Muscle conditioning device

Abstract

While performing push-ups, the individual pushes against a pair of swivel devices between his hands and the floor or other supporting surface. As his body is raised, he twists the swivel devices in mutually opposite first directions through arcs of 180° or more, and as his body is lowered back toward the floor, he twists the devices in mutually opposite second directions through 180° or more. The combined pushing and twisting actions increase the conditioning of muscles in the wrists and arms not otherwise fully exercised by conventional push-ups. Each swivel device includes a non-rotatable base and a swivel member rotatably secured to the base for carrying out the twisting action about an upright axis. Each swivel device has a gripping handle to facilitate clenching of the user's hand substantially into a fist as he performs the conditioning routine.

1 . A muscle conditioning device comprising: 
 a base adapted to rest on a horizontal supporting surface; and    a swivel member rotatably secured to said base and adapted to be manually twisted by a user about an axis of rotation passing through the base while the user pushes forcefully downwardly against the member, base, and supporting surface.    
     
     
         2 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said swivel member including a handle adapted to be gripped by a user during the twisting and pushing action.    
     
     
         3 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 said handle comprising a bar spaced above said base and extending in transverse relation to said axis.    
     
     
         4 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 3 , 
 said bar being so disposed that said axis of rotation intersects the bar intermediate opposite ends thereof.    
     
     
         5 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said swivel member including a generally U-shaped body having a pair of laterally spaced apart arms projecting generally upwardly away from said base and a bight interconnecting said arms generally adjacent the base,    said swivel member further including a gripping handle spanning said arms adjacent upper ends thereof in spaced relation to the base.    
     
     
         6 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 5 , 
 said base having a spindle projecting upwardly therefrom,    said bight of the swivel member being journalled on the spindle.    
     
     
         7 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 further comprising an anti-friction component between the bight of the swivel member and the base.    
     
     
         8 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 further comprising a non-skid surface on a bottom side of said base.    
     
     
         9 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said non-skid surface comprising a non-skid, compressible pad secured to the bottom side of the base.    
     
     
         10 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 further comprising an anti-friction component between the base and the swivel member.    
     
     
         11 . A muscle conditioning device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 further comprising a non-skid surface on a bottom side of said base.    
     
     
         12 . In a muscle conditioning method, the improvement comprising: 
 while performing push-ups on a supporting surface, pushing against a pair of swivel devices on the supporting surface with the user's hands to raise and lower the user's body and simultaneously twisting the devices with the user's hands about respective upright axes.    
     
     
         13 . In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in  claim 12 , 
 said twisting being carried out in one direction with each hand during raising of the user's body and in the opposite direction during lowering of the user's body.    
     
     
         14 . In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said twisting in each direction being approximately 180°.    
     
     
         15 . In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in  claim 12 , 
 said pushing action being carried out with the user's hands clenched around handles on the swivel devices.    
     
     
         16 . In a muscle conditioning method as claimed in  claim 15 , 
 said upright axes of the twisting motion passing generally longitudinally through the forearms of the user.