US3820781A

US3820781A - Body waist exerciser

Info

Publication number: US3820781A
Application number: US00368270A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Kane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-17
Filing date: 1973-06-08
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, particularly for use by golfers for training body muscles to twist and bend as muscles normally do in a conventional golf swing, or for the general public in bodybuilding, there is provided an elongated exerciser shaft of about 40 inches in length and 1 or 2 inches in cross-sectional diameter, the shaft having a mid-section of yoke shape-defined arc of 180* of a size about snugly fittable around the neck of a person at shoulder height, with the yoke mid-section arcing from alignment between proximal ends of about diametrically oppositely extending elongated shafts, the arced mid-section being such that the oppositely extending shafts are positioned substantially forwardly of the body of the shoulders respectively when the yoke mid-section is mounted around the back of a person''s neck, thereby avoiding unnatural tensions on the shoulders during a draping of respective fore-arms forwardly over the respective shafts distal portions thereby making possible a natural upright posture while moving the upper torso to and fro while maintaining from the waist downwardly substantially stationary in order to reduce flabbiness around the waist, the cross-section of the respective elongated shafts being substantially rounded and the shafts each gradually tapering in distally outwardly directions.

Description

United States Patent Kane 1 1 BODY WAIST EXERCISER [76] Inventor: John F. Kane, 1793 Riverside Dr.,

New York, NY. 10034 22 Filed: June 8,1973 21 Appl. No.: 368,270

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 244,620, April 17,

1972, abandoned,

[52] U.S. Cl. 272/57 R, 35/29 A, 273/35 R, 273/189 R [51] Int. Cl. .1 A63b 23/02, A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search 272/54, 56, 57 R, 67, 79 R, 272/80, 81, 82, 83 R, 84; 119/96; 224/5 P; 35/29 A; 273/35 R, 188 R, 189 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS To the Ladies, Strength and Health, July, 1973, pp. 5657.

[ 1 June 28, 1974 Primary E.ramiiwrRichard C. Pinkham Assistant EranzinerR. T. Stouffer 5 7 1 ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment, particularly for use by golfers for training body muscles to twist and bend as muscles normally do in a conventional golf swing, or for the general public in body-building, there is provided an elongated exerciser shaft of about 40 inches in length and l or 2 inches in cross-sectional diameter, the shaft having a mid-section of yoke shape-defined arc of 180 of a size about snugly fittable around the neck of a person at shoulder height, with the yoke mid-section arcing from alignment between proximal ends of about diametrically oppositely extending elongated shafts, the arced mid-section being such that the oppositely extending shafts are positioned substantially forwardly of the body of the shoulders respectively when the yoke mid-section is mounted around the back of a persons neck, thereby avoiding'unnatural tensions on the shoulders during a draping of respective fore-arms forwardly over the respective shafts distal portions thereby making possible a natural upright posture while moving the upper torso to and fro while maintaining from the waist downwardly substantially stationary in order to reduce flabbiness around the waist, the cross-section of the respective elongated shaftsbeing substantially rounded and the shafts each gradually tapering in distally outwardly directions.

ll Clairns, 11 Drawing Figures mmwmw mm' FIG. 9

PATENTEDJUM28 m4 1 a azo 781 I saw 3 -ur 3 v BODY WAIST EXERCISER This invention relates to an exerciser bar for golf-' swing training and for waist-line slimming while avoiding tendencies to stretch or strain body parts, a CH of Ser. No. 244,620 filed Apr. 17, 1972.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior exerciser(s) requiring the arms to extend backwardly and over a completely straight shaft across the shoulders behind the neck causes the opposite shoulders to be strained backwardly in an unnatural awkward position both difficult and hazardous of causing strained muscles, tendons, etc., as typically illustrated in the prior art Figure; note that it is not sufficient that the bar be curved merely to comfortably fit the neck in an arced concave manner, not only such bars not existing prior to the present invention but additionally such minor concave are not being sufficient to obtain the objects of the present invention for example the'conventionally known yokes for carrying weights or loads not being faced with the requirement of the exercise to which the present invention is directed, namely the raising and maintaining of the upper arm of each arm with the shoulders naturally erect in order to cause the side and stomach muscles to become more taut by virtue of the forearms being draped forwardly over the oppositely extending ends of the exerciser, as well as the fact that with load-carrying yokes the purpose being to maintain the shaft-sections over and/or on top of the respective shoulders such that the shoulders themselves may contribute to the lifting power in holding-aloft the load(s) being carried on opposite ends of the conventional load-carrying yoke. For the prior exerciser over which the present invention is an improvement, because of the awkward position of the shoulders and neck during the exercises to which the present invention is directed, it is not possible for the exercising person satisfactorily or effectively or at least not to a desired degree to exercise in the bending movements typically such as twisting the upper chest section from side to side in an erect position while standing whereby the waist section of the exercising person is thoroughly exercised as to various side and stomach and back-waist muscles. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome one or more of the difficulties of the type discussed above.

Another object is an exerciser of a shaft type offering unrestrained natural positions of the limbs of the body while in use.

Another object is a shaft type exerciser offering natural muscular comfort and muscular extension during muscle and tissue-retractions and extensions of the waist, chest and back in side-to-side and/or twisting motions while maintaining the shoulders in a fixed state one relative to the other as in an erect posture.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the invention defined herein.

The invention includes a substantially linearly extending shaft having a yoke section at about a midpoint with sufficient concavity of the yoke of at least about 100, preferably at least 125, typically about together with a size such that the oppositely extending ends of the shaft one each extending from opposite yoke ends with shaft portions lying substantially forwardly of the main body of the persons shoulders when the yoke section is draped around the back of his neck, the yoke shape forming a concave recess extending away from linear alignment between opposite shaft portions which extend substantially diametrically opposite to one-another. With the shafts main body over the forward portions of the shoulders or in front of the shoulders, shoulders are held naturally erect duringvrevolving-like twists of the upper torso of chest and shoulders relative to a substantially stationary waist during the exercise in order to slim-out the waist during the exercise in order to slimout the waist by firming-up the tissues and muscles, and during side-to-side leanings to and fro of the upper torso while maintaining the waist substantially stationary to similarly stretch and firm-up side waist and chest muscles, while in the natural position avoiding abnormal stretching or straining of tissues and/or muscles and/or tendons as is readily possible when shoulders are pressed too far backwardly by use of a purely straight bar of FIG. 1 or even a bar with merely a minor amount of concavity or yoke shape insufficient in arc and size for the arms to be merely naturally supported with forearms comfortably draped forwardly over the shaft ends as is possible in FIGS. 2 through 9. Thereby the inventive shaft fits substantially snugly arced around the back of the lower portion of the neck while the linearly extending portions of the shaft extending in opposite directions from the adjacent yoke section rest forwardly on opposite right and left shoulders of the exercising person thereby increasing the ease of the right and left arms to extend backwardly upwardly over and forwardly of the opposite linearly extending shaft ends. Note that it is not a matter of mere comfort in the non-exercising position of placing the upper arms upwardly with the forearms draped forwardly, but is much more critical than that, the real test being during the exercising whereby if the shoulders are unnaturally held too far rearwardly, such posture throws the entire body out of proper alignment and makes likely the stretching or tearing of a tissue, tendon or muscle or the like when using a straight bar of the prior type. For older or younger persons and/or for persons of different builds, the size and length of the novel exerciser may vary, particularly as to the desired weight. It is also desirable that the weight be sufficient in the opposite ends such that the exercising muscles have at least some predetermined mild amount of work during the exercising, and accordingly in preferred embodiments of the invention there are provided alternate embodiments of adding or taking-away varying degrees of weight by adding or taking away actual weight elements within or on the shaft, or by extending or shortening the shaft as the case may be. To facilitate ease of resting the arms as discussed above during the exercise and thereby to naturally hold the shoulders erect on relative to the other and relative to the neck, back and chest, the oppositely extending shaft portions each extend distally while gradually preferably tapering to a smaller cross-section of the shaft so that the wrists and hands may more easily hang over the more distal ends of the shaft. Preferably both the outwardly extending shafts as well as the yoke sections surface adjacent to the back of the persons neck is rounded for improved comfort and improved tit thereby facilitating the exercising since discomfort would interfere with natural posture and/or cause a tensing of muscles and accordingly impair beneficial effects of the exercising for reasons previously stated.

In order to render the exerciser more aptly portable as well as variable of weight, the oppositely extending shaft portions are preferably detachably mounted on the yoke central section. Similarly to facilitate storage, one or both end(s) of the shaft include an attaching means such as preferably a ring or snap by which the entire exerciser may be suspended hanging vertically, as on a nail, peg, or the like.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to the following Figures.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates typically the appearance in elevation plan view of a prior art exercising shaft, in use by an exercising person, with his opposite shoulders in a backwardly strained position subject to the hazards of the type discussed'above during the type of exercises to which the present invention is directed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an elevation plan view comparable to that of FIG. 1, except utilizing the novel yokeexerciser of the present invention, in one embodiment thereof having the ring on an end thereof, it being noted that theextensive concave yoke section conveys the respective opposite shaft-end positions forwardly of the main shoulder positions making possible the easy raising of the arms to droop the forearms forwardly without strain nor stress on the shoulder, neck, back, chest, and side muscles, thereby in a safe natural position for effective exercising.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken along lines 2B--2B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front elevation perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the yoke-exerciser of the present invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates a variation in which the respective linear distal ends are adjustably extendable for persons having greater or lesser strength and/or having different body dimensions such as arm lengths, this Figure being an in-part view of a section of one distal end of the yoke-exerciser extending from the yoke mid section.

FIG. 5 illustrates in elevation plan exploded in-part view an alternate embodiment having male and female threaded members for adding additional weight and/or length or alternately for lessening the weight and/or length of a respective shaft end portion extending outwardly from theyoke section.

FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view as taken along lines 5A5A, of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates an elevation plan exploded partial cut-away in-part view of an alternate reversely arranged male and female threaded mating sections, as compared to the FIG. 5 embodiment, this embodiment additionally providing a hollowed shaft having a weight-bar therein of predetermined weight or mass.

FIG. 7 illustrates in elevation plan exploded partial cut-away in-part view an additional alternate embodiment with cylindrical weight members mountable on a centrally mounted male threaded bar having a biasing spring therearound for urging weights outwardly toward the distal end of the shaft, with the female threaded terminal end matable with the male-threaded bar end.

FIG. 8 facilitates understanding of the side-to-side to and fro bending exercises to which the present invention is in part directed, and FIG. 9 illustrating a to-andfro twisting exercise, in both exercises the hips and waist remaining substantially stationary and forwardly facing, both view being elevation plan view, FIG. 9 being substantially from overhead while FIG. 8 is somewhat more from a forward perspective angle view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The necessary number of degrees of arc of the concave yoke mid-section of the present novel exercising bar is at least about with the respective opposite linearly-elongated end-sections extending in substantially diametrically opposite directions from and continuous with opposite ends of the arc of the concave section, preferably the number of degrees being at least about However, the arc does not have to be circularly symetrical but is more or less in the shape of a semicircle, typically a preferred embodiment having about of circumscribing of the neck in the order to properly best-place the shafts forwardly of the major portions of the respective shoulders.

By reference to the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1, it can be seen that when a completely linearly extending shaft-exerciser 4 is positioned behind the neck 5 of the exercising person 6 with the

arms

7a and 7b extending rearwardly with the

forearms

8a and 8b extending upwardly and forwardly over the

distal ends

4a and 4b of the bar, the backwardly angled

upper arms

7a and 7b bring about a V-shape 9 between the opposing left shoulder blade 10a and right shoulder blade 10b, resulting in stress and tension on the back, neck, shoulders, and chest muscles, which will if the exercises to which the present invention is directed, result in detrimental effects discussed previously, possibly even hospitalization.

In contrast thereto, FIG. 2 illustrates a view comparable to that of the prior art FIG. 1, except with the yoke exerciser, in one embodiment thereof, of the present invention positioned comfortably around the back of the neck 5 when the

linear portions

4a and 4b are resting on the shoulders of the exercising person with the shoulder blades 10a and 10b in about a normal position of a person standing upright with his arms extending laterally outwardly to the sides, and with the

forearms

8a and 8b extending over and forwardly of the opposite ends 4a" and 4b. The FIG. 3 embodiment illustrated includes a ring 11 for the mounting thereof on a peg, nail or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a different embodiment devoid of the ring section but illustrating in perspective view a better view of a typical embodiment of the yokeexerciser of the present invention, the yoke-exerciser 4" having a yoke section 12 about at a mid-point between the

opposite ends

13a and 13b, with the defined concave section 14 recessing backwardly from linear alignment between the

ends

13a and 13b and the concave surface 14 being rounded along its upright surface providing for greater natural comfort of the exercising person necessary to avoid interference with the exercises themselves and necessary to prevent the abovenoted injuries to the exercising person. The bar ends 15a and 15b are substantially of a rounded crosssection, particularly rounded at the bottom of the cross-section on the bottom side or underside 16a and 16b for facilitating a fitting onto the shoulders, but may be slightly curved to fit the contour of the shoulders as might be desired. The opposite ends 150 and 1151) of the linearly oppositely extending terminal portions of the yoke-exerciser beginning from a point adjacent the yoke mid-section and extending toward the respective distal ends are tapered to a more narrow distal end such as narrowed

distal ends

13a and 13b which adjacent the ends thereof has again become somewhat rounded in transverse cross-section.

FIG. 4A illustrates a variation on any one or more of the embodiments of the present invention in which the opposite linearly extending ends include telescoping or otherwise adjustably extending or extendable sections for shortening or lengthening the distal ends of the bars on each side of the yoke mid-section whereby the yokeexerciser may be adjusted to better accomodate differing desired weights and/or differing arm lengths of the particular person exercising.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 and 5A, there is illustrated an embodiment for inserting one or more weight and length-adding members or sections 17b between the inner shaft extension 18a and the terminal section 17a, typically joinable by male members 20 including threads and female-threaded receptacles 19a, 1%, etc., and the cross-section of FIG. 5A illustrating the curved or rounded nature of the yoke and also of the outwardly extending shaft shown in phantom behind the base c of the yoke 12c. The FIG. 6 differs principally in the reversal of the male and female sections as compared to the FIG. 5 embodiment, as well as illustrating a single extension having an inner cavity 21 with a weight bar 22, sealed by the male member 20 screwed into the opening thereof; there would be available either a plurality of different weights and/or end members 17 each having a different weight than others because of differences in the particular weight-bar 22 contained in the space 21.

The FIG. 7 embodiment corresponds somewhat to a hybrid between the embodiment of FIG. 5 and that of FIG. 6, having a cavity 22 in the shaft portion of the exerciser 4e, the shaft portion 18" having within the space 22' a mounted male bar 20"a running axially centrally of the space and having a spring 24 and a threaded male end 20" matable with the femalethreaded receptacle 19" of terminal end section 17'', the weight of the end of the shafts being variable by varying the number of cylindrical weights 21 having through-passages 23 therein, the spring 24 preferably pushing the members 21' distally toward the end of the shaft for achieving the maximum shaft-end momentum during the exercises noted above. However, springs may alternately bias inwardly.

Corresponding numerals of different Figures identify correspondingly identical parts, for the varying embodiments.

In FIG. 8, directions 27a and 27b illustrate the relative motions of the opposite exerciser ends such as 26b of the exerciser 4, during the movement of the persons body-side 26b in direction 27a to position 26a and similarly the opposite side of the person to position 260' in the alternate movement 27b, with the position 26b varying thereby between

positions

26a and 26c.

In like manner, for the twisting exercise of FIG. 9, the

results in the bar ends moving in

directions

29 and 29 typically between

positions

28 and 28 while the feet, legs, hips and waist remain substantially stationary.

Although the size of the yoke-exerciser of this inven- .tion may be varied considerably in its length from end to end and in the curvature of the yoke concave surface, and in the cross-section of the bar, typically there are adult size exercisers and separate childrens size exercisers and accordingly the dimensions for the childrens sizes would be considerably less than those for the adult sizes. In a typical embodiment however, for a child or a small person the exerciser may range only up to about 3 feet in length, for example whereas for a full grown adult the length of the yoke-exerciser may range up to 6 or 7 feet. Typically, for an adult embodiment, the transverse cross-section at about a concave yoke mid-section and/or at linear shaft positions adjacent the mid-section range from about one inch up to about 3 inches, for example, normally from about l 6 inch to about 2 inches and thereafter become tapered toward the opposite ends of the linear shaft.

Although the shaft of the present invention is illustrated in the linear form, it is within the scope of the invention for the yoke-exerciser to have the ends extending from the mid-section with some minor curvature(s) that might be desired to add further comfort to the exercising person or to reposition the forearms of the exercising person, to thereby further avoid any tendency to damage the body of the exerciser during exercising of the muscles.

Accordingly, it is also within the scope of the present invention to utilize other modifications and variations as might be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art.

In such scope, for example, is the embodiment in which one or both linear ends are detachable from the yole mid-section, by male and female threaded members or their equivalents. Similarly the bar may be made of any one or more of wood, metal, plastic, fiber glass, or the like, but preferably is composed at least inpart of either fiber-glass or a plastic such as polypropyl- I claim:

I 1. An exerciser article comprising in combination: an elongated shaft-member having opposite linearlyelongated end-sections each having a distal terminal end, and a mid-section therebetween having a concave yoke section defining an arc of at least about with the respective opposite linearly-elongated end-sections extending in substantially diametrically opposite directions from and continuous with opposite ends of the arc of said concave yoke section with the arc thereof being recessed from linear alignment with both of and between said opposite ends, each terminal end having a substantially rounded cross-section extending from opposite ends of the arc of the midsection, the direction of extension of the endsections and their location relative to the ends of the arc of the yoke section being such that the opposite linearly-elongated end-sections lie substantially forwardly of alignment of respective opposite shoulders of a person when the article is shouldered with the mid-sections arced concave yoke extending behind the neck of the person thereby avoiding strain on neck and shoulder muscles when the persons opposite forearms are draped forwardly over the respective distal terminal ends, whereby a persons shoulders are maintained in substantially normal alignment while with the exerciser article shouldered the person twists or bends his body at his midsection during a shifting of chest and shoulders to and fro.

2. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said arc is at least about 125, and is of a size such that the midsection about snuglyis fittable around a human neck at about shoulder height, and in which said opposite linearly-elongated end-sections each taper in opposite directions gradually from the midsection to about ter minal ends of the respective end-sections.

3. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said are is at least about l25, and is of a size such that the midsection about snugly is fittable around a human neck as a semi-circle at about shoulder height.

4. An exerciser article of claim 3, in which said termi nal end is detachably mounted on a proximal portion of its end-section, the terminal end being a weight means of predetermined weight of greater mass relatively than other portions of the respective end-section whereby during to and fro exercises with a persons upper torso from about the waist upwardly there is placed a predetermined amount of stress on the working muscles.

5. An exerciser article of claim 4, in which said endsections terminal end includes a series of axially aligned consecutive segments each of which is a weight means of said predetermined mass.

6. An exerciser article of claim 3, in which said endsection is hollowed and a portion thereof is removable to open the hollowed section to exterior space and when opened is receivable of weight means of predetermined weight.

7. An exerciser article of claim 6, including a spring mounted within said hollowed section and positioned therein such that said weight means when placed therein is spring-biased distally outwardly toward said terminal end.

8. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said terminal ends are at least about 30 inches apart and in which each terminal end has along a substantial portion of its length a substantially rounded cross-section.

9. An exerciser article of claim 1, including a mounting means at at-least one of said terminal ends suspendable of said elongated member in a stored state with the members longitudinal axis about upright.

10. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said member ranges from about one-half inch to about 3 inches in transverse cross-section.

11. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said terminal end is detachably mounted on a proximal portion of its end-section.

Claims

1. An exerciser article comprising in combination: an elongated shaft-member having opposite linearly-elongated end-sections each having a distal terminal end, and a mid-section therebetween having a concave yoke section defining an arc of at least about 100* with the respective opposite linearly-elongated end-sections extending in substantially diametrically opposite directions from and continuous with opposite ends of the arc of said concave yoke section with the arc thereof being recessed from linear alignment with both of and between said opposite ends, each terminal end having a substantially rounded cross-section extending from opposite ends of the arc of the midsection, the direction of extension of the end sections and their location relative to the ends of the arc of the yoke section being such that the opposite linearly-elongated end-sections lie substantially forwardly of alignment of respective opposite shoulders of a person when the article is shouldered with the mid-section''s arced concave yoke extending behind the neck of the person thereby avoiding strain on neck and shoulder muscles when the person''s opposite forearms are draped forwardly over the respective distal terminal ends, whereby a person''s shoulders are maintained in substantially normal alignment while with the exerciser article shouldered the person twists or bends his body at his midsection during a shifting of chest and shoulders to and fro.

2. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said arc is at least about 125*, and is of a size such that the mid-section about snugly is fittable around a human neck at about shoulder height, and in which said opposite linearly-elongated end-sections each taper in opposite directions gradually from the midsection to about terminal ends of the respective end-sections.

3. An exerciser article of claim 1, in which said arc is at least about 125*, and is of a size such that the mid-section about snugly is fittable around a human neck as a semi-circle at about shoulder height.

4. An exerciser article of claim 3, in which said terminal end is detachably mounted on a proximal portion of its end-section, the terminal end being a weight means of predetermined weight of greater mass relatively than other portions of the respective end-section whereby during to and fro exercises with a person''s upper torso from about the waist upwardly there is placed a predetermined amount of stress on the working muscles.

5. An exerciser article of claim 4, iN which said end-section''s terminal end includes a series of axially aligned consecutive segments each of which is a weight means of said predetermined mass.

6. An exerciser article of claim 3, in which said end-section is hollowed and a portion thereof is removable to open the hollowed section to exterior space and when opened is receivable of weight means of predetermined weight.

9. An exerciser article of claim 1, including a mounting means at at-least one of said terminal ends suspendable of said elongated member in a stored state with the member''s longitudinal axis about upright.