Muscle training apparatus and method

• US 20050079922A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Priester W. Bradford
• Original Assignee: Priester W. Bradford
• Inventors: May, Richard E., Priester, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,351,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/228
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 using pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 by moving the surrounding air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and method for exercising a weaker of two opposing muscle groups of a person swinging an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two opposing muscle groups were of appropriate strength, the two muscle groups would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining the implement in an ideal club shaft plane. The contemplated muscle trainer of this invention includes a body having a grip surface located thereon, and a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body, which is spaced from the grip surface, for urging the prescribed location of the body in a direction away from a force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the implement in the swinging thereof by the person. The invention further contemplates a method exercising at least a dominated muscle of two opposing muscles typically used by the golfer when attempting to swing a golf club in an ideal club shaft plane, where the dominated muscle applies a first swing force to the golf club in a non-dominating swing force direction, and a dominating muscle applies a second swing force in a dominating swing force direction to the golf club which is opposite the direction, and exceeds the force, of the non-dominating swing force.

Claims

1. A muscle trainer for exercising a weaker of two muscles of a person swinging the trainer, wherein, if the two muscles were of appropriate strength, the two muscles would desirably apply forces in substantially opposite directions to an implement being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining the implement in a desired swing path, the muscle trainer comprising:

a body having a grip surface located thereon; and

a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body, which is spaced from the grip surface, for urging the prescribed location of the body in a direction away from a force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the implement in the swinging thereof by the person.

2. A muscle trainer for exercising a weaker of two muscles of a person swinging the trainer, wherein, if the two muscles were of appropriate strength, the two muscles would desirably apply forces in substantially opposite directions to an implement being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining the implement in a desired swing path, the muscle trainer comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end;

a grip portion formed on the body closer to the proximal end than to the distal end thereof; and

a force generator located on the body, closer to the distal end than to the proximal end, and positioned for urging the distal end of the body in a direction away from the force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the implement in the swinging thereof by the person.

3. A muscle trainer for exercising a weaker of two muscles of a person swinging the trainer, wherein, if the two muscles were of appropriate strength, the two muscles would desirably apply forces in substantially opposite directions to a golf club being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining the golf club in a desired swing path, the muscle trainer comprising:

a body having a grip surface located thereon; and

a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body which is spaced from the grip surface for urging the prescribed location of the body in a direction away from a force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the muscle trainer in the swinging thereof by the person.

4. A muscle trainer for exercising a weaker of two swing muscles of a person swinging the trainer, wherein, if the two swing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two swing muscles would desirably apply forces in substantially opposite directions to the muscle trainer being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining the muscle trainer in a desired swing path, the muscle trainer comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end;

a grip portion located on the body closer to the proximal end than to the distal end thereof; and

a force generator located on the body, closer to the distal end than to the proximal end, and positioned for urging the distal end of the body in a direction away from the force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the muscle trainer in the swinging thereof by the person.

5. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the body comprises a shaft, and the grip portion comprises a grip surface on the shaft.

6. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 5, wherein the force generator generates a force at an angle with respect to the shaft.

7. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 6, wherein the force generator generates a force that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft.

8. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the force generator comprises:

a motor located on the body; and

a propeller attached to the motor in such a position that, upon operation of the motor, the propeller is operated to urge the distal end of the body in the direction away from the force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the muscle trainer in the swinging thereof by the person.

9. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises a controller for controlling the operation of the motor to effect rotation of the propeller in either of two rotational directions.

10. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises:

the body having a passage therein extending at least partially between the proximal end and the distal end thereof;

a power cord having portions thereof located within the passage of the body, and having a first cord portion and a second cord portion located outside of the passage; and

the first cord portion being connected to the motor, and the second cord portion being connectable to an electrical power source.

11. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises an electrical switch electrically connected to the motor and the electrical power source for facilitating a selectively operable connection of the electrical power source to the motor.

12. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 11, wherein the electrical switch is electrically structured to facilitate the selective operation of the motor in either of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction.

13. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises a controller connected to the motor for selectively varying the speed of operation of the motor.

14. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 8, which further comprises a shroud substantially enclosing the propeller.

15. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the force generator comprises a device for developing a pressurized media and for discharging the pressurized media from the device in a prescribed direction to produce a force in a direction opposite from the prescribed direction.

16. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the body comprises a first section and a second section, and a coupler for coupling the first and second sections together at a juncture of the first and second sections, the second section extending from the first section at the juncture.

17. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first section is adjustably coupled by the coupler to the second section so that the first and second sections can be located selectively in different angular positions relative to each other.

18. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 4, for further exercising a weaker of two rotational muscles of the person swinging the trainer, wherein, if the two rotational muscles were of appropriate strength, the two rotational muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to a golf club being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining desired rotation of the golf club, wherein the body comprises a first section and a second section extending from the first section at a juncture of the first and second sections.

19. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 18, which further comprises a coupler for coupling the first and second sections together at the juncture of the first and second sections.

20. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 18, wherein the second section extends angularly from the first section.

21. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 18, wherein the second section extends perpendicularly from the first section.

22. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 18, wherein the grip portion is located on the first section.

23. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 18, wherein the force generator is mounted on the second section.

24. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first section is adjustably coupled by the coupler to the second section so that the first and second sections can be located selectively in different angular positions relative to each other.

25. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 23, wherein the force generator generates a force substantially perpendicular to the second section.

26. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 23, wherein the force generator is perpendicular to and spaced from the first section of the body.

27. A muscle trainer for exercising a weaker of two rotational muscles of a person swinging the muscle trainer, wherein, if the two rotational muscles were of appropriate strength, the two rotational muscles would desirably apply rotational forces in substantially opposite directions to the muscle trainer being swung by the person to assist in normally maintaining desired rotation of the muscle trainer during the swinging thereof, the muscle trainer comprising:

a body having a first section and a second section extending from the first section at a juncture of the first and second sections; and

a force generator located on the second section and positioned for urging the second section of the body in a rotational direction away from a rotational force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the muscle trainer during the swinging thereof by the person.

28. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 27, which further comprises a coupler for coupling the first and second sections together at the juncture of the first and second sections.

29. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 27, wherein the second section extends angularly from the first section.

30. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 27, wherein the second section extends perpendicularly from the first section.

31. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 27, wherein a grip surface is located on the first section.

32. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 27, wherein the force generator is mounted on the second section.

33. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 28, wherein the first section is adjustably coupled by the coupler to the second section so that the first and second sections can be located selectively in different angular positions relative to each other.

34. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 32, wherein the force generator generates a force substantially perpendicular to the second section.

35. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 32, wherein the force generator is perpendicular to and spaced from the first section of the body.

36. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating swing muscle of two opposing swing muscles typically used by a person when attempting to swing the muscle trainer in a desired swing path, where a dominating swing muscle of the two opposing swing muscles applies a swing force to the muscle trainer in a dominating swing force direction that exceeds a swing force applied by the non-dominating swing muscle, the muscle trainer comprising:

a simulator swingable by the person; and

a force generator located at a prescribed location on the simulator and developing a force generally in the same direction as the dominating swing force direction.

37. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 36, wherein the simulator is a golf club simulator.

38. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 36, wherein the non-dominating swing muscle is a muscle selected from the group including the right flexor carpi ulnaris, the right flexor profundis and superficialis, the left carpi radialis longus and brevis, and the left extensor carpi ulnaris.

39. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 36, wherein the non-dominating swing muscle is a muscle selected from the group including the left flexor carpi ulnaris, the left flexor profundis and superficialis, the right carpi radialis longus and brevis, and the right extensor carpi ulnaris.

40. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 36, for further exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a person when attempting to rotate the muscle trainer through a desired rotational distance while swinging the muscle trainer, where a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a rotational force in a dominating rotational force direction to the muscle trainer that exceeds a rotational force applied by the non-dominating rotational muscle, further comprising the body having a first section and a second section extending from the first section at a juncture of the first and second sections.

41. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a person when attempting to rotate the muscle trainer through a desired rotational distance while swinging the muscle trainer in a swing path, where a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a rotational force in a dominating rotational force direction to the muscle trainer that exceeds a rotational force applied by the non-dominating rotational muscle, the muscle trainer comprising:

a simulator swingable and rotatable by the person;

the simulator having a first section and a second section, the second section having a segment which is spaced from the first section; and

a force generator located at a prescribed location on the segment of the second section of the simulator, the force generator oriented to develop a force substantially in the same direction as the dominating rotational force direction.

42. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 41, wherein the simulator is a golf club simulator.

43. A muscle trainer for exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a person when attempting to rotate the rotational muscle trainer through a desired rotational distance, where a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a rotational force in a dominating rotational force direction to the muscle trainer that exceeds a rotational force applied by the non-dominating rotational muscle, the muscle trainer comprising:

a golf-club simulator rotatable by the person and having a first section and a second section, the second section having a segment which is spaced from the first section; and

a force generator located at a prescribed location on the segment of the second section of the golf-club simulator, the force generator oriented to develop a force generally in the same direction as the dominating rotational force direction.

44. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 43, wherein the non-dominating rotating muscle is a muscle selected from the group including the right supinator, the right brachioradials, the left pronator teres and the left pronator quadratus.

45. The muscle trainer as set forth in claim 43, wherein the non-dominating rotational muscle is a muscle selected from the group including the left supinator, the left brachioradials, the right pronator teres and the right pronator quadratus.

46. A method of exercising at least a non-dominating swing muscle of two opposing swing muscles typically used by a golfer when attempting to swing a golf club in an ideal club shaft plane, where the non-dominating swing muscle applies a non-dominating swing force to the golf club in a non-dominating swing force direction, and a dominating swing muscle of the two opposing swing muscles applies a dominating swing force in a dominating swing force direction to the golf club which is opposite the non-dominating swing force direction, and exceeds the non-dominating swing force, the method comprising:

swinging a golf-club simulator by the golfer in a swing path normally swung by the golfer when swinging a golf club;

determining whether the swing path of the golf-club simulator is outside of a desired swing path due to the non-dominating swing muscle allowing the dominating swing muscle to pull the simulator in the dominating swing force direction away from the desired swing path;

applying an external force to the golf-club simulator independently of any force applied by the golfer to further urge the simulator in the dominating swing force direction; and

using the non-dominating swing muscle to pull the golf-club simulator against the external force in the non-dominating swing force direction toward the desired swing path to thereby exercise the non-dominating swing muscle.

47. The method as set forth in claim 46, wherein the golfer further exercises at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a person when attempting to rotate the golf club through a desired rotational distance while swinging the golf club in a swing path, where the non-dominating rotational muscle applies a non-dominating rotational force to the golf club in a non-dominating force direction, and a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a dominating rotational force to the golf club in a dominating rotational force direction to the rotate the golf club, which is opposite the non-dominating rotational force direction, and exceeds the non-dominating rotational force, the method comprising:

rotating the golf-club simulator while swinging the simulator;

determining whether the rotational distance of the golf-club simulator is greater than a desired rotational distance due to the non-dominating rotational muscle allowing the dominating rotational muscle to rotate the simulator in the dominating rotational force direction further than the desired rotational distance;

applying an external force to the golf-club simulator independently of the golfer to further urge the simulator in the dominating rotational force direction; and

using the non-dominating rotational muscle to rotate the golf-club simulator in the non-dominating rotational force direction to thereby exercise the weaker muscle.

48. A method of exercising at least a non-dominating rotational muscle of two opposing rotational muscles typically used by a golfer when attempting to rotate a golf club through a desired rotational distance, where the non-dominating rotational muscle applies a non-dominating rotational force to the golf club in a non-dominating force direction, and a dominating rotational muscle of the two opposing rotational muscles applies a dominating rotational force to the golf club in a dominating rotational force direction to the rotate the golf club, which is opposite the non-dominating force direction, and exceeds the non-dominating rotational force, the method further comprising:

rotating a golf-club simulator;

determining whether the rotational distance of the golf-club simulator is greater than a desired rotational distance due to the non-dominating rotational muscle allowing the dominating rotational muscle to rotate the simulator in the dominating rotational force direction further than the desired rotational distance;

applying an external force to the golf-club simulator independently of the golfer to further urge the simulator in the dominating rotational force direction; and

using the non-dominating rotational muscle to rotate the golf-club simulator in the non-dominating rotational force direction to thereby exercise the weaker muscle.

49. A method of exercising two human-anatomy muscles which typically cooperate to perform a prescribed task, which comprises the steps of:

exercising, at a prescribed level, one muscle of the two muscles; and

simultaneously with the exercising of the one muscle, exercising another of the two muscles at a level greater than the prescribed level.

50. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 49 further comprising the steps of:

determining which is a stronger muscle of the two muscles;

determining which is a weaker muscle of the two muscles;

exercising the stronger muscle at the prescribed level; and

exercising the weaker muscle at the level greater than the prescribed level.

51. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 49, wherein the one muscle of the two muscles is a first group of muscles, and the another muscle of the two muscles is a second group of muscles.

57. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 49, wherein the task is swinging a golf club.

59. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 49, wherein the task is swinging a tennis racket.

61. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 49, wherein the task is swinging a baseball bat.

52. A method of exercising two groups of human-anatomy muscles, where the two groups of muscles typically cooperate to perform a prescribed task;

which comprises the steps of;

exercising, at a prescribed level, one of the two groups of muscles; and

simultaneously with the exercising of another of the two groups of muscles, exercising the another of the two groups of muscles at a level greater than the prescribed level.

53. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, which, prior to exercising the two groups of muscles, further comprises the steps of:

determining which of the two groups of muscles is a stronger group of muscles;

determining which of the two groups of muscles is a weaker group of muscles;

exercising the stronger group of muscles at the prescribed level; and

exercising the weaker group muscles at the level greater than the prescribed level.

54. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein, with respect to the human anatomy, a first of the two groups of muscles is formed at least by muscles in the back of a hand of one arm and an outside of the forearm of the one arm, and a second of the two groups of muscles is formed at least by muscles in the palm of a hand of another arm and the inside of the forearm of the another arm.

55. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein, with respect to the human anatomy, a first of the two groups of muscles includes at least the carpi radialis longus and brevis, and the carpi ulnaris, and a second of the two groups of muscles includes at least the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor profundis and superficialis.

56. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein, with respect to the human anatomy, a first of the two groups of muscles includes at least the pronator teres and the pronator quadratus, and a second of the two groups of muscles includes at least the supinator and the brachiordialis.

58. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein the task is swinging a golf club.

60. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein the task is swinging a tennis racket.

62. The method of exercising as set forth in claim 52, wherein the task is swinging a baseball bat.