US20050277520A1 - Adjustable hand grip for exercise machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable hand grip assembly is provided for treadmills that provides variable height positioning of vertical grips immediately forward of the exerciser's lower chest wall.

Description

• The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/575,676 filed on May 28, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to exercising devices, and particularly to an adjustable hand grip system adapted for use with treadmills.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Treadmill exercising machines are well known and basically consist of an endless belt mounted in a base. By walking or running on this belt, one may obtain an aerobic level of exercise. Treadmill machines come in wide variety of configurations with most modern models now being powered by electric motors and providing a variety of controls to set the speed and perhaps incline of the belt at a desired position for exercise. Less expensive models have fewer features and may even be manually powered. The general objective of treadmill devices is to provide the cardiopulmonary benefits of walking, jogging or running. The walking, jogging or running exercise on a treadmill works the large gludimous maximus and deltoid muscle groups, thereby providing aerobic level exercise and corresponding cardiovascular benefits.
• While it is possible to exercise on a treadmill machine without utilizing hand grips, hand grips are usually provided for exercisers who prefer or require such grips. Perhaps the most common grip position is that of a horizontal crossbar located directly in front of the exerciser toward the forward end of the treadmill as typified by bars shown in Lynch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440, and in Fisher, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,117 in phantom. A common alternative position is a side grip such as that shownFIG. 2 of Lynch, and the final common option is a pivoting exercise enhancing grip such as shown in Fisher, et al. that allows the exerciser to also work upper body muscle groups.
• While the aforementioned grip configurations have proved suitable for most treadmill users, there remain inadequacies for the use of treadmills in cardiac rehabilitation. After open heart surgery, the recovering patients are instructed to engage in light exercise as a part of their cardiac rehabilitation, and treadmill exercise devices are well suited for this purpose. However, patients are instructed to tuck their arms close to their body with hands positioned directly against the frontal lower chest wall directly beneath their pectoral muscles. When utilizing a horizontal crossbar, the exerciser's hands are necessarily rotated to a horizontal position and in the best case, hands extend somewhat forward from the exerciser's abdomen. Obviously, the use of side grips or pivoting grips moves the exerciser's hands even further away from the desired position, and also causes the arms to be moved away from the sides of the body.
• Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a hand grip assembly that may be adapted for use by exercisers engaged in cardiac rehabilitation, or who need or desire aid with stability and balance while exercising.
• It is another object of the invention to provide a hand grip assembly suitable for use in cardiac rehabilitation that when not needed for such purpose may be easily moved out of the way so that traditional grip locations are available.
• It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a hand rail that supplies vertical grips that may be positioned immediately forward of the exerciser's lower chest wall and that also provides grips in the location of a horizontal crossbar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The above recited objects of the invention and others which will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by the present invention which provides for two pivotably mounted hand rails that are rotatable into position, such that each hand rail provides both a horizontal section and a vertical section for gripping immediately forward of the exerciser and that may be adjusted vertically to the desired height for a particular individual. When not in use, the hand rails may be pivoted out of position so that the treadmill may be utilized with its ordinary hand rail configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a treadmill equipped with hand rails according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a single hand rail according to the present invention located in retracted position.
• FIG. 3 is an end view of a left hand rail according to the present invention located in extended position for use.
• FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rib and hand rail assembly of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of hand rails of the present invention located in extended position for use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Referring now to the drawings in more detail, atreadmill exercise device10 is illustrated comprised generally ofbase11 in which anendless belt12 is supported longitudinally and upon which theexerciser17 jogs or walks. Also shown is adisplay15 set at the top ofdisplay support14 extending upward frombase11. Thedisplay15 typically provides user controls to adjust speed and incline of thebelt12 and may also provide visual readouts of elapsed time, estimated caloric consumption, heart rate and other information. The features of treadmills vary widely, and the present invention is not restricted to use on any particular model or features other than as set forth in the claims. Of principal interest in the present invention is the support frame, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 1 comprised ofleft frame21 andright frame31 on either side of theendless belt12. Left andright frames21,31 are each respectively comprised offront leg sections22,32,horizontal bar sections23,33, andrear leg sections24,34. On each of the left andright frames21,31 is a mounting bracket such as channeledrib25 which receives a hand rail assembly such as S-bar40 that provides an adjustable grip in the form of avertical section48 that may be positioned against the exerciser's17 front lower chest wall.
• FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view ofright side rail31 withrib25 and S-bar40 shown in its retracted position.Bracket25 may be permanently welded tohorizontal section33 ofside rail31 or may have a removable mounting section such ashorizontal tube28, the channel of which is securely but removably mounted tohorizontal section33.Bracket25 preferably has a verticaltubular section26 with pairs ofapertures27 extending through the tube wall. The S-bar40 has a mount such aslower section41, that in the use of the illustrated tubular embodiments may be overfitting or interfitting as shown with the bracket provided having verticaltubular section26, to permit pivoting movement. Illustratedlower section41 also hasapertures42 at predetermined increments to form a part of an adjusting and locking assembly. In order to set the height of the S-bar40 and thereby set the height of thevertical section48 above the endless belt of the treadmill, a set of desiredlower section apertures42 is aligned with a pair ofvertical tube apertures27 and amounting pin36 extended therethrough. Fromlower section41, S-bar40 of the illustrated hand rail assembly proceeds tocorner44 making a right angle, a lateral extension such ashorizontal section45, asecond corner47 also making a right angle,vertical section48 andend cap50.Horizontal section45 andvertical section48 each preferably have paddedgrip sections46,49 which may be formed from hard foam rubber, or similar suitable materials, to provide a softer gripping area and to minimize the chance of injury if bumped against. The two rightangled corners44,47 cause thelower section41 and thevertical section48 to be substantially parallel, but offset by the distance attributable to the lateral extension.
• FIG. 3 is an end view ofside member23 of theleft frame21 having upstandingtubular section26 with S-bar40 rotated into its extended position for use.Mounting pin36 is shown withhead37 anddistal end38 so that the post section ofpin36 extends throughapertures27 intubular section26 andapertures42 inlower section41 of S-bar40. In this fashion, thepin36 fixes the position of thelower section41 and indeed the entire handrail assembly of S-bar40, relative to thetubular section26. It will be seen thatflange43 just abovelower section41 preventscorner44 of S-bar40 from enteringtubular section26 and becoming wedged in that position.
• As better shown inFIG. 4, it can also be seen that rather than simply having pairs ofapertures27 extending on opposite sides ofvertical tube26, thelower section41 of S-bar40 has sets of fourapertures42 evenly spaced about the circumference of thelower section41 at each predetermined increment so that the S-bar40 may be rotated in 90° increments with respect totubular section26. This enables the S-bar40 to be positioned in both retracted and extended positions at each height.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of the centralhorizontal sections23,33 of left andright side rails21,31. S-bars40 are shown in their extended positions withvertical sections48 positioned over the forward portion of the endless belt. Arrows A and B show how S-bars40 may be rotated 90° to retracted positions to position centralhorizontal sections45 generally above and parallel to left and righthorizontal sections23,33. It will also be seen inFIG. 5 that S-bars40 present bothvertical grip sections48 withgrips49 that may be easily positioned against the front lower chest wall of an exerciser, andhorizontal sections45 providing grips in the positions with padding46 in the fashion of the customary horizontal crossbars. Thus the S-bars40 of the present invention provide the ability to convert the support frame of a treadmill machine to both a horizontal crossbar grip and to a vertical cardiac rehabilitation friendly grip configuration.
• It will be understood that there are numerous methods that may be utilized to provide mounting brackets on the frame of a treadmill and to pivotably attach a hand rail assembly to such mounting points, and similarly that there are many alternatives for lockingly engaging a hand rail assembly in a selected vertical and rotational position.
• Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail herein, it will be understood that various substitutions and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as recited in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A pivotable hand grip assembly for use of a treadmill of the type having a base with an endless belt supported thereon and a support frame extending upward from the base comprising:

(a) first and second mounting brackets on the support frame;

(b) a first hand rail assembly with a mount for pivotable attachment to the first mounting bracket, a lateral extension from the mount, and a vertical grip section;

(c) a second hand rail assembly with a mount for pivotable attachment to the second mounting bracket, a lateral extension from the mount, and a vertical grip section.

2. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second hand rail assemblies are pivotable between an extended position where the vertical grip sections are located over the endless belt, and a retracted position.

3. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second hand rail assemblies are adjustable vertically to a desired height above the endless belt.

4. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the vertical grip sections of the first and second hand rail assemblies further comprise a padded grip surface.

5. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the lateral extensions of the first and second hand rail assemblies further comprise a grip section with a padded grip surface.

6. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 2 further comprising a locking mechanism for selectively locking the first and second hand rail assemblies in the extended position and the retracted position.

7. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second mounting brackets comprise vertical tubular sections having a first diameter and extending upward from the support frame.

8. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 7 wherein the mounts of the first and second hand rail assemblies comprise vertical tubular sections having a second diameter that engage the mounting bracket vertical tubular sections and are rotatable with respect thereto.

9. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the both mounting bracket vertical sections of first diameters and the hand rail assembly tubular sections of second diameter have apertures defining bisecting passages across such sections, and a pin inserted through the apertures of a mounting bracket vertical section and a tubular section of second diameter engaged therewith acts to lock the position of the hand rail assembly relative to the mounting bracket.

10. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the first hand rail assembly comprises a first tubular section forming a mount for pivotable engagement to the first mounting bracket, a first corner section connected to and forming a right angle with the first tubular section, a second tubular section with a first end connected to the first corner section, said second tubular section forming a lateral extension and having a padded grip surface thereon, and said second tubular section having a second end connected to a second corner section forming a right angle with the second tubular section, a third tubular section with a first end connected to the second corner section, said third tubular section forming a vertical grip section and having a padded surface thereon and extending to a second end.

11. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the first tubular section and the third tubular section are substantially parallel in orientation.

12. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the first hand rail assembly further comprises a flange on the first corner section at a connection with the first tubular section.

13. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 10 wherein the first mounting bracket comprises a vertical tubular section having a first diameter and extending upward from the support frame.

14. The pivotable hand grip assembly ofclaim 13 wherein the first tubular section of the first hand rail assembly has a second diameter that engages the vertical tubular section of the first mounting bracket and is rotatable with respect thereto.

15. A hand rail assembly comprising a first tubular section, a first corner section connected to and forming a right angle with the first tubular section, a second tubular section with a first end connected to the first corner section, said second tubular section forming a lateral extension and having a padded grip surface thereon, and said second tubular section having a second end connected to a second corner section forming a right angle with the second tubular section, a third tubular section with a first end connected to the second corner section, said third tubular section forming a vertical grip section and having a padded surface thereon and extending to a second end.

16. The hand rail assembly ofclaim 15 further comprising a flange on the first corner section at a connection with the first tubular section.

17. The hand rail assembly ofclaim 15 further comprising pairs of apertures spaced at predetermined increments on the first tubular section defining bisecting passages across said tubular section.

18. The hand rail assembly ofclaim 15 further comprising an end cap on the end of the third tubular section.

19. A hand rail assembly for use in a treadmill of the type having a base with an endless belt supported therein for longitudinal movement and having a first support frame extending upward from the base on a first side of the endless belt and a second support frame extending upward from the base on a second opposite side of the endless belt, comprising:

(a) a first tubular rib extending upward from the support frame;

(b) a first S-bar having a tubular lower section pivotably engaging the first tubular rib, a horizontal section extending from the lower section, and a vertical grip section;

(c) a first locking mechanism engaging the first tubular rib and the first S-bar tubular lower section and locking the S-bar at least in an extended position with the horizontal section normal to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt such that the vertical grip section is above the endless belt, and in a retracted position with the vertical grip section positioned off of the endless belt;

(d) a second tubular rib extending upward from the support frame;

(e) a second S-bar having a tubular lower section pivotably engaging the second tubular rib, a horizontal section extending from the lower section, and a vertical grip section; and

(f) a second locking mechanism engaging the second tubular rib and the second S-bar tubular lower section and locking the S-bar at least in an extended position with the horizontal section normal to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt such that the vertical grip section is above the endless belt, and in a retracted position with the vertical grip section positioned off of the endless belt.

20. The hand rail assembly ofclaim 19 wherein the horizontal section of the first S-bar and the horizontal section of the second S-bar are each adapted to provide a horizontal hand grip.

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