Patent Application
20240100387
The present invention relates generally to home exercise equipment for resistance training and more specifically to door mounted systems for anchoring elastic resistance elements including straps, tubes, cords, cables or bands.
Some exercise equipment, e.g., pullup bars, resistance bands, treadmills, stationary bicycles, etc., have been well suited for use in the convenience of one's home, with or without the assistance of a trainer, and have provided an accessible alternative to gyms. The realization that one can exercise according to his or her own schedule and pace has motivated individuals to strive for fitness goals. Further, the ability to exercise at home also provided increased comfort, convenience and privacy for individuals who were uncomfortable in group settings, such as when in a public or private gym.
A drawback of some home exercise equipment was that the equipment often occupied a large amount of space and was not easily stored when not in use. Additionally, some equipment was required to be permanently affixed in the home, such as to a vertical support, e.g., a wall stud or door or to a support, such as, a ceiling joist with screws or other anchors.
Further, the inability to support a user's body weight inhibited the use of some body weight resistance exercise equipment.
Another inhibiting factor was that door mounted resistance training devices required a resistance element anchoring point positioned on or proximate a door panel, limiting the space for a user to perform suspension training exercises without limbs or other body parts contacting the door, thereby limiting the range of available exercise routines.
The instant invention relates to door mounted systems for performing body weight resistance exercises with a suspension training device.
A resistance training system includes an anchoring channel configured to be affixed over a door. The channel includes a rail plate, which seats over a top rail of the door, a front plate which abuts an obverse door panel and a rear plate, which abuts an inverse door panel. The front and rear plates depend from longitudinal edges of the top rail plate.
A rigid elongate support bar is affixed to the front plate and is hinged to pivot upwardly about a horizontal axis parallel to the front plate from a vertical position, parallel to the obverse panel, to a locked, substantially horizontal operative position, wherein it functions as a cantilever anchor for elastic resistance elements. The distal end of the elongate support bar includes an anchoring component, e.g. orifice, ring, hook, etc., for attaching proximal ends of one or more elastic resistance elements. The anchoring component is configured to support an operative load applied through the elastic resistance element along a range of vectors which correspond to movement of a user's limbs or body components during a resistance training routine. Coupling members are attached to the elastic resistance element. The vectors comprise the forces necessary to fix the proximal end of the elastic resistance element at the angular orientation through which such forces are applied.
From the foregoing compendium, it will be appreciated that an aspect of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which is not subject to the disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention.
A feature of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which is readily adaptable for both indoor and outdoor use.
A consideration of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which is easy to both use and store.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which may be employed in conjunction with a limitless number of resistance training routines.
A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which compactly folds without disassembly when not in use.
To provide a resistance training system of the general character described which is relatively low in cost is another consideration of the present invention.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a resistance training system of the general character described which is capable of supporting the weight of an adult.
Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a door mounted resistance training system of the general character described which may be folded against or removed from a door when not in use.
Other aspects, features and considerations of the present invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.
With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in various combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and series of steps by which the above-mentioned aspects, features and considerations and certain other aspects, features, and considerations are attained, all with reference to the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed out and indicated in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, wherein one of the various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention is shown:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the invention so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Notably, the figures and examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements.
Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention will be described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components will be omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting; rather, the invention is intended to encompass other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein.
Applicant does not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.
Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like numerals denoted like components throughout, the reference numeral 10 denotes generally a resistance training system constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The system comprises a channel 12 generally formed in the shape of an inverted letter “U”. The channel 12 includes a rail plate 14, which seats over a top rail 16 of a door 18. Depending from longitudinal edges of the rail plate 14 are a front plate 20 and a rear plate 22. The front plate 20 is in abutting contact with an obverse door panel 24 while the rear plate 22 is in abutting contact with an inverse door panel 26.
Affixed to the front plate 20 is a rigid elongate support bar 28 which pivots upwardly from a vertical stored position, parallel to the obverse panel 24 (illustrated in
With reference now to
Parallel side walls 48 of the elongate support bar 28 are received between the legs 46. The elongate support bar 28 is hinged to pivot an arc indicated by the arrow 50 about a horizontal journal pin 52 which extends along an axis parallel to the front plate 24. The journal pin 52 seats within registered horizontal bores through the legs 46 and the side walls 48.
In order to fix the elongate support bar 28 in its
As illustrated in
The elongate support bar 28 is preferably square or rectangular in transverse cross section and extends from the front plate 20. As shown in
At a distal end 56 of the elongate support bar 28, a reduced thickness flange 58 extends. The flange 58 is fixed at or adjacent the distal end 56 of the elongate support bar at a welded or brazed joint 60.
Optionally, with the elongate support bar being of rectangular cross section, the flange 58 could be omitted. The anchoring component 30 may also comprise a metal ring or hook fixed at or adjacent the distal end 56 of the elongate support bar at a welded or brazed joint 60.
The anchoring component 30 comprises a bore or hole which passes transversely through the flange 58 for engagement by a carabiner, hook or other device attached to either the distal end 34 of the elastic resistance element 34 or a loop or ring through which an elastic resistance element can be threaded, such that the user may exercise by grasping each of a single resistance element.
It should be appreciated that the elongate support bar 28 can be pivoted about the journal pin 52 to the folded
In this regard, the distance between the front plate 20 and rear plate 22 ideally accommodates the thickness of a conventional indoor door. Differently dimensioned channels may be provided for other door thickness or screws, shims, wedges or clamps may be positioned between the rear plate 22 and the inverse panel 26 to assure a snug fit.
The particular combinations of elements and features in the above-detailed embodiment are exemplary only; the interchanging and substitution of these teachings with other teachings in this application are also expressly contemplated. As those skilled in the art will recognize, variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein can occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed.
Further, in describing the invention and in illustrating an embodiment of the invention in the figures, specific terminology, numbers, dimensions, materials, etc., are used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not limited to the specific terms, numbers, dimensions, materials, etc. so selected, and each specific term, number, dimension, material, etc., at least includes all technical and functional equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Use of a given word, phrase, number, dimension, material, language terminology, product brand, etc. is intended to include all grammatical, literal, scientific, technical and functional equivalents. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.
Having described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating the concept may be used. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the embodiment of the invention described herein can be modified to accommodate and/or comply with changes and improvements in the applicable technology and standards referred to herein.
Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein can occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. It is felt therefore that these embodiments should not be limited to the disclosed embodiment but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
