Push-Up Exercise Unit and Device

• US 20080200318A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Implus Footcare LLC (Denergy, Inc.), PT Metrics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Perfect Pushup LLC
• Inventors: Mills, Alden M., Hauser, Stephen G., Friedman, Mark B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,468,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/14 Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 primarily by articulating the elbow joint

Abstract

A push-up exercise unit and device is described which may enable a user to move with his/her body'"'"'s natural rotation to engage additional muscle groups with reduced stress on joints. The device can include a handle support structure having a pair of columns between a lower base and a separate end cap such that the handle intersects a corresponding end cap and upper portion of a corresponding column of the handle support structure. The device includes a fixed base support attached to the handle support structure, and a bearing assembly to permit rotation of the contiguous handle, end caps and handle support structure by a user with the base support resting on a planar surface. In another example, the handle assembly is detachable from a first surface on the handle support structure and inserted into a second surface to facilitate stowage for travel.

Claims

1. A push-up exercise unit, comprising:

a pair of rotatable devices, one for each hand, each device including;

a handle support structure configured as a single molded housing and including a pair of columns attached to either side of a horizontal handle assembly via a top end cap such that the handle intersects a corresponding end cap and upper portion of a corresponding column of the handle support structure, wherein the end cap and upper portion have a semi-circular recess which mate to form a circular aperture around a corresponding handle end to secure the handle to the handle support structure,

a fixed base support operatively attached to the handle support structure, and

a bearing assembly operatively attached within the housing of the handle support structure to permit rotation of the contiguous handle, end caps and handle support structure by a user with the base support resting on a planar surface.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein each of the base support, handle support structure and end caps is an injection molded article.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a hollow, metal handle-rod sheathed within a rubberized grip.

4. The unit of claim 3, wherein the rubberized grip has a length shorter than the metal handle-rod to expose metal between the ends of the grip and the end caps.

5. The unit of claim 3, wherein a first diameter of the grip is wider at a grip center than a second diameter at the grip ends.

6. The unit of claim 1, wherein the base support has a rubber pad adhered to an underside thereof to provide a friction surface when the device is resting on a flat surface.

7. The unit of claim 1, wherein the handle support structure includes:

a lower base,

a pair of spaced-apart formed columns which slope upward from the lower base to engage its corresponding end cap, each column having a central stanchion extending between a pair of posts to be received in its corresponding end cap, and

a generally semi-circular recess formed at the top of each column for mating with a mirror image recess formed in the corresponding end cap to enclose a handle end.

8. The unit of claim 7, wherein

each handle end has a chamfer,

the stanchion on each column engages its corresponding chamfer to secure the handle rod to the handle support structure, and

each end cap has a pair of bores provided in an interior surface thereof to receive the posts of its corresponding column so that a handle end is enclosed between the end cap and column of the handle support structure.

9. A push-up exercise device, comprising:

a handle support structure configured including a pair of columns extending upward from a base and attached to either side of a handle via a separate top end cap such that the handle intersects a corresponding end cap and upper portion of a corresponding column of the handle support structure,

a fixed base support operatively attached to the handle support structure, and

a bearing assembly operatively attached within the handle support structure to permit rotation of the contiguous handle, end caps and handle support structure by a user with the base support resting on a planar surface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the end cap and upper portion have a semi-circular recess which mate to form a circular aperture around a corresponding handle end to secure the handle to the handle support structure,

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a hollow handle-rod sheathed within a rubberized grip that has a length shorter than the handle-rod to expose a portion of the handle-rod between the ends of the grip and the end caps.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein a first diameter of the grip is wider at a grip center than a second diameter at the grip ends.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the handle support structure includes:

a lower base,

a pair of spaced-apart formed columns which slope upward from the lower base to engage its corresponding end cap, each column having a central stanchion extending between a pair of posts to be received in its corresponding end cap, and

a generally semi-circular recess formed at the top of each column for mating with a mirror image recess formed in the corresponding end cap to enclose a handle end.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein

each handle end has a chamfer,

the stanchion on each column engages its corresponding chamfer to secure the handle rod to the handle support structure, and

each end cap has a pair of bores provided in an interior surface thereof to receive the posts of its corresponding column so that a handle end is enclosed between the end cap and column of the handle support structure.

15. A push-up exercise unit, comprising:

a pair of rotatable devices, one for each hand, each device including;

a handle assembly,

a rotatable handle support structure,

a fixed base support, and

a bearing assembly operatively attached within the handle support structure to permit rotation of the handle assembly and handle support structure,

wherein the handle assembly is removed from a top surface of the handle assembly and inserted into a surface of the handle support structure to configure the unit for stowage.

16. The unit of claim 15, wherein

the handle assembly includes a pair of support arms which support the handle, each support arm having a locking lug at a lower end thereof, and

the top surface includes a plurality of slots for releasable securing the locking lugs therein.

17. The unit of claim 16, further comprising a release mechanism provided in each support arm, the release mechanism actuated to detach the locking lugs from the slots on the handle assembly top surface for insertion of the locking lugs into a cavity slot formed by the handle support structures from the two devices in one of a front and rear facing surface so as to sandwich the base supports between the handle support structures in a snap-fit locked position.

18. A push-up exercise device, comprising:

a handle assembly,

a rotatable handle support structure,

a fixed base support, and

a bearing assembly operatively attached within the handle support structure to permit rotation of the handle assembly and handle support structure, the handle assembly being removed from a first surface of the handle support structure in a first plane and inserted into a second surface of the handle support structure in a second plane different from the first.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein

the handle assembly includes a pair of support arms which support the handle, each support arm having a locking lug at a lower end thereof, and

the first surface includes a plurality of slots for releasable securing the locking lugs therein.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising a release mechanism provided in each support arm, the release mechanism actuated to detach the locking lugs from the slots on the first surface for insertion of the locking lugs into the second surface.