Exercise method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein rotating the device about said fulcrum includes rotating the device between a standing stable position wherein the lower ends of said three legs all engage said flat surface and a lying stable position wherein the lower ends of said two legs and an upper portion of the device all engage said flat surface.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 further comprising placing the forearm of the user's gripping arm on said flat surface and positioning the device so that said fulcrum is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the user's forearm.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 further comprising placing the forearm of the user's gripping arm on said flat surface and positioning the device so that said fulcrum is generally colinear with the longitudinal axis of the user's forearm.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said positioning step includes positioning the device in the lying stable position, and the gripping step includes gripping said one leg with the user's palm up and rotating said device from the lying stable position to the standing stable position thereof by pronation of the user's wrist.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein the positioning step includes positioning the device in the lying stable position, and the gripping step includes gripping said one leg with the user's palm down and rotating said device from the lying stable position to the standing stable position thereof by supination of the user's wrist.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 further comprising removably securing said disc weights onto said extension.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 further comprising providing hand grip caps on the lower ends of said two legs and said gripping step includes gripping one of said hand grip caps.

Claim 10

An exercise device for strengthening one's grip, wrist, arms and back, comprising, a frame means including first, second and third elongate members, each having upper and lower ends, said three elongate members being connected together adjacent the upper ends thereof, said lower ends extending downwardly from said connected upper ends, and terminating in three support points arranged to provide a stable standing frame means upon engagement of said three support points on a flat surface, a weight attachment means comprising an elongated extension projecting upwardly from said connected upper ends of said elongate members in the stable standing position of said frame means, a plurality of light incremental disc weights having center openings therein, said disc weights being supported in stacked relation on said extension with said extension extended through said center openings, means for limiting downward axial movement of said disc weights on said extension, said disc weights being removably positioned on said extension to thereby accommodate incremental weight variations for a generally 90° pivotal movement of the device about an axis extended between the support points of two elongate members by various users using only a single handed grip on one of said two elongate members adjacent the support point thereof, and an inclination sensitive electrical switch mounted on said device, said device being pivotal between said standing stable position and a lying stable position wherein the support points of two elongate members and an upper portion of the device all engage said flat surface, said switch being operative to close upon downward pivotal movement of said device to a position adjacent to but spaced above said lying stable position.

Claim 11

An exercise device for strengthening one's grip, wrist, arms and back, comprising, a frame means including first, second and third elongate members, each having upper and lower ends, said three elongate members being connected together adjacent the upper ends thereof, said lower ends extending downwardly from said connected upper ends, and terminating in three support points arranged to provide a stable standing frame means upon engagement of said three support points on a flat surface, a weight attachment means comprising an elongated extension projecting upwardly from said connected upper ends of said elongate members in the stable standing position of said frame means, a plurality of light incremental disc weights having center openings therein, said disc weights being supported in stacked relation on said extension with said extension extended through said center openings, means for limiting downward axial movement of said disc weights on said extension, said disc weights being removably positioned on said extension to thereby accommodate incremental weight variations for a generally 90° pivotal movement of the device about an axis extended between the support points of two elongate members by various users using only a single handed grip on one of said two elongate members adjacent the support point thereof, and an inclination sensitive electrical switch mounted on said device, said device being pivotal between said standing stable position and a lying stable position wherein the support points of two elongate members and an upper portion of the device all engage said flat surface, said switch being operative to close upon downward pivotal movement of said device to a position adjacent to but spaced above said lying stable position.

Claim 12

The exercise device of claim 9 wherein said electrical switch is a mercury switch.

Claim 13

An exercise device for strengthening one's grip, wrist, arms and back, comprising, a frame means including first, second and third elongate members, each having upper and lower ends, said three elongate members being connected together adjacent the upper ends thereof, said lower ends extending downwardly from said connected upper ends, and terminating in three support points arranged to provide a stable standing frame means upon engagement of said three support points on a flat surface, a weight attachment means comprising an elongated extension projecting upwardly from said connected upper ends of said elongate members in the stable standing position of said frame means, a plurality of light incremental disc weights having center openings therein, said disc weights being supported in stacked relation on said extension with said extension extended through said center openings, means for limiting downward axial movement of said disc weights on said extension, said disc weights being removably positioned on said extension to thereby accommodate incremental weight variations for a generally 90 degree pivotal movement of the device about an axis extended between the support points of two elongate members by various users using only a single handed grip on one of said two elongate members adjacent the support point thereof, and an inclination sensitive electrical switch mounted on said device, said device being pivotal between said standing stable position and a lying stable position wherein the support points of two elongate members and an upper portion of the device all engage said flat surface, said switch being operative to close upon downward pivotal movement of said device to a working position adjacent to but spaced above said lying stable position, said electrical switch being connected into a circuit including an electrically actuated timing device, means for connecting said circuit to a source of electric power and said timing device being actuated by said inclination sensitive electrical switch to indicate the duration of time that said device is held in the working position thereof.

Claim 14

An exercise device for strengthening one's grip, wrist, arms and back, comprising, a frame means including first, second and third elongate members, each having upper and lower ends, said three elongate members being connected together adjacent the upper ends thereof, said lower ends extending downwardly from said connected upper ends, and terminating in three support points arranged to provide a stable standing frame means upon engagement of said three support points on a flat surface, a weight attachment means comprising an elongated extension projecting upwardly from said connected upper ends of said elongate members in the stable standing position of said frame means, a plurality of light incremental disc weights having center openings therein, said disc weights being supported in stacked relation on said extension with said extension extended through said center openings, means for limiting downward axial movement of said disc weights on said extension, said disc weights being removably positioned on said extension to thereby accommodate incremental weight variations for a generally 90 degree pivotal movement of the device about an axis extended between the support points of two elongate members by various users using only a single handed grip on one of said two elongate members adjacent the support point thereof, and an inclination sensitive electrical switch mounted on said device, said device being pivotal between said standing stable position and a lying stable position wherein the support points of two elongate members and an upper portion of the device all engage said flat surface, said switch being operative to close upon downward pivotal movement of said device to a working position adjacent to but spaced above said lying stable position, said electrical switch being connected into a circuit including an electrically actuated timing device, means for connecting said circuit to a source of electric power and said timing device being actuated by said inclination sensitive electrical switch to indicate the duration of time that said device is held in the working position thereof.