Palm Leverage Handheld Body Strengthening Apparatus

The present invention relates to the fitness industry and weightlifting. More specifically, handheld exercise device for building strength, muscle, tendons, ligaments, and bone density.

Exercise and weightlifting have proven to be very important in maintaining good physical and mental health. Exercising the core muscles and tendons is particularly good for the spine and posture. Home gyms and equipment can take up a lot of space and may depend on heavy weighs, bands, cables, and the like. Many exercises require your body weight, getting on the floor or being agile. It usually involves lots of repetitions and a large time commitment to see substantial results. Back muscles, tendons, and ligaments take much longer to strengthen than other muscles. Many give up on their fitness goals thereby causing a lower quality of life. There is a need in the fitness industry for a handheld device that effectively and efficiently helps with gaining strength and building muscle which uses a fraction of the weight, doesn't require bands, or the need of body weight and can be used by most anyone that can move their arm or wrist. The present invention is a handheld exercise device that will use weight to see and feel results in little time. This device can be used by all ages at any fitness level. The present invention can build strength and target the core muscles, tendons, and ligaments to improve balance and posture. There is no need for expensive heavy equipment, bands, or the use of any body weight. This exercise device is extremely compact and can even be used while in bed. This exercise device can be used in place of heavy weightlifting, the use of bands or your body weight. It will not require large time commitments or exhausting repetitions to see and feel. This device will make exercise more convenient, efficient, and effective for all.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a versatile handheld exercise apparatus. The handheld exercise apparatus has many configurations to be versatile enough for any user of any age, strength, or trait that may effect one's ability to use complicated weight machines with limited weight ranges.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device that provides exercise efficiently and effectively. The present invention is small and compact that can be stored easily but provide the user with enough weight and versatility to allow for a comprehensive workout.

This palm leverage handheld body strengthening apparatus is primarily made up of three components. The present invention comprises a palm brace bar, a handgrip, and a weight adjustment system. The palm brace bar rests against a lower portion of a palm below the handgrip. The handgrip provides a user with a location to place a hand for gripping. The palm brace and the handgrip can be incorporated as one complete holding structure. Outside the hand in line with a forearm is a weight adjustment system that will provide a load held by the hand. The load is braced by the palm so that grip strength is not as important. The weight adjustment system comprises primarily of rods and weight pods. The weight adjustment system can be of various configurations of weight, size and length. A plurality of rods would make for a versatile expansive structure for the weight pods to fit onto. Weight pods can be adjusted outward from the hand into a locked position to increase the intensity of the load. The rods can be metal or any material that will support the load. The weight adjustment system may also be removable from the handgrip to allow expansion of the system or weight adjustment.

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”

“First”, “second” etc. as contained herein are terms used as labels for nouns that they precede and do not imply ordering unless context deems otherwise.

The present disclosure has broad utility and application. Any embodiment may incorporate only one of a plurality of the disclosed aspects of the present invention and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the disclosed features of the present invention.

The palm leverage handheld body strengthening apparatusmay be used as an exercised apparatus to strengthen muscles and the like but is not limited to this use. The present invention may be handheld but is not limited to this and is only an exemplary embodiment.

The present invention comprises a palm brace, a neck portion, a handgrip, and a weight adjustment system. As shown inand, the palm brace, the neck portion, and the handgripare configured generally parallel and in a generally vertical stack with a breadth of the neck portiondetermining the separation of the palm braceand the handgrip. The handgripfurther comprises an upper member, a first vertical connection, a crossmember, and a first handgrip hole. The upper member, the first vertical connection, and the crossmemberare configured to define a hand cavitypreferably for the placement of a user's hand. The upper memberand the crossmemberare generally parallel. The first vertical connectionconfigured generally normal to said upper memberand the crossmember. The upper memberand the crossmember being separated by a pre-determined length of the vertical connection. The weight adjustment system further comprises a first rod, a weight pod, and a plurality of shaft locks. The first rodis an elongated generally cylindrical shape. The first handgrip holeis preferably positioned on the crossmember. The first handgrip holereceives at least partially the first rod. Two of the plurality of shaft locksmay be removably attached to the first rodconfigured to secure the rod to the handgrip. The weight podcomprises a first pod hole. The first pod holeslidably receives the first rod. The weight podbeing removably secured on the rod by one of the plurality of shaft locks. In one embodiment, the upper member, the first vertical connection, and the crossmemberare integral to form the handgrip.

In a first preferred embodiment, the present invention may further comprise a second rod. The handgripfurther comprises a second handgrip hole. The second handgrip holeis preferably positioned on the crossmemberwith a first pre-determined distance from the first handgrip hole. The weight podfurther comprises a second pod holewith the pre-determined distance from the first pod hole. The pre-determined distance is set so the first rodand the second rodare operably configured to receive the weight pod. The second handgrip holereceives the second rodso that the second rodis generally normal to the crossmember. The second rodis secured to the handgripby two of the plurality of shaft locks. The second pod holeslidably receives the second rod. The weight podis removably secured on the second rodby one of the plurality of shaft locks. The first rodand the second rodmay be generally cylindrical-shaped. In one embodiment, the first rodand the second rodmay be a hexagonal profiled bar. In one embodiment, the first rodand the second rodmay have spiral threads at least partially covering an outer surface of the rod.

In a first preferred embodiment, the handgripmay further comprise a second vertical connection. The second vertical connectionis configured opposite the first vertical connectionto further define the hand cavityand being integral with the upper member, the first vertical connection, and the crossmember.

andshow an exploded view of the present invention. The present invention further comprises an adjustment bar. The adjustment barfurther comprises a first vertical member, a horizontal memberand a first rod hole. The first vertical memberbeing generally vertical and generally perpendicular to the horizontal member. The first rod holeis preferably positioned on the horizontal member. The first rod holeslidably receives the first rod. At least one of the plurality of shaft locksmay be removably attached to the first rodto secure the adjustment barto the first rodand set the breadth of the neck portionalong an allowable length of the first rod. The palm bracefurther comprises a first borehole. The handgripfurther comprising a first through hole. The first through holelongitudinally bores through the first vertical connection. The palm brace, the handgrip, and the adjustment barare configured wherein the breadth of the neck portionmay be adjustable. The first boreholeand the first through holeare aligned. The first through holeslidably receives the first vertical member. The first boreholereceives the first vertical member. The first vertical memberis secured to the palm braceby at least one of the plurality of shaft locks. To change the breadth of the neck portion, the user would release an appropriate one of the plurality of shaft locks, slide the attachment bar and in turn move the palm brace, adjust the breadth of the neck portionto the desired distance and then re-attach the appropriate one of the plurality of shaft locks.

In the first preferred embodiment, the adjustable bar further comprises a second vertical memberand a second rod hole. The palm bracefurther comprises a second borehole. The handgripfurther comprises a second through hole. The second rod holeis preferably positioned on the horizontal memberat the pre-determined distance. The second vertical memberbeing generally parallel to the first vertical memberand generally perpendicular to the horizontal member. The second rod holeslidably receives the second rod. At least one of the plurality of shaft locksmay be removably attached to the second rodto secure the adjustment barto the second rodand set the breadth of the neck portionalong the allowable length. The palm bracefurther comprises the second borehole. The handgripfurther comprises the second through hole. The second through holelongitudinally bores through the second vertical connection. The palm brace, the handgrip, and the adjustment barare configured wherein the breadth of the neck portionmay be adjustable. The second boreholeand the second through holeare aligned. The second through holeslidably receives the second vertical member. The second boreholereceives the second vertical member. The second vertical memberis secured to the palm braceby at least one of the plurality of shaft locks.

andshow a front and right side view of the present invention, respectively. The palm bracemay be a generally cylindrical shape. The palm bracemay further have some structural contouring to improve the comfort for the user's hand. The palm bracemay also be covered at least partially by a grabbable material for improving a user's hand grip on the apparatus. It is preferred that the user places a palmar surface of the user's hand on a top side of the palm brace. The upper membermay also be covered at least partially by grabbable material for improving the user's grip on the apparatus. Preferably, the fingers of the user's hand may be placed at least partially on a bottom side of the upper memberof the handgrip. The handgripis a tabular frame.

As shown inand, the weight podis generally oblong in shape. The weight podis to give functional weight to the apparatus. The weight podmay include an outer shell and a base. The weight podmay also include a lock rest. The lock restis a generally cylindrical shaped element for contacting the plurality of shaft locks. The predetermined weight of the weight podwill allow the user to increase or decrease the weight by adding or subtracting the weight pod.

The present invention further comprises an end cap. The end capdefines a rod cavity. The rod cavity slidably receives the first rod. The end capis for protection of the user, bystanders, or objects from possible damage from ends of the first rodand the second rod. The end capalso helps hold the weight podon the rods in case one of the plurality of shaft locksfail. In the first preferred embodiment, the end capspans the predetermined distance between the first rodand the second rod. The rod cavity slidably receives the first rodand the second rod. As shown in, the end capmay be a locking bar. The locking barhas a set of locking holes with the pre-determined distance to operably receive the first rodand the second rod. The set of locking pins are spring loaded with a set of locking springs. The set of locking springs are configured with the set of locking pins to press and extend the set of locking pins into the set of locking holes. A set of rings can be attached to the set of locking pins for operably pulling the set of locking pins so the set of locking pins retract out of the set of locking holes. The first rodand the second rodmay comprise a plurality of rod notches. The positioning of the plurality of rod notcheson the first rodand the second rodmay be aligned between each rod. The set of locking pins will operably insert into the plurality of rod notchesto limit the longitudinal movement of the locking bar.

The plurality of shaft locksis to hold elements of the present invention operably together. One of the plurality of shaft lockscomprise a radially outer wall that defines a shaft hole. One of the plurality of shaft locksmay be an e-clip. The radially outer wall of the e-cliphas a wall opening so as to allow the e-clipto operably clip to a circular profiled object. The inner surface of the e-cliphas several protrusions to allow the e-clipto securely attach to a circular profiled object. One of the plurality of shaft locksmay be a sliding lockas shown in. The sliding lockhas an additional radially inner wall having locking tabs and a notch spring. The notch spring press the radially outer wall against the inner wall extending the tabs into the shaft hole. The radially outer wall is pulled against the pressing force of the spring to release the pressing on the tabs of the radially inner wall, thereby allowing the tabs to contract from the shaft hole. One of the plurality of shaft locksmay be a shaft collar. The shaft collarfurther comprises a set screw holeand a set screw. The set screwhas spiral threads that cover at least partially the outer surface of the set screw. The set screw holehas female spiral threads so the set screw holecan operably receive the set screw. As the set screwis rotated one direction, the set screwwill extend into the shaft hole. The adjustment barmay comprise of a plurality of bar notches. The plurality of bar notchesmay be operably configured to work with the e-clip. The plurality of rod notchesmay be operably configured to work with the sliding lock. If the first rodand the second rodare at least partially threaded on the outer surface then one of the plurality of shaft locksmay be a threaded nut operably configured to receive the first rodand the second rod.

shows a perspective view of a configuration of the present invention and the versatility of the present invention with a set of additional rods and a plurality of additional weight pods.

shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment. The neck portionis integral with the palm braceand the handgripwherein the breadth of the neck portionis fixed.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.