WO2024147730A1 - Exercise device for emulating handstand pushups - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise device for facilitating semi-vertical handstand push-ups comprising a frame for supporting the device on a surface, the frame comprising: - a first portion projecting from a base of the frame in an upward direction comprising handles; - a second portion, horizontally spaced from the first portion, also projecting from the base of the frame in an upward direction beyond a height of the first portion; and - an guide portion which is connected to a base of the frame and the second portion and adjustable in its angle with thebase, wherein the device comprises a holder part for receiving and holding the feet of a user and wherein said holder part is guided along the guide portion.

Description

Exercise device for emulating handstand pushups

Behold Atlas, alone!

Of all luminaries comprising the pantheon of muses of they on the journey to strength, that of the myth of Atlas, he, who unrelenting and alone who holds the whole of the world on his back, arms, and shoulders; is the aspiration that stands to Hellenic demands of the people above any others.

In this image, the handstand has become a landmark feat of accomplishment, and to bear one's self against the ground is a key component in a broad spectrum of society, from the practitioners of Yoga, to the Gymnasts of Olympus, or brave Marine soldiers throughout the world. In fact it is nearly unimaginable that handstand training eludes anyone with the appropriate need for a bull-like neck, back and shoulder musculature .

But it took this invention to realize that the best path to one's independent inverted edifice is actually through growth in community.

The handstand is such a marker because what may seem easy in childhood is quickly lost as one's frame and weight quickly outstrip the average person' s strength, and to perform it indicates one's dedication to every aspect of their physicality.

To achieve it, one has to successfully build both the large strength and most importantly balance required to do so, while staying safe from sundry injury; which current devices will struggle to impress with the ability to do so.

It is indeed folly to believe it be a feat of merely bouldery shoulders and powerful arms, for it is also of every other individual fiber of your being. The proper handstand has not only to lift your own weight, but while sustaining total body extension, keep your center of gravity in perfect check.

The conventional approach to teaching the handstand has many steps. The strengthening of arms for once, but also that of static resistance, at one's bodily core. It must be done incrementally, if it is ever to be done at all, and must be done in safety.

A professional will have you endeavor it with a variety of unrelated devices hoping to at the end cobble a success; through myriad shoulder press machines, stall bars, and a number of push-ups so tall, one may imagine Atlas himself can see it from his vantage.

To achieve such a thing with equipment available on the market is a hopeful dream, at best. It is an Aegean sea of yoga friendly dust catching gadgets, such as the inverted stool, whose entire point is to deprive the experience from all involvement of strength, for folks who are either psychologically inhibited, or physically from even begin, such as those bearing some form of injury.

Some sell Inversion tables, (more popular with physical therapy venues than actual gyms) , with the promise of being a head stand facilitating device, but their design for this purpose defines all logic.

Their entire point, (as hinted by its alternative name, the "Spinal Traction Machine") is that the user makes no actual effort to hold themselves in the inverted position. It can only be speculated that should they even try to do so against the ground, they might just as soon elevate the table shortly before collapsing it on themselves, and quickly must be acquainted with all the other rehabilitation devices one assumes around them.

So to bring Atlas the masses, we are going to need Archimedes.

A burgeoning Olympian would describe this invention as an impressive exercise installation that enables a user to have his motions guided while progressively transitioning between various semi-vertical positions. Semi-vertical are positions between horizontal and vertical.

The invention is best described using Figure 1, which provides a schematic overview of its features.

At its core, the device 10 comprises a frame 1 for supporting the device on a surface, the frame comprising: a first portion 2 projecting from a base 2.1 of the frame in an upward direction comprising handles 3; a second portion 4, horizontally spaced from the first portion, also projecting from the base 2.1 of the frame in an upward direction beyond a height of the first portion; and an guide portion 5 which is connected to a base 2.1 of the frame 2 and the second portion 4 and adjustable in its angle A with the base 2.1, wherein the device comprises a holder part 6 for receiving and holding the feet of a user and wherein said holder part is guided along the guide portion 5.

A user would, optionally with the help of a friend, connect his or her feet to the holder part, and establish a firm grip on the handles so as to assume a semi-inverted position. Semiinverted here means upside down but under an angle smaller than 90 degrees, but greater than 10 degrees with respect to horizontal. In practice the device may be designed to provide the full hand-stand experience, reaching the full 90 degrees. This allows our brave Olympian to proceed by vigorously press ing his body upward against gravity along the support structure .

To arrive at a robust and durable device the person skil led in the art would be well advised to look towards aluminum or stainless steel as materials for forming the frame . However, strong, reliable and economic material such as non-stainless steel may also be considered .

In order to increase the rigor of exercise the holder part 6 may be provided with a portion for receiving weights 6 . 1 therein . In this manner the user is allowed the full benefit of a handstand exercise while in a more comfortable orientation . Such a portion for receiving weights could be a protrusion able to receive disk-shaped weights thereon .

It is noted that for a weighted holder part it i s particularly advantageous to prevent any situation in which a loss of footing could see the holder part 6 rush towards and impose itsel f on the user' s (presumably impeccable ) dental structures . Accordingly, in order to safeguard our athlete from complex inj ury, the sliding motion of the holder part may be at least limited to an upper hal f of the guide portion, such as a part of the upper hal f of the guide portion .

For another advantageous set of features we look towards userpsychology, and gym safety . More often than not an overly confident athlete finds himsel f physically strained and tired in the middle of a repeat exercise . Ordinari ly, thi s i s not an issue as the athlete may simply cease an exercise and adj ust the di f ficulty . While inverted, it is eminently desirable however that the athlete continues to use of both his hands in supporting himsel f , and possibly some weights , against the unrelenting force of gravity . Accordingly, the device is preferably designed such that adjustment of the user's verticality is unavailable to said user through manual manipulation of any feature within his reach during an exercise. To this end the guide portion may instead comprise an adjustable connecting structure which is intended to connect the guide portion to the second portion of the frame. The connecting structure would here be designed for allowing the adjustment of an angle of the guide portion with respect to the base of the frame between a plurality of semivertical positions, such as exclusively semi-vertical positions. This beneficially places any means of adjustment outside the reach of the user during the exercise. Semi-vertical here means partially vertical, wherein fully vertical corresponds to a 90 degree angle between the base 2.1 of the frame 2, and wherein partially vertical is given to mean an angular range between a sub 90 degree angle and a zero degree angle, such as 80-10 degrees, or more specifically 70-20 degrees. In practice this latter angular range alleviates much of the physical discomfort and increased blood rush to the head while allowing the user to be subject himself or herself to handstand pushups in which up to 94% (at 70 degrees) of a user's body weight, and if applicable added weights, translate to a gravitational vector that is longitudinal to the body. This is to say, the user can use the device in a more comfortable way while experiencing no noticeable differences in muscular difficulty. At the lower range (at 20 degrees) approximately ~34% of a user's body weight, and if applicable added weights, translate to the gravitational vector that is longitudinal to the body. This lower bound of the range roughly corresponds to half the bodyweight that one would carry doing a normal, that is to say horizontal, pushup. In normal pushups around 64% of the body weight is displaced against gravity. And, although normal pushups do not displace the body in a direction longitudinal to itself and does not fully address the same muscle groups in the same way, this does means that within this range of 20-70 degrees a single handed semi-vertical pushups may also be trained in a safe manner while addressing the correct muscle groups. This makes the 70-20 degree range particularly useful.

Further to the above, in a more specific embodiment, the connecting structure may comprise a first, a second and a third joint 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, wherein the distance between the second and the third joints, as counted from the guide portion 5 to the second portion 4, is determined by a first and a second reversibly connectable portion 8.1, 8.2 who's mutual connection determines the angle A of the guide portion with respect to the base 2.1 of the frame 2.

Yet the device may grow more sophisticated still.

The first connectable portion 8.1 may comprise a u-bend part which extends radial outward from an axis X of rotation of the third joint 7.3. The second connectable 8.2 portion would then be designed as a rod, wherein said rod is reversibly connectable to the u-bend part at various points along its length. In one example the rod may be provided with a plurality of through holes spaced apart along its length, and wherein the u-bend is also provide with a through hole. A locking pin 8.3 may, in such design, link the reversibly connectable portions together. Should the pin come undone, the u-bend would be able to act as a fulcrum for the rod thereby increasing the safety of the device. Figure 2 however discusses measures that would prevent against any such situation in the first place.

Optionally, though not shown in Figure 1, the rod, when connected to the u-bend, extends to meet the surface onto which the device is supported with a distal end thereof. This reduces the stress of use on the joints of the system.

Preferably, the first portion has a height of 10 - 50 cm and the second portion has a height of 1.5 - 2.5 m. Within these ranges the device allows for an easy dismount and can be used by people of nearly all sizes. That is to say, it can be universally operated.

Figure 2 shows that the device may be made additionally secure by means of a manually operable locking pin 8.3. This pin can be used to cooperate with the first and second reversibly connectable portions 8.1, 8.2 as shown in Figure 1. These portions each comprise at least one through hole suitable for receiving a first insert portion 8.3.1 of the locking pin therein. In the example according to Figure 1 the first insert portion 8.1 has one such through hole, whereas the second portion 8.2 has a plurality of such through holes. This allows the device to be adjusted by a user.

The locking pin 8.3, as seen from Figure 2, has several additional beneficial features. Besides a said first insert portion 8.3.1 the pin also comprises a head 8.3.2. This head is larger in diameter than the first insert portion. This prevents the pin from falling through the hole. Simultaneously, this head provides a gripping surface for easy manipulation.

The insert portion 8.3.1 further comprises a lateral through hole 8.3.4. Through a flexible connection, such as a chain, a second insert portion 8.3.5 is connected to the head 8.3.2. This second insert portion 8.3.5 is in turn removably insertable into the lateral through hole 8.3.4, wherein the distance 8.3.3 between the head 8.3.2 and said through hole 8.3.4 is equal to or greater than the combined width of the first and second reversibly connectable portions 8.1, 8.2. Beneficially, this allows a user fix the pin in place by sliding the second insert portion into the lateral through hole, wherein in place corresponds to a position in which the user has connected the first and second portions by means of said pin. The second insert portion is provided with a parallel leg which extends substantially the insert, but which comprises a bended portion, wherein said bended portions corresponds to the curvature of the first insert portion so as to prevent said second insert portion from sliding with respect to the first insert portion .

Claims

1. An exercise device (10) for facilitating at least partially vertical handstand push-ups comprising a frame (1) for supporting the device on a surface, the frame comprising: a first portion (2) projecting from a base (2.1) of the frame (2) in an upward direction comprising handles (3) ; a second portion (4) , horizontally spaced from the first portion, also projecting from the base (2.1) of the frame in an upward direction beyond a height of the first portion; and an guide portion (5) which is connected to a base (2.1) of the frame (2) and the second portion (4) and adjustable in its angle (A) with the base (2.1) , wherein the device comprises a holder part (6) for receiving and holding the feet of a user and wherein said holder part is guided along the guide portion (5) .

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding motion of the holder part (6) is limited to an upper half of the guide portion (5) .

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the holder part (6) comprises a portion for receiving weights (6.1) .

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide portion (5) comprises an adjustable connecting structure (7) which is intended to connect the guide portion (5) to the second portion (4) of the frame (1) and wherein the connecting structure is designed for allowing the adjustment of an angle (A) of the guide portion (5) with respect to the base (2.1) of the frame (2) between a plurality of semivertical positions, such as exclusively semi-vertical positions.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting structure (7) comprises a first, a second and a third joint (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) , and wherein the distance between the second and the third joints (7.2, 7.3) is determined by a first and a second reversibly connectable portion (8.1, 8.2) who's mutual connection determines the angle (A) of the guide portion (5) with respect to the base (2.1) of the frame (2) , such as within a predefined range.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first connectable portion (8.1) comprises a u-bend part which extends radial outward from an axis (X) of rotation of the third joint (7.3) , and wherein the second connectable portion (8.2) is designed as a rod, and wherein said rod is reversibly connectable to the u-bend part at various points along its length.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the rod, when connected to the u-bend, extends to meet the surface onto which the device is supported with a distal end thereof.

8. The device according to any one of claims 5-7, comprising a manually operable locking pin (8.3) , and wherein the first and second reversibly connectable portions (8.1, 8.2) each comprise at least one through hole suitable for receiving a first insert portion (8.3.1) of the locking pin therein, and wherein the first and second reversibly connectable portions are connectable and lockable by said locking pin 8.3.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the locking pin (8.3) comprises said first insert portion (8.3.1) and a head

(8.3.2) , wherein the head has a larger diameter than the first insert portion, and wherein the insert portion (8.3.1) comprises a lateral through hole (8.3.4) , and wherein the pin comprises a second insert portion (8.3.5) which is removably insertable into the lateral through hole (8.3.4) , and wherein the distance

(8.3.3) between the head (8.3.2) and said through hole (8.3.4) is equal to or greater than the combined width of the first and second reversibly connectable portions (8.1, 8.2) , and wherein the second insert portion comprises a leg for clamping the first insert portion (8.3.1) .

10. The device according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the second portion (4) has a height of 1.5-2.5 m.