The present invention relates to multi-gym equipment and in particular to a multi-gym that provides users with the opportunity to use various types of gym equipment and to perform a variety of exercises.
Multi-gyms are well known. Typically, a multi gym comprises a frame upon which sets of weights and a seat are attached. Various means are provided to enable a user to lift the weights. Such means may comprise a bar that is gripped with the hands and pulled or pushed, padded elements that may be engaged by a user's arms and bars that are engaged by the feet or parts of the leg.
Connection of bars and other elements that are engaged by the user may be attached to weights by cables and pulleys and/or levers.
This type of multi-gym equipment is heavy and expensive and can present safety risks to users and bystanders. For example, if the user cannot control the lowering of weights back to the rest position a user or bystander may be injured. These factors contain where multi-gyms may be used.
Another type of gym equipment that is also known as a multi-gym comprises a bench and supports for various free weights. Such multi-gyms provide for only a limited range of exercises for users.
Other types of gym apparatus have been developed which do not include the weight sets normally associated with multi-gym apparatus.
AU2016208356 describes an apparatus which is attachable to either a wall or the trailer hitch of a car. The apparatus includes bars which may be used for various exercises. The apparatus also includes pulleys and a cable, and associated weights to allow a user to perform resistance exercises.
US10232213 describes a free standing frame provided with a number of anchor points to which resistance bands may be attached.
US10183190 describes a portable exercise station that includes anchor points, around which resistance bands may be looped.
Another type of free standing exercise apparatus is described in WO2014/041371. This device provides a suspended ball.
The problem associated with the multi-gyms known in the art is that they do not provide for users to perform a wide variety of exercises.
It would be desirable to provide an improved multi-gym.
According to the invention there is provided a multi-gym apparatus comprising a frame, the frame having an upright structure and a bar assembly mounted movably on the upright structure between selected positions on the upright members, the bar assembly including an elongate bar and a bracket attached to the elongate bar, wherein the bracket is shaped and dimensioned to abut against at least one side of the upright structure, the bracket receiving a locking means which is movable between a first position in which the locking means is engaged with upright structure thereby locking the bar in a selected position relative to the upright structure and a second position in which the locking means is clear of the upright structure thereby providing for movement of the bar relative to the upright structure and wherein the elongate bar includes two outer bar members, one to each side of the bracket extending at an angle that projects forward of the bracket and upright structure.
The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 15 to 45 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 30 to 45 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 40 to 45 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 5 to 90 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 45 to 60 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be in the range of 45 to 50 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure. The angle that the outer members project forwards at may be 45 degrees to a vertical plane extending through the upright structure
The elongate bar may include a central member and wherein one of the outer bar members extends from one end of the central member and the other outer bar member extends from the other end of the central bar member.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise at least one bracket attached to the elongate bar.
Preferably, the at least one bracket includes a U-shaped bracket.
Advantageously, the multi-gym apparatus further comprises a hook extending between the elongate bar and the bracket of the bar assembly.
The elongate bar may have at least one vertically oriented pin extending therefrom.
At least one of the outer bar members may be hollow and is configured to receive a component therein, the elongate bar adapted to receive a removable securing pin.
The elongate bar may include a socket and the securing pin is removably mounted in the socket. A biasing means may be provided between the pin and the socket arranged to bias the pin into a locked condition. The biasing means may be a compression spring situated between an element attached to the pin and an element attached to the socket.
The bracket of the bar assembly may comprise two spaced apart side plates joined together by a front plate.
The elongate bar may be attached to the front plate.
Advantageously, the locking means is received in a socket which is attached to one of the side plates, the side plate including a through passageway aligned with the socket.
The upright structure may include a plurality of spaced apart holes configured to receive the locking means in its first position. Advantageously, the locking means is pin. The pin may be moveable between first and second positions, in the first position the pin extends into one of the holes and in the second position the pin is retraced from the hole. Advantageously, the pin is biased into the first position by a biasing means, such as a spring, for example a compression spring. More advantageously, the pin is of a smaller dimension than the hole in which it engages. More advantageously, the dimension of the pin is sufficiently smaller than the hole that under the bias of the biasing means, the pin will reliably engage with the hole as the pin moves past the hole. For example, with a hole having a diameter of approximately 15 mm the pin may have a diameter of approximately 10 mm. This provides the advantage that in use, as the bracket is moved up or down the upright member, when the pin of the locking means becomes aligned with a hole in the upright member, the pin will snap into the hole under the force exerted on the pin by the biasing means.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise a secondary locking means, the secondary locking means movable between a first position in which the secondary locking means is engaged with the upright structure and a second position in which the secondary locking means is clear of the upright structure.
The secondary locking means may comprise a threaded member and at least one of the bracket and the upright structure may include a threaded hole for receiving the threaded member in threaded engagement therewith the threaded member having a free end and a hand or tool operable end. The hand or tool operated end may comprise a handle, a bolt head or a recessed head having a shape configured to receive a tool.
The threaded hole may be part of the bracket and the free end of the threaded member may engage with a surface of the upright structure.
Preferably, the upright structure comprises two spaced apart upright members connected together.
Advantageously, the two spaced apart upright members are connected together at their upper and lower ends.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise at least two spaced apart attachment brackets connected to the upright structure and situated to the rear thereof.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise a base plate attached to a lower end of the upright structure.
The base plate may include at least one hole for receiving a fastener.
Advantageously, the multi-gym apparatus further comprises a secondary locking means, the secondary locking means movable between a first position in which the secondary locking means is engaged with the upright structured a second position in which the secondary locking means is dear of the upright structure.
The secondary locking means may comprise a threaded member and wherein at least one of the bracket and the upright structure includes a threaded hole for receiving the threaded member in threaded engagement therewith the threaded member has a free end and a hander tool operable end.
Preferably, the threaded hole is part of the bracket and the free end of the threaded member engages with a surface of the upright structure. This provides for any slack between the bracket and the upright structure to be taken up so that the bar assembly feels secure. The free end of the threaded member may engage with an outer surface of the upright structure, or the free end of the threaded member may pass through a hole in one side of the upright structure and engage with an inner surface of the upright structure. The threaded hole may be provided in a wall of the bracket or in a component, such as a boss or a nut, attached to a wall of the bracket.
Advantageously, the multi-gym apparatus is free-standing and further comprises a lower support frame, the upright structure attached to the lower support frame, the lower support frame extending to the front, rear and sides of the upright structure.
The free-standing multi-gym apparatus may comprise two upright structures each mounting the bar assembly, the two upright structures connected to each other in a back to back orientation.
The two upright structures may be spaced apart from one another.
The elongate bar may have attached to the pins situated on the central bar member one of: a set of parallel bars; a pull up/push up frame; an air resistance machine; and a pad set.
The bracket of the elongate bar may have mounted thereon one of: a resistance band; a handle; a punch bag; and a rope of a floor to ceiling ball.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise a hanger slidably mounted in the hollow outer bar member.
The multi-gym may comprise a bracket for shaped and dimensioned to receive an electronic device having a display and preferably at least one speaker, such as a smart phone. The bracket may be attached to the front of the elongate bar. The bracket not only provides a convenient place to store such a device when a user is using the multi-gym apparatus, but also provides for the user to be given instruction via a video played on the device.
The multi-gym apparatus may further comprise a speed ball or a punch bar attached to the hanger. The hanger may mount a weight set support.
The multi-gym may further comprise a weight set.
In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and which are by way of example:
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in
The upright members 2, 3 are joined together at their lower and upper ends. At the lower end a bracket 4 is provided. The bracket 4 comprises a base plate 4a which includes holes 4b. The bracket 4 further comprises side plates 4d and oblique stiffening plates 4e. The side plates 4d are attached to and extend from the base plate 4a. Each oblique stiffening plate 4e is attached to and extends between an edge of the side plate 4d and the base plate 4a. In the illustrated example the lower ends of the upright members 2, 3 are attached to the bracket 4 by welding of the base plate and the side plates to the upright members 2, 3. Other methods of fastening the upright members 2, 3 to the bracket 4 may be used. For example, the upright members may be welded to the base plate 4a or to the side plates 4d, rather than to both. Another possibility is that the bracket 4 is bolted to the upright members 2, 3, bolts being passed through respective holes in the side plates 4d and upright members 2, 3 for example. A bracket 4c is attached to the rear of the upright member 3. The bracket 4c extends to each side of the upright member 3 and has holes therein through which screws, bolts or other fasteners may pass to attach the bracket 4c to another structure, such as a wall for example.
The upper ends of the upright members are provided with a bracket 5. The bracket 5 comprises side plates 5c and a top plate 5d. The top plate 5d and/or the side plates 5c are attached to the upright members 2, 3 for example by welding or bolting. A further bracket 5a is attached to the rear of the upright member 3 immediately below the lower edge of the side plates 5c. The bracket 5a extends to each side of the upright member 3 and includes holes 5b therein through which screws, bolts or other fasteners may pass.
A third bracket 6 is attached to the rear of upright member 3. As with brackets 4c and 5a the bracket 6 extends to each side of the upright member and includes holes 6a therein through which screws, bolts or other fasteners may pass.
The brackets 4c, 5a and 6 provide for the multi-gym apparatus to be attached to a wall or other structure. Similarly, the bracket 4 and in particular the base plate 4a thereof provides for attachment of the multi-gym to a floor.
A bar 10 is mounted on the upright members 2, 3. The bar 10 comprises a central bar member 10a and outer bar members 10b at each end of the central bar member 10a. The outer bar members 10b are set at an angle forwards of the longitudinal axis of the central bar member 10a. The central and outer bar members may be formed from a single component, for example a piece of box section metal pressed into the shape illustrated. Alternatively, the bar 10 may be fabricated from separate central and outer bar members fastened together, for example by welding or bolting.
The bar 10 provides a number of attachment elements which provide for various gym apparatus to be attached to the bar 10. The outer bar members 10b each have a U-shaped bracket 10c attached thereto. The U-shaped brackets 10c may be used for work with resistance bands for example.
The outer bar members 10b are also provided with removable pins 10e and sockets 10d for receiving said pins 10e. The pins 10e allow various gym equipment to be hung on the bar 10. The pins 10e may have an external screw thread which engages with a corresponding internal screw thread in socket 10d.
Alternatively, a securing pin that engages with the socket 10d and the pin 10e may be provided. The outer bar members 10b may be hollow and the removable pins 10e may be configured to engage with an object introduced into the hollow outer member bar 10b.
The central bar member 10a is also provided with a U-shaped bracket 10c. In this case, rather than extending from the vertical surface of the bar 10, the U-shaped bracket 10c extends from the upper horizontal surface of the central bar member 10a. A further curved bracket 10f extends from the lower horizontal surface of the central bar member 10a to a front surface of a support bracket (described in greater detail below).
The bracket by which the bar 10 is mounted on the upright members 2, 3 comprises side plates 11a which sit outside and adjacent to the upright members 2, 3 and a front plate 11b which connects the side plates 11a. The central bar member 10a is attached to the front surface of the front plate 11b. Stiffening plates 11c extend from the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the central bar member 10a to the intersection of the side plate 11a with the front plate 11b. Typically, the stiffening plates 11c are attached to the central bar member 10a and the side and front plates 11a, 11b by welding. The side and front plates together form a bracket that is U-shaped in cross-section. The bracket may be formed of a U-shaped channel, pressed from a single piece of metal or by welding together individual plates 11a, 11b.
At least one of the side plates 11b is provided with a socket 11d for receiving a pin 11e. The socket 11d includes a hole through the plate 11a. The pin 11e passes through the socket 11d and when aligned with one of the holes 3a in the rear upright member 3 engages therewith to fasten the bar 10 in a desired position relative to the upright members 2, 3. The pin 11e and socket 11d may be of the same arrangement as shown in
The pin 11g has a head 11k at one end and at the other a chamfered end 11h which is inserted into the hole 11f. In order to prevent inadvertent removal of the pin 11g from the holes 11f, 3a. A hole 11i extends through the pin 11g perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin 11g. A deformable member 11j, rubber for example is situated in the hole 11i. The member 11j is wider than the diameter of the holes 11f, yet is sufficiently deformable to allow the member 11j and hence pin 11g to pass through the holes 11f and hole 3a.
The multi-gym apparatus 100 illustrated in
Pins 104 are provided at the ends of outer frame members 101b and rear frame member 101c. These frame members may be used to attach gym equipment to, or alternatively or additionally may be used to fasten the lower frame 101 to a floor.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in
The lower end of the upright member 3′ is provided with a lower end bracket 4′. The bracket 4′ compromises a base plate 4a′ which includes holes 4b′, for attachment of the bracket to a floor for example, and stiffening plates 4e′ arranged obliquely between the base plate 4b′ an the upright member 3′. To the rear of the upright member 3′ and above the base plate 4a′ is a bracket 4c′, which extends to each side of the upright member 3′and has holes therein through which screws, bolts or other fasteners may pass to attach the bracket 4c′ to another structure, such as a wall for example.
The upper part of the upright member 3′ has a bracket 5′ attached thereto. The bracket 5′ comprises a part 5c′ which receives the upright member 3′. Fasteners 5d′ pass through aligned holes in the wall of the part 5c′ and the upright member 3′. The part 5c′ has a plate 5a′ attached thereto, the plate 5a′ extending to each side of the part 5c′ and including holes 5b′ for receiving fasteners, such as screws or bolts to fasten the bracket 5′ and hence the upright member 3′ of the apparatus 1′ to a structure such as a wall.
The bar 10′ is substantially similar to the bar 10 illustrated in
The bar 10′ is mounted on the upright member 3′ by means of a bracket 11′, which comprises a box section member 11a′ mounted slidably on the upright member 3′. Stiffening plates 11c′ extend from the corners of the surface of the box section member 11a′ to the upper and lower surfaces of the central bar member 10a′. The bracket 11′ includes the same type of socket 11d′ and fastener 11e′ as described with reference to
A secondary fastener 11m is provided on the other side of the box-section member 11′. The secondary faster 11m comprises a threaded bolt having a handle at one end thereof. The side wall of the box-section member 11′ is provided with a threaded hole 11n for receiving the bolt. The secondary fasteners 11m may serve a number of purposes. First, a safety mechanism is provided so that the bar does not fall if the release pin 11e′ is pulled unintentionally. The bar 10′ can only slide relative to the upright member 3′ when both the pin 11e′ and the fastener 11m are released. Second, the fastener 11m, box section member 11′ and the upright member 3′ can be configured to hold the bar 10′ fast with respect to the upright member 3′. In order for the bar 10′ to be able to slide relative to the upright member 3′ it is necessary that a degree of play exists between the inner walls of the box section member 11′ and the upright member 3′. Whereas the socket 11d′ and fastener 11e′ secure the bar 10 relative the upright member 3′ against movement in the vertical direction, the secondary fastener 11m takes up the play therebetween, thereby eliminating any wobbling of the bar 10 relative to the upright member 3′. The free end of secondary fastener 11m may engage with a wall of the upright member, or the threads of the secondary fastener may engage with threads provided in holes in the upright member. For example, the holes 3a may be threaded internally and the secondary fastener may be sized such that the threads thereof engage with the internal threads of the holes 3a. For example, the holes 3a and the secondary fastener may both be M16 (16 mm). As discussed above, a hole having a diameter of approximately 15 mm can receive reliably a pin having a diameter of approximately 10 mm. If the hole were 16 mm the pin would still be received reliably.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in
The bracket 3b transfers force from the attachment 400 to the upright member, thereby distributing the force exerted on the upright member across the bracket 3b and the bracket 11′ which mounts the bar 10 on the upright member 3′.
The apparatus of the invention is light weight and may be used in many different situations. The apparatus also allows many different types of exercise apparatus to be used and by multiple users.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1915383.2 | Oct 2019 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/GB2020/052688 | 10/23/2020 | WO |