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Exercise apparatus and methods for useRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, ClubExercise apparatus and methods for use description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070135275, Exercise apparatus and methods for use. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/748,519, filed Dec. 8, 2005, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO APPENDIX [0003] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of the Invention [0005] This disclosure relates to exercise apparatus and their methods of use and, more specifically, to plyometric, hand-held exercise apparatus and their use in exercising and developing upper arm and shoulder strength. [0006] 2. Description of the Related Art [0007] Over the years, numerous exercise apparatus and machines have been developed and used by which a person can grasp by their hand and lift, for the purpose of exercising particular arm, shoulder, or back muscles of the body, both for strengthening as well as re-conditioning reasons. Due to the increasing numbers of sports which draw upon and put unnatural strain upon the complex system of muscles that form the shoulder joint and rotator cuff, attention has become more focused on exercises that are directed specifically to strengthening the shoulder musculature. The goal of such exercises and their associated exercise assemblies or apparatus is often to better stabilize and/or strengthen the head of the humerus within the Glenoid cavity, especially during times of increased external loading, as experienced, for example, during the throwing motion by a baseball pitcher, or other similar activities. [0008] A number of exercise devices have been previously constructed to aid in the strengthening of the muscles that form the shoulder and the rotator cuff For example, a simple, isokinetic exercise device and methods for its use have been described by Hymanson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,964,633 and 5,147,262, respectively. These patents describe an exercise device comprising a flat, elongated metal strip having gripping handles attached to the middle portion, wherein the strip is flexible and adapted to oscillate back and forth in a bi-planar manner in response to being grasped and shaken by a user. According to the method of using this apparatus, the flexible, elongated metal strip is moved back and forth in such a way that the oscillating movements are coplanar (bidirectional), and at a rate from 3 to 7 cycles per second. [0009] A different type of exercise device has been suggested by Yalch in U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,495 B1, describing a symmetrical swing-exercise bar having a high radius of gyration for a given total weight with the center of percussion in the distal hand grip when the exercise bar is rotated like a golf club using a two-hand grip. The swing-exercise bar reportedly has a high flexural modulus strength middle shaft section (at least 500 Kpsi) for optimum resistance in upper torso exercises, and has two weights attached to the middle section covered by hand-grips adapted for holding with two hands and adapted for use over the shoulders and neck. The device is described to be used in several different manners for exercising the body, such as by placing it across the shoulders while the user twists at the waist or flexes the shaft by the handgrips. [0010] Yet another approach is taken in a recent exercise device describing a flexible, tubular stretching device for exercising a person's upper torso and arm muscles. This device is described to consist of a main body having a linear configuration extending substantially the length of the device, wherein the main body comprises a multi-ply electrically insulated composite of continuous plastic fiber reinforcements in an epoxy resin matrix, including alternating longitudinal and circumferential filament layers, reportedly for maintaining high tensile and compressive flexural strength. The stretching device also consists of a pair of flexible handgrips affixed at opposite ends of the device, a cushion affixed to a medial segment of the device, and an adhesive injected into the cushion for retaining the placement of said cushion on the device. [0011] A further interesting exercise device for use in the fitness, wellness, leisure sports and aerobics fields is a wellness apparatus consisting of an elastic material in which a number of vibrations can be stimulated. The apparatus being essentially a rod or bar-shaped object. Weights can reportedly be added to the ends of the object in order to allow different exercises to be performed. [0012] This application for patent discloses plyometric exercise apparatus' and methods for their use in fitness and wellness endeavors, including the strengthening and/or rehabilitation of the upper arm and shoulder regions of the user. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, a plyometric exercise apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a longitudinally extending shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a diameter d.sub.2; a first counterweight and a second counterweight, having a diameter d.sub.1, wherein the first counterweight is attached to the proximal end of the shaft and the second counterweight is attached to the distal end of the shaft; and a handle attached to the shaft intermediate between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein during operation the device has a biased, omni-directional movement, such as with a rate of oscillation ranging from about 1 to about 2.7 oscillations per second. Such an exercise apparatus preferably has a shaft, first counterweight and second counterweight comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of acetal co-polymers, acetal homo-polymers, nylon, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof [0014] In further non-limiting aspects of this embodiment, the plyometric exercise apparatus has a ratio of counterweight diameter d.sub.1 to shaft diameter d.sub.2 of about 2:1, an overall length ranging from about 120 cm to about 180 cm, and is generally an elongated cylindrical shaft that is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. [0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of exercising using a plyometric exercise apparatus which oscillates in a biased omni-directional manner during use is described, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a plyometric exercise apparatus having an elongated shaft with counterweights at opposing ends and a substantially circular cross section which for example oscillates in the range from about 1 to about 2.7 oscillations per second; grasping the plyometric exercise apparatus near the middle of the elongated shaft; and moving the plyometric exercise apparatus back and forth at a rate so as to cause the counterweights at the opposing ends to oscillate in the omni-directional manner at a rate of oscillation. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the back and forth movement of the user and the omni-directional oscillation of the plyometric exercise apparatus are typically not coplanar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The following figures form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these figures in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus of the presence invention. [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged, cutaway view of one end of the apparatus. Continue reading about Exercise apparatus and methods for use... Full patent description for Exercise apparatus and methods for use Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise apparatus and methods for use patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise apparatus and methods for use or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Weight securing system Next Patent Application: Exercise device and method Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise apparatus and methods for use patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.20226 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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