable force pneumatic exercise staff

100, the resistance controller 124 may be in the form of a rotating lever, or a manually- actuatable pump (e.g., pressable resilient pump membrane). Moreover, a resistance controller 124 may include, for example, a dial, +/- symbology or color coding to visually indicate its position. Furthermore, certain implementations of a resistance controller 124 may feature tactile detents which allow the user to determine and set the rotational orientation of the resistance controller 124 by feel.

[0050] By way of one particular example, if the user would like the exercise staff

100 to provide increased resistance against the user’s compression movement (e.g., in compression direction 156), the user may open the resistance control port 148 by turning the resistance controller 124 counterclockwise, move the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the extended position, then close the control port 124 partially or fully by turning the resistance controller 124 clockwise. This process partially or fully traps a volume of air within the proximal chamber, thereby increasing the amount of compression force required to move the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the compressed configuration during the exercise.

[0051] Similarly, if the user would like the exercise staff 100 to provide increased resistance against the user’s extension movement (e.g., in extension direction 158), the user may open the resistance control port 148 by turning the resistance controller 124 counterclockwise, move the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the compressed position, then close the control port 124 partially or fully by turning the resistance controller 124 clockwise. This process partially or fully removes air from the proximal chamber 144, and hinders air from entering the proximal chamber during the exercise, thereby increasing the amount of extension force required to move the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the extension configuration during the exercise. [0052] Referring to FIG. 7, certain embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may further comprise a setting indicator 126 configured to visibly indicate, for example, the position of the resistance controller 124. Moreover, the exercise staff 100 may be configured to include a computer processor element and associated electronics allowing the resistance controller 124 to be operated from, or its position transmitted to, a software application operating on a user’s mobile computing device. Such control or communication may be by way of, for example, Bluetooth.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 8, particular embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may further comprise a pressure gauge 132 operably connected to the pneumatic cylinder 106 (e.g., in pressure-sensing communication with the proximal chamber 144). Alternatively or in addition, the exercise staff 100 may be configured to include a computer processor element and associated electronics allowing data from the pressure sensor to be transmitted to a software application operating on a user’s mobile computing device (e.g., cell phone or tablet) for display of the pressure data thereon. Such transmission may be by way of, for example, Bluetooth.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 9, certain embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may further comprise a dynamometer 130 operably connected to the pneumatic cylinder 106. Moreover, the exercise staff 100 may be configured to include a computer processor element and associated electronics allowing data from the dynamometer 130 to be transmitted to a software application operating on a user’s mobile computing device for display of the dynamometer data thereon. Such transmission may be by way of, for example, Bluetooth.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 15-17, particular embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may further comprise a segment coupler 128 configured to rigidly couple two staff segments 102 to one another. This would result in an exercise staff 100 which is larger and may advantageously facilitate additional resistance and non- resistance exercises. The segment coupler 128 may be configured to threadedly receive the staff first end 110 of each said staff segment 102. Such embodiments of the staff 100 may allow the coupled staff segments 102 to be quickly and easily decoupled from one another, thereby reducing their footprint for ease of storage and transportation.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in certain embodiments of a variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100, the pneumatic cylinder 106 may be resiliently biased toward the compressed configuration. Such resilient bias may be provided by way of, for example, a compression spring 152. In particular such embodiments, the resilient bias may be sufficient to autonomously return the pneumatic cylinder 106 from the extended configuration to the compressed configuration without an application of force along the longitudinal axis 104 by a user 200. The autonomous return may be pneumatically dampened.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in particular embodiments of a variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100, the pneumatic cylinder 106 may include a cylinder housing 174, a piston 138, a piston rod 142 and a resistance controller 124. The cylinder housing 174 may have defined therein a proximal chamber 144 and a distal chamber 146. The piston 138 may be in sealing relationship between the proximal chamber 144 and the distal chamber 146 (e.g., by way of a piston seal eminent 140). The cylinder housing 174 may have a resistance control port 148 and a vent port 150. The resistance control port 148 may be in fluid communication between the proximal chamber 144 and an ambient environment 154. The vent port 150 may be in fluid communication between the distal chamber 146 and the ambient environment 154. The resistance controller 124 may be threadedly received by the resistance control port 148 and may be configured to be rotated to adjust the degree to which the resistance controller 124 seals the proximal chamber 144 from the ambient environment 154, thereby allowing a user of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 to manually adjust the extension resistance force 162 and the compression resistance force 160.

[0058] In certain embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100, the staff first end 110 may include an auxiliary aperture 168 extending therethrough perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 104. [0059] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 38, in particular embodiments of the variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100, (a) the handle element 108 includes a staff second end 112 and a cylinder engagement end 116; (b) the exercise staff 100 includes a center point 120 which may be defined equidistant from the staff first end 110 and the staff second end 112. The variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may preferably be asymmetrically weighted about the center point 120. For example, the pneumatic cylinder 106 may be at least three times heavier than the handle element 108. See, for example, FIG. 38, which illustrates an asymmetric loading exercise in which it is helpful for the weight of the pneumatic cylinder 184 is greater than the weight of the handle element 108. Notably, in certain embodiments of the exercise staff 100, the handle element 108 may be configured to receive and retain removable weights therein.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 24-38, methods of using a variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100 may comprise a series of steps. A variable force pneumatic exercise staff 100, such as any one of the embodiments described herein, may be selected. The staff 100 may then be simultaneously grippingly engaged with a first hand 202 of the user 200 and a second hand 204 of the user 200. Referring to FIGS. 24-26, the first hand 202 may be moved toward the second hand 204 during the gripping engagement, thereby causing actuation of the of the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the compressed configuration. Referring to FIGS. 27-29, the first hand 202 may be moved away from the second hand 204 during the gripping engagement, thereby causing actuation of the of the pneumatic cylinder 106 toward the extended configuration. The gripping engagement may be by way of the pneumatic cylinder 106 being gripped by the first hand 202 and the handle element 108 being gripped by the second hand 204.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 30, the method of use may further comprise the step of manually adjusting the extension resistance force 162 or the compression resistance force 160 by way of the resistance controller 124.

[0062] The method of use may further comprise the step of rigidly coupling the staff segment 102 to a second staff segment 102. Referring to FIGS. 15-17, this rigid coupling may be by way of placing the segment coupler 128 in threaded receipt of the staff first end 110 of each of the two staff segments 102. In such implementations of the method of use, the gripping engagement may be by way of the handle element 108 of each staff segment 102 being gripped by a respective one of the user’s hands.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 24-29 and 32-33, in certain implementations of the method of use, each of the compression and/or extension movements may be performed simultaneously with a corresponding outward or inward motion of the user’s arms with respect to the user’s torso. Alternatively or in addition, referring to FIG. 37, each of the compression and/or extension movements may be performed simultaneously with a corresponding rotation of the handle element 108 about the longitudinal axis 104 with respect to the pneumatic cylinder 106.

[0064] The following listing matches certain terminology used within this disclosure with corresponding reference numbers used in the non-limiting examples illustrated in the several figures.

100 variable force exercise staff

102 staff segment (of exercise staff; e.g. first and second segments)

104 longitudinal axis

106 pneumatic cylinder

108 handle element

110 staff first end (e.g., on pneumatic cylinder)

112 staff second end (e.g., on handle portion)

114 handle engagement end (of pneumatic cylinder)

116 cylinder engagement end (of handle portion)

118 cylinder length

120 center point (of exercise staff)

122 end cap element (e.g., at staff second end)

124 resistance controller (e.g., rotatable)

126 resistance setting indicator (e.g., lines on valve screw to make it a dial) segment coupler (e.g., threaded tube coupling first and second staff segments) dynamometer (e.g., to measure and display user power based on use of staff) pressure gauge (e.g., in communication with proximal chamber) grip axis (defined by handle portion) hand grip surface (of handle portion) piston piston seal element piston rod proximal chamber distal chamber resistance control port vent port compression spring ambient environment (defined external to the variable force exercise staff) compression direction extension direction compression resistance force direction (e.g., linear or non-linear force) extension resistance force direction (e.g., linear or non-linear force) cylinder rotation direction handle rotation direction auxiliary aperture handle interface element handle interface fastener (e.g., threaded nut) cylinder housing piston chamber rod seal element (e.g., elastomeric o-ring) resistance seal element (e.g., elastomeric o-ring) resistance setting airflow weight of cylinder weight of handle element user of variable force exercise staff 202 first hand (of the user)

204 second hand (of the user)

206 spring-biased pin

208 pin engagement aperture

210 pin spring

F _b manual depression force on pin

[0065] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.