Patent Application
20070129158
Exercise devices from which users may suspend themselves are not new. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,641, Hanson describes an exercise device consisting of a bent, rotateable swing bar. For its vertical motion, Hansen's bar depends on a fixed angle between the bar and vertical, thus subjecting a user to the risk of collision with the bar at its highest position as illustrated by the phantom configuration of user 28′and bar 14′ in
For support, Hansen's device depends entirely on a stake 32 driven into the ground at an angle (see the '641 patent, column 2, lines 13-21). The present invention provides support means inherently more resistant to the various forces and torques that will inevitably be imposed on such recreational devices.
Hansen states that one of his objectives is to provide a bar the rotation of which is damped by immersion in a damping medium (see the '641 patent, column 1, lines 39-47). Hansen furthermore includes damping means in all six claims. The present invention dispenses with the inconvenience, inconsistency, deterioration, and expense of Hansen's damping media with reliance on the mechanical friction inherent in the simple relative motion between two concentric cylinders.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,480,274 and 3,246,893, Boggild describes a gymnastic device consisting of an anchored fiberglass pole (see the '274 patent, column 2, lines 35-38, and the '893 patent, column 2, lines 53-60, wherein Boggild teaches away from a steel pole). Because of the brittle nature of fiberglass, Boggild goes to great length to describe a complicated dual-support mounting scheme that depends on unpredictable and notoriously short-lived elastomers (see '274 patent, column 2, lines 64-66 and column 3, line 10 through column 4, line 20). The spring steel pole of the present invention preferred embodiment obviates such expensive assemblies and provides longer life than the Boggild device. Also, because fiberglass is highly susceptible to abrasion and splintering, Boggild requires that a thin vinyl sheath be glued to his pole (see the '274 patent, column 4, lines 21-26). The present invention does not require the extra manufacturing complication, expense, and wear problems associated with a sheath.
Because Boggild's poles are not intended to rotate (see the '274 patent, column 3, lines 14-23, and the '893 patent, column 3, lines 49-50), a user is limited in recreational options, or, if a user forces the pole to bend around a circle, the user's grip on the pole must be constantly changing to compensate for the dangerous tendency of the pole to twist against the imposed torque and dislodge itself from the user's hands. The present invention eliminates this unpleasantly limiting safety hazard.
Moreover, all six of Boggild's '274 claims limit his device to include “a damping means fixed to said pole” (see the '274 patent, column 6, line 20 and subsequent dependent claims). The present invention dispenses with the manufacturing complications and expense of Boggild's damping means.
In the '893 patent, Boggild limits his claims to spaced-apart bearing surfaces. No such bearings are required by the present invention. Also, Boggild's devices, because they are built on a straight, vertically mounted pole, suffer from the same safety hazard inherent in the Hanson design, i.e. the probability of user collision with the pole during use.
Therefore, for all the abovementioned reasons, current art does not contain all the features claimed by the present invention. The present invention offers enhanced usefulness, longer life, and less expense than the prior art The present invention also presents fewer safety hazards than the prior art.
In all the accompanying drawings like features are labeled with like identifying numbers.
a is a partial cutaway front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
b is a partial cutaway side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention depicted in
The following terms are used in the claims of the patent application as filed and are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words and phrases are to be interpreted as they are preferentially defined in the present Specification, and then in commonly accepted English language dictionaries, handbooks, textbooks, and treatises. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the customary usage of English language grammar.
“Concentric” and “concentrically” mean having a common center, regardless of cross sectional shape.
“Pad” means a mass of material used to minimize or prevent jarring, scraping, or other injury; it may be permanently attached, removeably attached, or integral to hard surfaces; it may be fashioned in any likeness, geometry, and thickness; and it may be rubber, foam, gas pockets, tape, or any other cushioning material.
“Pole” means a solid or tubular, straight, curved, or coiled, relatively slender elongated member having any cross sectional geometry that may be uniform or variable along the member length; it may be metallic or non-metallic.
“Spring” means any elastic device that returns to or near to its neutral, unforced configuration after being compressed, extended, bent, twisted, or otherwise disturbed; it may be metallic or non-metallic; it may be formed, extruded, stamped, molded, or otherwise manufactured.
“Tube” means a conduit the lateral cross section of which is not necessarily round.
The structure and operation of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the following descriptions of various alternatives thereto, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. The inventor presents herein the best mode for carrying out the present invention in terms of its preferred embodiment, depicted within the aforementioned drawings.
Mast 93 is rotatably inserted into ground tube 94. Collar 92 with its integral welded skirt is slideably and rotatably installed on mast 93 at a position just above one of the through holes in mast 93. A hardened steel pin 12 inserted through the selected through hole then provides a stop that prevents collar 92 and its integral skirt from sliding downward on mast 93. A cap may be fixed on top of mast 93 to prevent rainwater from penetrating the mast and ground tube.
Pole 91 with welded handle 2 covered with pad 3 is fixed into pole sleeve 83 of mast sleeve assembly 80 (see
In the preferred embodiment, handle 2 consists of a tube or rod welded perpendicular to the distal end (outboard of mast 93) of pole 91, thus forming a “T.” Alternatively, handle 2 could be one or more steel loops. Mast sleeve assembly 80 consists of collar 81, mast sleeve 84, web 82, and pole sleeve 83, all of which are steel components welded together.
Mast sleeve assembly 80 and attached pole 91 are slideably and rotatably installed on mast 93 at a position just above one of the through holes in mast 93. A pin 12 inserted through the selected through hole then provides a stop that prevents mast sleeve assembly 80 from sliding downward on mast 93. If it is desired to position pole 91 in a particular angular location with respect to the vertical axis of mast 93, a pin 12 can be inserted through matching holes in mast sleeve 84 and mast 93 and a pin 12 can be inserted through matching holes in mast 93 and ground tube 94. The pins 12 will prevent rotation of mast sleeve assembly 80 and pole 91 around mast 93 and ground tube 94. Collars 81 and 92 provide perches and climbing steps for users.
Alternatively, if mast portability is not important, ground tube 94 is not necessary. Mast 93 can be concreted in well 11, with or without reinforcing angle 95, and rotatability of the mast sleeve assembly is not impaired.
The height of pole 91 above ground 99 is adjustable. Any of the holes drilled through mast 93 at predetermined intervals can receive a pin 12, thus allowing a user to independently adjust the height above ground of collar 92 and pole 91 (along with collar 81). There are seven pairs of holes (not shown), large enough to receive a ¼ inch rod or pin. The lowest hole pair is 12 inches above grade, and the other six pairs are spaced at 12 inches. Thus, the preferred embodiment of
Changing the height of collar 81 or 92 requires alignment of the mounting holes in the collar with the mating mounting holes in the mast. This task can be simplified by the use of square tubing to form the collars and the sections of the mast that accommodate the collars. Collars would be made of square tubing larger than the mast section square tubing. Plastic inserts could be pressed or otherwise attached to the insides of the collars, thus filling the gaps between the collar and mast tubes, and protecting the surface finish of the mast. Mast rotatability would be preserved by using a cylindrical section of the mast inside the ground tube.
In the preferred embodiment of
Pole 91 is a 7 foot long section of ⅞ inch diameter 5160 spring steel. Spring steel is commonly understood to be the category of steel alloy from which leaf, rod, bar, and wire springs can be manufactured. The alloy can be displaced from an unforced or neutral configuration or position by a force, and unless the resulting stress exceeds the alloy's elastic limit or yield point, the stored energy in the alloy due to the displacement causes the alloy to return to its unforced configuration. The pole is manufactured by Coiling Technologies, 7777 Wright Road, Houston, Tex. 77041.
The pole, mast, mast sleeve assembly, and collars are primed and powder coated with commonly understood processes. The ground tube is primed. Alternatively, some or all parts can be painted with industrial grade low maintenance paint.
Pad 3 is then molded onto handle 2 and handle hub 18 in any moldable shape, size, and color. Disc 17 and a cylindrical slide in the pad mold opposite disc 17 prevent the entrance of foam, other molding materials, and debris into handle hub 18 during the molding operation. The mold slide also forms cylindrical tunnel 19 for receipt of one end of pole 91 subsequent to the mold operation. In the preferred embodiment, pad 3 is foam molded approximately ⅜ inches thick all around handle 2, except for the ends of handle 2 where the thickness is approximately 1½ inches. The foam is molded approximately 1½ inches thick all around handle hub 18. The hub section of pad 3 is therefore a cylinder with an approximate diameter of 4½ inches with bulbous ends (see
The first approximately 5 inches of the distal end of the preferred embodiment ⅞ inch diameter pole 91 are left bare, while the adjacent approximately 24 inches of the pole distal end are wrapped with 2 inch doublesided tape that is subsequently coated with HF-100 Grip Activator. The tape and activator are generally used for wrapping golf club handles, and are available at golf equipment and pro shops. A ¼ inch thick foam grip sleeve available from Gripworks of Arnold, Mo. (stock no. 072264, FEX tubing 0.812-0.175-26.0-30.0-CPE/EPDM) is inserted over the tape while the activator is still damp and slick. For a larger pole, 15/16 inch diameter for example, a thinner grip sleeve might be required.
The approximate 5 inches of bare pole end, including the notched tip of the pole, are cleaned, dried, and coated with an approximate ⅛ inch thick layer of a cold weld epoxy adhesive such as JB Weld 2-part epoxy available at hardware stores, auto parts stores, and home repair outlets. Quickly enough to prevent the epoxy from prematurely curing, the distal end of pole 91 is press fit into the opening in pad 3 until it bottoms out in handle hub 18 with handle 2 nested in the pole tip notch. After the epoxy cures according to manufacturer's specifications, handle 2, pad 3, and pole 91 become an integral assembly.
Alternatively, hub 18 and the distal end of pole 91 can be notched with transverse half-round grooves that align when pole 91 is bottomed out inside hub 18. Handle 2 can then be fitted into the aligned grooves and welded to the hub groove, thus causing handle 2 and hub 18 to be permanently attached to each other. Handle 2 then acts as a Woodruff key to prevent a user from pulling the hub and handle off of pole 91.
Intermediate tube collar 7 and intermediate tube skirt 8 are concentric to intermediate tube 6 and do not block the inner diameter of intermediate tube 6. Intermediate tube 6 is therefore able to receive cylindrical ground tube 9, the outer diameter of which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of intermediate tube 6.
If it is desired to position pole 1 in a particular angular location with respect to the vertical axis of the support tube assembly, pin 12 inserted through matching holes in support tube 4 and pole 1, and retained by clip 13, can be used. Pin 12 will prevent rotation of pole 1.
Collars 5 and 7 provide perches and climbing steps for users. Ground tube 9 can be set in a concrete well 11 in the ground 99 or made part of a portable but stable base.
The height of pole 1 above ground 99 is adjustable. Any of the holes 10 through ground tube 9 can receive a hardened steel rod 14 that is slightly shorter than the inside diameter of intermediate tube skirt 8.
In the alternate embodiment of
Intermediate tube skirt 8 is a 2 inch long section of 8 inch diameter steel pipe. Intermediate tube collar 7 is a 9 inch diameter disc cut from ⅛ inch thick steel plate, and has a center hole the diameter of which is between the inner and outer diameters of intermediate tube 6 that is a 3 foot section of 2 inch diameter schedule 80 steel pipe. Support tube collar 5 is a 9 inch diameter disc cut from ⅛ inch thick steel plate. Support tube 4 is a 6 inch section of 1¼ inch diameter extra-extra-heavy grade steel pipe.
Pole 1 is ⅞ inch diameter 5160 spring steel. It is manufactured by Coiling Technologies, 7777 Wright Road, Houston, Tex. 77041. A seven foot long piece is bent in a hot oil bath to an angle between 90 and 140 degrees, beginning at a point approximately 12 inches from one end. The bend radius is 4 feet. The pole is primed and powder coated with commonly understood processes.
a and 10b illustrate one of many possible alternatives 300 to the present invention preferred embodiment 90. In apparatus 300, lower tube section 25, pole 33, pivot wheel 29, cable 36, piston 37, stop 26, and commonly understood compression spring 39 simulate the spring action of spring steel pole 91 of the preferred embodiment. Lower tube section 25 can be set in a concrete well in the ground or made part of a portable but stable base.
In
Alternatively, base 51 can be manufactured using many materials other than ABS, and it can be manufactured with a port 54 large enough to accept sand, gravel, or other materials capable of providing the desired stability. Alternatively, for ease of transport and setup, base 51 can be manufactured as multiple interlocking sections, each having its own fill and drain ports. Alternatively, base 51 can be manufactured as a solid, thereby negating the need for filling. Flange 52, integral with base 51, has several slots through which stakes, lag screws, or bolts may be inserted for attachment of base 51 to various ground or floor materials.
It will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the relevant art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present invention provides an apparatus for recreational and fitness use. It is understood that the forms of the invention shown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are to be taken merely as presently preferred examples and that the invention is limited only by the language of the claims. The drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed. While the present invention has been described in terms of one preferred embodiment and several alternatives thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that form and detail modifications can be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
This application claims priority from provisional application 60/674,886 filed Apr. 26, 2005. The present invention relates to the field of recreational equipment.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60674886 | Apr 2005 | US |
