US3679204A - Weighted whirling type exercising device - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle-equipped U-bracket is positioned and braced against a selected body part (waist, knees, back, etc.). A uniquely weighted pendulous member is hinged on a terminally located shaft on an outer end of the U-bracket and is adapted to whirl through an orbital path after a suitable impetus is imparted and the desired momentum is achieved.

Description

United States Patent 51 July 25, 1972 Busby 54] WEIGHTED WHIRLING TYPE 1,077,340 1 1/1913 Graham ..46/47 EXERCISING EVI 1,590,573 6/1926 Frye et al..... ..46/47 2,749,659 6/1956 Elsteln ....273/98 X [72] Inventor: Samuel J. Busby, PO. Box 74, Winlock, 2,246,041 6/l94l Halberstadter ..273/98 UX Wash. 98596 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [221 Ned: July 1970 Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne [2]] Appl. N05 5 3,456 Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [52] US. Cl. ..272/81, 272/DlG. 4, 46/47, [57] ABSTRACT A handle-equlpped U-bracket lS posltloned and braced against 51 nu. Cl ..A63b 21/00, A63b 21/20 a selected body part (waist. knees, back, etc.) A uniquely [58] Field of Search ..272/79 R, 81, 67, 80, DIG. 4, weighted pendulous member is hinged on a terminally located 273/95 98; 46/47 5] shaft on an outer end of the U-bracket and is adapted to whirl through an orbital path after a suitable impetus is imparted [56] R f r n s Cit d and the desired momentum is achieved.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,4 l 4,063 1/1947 Rogers ..46/47 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mimzmmzsmz BEST-AVAILABLE P 3.679.204

Samuel J. Busby INVENTOK Ammq:

WEIGI'ITED WHIRLING TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE This invention relates to an exercising device which is an innovation in that it can be adaptably held and utilized in a manner to enable the user to exercise and stimulate significant parts of the body and to achieve desirable and pleasing health promoting results with a minimum of physical effort.

For background purposes and to assist in catergon'zing the structural and functional character of the exercising device herein under consideration it may be well to take into account the fact that many and varied styles and forms of hand-held user controlled exercising devices are known to be old. Because it is simple and easy to assess the reader may desire to refer to the exercising and gymnastic device disclosed in a U.S. Pat. to Alexander Weschke No. 1,63 1,388 characterized by a handle and a weight and resilient connection between the rod components of the handle. Another adaptation generally indicative of the state of the art to which the invention relates is the U.S. Pat. to John Petitto No. 3,200,536 which may be broadly significant in that it reveals a device which is cooperable with and activated by body and hip movements of the user and employs a swingable ball or weight which can be caused to move in a circular or orbital path.

The foregoing background information is given to focus attention on the fact that the instant invention also employs whirlable weight means which when given a suitable impetus establishes the momentum necessary to cause the weight means to whirl around in an orbital path and the action of which can be accelerated or decelerated by trial and error in a manner to learn and systematize the steps which, as experience has shown, serve to enable the user to achieve a feeling of well being and having done so, to tone up the muscles and promote helpful circulation.

Briefly, the herein disclosed exercising device is simple, practical, light in weight and embodies such features as have been found to be satisfactory in providing an improved end product and improved results attained from experienced use of the same. The preferred device comprises bracket means which have inner and outer ends. Handle means, also unique, is secured to the cooperating inward end of the bracket means and is designed and adapted to be positioned, braced and manually held, that is when in use, against a predetermined part of the user's body in a manner to facilitate use of a weighted pendulous member. This member is adapted to be flipped and set into motion and selectively whirled in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction through a limited orbital path of travel. Means is provided on one end of the pendulous member for pivotally and rotatably linking said one end to a coacting outer end of the bracket means.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the bracket is U-shaped in plan. The handle means is substantially T-shaped and is affixed to the bight portion of the bracket. The outer end of the bracket is provided with a journaling shaft which functions to accommodate coiled bearing sleeves on the weighted whirlable pendulous member. This pendulous member is preferably made from a length of wire which functions to provide a satisfactory elongated loop and on which a weight of requisite heaviness is adjustably and retentively mounted.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective showing a hand-held exercising device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and which shows a ready-to-use device.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing the device on a smaller scale and showing, more particularly, one manner of use, that is, wherein the handle means is located and buttressed against the body at a waist high level with a view toward setting the pendulous member into motion to accomplish one mode of use.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the same device but wherein the handle means is poised and held firmly against the knees of the user with a view toward using the device in a predetermined manner.

FIG. 4 is also a view in perspective and which is similar, in a manner of speaking to FIGS. 2 and 3 but which shows the device in use in a different position, that is, with the handle means braced and stablized against the back of the user just about in a hip-high locale.

The device is characterized by bracket means 6, handle means 8 and a pendulous member 10.

The bracket is of elongated U-shaped form and is made preferably, but not necessarily, from a piece of suitable rigid strap metal. The bight portion of the bracket is denoted at 12 and the coplanar spaced parallel axially twisted legs are denoted at 14. The extreme outer ends 16 of these legs serve to support an axle-like shaft 18. This shaft comprises a simple rod or pin which bridges the space between the ends 16 at right angles thereto and which has its end portions 20 suitably anchored in holes provided therefor. The shaft 18 thus mounted serves to accommodate the whirlable pendulous member 10. This member 10 can be of some construction other than that precisely illustrated but experience has shown that it well serves the intended purposes when it is made as shown. This is to say, the member comprises a length of suitable wire which is bent upon itself as at 22 between its ends to provide an elongated loop 24, that is a loop which embodies a pair of coplanar spaced resilient arms 26. Portions of the wire are twisted together as at 28 to close one end of the loop. The terminal portions beyond the twist are bent upon themselves into coiled sleeves 30 which constitute bearings and which are freely rotatable on the shaft 18. A lead weight of suitable heaviness is provided at 32 and has spaced parallel bores 34 whereby it is slidingly and adjustably mounted. The weight is cylindrical and of requisite size and the arms 26 are resilient and the spring tension, that is the inherent properties of the arms, serves to permit the weight to be adjusted back and forth from one end of the loop to the other to change the leverage at will.

The handle means is substantially T-shaped and comprises a relatively long dowel which can if desired be made of wood, plastic or the like. A median portion 36 of the dowel is superimposed on the bight portion and is bolted thereto as denoted at 38. The respective projecting end portions provide individual selectively usable hand grips 40 and 42. The overall dowel is of a length so that it can be employed not only as handling means as shown for example in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 but also as stabilizing and bracing means in that it is pressed firmly against the body (waist, knees, back for example) to achieve the desired result in a reliable and acceptable manner. Not only is it permissible to use these two left and right hand grips 40 and 42 respectively, a third hand grip is employed and this comprises a relatively short dowel or round which is denoted at 44. This component part is disposed at right angles to the median portion 30 and is situated at the approximate center of the bight portion [2. It provides not only a hand grip but stabilizing means too (FIG. 2).

It will be noted that the loop-shaped whirlable pendulous member 12 is of a length less than the length of the aforementioned legs 14. It is also sufficiently narrow that it can swing unobstructedly through the space, that is the space between the legs [4 when the pendulous member is set into rotation.

As is true with prior art exercising implements, devices and appliances, the one herein disclosed is capable of use in many and varied ways most of which have been worked out and planned and will, according to plan, be illustrated and described in a chart which will be sold with the ready-to-use device. It was thought advisable however to show several basic ways of employing the device in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. For example when the device is used as shown in FIG. 2, the user stands with feet together and fiat on the floor. The handle means is caught hold of by both left and right hand grips and it is firmly pressed against the abdomen, that is at an approximate waisthigh position By merely imparting a flip to the weighted pendulous member it can be set into motion and can be kept in motion once the desired momentum, at the desired speed, is established. The momentum established, after trial and error, can be perceived and sensed with a view toward enabling the user to assess the rhythm pattern and, having done so, to bend the knees intermittently and to stoop and rise while concentrating on the whirling motion of the weighted pendulous member. Experience has show that as a result of, trial and error and training the user will sooner or later accomplish the skill and capability necessary to utilize the device and movement of the body in conjunction with each other to bring about body stimulation, circulation and toning of many of the muscles.

In using the device as shown in FIG. 3 the handle means is still disposed with the main handle in a horizontal position and with the hand grips resting on the knees and in this stooping position motion is imparted to the whirlable weighted pendulous member 10 with a result that, here again, training and peiservence will enable the user to get the knack of employing the device to best advantage.

The same holds true with respect to the illustration identified as FIG. 4 wherein with the arms behind the back and hands reversed, the handle means can be placed across the back and rested in position and held firmly until the desired impetus is imparted to the weighted pendulous member.

The several ways of using the device shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 will give the reader some idea of how this uniquely constructed device is employed to advantage.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modificatons and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hand-held exercising device comprising, in combination, a horizontally elongated U-shaped bracket embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs joined at corresponding inward ends by a bight portion, the outward free ends of said legs being provided with and connected by a joumaling shaft, a first means operatively fixedly connected to said bight portion for grasping by a user, a weighted pendulous member of a length less than the length of said legs, said pendulous member having a second means at one end for rotatably supporting said pendulous member, said pendulous member being journaled for free turning rotation on said shaft and capable of being swung through the space between said legs, said first means comprising an elongated dowel which is of a length to be held by a user in a horizontal position against a user's body, the end portions of said dowel providing hand grips, one for a users left hand and the other one for his right hand, said first means also including a second dowel shorter than and auxiliary to said first named dowel, said second dowel being disposed at right angles to, and fixedly joined to a median portion of said first named dowel and said second dowel being adapted to be gripped by one hand.

2. A hand-held exercising device comprising, in combination, a horizontally elongated U-shaped bracket embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs joined at corresponding inward ends by a bight portion, the outward free ends of said legs being provided with and connected by a journaling shaft, a first means for grasping by a user, said first means being operatively fixedly connected to said bight portion, a weighted pendulous member of a length less than the length of said legs, said pendulous member connected at one end to said shaft, said one end having bearing means journaled for free turning rotation on said shaft said pendulous member being capable of being swung through the space between said legs, said pendulous member comprising a length of wire which is bent upon itself between its ends to provide an elongated loop, portions of the wire remote from the bent portion being twisted together to make the loop, and terminal ends of the wire being coiled and providing a pair of spaced axially aligned sleevelike bearings, said bearings being rotatably mounted on said shaft, said loop including opposed lengthwise arm portions, the opposed lengthwise arm portions of said loop being resilient and a weight of predetermined heaviness shiftably ad- 3 5 justably mounted on said arm portions and manually positionable thereon in a manner to vary and regulate the leverage of said pendulous member for discernably varying effects.

3. The hand-held exercising device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said loop is of a width significantly less than the space between the legs of said bracket, whereby it can swing freely through said space,

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said weight comprises a body member having a pair of generally parallel bores formed therethrough, said arm portions being slidingly received in said bores.

Claims (4)

1. A hand-held exercising device comprising, in combination, a horizontally elongated U-shaped bracket embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs joined at corresponding inward ends by a bight portion, the outward free ends of said legs being provided with and connected by a journaling shaft, a first means operatively fixedly connected to said bight portion for grasping by a user, a weighted pendulous member of a lEngth less than the length of said legs, said pendulous member having a second means at one end for rotatably supporting said pendulous member, said pendulous member being journaled for free turning rotation on said shaft and capable of being swung through the space between said legs, said first means comprising an elongated dowel which is of a length to be held by a user in a horizontal position against a user''s body, the end portions of said dowel providing hand grips, one for a user''s left hand and the other one for his right hand, said first means also including a second dowel shorter than and auxiliary to said first named dowel, said second dowel being disposed at right angles to, and fixedly joined to a median portion of said first named dowel and said second dowel being adapted to be gripped by one hand.

2. A hand-held exercising device comprising, in combination, a horizontally elongated U-shaped bracket embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs joined at corresponding inward ends by a bight portion, the outward free ends of said legs being provided with and connected by a journaling shaft, a first means for grasping by a user, said first means being operatively fixedly connected to said bight portion, a weighted pendulous member of a length less than the length of said legs, said pendulous member connected at one end to said shaft, said one end having bearing means journaled for free turning rotation on said shaft said pendulous member being capable of being swung through the space between said legs, said pendulous member comprising a length of wire which is bent upon itself between its ends to provide an elongated loop, portions of the wire remote from the bent portion being twisted together to make the loop, and terminal ends of the wire being coiled and providing a pair of spaced axially aligned sleeve-like bearings, said bearings being rotatably mounted on said shaft, said loop including opposed lengthwise arm portions, the opposed lengthwise arm portions of said loop being resilient and a weight of predetermined heaviness shiftably adjustably mounted on said arm portions and manually positionable thereon in a manner to vary and regulate the leverage of said pendulous member for discernably varying effects.

3. The hand-held exercising device defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said loop is of a width significantly less than the space between the legs of said bracket, whereby it can swing freely through said space.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said weight comprises a body member having a pair of generally parallel bores formed therethrough, said arm portions being slidingly received in said bores.

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