Gyroscopic exercise device with handles

Abstract

The gyroscopic device of the preferred embodiments includes a housing; a gyroscope within the housing; and a first handle having a first joint, wherein the first joint is coupled to the housing and is located such that when a user grasps the first handle, the first joint is located along the center line of the user's palm and adjacent to the user's wrist. The gyroscope preferably includes a track defining a continuous surface with a circular shape, a rotor that spins about a spin axis and rotates about a rotational axis, wherein the rotor has axle tips that frictionally contact the continuous surface of the track, and wherein the frictional contact defines a relationship between a spin rate of the rotor about the spin axis and a rotation rate of the rotor about the rotational axis.

1 . A gyroscopic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a gyroscope, within the housing, that generates gyroscopic forces that create gyroscopic moments;   wherein the gyroscope includes:
 a track defining a continuous surface; 
 a rotor that spins about a spin axis and rotates about a rotational axis; 
 wherein the rotor has axle tips that frictionally contact the continuous surface of the track, wherein the frictional contact defines a relationship between a spin rate of the rotor about the spin axis and a rotation rate of the rotor about the rotational axis; and 
   a first handle having a first joint,   wherein the first joint is coupled to the housing and is located such that when a user grasps the first handle, the first joint is located along the center line of the user's palm and adjacent to the user's wrist.   
   
   
       2 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  wherein the location of the first joint positions the application location of the gyroscopic forces on the user such that the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand are reduced and the gyroscopic forces that induce substantially transverse motion of the user's hand are applied to the user. 
   
   
       3 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  wherein the location of the first joint positions the application location of the gyroscopic forces on the user such that the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand are eliminated and the gyroscopic forces that induce substantially transverse motion of the user's hand are applied to the user. 
   
   
       4 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  wherein the gyroscopic forces create gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand about multiple axes. 
   
   
       5 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 4  wherein the location of the first joint along the center line of the user's palm eliminates the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand about a first axis. 
   
   
       6 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 5  wherein the location of the first joint adjacent to the user's wrist reduces the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand about a second axis and a third axis. 
   
   
       7 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 5  wherein the location of the first joint adjacent to the user's wrist eliminates the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand about a second axis and a third axis. 
   
   
       8 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  wherein the first joint is a rotatable joint. 
   
   
       9 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 8  wherein the first joint is a universal joint. 
   
   
       10 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 8  wherein the first joint is a fully rotatable joint having a rotation stop element such that the joint is rotatable less than 360 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  wherein the first joint includes a series of joints that couple portions of rigid material, such that the first joint allows the user to move their hand in an oscillating, up and down motion. 
   
   
       12 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  further comprising a coupling element that couples to the first joint. 
   
   
       13 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 12  wherein the coupling element couples the housing to the first joint such that the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand are reduced and the gyroscopic forces that induce substantially transverse motion of the user's hand are applied to the user. 
   
   
       14 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 1  further comprising a second handle having a second joint, wherein the second joint is coupled to the housing and is located such that when a user grasps the second handle, the second joint is located along the center line of the user's palm and adjacent to the user's wrist. 
   
   
       15 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 14  wherein the second joint is a rotatable joint. 
   
   
       16 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 15  wherein the second joint is a universal joint. 
   
   
       17 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 14  wherein the first handle and the second handle further include a grip portion that provides a gripping surface for the user. 
   
   
       18 . The gyroscopic device of  claim 14  wherein the first handle and the second handle further include additional user interface elements such that the user may control the gyroscopic device with the first handle and the second handle. 
   
   
       19 . A gyroscopic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a gyroscope, within the housing, that generates gyroscopic forces that create gyroscopic moments;   wherein the gyroscope includes:
 a track defining a continuous surface; 
 a rotor that spins about a spin axis and rotates about a rotational axis; 
 wherein the rotor has axle tips that frictionally contact the continuous surface of the track, wherein the frictional contact defines a relationship between a spin rate of the rotor about the spin axis and a rotation rate of the rotor about the rotational axis; and 
   a first handle having a first joint,   wherein the location of the first joint positions the application location of the gyroscopic forces on the user such that the gyroscopic moments that induce substantially pivotal motion of the user's hand are reduced and the gyroscopic forces that induce substantially transverse motion of the user's hand are applied to the user.   
   
   
       20 . A user interface for a gyroscope that generates gyroscopic forces that create gyroscopic moments, wherein the gyroscope includes a track and a rotor that spins about a spin axis and rotates about a rotational axis; the user interface comprising:
 a housing that houses the gyroscope;   a first handle having a first joint,   wherein the first joint is coupled to the housing and is located such that when a user grasps the first handle, the first joint is located along the center line of the user's palm and adjacent to the user's wrist.