Centrifugal force exercise apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method to exercise and strengthen arm and core muscles and improve muscle coordination includes a main body for being manually grasped and first and second arm units constructed and arranged to generic centrifugal forces to create exercise resistance. In an exemplary embodiment, the arm units include shafts longitudinal axes inclined to the longitudinal axis of the main body and mounted to spin or gyrate with respect to the gripped surface of the main body. The arm units are advantageously weighted to supplement the centrifugal forces generated by the gyrating motion, thereby to create exercise resistance.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a main body having a longitudinal axis; and    first and second arm units mounted to the main body so as to be disposed at opposite longitudinal ends thereof,    wherein the arm units comprise weights that are disposed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the main body when the main body is grasped and moved through a small circular motion in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, thereby generating centrifugal forces.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said arm unit is configured so that said weight is laterally offset from said longitudinal axis of said main body.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said arm unit is mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said main body.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said arm unit comprises a shaft having a longitudinal axis inclined at an angle of between about 0° and about 90°.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said shaft is inclined at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said shaft is inclined at an angle of about 45°.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said arm unit defines an interior cavity in which a weight is disposed.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said weight comprises lead.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said arm unit comprises a tube.  
   
   
       10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said main body comprises a core rotatably disposed within an outer tube, and wherein said arm units are fixedly mounted to said core so as to be freely rotatable with respect to said outer tube.  
   
   
       11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping portion on said main body for being grasped by a user.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said gripping portion comprises a foam rubber-like tube of grip material concentrically disposed on an outer surface of said main body.  
   
   
       13 . A method of exercising using a rotating or gyrating weight exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 providing an exercise apparatus comprising a main body having a longitudinal axis; and first and second arm units mounted to the main body so as to be disposed at opposite longitudinal ends thereof, the arm units comprising weights that are disposed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the main body when the main body is grasped and moved in small circles;    manually grasping said main body; and    moving said main body in and along small generally circular paths in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, thereby rotating said weights of said arm units to generate centrifugal forces.    
   
   
       14 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said grasping comprises grasping said main body at a mid-point thereof, with both hands, fingers of one hand over-lapping the other.  
   
   
       15 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said moving comprises orienting said main body so that said longitudinal axis thereof is oriented generally vertically and moving the hand or hands with which the main body is manually grasped in and along small generally circular paths in generally horizontal plane  
   
   
       16 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said weigh is laterally offset from said longitudinal axis of said main body and wherein said moving causes rotation of said weight about said longitudinal axis of said main body.  
   
   
       17 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one said arm unit is mounted for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said main body and wherein said moving causes rotation of said at least one arm unit about said longitudinal axis of said main body.  
   
   
       18 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said arm unit comprises a shaft having a longitudinal axis inclined at an angle of between about 0 ° and about 90°.  
   
   
       19 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said shaft is inclined at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°.  
   
   
       20 . The method of exercising as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said shaft is inclined at an angle of about 45°.