Adjustable hand grip for exercise machine

Abstract

An adjustable hand grip assembly is provided for treadmills that provides variable height positioning of vertical grips immediately forward of the exerciser's lower chest wall.

1 . A pivotable hand grip assembly for use of a treadmill of the type having a base with an endless belt supported thereon and a support frame extending upward from the base comprising: 
 (a) first and second mounting brackets on the support frame;    (b) a first hand rail assembly with a mount for pivotable attachment to the first mounting bracket, a lateral extension from the mount, and a vertical grip section;    (c) a second hand rail assembly with a mount for pivotable attachment to the second mounting bracket, a lateral extension from the mount, and a vertical grip section.    
   
   
       2 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second hand rail assemblies are pivotable between an extended position where the vertical grip sections are located over the endless belt, and a retracted position.  
   
   
       3 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second hand rail assemblies are adjustable vertically to a desired height above the endless belt.  
   
   
       4 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the vertical grip sections of the first and second hand rail assemblies further comprise a padded grip surface.  
   
   
       5 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lateral extensions of the first and second hand rail assemblies further comprise a grip section with a padded grip surface.  
   
   
       6 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking the first and second hand rail assemblies in the extended position and the retracted position.  
   
   
       7 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second mounting brackets comprise vertical tubular sections having a first diameter and extending upward from the support frame.  
   
   
       8 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 7  wherein the mounts of the first and second hand rail assemblies comprise vertical tubular sections having a second diameter that engage the mounting bracket vertical tubular sections and are rotatable with respect thereto.  
   
   
       9 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 8  wherein the both mounting bracket vertical sections of first diameters and the hand rail assembly tubular sections of second diameter have apertures defining bisecting passages across such sections, and a pin inserted through the apertures of a mounting bracket vertical section and a tubular section of second diameter engaged therewith acts to lock the position of the hand rail assembly relative to the mounting bracket.  
   
   
       10 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first hand rail assembly comprises a first tubular section forming a mount for pivotable engagement to the first mounting bracket, a first corner section connected to and forming a right angle with the first tubular section, a second tubular section with a first end connected to the first corner section, said second tubular section forming a lateral extension and having a padded grip surface thereon, and said second tubular section having a second end connected to a second corner section forming a right angle with the second tubular section, a third tubular section with a first end connected to the second corner section, said third tubular section forming a vertical grip section and having a padded surface thereon and extending to a second end.  
   
   
       11 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first tubular section and the third tubular section are substantially parallel in orientation.  
   
   
       12 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first hand rail assembly further comprises a flange on the first corner section at a connection with the first tubular section.  
   
   
       13 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first mounting bracket comprises a vertical tubular section having a first diameter and extending upward from the support frame.  
   
   
       14 . The pivotable hand grip assembly of  claim 13  wherein the first tubular section of the first hand rail assembly has a second diameter that engages the vertical tubular section of the first mounting bracket and is rotatable with respect thereto.  
   
   
       15 . A hand rail assembly comprising a first tubular section, a first corner section connected to and forming a right angle with the first tubular section, a second tubular section with a first end connected to the first corner section, said second tubular section forming a lateral extension and having a padded grip surface thereon, and said second tubular section having a second end connected to a second corner section forming a right angle with the second tubular section, a third tubular section with a first end connected to the second corner section, said third tubular section forming a vertical grip section and having a padded surface thereon and extending to a second end.  
   
   
       16 . The hand rail assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a flange on the first corner section at a connection with the first tubular section.  
   
   
       17 . The hand rail assembly of  claim 15  further comprising pairs of apertures spaced at predetermined increments on the first tubular section defining bisecting passages across said tubular section.  
   
   
       18 . The hand rail assembly of  claim 15  further comprising an end cap on the end of the third tubular section.  
   
   
       19 . A hand rail assembly for use in a treadmill of the type having a base with an endless belt supported therein for longitudinal movement and having a first support frame extending upward from the base on a first side of the endless belt and a second support frame extending upward from the base on a second opposite side of the endless belt, comprising: 
 (a) a first tubular rib extending upward from the support frame;    (b) a first S-bar having a tubular lower section pivotably engaging the first tubular rib, a horizontal section extending from the lower section, and a vertical grip section;    (c) a first locking mechanism engaging the first tubular rib and the first S-bar tubular lower section and locking the S-bar at least in an extended position with the horizontal section normal to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt such that the vertical grip section is above the endless belt, and in a retracted position with the vertical grip section positioned off of the endless belt;    (d) a second tubular rib extending upward from the support frame;    (e) a second S-bar having a tubular lower section pivotably engaging the second tubular rib, a horizontal section extending from the lower section, and a vertical grip section; and    (f) a second locking mechanism engaging the second tubular rib and the second S-bar tubular lower section and locking the S-bar at least in an extended position with the horizontal section normal to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt such that the vertical grip section is above the endless belt, and in a retracted position with the vertical grip section positioned off of the endless belt.    
   
   
       20 . The hand rail assembly of  claim 19  wherein the horizontal section of the first S-bar and the horizontal section of the second S-bar are each adapted to provide a horizontal hand grip.