US3776547A

US3776547A - Method of exercise for pectoral muscle development

Info

Publication number: US3776547A
Application number: US00300451A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Gaboriault
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-10-25
Filing date: 1972-10-25
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

A method and apparatus for developing the pectoral muscle of a female by immobilizing the bicep and tricep muscles of the arm while the arm is moved through a series of exercise positions. The apparatus utilized to immobilize these muscles is a saddlelike member that consists effectively of two sections positioned substantially at right angles to each other with a bight portion where the two meet. These two sections and the bight portion have a U-shaped cross section that embraces the underside of the elbow area of the arm and maintains the elbow in a bent condition. The saddle-like member is structurally rigid to prevent extension of the arm. It may be in the form of a solid dense material or it may be in the form of a hollow shell that can be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. A strap is attached to the opposite sides in the area of the bight portion of the saddle-like member for securing it to arm of the female exerciser.

Description

ted States Gaboriault METHOD OF EXERCISE FOR PECTORAL MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT [76] Inventor: Albert G. Gaboriault, 401 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, RI. 02861 [22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 300,451

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Bent Arm Laterals, Strength and Health, October, 1972, p. 54.

Bent Arm Pullovers, Strength and Health, August, 1972, p. 46.

20 New Ideas to Improve Your Swing in 1965, Golf Digest, Jan. 1965, p. 39.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for developing the pectoral muscle of a female by immobilizing the bicep and tricep muscles of the arm while the arm is moved through a series of exercise positions. The apparatus utilized to immobilize these muscles is a saddle-like member that consists effectively of two sections positioned substantially at right angles to each other with a bight portion where the two meet. These two sections and the bight portion have a U-shaped cross section that embraces the underside of the elbow area of the arm and maintains the elbow in a bent condition. The saddle-like member is structurally rigid to prevent extension of the arm. It may be in the form of a solid dense material or it may be in the form of a hollow shell that can be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. A strap is attached to the opposite sides in the area of the bight portion of the saddle-like member for securing it to arm of the female exerciser.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU DEC 4 I973 FIG.2

FIG.4

FIGS

METHOD OF EXERCISE FOR PECTORAL MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Today more and more women are learning the benefit of physical fitness. Exercise programs for women are regularly seen on television. Additionally health spas are being built in hundreds of cities across the United States. Women are using all sorts of devices for the purpose of building and/or toning their muscles. One of the muscles singled out for special development by the women has been the pectoral muscle, one of four muscles of the breast. Most of the women attempting to build up the size of their breasts are doing so to increase their sex appeal. As important as it is to increase the size of the breast, it is equally important to the women that the muscles of the arms do not become overdeveloped in a masculine manner.

The general concept in exercising is to move the limbs either with or without resistance to put a strain on the muscle being exercised so that toning of the muscle will result along with enlargement of the muscle. As can be easily understood, where resistance is employed the muscles will tone faster and develop in size quicker. As a result, there are any number of weight and spring devices available for exercising the muscles. A problem, however, for the female hoping to enlarge the size of her breast is that when using any of the devices of the past her bicep and tricep muscles of the arm are built up at the same time. For example, by doing curls with dumbbells, the pectoral muscle of the breast may be toned and enlarged but at the same time the biceps will become enlarged which is undesirable from the females point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the current invention allows a single muscle to be exercised, namely the peetoral muscle. The arm is first positioned in a certain definite position with the forearm somewhat at right angles to the upper arm area. Next the saddle-like device is strapped to the elbow of the female wearer. The device immobiles the muscles of the arm and it prevents extension of the arm from its right angular position. The saddle-like device is usually made of a rather dense material so that it has a large weight per unit of length ratio. Alternatively the saddle-like device may consist of a hollow shell that can be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. The mass of the saddle-like member provides the resistance to put a strain on the pectoral muscle so that toning and increased development of the breast will result. Additionally the immobilization of the muscles of the arm prevent any unwanted growth in the size of these muscles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an exercising method fora female capable of preventing development of her arm muscles while the pectoral muscle of her breast is being developed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising method that includes the step of applying a weight above and below the elbow which exerts a'resistance force on the pectoral muscle of a females breast while immobilizing the bicep muscle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the exercising device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in which the exercising device is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the exercising device comprises a saddle-like member 10 formed with a U- shaped cross section and shaped with substantially a right-angle bend to snugly fit the elbow area of an arm. The saddle 10 is preferably formed of a dense material which exhibits a large weight per unit length ratio and may be lined with a sponge-like material 12. The outside of the saddle has a cover 13 passing around it. Broadly the saddle consists effectively of two

sections

14 and 16 meeting at a bight portion indicated at 18. At bight portion 18 a pair of elongate slots 20 are formed through which a strap 22 may pass. The elongate slots 20 are located on opposite sides of the upstanding portion of the U-shaped cross section so that the strap may be passed through these two portions and the device may be secured to the elbow section of the user as illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Strap 20 could utilize a buckle for securing its ends together or a hook-and-loop structure could be used.

As an alternative embodiment, the saddle-like member 10 could be formed as a hollow shell that could be filled with shot, sand, water, etc. In this embodiment the female using the device could vary and build up the amount of strain to be provided by the device as the strength and size of her pectoral muscles increased.

In using the device of the invention, a female can lie on a flat surface such as a board 30 and elevate one end with a bracket such as 32 (see FIG. 3) so that the head is higher than the feet. With the exercising device attached to the elbow so that the forearm is held at an angle to the upper portion of the arm, arcuate motions such as generally indicated in FIG. 5 by the arrows 33 would be made. This movement will exercise the pectoral muscle thus enabling it to be toned and also increase in size. At the same time the saddle-like device prevents movement of the upper portion of the arm and prevents the biceps from developing.

For a variation, a female could lie on the same flat surface 30 only this time she would position herself with her feet higher than her head. In similar fashion arcuate motions with the elbows would be entertained and again by keeping the forearm substantially immobile relative to the upper section of the arm, this will prevent the bicep from developing. Only the pectoral muscle will be doing the pulling during the arcuate motions that are entertained as diagrammed in FIG. 5.

An additional variation, would involve moving the elbow through a circular motion. In this exercise the circular path would be substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the females body while lying on board 30.

Further forms of exercise may be entertained by using the device of this invention by standing and using a trunk twisting exercise with the device affixed to the elbow. One can simply stand in place and twist which will exercise the waistline muscles in the small of the back.

In instances where the weights as provided in the device are not heavy enough, the exerciser could hold an additional small weight in her hand to compensate for a repetitive motion.

2. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is an arcuate motion that first brings the elbow toward the chest and then reverses the path and takes the elbow toward the back. v

3. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is a circular motion in which the elbow travels in a plane sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of body of the exerciser.

Claims

1. A method of developing the pectoral muscle comprising the steps of applying a weight having a constraining device above and below the elbow to hold the elbow in a fixed bent condition to immobilize the bicep muscle, and moving the arm from the shoulder through a repetitive motion.

2. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is an arcuate motion that first brings the elbow toward the chest and then reverses the path and takes the elbow toward the back.

3. A method of developing the pectoral muscle as recited in claim 1 wherein the repetitive motion is a circular motion in which the elbow travels in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of body of the exerciser.