The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to exercise and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to exercise equipment.
There is provided in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a moveable rack mount apparatus for use with an exercise rack constructed of at least one rack tube configured with at least one rack hole, comprising: a tube passage sized and shaped for slidable passage therethrough of the rack tube; a reversible locking mechanism configured to engage the at least one rack hole of the rack tube when the rack tube is in the tube passage; at least one attachment hole for securing at least one of a plurality of interchangeable exercise-related attachments to the moveable rack mount apparatus.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a tensioning handle shaped to reversibly apply compressive force on the rack tube when placed in a tensioned position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one band attachment point.
In an embodiment of the invention, the reversible locking mechanism comprises a pop pin.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises an engagement pin portion of the pop pin which is configured to engage the rack hole.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a pin handle attached to the pop pin.
In an embodiment of the invention, the reversible locking mechanism comprises a hitch pin.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises an adjustment handle.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one protective roller disposed proximal to the tube passage such that the rack tube when in the tube passage abuts the protective roller.
In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one protective roller is at least one smooth and flexible.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one sleeve on an interior surface of the tube passage.
In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of pin holes for insertion of at least one reversible locking mechanism.
There is provided in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of using a moveable rack mount apparatus for use with an exercise rack constructed of at least one rack tube configured with at least one rack hole, comprising: sliding the moveable rack mount apparatus along the rack tube to a desire position with the reversible locking mechanism disengaged; and, releasing the reversible locking mechanism such that movement between the moveable rack mount apparatus and the rack is prevented.
In an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises transitioning a tensioning handle of the apparatus to a tensioned position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises attaching the moveable rack mount apparatus to the exercise rack prior to final assembly of the exercise rack.
In an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises securing at least one exercise-related attachment to the apparatus.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.
Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings and images. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example, are not necessarily to scale, and are for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.
In the drawings:
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to exercise and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to exercise equipment.
Generally, a mechanism (i.e. the moveable rack mount apparatus described herein) is provided that is designed to enable the connection of various exercise attachments to a “rack”, a frame used for manual exercises on which different kinds of exercise equipment can be attached to facilitate the exercises, while also making movement of the connection mechanism convenient, safe and easy, without the need of any additional and/or separate tools.
In an accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a moveable rack mount apparatus is provided which connects at least one exercise-related attachment to an exercise rack, wherein the apparatus can be moved from one position on the exercise rack to another position on the exercise rack without the use of special or additional tools and without having to remove the apparatus from the rack for the re-positioning. Further, it is conceived that different interchangeable attachments are usable with the apparatus so that they can be connected to the rack. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured with reversible components (e.g. adjustment handle, pop pin) so that the apparatus can be adapted for use on the right and/or left of the user during exercise. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured with a left side layout and a right side layout. In some embodiments, at least one of each is used on a rack when connecting an exercise-related attachment. Optionally, the exercise-related attachment is connected to the rack using only a single right side layout, left side layout or reversible apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a reversible tensioning handle to tighten the apparatus on to the rack, to reduce movement of the apparatus during exercise.
In an accordance with a further aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for using a moveable rack mount apparatus is provided. The moveable rack mount apparatus is configured to be slidable on an exercise rack and then temporarily and immovably engaged with the rack by release of a pop pin or attachment of a hitch pin. Optionally, a tensioning handle is used to further reinforce the engagement of the apparatus to the rack by transitioning from an un-tensioned configuration to a tensioned configuration. An exercise-related attachment is reversibly attached to the apparatus, for the user to interact with during exercise. When a new exercise is desired, for example an exercise at a different angular incidence to the user, movement of the apparatus is instigated by reversing the order of actions. Releasing the tensioning handle, disengaging the pop pin, then sliding the apparatus to the new desired position on the rack.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or images. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
Referring now to the drawings,
The moveable rack mount apparatus 100 is provided with a releasably locking mechanism, such as a pop pin 102 which can be pulled out and popped back into a hole in the rack. Optionally, the pop pin 102 is biased (e.g. spring-loaded) in a locked or closed configuration, wherein the pop pin 102 is located in the hole, not out of it. In some embodiments, the pop pin 102 is provided with a pin handle 102i to assist with pulling the pop pin 102 out of the hole in the rack. In some embodiments of the invention, the releasably locking mechanism is a hitch style pin instead of, or in addition to, a spring-loaded pop pin.
The moveable rack mount apparatus 100 is configured to be slidable on the tubing of the rack when the pop pin 102 is not engaged with a hole, for example having a tube passage 116 disposed vertically and/or entirely through the apparatus 100 and/or by being provided with protective rollers 104 as the interface between the apparatus 100 and the rack. In some embodiments, the protective rollers 104 are at least coated, if not made from, a smooth and/or slightly flexible material like plastic, foam or rubber. In some embodiments the protective rollers 104 roll as the apparatus 100 is moved up and/or down (or sideways if the rack tubing is horizontal to the floor) the rack tubing.
As described herein, the apparatus 100 is primarily used for connecting exercise-related attachments to a rack. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 is used in pairs, for example for each side of a rack (such as shown in
In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus 100 is configured with at least one band assist attachment point 108 for attaching or clipping a band or strap thereto. Optionally, the band or strap is elastic and when attached to the apparatus 100 on one end of the band and to the top of the rack and/or additional band attachment point on the other end, the elasticity of the band helps to “lift” the apparatus 100 up the rack tubing when heavy exercise-related attachments are connected to the apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the band is inelastic and is used as a safety precaution to prevent the apparatus 100 from sliding on the rack tube in the event of failure of some component of the apparatus 100.
In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is provided with multiple pin holes 110, through which the pop pin 102 can be inserted to connect the apparatus 100 to the rack. Optionally, a plurality of pop pins 102 are used at the same time, utilizing a plurality of the pin holes 110.
The apparatus 100 is provided with a tightening mechanism comprising a tensioning handle 112 which pivots/rotates around a tension pivot 114 connected to the apparatus 100. In an embodiment of the invention, the tightening mechanism is configured with a shape that tightens the fit between the apparatus 100 and the rack when the tensioning handle 112 is transitioned from an un-tensioned position (for example, an up position) to a tensioned position (for example, a down position), such as shown in
In some embodiments, at least one sleeve 118 is provided to an interior surface of the apparatus 100 in the tube passage 116 which abuts the rack tubing to provide a smooth sliding surface and/or to protect the rack tubing and/or to protect the apparatus 100 during movement of the apparatus 100 relative to the rack and/or to provide a tighter fit between the apparatus 100 and the rack. In some embodiments, the tube passage 116 and/or the apparatus 100 is constructed oversized to accommodate a wide range of rack tube sizes, where sleeves 118 of varying thickness are interchangeably used to vary the tightness fit between the apparatus 100 and sizes of the rack tube smaller than the tube passage 116.
In some embodiments, the interchangeability afforded by the apparatus permits the relatively easy replacement of attachments which wear through use.
Of particular note, the moveable rack mount apparatus 100 of
In an embodiment of the invention, at least one moveable rack mount apparatus 100, 200 is placed on a rack tube prior to final assembly of the rack. The apparatus is slid (802) along the rack tube to a desired position with the locking mechanism (e.g. pop pin 102) in a disengaged configuration. Upon attaining a desired position, the pop pin 102 is released (804) so the engaging pin 204 inserts into a rack hole 302 to prevent relative movement between the apparatus 100, 200 and the rack 300. In some embodiments, the tensioning handle 112 is transitioned (806) from an un-tensioned position to a tensioned position to compress the rack 300 and further prevent relative movement between the apparatus 100, 200 and the rack 300. In some embodiments, transitioning the position of the tensioning handle from the un-tensioned position to the tensioned position is not needed to prevent movement of the apparatus 100 relative to the rack 300. To move the apparatus 100, 200 to a different desired position, the process is reversed, whereby the tensioning handle 112 is moved to an un-tensioned position, the pop pin 102 is disengaged from the rack hole 102, and the apparatus 100, 200 is slid along the rack tube to the different desired position. Upon attaining the different position, the pop pin 102 is engaged with the corresponding rack hole and the tensioning handle is re-engaged to further lock the apparatus 100, 200 to the rack 300.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.
The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.
The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.
As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Further, described ranges are intended to include numbers outside any range described within statistical error and/or inherent measurement equipment limitations.
Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.
This application is a U.S. national phase application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. 371 to PCT application PCT/US2018/031596, filed on May 8, 2018, which claimed the benefit of priority under Article 8 PCT of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/503,233 filed May 8, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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PCT/US2018/031596 | 5/8/2018 | WO | 00 |
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WO2018/208772 | 11/15/2018 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200139186 A1 | May 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62503233 | May 2017 | US |