Exercise device

Abstract

The exercise device includes a wheel having a side and an axle assembly including an axle and a handle section extending from the axle outwardly of the sides of the wheel. A coil spring is situated within the wheel, surrounding the axle and is operably connected between the wheel and the axle such that the wheel and the axle can move relative to each other to alter the tension on said spring. The handle assembly also has a circular member situated proximate and parallel to the side of the wheel. The member is fixedly mounted to and radially extending from the axle such that the member and the axle move together as a unit. Accordingly, the wheel can move relative to the axle/member unit without irritating the user's hand gripping the handle section.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising: a wheel having a side; an axle assembly comprising an axle and a handle section extending from said axle outwardly of said wheel; and a coil spring situated within said wheel, surrounding said axle, and being operably connected between said wheel and said axle such that said wheel and said axle can move relative to each other to alter the tension on said spring, said handle assembly further comprising a member situated proximate said side of said wheel, fixedly mounted to and radially extending from said axle, such that said member and said axle move as a unit as said wheel moves relative to said axle. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said member is a substantially circular in shape and comprises an outer rim. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said wheel has an outer surface defined by an inwardly facing channel adapted to moveably receive said rim of said member, such that said member and said wheel can move relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said member is generally parallel to and spaced from said side surface of said wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said member comprises a concave surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a collar situated around said axle upon which said wheel is mounted. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said axle has an axis and wherein said member extends in a plane substantially orthogonal to said axis of said axle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said handle section has an axis and wherein said axis of said axle and said axis of said handle section are not collinear. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said handle section has an axis and wherein said axis of said axle and said axis of said handle section meet at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         10 . An exercise device comprising: a wheel having first and second sides; an axle assembly comprising an axle and first and second handle sections extending from said axle outwardly of said wheel in different directions; and a coil spring situated within said wheel, surrounding said axle, and being operably connected between said wheel and said axle such that said wheel and said axle can move relative to each other to alter the tension on said spring, said handle assembly further comprising first and second members fixedly mounted to and radially extending from said axle at locations on opposite sides of said wheel such that said members and said axle move as a unit as said wheel moves relative to said axle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said members each comprise an outer rim. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said wheel has first and second an edges each defined by an inwardly facing channel adapted to moveably receive said rim of a different one of said members, such that said members and said wheel can move relative to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said wheel has first and second sides and wherein said members are each substantially parallel to and spaced from a different one of said sides. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein each of said members comprises a substantially concave surface. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a collar situated over said axle upon which said wheel is mounted. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said axle has an axis and wherein each of said members extends in a plane substantially orthogonal to said axis. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10  wherein each of said members extends in a plane and wherein said planes are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10  wherein each of said handle sections has an axis and wherein said axis of said axle and said axes of said handle sections are not collinear. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said handle sections each has an axis and wherein said axis of said axle and said axes of said handle sections meet at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         20 . A method for exercising using an exercise device including a wheel with a side, an axle assembly with a handle section, a coil spring connected between the wheel and the axle such that the wheel and the axle can move relative to each other to alter the tension on the spring and a member fixedly mounted to and radially extending from the axle proximate the side of the wheel such that the member and the axle move together as a unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) positioning the user on bended knees;   (b) situating the device in front of the user such that the wheel frictionally engages a surface;   (c) gripping the handle section with the user's hand at a point adjacent the member; and   (d) extending the body of the user to move the device in a first direction relative to the surface so as to rotate the wheel relative to the gripped handle section and to the member so as to increase the tension on the spring without moving the member relative to the user's hand.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 (e) retracting the body of the user toward its original position to move the device relative to the surface in a second direction, so as to rotate the wheel relative to the gripped handle section and to the member to decrease the tension on the spring without moving the member relative to the user's hand. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (e).