ADJUSTABLE EXERCISE APPARATUS
Provided is exercise equipment for performing a variety of exercises for upper body exercises such as push-up, pull-up, and dip styles of exercise as well as core strengthening exercises. In some embodiments, the device allows for vertical and horizontal adjustments to a variety of positions allowing for general use for persons of all sizes and levels of abilities, from the beginner to the highly experienced and athletic person.
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Embodiments of the present invention relates to exercise equipment for performing a variety of exercises. More particularly, some embodiments of the present invention relate to exercise equipment for performing a variety of upper body exercises such as push-up, pull-up, and dip styles of exercise as well as core strengthening exercises. In some embodiments, the device allows for vertical adjustments to a variety of positions allowing for general use for persons of all levels of abilities, from the beginner to the highly experienced and athletic person.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMontgomery, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,194, describes an exercise device with a crossbar that is rigidly bent to a pre-determined configuration. The bar can be vertically adjusted using springs with rubberized portions using friction to hold the bar in place. As can be appreciated rubber can wear out and coefficients of friction can change over time and with varying loads. As a result the integrity of the adjustment and safety can be jeopardized. The cross-bar can not be adjusted lengthwise to allow for wider or smaller arm span nor can the grip portion of the bar be adjusted to allow for personal preference or to alter the exercise. The device takes up a lot of space as folding for easy storage is not provided.
A push-up apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,802 provides for a pair of handles that are able to rotate in a circle around an axis perpendicular to the floor in an attempt to ease the tension provided on the hands, wrists, and arms. It also provides the user the ability to change the width between the two handles to allow for various sized users. The device does not allow for vertical adjustments and thus is not suitable for a beginner or for users with varying abilities. The handles are freely rotatable which may result in instability of the hands and arms during the exercise.
The apparatus described above are designed only for push-up exercises. As can be ascertained from the above discussion, there remains a need for an exercise device that, for example, a) allows for more than one exercise, b) allows vertical adjustability to positions that allow persons of various abilities to perform the exercise, c) allows for handle adjustments that, once set, can be held in place, d) is adjustable widthwise to allow arm span adjustments and/or e) can be folded to provided for easy storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention provide an exercise apparatus for performing upper body exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups, and dips and is adaptable for core strengthening exercises such as sit-ups, crunches, side-bends, and back-bends. In some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus is adjustable so that users of differing abilities can benefit from exercising with the apparatus. Alternatively or additionally, some embodiments of the present invention are foldable for easy storage. Various embodiments of the present invention are described below. It will be understood that one embodiment of the present invention is a device having all of the features described herein. In other embodiments, a device having a subset (e.g., one or more) of the described features may be provided without departing from the present invention.
In some embodiments, the apparatus is made up of a base crossbar which is adjustable lengthwise, and which is attached to the center of a pair of floor-bars to form a base, the base being adapted to lie on the floor. Each floor bar may be optionally bisected for folding for storage. The floor bars may be perpendicular to the crossbar or may be angled.
In some embodiments, when the floor bar is bisected for folding, the two segments of the floor bar are placed in a bracket which is permanently attached to the cross-bar. The bracket also has a sleeve into which the vertical bars are permanently attached. During use, the segments lock into place in the cradle using a locking mechanism as described below, which provides stability to the exercise device. When folding the floor bars for storage the locking mechanism is removed and the segments are free to fold.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, attached to the center of the pair of floor bars is a pair of upright vertical bars which are aligned perpendicular to both the floor bars and the crossbar.
In some embodiments, the apparatus is equipped with a pair of hand grips which can slide along the pair of vertical bars and be incrementally positioned thereon. The positions are set using a locking mechanism such as, for example, locking pins which are inserted into and through a pair of aligned, prefabricated apertures in the pair of vertical bars such that the apertures are equi-positioned along the bar so that when the grips are locked they are parallel to a base. Other examples of suitable locking mechanisms include screw locks and lever locks. The apertures are further aligned between the pair of vertical bars so that, when positioned, the hand grips are parallel to the floor.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, by incrementally adjusting the hand grips along the vertical axes of the vertical bar, in order to raise and lower them, the exercise can be made more or less difficult depending on the ability of the user. When positioned high on the vertical bar, the push-up or pull-up is relatively easy. By incremental positioning of the hand grips to lower positions, the exercise becomes incrementally more difficult. As a user becomes more proficient, the grips can be positioned to allow for more strenuous exercising. The reverse is the case with dip-style exercises, that is, at lower positioning of the hand-grips the exercise is easier than at higher positions.
In some embodiments, the base cross-bar can be incrementally adjusted to increase or decrease the distance between the pair of bars and consequently the distance between the hand grips. Here again the positions are set by a locking mechanism on the base cross-bar as described above.
In some embodiments, the gripping portion of the hand grip may be permanently attached to the hand grip body and in a variety of preselected positions or, to further accommodate users of varying abilities, the hand grips may be rotatably positioned to allow for more or less difficulty in the exercise. Rotatable hand grips can be locked into a selected position so as not to rotate during the exercise using a locking mechanism as described above, or they may lock during use. In this case, when pressing down on the gripping portion during the exercise the gripping portion of the hand grip engages with the hand grip body and thereby locks it in place.
In another aspect according to some embodiments of the invention, the hand grips may be replaced by a cross-bar which spans the two vertical bars. The ends of the bar are incrementally positioned along a pair of vertical bars in a fashion similar to the pair of hard grips. The cross bar can be used for gripping along its length to allow for push-ups and pull-ups.
In a further aspect according to some embodiments of the invention, the cross-bar is padded with materials which allow for the torso to put pressure on it, such as for example when bending over the bar, and remain relatively comfortable when performing such an act. Additionally, some embodiments of the invention include a foot-cross-bar attached to the ends of the optionally segmented floor-bars. The foot-cross-bar may also be padded for comfort and ease of use. Upon attachment of both the cross-bar and the foot-cross-bar, the device can be used for, for example, core strengthening exercises (e.g., lower back extensions). When the floor-bars are segmented they can be bent up to allow for easy storage.
For the purpose of illustrating some embodiments of the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings several preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus the present invention is not limited by the examples.
Turning now to
An exploded view of a rotatable hand grip 108 is shown in
A view of the hand grip 108 in use is shown in
In
In
In
In a further embodiment the hand grips may be turned upside down (relative to their positioning shown in
Claims
1. An exercise device, comprising:
- a. an adjustable crossbeam having first and second ends, the first end securely attached to substantially the center of a first floor bar and the second end securely attached to substantially the center of a second floor bar, forming a base,
- b. first and second substantially vertical beams, the first beam having an end securely attached to the center of the first floor bar and the second beam having an end securely attached to substantially the center of the second floor bar, the first and second vertical beams positioned substantially perpendicular to the base and essentially parallel to each other, and
- c. a gripping mechanism fitted over the first and second vertical beams which is capable of being adjusted substantially vertically along axes of the vertical beams,
- wherein the crossbeam is adjustable to increase or decrease the distance between the substantially vertical beams.
2. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein:
- a. the first end of the crossbeam is securely attached to a first bracket and the second end of the crossbeam is securely attached to a second bracket,
- b. each of the first and second floor bars comprises two half beams, wherein each of the first and second half beams of the first floor bar is attached to the first bracket at one end and each of the first and second half beams of the second floor bar is attached to the second bracket at one end, and wherein each half beam is configured for arrangement substantially perpendicular to and in the same plane as the crossbeam in a first configuration of the device, and
- c. the end of the first vertical beam which is securely attached to substantially the center of the first floor bar is securely attached to the first bracket and the end of the second vertical beam which is securely attached to substantially the center of the second floor bar is securely attached to the second bracket, wherein the substantially vertical beams extend substantially perpendicularly to the half beams and the crossbeam in the first configuration of the device,
- wherein the half beams are foldable to become substantially parallel to the vertical beams in a second configuration of the device.
3. An exercise device, comprising:
- a. an adjustable crossbeam having first and second ends, the first end securely attached to substantially the center of a first floor bar and the second end securely attached to substantially the center of a second floor bar, forming a base,
- b. first and second substantially vertical beams, the first beam having an end securely attached to the center of the first floor bar and the second beam having an end securely attached to substantially the center of the second floor bar, the first and second vertical beams positioned substantially perpendicular to the base and essentially parallel to each other, and
- c. a gripping mechanism fitted over the first and second vertical beams which is capable of being adjusted substantially vertically along axes of the vertical beams, wherein the gripping mechanism comprises:
- a first collar that fits over the first vertical beam and a second collar that fits over the second vertical beam, wherein notches are incrementally positioned around the top and bottom of each collar, and
- wherein the notches are configured for alignment with apertures that are positioned on the substantially vertical beams to which the gripping mechanism is slideably attached,
- wherein the crossbeam is adjustable to increase or decrease the distance between the substantially vertical beams.
4. The exercise device of any of claim 3 or 2, wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of slideably adjustable hand grips.
5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein each hand-grip is capable of being rotationally adjusted and locked into a plurality of rotational positions.
6. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein the gripping portion of each hand-grip is covered with a pliable material for gripping comfort.
7. The exercise device of any of claim 1 or 2, wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a slideably adjustable crossbar which traverses the substantially vertical beams.
8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein the crossbar is surrounded with padding material.
9. The exercise device of claim 6, further comprising a padded stationary substantially horizontal bar attached to an end of each of two half beams and substantially perpendicular to the crossbeam.
10-16. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2011
Applicant: (Boston, MA)
Inventor: G. Lane Murphy (Boston, MA)
Application Number: 12/565,195