Wrist exercise device and method of use thereof

Abstract

A wrist exercise device comprising a supporting element including a first portion having an axis, said supporting element configured to be attached to a weight lifting machine; a handle having an axis, the handle coaxial with the first portion of the supporting element, the handle being configured for rotation about the first portion of the supporting element; and at least one resistive element, coupled to at least one of the supporting element and the handle, the resistive element configured to provide an element of resistance to rotation of the handle.

1 . A wrist exercise device comprising:
 a supporting element including a first portion having an axis, said supporting element configured to be attached to a weight lifting machine;   a handle having an axis, said handle coaxial with said first portion of said supporting element, said handle being configured for rotation about said first portion of said supporting element; and   at least one resistive element, coupled to at least one of said supporting element and said handle, said resistive element configured to provide an element of resistance to rotation of said handle.   
     
     
         2 . A wrist exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said at least one resistive element comprises a first elastic element, said first elastic coupled to at least said handle, said first elastic element configured to be stressed upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element, from a starting position to a rotated position.   
     
     
         3 . An exercise device comprising:
 a plurality of weights to be lifted;   a selector element configured to mechanically select an amount of weight to be lifted;   an exertion element configured to exert force so as to lift a preselected amount of weight; and   a wrist exercise device;   whereby simultaneous exertion of force on said exertion element and rotation of a portion of said wrist exercise device provides a user with a combination of weight training exercise and resistance exercise.   
     
     
         4 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said first elastic element is coupled to said handle and to said supporting element, said first elastic element disposed substantially within said handle and said first portion of said supporting element is disposed substantially within said first elastic element; and
 wherein said first elastic element includes first and second ends, said first end attached to said supporting element and said second end attached to said handle, whereby rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element results in rotation of said second end relative to said first end, thereby providing said element of resistance to said device.   
     
     
         5 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 4 , wherein said first elastic element has an axis, said first elastic element coaxial with said handle. 
     
     
         6 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 4 , wherein said first elastic element is configured to be compressed upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element in a first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 4 , wherein said first elastic element is configured to be stretched upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element in a second direction, opposite to said first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein said first elastic element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 8 , wherein said spring is substantially entirely disposed within said handle. 
     
     
         10 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein said first elastic element has an axis, said first elastic element coaxial with said handle;   wherein said first elastic element is disposed substantially within said handle and said first portion of said supporting element is disposed substantially within said first elastic element; and   wherein said device includes a spacer element disposed between said first portion of said supporting element and said handle, said spacer element configured to maintain said first portion of said supporting element and said handle in coaxial alignment.   
     
     
         11 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 2 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured for changing the amount of resistance provided by said first elastic element upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element. 
     
     
         12 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein said first elastic element is configured for being decoupled from said device; and   wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a second elastic element configured to be coupled to at least said handle, said second elastic element configured to be stressed upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element, from a starting position to a rotated position, said second elastic element configured to provide an element of resistance to rotation of said handle, said element of resistance provided by said second elastic element being different from said element of resistance provided by said first elastic element.   
     
     
         13 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first elastic element and said handle together comprise a first handle-spring assembly;   said device includes a second handle-spring assembly comprising a second elastic element and a second handle, said second elastic element having a torsional strength which is different from the torsional strength of said first elastic element;   said first handle-spring assembly is configured to be removed from said supporting element; and   said second handle-spring assembly is configured to be coupled to said supporting element, thereby providing said wrist exercise device with an element of resistance to rotation of said handle of said second handle-spring assembly which is different from the element of resistance provided by said first elastic element.   
     
     
         14 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first elastic element and said handle together comprise a first handle-spring assembly;   said device includes a second handle-spring assembly comprising a second elastic element and a second handle, said second elastic element having a torsional strength which is different from the torsional strength of said first elastic element; and   said second handle-spring assembly is configured to be coupled to said supporting element, thereby providing said wrist exercise device with an element of resistance to rotation of said handle of said second handle-spring assembly which is different from the element of resistance provided by said first elastic element.   
     
     
         15 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one additional elastic element, each of said at least one additional elastic element coupled to said supporting element and configured to be engaged within said handle, each of said at least one additional elastic element configured to provide an additional element of resistance to rotation of said handle. 
     
     
         16 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one additional elastic element comprises two additional elastic elements. 
     
     
         17 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one additional elastic element comprises three additional elastic elements. 
     
     
         18 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 16 , wherein said two additional elastic elements are of different lengths. 
     
     
         19 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said supporting element includes a contact pin;
 wherein said first elastic element includes a contact portion and an attachment portion, said attachment portion attached to said handle;   whereby said contact pin is configured to be brought into contact with said contact portion upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element in a first direction, thereby compressing said first elastic element.   
     
     
         20 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 2 , wherein said handle includes a contact pin;
 wherein said first elastic element includes a contact portion and an attachment portion, said attachment portion attached to said supporting element;   whereby said contact pin is configured to be brought into contact with said contact portion upon rotation of said handle relative to said supporting element in a first direction, thereby compressing said first elastic element.   
     
     
         21 . The wrist exerciser according to  claim 2 , wherein said supporting element is attached to a weight lifting machine. 
     
     
         22 . The wrist exerciser according to  claim 21 , wherein said supporting element is provided with an attachment element for hingedly attaching said supporting element to a portion of the weight lifting machine. 
     
     
         23 . The wrist exerciser according to  claim 22 , wherein said supporting element is rotatable about the portion of the weight lifting machine. 
     
     
         24 . The wrist exerciser according to  claim 2 , wherein said supporting element and said handle are provided with markings configured for indicating the amount of resistance provided by said device upon rotation of said handle to said rotated position. 
     
     
         25 . A wrist exercise device configured to be attached to a weight lifting machine, said wrist exercise device comprising:
 a supporting element having an axis, said supporting element configured to be attached to the weight lifting machine;   a handle having an axis, said handle coaxial with a portion of said supporting element; and   an elastic element having first and second ends, said first end attached to said supporting element and said second end attached to said handle, said elastic element having an axis, said elastic element coaxial with said handle and said portion of said supporting element;   whereby said handle is rotatable relative to said portion of said supporting element and rotation of said handle stresses said elastic element, thereby providing an element of resistance to rotation of said handle; and   whereby said element of resistance provides a user's wrist with resistance exercise while lifting weights from the weight lifting machine.   
     
     
         26 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 25 , wherein said supporting element includes first, second, and third portions, said handle rotatable about said first portion, said third portion hingedly attached to the weight lifting machine, and said second portion attached between said first and third portions;
 whereby said provision of resistance exercise does not change the direction of force required to lift weights of the weight lifting machine.   
     
     
         27 . The wrist exercise device according to  claim 26 , the weight lifting machine having a cable coupled to weights to be lifted, wherein said first portion is orthogonal to the cable of the weight lifting machine. 
     
     
         28 . A wrist exercise device comprising:
 a supporting element having a generally circular cross-section, said supporting element including a portion having an axis, said supporting element configured to be attached to a weight lifting machine;   a handle having a generally circular cross-section, said handle having an axis, said handle having a cylindrical cavity, said portion of said supporting element disposed within and coaxial with said handle, said handle being configured for rotation about said portion of said supporting element; and   an elastic element, coupled to at least said handle, said elastic element configured to be stressed upon rotation of said handle relative to said portion of said supporting element, from a starting position to a rotated position, said elastic element configured to provide an element of resistance to rotation of said handle.   
     
     
         29 . A method of exercising the wrist comprising:
 (a) selecting an amount of resistance to be overcome on exertion of a force in a first rotational direction;   (b) selecting a first degree of rotation through which the force is to be exerted in the first rotational direction;   (c) exerting the force required to overcome the amount of resistance selected; and   (d) continuing to exert the force required to overcome the amount of resistance selected, through the first degree of rotation selected.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 (e) selecting an amount of weight to be lifted, said selecting (e) being performed before said exerting (c); and   (f) exerting the force required to lift the amount of weight selected, said exerting (f) being performed simultaneously with said exerting (c).   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 (e) slowly reducing the amount of force exerted to overcome the amount of resistance selected, through the first degree of rotation selected.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 (e) selecting a second degree of rotation, said second degree of rotation being less than said first degree of rotation;   (f) slowly reducing the amount of force exerted to overcome the amount of resistance selected, through the second degree of rotation;   (g) exerting the force required to overcome the amount of resistance selected, through the second degree of rotation;   (h) repeating said slowly reducing (f) and said exerting (g) a selected number of times; and   (i) slowly reducing the amount of force exerted to overcome the amount of resistance selected, through the first degree of rotation.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the first and second selected degrees of rotation are selected according to an exercise plan. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the amount of resistance to be overcome is selected according to an exercise plan. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising, after said continuing (d):
 (e) selecting a second amount of resistance to be overcome on exertion of a force in the first rotational direction;   (f) selecting a second degree of rotation through which the force of said selecting (e) is to be exerted in the first rotational direction;   (g) exerting the force required to overcome the amount of resistance selected in said selecting (e); and   (h) continuing to exert the force required to overcome the amount of resistance selected in said selecting (e), through the second degree of rotation selected.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 1 , said supporting element comprising a generally planar element and further including second and third portions each having an axis;
 wherein said first and second portions form an angle of approximately 90 degrees, said second and third portions form an angle of approximately 135 degrees, and said first and third portions are oriented at approximately 45 degrees relative to each other