US3920241A

US3920241A - Exerciser

Info

Publication number: US3920241A
Application number: US521296A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcel Belkir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-11-06
Filing date: 1974-11-06
Publication date: 1975-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-18
Also published as: DE2548713A1; FR2290229A1; AU8506975A; JPS5166038A; GB1473635A; FR2290229B3

Abstract

An exerciser having a crossbar with a pair of arms pivotally connected to the crossbar, each arm including an upper and lower portion. First and second resilient elements, the first reilient element connecting the lower portion of one of the arms adjustably to the crossbar, the second resilient element connecting the lower portion of the second arm adjustably to the crossbar. The resilient elements providing resistance against movement of the upper arm portions toward each other. Pads are provided so that the device may be used between the thighs of a user. The crossbar is formed to include two members spaced apart a distance sufficiently narrow to prevent entrance of the resilient elements therebetween.

Description

United States Patent [191 Belkir [451 Nov. 18,1975

I EXERCISER [76] Inventor: Marcel Belkir, 1701 York Ave.,

Apt. 25C, New York,, NY. 10028 [22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1974 211 App]. No.: 521,296

[52] US. Cl 272/83 R [51] Int. Cl. A63B 23/04; A63B 21/00 [58] Field of Search 272/83 R, 82, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,901 8/1928 Meyer 272/83 R X 2.529.347 11/1950 Mohler et a1. 272/83 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 448,275 7/1927 Germany 272/83 R Priman Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT An exerciser having a crossbar with a pair of arms pivotally connected to the crossbar, each arm including an upper and lower portion. First and second resilient elements, the first reilient element connecting the lower portion of one of the arms adjustably to the crossbar, the second resilient element connecting the lower portion of the second arm adjustably to the crossbar. The resilient elements providing resistance against movement of the upper arm portions toward each other. Pads are provided so that the device may be used between the thighs of a user. The crossbar is formed to include two members spaced apart a distance sufficiently narrow to prevent entrance of the resilient elements therebetween.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 3,920,241

EXERCISER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is that of exercising devices and more particularly to those of the push type.

It is known in the prior art to provide exerciser construction in which movable parts present resistance to displacement by muscular effort but they are subject to objection on the grounds that they are unduly complicated, bulky and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an exercising device having a pair of arms specially shaped adapted for grasping with the hands and/or engagement with the users thighs for improvement of the musculature thereof. The arms are pivotally connected to a crossbar and means are provided for adjustable variable resistance against displacement of arms toward each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, the exerciser generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: crossbars l2 and 14; resilient elements or

springs

16 and 18;

arms

20 and 22; means 24 and 26 to connect the crossbars to the arms; means 28 and 30 to connect the springs to ends of the arms; and selectively adjustable means 32 and 34 to connect the springs to the crossbars.

The

crossbars

12 and 14 are preferably composed of metal such as steel or aluminum and are substantially identical so they may be fabricated by stamping from strip stock, and a detailed description of crossbar 12 will suffice for both, and corresponding parts on crossbar 14 are given the same reference characters with the suffix b. The crossbar 12 has a body 36 with ends 37 and 38 and a plurality of

elongated slots

40 and 42. Each of the ends 37 and 38 has a hole. Slot 40 has a plurality of

notches

51, 52, and 53, and slot 42 has a plurality of

notches

61, 62, and 63.

The

springs

16 and 18 are of the tension coil type and are shown in the drawings in their relaxed condition. The lowermost convolutions of the springs are formed into hooks 17 and 19, while the uppermost convolutions are formed into closed loops l3 and 15. The strength of the

springs

16 and 18 is determined by the strength of the user so that a desirable range of adjustment is available, as will more fully appear. In the preferred embodiment I have found springs of approximately five and one-half inches in length, and of a dianieter greater than the distance between the crossbars l2 and 14 so that they cannot enter therebetween, suitable.

The

arms

20 and 22 are of irregular shape, best seen in FIG. 1 and include

bodies

44 and 45;

upper ends

48 and 50,

lower ends

54 and 56,

upper bends

58 and 60,

and

lower bends

64 and 66. The

arms

20 and 22 are preferably fabricated of metal tubing such as steel or aluminum. The

upper ends

48 and 50 have handles 68 and 70. The

lower ends

54 and 56 are flattened and have holes in which the hooks l7 and 19 are engaged forming the

means

28 and 30. The

arms

20 and 22 at points spaced from the

lower bends

64 and 66 are provided with holes which are aligned withthe holes in the ends of the

crossbars

12 and 14 so that wing nuts and

bolts

72 and 74 pivotally interconnect the arms and crossbars forming the

means

24 and 26. Thus the arms above the pivotal connections to the crossbars form

upper arm portions

44 and 45 and below the said pivotal connections form

lower arm portions

46 and 47.

Adjustably mounted on the

upper bends

58 and 60 are

pads

76 and 78. The pads are composed of resilient material such as polyurethane foam which is covered with fabric.

Pads

76 and 78 are provided with

elastic loops

80 and 82 which embrace

upper arms

44 and 45 and are longitudinally and circumferentially adjustable with respect thereto. Where desired the

loops

80 and 82 may be formed by cutting transverse slots in the cover material.

The selectively adjustable means 32 and 34 are best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 and include

bolts

83 and 84, collars and 86, and wing nuts 87 and 88. The

bolts

83 and 84 may be selectively positioned in any of the slots 51-5lb and 6l-61b; 52-52b and 62-62b; and 53-53b and 63-63b, respectively, and when the nuts are tightened they not only secure and position the crossbars l2 and 14 with respect to each other but also fix the anchor points of the loops l3 and 15 on the upper ends of the

springs

16 and 18. When the

bolts

83 and 84 are in their first position in notches 5l-5lb and 61-6lb the

springs

16 and 18 offer the least resistance against movement of the

handles

68 and 70 and the

pads

76 and 78 toward each other. When the

bolts

83 and 84 are in their second position in notches 52-52b and 62-

62b springs

16 and 18 offer a corresponding medium resistance. When

bolts

83 and 84 are in their third position in notches 53-53b and 63-63b said springs offer the maximum resistance to movement of said handles and pads toward each other.

Since the loops l3 and 15 of the

springs

16 and 18 at all times are connected to collars 85 and 86, and the springs have a greater diameter than the spacing between the crossbars, the springs are at no time able to become accidentally freed from the exerciser 10 so as to cause damage.

In use the springs may be set in their first position and as the user gains strength they may be shifted to their second and third positions. Also adjustment can be made to accommodate for different body musculature.

For exercise for the inside of the thighs, the

pads

76 and 78 are placed between and in contact with the thighs, adjacent the users knees. The concavity of the

bends

58 and 60 aids in maintaining proper engagement with the users thighs. The knees are moved toward each other while the user holds the

handles

68 and 70; (the angle of the

bends

58 and 60 permits the knees of the user to substantially meet). Then the users thighs are moved toward each other against the resistance of the

springs

16 and 18.

For exercising the muscles of the arms and chest, the

handles

68 and 70 are grasped and moved toward each back of the user.

3 a other with the exerciscr in front of the user. The angles formed by the bends 5 8 and 60 permit wide move ment. I I

For exercising the muscles of the arm and back, the handles 68 and 70v are grasped with the devicelO in I wish it to be understood that I do not desire toibe limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention re late's.

I claim: 7

1. In an exerciser of the type including an elongated crossbar, first and second arms pivotally connected to said crossbar, substantially at the ends thereof, each arm having and upper and a lower arm portion, and resiliently resistive means interconnected to said lower arm portion, the improvement comprising: said crossbar having first and second members defining an elongated recess therebetween, said arms being interconnected within said recess, each of said members having a p'air of longitudinally extending slots and laterally ex- "tending notches communicating with said slots, the

slots in said first and second members being aligned; first and second springs each having a first end thereof interconnected to the end of a lower arm portion, and a second end forming a loop; a cylindrical collar disposed within said loop, and means penetrating said collar and slidably movable within a pair of aligned slots for selective engagement with a pair of aligned notches; whereby the effective spring tension in said springs for any given position of said arms relative to said crossbar 4 may be determined by the particular notches so engaged. i

2. An exerciser comprising: a crossbar, first and second arms each pivotally connected to said crossbar, each arm having an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion, first and second resilient elements, said first resilient element connecting the lower arm portion of g the first arm with said crossbar; said second resilient element connecting the lower arm portion of the second ,arm with said crossbar whereby movement of said tive resistance of said resilient means; a second crossbar connected to said arms, and spaced from said first mentioned crossbar at a predetermined distance, said resilient elements having bodies of greater transverse width than said distance so that the bodies of the resilient elements cannot enter between said crossbars.

3. Structure as claimed in claim 2 further characterized in said upper arm portions having upper bends presenting a concavity outwardly of the exercizer in which said upper arm portions may be engaged by the thighs of a user, and a pair of pads, one ofsaidpads being mounted on each of said upper arm portions at U said upper bends.

Claims

1. In an exerciser of the type including an elongated crossbar, first and second arms pivotally connected to said crossbar, substantially at the ends thereof, each arm having and upper and a lower arm portion, and resiliently resistive means interconnected to said lower arm portion, the improvement comprising: said crossbar having first and second members defining an elongated recess therebetween, said arms being interconnected within said recess, each of said members having a pair of longitudinally extending slots and laterally extending notches communicating with said slots, the slots in said first and second members being aligned; first and second springs each having a first end thereof interconnected to the end of a lower arm portion, and a second end forming a loop; a cylindrical collar disposed within said loop, and means penetrating said collar and slidably movable within a pair of aligned slots for selective engagement with a pair of aligned notches; whereby the effective spring tension in said springs for any given position of said arms relative to said crossbar may be determined by the particular notches so engaged.

2. An exerciser comprising: a crossbar, first and second arms each pivotally connected to said crossbar, each arm having an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion, first and second resilient elements, said first resilient element connecting the lower arm portion of the first arm with said crossbar; said second resilient element connecting the lower arm portion of the second arm with said crossbar; whereby movement of said upper arm portions toward each other moves the lower arm portions away from each other thereby placing said resilient elements under tension and providing resistance against movement of said upper arm portions toward each other; selectively adjustable means to connect the upper ends of said resilient elements at different positions along said crossbar for varying the effective resistance of said resilient means; a second crossbar connected to said arms, and spaced from said first mentioned crossbar at a predetermined distance, said resilient elements having bodies of greater transverse width than said distance so that the bodies of the resilient elements cannot enter between said crossbars.

3. Structure as claimed in claim 2 further characterized in said upper arm portions having upper bends presenting a concavity outwardly of the exercizer in which said upper arm portions may be engaged by the thighs of a user, and a pair of pads, one of said pads being mounted on each of said upper arm portions at said upper bends.