PORTABLE, DOORFRAME-MOUNTABLE EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an exercising apparatus, and more particularly portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus. The present invention comprises a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus comprising an attachment system; a cross bar attachment element; expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element; openings; and attachment element. The present invention also comprises a method of exercising comprising attaching the attachment system to the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus and performing an exercise. The present invention allows for a variety of exercises to be performed and is an improvement on currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/664,432 filed Jun. 26, 2012, titled “Portable, Doorframe-Mountable Exercise Device” and the subject matter thereof is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an exercising apparatus, and more particularly portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

People are always looking for new, effective ways to exercise in their home. Portability, cost, ease of use, and effectiveness are some of the concerns people have with at-home exercise equipment. Doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses offer users an opportunity to perform work-outs out home in a small space. Current doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses fall under two categories: chin-up/pull-up bars or apparatuses that offer a wider variety of exercises.

The present invention provides an inexpensive, portable, easy-to-use, and effective doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus. The present invention offers a wider range of exercises than prior art doorframe-mountable exercises apparatuses.

Doorframe-mountable chin-up/pull-up bars are well-known in the prior art. Prior art doorframe chin-up bars are built around a sturdy horizontal bar that sits on the top of the doorframe on the opposite side of the doorway from where the person does the pull-ups/chin-ups. The handles used to pull up on protrude to the near side of the doorway. A crossbar on the near side of the doorway establishes leverage, so as the user suspends his or her weight by the pull-up bar handles, the user is actually tugging the horizontal bar in the opposite doorway into a more solid position on top of the doorframe. Pat. No. 6,179,748, entitled “Chin-Up Bar,” provides for a non-permanent chin-up bar that is utilized in a doorframe.

Doorframe-mountable chin-up/pull-up bars are not ideal for all users because many people cannot perform chin-ups/pull-ups. Additionally, other exercises are not able to be performed on doorframe-mountable chin-up/pull-up bars. As such, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses that allow for a wider range of exercises have been developed.

The use of exercise apparatuses that offer a wider variety of exercises is well-known in the prior art. More specifically, exercise apparatuses devised for use in doorframes are well-known in the prior art. Pat. No. 6,514,182 B1, entitled, “Doorframe Mountable Exercise System,” claims an exercise system that is mounted in the doorframe, whereby different handles and attachments are attached to the frame and cables and biasing members are used to adjust the resistance in the system. The mounting of the apparatus claimed in Pat. No. 6,514,182 B1 renders the apparatus stationary and not easily portable.

The present invention comprises a portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that is an improvement on the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses currently available by providing a portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that offers a wide variety of exercises. Currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses are bulky and cumbersome. Therefore, they cannot easily be moved from one location to another.

Pat. No. 5,468,205, entitled, “Portable Door Mounted Exercise Apparatus,” provides for a device that is mounted onto a door. Once mounted, the user utilizes a pulleys and elastic bands for resistance to perform exercises. While providing for a wide variety of exercises to be performed, chin-ups/pull-ups cannot be performed on the apparatus.

Pat. No. 5,072,934, entitled “Multiple Use Exercise Device,” provides for a doorframe-mountable device that uses pulleys and counterweights for resistance. Chin-ups/pull-ups cannot be performed on the apparatus. Additionally, the use of counterweights greatly retracts from the portability of the apparatus.

There currently are no well-designed devices currently available that easily allow for a wide variety of workouts to be conducted in a doorway without being expensive, complex, or permanent. Currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses are either permanently affixed to the doorframe, or only allow for chin-ups/pull-ups to be performed. Thus, there is a need for an easy-to-use, portable, doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that allows for a wide variety of exercises to be performed.

It is increasingly critical that answers be found to the challenges arising from inadequate doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to creating new doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses that meet the needs of a diverse community of exercise enthusiasts.

Although the prior art field is littered with doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses, the need for a portable and non-permanent doorframe-mountable apparatus with multiple uses is still lacking.

The present invention is a portable, doorframe-mountable apparatus for exercising that is an improvement on currently available doorframe-mountable exercise apparatuses. The present invention provides for a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus that mounts easily and non-permanently in a doorframe that allows for a wide variety of exercises to be performed. The present invention utilizes chin-up/pull-up bars that are commonly known in the prior art.

An advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that it is allows virtually any exercise to be performed using any muscle group. Additionally, it is noted that this apparatus can be very beneficial for individuals in wheelchairs, whereby they can easily work out their upper bodies using the present invention. Another advantage of the present invention is that it is portable and no permanent installation is required.

Certain embodiments of the invention have other steps or elements in addition to or in place of those mentioned above. The steps or element will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description when taken with reference to the accompanying figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus comprising an attachment system; a cross bar attachment element; expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element; openings; and attachment element. The present invention also comprises a spring. The present invention also comprises a bar. The present invention also comprises an opposing attachment element comprising a plate. The present invention also comprises an attachment element comprising a hook.

The present invention also comprises a method of exercising comprising attaching the attachment system to the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus and performing an exercise. The present invention also comprises pulling down on a rope. The present invention also comprises pulling down on a bar. The present invention also comprises pulling down on an expandable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a close-up front view of attachment system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a close-up side view of attachment system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention showing rope attachment;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of an alternate embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention showing attachment section comprising an elastic element; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a user exercising using the first embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus of the present invention installed in a doorframe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described herein. The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments would be evident based on the present disclosure, and that system, process, or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In order to avoid obscuring the present invention, some well-known system configurations, and process steps are not disclosed in detail.

The figures illustrating embodiments of the system are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawing figures.

The same numbers are used in all the drawing figures to relate to the same elements. The embodiments have been numbered first embodiment, second embodiment, etc. as a matter of descriptive convenience and are not intended to have any other significance or provide limitations for the present invention.

For expository purposes, the term “horizontal” as used herein is defined as a plane parallel to the plane or surface of the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus, regardless of its orientation. The term “vertical” refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as just defined. Terms, such as “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, “side” (as in “sidewall”), “higher”, “lower”, “upper”, “over”, and “under”, are defined with respect to the horizontal plane, as shown in the figures. The term “on” means that there is direct contact among elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of the present invention. When the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus is positioned for use in a doorframe, horizontal bar 10 rests on the top of the doorframe on the opposite side of the doorway from where the person performing the exercises stands. Cross bar 12 rests against the near side of the doorway frame and establishes leverage so that as the user suspends his or her weight by the pull-up/chin-up bar handles or by performing pull-down exercises, the user is actually pulling the horizontal bar 10 into a more solid position. The horizontal bar 10 and crossbar 12 are well-known in the prior art. Horizontal bar 10 comprises crossbar attachment element 22. Crossbar attachment element 22 is disposed on crossbar 12. Attachment element 26 is disposed on crossbar attachment element 22.

Expandable element 20 preferably comprises springs. Expandable element 20 comprises attachment elements disposed on one end of the spring and on the other end of the spring. Attachment elements of expandable element 20 are disposed in crossbar attachment openings 16 disposed on attachment element 26. Attachment elements of expandable element 20 are disposed in attachment bar openings 18 disposed on opposing attachment element 28. In FIG. 1, attachment element 24 is shown disposed on handle 14, but alternatively attachment element 24 is disposed on a plurality of workout attachments.

In one embodiment of the present invention, opposing attachment element 28 is disposed on expandable element 20 and attachment element 24 disposed on opposing attachment element 28.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up front view of attachment system 120 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up side view of attachment system 120 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of the present invention. Rope connector 34 is disposed on rope attachment element 36 and rope 30. Expandable element 20 is disposed in rope attachment openings 38.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a close-up view of attachment section 130 comprising elastic element 32. Elastic element 32 is disposed in crossbar attachment openings 16 and attachment bar openings 18. This alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of exercising that provides a user a plurality of tensions that provide for optimal workouts.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a user exercising using the first embodiment of doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100 of the present invention installed in a doorframe.

An improvement of the present invention is the variety of exercises that are performed using the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus 100. A plurality of exercise devices, such as handles, ropes, bars, etc., is used with the present invention.

An improvement of the present invention is that the user chooses expandable element 20 or elastic element 32 based on his or her level of fitness. Springs or elastic bands of different tensions are used to increase/decrease resistance.

An improvement of the present invention is that it is portable and installed/uninstalled in a doorframe in a matter of seconds. There is no permanent installation required.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the included claims. All matters previously set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.

Claims

1. A doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus comprising:

an attachment system;

a crossbar attachment element;

expandable connectors comprising opposing attachment element;

openings; and

attachment element.

2. The expandable connector of claim 1 comprising a spring.

3. The attachment element of claim 1 comprising a bar.

4. The opposing attachment element of claim 1 comprising a plate.

5. The attachment element of claim 1 comprising a hook.

6. A method of exercising comprising:

attaching the attachment system to the doorframe-mountable exercise apparatus; and

performing an exercise.

7. The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on a rope.

8. The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on a bar.

8. The method of exercising of claim 6 comprising pulling down on an expandable element.