US3809394A

US3809394A - Two bar exerciser

Info

Publication number: US3809394A
Application number: US00289964A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-18
Filing date: 1972-09-18
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

Two semi-rigid bars are suspended from an adjustable belt adapted to encircle the waist. One bar is positioned in front of the body near the top of the pelvis and the second bar is positioned at the rear of the body near the bottom of the pelvis. Means are provided for pulling the first bar toward the second bar so as to rotate the top of the pelvis toward the rear of the body while exercising various body muscles.

Description

TWO BAR EXERCISER Merwin Guy Hall, Rt. Box 263, i

covingtonflsa 704 33 A 7 Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 Appl. No.: 289,964

Inventor:

U.S. Cl 272/80, 35/29 D, 128/78 Int. Cl A63b 23/02 Field of Search.;..... 272/80, 24, 57 R, DIG. 19;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,808,050 10/1957 ward; 128/78 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,000,045 8/1971 Germany 128/75 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Richards, Harris & Medlock [57] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 11 TWO BAR EXERCISER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for exercising the body. More particularly, the invention relates to an exerciser for adjusting the position of aportion of the body in relation to the rest of the body while exercising body muscles.

Body fatigue and pains-such as muscle cramps, back and neck aches, and shoulder pains-are often the result of faulty posture. Sedentary work and a lack of regular exercise may compound the problem, resulting in a general deterioration of muscle tone. One of the effects of the loss of muscle tone is a gradual-rotation of the pelvis wherein the front of the pelvis rotates forward and downward and the back of the pelvis rotates upward. As posture continues to deteriorate over a number of years, this pelvic rotation will result in a swayback-and protrusion of the abdomen. The shoulders droop, the head is gradually tilted forward and the chest slumps. Breathing and digestion are adversely affected, the lower back may ache, and the shoulder muscles become tense. As the center of gravity of the body changes, the redistribution of body weight places undue strain on feet, leg and back muscles.

Conventional exercise equipment has been found to be ineffective in relieving muscle distress resulting from such posture'deterioration. Many such devices provide little relief because the exercise movements are practiced in the wrong postural position. Most exercise equipment is directed only to the exercising of certain body muscles with no thought given to adjusting portions of the body to their correct positions with respect to the rest of the body while exercising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, an exercise device is provided which includes a plurality of semi-rigid members connected to a belt member which is adapted to encircle a part of the body. Means are provided for pulling one or more of the semi-rigid members toward the other members so as to adjust the position of a portion of the body in relation to the rest of the body.

More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exercise device in which a belt is adapted to encircle the waist of the body. A front and rear barare connected to the belt by suspending straps. The front bar is suspended in such a manner that it may be positioned in front of the body near the top of the pelvis. The rear bar is attached so that it may be placed at the rear of the body near the bottom of the pelvis. Means, such as a rope or cord, are provided for pulling the front and rear bars toward each other, thereby rotating the top of the pelvis toward the rear of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a strap portion of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspectiveview of the invention in operatron.

. DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED Y EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. A belt 10 is provided which may be placed around a portion of the body, such as the waist. The belt is preferable adjustable for fitting various body sizes. Buckle 12 is attached thereto for holding the belt snugly in position. Belt 10 is inserted through

loop straps

14 and 16 which are positioned on the front portion of belt 10 on either side of buckle 12. The lower portion of

straps

14 and 16 tapers torings l8 and 20 having holes aligned with each other. A bar 22 is inserted through

rings

18 and 20 so as to be sus pended below and parallel to the front portion of belt 10.

In FIG. 2, a loop strap 24 is suspended from the center of the back portion of belt 10 and terminates in another ring 26 through which a second bar 28 is inserted. Bar 28 is suspended below and approximately parallel to the rear portion of belt 10.

In FIG. 3, a close-up view is shown of strap 14. Strap 16 is identical. Belt 10 is inserted through the loop portion of strap 14 so as to provide a secure means of attaching bar 22 to the belt. ,The lower portion of strap 14 forms a ring-l8 within which an inner ring 30 of a rigid material may be inserted, resulting in a tighter fit for bar 22. In one preferable embodiment, the strap 14 is made of a semi-rigid material such as rubber, and ring 30 is made of plastic. Other suitable materials may be readily used.

In FIG. 4, the two-bar exerciser is shown in use. Belt 10 is secured snugly to the waist of the body. A rope 40 is connected to back bar 28 and brought forward to loop over front bar 22. Another rope similar to rope 40 may be attached to the opposite ends of

bars

22 and 28 in the same manner as shown.

In one type of exercise, ropes 40 are grasped by both hands and pulled backward and slightly downward away from the body. This action causes bar 22 to press against the top of the pelvis at the front and bar 28 to press against the bottom of the pelvis at the rear. The

pelvis is thereby caused to rotatethe top front of the pelvis moving backward and the bottom rear of the pelvis moving forward-thus tending to restore the pelvis to its proper position for correct posture.

The above-mentioned procedure has the added advantage of strengthening the arm, back and abdomen muscles. The shoulders are pulled down and back, the pelvis tilts up in front and down in rear, the chest is raised, the abdomen flattens, the neck straightens out and the head tilts back. All of these actions contribute to improving posture and rectifying the difficulties mentioned earlier.

It should be noted that other beneficial exercises are possible using the two bar exerciser. For example, after completing the above-described exercise, ropes 40 may be looped around either end of bar 28 and brought to the front of the body pulling forward and upward with the shoulders. Other similar exercises utilizing the described invention may be devised.

It has been found that use of the two bar exerciser on a regular basis provides market improvement in posture and rapid relief from various muscle pains. The present invention is especially helpful to ease tensions 3 and pains in the neck, shoulders and back of those who have maintained a sittingposition for a considerable length of time; p

Various modifications of the two bar exerciser described above are contemplated, and fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, a third bar (not shown) may be attached directly to the rear portion of belt 10. After attaching ropes 40 as described in connection with FIG. 4, the ropes may be looped around the end of the third bar and pulled in a forward direction. This action may be useful in working back and shoulder muscles not exercised in the previously described procedures. Similarly, different sized belts may be used for attachment to various other parts of the body in providing similar types of exercises.

Having described the invention in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise device comprising:

a. a belt adapted to encircle the waist of the body,

b. suspending straps attached to said belt,

' c. a first bar secured to at least one of such straps and adapted for suspension in front of the body near the top of the pelvis,

d. a second bar secured to at least one of such straps and adapted for suspension at the rear of the body near the bottom of the pelvis, and

e. means for pulling said first and second bars toward each other so as to rotate the top of the pelvis toward the rear of the body.

2. An exercise device comprising:

a belt member adapted to encircle a portion of the a first relatively rigid member suspended below said belt member adapted to be positioned in front of the body,

a second relatively rigid member suspended below said belt member adapted to be positioned at the rear of the body, and

means connecting said first and second relatively rigid members and independent of said belt member for pulling said first and second relatively rigid members toward each other,

said first relatively rigid member being arranged to be brought thereby into engagement with a portion of the body disposed adjacent the top of the pelvis of the body and said second relatively rigidmember being arranged to be brought thereby into engagement with a portion of the body adjacent the bottom of said pelvis for rotating said top of said pelvis toward the rear of the body.

3. The combination of claim 2 and further comprising flexible means for suspending said first and second semi-rigid members from said belt member.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising: a. a belt adapted to encircle the waist of the body, b. suspending straps attached to said belt, c. a first bar secured to at least one of such straps and adapted for suspension in front of the body near the top of the pelvis, d. a second bar secured to at least one of such straps and adapted for suspension at the rear of the body near the bottom of the pelvis, and e. means for pulling said first and second bars toward each other so as to rotate the top of the pelvis toward the rear of the body.

2. An exercise device comprising: a belt member adapted to encircle a portion of the body, a first relatively rigid member suspended below said belt member adapted to be positioned in front of the body, a second relatively rigid member suspended below said belt member adapted to be positioned at the rear of the body, and means connecting said first and second relatively rigid members and independent of said belt member for pulling said first and second relatively rigid members toward each other, said first relatively rigid member being arranged to be brought thereby into engagement with a portion of the body disposed adjacent the top of the pelvis of the body and said second relatively rigid member being arranged to be brought thereby into engagement with a portion of the body adjacent the bottom of said pelvis for rotating said top of said pelvis toward the rear of the body.