GB2360000A

GB2360000A - An exercise device

Info

Publication number: GB2360000A
Application number: GB9930605A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Douglas Liddell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-24
Filing date: 1999-12-24
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-24
Also published as: GB9930605D0; GB2360000B

Abstract

An exercising device comprises a grip member 1 to which are connected three movement resisting arms 2. Each arm 2 may incorporate a hydraulic ram 7. Each of the arms 2 may have an attachment member 3 at its free end, whereby it may be mounted on a fixed structure, for example a wall. Each arm 2 may be linked to the attachment member 3 by a ball and socket joint 4. The other end of the arm may carry a ball 5 which is received in one of three sockets 6 spaced around the grip member 1. By gripping a handle 12 and moving the grip member in a desired direction against the resistive forces created by the three arms 2, a variable resistance in all directions is achieved.

Description

0 2.360000 1 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO EXERCISING DEVICES Various types of

gymnasium equipment are available which are capable of exercising individual parts of the body. If the user wishes to work on the muscles for a number of parts of the body then, usually, several different pieces of equipment have to be utilised. This involves substantial cost and the provision of a large area for the pieces of exercising equipment.

It is an object of this invention to provide an exercising device which can be used to exercise a variety of areas of the body.

According to the present invention there is provided an exercising device comprising a grip member from which extend three arms which terminate in attachment points, whereby a triangulated flexible connection to a fixed structure may be achieved, the arms being flexibly connected to separate points on the grip member and each being extendable against a resistive force.

When the device is mounted on a fixed structure (for example the wall of a building) by means of the attachment points the grip member can be moved in a variety of directions (against the resistive forces) by virtue of the fact that the arms are connected flexibly not only to the grip member but also to the attachment points. Various types of pulling and pushing exercises in a variety of directions can be achieved so that a number of different 2 muscle groups can be exercised.

In the preferred arrangement the grip device is essentially spherical and is provided with a gripping handle.

The flexible connection of arms to the grip member and/or at the attachment points can be achieved by ball and socket joints. As an alternative these flexible connections could be provided by resilient connecting portions or spring members.

The arms could include springs whereby the length of each arm may be modified against the resistance of the spring. In a preferred arrangement, however, the arms will incorporate pneumatic or hydraulic rams which resist extension and/or contraction of the lengths of the arms. This arrangement is particularly advantageous as resistive force provided can be modified (in a conventional manner).

In order to provide a balanced exercising activity an exercising apparatus may be provided which comprises two separate exercising devices of this invention as hereinbefore defined, each mounted onto a fixed structure so that the two grip members may readily be grasped by the two hands of a user. Furthermore the two grip members could be linked by a bar so that the bar could be used in the manner of a barbell.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercising device of this invention; and Figure 2 illustrates an exercising apparatus comprising two devices similar to that shown in Figure 1.

The exercising device shown in Figure 1 essentially comprises a generally spherical grip member 1 to which are connected three movement resisting arms 2. Each of the arms 2 has an attachment member 3 at its free end, whereby it may be mounted on a fixed structure, for example a wall. The arm 2 is linked to the attachment member 3 by a ball and socket joint 4. The other end of the arm carries a ball 5 which is received in one of three sockets 6 spaced around the grip member 1. The arm 2 incorporates an hydraulic ram 7 within which can move a rod portion 8 of the arm 2 against the fluid resistance of the ram 7. A bleed passageway 9 between the two ends of the ram 7 allows the hydraulic fluid to move from one end to the other as the rod 8 is pushed or pulled. A tap 10 can be rotated to operate a valve 11 which varies the size of the flow path through the bleed passageway 9. By this means the resistive force in the arm 2 can be varied as desired.

once the exercising device shown in Figure 1 is mounted onto a wall it can be used by gripping a handle 12 and moving the grip member in a desired direction against the resistive forces created by the three arms 2. The flexible joints 4 and 6 allow for a large degree of movement of the grip member 1 and the combination of the 4 resistive forces of the arms 2 resistance in all directions.

Two of the devices of Figure 1 can be utilised to create exercising apparatus which can be used by both hands of the user. This is shown in Figure 2. The user can pull or push each of the grip members 1 individually to perform a wide variety of exercising activities. it would be possible to inter-link the two grip members 1 by a bar such that the user could operate on the bar, much in the manner of a conventional barbell. If necessary the ends of the bar could be connected to the grip members by ball and socket joints.

Other convenient ways of providing flexiblejoints between the ends of the arms 2 and the attachment points 3 and grip members 1 may be employed. For example the arms 2 could terminate in resilient connecting portions which are attached to the grip member 1 and to the attachment points 3. Such resilient connecting portions could at the ends of the arms. it the arms 2 in the form of coil provide the necessary degree of the desired resistive forces comprise conical springs would be possible to make springs which would both flexibility and create against compression or extension.

The apparatus could be connected to any convenient fixed structure, for example the cross members and support stanchions of a structure for carrying a child's swing.

will create variable

Claims

1 An exercising device comprising a grip member from which extend three arms which terminate in attachment points, whereby a triangulated flexible connection to a fixed structure may be achieved, the arms being flexibly connected to separate points on the grip member and each being extendable against a resistive force.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the grip device is essentially spherical and is provided with a gripping handle.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the arms to the grip member and/or at the attachment points is achieved by ball and socket joints.

4. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flexible connections are provided by resilient connecting portions or spring members.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the arms include springs whereby the length of each arm may be modified against the resistance of the spring.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the arms incorporate pneumatic or hydraulic rams which resist extension and/or contraction of the lengths of the arms.

7. Exercising apparatus comprising two separate exercising devices as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and each mounted onto a fixed structure so that the two 6 grip members may readily be grasped by the two hands of a user.

8. Exercising apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the two grip members are linked by a bar so that the bar can be used in the manner of a barbell.

9. An exercising device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.