GB2587306A

GB2587306A - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2587306A
Application number: GB2020557.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Cox Thomas
Original assignee: Heinz Kettler GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Heinz Kettler GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2014-01-31
Filing date: 2014-01-31
Publication date: 2021-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-31
Also published as: GB202020557D0; GB2587306B

Abstract

Exercise apparatus is provided and comprises a pair of substantially hemispherical handle bodies. Each handle body comprises a manually grippable bar. Each handle body defines a substantially central window, in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point “A” about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface. Each handle body comprises a ridge profile “B” for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about said contact point. Also disclosed is an exercise apparatus wherein the grippable bar does not project above an open edge of the hemispherical handle body.

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS

The present invention relates generally to exercise apparatus and particularly to exercise apparatus for allowing push-up exercise.

The push-up exercise is one of the most common out-of-gym exercises performed by those wanting to increase upper body strength. Though a simple, effective exercise, its technique encompasses ergonomic and physiological drawbacks that can lead to long term nerve and tissue damage in the hands and wrists; the identification of which has led to the production of push-up apparatus that supposedly addresses these issues.

Whilst current solutions on the market claim to both increase ergonomic efficiency and enhance muscle interaction, research undertaken found this in fact to be only partially true. Whilst the incorporated rotating ability of modern apparatus go some way to improving the physiological flaws identified in the push-up technique, ultimately they are flawed due to the flat surface upon which they rotate.

Through the analysis of the evident popularity and effectiveness of both the barbell and dumbbell press gym-based exercises, and how various home gym products have tried to emulate these benefits but seemingly failed to do so, a solution was sought incorporating what is proven to be the most effective principle in free-weight integration -in addition to such popular gym equipment as the Swiss Ball -the principle of instability.

The present invention provides an exercise apparatus, comprising: a pair of handle elements, and a pair of housing elements; each handle element comprises a manually grippable bar and a base portion presenting a substantially spherical contact surface, each housing element is substantially hemispherical and defines a substantially central window, and each handle element is releasably locatable within a housing element to form a substantially hemispherical handle body in which the contact surface of the handle element is presented within the window of the housing element and provides a contact point about which the housing body is rotatable when located on a support surface.

The formed handle bodies may be releasably joinable to form a substantially spherical housing.

The handle bodies may be releasably joinable by an integrated clip arrangement.

The windows of said housing elements may present a ridge profile arranged to inhibit overtilting of the formed handle body to accommodate flexion, extension, radial and ulnar hand movements. The ridge profile may be arranged to inhibit overtilting of the handle body in either direction of rotation about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar. The ridge profile may be arranged to inhibit tilting of the formed handle body beyond approximately 30 degrees of rotation in either direction about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar, from the untilted position of the handle body.

The manually grippable bars may comprise securing means to allow a 20 resistance band to be connected between them.

The manually grippable bars may be apertured to allow the end of a resistance band to be looped therethrough.

The apparatus may further comprise a resistance band containable within said substantially spherical housing.

The manually grippable bar may be positioned below the upper edge of the substantially hemispherical handle body.

The present invention also provides exercise apparatus comprising a pair of substantially hemispherical handle bodies, each handle body comprises a manually grippable bar, each handle body defines a substantially central window, in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface, and each handle body comprises a ridge profile for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about said contact point.

The handle bodies may be releasably joinable to form a substantially spherical housing.

The handle bodies may be releasably joinable by an integrated clip arrangement.

The ridge profile may be arranged to inhibit overtilting of the handle body in either direction of rotation about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar.

The ridge profile may be arranged to inhibit tilting of the handle body beyond approximately 30 degrees of rotation in either direction about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar, from the untilted position of the handle body.

The manually grippable bars may extend diametrically between opposed inner surfaces of the substantially hemispherical bodies.

The manually grippable bars may be removable from said substantially hemispherical bodies, and comprise securing means to allow a resistance band to be connected between the removed manually grippable bars.

The manually grippable bars may be apertured to allow the end of a resistance band to be looped through.

The window may be formed integrally with the handle body.

Each handle body may be formed as a one-piece construction.

The present invention also provides push-up apparatus comprising or including the exercise apparatus as described herein.

The present invention also provides an exercise kit comprising exercise apparatus as described herein together with a resistance band.

Further aspects and embodiments are considered in the following numbered paragraphs.

1. Exercise apparatus, comprising: a pair of handle elements, and a pair of housing elements; each handle element comprises a manually grippable bar and a base portion presenting a substantially spherical contact surface, each housing element is substantially hemispherical and defines a substantially central window, and each handle element is releasably locatable within a housing element to form a substantially hemispherical handle body in which the contact surface of the handle element is presented within the window of the housing element and provides a contact point about which the housing body is rotatable when located on a support surface.

2. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 1, wherein said formed handle bodies are releasably joinable to form a substantially spherical housing.

3. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 2, wherein said handle bodies are releasably joinable by an integrated clip arrangement.

4. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein said windows of said housing elements present a ridge profile arranged to inhibit overtilting of the formed handle body.

5. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 4, wherein said ridge profile is arranged to inhibit overtilting of the handle body in either direction of rotation about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar.

6. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 5, wherein the ridge profile is arranged to inhibit tilting of the formed handle body beyond approximately 30 degrees of rotation in either direction about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar, from the untilted position of the handle body.

7. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 1 to 6, wherein said manually grippable bars comprise securing means to allow a resistance band to be connected between them.

8. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 7, wherein said manually grippable bars are apertured to allow the end of a resistance band to be looped through.

9. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 7 when dependent upon paragraph 2, further comprising a resistance band containable within said substantially spherical housing.

10. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 1 to 9, wherein said manually grippable bar is positioned below the upper edge of the substantially hemispherical handle body.

11. Exercise apparatus comprising a pair of substantially hemispherical handle bodies, each handle body comprises a manually grippable bar, each handle body defines a substantially central window, in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface, and each handle body comprises a ridge profile for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about said contact point.

12. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 11, wherein said handle bodies are releasably joinable to form a substantially spherical housing.

13. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 12, wherein said handle bodies are releasably joinable by an integrated clip arrangement.

14. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 11 to 13, wherein said ridge profile is arranged to inhibit overtilting of the handle body in either direction of rotation about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar.

15. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 14, wherein said ridge profile is arranged to inhibit tilting of the handle body beyond approximately 30 degrees of rotation in either direction about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar, from the untilted position of the handle body.

16. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 11 to 15, wherein said manually grippable bars extend diametrically between opposed inner surfaces of the substantially hemispherical bodies.

17. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 11 to 16, wherein said manually grippable bars are removable from said substantially hemispherical bodies, and comprise securing means to allow a resistance band to be connected between the removed manually grippable bars.

18. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 17, wherein said manually grippable bars are apertured to allow the end of a resistance band to be looped through.

19. Exercise apparatus as claimed in paragraph 17 when dependent upon paragraph 12, further comprising a resistance band containable within said substantially spherical housing.

20. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 11 to 19, wherein the window is formed integrally with the handle body.

21. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of paragraphs 11 to 20, wherein 5 each handle body is formed as a one-piece construction.

22. Exercise apparatus comprising a pair of handle elements and a pair of housing elements, substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. Exercise apparatus comprising a pair of substantially hemispherical handle bodies, substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

24. Push-up apparatus, substantially as described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of one of a pair of hemispherical push-up devices formed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a further side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 shown with a handle part removed from a body part and ready to use with a resistance band; Figure 7 shows the view of Figure 6 with a handle bar removed from a handle part and showing how the hemisphere is constructed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a pair of devices connected together to form a spherical body; Figure 9 is a front view of the spherical body of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a side view of the spherical body of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a further side view of the spherical body of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a top view of the spherical body of Figure 8; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the spherical body of Figure 8 as the two 25 hemispheres separate ready for use; Figure 14 is a front view illustrating the push-up stands in use; Figure 15 is a perspective view of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a front view illustrating the push-up handles with a housing removed and being utilised with a resistance band; Figure 17 is a perspective view of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a hemispherical push-up stand formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 19 shows the stand of Figure 18 with a handle bar removed and thus ready to be used with a resistance band; Figure 20 is a perspective view showing two stands of the type shown in Figure 18 connected together to form a sphere; Figures 21 to 29 are a presentation illustrating the parts of usage of apparatus formed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 30 illustrates a principle of some embodiments of the present invention in 15 which a handle bar is sunken in the hemisphere.

The apparatus incorporates an innovative set of mobile, multi-functional pushup apparatus that aims to increase ergonomic efficiency and enhances both upper body and core muscle interaction, eliminating all physiological drawbacks of the technique to provide the most effective push-up performance.

The spherical profile of each of a pair of hemispheres provides the apparatus with its effective unstable nature -increasing muscle interaction, whilst also enabling it to conform to the joint movements of the arms and hands -reducing strain, providing the most effective and ergonomic push-up solution.

In one embodiment [Figures 1 to 13] the apparatus comprises a pair of handle elements, and a pair of housing elements; each handle element comprises a manually grippable bar and a base portion presenting a substantially spherical contact surface, each housing element is substantially hemispherical and defines a substantially central window, and each handle element is releasably locatable within a housing element to form a substantially hemispherical handle body in which the contact surface of the handle element is presented within the window of the housing element and provides a contact point about which the housing body is rotatable when located on a support surface. In this embodiment the handle element is formed from two parts: a bar and a curved seat [see Figure 7]. The handle connects into the seat and the handle element then fits into the housing so that the seat is presented in the window and serves 5 as a bearing surface in push-up mode.

The point surface contact enables natural rotation, to accommodate pronation and supination arm movements. [Figure 23] It is to be noted that in this embodiment each handle body comprises a ridge profile for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about the contact point.

Whilst the main purpose of the apparatus is as a set of advanced push-up apparatus, the product also doubles-up as a set of resistance tube handles.

This versatile aspect transforms the product from a predominantly chest and core-region focused apparatus into a full-body workout set of apparatus. [Figures 16 and 17] Integrated clip features enable each hemisphere to come together to form one compact, enclosed sphere -enabling all five incorporated components to become one -within seconds. The peripheral rim of each hemisphere is non-liner. In this embodiment the rim is undulating; whilst the other hemisphere is correspondingly undulating so allow their connection to form a sphere.

It is noted that the handle bar is located within the hemisphere i.e. it does not project above the open side. Having the handle bar close to the ground has been found by the present inventor to be important is allowing for an efficient push-up movement; providing instability but not excessively so.

Figures 18 to 20 and 28 show an alternative embodiment, being a two-piece version in which a handle bar fits directly into a one-piece housing body (i.e. there is no separate seat).

With reference to Figure 30 -given the intended mobile design -it is noted that the handle bar is located within its respective hemisphere (to a value of Y) i.e. it does not project above the open side and is positioned below the open edge by a distance Y. It is also noted that in this embodiment the handle bar extends across the hemisphere and is connected on both sides thereof.

The height at which the handle bar is in relation to the contact surface (X) is paramount; directly stipulating the level of instability. In turn, this height -to an extent -also defines the overall diameter of the complete sphere (Z). Value X is defined as follows; Minimum Value = Handle Radius (A) + Grasping Hand (B) + Clearance (C) + Material Thickness (D) If, when X is at minimum height, value 'E' does not match or exceed a value defined by anthropometric data, the minimum height will ultimately be defined by value F'.

Maximum Value = Desired maximum external diameter of sphere (Z).

Optimum Value = Between the maximum and minimum.

Whilst at present it is foreseen that the optimum -and therefore final -value of X will be defined by its minimum value, as so not to provide excessive instability, this will ultimately be determined through product testing.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

Claims 1. Exercise apparatus comprising a pair of substantially hemispherical handle bodies, each handle body comprises a manually grippable bar, each handle body defines a substantially central window, in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface, and each handle body comprises a ridge profile for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about said contact point.
2. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle bodies are releasably joinable to form a substantially spherical housing.
3. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handle bodies are releasably joinable by an integrated clip arrangement.
4. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said ridge profile is arranged to inhibit overtilting of the handle body in either direction of rotation about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar.
5. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ridge profile is arranged to inhibit tilting of the handle body beyond approximately 30 degrees of rotation in either direction about the roll axis of the manually grippable bar, from the untilted position of the handle body.
6. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said manually grippable bars extend diametrically between opposed inner surfaces of the substantially hemispherical bodies.
7. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said manually grippable bars are removable from said substantially hemispherical bodies, and comprise securing means to allow a resistance band to be connected between the removed manually grippable bars.
8. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said manually grippable bars are apertured to allow the end of a resistance band to be looped through.
9. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7 when dependent upon claim 2, further comprising a resistance band containable within said substantially spherical housing.
10. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the window is formed integrally with the handle body.
11. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein each handle body is formed as a one-piece construction.
12. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each handle body is a two-piece construction, in which a handle bar fits directly into a one-piece housing body.
13. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle bar does not project above the open side of the body.
14. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the handle bar is 25 positioned below the open edge by a distance Y.
15. Exercise apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle bar extends across the hemisphere body and is connected on both sides thereof.
16. Exercise apparatus comprising a substantially hemispherical handle body, the handle body comprises a manually grippable bar, the handle body defines a substantially central window in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface, and the handle body comprises a ridge profile for preventing overtilting in a direction of rotation about said contact point.
17. Exercise apparatus comprising a substantially hemispherical handle body, the handle body comprises a manually grippable bar, the handle body defines a substantially central window in which a substantially spherical contact surface is presented that provides a contact point about which said handle body is rotatable when located on a support surface, and the bar does not project above the open edge of the body.
18. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the handle bar is positioned below the open edge.