The field of the invention is exercise devices, and the invention relates more particularly to lightweight exercising devices useful for exercising the upper arms, shoulders, calves or the like. Elastic members have been used in exercising devices for many years. An early device is shown in the Bailey U.S. Pat. No. 829,754. This device, however, is not easy to adjust and would be dangerous if the elastic member broke. A spring-type exercising device is shown in the Weiss et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,904 where a plurality of rubber bands are supported between a clamped lower bar and a U-shape upper bar. This device may be used for exercising the arms, back or legs depending on where the lower bar is attached. Like the Bailey device, the Weiss device has no safety provisions if one or more of the rubber bands breaks, and it is, likewise, not easy to adjust. A hand exercising device is shown in the Palmer U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,067. This uses a pair of rubber bands on the exterior of the device and although the bands are very easily changed, the exercising device is quite limited to either exercising the hand or the chest. No safety provisions are provided in the event one of the rubber bands breaks.
The United Kingdom Patent No. 2,148,136A shows an arm exercising apparatus which has a hand grip to which one or more elastic cords may be affixed. The other end of the elastic cords are snapped to a support bar. No provisions are made for safety in the event of a breakage of one of the elastic cords. Lastly, the French Patent No. 74-04066 shows a chest exercising device which has three loops welded to a U-shaped support clamp. Three elastic members are attached to a handle and permit the user to exercise by pulling a handle away from the support brace.
The above devices all have useful provisions, but none of them may be safely used on a desk top while still being easily adjustable.