RESISTANCE TRAINING DEVICE
The resistance training device includes a pair of adjustment rails attached to a door frame by at least two mounting blocks. An adjustable exercise platform includes a slidable carriage riding on the adjustment rails to adjustably set the height of the exercise platform. The exercise platform includes a pair of oppositely disposed cavities for receiving resistance blocks. The resistance block provides a predetermined amount of exercise resistance and is interchangeable with other resistance blocks to vary the resistance. A pair of pectoral, butterfly handles are insertably mounted bores in the support block and the resistance block to allow the user to perform butterfly exercises. The resistance training device is easy to assemble/disassemble for storage or transport.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/282,263, filed Jan. 8, 2010.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to fitness machines, and more specifically to a resistance training device configured for easy transport and assembly to promote exercise.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTA regular exercise program has proven to be a highly effective way to maintain or increase one's health. However, due to the hectic demands of today's society, it is oftentimes difficult to schedule or maintain an exercise program. If time can be found, one is usually burdened with health club fees and additional transportation costs.
One effective method of maximizing one's time for exercise lies in home exercise equipment. A plethora of home exercise equipment exists, but most are developed for specific applications such as abdominal exercisers. While the more specific purposed exercisers may be effective, not many exists to provide an effective pectoral workout and/or have limited mobility. Some home equipment is more robust and allows a wider range of exercises, such as a Bowflex™ machine. However, these types of equipment require a substantial investment, which many may not be able to afford. In light of the above, it would be beneficial in the art to provide an exerciser that can provide an effective pectoral workout with means for easy stowage and portability.
Thus, a resistance training device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe resistance training device includes a pair of adjustment rails attached to a door frame by at least two mounting blocks. An adjustable exercise platform includes a slidable carriage riding on the adjustment rails to adjustably set the height of the exercise platform. The exercise platform includes a pair of oppositely disposed cavities for receiving resistance blocks. The resistance block provides a predetermined amount of exercise resistance and is interchangeable with other resistance blocks to vary the resistance. A pair of pectoral, butterfly handles are insertably mounted in bores in the support block and the resistance block to allow the user to perform butterfly exercises. The resistance training device is easy to assemble/disassemble for storage or transport.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe present invention relates to a resistance training device, generally referred to by reference number 10, which is configured to maximize pectoral exercises while being convenient for home, office or abroad. As shown in
As more clearly shown in
Each movable jaw 21, 22 is hinged to the base 24 and moves or pivots in the direction indicated by arrow 12 in
To clamp the anchoring block 20 onto the door frame member, the anchoring block 20 includes a compressible brace 31 attached to an end of a wing screw 30 or thumb screw. The brace 31 may be made from relatively elastic material that permits strong clamping engagement with the door jamb without marring the surface thereof. Thus, when the anchoring block 20 has been properly adjusted and mounted, the door jamb is disposed between the pads 23 and the brace 31 and the anchoring block 20 is clamped to the door jamb by turning the wing screw 30. It is noted that the brace 31 may be notched to conform to the interior shape of the door molding.
Referring to
Each butterfly handle 46 may be a substantially J-shaped member having a handle bar 48 defining the shape. A padded grip 47 is disposed at one end, and the other end of the handle bar 48 includes a split end 49. The padded grip 47 permits the user to place their forearm thereon while performing the exercise as well as providing areas for the user to grip.
The resistance training device 10 includes interchangeable resistance blocks or plugs 50 for selectively defining the resistance of the device 10. The user may be provided with a plurality of resistance block sets, each set having a resistance different from the other. As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical core 51 is integral inside the resistance block via integral springs 52. The springs 52 bias the core 51 in one direction such that turning the handle 46 in the opposite direction requires the user to act against the bias or resistance of the springs 52. As an alternative, the leaf-like coil spring 52 may be replaced with a torsion spring surrounding the core 51 and securely attached to the interior of the resistance block 50. As a further alternative, the resistance block may be made from durable rubber with the two semi-cylindrical through holes or bores 53 formed thereon. The central partition between the bores 53 would be substantially increased in durability such that during operation, the central partition may deform without breaking. It is noted that in all instances, any durable material with limited deformation characteristics may be used to make the resistance block 50 with the desired resistance. To ensure long lasting operation of the resistance training device 10, the distal end of the split end 49 may be covered by a reinforced cap 13 to minimize or prevent deformation of the split end 49.
The following describes how to use the resistance training device 10. To ready the training device 10, the user mounts one of the anchoring blocks 20 to a door jamb as noted above. The pair of adjustment rods 11 are threaded through bores 28 in the mounted anchor block 20 and clamped via pressure pads 26. The exercise platform 40 is slidably mounted to the adjustment rods 11 and clamped at the desired height by clamps 33. The other end and the header area of the adjustment rods 11 are then secured to the door jamb by additional anchoring blocks 20. Pre-selected resistance blocks 50 are installed in the cavities 44 formed in the exercise platform 40. Then the butterfly handles 46 are insertably mounted through the bores 42, 53 and the resistance training device is ready for use.
As noted above, exercise is a great health benefit for everyone. The pectoral muscles are one of the major muscle groups that with regular exercise, will help burn more calories and reduce weight. As such, the resistance training device 10 provides an effective workout for the pectorals, and due, in part, to relatively few parts and low complexity, the resistance training device 10 may be easily assembled/disassembled for storage and transport.
It is noted that the resistance training device 10 may encompass a variety of alternatives. For example, the coverings mentioned above may be comprised of vinyl, rubber, composites or other similar materials. The rods 11 and the handle bars 48 may be made from durable yet relatively lightweight metals to increase portability. The resistance training device 10 may be colored and/or include indicia.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A resistance training device, comprising:
- an exercise frame adapted to be mounted to a door frame;
- a plurality of anchoring blocks adjustably and detachably mounted to the exercise frame for securely mounting the exercise frame to the door frame;
- an exercise carriage slidably mounted to the exercise frame, the exercise carriage having a pair of oppositely disposed cavities;
- a pair of resistance blocks detachably mounted inside the cavities in the carriage, the resistance blocks having a predetermined resistance for a desired exercise; and
- a pair of exercise handles operatively attached to the resistance blocks;
- wherein repetitious operation of the handles by a user exercises target muscles.
2. The resistance training device according to claim 1, wherein said exercise frame comprises a pair of spaced adjustment mounting rods, said plurality of anchoring blocks and said exercise carriage being selectively and adjustably mounted to said pair of adjustment mounting rods.
3. The resistance training device according to claim 2, wherein each of said mounting rods has an elongated, vertically extending section and a horizontal section extending perpendicular from one of the ends of the vertically extending section, the vertically extending section and the horizontal section supporting the resistance training device on at least two sides of the door frame.
4. The resistance training device according to claim 2, wherein each said anchoring block comprises:
- a base having a pair of bores for slidably mounting said anchoring block to said pair of adjustment mounting rods;
- a pair of spaced movable jaws extending from opposite sides of said base, said base and said pair of movable jaws forming a C-clamp for mounting said anchoring block to the door frame; and
- a movable brace extending through said base to brace said anchoring block against the door frame.
5. The resistance training device according to claim 4, wherein said base further comprises:
- a clamp extending into each of the bores in said base, the clamp fixing the adjusted position of the respective anchoring block on the adjustment mounting rods, said clamp having a pressure pad, the pressure pad having a curved surface conforming to curvature of the respective adjustment mounting rod; and
- a moving mechanism attached to the pressure pad to selectively move the pressure pad against said respective adjustment mounting rod.
6. The resistance training device according to claim 5, wherein said moving mechanism comprises a wing screw extending through a threaded bore in the base of said clamp, the pressure pad being mounted at a distal end of the wing screw.
7. The resistance training device according to claim 4, wherein each said movable jaw has one end pivotally mounted to said base and an opposite end having a movable finger pad for hooking onto the door frame.
8. The resistance training device according to claim 7, further comprising a spring extending between said movable jaws, the spring biasing said movable jaws into a closed position.
9. The resistance training device according to claim 4, wherein said movable brace comprises:
- a compressible head to safely brace said anchoring block against the door frame; and
- a moving mechanism for moving said compressible head toward the door frame.
10. The resistance training device according to claim 9, wherein said compressible head has notches defined therein, the notches being adapted for conforming to the door frame.
11. The resistance training device according to claim 9, wherein said moving mechanism comprises a wing screw extending through a threaded bore in said base, said compressible head being mounted on a distal end of the wing screw.
12. The resistance training device according to claim 2, wherein said exercise carriage comprises:
- a rectangular body having a pair of spaced bores defined therein for slidably mounting said carriage in a desired position on said adjustment mounting rods, the oppositely disposed cavities being defined in the rectangular body;
- a pair of clamps mounted on the adjustment mounting rods below the rectangular body to fix the rectangular body in the desired position;
- a spacer brace formed at a rear side of the rectangular body to brace the rectangular body against the door frame; and
- a pair of spaced mounting bores for detachably mounting said exercise handles to the rectangular body, each of the cavities being in communication with a respective one of the mounting bores to facilitate operative connection between a respective one of the exercise handles and a respective one of the resistance blocks.
13. The resistance training device according to claim 12, wherein each said resistance block comprises:
- a substantially solid cube having a cylindrical core, the cylindrical core having a partition wall extending diametrically across the core to form semicylindrical hollow through holes, the core being rotatable, the cube being mounted in one of the cavities in said carriage so that the cube does not rotate; and
- integral coil springs extending from the cylindrical core into the cube, the springs being biased in one direction, the springs providing the predetermined amount of resistance when the core is rotated against said bias.
14. The resistance training device according to claim 13, wherein each said handle comprises an elongated, substantially J-shaped handle bar having a padded grip at one end, the end opposite the padded grip being split, the split end engaging the partition wall extending diametrically across the cylindrical core in said resistance block so that rotation of said handle rotates the cylindrical core against the bias resistance of the spring.
15. The resistance training device according to claim 14, wherein said resistance blocks comprise a set of interchangeable resistance blocks having a different predetermined resistance.
16. The resistance training device according to claim 1, wherein each said resistance block comprises:
- a substantially solid cube having a cylindrical core, the cylindrical core having a partition wall extending diametrically across the core to form semicylindrical hollow through holes, the core being rotatable, the cube being mounted in one of the cavities in said carriage so that the cube does not rotate; and
- integral coil springs extending from the cylindrical core into the cube, the springs being biased in one direction, the springs providing the predetermined amount of resistance when the core is rotated against said bias.
17. The resistance training device according to claim 16, wherein said resistance blocks comprise a set of interchangeable resistance blocks having a different predetermined resistance.
18. The resistance training device according to claim 1, wherein each said handle comprises an elongated, substantially J-shaped handle bar having a padded grip at one end, the end opposite the padded grip being split, the split end engaging the partition wall extending diametrically across the cylindrical core in said resistance block so that rotation of said handle rotates the cylindrical core against the bias resistance of the spring.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2011
Inventor: ROBERT LEE TYSON, III (Raleigh, NC)
Application Number: 12/983,766
International Classification: A63B 21/045 (20060101); A63B 71/00 (20060101);