Portable exercise device

• US 7,828,703 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Don E. Boesch
• Original Assignee: Don E. Boesch
• Inventors: Boesch, Don E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US12/398,036
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 482 20- 22, 482 44- 50, 482 81- 82, 482 92- 94, 482 98- 99, 482/105, 482109-112, 482/139, 482/148, 473138-139, 473/147, 473/207, 473/212, 473/219, 473/256, 473/354, 473423-424, 473/437, 473/457, 473/593, 473/603, 473609-611
• US Class Current: 482/112
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0602 Fluids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0608 Eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06

Abstract

The present invention provides a compact, portable, centripetal force-driven exercise device. The device employs a handle equipped with a rotational member. One end of a strap is attached onto the rotational member; the other end to a soft bag. The soft bag, preferably of a heavy duty cloth or synthetic fiber construction, is capable of holding one or more water-refillable, reclosable plastic bags. The strap can have adjustable length. The soft bag itself is also capable of being filled with a desired amount of water. The handle preferably is covered on its exterior surface with a hand grip material. The user places the desired amount of contained water weight into the soft bag, holds the handle and swings the bag in an orbital pattern at a desired number of revolutions per minute to achieve the desired degree of centripetal force resistance to exercise, strengthen and condition the user'"'"'s muscular system.

Claims

1. A portable, centripetal force-driven exercise device comprising:

a. a handle capable of being gripped by a user;

b. a rotating member fixably attached to said handle and having an axis of rotation;

c. a strap member having a first strap end attached to said rotating member and a second strap end opposite the first strap;

d. an external bag member capable of being attached and detached from said second strap end, and capable of receiving one or more liquid containers capable of receiving and holding water therein, and capable of releasing said water therefrom;

e. one or more liquid containers capable of receiving and holding water therein, and capable of releasing said water therefrom, said one or more liquid containers sized to be containable within said external bag member;

f. said handle further comprises a hollow shaft; and

g. said rotating member further comprises a caster-type swivel mechanism comprising a stationary end having a mounting stem for attaching to said handle, a rotating end rotatingly attached to said stationary end, rotator bearings to permit smooth rotation of the rotating end, and an axle for receiving said first strap end in an attached relationship, wherein said mounting stem is mounted within said hollow shaft and fixed in place using a locking dimple, wherein said locking dimple extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said one or more liquid containers comprise one or more internal bag members.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein said one or more internal bag members comprise reclosable plastic bags outfitted with a zipper locking system.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handle is selected from the group consisting of:

mono-axially oriented handles where the user places one hand on top of the other, mono-axially oriented handles where the user places each hand side-by-side, parallel bi-axially oriented handle pairs where the user holds each respective handle pair with each hand'"'"'s thumb in an upward position, non-parallel bi-axially oriented angled handle pairs where the user holds each respective handle pair with each hand'"'"'s thumb in an upward position, semi-circular handle pairs, circular handle, and U-shaped handle pairs.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handle is selected from the group consisting of:

handles aligned coaxially with the axis of rotation, handles aligned in parallel with the axis of rotation, handles that are oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation, handles that are oriented in the same vertical plane beneath said rotating member, handles that deviate from the vertical plane beneath said rotating member, handle sections that are substantially linear, handles that have longitudinal curvature or angularity, handles that are circular or semicircular, handles that are separate rings joined by a housing member containing the rotating member, and ergonomically designed handles.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said handle further comprises a grip material on at least a portion of the exterior surface of said handle.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein said grip material is selected from the group consisting of:

a one-piece rubber sleeve that is placed over the outside of the handle, injection molded grip made from high quality thermo plastic rubber (TPR), other soft elastomeric materials, leather, and grip tapes.

8. A portable, hand-held exercise device comprising:

a. a hollow core, linear handle capable of being gripped by a user, said handle having a top end and a bottom end, a handle central axis running through said hollow core from said bottom end to said top end, and a grip material on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the handle;

b. a swiveling member mechanically attached to said top end of said handle and capable of rotating 360 degrees about said handle central axis, the swiveling member comprising a stationary end having a mounting stem for attaching to said handle, a rotating end rotatingly attached to said stationary end, and one or more rows of ball bearings to permit smooth rotation of the rotating end, wherein said mounting stem is mounted within said hollow core and fixed in place using a locking dimple, wherein said locking dimple extends perpendicular to the central axis;

c. a strap member having a first strap end attached to said swiveling member and a second strap end opposite the first strap end, the swiveling member further comprising an axel for receiving the first strap end in an attached relationship;

d. an external bag member capable of being attached and detached from said second strap end, and capable of receiving one or more internal bag members; and

e. one or more internal bag members capable of being filled with a desired quantity of water to provide a desired weight resistance prior to use of the exercise device by the user, and capable of being emptied of said water therefrom after use by the user, said one or more internal bag members being sized to be containable within said external bag member.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein said grip material is selected from the group consisting of:

a one-piece rubber sleeve that is placed over the outside of the handle, injection molded grip made from high quality thermo plastic rubber (TPR), other soft elastomeric materials, leather, and grip tapes.

10. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein said handle is made from the group consisting of:

metal, plastic, composite, graphite and other suitable material.

11. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein said one or more internal bag members comprise reclosable plastic bags outfitted with a zipper locking system to facilitate easy filling and emptying, and also to permit the one or more bag members to readily burst open upon impact thereby minimizing any injury to person or property owing to such impact.