Method and Portable Apparatus, With Adjustable Resistance, for Exercising The Upper Extremities

Abstract

A method and apparatus for exercising the upper portions of the human body. The apparatus is a “zigzag” configured rod that has rotatable grips on three parallel sections of thereof. The apparatus preferably can alternatively be configured or re-configured in a U-shape. A user, with or without the assistance of another person, grasps two of the grips and rotates the device around its central section to perform a wide variety of exercises. The grips' resistances to rotation are adjustable. A method is provided for using the apparatus to perform exercises beneficial for the user's arms and upper body.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for exercising a person's upper body comprising:
 a base portion comprising:
 an inner base portion; 
 a middle hand grip rotatably disposed on the inner base portion; 
 an outer base portion; 
 a left hand grip rotatably disposed on the outer base portion; and 
 an intermediate base portion connecting the outer base portion to the inner base portion and defining an angle with the inner base portion; and 
   an extension portion connectable to the base portion, the extension portion comprising:
 an outer extension portion; 
 a right hand grip rotatably disposed on the outer extension portion, there being a resistance to rotation of the right hand grip relative to the outer extension portion; 
 means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the right hand grip; and 
 an intermediate extension portion defining an angle with the outer extension portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the right hand grip comprises:
 a threaded portion of the outer extension portion;   at least one bearing rotatable upon the outer extension portion, wherein the right hand grip is secured to the at least one bearing for rotation therewith;   a thumb screw on the outer extension portion and having rotatable screwed engagement with the threaded portion; and   a shaft collar non-rotatably disposed upon the outer extension portion;   
       wherein a rotation of the thumb screw upon the threaded portion moves the thumb screw axially along the threaded portion to increase or decrease a compression force thereby to increase or decrease a friction transmitted between at least one rotatable bearing and the shaft collar. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a resistance to rotation of the left hand grip relative to the outer base portion; and 
 means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the left hand grip comprising:
 a threaded portion of the outer base portion; 
 at least one bearing rotatable upon the outer base portion, wherein the left hand grip is secured to the at least one bearing for rotation therewith; 
 a thumb screw on the outer base portion and having rotatable screwed engagement with the threaded portion of the outer base portion; and 
 a shaft collar non-rotatably disposed upon the outer base portion; 
 
 
       wherein a rotation of the thumb screw upon the threaded portion of the outer base portion moves the thumb screw axially along the threaded portion of the outer base portion to increase or decrease a compression force thereby to increase or decrease a friction transmitted between at least one rotatable bearing on the outer base portion and the shaft collar on the outer base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a resistance washer situated around the outer extension portion, and axially intermediate the shaft collar and at least one bearing, to transmit friction between the at least one bearing and the shaft collar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising means for gauging the resistance to rotation comprising:
 a dial member on the outer extension portion, axially adjacent the thumb screw; 
 a window aperture defined through the window aperture; and 
 indicator labels arranged on the thumb screw; 
 
       wherein a rotation of the thumb screw upon the threaded portion may bring any one of the indicator labels into a registration with the window aperture, and wherein the registration of a particular indicator label with the window aperture corresponds to a magnitude of the resistance to rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a spin lock non-rotatably situated on the outer extension portion axially between at least one bearing and the thumb screw, wherein the spin lock prevents a rotary motion of at least one bearing from inducing unwanted rotation of the thumb screw. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising means for releasably connecting the base portion to the extension portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the base portion and the extension portion are mutually releasably connectable in either a generally zig-zag-shaped pedal configuration or a generally u-shaped crank configuration, and wherein:
 when the base portion and the extension portion are in the pedal configuration, an axis of the inner base portion, and an axis of the outer base portion, and an axis of the outer extension portion are parallel and not coaxially aligned; and 
 when the base portion and the extension portion are in the crank configuration, the axis of the outer base portion and the axis of the outer extension portion are parallel and are coaxially aligned. 
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the angle defined by the inner base portion and the intermediate base portion comprises an angle of between about 75 degrees and about 85 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the angle defined by the inner base portion and the intermediate base portion comprises an angle of approximately 80 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the angle defined by the outer extension portion and the intermediate extension portion comprises an angle of between about 75 degrees and about 85 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the angle defined by the outer extension portion and the intermediate extension portion comprises an angle of approximately 80 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for exercising a person's upper body comprising:
 a base portion comprising:
 an inner base portion; 
 a middle hand grip rotatably disposed on the inner base portion; 
 an outer base portion; 
 a left hand grip rotatably disposed on the outer base portion, there being a resistance to rotation of the left hand grip relative to the outer base portion; 
 an intermediate base portion connecting the outer base portion to the inner base portion and defining an angle with the inner base portion; and 
 means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the left hand grip comprising:
 a threaded portion of the outer base portion; 
 at least one bearing rotatable upon the outer base portion, wherein the left hand grip is secured to the at least one bearing for rotation therewith; 
 a thumb screw on the outer base portion and having rotatable screwed engagement with the threaded portion of the outer base portion; and 
 a shaft collar non-rotatably disposed upon the outer base portion; 
 
   
       wherein a rotation of the thumb screw upon the threaded portion of the outer base portion moves the thumb screw axially along the threaded portion of the outer base portion to increase or decrease a compression force thereby to increase or decrease a friction transmitted between at least one rotatable bearing on the outer base portion and the shaft collar on the outer base portion; and
 an extension portion connectable to the base portion, the extension portion comprising:
 an outer extension portion; 
 a right hand grip rotatably disposed on the outer extension portion, there being a resistance to rotation of the right hand grip relative to the outer extension portion; 
 means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the right hand grip; and 
 an intermediate extension portion defining an angle with the outer extension portion. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means for adjusting the resistance to rotation of the right hand grip comprises:
 a threaded portion of the outer extension portion;   at least one bearing rotatable upon the outer extension portion, wherein the right hand grip is secured to the at least one bearing upon the outer extension portion for rotation therewith;   a thumb screw on the outer extension portion and having rotatable screwed engagement with the threaded portion of the outer extension portion; and   a shaft collar non-rotatably disposed upon the outer extension portion;   
       wherein a rotation of the thumb screw upon the threaded portion of the outer extension portion moves the thumb screw axially along the threaded portion to increase or decrease a compression force thereby to increase or decrease a friction transmitted between at least one bearing rotatable on the outer extension portion bearing and the shaft collar.