GB2148136A

GB2148136A - Arm exercising apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2148136A
Application number: GB08426092A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Freeman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-18
Filing date: 1984-10-16
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB8426092D0; GB8327899D0

Abstract

The apparatus 1 comprises a hand grip 3, a stop 4, against which an elbow of a user of the apparatus can be braced or supported, and a load providing device 2 comprising e.g. a one or a plurality of elastic tension ropes 5 and an upright 6. A buzzer arrangement may be provided for indicating when the arm has, in use, reached the horizontal position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Arm developer The invention relates to an arm developer, and particularly to apparatus for developing the muscles of the arm.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for developing the muscles of the arm, comprising a load providing device, a hand grip, and a stop against which an elbow of a user of the apparatus can be braced, the arrangement being such that, with the hand grip gripped, the elbow braced against the stop and the forearm upright, when the hand is moved against the load provided by the load providing device, the arm can move in an arc towards the horizontal utilising the muscles of the arm.

The load providing device may comprise a tension device and a support from which it is adapted to extend.

The tension device may comprise one or more elongate extensible members the or each of which is adapted by a connector at each end for releasable connection with a respective one or other of the support and hand grip.

The connectors may comprise a hook-like element which is releasably connectible with a respective eye-arrangement of the support and hand grip.

The stop may be adjustable in position relative to the support.

The stop may be padded.

The apparatus may comprise releasable means such as a clamp or clamps for releasable mounting on a surface such as a table top.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing the apparatus of that Fig. in use; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 3: and Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic detail of part of the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown apparatus 1 for developing the muscles of the arm, comprising a load providing device 2, a hand grip 3 and a stop 4 against which an elbow of a user of the apparatus can be braced or supported. The load providing device 2 comprises a tension device such as one or a plurality of resilient elongate elastic tension ropes or springs 5 and a support or upright 6 from which the or each tension device 5 is adapted to extend by a complementary releasable hook and eye arrangement. The hand grip and tension device(s) 5 have a complementary hook and eye arrangement which comprises releasable hooks and eyes 8. The hand grip 3 is a metal 'U' with a wooden handle, which can be grasped, parallel to the web of the 'U' in which are spaced holes or eyes 9 for receiving hooks 10 at one end of the resilient tension ropes or springs 5.The support 6 has a bar 12 in which are spaced apart holes or 'eyes' which are adapted to receive hooks 13 at the opposite ends of the elongate ropes or springs 5.

The support 6 is secured to a horizontal bar 7 (as viewed) on which is adjustably positioned the stop 4, which comprises a bearing surface and a padded member against which an elbow can be rested, the bearing surface having spaced downwardly projecting spigots for mounting in any pair of a plurality of spaced holes of the bar 7, so that with the spigots in matched holes the stop is positioned as required. It can be adjusted in position relative to the support merely by removing and relocating the spigots in a fresh set of holes.

The apparatus 1 also includes securing means much as a releasable clamp or clamps 13 whereby the apparatus 1 can be releasably secured to a surface such as a table top 14.

In use, a user first firmly clamps the apparatus 1 to the table top 14, say, using the clamps 13 and then selects one or more of the tension ropes or springs 5, or stretches and secures them with their respective hooks 13 in the eyes in bar 12. Likewise, they are secured by the hooks 10 with the hand grip 3. He then grips the hand grip 3, with his back turned on the support 6 and the shoulder directed transversely of the horizontal bar 7 and braces his elbow against the stop 4 with his forearm substantially upright; the padding affords protection against slip or friction. He then attempts to move his arm in an arc downwardly towards the horizontal, against the load provided by the or each tension device 5, which stretches to accommodate this movement. By repeating this exercise, the arm muscles are developed.

Referring now to the embodiment of apparatus 101 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, this is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2. The apparatus 101 has a load providing device 102, a hand grip 103 and a stop or fulcrum 104 against which an elbow of a user of the apparatus 101 can be braced or supported. The load providing device comprises a tension device comprising a plurality of resilient elongate elastic tension ropes or springs 105 extending from a support or upright 106. The support or upright 106 has a U-shaped bracket at one side on which a releasable fastener such as a snap hook or clip or each rope or spring is clipped.The support 106 is positioned on a base or horizontal bar 107 between two bracing blocks 106a and 106b which are screwed to the bar 107, the support 106 and blocks 106a and 106b having through bores which when the support 106 is in position and extending substantially vertically as shown are aligned. The support 106 is then secured upright by a bolt which is passed through the bores and secured with a nut in a countersunk hole in the block 106a. The support 106 is thus dismantlable, for storage and/or package and posting.

The stop 104 is locked in position by a threaded bolt 108 screwed downwardly into mating nuts (not shown) recessed into the bar 107. The stop 104 also has projecting spigots or dowels (also not shown) received in use in sockets in the bar 107 for locating at the desired position. The bolt 108 thus ensures that the stop 104 is secured in position under load, in use. There is also a housing 109 for a battery (42 V in the embodiment) connected to a buzzer which is also in the housing. The battery and buzzer are connected in a circuit with an isolating or on/off switch 109a, and an indicator or momentary switch 110which is mounted atthe end ofthe bar 107 remote from the support 106.The switch 110 is to indicate when the user has brought his arm down to the horizontal plane, the switch 110 being closed to make the circuit to the buzzer, which sounds. The momentary switch 110 comprises spaced metal conductors 111 secured to the bar 107 by screws and wired to the battery and a resilient metal contact 112 extending from one conductor 111 to overlie the other so that when forced downwardly by the users wrist it contacts the underlying fixed conductor 111 to "make" the circuit to the buzzer. The resilient metal contact 112 is rectangular and extends transversely of the length of the bar 107. There is also an indicator board 113 giving details of loads and muscle development.

The apparatus 101 is used in a similar manner to that of Figs. 1 and 2, so a description thereof will not be repeated saving that it will be understood that the switch 1 09a is switched on before taking up the hand grip 103 so that when the wrist of the user reaches the horizontal and activates the momentary switch 110, the buzzer sounds. On raising the wrist, the buzzer stops.

The embodiment 101 is particularly simple yet effective as it can be dismantled and erected easily.

In both embodiments the arm essentially travels away from the support 106, in a vertical (as viewed) planethrough the horizontal bar 107. This movement is particularly useful for developing the muscles of the arm for arm wrestling.

It will be understood that the invention above described and illustrated with reference to the drawings, may be modified. For example there may be fewer or more of the tension springs than shown, and those springs may be replaced by a weight and pulley system supported by the upright and connected by an inextensible rope with the hand grip 3. The load can be varied by using more or less weight at the end of the rope opposite the hand grip.

Further, in every embodiment, there may be a counter or recording device such as a scale or digital read-outwhich will record and/or display the "pull" achieved during the exercise. The improvement in muscle strength over a period of time can thus be monitored.

Claims

1. Apparatus for developing the muscles of the arm, comprising a load providing device, a hand grip, and a stop against which an elbow of a user of the apparatus can be braced, the arrangement being such that, with the hand grip gripped, the elbow braced against the stop and the forearm upright, when the hand is moved against the load provided by the load providing device, the arm can move in an arc towards the horizontal utilising the muscles ofthe arm.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1,the load providing device comprising a tension device and a support from which it is adapted to extend.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the tension device comprising one or more elongate extensible members the or each of which is adapted by a connector at each end for releasable connection with a respective one or other of the support and hand grip.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the support being mountable on a base to which the stop is also mountable, spaced from the support.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, the base having spaced bracer blocks between which the support is received and secured by securing means.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the securing means comprising aligned bores of the support and bracing blocks and a nut and bolt arrangement the bolt being threaded through the aligned bores to secure the support in position.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 6, the stop being adjustable in position on the base relative to the support.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, the stop being adjustable by means of a projecting spigot thereof being received in one of a series of spaced sockets of the base.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, including means to lock the stop in a required position on the base.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the means comprising a lock nut of the stop which is screw engageable with a nut recessed in the base.

11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7 to 10, the stop being padded.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, including means to indicate when an arm of a user has reached a substantially horizontal position.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, the indicating means comprising an electrical circuit including a sound-indicator and a switch operative by a wrist of a user when the arm is substantially horizontal, to close the circuit to the sound-indicator whereby to cause the sound-indicator to emit a sound.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, the soundemitter being a buzzer mounted with batteries of the circuit in a housing on the base.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, the switch comprising a resilient metal contact normally spaced above a metal contact and which is depressed by the arm or wrist to engage the metal contact to make the circuit to the buzzer.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, the circuit including an on/off switch on the housing.

17. Apparatus for developing the muscles of the arm substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.