Extending Pull-Up Bar

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for pull ups has two L-shaped tubes, each having a first segment and a second segment. The L-shaped tubes are mounted in parallel planes to a mounting bracket, a stabilizer bar, and a pull up bar. The first segment of the L-shaped tube is a first outer tube containing a plurality of telescoping tubes within the outer tube. The apparatus may be lowered or raised by removing the pin from the pin-holes of the plurality of telescoping tubes, sliding at least one inner telescoping tube out from, or into, an outer telescoping tube, and then inserting the pin through the through-hole of the telescoping tubes to lock the adjusted height in place.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/585,300, entitled “Extending Pull-Up Bar” filed on Jan. 11, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure pertains generally to fitness and sporting goods equipment, and provides a platform for conditioning the human body; in particular, to bars for perform exercises, such as pull-ups, dips, hangs, or leg lifts, collectively referred to as “pull-up bars.” Some example pull-up bars according to the present disclosure may be used by individuals desiring to increase their upper body or core strength.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for performing exercises includes at least one L-shaped support tube having a first segment and a generally perpendicular second segment (in an embodiment, the first segment may be part of the vertical portion of the “L” and the second segment may be part of the horizontal part of the “L”). In an exemplary embodiment, there are two parallel L-shaped tubes rigidly fixed to a mounting bracket, stabilizer bar, and pull-up bar respectively extending between the parallel L-shaped tubes.

The mounting bracket and stabilizer bar may be attached to the first segment of the L-shaped tube. The first segment of the L-shaped tube may be an outer tube containing a plurality of telescoping tubes within the outer tube, to provide vertical adjustability of the second segment and the other components mounted thereto, for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting bracket is attached to the outermost tube, and the stabilizer bar is mounted to the innermost telescoping tube, while the pull-up bar is mounted to the second segment of the L-shaped tube.

In a first position, the plurality of telescoping tubes are nested within the outer tube (e.g., no vertical adjustment). In a second position, at least one of the plurality of telescoping tubes are extended from the outer tube (e.g., partial vertical adjustment). In a third position, the plurality of telescoping tubes are completely extended from the outer tube (e.g., complete vertical adjustment). A pin selector and through hole system may allow for selective locking the tubes in the desired position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. The disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary exercise apparatus in a first position; and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary exercise apparatus in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary exercise apparatus 100 in a first position is shown in FIG. 1. Two L-shaped tubes 102 each include a first segment 104 and a second segment 105 extending generally perpendicular to one another. In an embodiment, the L-shaped tubes 102 are configured to be mounted so that the first segment 104 extends vertically along a vertical wall or door or doorway, while the second segment extends horizontally out from the vertical wall, door or doorway. In some embodiments, a portion of the first segment 104 and second segment 105 may be formed from a continuous L-shaped tube or bar. In some embodiments, first segment 104 and second segment 105 may be rigidly connected by an L-shaped, or curved connector 106. Connector 106 may be a curved cuff, or bent rod or tube. The two L-shaped tubes 102 are mounted in parallel planes to a mounting bracket 108, a stabilizer bar, 112, and/or a pull-up bar 122, respectively extending between the two L-shaped tubes 102.

Mounting bracket 108 may be attached to L-shaped tube 104 at the proximal end (or upper end) of the first segment 104, and may include at least one attachment point 110, for screws or nails, for attaching to a wall. The bracket attachment points 110 may slide along the mounting bracket 108 to align to wall sides. Stabilizer bar 112 may be attached to the first segment 104 of the L-shaped tube 102, generally on the opposite end (lower end) of the L-tube 102 from the mounting bar 108 approximate the connector 106. Stabilizer bar 112 may include grips 114 for performing exercises at an alternate height. One or more pins 120 may be attached to stabilizer bar 112 with a cord 118, such as a bungee cord, for selectively locking an apparatus 100 extension position as will be discussed below.

The second segment 105 of the L-shaped tube may be generally perpendicular to first segment 104 of the L-shaped tube 102. A pull up bar 122 may be mounted to the second segment 105 of the L-shaped tube 102, and may be attached anywhere along the second segment 105. In an exemplary embodiment, the pull-up bar 122 is set back (from the outer horizontal end of the second segment) leaving a section 132 of bar 105 exposed, for an alternate grip position. Pull up bar 122 and exposed section 132 may be covered by one or more grips 128 which provide friction and/or a comfortable hold. Rings 126, such as rigid metal rings, may be attached to the pull up bar 122 (as shown in the figures) or to the L-shaped tubes 102, to attach optional accessories. Rings 126 provide a point to attach accessories such as weights to increase difficulty, bands to provide assistance, free-hanging rings to provide alternate handles, or other exercise variations.

The first segment 104 may include a plurality of telescoping tubes to provide vertical adjustability of the pull-up bar 122 and/or stabilizer bar 112 and/or rings 126 and or other accessories. FIG. 1 shows outermost tube 104a and an innermost tube 104b. In the embodiment described above where a portion of first segment 104 and second segment 105 is a continuous L-shaped tube or bar piece, inner tube 104b and segment 105 forms the continuous piece. In embodiments where first segment 104 and second segment 105 are rigidly connected by an L-shaped, or curved connector 106, curved connector 106 rigidly connects to innermost tube 104b and second segment 105.

In a detailed exemplary embodiment, mounting bracket 108 is rigidly attached to outermost tube 104a, and stabilizer bar 112 is rigidly attached to innermost tube 104b. In a detailed exemplary embodiment, stability bar 112 is rigidly attached to innermost tube 104b, and cuff 106 is attached to the first segment 104 by the innermost tube 104b.

Apparatus 100 may be mounted to a wall or a door frame, such as a door frame, by mounting bracket 108 over the frame, on an outer side of a wall, and resting stabilizer bar 112 on inner side of the wall to oppose the rotational force generated by use of the pull up bar (to allow such a mounting over an open door frame it may be desirable that the stabilizer bar be longer than the width of the door frame). In this configuration, pull up bar 122 may be used at a first height, and stabilizer bar 112 provides a bar for exercises at an alternate height. The free extended area 132 of segment 106 provides an alternate grip for pull ups or other exercises. It will be appreciated that there are numerous alternate ways to mount the mounting bracket 108 and/or apparatus 100 to a vertically elevated support, such as by hanging upon a door or mounting to a vertical wall by mounting bolts or screws (for example); all of which are contemplated by the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary exercise apparatus 100′ in an extended position of exercise apparatus 100. Because mounting bracket 108 is fixed above a frame, extended position of apparatus 100′ places pull-up bar 122 at a lower position relative to the non-extended, or closed, apparatus position 100 shown in FIG. 1. The first segment 104 includes a plurality of telescoping tubes 204a, 204b, and 104b within the outer tube 104a. The plurality of telescoping tubes 104 are slidably attached; adjacent tubes 104 lock together at the extended position. FIG. 2 shows four tubes 104a, 204a, 204b, 104b, but there may be as few as two telescoping tubes, outermost tube 104a and innermost tube 104b, up to any number of additional tubes 204n. The outermost tube 104a contains a through hole 206 for receiving a pin on its distal end, and the innermost tube 104b contains a through hole for receiving a pin on its distal and proximal end. Each telescoping tube 204a, 204b . . . 204n includes two through-holes 206, one at the distal end from bracket 108, and one at the proximal end from bracket 108. Each through-hole 206 is sized to receive pin 120.

Each telescoping tube 204 provides an additional extension length for apparatus 100′. For example, FIG. 2 shows three telescoping tubes 204a, 204b, and 104b within the outer tube 104a, for a total of four positions to choose from. The first position, shown in FIG. 1, in a fully retracted, or closed position, and pull-up bar 122 is locked at the highest position. In this first position, the plurality of telescoping tubes 104 are locked within the outer tube 104a by inserting pin 120 through each distal pin-hole 206 of the plurality the telescoping tubes 104.

Pull up bar 124 on apparatus 100′ may be lowered by removing pin 120 from the through-holes 206 of telescoping tubes 104, and sliding at least one inner telescoping tube 104b, 204a, or 204b, out from outer telescoping tube 104a, 204a, or 204b to a desired extension length, and inserting the pin through the aligned through-holes 206 of the telescoping tubes 104 of the selected extension. For example, tube 104b may be slid out from tube 204b, and pin 120 inserted through the proximal through-hole 206 of tube 104b and the distal through-holes 206 of tubes 104a, 204a, 204b. The tubes 104 do not have to be slid out consecutively, e.g. tube 104b may remain locked in in tube 204b with pin 120, even if 204b has been slid out from 204a. As a second example, telescoping tube 204a may be slid out from outer tube 104a, and telescoping tubes 104a and 204b may remain within telescoping tube 204a by inserting pin 120 through the distal through-holes 206 of tube 204a, 204b, and 104b.

Apparatus 100′ may be raised to lock pull up bar 122 at a higher height, for use or storage. This may be accomplished by removing pin 120 from the through-holes 206 of the plurality of telescoping tubes 204, and sliding or pushing at least one inner telescoping tube into an outer telescoping tube. At the desired height, pin 120 is inserted through the aligned through-holes 206 of the telescoping tubes 104. It will be understood that there are numerous alternative mechanisms (in addition to the use of pins and through-holes) for locking the telescoping tubes in their desired positions (such as by use of threaded locking collars), all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the current disclosure.

Exercises, including pull-ups, may be performed on the apparatus 100 at any set height variation. Stability bar 112, exposed sections 132 of the second segment 105, and accessory rings 126 may also be used for performing exercises.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

at least one L-shaped tube having a first, length-adjustable, segment and a generally perpendicular second segment;

the L-shaped tube rigidly fixed to a mounting bracket, a stabilizer bar, and a pull up bar; and

the mounting bracket, stabilizer bar, and pull-up bar extending generally parallel to each other, and generally perpendicular to the L-shaped tube.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two of the L-shaped tubes mounted in parallel planes, wherein the stabilizer bar and pull-up bar extend between the two parallel L-shaped tubes.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first segment includes an outermost telescoping tube, and an innermost telescoping tube slidably attached to the outermost telescoping tube.

4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein:

the mounting bracket is attached to the outermost telescoping tube; and

the stabilizer bar is mounted to the innermost telescoping tube.

5. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising:

a through-hole for receiving a pin on the distal end of the outermost telescoping tube; and

a through-hole on both the distal end and the proximal end of the innermost telescoping tubes.

6. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein:

the first segment and the second segment are connected by a curved cuff;

a first end of the curved cuff is rigidly fixed to the distal end of the innermost telescoping tube; and

a second end of the curved cuff is rigidly fixed to one end of the second segment.

7. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of telescoping tubes slidably attached to the outermost telescoping tube and the innermost telescoping tube.

8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein:

each telescoping tube is lockable to at least one adjacent tube at the extended position.

9. The exercise device of claim 7, further comprising a through-hole for receiving a pin on each distal end and each proximal end of each of the plurality of telescoping tubes.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein:

the mounting bracket is attached at the proximal end of the first segment, and the stabilizer bar is attached to the distal end of the first segment.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a pin, wherein one end of the pin is attached to the stabilizer bar with a stretchy cord.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment are connected by a connector.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the pull up bar is attached to the second segment of the L-tube.

14. The exercise device of claim 13, wherein the pull up bar is set partially back from the distal end of the second segment, to create a free end at distal end of the second segment.

15. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising at least one accessory ring attached to at least one of the pull-up bar and the stability bar.

16. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grips at least partially encasing the pull up bar, the stabilizer bar, and the second segment.

17. The exercise device of claim 16, wherein the grip is a flexible material, and is one of:

rubberized, texturized, or soft touch.

18. An exercise device comprising:

at least two L-shaped tubes, each having a vertically extending first segment and a generally perpendicular outwardly extending second segment;

a pull up bar and a stabilizer bar extending generally parallel to each other between the two L-shaped tubes, and generally perpendicular to the L-shaped tubes;

the first segments include an outermost telescoping tube, and an innermost telescoping tube slidably attached to the outermost telescoping tube; and

a mounting bracket attached to at least one of the L-shaped tubes;

the pull up bar being attached to the second segment of the L-tube; and

the pull up bar being set partially back from the distal end of the second segment, to create a free end at distal end of the second segment.

19. The exercise device of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of grips at least partially encasing the pull up bar, the stabilizer bar and the free end of the second segment.

20. The exercise device of claim 20, further comprising a releasable lock for releasably locking the innermost telescoping tube with respect to the outermost telescoping tube.