Patent Application
20140323275
The present invention relates to exercise systems and, more particularly, to an exercise devices that may be adjustably mounted to a door frame.
Current exercise systems using resistance bands typically mount on a door. As a result, there attachment points are predetermined by the size and shape of the door, and so not adjustable. Moreover, the stationary attachment points are usually only at the top and the bottom of the door. Therefore, certain groups of muscles cannot be properly engaged, because these non-adjustable attachment points of resistance are either too high or too low. Additionally, some use pulleys that are noisy. Another problem is that utilization of such devices sometimes require that the door be closed, consequently only one person can workout at a time, and the use of the doorway is blocked off. Furthermore, such devices take up too much space, and consist of many different and connected parts, and hence result in costly manufacture and lengthy installation.
As can be seen, there is a need for a single-piece, portable exercise device that is simple to install and adjust for performing exercise routines.
In one aspect of the present invention, an exercise device for removably mounting to a frame, comprises: a telescoping tube assembly comprising: two main tubes, wherein each main tube terminates at a first opening and an opposing second opening, and wherein each main tube has at least one main pinhole near the first opening and the second opening; and a join tube comprising: two opposing ends; at least one join pinhole near each opposing end; and a push button pin connected within the join tube near each join pinhole, wherein each first opening slidably receives a portion of the join tube so that each push button pin assumes a fastened position.
In another aspect of the present invention, exercise device for removably mounting to a frame comprises: a telescoping tube assembly comprising: at least one main tube, wherein each main tube terminates at a first opening and an opposing second opening, wherein each main tube has at least one main pinhole near the first opening and the second opening; and at least one join tube, each join tube comprising: two opposing ends; at least one join pinhole near each opposing end; a push button pin connected within the join tube near each join pinhole, wherein each first opening slidably receives a portion of the at least one join tube so that each push button pin assumes a fastened position; at least one end tube, each end tube comprising: at least one pinhole fastener; a main end; a mounting end; and a plurality of end pinholes near the main end, wherein each second opening slidably receives each main end so that the at least one pinhole fastener securely engages at least one end pinhole aligned with at least one main pinhole, wherein each mounting end forms an opening communicating with an interior cavity defining a threaded receiving surface; and at least one mounting mechanism, each mounting mechanism comprising: a block, wherein the block forms a threaded hole; a block rubber footing connected to the block, wherein the block rubber footing is configured to provide friction resistance to lateral and rotational forces; a knurled nut; and a mating element, wherein each mating element interconnects one threaded receiving surface to the threaded hole by extending through the knurled nut.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an exercise device. The exercise device may include a mounting mechanism, a telescoping tube assembly and at least one strapping mechanism. The telescoping tube assembly may be extended and/or retracted to removably secure the exercise device within a frame, so that an operator may perform body-weight supported exercise routines therefrom. Moreover, the at least one strapping mechanism may adjustably slide about the telescoping tube assembly so that the operator may precisely set attachment points for any exercising accessories, such as resistance bands.
Referring to
The telescoping tube assembly 15 may include at least one main tube 14, at least one end tube 16 and a join tube 18. The at least one main tube 14 may be a centered, outermost tubular element within the telescoping tube assembly 15, wherein each main tube 14 terminates at a first opening and an opposing second opening. The at least one main tube 14 may define an internal space adapted to slidably receive the at least one end tube 16 and/or the join tube 18, thereby allowing the operator 52 to telescopically adjust the overall length of the exercise device 100 for mounting to various frames 48. The frames 48 may include door frames, window frames, archways or the like.
The at least one main tube 14 may have at least one main tube hole 46 formed near each opposing end. Each end tube 16 may have a main end 17 and a mounting end 19. The main end 17 may include a plurality of spaced end tube holes 42 extending to near the mid-point of each end tube 16. In certain embodiments, the plurality of end tube holes 42 may be evenly spaced and disposed along the same longitude. Each main end 17 may be slidably received by one end of each main tube 14, whereby the at least one end tube holes 42 aligns with the at least one main tube hole 46. At least one pinhole fastener 26, 28 may securely engage both aligned holes 42, 46, fixing the reception depth of each end tube 16 within the respective main tube 14. The at least one pinhole fastener 26, 28 may include may be any fastener known in the art for fastening or removably securing one object to another including, for example, thumb screws, set screws, dowels, thumbscrew double female-threaded tube, combinations thereof or the like. Such secure engagement of the at least one pinhole fastener 26, 28 may be adapted to prevent rotation of the end tube 16 relative to the main tube 14.
The join tube 18 may form at least one joint tube hole 44 near each opposing end thereof. The join tube 18 and the at least one at least one main tube 14 may be removably joined by at least one push button pin 24. Each push button pin 24 may include a pin 64 affixed to a first end of a spring 66. The spring 66 may include a second end connected near the interior surface of the join tube beneath each joint tube hole 44. The push button pin 24 may move from a fastened position to an unfastened position. The push button pin 24 may be under a compressive force in the unfastened position. The spring 66 may be adapted to apply a biasing force opposing the compressive force in the unfastening position so that while the join tube slides within the at least one main tube 14. The fastened position may be when the pin 64 is removably secured within both one main tube hole 46 and one aligned joint tube hole 44.
In certain embodiments, the join tube 18 may interconnect two main tubes 14 so as to removably secure each main tube 14 in the fastened position. The join tube may interconnect the two main tubes wherein each first opening slidably receives the join tube. In the alternative embodiment, the exercise device 100 may only include just the two main tubes 14 interconnected by one join tube 18 in the manner described immediately above. In such embodiments, the exercise device 100 may be used to as an telescoping rod, and all utilizations enabled by said telescoping rod. In an alternate embodiment, at least one second opening may be sealed by a cap 56.
The mounting end 19 may provide an opening communicating with a interior cavity defining a threaded receiving surface. The threaded receiving surface may be adapted to receive a mating element 30. The mating element 30 may include a block thread bar or the like. The mating element 30 may be threaded so as to cooperate with the receiving surface. The opposing end of the mating element 30 may be rotatably received by a knurled nut 40. The mating element 30 may extend through the knurled nut 40 and into a block 10 of the mounting mechanism 11. The block 10 may include a threaded hole for receiving the mating element 30 therein. Each threaded receiving surface, each mating element 30 and each knurled nut 40 may be adapted so that the operator 52 may rotate each end tube 16 about each mating element 30 so as to either extend or retract the elongated length of the telescoping tube assembly 15.
The block 10 may be generally perpendicular to the center axis of the telescoping tube assembly 15. The mounting mechanism 11 may also include a block rubber footing 12 adapted to be sandwiched between the block 10 and the frame 48 so as to removably secure the exercise device 100 thereto. Each block 10 and each block rubber footing 12 may be assembled so as to present a vertical linear groove or depression to the frame 48, as illustrate in
Each strapping mechanism 21 may include a strap sleeve 20, a strap sleeve retainer 22, a strap 36 and at least one D-ring 38. The strap sleeve 20 may be a tubular element terminating in a first end 60 and an opposing second end 62. The strap sleeve 20 may defined a hollow space adapted for slidably receiving the telescoping tube assembly 15 as well as removably securing thereto. The sleeve retainer 22 may be a tubular element dimensioned for receiving the telescoping tube assembly 15 and simultaneously securely receiving the first end 60. The strap 36 may be a tubular element for receiving the strap sleeve 20 so as to be securely retained between the sleeve retainer 22 and the second end 62. The strap 36 may be adapted for securely sandwiching the at least one D-ring 38 between each strap sleeve 20.
Each sleeve retainer 22 may include a quick release handle 32, a nut 34 and a strap sleeve retainer screw 54 enabling the quick release handle 32 to move from a released position to an unreleased position, and vice versa. The unreleased position may be adapted to removably fix the strap sleeve retainer 22 along the telescoping tube assembly 15. The unreleased position may be adapted to slide each associated strapping mechanism 21 along at least a portion of the telescoping tube assembly 15, as illustrated in
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The exercise device 100 disclosed above may be provided. The operator 52 may assemble the telescoping tube assembly 15 so that its length is adapted to removably secure the exercise device 100 within the frame 48 at the desired height. The operator 52 may then rotate at least one end tube 16 about at least one mating element 30 so as to extend at least one mounting mechanism 11 until it abuts the frame 48, whereby rotational movement of the exercise device 100 may be safely eliminated. Then the operator 52 may removably secure the at the least one sleeve retainer 22 about the telescoping tube assembly 15 at least one predetermined location, as illustrated in
Then the operator 52 may adjust the length of the telescoping tube assembly 15 for a different frame 48 and/or height within the frame, wherein the new height is adapted to provide at least one attachment point conducive for efficiently exercising a desire muscle group.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/815,613, filed 24 Apr. 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61815613 | Apr 2013 | US |
