Universal, multidirectional exerciser for exercising hand, wrist and forearm in multiple planes of motion with adjustable resistance

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved universal, multidirectional exerciser for exercising hand, wrist and forearm in multiple planes of motion with adjustable resistance. The invention also provides a method of exercising wrists, hands and forearms by holding the handle in one hand and the knob/grip member in the other hand, and repetitively twisting the handle and knob/grip member in opposite directions. A detachable grip member is mounted over the knob and the detachable grip member further comprises a gyro ring and a squeeze grip strengthener.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of exercising hand, wrist and forearm using a universal multidirectional, exerciser for hand, wrist and forearm comprising a handle having an axial opening extending completely therethrough, said handle having a first end and a second end, a shaft extending completely through said axial opening at said first end and said second end of said handle, spring means mounted outside of said handle around an end of said shaft at said first end of said handle, a resistance adjustment knob mounted to said shaft spaced from said first end of said handle, said spring means being mounted in the space between said handle and said adjustment knob, said adjustment knob being longitudinally mounted on said shaft and having a bearing surface which is disposed against said spring means to adjust the extent of compression of said spring means upon longitudinal movement of said adjustment knob toward and away from said handle, at least one clutch disc mounted against said handle at said second end of said handle, an abutment member mounted against said clutch disc, and a second knob mounted around said abutment member and said clutch disc and said second end of said handle in rotational relationship with respect to said handle whereby said second knob and said handle may be rotated with respect to each other against the force applied by said clutch disc which is adjusted in accordance with the compression of said spring means wherein the improvement comprises a resistance adjustment knob that enables continuously adjustable resistance and a detachable grip member mounted over said second knob wherein the detachable grip member further incorporates a gyro ring wherein the gyro ring comprises a ring containing one or more weighted balls that can move freely inside the ring comprising the steps of:
 a) turning resistance knob of the universal multidirectional exerciser thereby setting the desired resistance level;   b) holding the exerciser by placing a first hand around the handle and placing a second hand over the detachable grip member;   c) rotating the first hand/wrist up and down while simultaneously rotating the second hand/wrist side to side thereby simultaneously rotating the hands in opposite directions;   d) turning the exercise device 180 degrees and placing the first hand over the detachable grip member and placing the second hand around the handle; and   e) rotating the first hand up and down while simultaneously rotating the second hand/wrist side to side thereby simultaneously rotating the hands in opposite directions;   f) rotating wrists in a circular motion with the gyro; and   g) repetitive squeezing of grips of various strength and hand sizes.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising exercising hand, wrist and forearm using a smaller, more closed hand grip comprising removing the detachable grip member and placing a hand over the knob and repeating steps (a) through (g). 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising exercising the hand, wrist and forearm with proprioception feedback from centrifical force comprising;
 a) optionally removing the gyro ring from the detachable grip member; 
 b) placing the gyro ring or detachable grip member in a hand and rotating the ring in a circular motion for one or more revolutions; 
 c) rotating the ring in the opposite direction for one or more revolutions; 
 d) placing the gyro ring in the opposite hand and rotating the ring in a circular motion for one or more revolutions; and 
 e) rotating the ring in the opposite direction for one or more revolutions. 
 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising exercising the hand, wrist and forearm with proprioception feedback from centrifical force comprising;
 a) holding the exerciser in a hand; 
 b) rotating the ring in a circular motion for one or more revolutions; 
 c) rotating the exerciser in the opposite direction for one or more revolutions; 
 d) placing the exerciser in the opposite hand and rotating the exerciser in a circular motion for one or more revolutions; and 
 e) rotating the exerciser in the opposite direction for one or more revolutions. 
 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising exercising both hands by,
 a) removing the gyro ring from the detachable grip member; 
 b) placing the detachable grip member in a first palm and squeezing the grip member; 
 c) placing the detachable grip member in a second palm and squeezing the grip member; and 
 d) optionally placing one or more inserts in the detachable grip member cavity thereby increasing the resistance of the grip member and squeezing the grip member. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising a finger squeeze exercise including,
 a) rotating the detachable grip member 180 degrees so that grip member edge are resting at the ends of fingers of a first hand and then squeezing the grip member; and 
 b) placing the detachable grip member edge at the ends of fingers of a second hand and then squeezing the grip member. 
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising massaging one or more pressure points in a hand comprising attaching a bumpy surfaced detachable grip member and repeating steps (a) through (e). 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising massaging one or more pressure points in a hand comprising over the handle, a detachable grip sleeve comprising bumpy surface, and repeating steps (a) through (e). 
     
     
         47 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising exercising upper arm including elbow, bicep, tricep and shoulder comprising the steps of:
 a) holding the exerciser by placing a first hand around the handle and placing a second hand over the detachable grip member; 
 b) rotating the first hand/wrist up and down while simultaneously rotating the second hand/wrist side to side thereby simultaneously rotating the hands in opposite direction; 
 c) fully extending arms, bringing the arms all the way to chest and fully extend the arms again; 
 d) turning the exercise device 180 degrees and placing the first hand over the detachable grip member and placing the second hand around the handle; and 
 e) repeating steps (a) through (c). 
 
     
     
         58 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising optionally using one or more squeezable inserts for warm up and placing the squeezable insert in the detachable grip member cavity for increasing the grip member durometer wherein the squeezable inserts are sport specific. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the sport specific squeezable insert is at least one selected from the group consisting of golf ball, soccer ball, bowling ball, baseball, softball, tennis ball, squash ball, lacrosse ball, hockey puck, basketball and football. 
     
     
         64 . A method of reducing stress and blood pressure by using a universal multidirectional, exerciser for hand, wrist and forearm comprising a handle having an axial opening extending completely therethrough, said handle having a first end and a second end, a shaft extending completely through said axial opening at said first end and said second end of said handle, spring means mounted outside of said handle around an end of said shaft at said first end of said handle, a resistance adjustment knob mounted to said shaft spaced from said first end of said handle, said spring means being mounted in the space between said handle and said adjustment knob, said adjustment knob being longitudinally mounted on said shaft and having a bearing surface which is disposed against said spring means to adjust the extent of compression of said spring means upon longitudinal movement of said adjustment knob toward and away from said handle, at least one clutch disc mounted against said handle at said second end of said handle, an abutment member mounted against said clutch disc, and a second knob mounted around said abutment member and said clutch disc and said second end of said handle in rotational relationship with respect to said handle whereby said second knob and said handle may be rotated with respect to each other against the force applied by said clutch disc which is adjusted in accordance with the compression of said spring means wherein the improvement comprises a resistance adjustment knob that enables continuously adjustable resistance and a detachable grip member mounted over said second knob wherein the detachable grip member further incorporates a gyro ring wherein the gyro ring comprises a ring containing one or more weighted balls that can move freely inside the ring. 
     
     
         65 . A method of aiding weight loss by using a universal multidirectional, exerciser for hand, wrist and forearm comprising a handle having an axial opening extending completely therethrough, said handle having a first end and a second end, a shaft extending completely through said axial opening at said first end and said second end of said handle, spring means mounted outside of said handle around an end of said shaft at said first end of said handle, a resistance adjustment knob mounted to said shaft spaced from said first end of said handle, said spring means being mounted in the space between said handle and said adjustment knob, said adjustment knob being longitudinally mounted on said shaft and having a bearing surface which is disposed against said spring means to adjust the extent of compression of said spring means upon longitudinal movement of said adjustment knob toward and away from said handle, at least one clutch disc mounted against said handle at said second end of said handle, an abutment member mounted against said clutch disc, and a second knob mounted around said abutment member and said clutch disc and said second end of said handle in rotational relationship with respect to said handle whereby said second knob and said handle may be rotated with respect to each other against the force applied by said clutch disc which is adjusted in accordance with the compression of said spring means wherein the improvement comprises a resistance adjustment knob that enables continuously adjustable resistance and a detachable grip member mounted over said second knob wherein the detachable grip member further incorporates a gyro ring wherein the gyro ring comprises a ring containing one or more weighted balls that can move freely inside the ring thereby reducing stress and blood pressure. 
     
     
         66 . A method of exercising hand, wrist and forearm in the same plane but in opposite direction comprising the steps of holding the exerciser in one hand, placing a second detachable knob over the resistance adjustment knob, positioning a second hand over the second detachable knob so that palms are facing one another and then rotating the exerciser forward and back in the same plane in opposite directions. 
     
     
         67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of exercising hand, wrist, forearm and fingers using a universal multidirectional, exerciser for hand, wrist and forearm comprising a handle having an axial opening extending completely therethrough, said handle having a first end and a second end, a shaft extending completely through said axial opening at said first end and said second end of said handle, spring means mounted outside of said handle around an end of said shaft at said first end of said handle, a resistance adjustment knob mounted to said shaft spaced from said first end of said handle, said spring means being mounted in the space between said handle and said adjustment knob, said adjustment knob being longitudinally mounted on said shaft and having a bearing surface which is disposed against said spring means to adjust the extent of compression of said spring means upon longitudinal movement of said adjustment knob toward and away from said handle, at least one clutch disc mounted against said handle at said second end of said handle, an abutment member mounted against said clutch disc, and a second knob mounted around said abutment member and said clutch disc and said second end of said handle in rotational relationship with respect to said handle whereby said second knob and said handle may be rotated with respect to each other against the force applied by said clutch disc which is adjusted in accordance with the compression of said spring means wherein the improvement comprises a resistance adjustment knob that enables continuously adjustable resistance and a detachable grip member mounted over said second knob wherein the detachable grip member further incorporates a gyro ring wherein the gyro ring comprises a ring containing one or more weighted balls that can move freely inside the ring comprising the steps of:
 a) placing one hand over the shaft of the exerciser and moving the wrist up and down;   b) placing one hand over the first knob and moving the wrist left to right;   c) holding the exerciser, the detachable grip member or the gyro ring and moving the wrist rotationally;   d) repeatedly squeezing the foam grip shaft of the exerciser;   e) repeatedly squeezing the detachable grip member when covering the first knob;   f) repeatedly squeezing at low resistance a squeeze ball;   g) repeatedly squeezing at medium resistance the detachable grip member without the gyro ring;   h) repeatedly squeezing at higher resistance the detachable grip member with the squeeze ball in the center cavity of the detachable grip member;   i) rotating the detachable grip member 180 degrees and holding outer edges of the detachable grip member with fingers and repeatedly squeezing the grip with the fingers; and   j) massaging the hands and fingers by squeezing the massage grip.