Two-Handed Crank-Action Exercise Device and Method

Abstract

A two-handed crank action exercise device includes a crank mechanism that is supported at a spaced elevation above ground level, and features a crank arm radiating outwardly away from a rotational axis and a hand grip carried on the crank arm at a radial distance from the rotational axis for manual grasping by a user to drive rotation of the crank arm. An adjustable resistance mechanism is coupled to the crank mechanism to provide an adjustable amount of resistance to said crank mechanism. The hand grip is of sufficient length to enable simultaneous manual grasping thereof by both hands of said user for two-handed operation of said crank mechanism.

1 . A two-handed crank action exercise device comprising:
 a crank mechanism supported or supportable at a spaced elevation above ground level, and comprising a crank arm radiating outwardly away from a rotational axis of said crank mechanism, and a hand grip carried on said crank arm at a radial distance from said rotational axis for manual grasping by a user to drive rotation of the crank arm about said rotational axis; and   an adjustable resistance mechanism coupled to the crank mechanism to provide an adjustable amount of resistance to said crank mechanism;   wherein said hand grip is of sufficient length to enable simultaneous manual grasping thereof by both hands of said user for two-handed operation of said crank mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said crank arm is a sole crank arm of the crank mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said hand grip is a sole hand grip of said crank mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said hand grip is sufficiently long to reach fully across a torso said user for manual grasping of said hand grip at opposing sides of the user's torso. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  comprising an upright support structure having a bottom end held in a stationary position, wherein said crank mechanism is carried on said upright support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the upright structure is rigidly installed in a working environment via anchored attachment to a floor or ground structure. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the upright structure is mounted atop a floor seated base of greater footprint than the upright structure and the crank mechanism supported thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the crank mechanism is supported in a height-adjustable manner to adjust an elevation of the rotational axis of the crank mechanism to a suitable working height for a given user or exercise. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the upright support structure is height-adjustable to adjust an elevation of the rotational axis of the crank mechanism to a suitable working height for a given user or exercise. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the adjustable resistance mechanism is carried with the crank mechanism, whereby movement of the crank mechanism to a different elevation also adjusts an elevation of the adjustable resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8  comprising an actuation mechanism by which raising and lowering of the crank mechanism is driven. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said actuation mechanism comprises a manual actuator handle for manually driven operation of said actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a gear train operably connected to the manual actuator handle to provide mechanical advantage in raising of the crank mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the hand grip is at least 12-inches long. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using the device of  claim 1  comprising, with said hand grip held in a user's two hands, manually driving rotation of said hand grip about the rotational axis of the crank mechanism using both of said user's two hands. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising occupying a working position facing across the rotational axis of the crank mechanism with the hand grip pointing laterally across the user's torso, and driving said rotation of the hand grip by performing alternating push and pull strokes respectively moving away from and back toward the user's torso. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the hand grip spans fully across the user's torso and, in said working position, and the user's two hands hold the hand grip on opposite sides of the user's torso. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  comprising occupying a working position facing along the rotational axis of the crank mechanism with the hand grip pointing toward the user's torso, and driving said rotation of said hand grip by performing alternating strokes of opposing lateral direction relative to the user's torso.