Handle and handle assembly for coupling to exercise equipment

Abstract

A handle or handle assembly for coupling to exercise or sports equipment is disclosed. The handle includes a curved upper section, an elongated middle section, and a curved lower section, wherein the lower section has a circumference greater than that of the upper and middle sections. The handle may further include a bottom portion that is flat or curved, a central attachment aperture, and an external surface grip pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle for coupling to exercise or sports equipment, the handle comprising:
 a curved upper section;   an elongated middle section;   a curved lower section; and   wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of the upper section and middle section.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is curved or flat. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing external circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the curved upper portion and curved lower section have convex curvatures. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is comprised of a material selected from a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising.
 an inner core comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or composite material; and   an external portion comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or composite material,   
       wherein the material used in the inner core has a higher strength than the material used in the external portion. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising a central attachment aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip pattern on an external surface, wherein the grip pattern has continuous parallel grooves and discontinuous longitudinal grooves. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle is circular, oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal, rounded triangular, rounded quadrilateral, or rounded hexagonal. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section further comprises a plurality of concave grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is a cable stop of the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         12 . A handle assembly for coupling to exercise equipment, comprising:
 (a) a handle comprising,
 a curved upper section; 
 an elongated middle section; and 
 a curved lower section; 
   wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of upper section and middle section; and   (b) a coupling mechanism for coupling the handle to said exercise equipment.   
     
     
         13 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the handle further comprises a central attachment aperture for connecting the coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises,
 an internal attachment portion; and   an external attachment portion.   
     
     
         15 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the internal attachment portion is affixed within the central attachment aperture of the handle and the external attachment portion is coupled to an exercise machine. 
     
     
         16 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the internal attachment portion and the external attachment portion are connected by a rope, reinforced fabric, a wire, a strap, a bar or shaft, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the internal attachment portion comprises at least one of crimp, washer, end fitting, threaded nut, a flared end, a knotted end, a burned or flared end, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The handle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the external attachment portion comprises at least one of a metal loop, a rope cover, a hook, an eyelet, a thimble fitting, a cable stop, a socket, a sleeve or ferrule, a knotted end, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of a cable stop, pulldown rope, triceps or lateral pulldown bar, resistance bands, cable machine, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section. 
     
     
         21 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the curved upper portion and curved lower section have convex curvatures. 
     
     
         22 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is comprised of a material selected from a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material. 
     
     
         23 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising.
 an inner core comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber, a metal, or a composite material; and   an external portion comprised of a polymer, an elastomer, a rubber a metal, or a composite material,   wherein the material used in the inner core has a higher strength than the material used in the external portion.   
     
     
         24 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a central attachment aperture which extends through the length of the handle and wherein the coupling mechanism 
     
     
         25 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the handle further comprises a grip pattern on an external surface, wherein the grip pattern has continuous parallel grooves and discontinuous longitudinal grooves. 
     
     
         26 . The handle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle is circular, oval, egg-shaped, rounded or sharp edge polygonal, rounded triangular, rounded quadrilateral, rounded hexagonal 
     
     
         27 . A handle for exercise equipment, comprising:
 a curved upper section;   an elongated middle section, wherein the elongated middle section has an increasing external circumference, increasing from a top portion to a bottom portion of the middle section, and   curved lower section.   
     
     
         28 . A handle comprising:
 a curved upper section;   an elongated middle section;   a lower section; and   wherein the circumference of the lower section is greater than the circumferences of the upper section and middle section.   
     
     
         29 . The handle of  claim 28 , wherein the elongated middle section has a slight concave curve. 
     
     
         30 . The handle of  claim 28 , wherein the curved upper portion and lower section have convex curvatures.