Telescoping Door Mount Exercise Bar
A door-frame mounted exercise bar having two ends, each covered by a frictional, compressible substance, wherein said exercise bar is lengthwise adjustable by means of a ratchet operated strap, thus allowing the user to securely fit the exercise bar into a door-frame. The exercise bar has attachment points for elastic straps and other devices and mounting posts on its top surface. A stabilizer/attachment bar is provided having mounting sleeves aligned to coincide with, and attach to, the mounting posts on top of the exercise bar. These mounting sleeves also serve as attachment points for handles, exercise bars, and other accessories. The stabilizer/attachment bar is lengthwise adjustable such that the ends of the bar may be fixably insinuated behind the door stop molding found on most doors. When thus deployed, the stabilizer/attachment bar prevents the exercise bar from rotating when used.
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an exercise bar with attachments that can be adjustably mounted in a door-frame. In particular, the device uses a ratchet strap mechanism to secure the exercise bar at a fixed position in a door-frame. By actuating a release lever, the ratchet strap mechanism is loosened thus allowing easy movement of the exercise bar and attachments to a new vertical position in the door-frame or a new door-frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDoor-frame mountable exercise devices are a common means to provide a user with a versatile, relatively compact and affordable exercise bar. These devices can be useful in a variety of exercise routines, which are often dependent on the location of the exercise bar within a door-frame. For instance, a bar fixed at the bottom portion of a door-frame can be useful in assisting in push-up and sit-up style exercise activities, whereas a bar fixed at the top portion of a door-frame can be useful for pull-up and chin-up style exercise activities. Further, such devices also support additional hand-grips, dip bars, or elastic resistance bands for increased exercise routine versatility and with these accessories the bar's ideal location is often near the center-height of the door-frame. Obviously, an exercise bar that is easily and rapidly repositionable within the door frame is of great importance in these applications.
However, one obstacle for such devices is that the exercise bar must be able to support a substantial load, at least the user's full body weight, while also providing for easy adjustment of the bar when a new position is desired, or a new length is required to fit door-frames of varying widths.
Early inventions, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,047,293 and 3,502,326 disclose telescoping exercise bars that employ the use of a frictional, compressible pad on the mounting faces at each end of the bar, such that the telescoping feature allows the user to set the proper length to match the width of the door-frame, and the frictional, compressible pads allow the device to be fixed into place in a relatively secure fashion. However, such devices may fail under substantial loads.
A more substantial invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,521 employs the use of an angled wedge within each mounting face at each end of the bar, such that as downward pressure is exerted on the bar, additional outward force is exerted on the door-frame, further securing the bar in place. Upward force has the opposite effect, loosening the bar. The first goal of the present invention is to improve upon this invention by providing a securing means such that an increase in the load force in either an upward or downward direction or indeed, in a rotational direction about the long center axis of the bar, has no effect on the outward force exerted on the door-frame.
In order to achieve a more securely mounted device, still other devices have employed mounting brackets that must be affixed to the door-frame, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,405,127, 5,180,350, and 7,540,831. A second goal of the present invention is to avoid such mounting brackets, and thus allow the exercise device of the present invention to be fully portable and quickly and easily transferable to any position in any door-frame.
Yet another more recent invention employs an alternative means of securing the frictional compressible ends to the door frame. U.S. Pat. App. No. 2011/0190098 discloses an exercise bar with a dual adjusting system employing a screw mechanism inside the telescoping bar to rapidly achieve a “rough fit” in the doors and separate cam actuators within one, or both, mounting faces at each end of the bar to more securely affix the bar in the frame when a downward or upward load is placed on the bar. This device suffers from at least three weaknesses, to wit: 1) it is incapable of resisting rotational forces about the long axis of the exercise bar; 2) because of the design of the cam actuating mechanism, additional securing force is provided only when the bar is pushed up or pulled down and thus unsuited to withstand pulling or pushing forces from the front or the rear of the bar; and, 3) the bar is mechanically complex and thus costly to manufacture. As a result, three further goals of the present invention are to: 1) avoid such dual adjusting systems and their resulting inability to resist rotational forces about the long axis of the exercise bar; 2) provide a bar that is fixed and immovable in virtually all dimensions, whether pulled down, pushed up, pulled towards the user, or pushed away from the user; and, 3) vastly simplify the mechanical complexity and resulting expense associated with manufacturing the bar.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the preferred embodiment of present invention, an exercise bar with two end plates, adjustable by telescoping, and a separable stabilizer/attachment bar is provided. Each end plate has a frictional, compressible outer pad or pads that engages the door-frame. A vertical linear groove or depression is molded or otherwise formed into the outward-facing face of each frictional, compressible pad such that the outer pad rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the right end plate is attached to a right innermost telescoping bar. This right innermost telescoping bar is equipped with a first bolt or other anchoring means protruding though a linear slot machined or otherwise formed in a central outermost telescoping bar. The central outermost telescoping bar is equipped with a second bolt or other anchoring means mounted at the right end of the central outermost telescoping bar and in line with the first bolt or other anchoring means and linear slot. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the left end plate is attached to a left innermost telescoping bar. This left innermost telescoping bar has a multiplicity of circular holes drilled or otherwise formed through the bar so that when slid into the central outermost telescoping bar, one of the multiplicity of holes drilled or otherwise formed through the left innermost telescoping bar aligns with a circular mating hole drilled or otherwise formed through the central outermost telescoping bar. Also, welded or otherwise attached at regular interval spanning the length of the central outermost telescoping bar are rectangular rings or other elastic band points.
A variable length ratchet adjustable strap is secured between the first bolt or other anchoring means and second bolt or other anchoring means. This variable length ratchet adjustable strap includes an integral ratchet lever for retracting the strap, an integral release lever for extending the strap, and a drum for receiving the strap as it is retracted and releasing it when extended. Mounted to the central outermost telescoping bar on the side opposite the ratchet adjustable strap are two mounting posts, one at each end of the central outermost telescoping bar. These mounting posts are welded or otherwise attached such that they are perpendicular to the central outermost telescoping bar.
A separable stabilizer/attachment bar is provided that is slidably mountable to the mounting posts present on the central outermost telescoping bar. This separable stabilizer/attachment bar is comprised of a horizontal stabilizer tube to which are welded or otherwise attached two mounting sleeves such the center axis of each mounting sleeve is perpendicular to the center axis of the horizontal stabilizer tube and the center axis of each mounting sleeve is aligned with the center axis of one the mounting posts attached to the central outermost telescoping bar. These two mounting sleeves are sufficiently long that when slidably placed over the mounting posts attached to the central outermost telescoping bar sufficient unoccupied length remains in each mounting sleeve that a handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar, or other accessory may be slidably inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. To ensure that these handles, pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted so that they point away from the side of the door stop molding against which the protective caps impinge, a rivet or other pin is inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. This rivet or other pin engages a notch machined or otherwise formed in that part of the handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar or other accessory that is slidably inserted into the mounting sleeve(s).
The horizontal stabilizer tube is further comprised of two holes machined or otherwise formed in the horizontal stabilizer tube such that one hole lies adjacent to each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube. Welded or otherwise attached to the horizontal stabilizer tube over each of the two holes is a machine nut such that the center axis of the threaded portion of each machine nut is collinear with the center axis of each hole. Screwed into each machine nut so that it is capable of protruding into the center cavity of the horizontal stabilizer tube is a threaded thumb screw or other screw. Slidably inserted into each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube is an extensible outrigger tube. Covering the distal end of each extensible outrigger tube is a protective cap, or similar device.
In use, the user first selects a convenient initial length for the exercise bar by inserting the left innermost telescoping bar into, or withdrawing it from, the central outermost telescoping bar, until one of the holes drilled or otherwise formed in the left innermost telescoping bar aligns with the mating hole drilled or otherwise formed in the central outermost telescoping bar. The user then inserts a pin through the central outermost telescoping bar and the left innermost telescoping bar to fix them together thus setting the exercise bar's initial length. When the exercise bar is placed in the door frame, the ratchet lever is repeatedly actuated to cause the right innermost telescoping bar to incrementally extend from the central outermost telescoping bar thus compressing each of the frictional compressible outer pads attached to each respective end plate against the door-frame. This securely wedges the exercise bar in place in the door frame. Next, the user mounts the separable attachment/stabilizer bar to the top of the exercise bar by slidably inserting the mounting posts affixed to the horizontal stabilizer tube into the mounting sleeves affixed to horizontal stabilizer tube. Next, the user slidably extends each extensible outrigger tube such that the protective cap is insinuated against the door stop molding found on most doors. The user then tightens the thumb screws such that the extensible outrigger tubes are firmly locked into position and cannot retract. The user then inserts a pair of handles, a pull-up bar, a dips-bar, or other exercise accessory into the unused cavity atop each mounting sleeve such that the handles or other exercise accessory point away from the side of the door stop molding against which the protective caps are insinuated. To ensure that these handles, pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted, a rivet or other pin is inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. This rivet or other pin engages a notch machined or otherwise formed in that part of the handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar or other accessory that is slidably inserted into the mounting sleeve(s).
The user then performs one or more exercises using the handles or other exercise accessory inserted into the mounting sleeves. The extensible outrigger tubes extending from either end of the horizontal stabilizer tube and abutting the edge of the door stop molding serve to limit the rotational movement of the entire exercise bar so that the user can exercise in security and safety. To move the exercise bar up or down in the door frame: 1) the user actuates the release lever allowing the right innermost telescoping bar to slide into the central outermost telescoping exercise bar thus relieving the pressure on the frictional compressible outer pads against the door frame; 2) releases one, or both, thumb screws allowing one, or both, extensible outrigger tubes to be pushed into the horizontal stabilizer tube; and, 3) repositions the bar at any appropriate height in the door frame.
These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to
Referring now to
Attached to the distal end of right innermost telescoping bar 130 is right end plate 131. Attached in turn to right end plate 131 is right frictional, compressible outer pad comprised of one or more separate compressible elements identified in the preferred embodiment as 132A, 132B, and 132C. These elements are assembled to thus present a vertical linear groove or depression 133 in the outward-facing face of the frictional, compressible pad such that it rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. Welded or otherwise attached to the bottom surface at the proximal end of right innermost telescoping bar 130, is a second bolt or other anchoring means 134, such that when (as shown in
Attached to the distal end of left innermost telescoping bar 120 is left end plate 121. Attached in turn to left end plate 121 is a frictional, compressible outer pad comprised of one or more separate compressible elements identified in the preferred embodiment as 122A, 122B, and 122C. These elements are assembled to thus present a vertical linear groove or depression 123 in the outward-facing face of the frictional, compressible pad such that it rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. Circular holes 124 are drilled or otherwise formed through the top and bottom surfaces of left innermost telescoping bar 120, such that when left innermost telescoping bar 120 is assembled into central outermost telescoping bar 101, any one of circular holes 124 can be aligned with circular mating hole 107 drilled or otherwise formed through the top and bottom surfaces of central outermost telescoping bar 101.
A variable length ratchet adjustable strap, or other adjusting means, 140 is attached between the first bolt or other anchoring means 105 and second bolt or other anchoring means 134. The variable length ratchet adjustable strap or other adjusting means includes an integral ratchet lever 141 for retracting the strap 143, an integral release lever 142 for extending the strap, and a drum 144 for receiving strap 143 as it is retracted and releasing it when extended. Mounted to the top of central outermost telescoping bar 101 are two mounting posts, 109 and 110, one at each end of the central outermost telescoping bar 101. These mounting posts are welded or otherwise attached to the central outermost telescoping bar 101 such that they are perpendicular to central outermost telescoping bar 101.
Referring now to
The separable stabilizer/attachment bar is further comprised of two holes machined or otherwise formed in horizontal stabilizer tube 150 such that one hole lies adjacent to each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube. Welded or otherwise attached to the horizontal stabilizer tube over each of the two holes are machine nuts 157 and 158 such that the center axis of the threaded portion of each machine nut is collinear with the center axis of each hole. Screwed into each machine nut 157 and 158 is a threaded thumb screw or other screw 159 and 160, respectively, such that when turned, screws 159 and 160 are capable of protruding into the center cavity of horizontal stabilizer tube 150. Slidably inserted into each end of horizontal stabilizer tube 150 is an extensible outrigger tube, 153 and 154, respectively. Covering the distal end of each of extensible outrigger tubes 153 and 154 is a protective cap, or similar device 155 and 156, respectively.
Referring now to
Referring now to
To move exercise bar 100 up or down in the door frame 300, the user loosens one or both threaded thumb screws or other screws 159 and 160, respectively, thus unlocking one or both extensible outrigger tubes 153 and 154 and allowing them to telescope inside horizontal stabilizer tube 150. The user then actuates release lever 142 thus causing ratchet strap 143 to be released from drum 144 which in turn causes right innermost telescoping bar 130 to slide into the central outermost telescoping bar 101 and relieves the pressure on frictional compressible outer pads comprised of 122A, 122B, and 122C and 132A, 132B, and 132C against door frame 300. The user may then reposition exercise bar 100 at any appropriate height in the door frame 300.
Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that numerous modifications are possible to the described embodiment. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A telescoping door frame mount exercise bar comprising:
- a) a central outermost telescoping bar, a left innermost telescoping bar, and a right innermost telescoping bar,
- b) wherein said central outermost telescoping bar is disposed outside of said left innermost telescoping bar and said right innermost telescoping bar,
- c) wherein the proximal ends of said left innermost telescoping bar and said right innermost telescoping bar are inserted into opposite ends said central outermost telescoping bar and telescopically slidably displaceable with respect to said central outermost telescoping bar,
- d) wherein a plurality of elastic band attachment points are attached at different positions along the length of said central outermost telescoping bar,
- e) wherein said elastic band attachment points comprise a selection from a group consisting of: a) a rectangular ring, and b) a clip, and c) a hook,
- f) wherein a plurality of attachment posts are perpendicularly attached to the top surface of said central outermost telescoping bar at different positions along the length of said central outermost telescoping bar,
- g) wherein the distal end of said left innermost telescoping bar is attached to a left end plate, said left end plate having an outward-facing frictional, compressible pad and the distal end of said right innermost telescoping bar is attached to a right end plate, said right end plate having an outward-facing frictional, compressible pad,
- h) wherein said left innermost telescoping bar is provided with a plurality of holes at different positions along its length, said central outermost telescoping bar being selectively fastenable to said holes at different hole positions along said left innermost telescoping bar to provide an initial rough length adjustment to a dimension less than the width of a door frame,
- i) wherein a variable length adjusting means is attached at its first end to the distal right of said central outermost telescoping bar by means of a bolt or other anchoring means and at the other end to the proximal end of said right innermost telescoping bar by means of a bolt or other anchoring means protruding though a linear slot in said central outermost telescoping bar, and
- j) wherein said variable length adjusting means comprises a selection from a group consisting of: a) a ratchet adjustable strap, and b) a ratchet adjustable cable, and c) a ratchet adjustable rope, and d) a ratchet adjustable rod.
2. A telescoping door mount exercise bar as in claim 1, further comprising:
- a) a vertical linear groove or depression formed in the outward-facing face of said frictional, compressible outer pad attached to said left end plate, and
- b) a vertical linear groove or depression formed in the outward-facing face of said frictional, compressible outer pad attached to said right end plate.
3. A telescoping door mount exercise bar as in claim 2, further comprising:
- a) a horizontal stabilizer tube, a left extensible innermost outrigger tube, and a right extensible innermost outrigger tube,
- b) wherein said horizontal stabilizer tube is disposed outside of said left extensible outrigger tube and said right extensible outrigger tube,
- c) wherein the proximal ends of said left extensible outrigger tube and said right extensible outrigger tube are inserted into opposite ends of said horizontal stabilizer tube and telescopically slidably displaceable with respect to said horizontal stabilizer tube,
- d) wherein at least one arresting means capable of penetrating into the central cavity of said horizontal stabilizer tube is provided at the left end of said horizontal stabilizer tube such that said arresting means fixably prohibits the slidable displacement of said left extensible outrigger tube with respect to said horizontal stabilizer tube at a user selectable position, and, at least one arresting means capable of penetrating into the central cavity of said horizontal stabilizer tube is provided at the right end of said horizontal stabilizer tube such that said arresting means fixably prohibits the slidable displacement of said right extensible outrigger tube with respect to said horizontal telescoping stabilizer tube at a user selectable position,
- e) wherein said arresting means comprise a selection from a group consisting of: a) a thumb screw, and b) a screw, and c) a pin, and d) a cam,
- f) wherein a plurality of mounting sleeves are perpendicularly attached to the front surface of said horizontal stabilizer tube at different positions along the length of said outermost telescoping stabilizer tube,
- g) wherein at least one locating means capable of penetrating into the central cavity of said mounting sleeves is provided at the top end of said mounting sleeves,
- h) wherein said locating means comprise a selection from a group consisting of: a. a rivet, and b. a screw, and c. a pin,
- i) wherein the distal end of said left extensible outrigger tube is covered by a left protective cap, and, the distal end of said right extensible outrigger tube is covered by a right protective cap,
- j) wherein said protective caps are composed of a substance selected from a group consisting of: a) rubber, and b) plastic, and c) leather, and d) vinyl.
4. A telescoping door mount exercise bar as in claim 3, further comprising:
- a) One or more exercise attachments, slidably insertable into said mounting sleeves, comprising a selection from a group consisting of: a) handles, and b) a pull-up bar, and c) a dips-bar,
- b) wherein exercise attachments are notched so as to engage said locating means penetrating into said mounting sleeves when slidably inserted into said mounting sleeves.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 20, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 22, 2013
Inventor: Richard Anaya (Okeechobee, FL)
Application Number: 13/400,562