Apparatuses for performing pull- or push-type manual exercises

1. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a ball coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the ball to the base connector to thereby couple the ball to the free end;

wherein the transverse bore comprises an inlet window into which the base connector is installed, wherein a first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into and pass through the inlet window, and wherein a second portion of the base connector is larger than the first portion of the base connector so that the second portion cannot pass through the inlet window;

wherein the transverse bore further comprises an outlet window, and wherein the inlet window and outlet window radially oppose each other with respect to the axially elongated bar; and

wherein the inlet window is larger than the outlet window.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into the outlet window when the base connector is installed into the transverse bore.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the outlet window.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the base connector resides flush with a radially outer surface of the axially elongated bar when the first portion of the base connector is nested in the outlet window.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the base connector has radially opposing abutment surfaces that engage with corresponding radially opposing abutment surfaces located adjacent to the outlet window.

6. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a ball coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the ball to the base connector to thereby couple the ball to the free end;

wherein the base connector has an axially extending hole therein and wherein the fastener is engaged with the base connector via the axially extending hole;

wherein the transverse bore comprises an inlet window into which the base connector is installed, wherein a first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into and pass through the inlet window, and wherein a second portion of the base connector is larger than the first portion of the base connector so that the second portion cannot pass through the inlet window;

wherein the second portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the inlet window; and

wherein the ball overlaps the transverse bore and base connector so that the transverse bore and base connector are not visible when the ball is coupled to the free end.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener has a first end engaged with the ball and a second end engaged with the base connector.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the axially extending hole is a threaded hole and wherein the second end of the fastener is a threaded end that is screwed into engagement with the threaded hole.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the ball has a throughbore, wherein the through-bore has an axial abutment surface, and wherein the first end of the fastener has a head that abuts the axial abutment surface when the second end of the fastener is engaged with the base connector to thereby clamp the ball onto the free end.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the free end comprises radially opposing ramp surfaces that wedge into engagement with the ball when the fastener is engaged with the base connector.

11. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a ball coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the ball to the base connector to thereby couple the ball to the free end;

wherein the transverse bore comprises an inlet window into which the base connector is installed, wherein a first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into and pass through the inlet window, and wherein a second portion of the base connector is larger than the first portion of the base connector so that the second portion cannot pass through the inlet window;

wherein the second portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the inlet window; and

wherein the second portion of the base connector resides flush with a radially outer surface of the axially elongated bar when the second portion of the base connector is nested in the inlet window.

12. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the base connector has an axially extending hole therein and wherein the fastener is engaged with the base connector via the axially extending hole.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the base connector has radially opposing abutment surfaces that engage with corresponding radially opposing abutment surfaces located adjacent to the inlet window.

14. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the transverse bore further comprises an outlet window, and wherein the inlet window and outlet window radially oppose each other with respect to the axially elongated bar.

15. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the ball overlaps the transverse bore and base connector so that the transverse bore and base connector are not visible when the ball is coupled to the free end.

16. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a ball coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the ball to the base connector to thereby couple the ball to the free end;

wherein the free end comprises radially opposing ramp surfaces that wedge into engagement with the ball when the fastener is engaged with the base connector; and

wherein the opposing ramp surfaces are formed on an axial extension of the axially elongated bar.

17. The exercise apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the axial extension is one of a pair of radially opposing axial extensions that together form two pairs of opposing ramp surfaces that wedge into engagement with the ball when the fastener is engaged with the base connector.

18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a washer that is sandwiched between axial end surfaces of the pair of radially opposing axial extensions and an interior abutment channel in the ball, wherein the fastener extends through the washer and through the interior abutment channel.

19. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a user operable member coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the user operable member to the base connector to thereby couple the user operable member to the free end;

wherein the transverse bore comprises an inlet window into which the base connector is installed, wherein a first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into and pass through the inlet window, and wherein a second portion of the base connector is larger than the first portion of the base connector so that the second portion cannot pass through the inlet window;

wherein the second portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the inlet window; and

wherein the user operable member is a ball, the ball overlaps the transverse bore and base connector so that the transverse bore and base connector are not visible when the ball is coupled to the free end.

20. The exercise apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the user operable member has a throughbore, wherein the through-bore has an axial abutment surface, and wherein the first end of the fastener has a head that abuts the axial abutment surface when the second end of the fastener is engaged with the base connector to thereby clamp the user operable member onto the free end.

21. The exercise apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the user operable member overlaps the transverse bore and base connector so that the transverse bore and base connector are not visible when the user operable member is coupled to the free end.

22. An exercise apparatus comprising an axially elongated bar having a free end and a transverse bore located proximate to the free end, a user operable member coupled to the free end, a base connector transversely extending into the transverse bore, and a fastener fastening the user operable member to the base connector to thereby couple the user operable member to the free end;

wherein the transverse bore comprises an inlet window into which the base connector is installed, wherein a first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into and pass through the inlet window, and wherein a second portion of the base connector is larger than the first portion of the base connector so that the second portion cannot pass through the inlet window; wherein the second portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the inlet window; wherein the second portion of the base connector resides flush with a radially outer surface of the axially elongated bar when the second portion of the base connector is nested in the inlet window; and wherein the second portion of the base connector has radially opposing abutment surfaces that engage with corresponding radially opposing abutment surfaces located adjacent to the inlet window.

23. The exercise apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the transverse bore further comprises an outlet window, wherein the inlet window and outlet window radially oppose each other with respect to the axially elongated bar; wherein the inlet window is larger than the outlet window; wherein the first portion of the base connector is configured to fit into the outlet window when the base connector is installed into the transverse bore; wherein the first portion of the base connector is configured to nest in the outlet window; wherein the first portion of the base connector resides flush with a radially outer surface of the axially elongated bar when the first portion of the base connector is nested in the outlet window; and wherein the second portion of the base connector has radially opposing abutment surfaces that engage with corresponding radially opposing abutment surfaces located adjacent to the outlet window.