Torque Force Cable Handles and Cable Machine

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/582,641, filed Feb. 2, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/724,357, filed Apr. 19, 2022, now abandoned, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/176,775, filed Apr. 19, 2021, which are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/114,482, filed Nov. 16, 2020, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/943,962, filed Jul. 30, 2020, PCT International Application No. PCT/US20/44315, filed Jul. 30, 2020, and PCT International Application No. PCT/US19/35886, filed Jun. 6, 2019, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

The disclosure relates generally to a training system, and more specifically and not by way of limitation, some embodiments are related to a torque force training system including in particular torque force cable handles and a cable machine.

Sports training and coaching have always been an effective way to teach a philosophy, technique, or an athletic trait to an athlete in order to achieve and maintain physical prowess and success. Across all sports, coaches, and trainers instill valuable techniques that enable athletes to move their bodies in response to stimuli or to properly achieve a maximum effort towards a specific goal or feat.

Weights or other resistance training devices are often used by coaches or trainers to create physical exertion levels above and beyond what the body experiences in sports to make the athlete stronger, faster, or more physically fit. However, many athletes need additional specialized tools to absorb the proper technique and/or improve athletic form or performance. Muscle memory also plays a role in the athlete developing proper form or technique during sports. Adjustments or tweaks to an athlete's form or technique are often needed to unleash the individual's true potential. Tools or techniques that teach positive muscle memory to athletes are becoming increasingly important in achieving success at the highest levels of sports. Current weights or standard resistance systems may not be as advantageous as initially thought due to the creation of poor muscle memory from torque or improper weight distribution of the tool or device. For example, current dumbbells have been viewed as an excellent tool for building up strength, speed, and endurance for boxing training. However, on closer examination, the weight distribution creates a negative torque on the wrists and elbows, resulting in poor form and technique. The use of these current dumbbells can even cause injury to joints and connective tissue over time. The same can be true across many other sports, including track and field events, long distance running, golf, hockey, baseball, basketball, football, and other hand and eye coordination sports. Therefore, there is a need for a torque force directional cable-based system that allows for the weight to be distributed in and across the hand during physical activities, such as exercise or training.

In one example implementation, an embodiment includes a directional cable-based system includes one or more handheld handle devices. Each handheld handle device includes a handle frame, a cable grip revolving around a front portion of the handle frame, a hood fixedly attached to the handle frame, and a swivel assembly fixedly attached to a top of the hood.

Disclosed are example embodiments of a torque force directional cable-based system—the torque force directional cable-based system, including a cage. The cage includes a top horizontal bar and two vertical sidebars. The top horizontal bar includes a plurality of zones, wherein each zone is configured to receive a first cable at a first end of the first cable. Each of the two vertical bars includes a slider. Each slider is configured to receive a second cable at a first end of the second cable. The torque force directional cable-based system includes one or more handheld handle devices. Each handheld handle device includes a handle frame, a cable grip revolving around a front portion of the handle frame, a hood fixedly attached to the handle frame, and a swivel assembly fixedly attached to a top of the hood. The swivel is configured to receive either the first or the second cable at a second end of the first or the second cable.

The features and advantages described in the specification are not all-inclusive. In particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the disclosed subject matter.

The figures and the following description describe certain embodiments by way of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein. Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures to indicate similar or like functionality.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

Several aspects of example systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using various components, hardware, electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

Some handheld weight units were previously described in related applications, such as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/188,048 filed Jun. 21, 2016, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/682,707 filed Jun. 8, 2018, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/943,962 filed Jul. 30, 2020, PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US20/44315 filed Jul. 30, 2020, and PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US19/35886, filed Jun. 6, 2019, the entire contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A torque force training system as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/114,482, its entire content and disclosure are incorporated herein by reference, may also include one or more of dumbbell system of torque cable/exercise tension with connecting bars, rope grips, a massage tool system, and bended bars with connective methods.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include torque force cable handles and a cable machine. In some embodiments, the torque force cable handles and cable machines may activate muscle groups of a user across multiple planes of directional intensity during exercise or sports movement training. Unlike traditional gym or band cable handles and machines that are one dimensional with a single point of attaching bands or cables for added intensity or weight, the torque force cable handles and cable machines of the present disclosure may provide additional and more advantageous cable or band attachment zones for a new separate directional torque on the body. It should be noted that attachment zones are not limited to 1 additional zone per handle, as shown in the examples herein.

The directional intensity may be in the form of wire cables attached to one or more of weighted plates, tension wheels, latex, or other types of tension bands (e.g., rubber tube) that may be fixed to the cage of the machine. In addition, the cable machine may have multiple adjustable arms that extend outward from the machine to provide additional directional flow throughout the plane of exercise.

Exercises or sports movements that only incorporate one-directional intensity may limit an athlete's muscle activation to a singular torque motion or directional flow. By adding multiple directional intensities, as with the torque force cable handles and cable machines of the present disclosure, the athlete can increase and isolate muscle activation across the entire range of motion. For example, a standard crossover cable chest exercise may provide isolation from a lateral plane of intensity on the pectoral major muscles. However, by adding a second cable or band tension, the athlete can add horizontal intensity to the motion and target the pectoral major and minor and shoulders, back, and core muscles all in one motion. The blending of directional intensities with the torque force cable system of the present disclosure may strengthen core engagement and activate stabilization muscles throughout the body during the entire motion of the exercise. The blending of directional intensities with the torque force cable system of the present disclosure may also add intensity from multiple planes of activating without the need to increase the weight. The use of lower weight due to the blending of directional intensities with the torque force cable system may lower the risk of injury or muscular tear from adding too much weight to any one singular directional exercise.

An example system of the present disclosure may include the addition of directional intensity attachment zones to handheld gym cables, home gym handheld handles, or bars. In addition, the attachment zones may correspond to specific locations on the cable machine cage or stand. In an example embodiment, an attachment zone may lock in and attach a directional tension from either a band or wire cable attached to weights, a flywheel, or any other form of intensity. The system may provide directional intensity training for sports specific movements or exercise, or therapeutic motion in some applications. The directional intensity may come from several locations on a door, stand, cage, bench, or wall-mounted training system in the home gym environment.

The handles may be made from steel in some embodiments and provide a steel swivel eye for fluid motion. The handles may be capable of intensity up to, e.g., 400 pounds or more. Still, any high-impact plastic may also be advantageous to reduce costs and increase production speed through injection molding.

Training on the Torque Force directional cable-based system of the present disclosure may provide the athlete with a more functional form of exercise. The system may provide the athlete with a more functional form of exercise because the movement patterns using the Torque Force directional cable-based system of the present disclosure may be more akin to real-life movements. For example, movements such as lunging, squatting, pushing, pulling, bending, and twisting may be performed. In an example embodiment, an athlete's movements may not be constrained by a rigid machine or bar. In some example embodiments, the legs may be trained from a standing position, therefore mimicking actions such as standing from a seated position, climbing stairs, walking, and balancing on one leg. Training with the Torque Force directional cable-based system of the present disclosure may improve the user's balance, especially with multiple planes of intensity that may be applied to specific movements.

Constant Tension from Multiple Directional Flow

The Torque Force Cable System of the present disclosure may provide constant multiple directional tension while performing exercises and sports movements. Because muscle growth and strength increases may be directly based on how much tension is placed on the muscle during the exercise, the cable handles and machines may fatigue muscles faster and result in greater strength gains without overloading or maximizing weight load.

As the users become more proficient in adding directional intensity from the handles and cable machines, the users may discover a multitude of exercises that may be done at a single machine. Having many exercises that may be done on a single machine may allow the user to switch between various exercises quickly. Such a system may allow a user to work the user's upper body and lower body simultaneously from many directional flow exercises. Additionally, one or more of a waist band, belt, or ankle straps may be included in some embodiments. The waistband, belt, or ankle straps may have multiple attachment zones. The waistband, belt, or ankle straps may be advantageous to train the entire body during functional or sports-specific motions.

illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a handheld handle deviceof the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the handheld handle devicemay include a hood(e.g., a steel hood), a swivel assembly, and a cable grip. The swivel assemblymay be mounted on the hood. The swivel assemblymay include an attachment mechanismfor attaching a cable or band. The swivel of the swivel assemblymay freely rotate, e.g., 360 degrees. The cable gripmay revolve around a front portion of a handle frame. The cable gripmay be configured to fit a hand of a user. The hoodmay be welded to the handle frame in some embodiments. In some applications, a cable or band may be connected to the swivel assembly. The handheld handle devicemay include an attachment point. The handheld handle devicemay also include a frame. Framemay include a portion that holds the cable grip. The framemay also include attachment pointas part of the frame. In some embodiments, the hoodmay be steel or some other metal. The hoodmay be plastic or any other suitable material in some embodiments.

illustrates an exemplary top view of the handheld handle deviceof the present disclosure. The figure illustrates a top view of the hood, a top view of the swivel assembly, and a top view of the cable grip. As illustrated, the swivel assemblymay be mounted on the top of the hood. As discussed above, the handheld devicemay include attachment point.

illustrates an exemplary left side view of the handheld handle deviceof the present disclosure. The figure illustrates a left view of the hood, a left view of the swivel assembly, and a left view of the cable grip. As illustrated, the swivel assemblymay be mounted on the top of the hood.

illustrates an exemplary sectional side view of the handheld handle device of the present disclosure. The figure illustrates a sectional side view of the hood, a sectional side view of the swivel assembly, and a sectional side view of the cable grip. As illustrated, the swivel assemblymay be mounted on the top of the hood.

As illustrated in, one or more handheld handle devicesmay include a handle frame. A cable gripmay revolve around a front portion of the handle frame. A hoodmay be fixedly attached to the handle frame. A swivel assemblymay be fixedly attached to a top of the hood. The swivel of the swivel assemblymay be configured to receive either a first or second cable (of an exercise machine as illustrated in, for example) at a second end of the first or the second cable.

The swivel assembly may be configured to rotate freely in an example embodiment. The swivel assembly may be configured to rotate 360 degrees in an example embodiment. In an example embodiment, the swivel assembly may be steel.

illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a handleof the present disclosure's handheld handle device(of).illustrates an exemplary top view of the handleof the handheld handle device(of) of the present disclosure.illustrates an exemplary sectional view of the handleof the handheld handle device(of) of the present disclosure.

An example embodiment may include an attachment point. In an example embodiment, the attachment point may be in the handle frame.

In an example embodiment the front portion of the handle frame includes a cylindrical portion, the cable grip revolving around the cylindrical portion.

In an example embodiment, the handle frame may be any other suitable material or combination of materials. In an example embodiment, the handle frame may be steel. In an example embodiment, the handle frame may be plastic.

illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the hood of the handheld handle device of the present disclosure.illustrates an exemplary top view of the hood of the handheld handle device of the present disclosure.illustrates an exemplary rear view of the hood of the handheld handle device of the present disclosure.illustrates an exemplary side view of the hood of the handheld handle device of the present disclosure.

In an example embodiment, the hood may be any other suitable material or combination of materials. In an example embodiment, the hood may be steel. In an example embodiment, the hood may be plastic.

illustrates the present disclosure's exemplary Torque Force directional cable-based system. The systemmay include the handheld handle deviceand a cable machine. In some embodiments, the cable machinemay include a top horizontal barand two vertical sidebars. The top barmay include multiple zonesor areas to attach a cable or band. The cable or band may be connected to a handheld handle deviceat the other end.

The vertical bar may include a sliderthat may slide up and down the vertical bar. The slidermay include a locking mechanism to lock into one of the plurality of positions. The slidermay include an attachment mechanism to attach a cable or band. The cable or band may be connected to a handheld handle deviceat the other end.

In the example given, the system includes two handheld handle devices. At each handheld handle device, a user may attach one cable that may attach to a desired location on the top bar and another cable that attaches to a slider on a vertical bar.

illustrate exemplary movements that the user inmay perform and the muscle areas affected (the cable machine is not shown for simplicity).

illustrates another exemplary application of the Torque Force directional cable-based system of the present disclosure. In this example, only one handheld handle device is used.

illustrate exemplary movements that the user inmay perform and the muscle areas affected (the cable machine is not shown for simplicity).

As illustrated in, a top horizontal barand two vertical side barsmay form a cage of the system. The top horizontal barmay include a plurality of zones, wherein each zone is configured to receive a first cable at a first end of the first cable. Each of the two vertical barsmay include a slider. Each slider may be configured to receive a second cable at a first end of the second cable.

The system may include or support fitness products with added torque in some embodiments. The above exemplary embodiments illustrate exemplary components and assemblies that may releasably connect to the training system. The configuration of the training system and assemblies is advantageously flexible.

It should also be noted that all features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment. If a certain feature, element, component, function, or step is described with respect to only one embodiment, then it should be understood that that feature, element, component, function, or step can be used with every other embodiment described herein unless explicitly stated otherwise. This paragraph, therefore, serves as antecedent basis and written support for the introduction of claims, at any time, that combine features, elements, components, functions, and steps from different embodiments or that substitute features, elements, components, functions, and steps from one embodiment with those of another, even if the following description does not explicitly state, in a particular instance, that such combinations or substitutions are possible. It is explicitly acknowledged that express recitation of every possible combination and substitution is overly burdensome, especially given that the permissibility of each and every such combination and substitution will be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.

To the extent the embodiments disclosed herein include or operate in association with memory, storage, and/or computer readable media, then that memory, storage, and/or computer readable media are non-transitory. Accordingly, to the extent that memory, storage, and/or computer readable media are covered by one or more claims, then that memory, storage, and/or computer readable media is only non-transitory.

While the embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are not to be limited to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, these embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, any features, functions, steps, or elements of the embodiments may be recited in or added to the claims, as well as negative limitations that define the inventive scope of the claims by features, functions, steps, or elements that are not within that scope.

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

One or more elements or aspects or steps, or any portion(s) thereof, from one or more of any of the systems and methods described herein may be combined with one or more elements or aspects or steps, or any portion(s) thereof, from one or more of any of the other systems and methods described herein and combinations thereof, to form one or more additional implementations and/or claims of the present disclosure.

One or more of the components, steps, features, and/or functions illustrated in the figures may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component, block, feature or function or embodied in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and/or functions may also be added without departing from the disclosure. The apparatus, devices, and/or components illustrated in the Figures may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described in the Figures. The algorithms described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and/or embedded in hardware.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the methods used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following disclosure, it is appreciated that throughout the disclosure terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system's memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display.