FR2698793A3 - Wrist and forearm exercise machine. - Google Patents

Abstract

The wrist and forearm exercise apparatus includes a pressure coil spring (33) which provides adjustable resistance to user action. A spring (34) is threaded with a rotary knob (35), so as to move in a spring adapter tube (14) by the action of the rotary knob (35), so as to change the pressure of the spring compression element (34) against the pressure spring (33). A grip assembly (20) is pivotally mounted on a forearm rest unit (10) and includes a U-shaped body (21) with two parallel arms (23), and a grip piece (22) fixed to the arms (23) by two locking bolts (24). Each of the arms (23) of the socket assembly (20) has a row of successive and communicating circular holes (231) through one of which the corresponding locking bolt is passed. End portions of the engagement piece (22) can be selectively placed within two of the selected circular holes (231) which may or may not be aligned.

Description

i

  WRIST AND FOREARM EXERCISE APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

  Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for the wrist and forearm, more particularly to a safety device for strengthening the wrist and forearm of a user, which is easy to adjust.

and use.

2 Description of the Prior Art

  The improvement of this invention is made with respect to USNO Patent 4,589,655 to David Ammon which shows an exercise apparatus for the wrist and forearm, including a tension spring to apply resistance to the pivot movement of 'a gripping piece Referring to Figure 1, the tension spring 66 has two folded end portions 1 on which the tension is concentrated As a result, when the apparatus is used for a long period, the spring pull 66 easily breaks at parts 1 when it is in action, thereby projecting an end plug 74 (see Figure 2) and can injure the user by projecting the object towards his eye, etc. Consequently , it is necessary to take precautions to avoid such a mishap This device also includes two parallel rows of holes

  spaced apart formed in the arms of a plug assembly.

  The gripper can be selectively engaged with two aligned holes in the gripper assembly by removing two bolts to change the position of the gripper

  grip on the device depending on the length of the

  arm of the user, so that the user can hold the grip It takes time to adjust

  grip the device in this way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

  Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a security apparatus for strengthening the

wrist and forearm.

  Another object of this invention is to

  provide wrist and forearm exercise equipment

  arm in which the position of the grip is

easy to adjust.

  According to this invention, a wrist and forearm exercise apparatus includes an annular forearm rest unit which is shaped to allow a user's forearm to

  extend through it The rest unit of the front

  arm includes an arched front plate and an arched back plate having a front end portion securely connected to the rear end portion of the arched front plate The front and rear arch plates extend in opposite directions to from their junction When the device is used, the front part of the forearm engages the arched front plate near the wrist The rear end of the arched back plate engages the forearm near its junction with upper arm A plug assembly has a front end portion having a grip piece attached thereto, and a rear end portion connected to pivot to the front rest unit arm A deflection mechanism deflects the socket assembly to place at a predetermined position on the forearm rest unit and includes a pressure coil spring having a front end retained on the front plate in arc and a rear end An anchor is retained on the rear end of the pressure spring A cable extends through the pressure spring and is fixed to the anchor at one of its ends and to the socket assembly at the other end of the cable A resistance adjustment device includes a movable spring pressure element on which the front end of the pressure spring abuts, and a rotary knob connected operatively to the spring pressure element and which can rotate to move the spring pressure element towards the element or away from the anchoring element, so as to compress the pressure spring against the element d 'anchoring The pressure spring thus solves the concentration problem' (6 constraints

of a classic device.

  The socket assembly includes a U-shaped body having two parallel arms and a connecting portion connecting the arms Each of the arms has a row of successive and communicating circular holes formed through them Each of the circular holes has two enlarged end portions and curves The grip is an elongated rod comprising two curved end parts, each of which has a tapped hole formed in one of its end surfaces and is engaged inside one of the circular holes of one arms The socket assembly further includes two locking bolts each of which extends through one of the circular holes to engage within one of the tapped holes in the socket Each of the bolts blocking has a head and a threaded rod on the outside Each of the rods of the locking bolts has a curved and enlarged part which is engaged inside two of the circular holes res chosen in the arms of the socket assembly The two curved end parts of the socket can be positioned inside one of the two circular holes in the arms according to the length of the front user's arm by loosening the locking bolts somewhat from the workpiece

taken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

  Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear better in the

  following detailed description of preferred modes of

  embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are schematic views showing the tension spring of a conventional exercise machine for the wrist and forearm; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a wrist and forearm exercise apparatus of this invention; Figure 3A is an exploded sectional view illustrating the assembly of the cable and the housing of the exercise apparatus for the wrist and forearm according to this invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the resistance adjusting device of the wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to this invention, in which the pressure spring is

in a normal position.

  Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the resistance adjusting device of the wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to this invention, wherein the pressure spring is compressed; Figure 6 is a sectional view showing another resistance adjusting device of the wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to this invention; Figures 7 A and 7 B are schematic views illustrating the use of the wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to this invention; Figures 8 A and 8 B are schematic views illustrating the adjustment of the grip of the exercise apparatus for the wrist and forearm; and Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating how to mount the grip on the wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to this invention.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

OF THE INVENTION

  Referring to Figure 3, an exercise machine for the wrist and forearm of this

  invention includes an annular front rest unit

  arm 10, a grip assembly 20, a deflection mechanism 30, a resistance adjustment device and

a counter 40.

  The forearm rest unit 10 includes an arcuate front plate 11 and an arcuate rear plate 12 The front end portion of the arcuate rear plate 12 is integrally formed with the rear end portion of the arched front plate 11 As best shown in Figures 7 A and 7B, the arched front plate 11 and the arched rear plate 12 extend in opposite directions from their junction point Two lifting hooks aligned 111 are provided on two sides of the arcuate front plate 11, so that the socket assembly 20 mounts by pivoting on them A first mounting block 13 fixes a button mounting tube 14 to the front plate in arc 11 The button mounting tube 14 has a central hole 141 formed through it Two guide rails 142 extend from the inner surface of the button mounting tube 14 The front end surface 143 of the mounting tube

  button 14 has a hole 144 formed through it.

  The arched front plate 11 also has two mounting holes 112 formed through it behind the first mounting block 13, so as to screw on it a second mounting block 15 The second mounting block 15 fixes an adapter tube spring 16 to the arched front plate 11, such that the spring adapter tube 16 is aligned with the button mounting tube 14 in a coaxial relationship The spring adapter tube 16 has a hole central 161 formed through it, an open front end and a closed rear end 162 The spring adapter tube 16 is spaced from the button mounting tube 14 by a certain distance h, as shown in Figure 4 The tube spring adaptation 16 has a guide slot 163 formed through its front end portion The guide slot 163 has one end open at the level

  from the front end of the spring adapter tube 16.

  The spring adapter tube 16 is provided with a series of markings 164 near the guide slot 163 which represent spring pressure values An annular foam material 17 is attached to the interior surfaces of the arcuate front plate 11 and the arched back plate 12, so as to protect the user's forearm, which extends through the forearm rest unit, when the apparatus is used As best seen in Figures 7 A and 7 B, when this device is in action, the front part of the forearm engages the

  arched front plate 11 near the wrist.

  The rear end of the arched backplate 12 engages the forearm near its junction with the upper arm. The grip assembly 20 includes a U-shaped body 21 and a grip piece 22 which is presented in the form of an elongated rod The U-shaped body 21 comprises two parallel arms 23 which are interconnected by a connecting part 211 Each of the arms 23 comprises a pivot part 212 connected to one of the lifting hooks 111, and a row of successive and communicating circular holes 231 formed in the arm 23 As best shown in Figure 9, each of the circular holes 231 has two curved end portions 232; the inner part engaged with a curved end part 221 of the grip part 22 and the outer part engaged inside the enlarged and curved part 241 of the rod of a locking bolt 24 The grip part 22 has two tapped holes (22 a) formed in its end surfaces The locking bolts 24 pass through two of the selected circular holes 231 of the arms 23 of the body 21 to engage inside the tapped holes 22 a of the part As a result, by loosening somewhat the locking bolts 24 of the grip 22, the grip 22 can be moved to engage the curved end portions inside two of the selected circular holes 231 in the arms 23 according to the length of the user's forearm Thus, the user can comfortably grasp the grip piece 22 The two circular holes chosen 231 can be non-aligned, as shown in Figure 7 B fa how to increase the comfort of

grip of the grip 22.

  The deflection mechanism 30 includes an anchor element 31, a cable 32 and a pressure coil spring 33 which is disposed inside a spring adaptation tube 30 The anchor element 33 has a cylindrical housing 311 formed through it which has an enlarged end part 312 The cable 32 extends through the anchoring element 33, the pressure spring 33 and the cable hole in the connection part 211 of the body 21 of the socket assembly 20 for coupling to a plastic housing 50 of circular cross section As best shown in FIG. 3 A, after the cable 32 has been passed through the cable hole of the connecting part 211, a part of increased diameter cable 321 is attached to cable 32 and passed through a metal locking ring 51 and in the part

  enlarged 502 of the locking groove 501 of the housing 50.

  Then, the locking ring 51 is fitted on the small diameter part of the housing 50, so as to prevent the removal of the enlarged cable part 321 from the housing 50 As illustrated, the housing 50 has a small diameter part and a large diameter part in which the enlarged part 502 of the blocking groove 501 is formed The blocking groove 501 is formed in the end surface of the small diameter part of the housing 50 and divides it into two halves , which can be separated from each other to allow the cable portion of increased diameter 321 to move in the enlarged portion 502 of the locking groove 501 This is due to the fact that the housing 50 is made of a flexible plastic and the blocking groove 501 has two open ends on the sides

opposite of housing 50.

  To retain the pressure spring 33 on the cable 32, the cable 32 has an enlarged end 321 which is received inside the enlarged end part 312 of the cylindrical housing 311 The rear end part of the pressure spring 33 is fitted onto the small diameter part of the anchoring element 31 and is blocked by the large diameter part of the anchoring element 31 In the case where the socket assembly 20 rotates relative to the unit forearm rest 10, when the user releases the gripping piece 22, the deflection mechanism returns

  the socket assembly 20 to its original position.

  Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the resistance adjuster includes a movable spring compression member or an externally threaded rod 34 which extends into the front end of the tube d adaptation of the spring 16 at one of its ends and in the rear end of the button mounting tube 14 The outside threaded rod 34 includes a rear pressure end portion 36 from which a block guide 361 advances into the guide slot 163 of the spring adapter tube 16, and into two opposite guide slots 341 formed in the opposite sides of the rod 34 The guide slots 341 engage with the guide rails guide 142 of the button mounting tube 14 Consequently, the external threaded rod 34 can move axially, but cannot rotate in the spring adapter tube 16 and in the button mounting tube 14 A button rotary tubular 35 comp orte an internal threaded part 351 engaged with the external threaded rod 34, a front end fitted on the rear end of the button mounting tube 14, and a rear end fitted on the front end of the tube d adaptation of spring 16 When the rotary knob 35 is turned, the threaded rod on the outside 34 moves towards or away from the rear end of the adaptation tube of the spring 16 to compress the pressure spring 33 against the anchor element 31, so as to adjust the pressure of the spring, so as to modify the resistance to pivot movement of the socket assembly 20 by

  relative to the forearm rest unit 10.

  Referring to Figure 6, another embodiment of the resistance adjustment device is shown In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a button mounting tube 14 is securely connected to a first mounting block 13 af and a spring adapter tube 16 a is securely connected to a second mounting block 15 a so as to receive a compression spring 33 a inside Unlike the first embodiment, a guide slot 142a is formed in the rear end portion of the button mounting tube 14a and has one end open at the rear end of the button mounting tube 14a, but not formed in the adapter tube of the spring 16 a The front end of the adapter tube of spring 16 a is fitted tight in the rear end of the button mounting tube 14 a In this embodiment, the spring compression element is an element internally threaded tubular 34 a which is disposed in said rear end portion of the button mounting tube 14 a The tubular member 34 a has a guide block 341 a advancing therefrom into the slot guide 142 a of the button mounting tube 14 a, so that the tubular element 34 a can move axially, but cannot rotate in the button mounting tube 14 a The button mounting tube 14 has one end outside threaded front which is engaged with an inside threaded ring 36 a The ring 36 a has an inside edge 361 a extending radially inwards from it which is separated from the front end of the button mounting tube 14 has a predetermined distance A rotary button is generally formed in the form of a bolt 352 a which has an externally threaded rod 351 a, a head having a flange at the 352 has radially advancing from it outwards, and a central hole through which a cable 32a extends The outer rim 352 a is confined between the inner rim 361 a of the ring 36 a and the front end of the mounting tube button 14a in such a way that the head of the bolt 35a can be turned by hand Because the external threaded rod 351a is engaged inside the internal threaded ring 34a, when the head of the bolt 35 a is turned by hand, the ring 34 a moves towards the rear end of the spring adaptation tube 16 a or moves away from it to compress the pressure spring 33 a against the anchoring element 3a Referring again to FIG. 3, the counter 40 is installed on the first mounting block 13, so as to detect and indicate the number of

  pivot movement of plug assembly 20.

  The exercise machine for the wrist and

  the forearm can be operated in two ways.

  First, as shown in Figure 7 A, the arc-shaped back plate 12 is positioned below the arc-shaped front plate 11 In this way,

  the socket assembly 20 can be turned downwards.

  Second, as shown in Figure 7B, the device is reversed i.e. the arched front plate 11 is

  positioned below the arched backplate 12.

  In this situation, the grip assembly 20 can be turned upward As a result, the exercise effect of the wrist exercise apparatus and

the forearm is increased.

Claims (4)

  1 wrist and forearm exercise apparatus comprising: an annular forearm rest unit, formed so as to allow a user's forearm to extend through it , including an arc-shaped front plate and an arc-shaped back plate having a front end portion securely connected to the rear end portion of said arched front plate, said front arc plates and rear extending in opposite directions from their junction point, the front portion of said forearm engaging said arched front plate near the wrist, the rear end of said arched rear plate engaging said forearm proximity of its junction with the upper part of the arm (23); a plug assembly (20) having a front end portion having a plug part (22) attached thereto, and a rear end portion connected from   so as to pivot to said front rest unit   arms; a deflection mechanism deflecting said grip assembly (20) to locate it at a predetermined position relative to said forearm rest unit and including a pressure coil spring (33) having a front end retained on said arcuate front plate and a rear end, an anchor retained on said rear end of said pressure spring (33), and a cable extending through said pressure spring (33) and attached to said element anchoring at one of its ends and to said socket assembly (20) at the other end of said cable; and a resistance adjustment device including a movable spring compression element (34) on which said front end of said pressure spring (33) abuts, and a rotary knob operatively connected to said spring compression element (34 ) and rotatable to move said spring compression member (34) toward or away from said anchor member, so as to compress said spring compression member (34) against said anchor member. The wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said grip assembly (20) includes a U-shaped body (21) having two parallel arms (23) and a connecting portion connecting said arms (23), each of said arms (23) having a row of successive and communicating circular holes (231) formed through it, each of said circular holes (231) having two curved end portions (232), said part grip (22) being an elongated rod having two curved end parts (221) each of which has a tapped hole formed in their end surface and is engaged inside one of said circular holes (231) of one of said arms (23), said socket assembly (20) further including two locking bolts (24) each of which extends through one of said circular holes (231) to engage one said threaded holes of said grip part (22), each of said locking bolts (24) having a head and a threaded rod on the outside, each of said rods of said locking bolts (24) having a curved and enlarged part which is engaged inside one of said circular holes (231) in said arms (23) of said grip assembly (20), so that said two curved end portions (221) of said grip piece (22) can be moved to engage inside two of said selected circular holes (231) in said arms (23) along the length of the user's forearm by loosening said locking bolts (24) somewhat   from said gripping piece (22).   The wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said connecting portion of said grip assembly (20) has a cable hole formed therethrough, said deflection mechanism including a housing for plastic of circular cross section, and a locking ring made of metal, said housing consisting of a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion and formed in an end surface of said housing with a locking groove which has two open ends, said end surface of said housing being positioned in said small diameter portion, said locking groove having an enlarged portion formed in said large diameter portion, said cable extending through said cable hole of said assembly grip and in said blocking groove of said housing and comprising an enlarged end part confined inside said enlarged part of ladi the blocking groove, said blocking ring being fitted onto said small diameter part of said housing, said enlarged end part of said cable being dimensioned so as to   not being able to leave said accommodation.   4 wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forearm rest unit includes a counter installed on said arched front plate near said connecting portion of said assembly grip (20), so as to detect and indicate the number of movements   pivot of said socket assembly (20).   The wrist and forearm exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resistance adjuster includes: a spring adapter tube, fixed to said arched front plate so as to receive said spring pressure (33), a portion of said cable, and said anchor therein, having a closed rear end, and an open front end, and a guide slot formed through a wall of said spring adapter tube said guide slot having one open end at said open front end of said spring adapter tube; a button mounting tube (35), attached to said front arc plate between said spring adapter tube and said connecting portion of said plug assembly (20), aligned with said spring adapter tube in relation coaxial, having a front end positioned near said plug assembly (20), and a rear end positioned near said spring adapter tube, said cable extending through said button mounting tube (35); said spring compression member (34) being an externally threaded rod which extends into said open front end of said spring adapter tube at one of its ends and into said rear end of said mounting tube of the button (35) at the other end of said outside threaded rod, said outside threaded rod including a guide block advancing therefrom in said guide slot of said tube spring adaptation, so that said threaded rod on the outside can move axially, but cannot rotate in said spring adaptation tube in said button mounting tube (35) 3 -and said rotary button (35) being tubular and having a threaded part on the inside engaged with said threaded rod on the outside, a front end fitted on said rear end of said button mounting tube (35), and a rear end fitted ed on said open front end of said spring adapter tube; so that when said rotary knob (35) rotates, said threaded rod on the outside moves towards or away from said closed rear end of said spring adapter tube to compress said pressure spring (33) against said anchor element. 6. A wrist and forearm exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resistance adjusting device comprises: a spring adapter tube, fixed on said arcuate front plate so as to receiving said pressure spring (33), a portion of said cable, and said anchor therein, having a closed rear end and an open front end; a button mounting tube (35) attached to said arched front plate between said spring adapter tube and said connecting portion of said plug assembly (20) and having a rear end portion in which said open front end of said spring adapter tube is clamped, and a front end portion threaded to the outside, said cable extending through said button mounting tube (35), said rear end portion of said tube button assembly (35) having a guide slot open at the end formed through its wall; an internally threaded ring engaged with said front end portion threaded to the exterior of said button mounting tube (35) and including an inwardly extending flange extending radially inward from a end portion of said internally threaded ring, said inward flange being separated from said front end of said button mounting tube (35) by a predetermined distance; said spring compression member (34) being an internally threaded tubular member which is disposed within said rear end portion of said button mounting tube (35), said tubular member having a guide block advancing therefrom into said guide slot of said button mounting tube (35), so that said tubular member can move axially, but cannot rotate in said button mounting tube (35); said rotary button (35) generally being formed in the form of a bolt and having a head abutting against an end surface of said front end portion threaded outside of said button mounting tube (35) , an externally threaded rod engaged inside said tubular element internally threaded, an outward flange extending radially outward from said head into the space between said flange towards the interior of said threaded ring therein and said end surface of said button mounting tube (35) so as to prevent movement of said rotary knob (35) from said button mounting tube (35), and a central hole formed through the rotary knob (35) so as to allow said cable to extend through it; so that when said head of said rotary knob (35) is turned, said internally threaded tubular member moves towards or away from said closed rear end of said spring adapter tube to compress said spring   pressure (33) against said anchoring element.