US20130178338A1 - Extending Pull-Up Bar - Google Patents

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
• Anexemplary exercise apparatus100 in a first position is shown inFIG. 1. Two L-shaped tubes102 each include afirst segment104 and asecond segment105 extending generally perpendicular to one another. In an embodiment, the L-shaped tubes102 are configured to be mounted so that thefirst segment104 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 thefirst segment104 andsecond segment105 may be formed from a continuous L-shaped tube or bar. In some embodiments,first segment104 andsecond segment105 may be rigidly connected by an L-shaped, orcurved connector106.Connector106 may be a curved cuff, or bent rod or tube. The two L-shaped tubes102 are mounted in parallel planes to amounting bracket108, a stabilizer bar,112, and/or a pull-up bar122, respectively extending between the two L-shaped tubes102.
• Mounting bracket108 may be attached to L-shaped tube104 at the proximal end (or upper end) of thefirst segment104, and may include at least oneattachment point110, for screws or nails, for attaching to a wall. Thebracket attachment points110 may slide along themounting bracket108 to align to wall sides.Stabilizer bar112 may be attached to thefirst segment104 of the L-shaped tube102, generally on the opposite end (lower end) of the L-tube102 from themounting bar108 approximate theconnector106.Stabilizer bar112 may includegrips114 for performing exercises at an alternate height. One ormore pins120 may be attached tostabilizer bar112 with acord118, such as a bungee cord, for selectively locking anapparatus100 extension position as will be discussed below.
• Thesecond segment105 of the L-shaped tube may be generally perpendicular tofirst segment104 of the L-shaped tube102. A pull upbar122 may be mounted to thesecond segment105 of the L-shaped tube102, and may be attached anywhere along thesecond segment105. In an exemplary embodiment, the pull-up bar122 is set back (from the outer horizontal end of the second segment) leaving asection132 ofbar105 exposed, for an alternate grip position. Pull upbar122 and exposedsection132 may be covered by one ormore grips128 which provide friction and/or a comfortable hold.Rings126, such as rigid metal rings, may be attached to the pull up bar122 (as shown in the figures) or to the L-shaped tubes102, to attach optional accessories.Rings126 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.
• Thefirst segment104 may include a plurality of telescoping tubes to provide vertical adjustability of the pull-up bar122 and/orstabilizer bar112 and/orrings126 and or other accessories.FIG. 1 showsoutermost tube104aand aninnermost tube104b. In the embodiment described above where a portion offirst segment104 andsecond segment105 is a continuous L-shaped tube or bar piece,inner tube104bandsegment105 forms the continuous piece. In embodiments wherefirst segment104 andsecond segment105 are rigidly connected by an L-shaped, orcurved connector106,curved connector106 rigidly connects toinnermost tube104bandsecond segment105.
• In a detailed exemplary embodiment,mounting bracket108 is rigidly attached tooutermost tube104a, andstabilizer bar112 is rigidly attached toinnermost tube104b. In a detailed exemplary embodiment,stability bar112 is rigidly attached toinnermost tube104b, andcuff106 is attached to thefirst segment104 by theinnermost tube104b.
• Apparatus100 may be mounted to a wall or a door frame, such as a door frame, by mountingbracket108 over the frame, on an outer side of a wall, and restingstabilizer bar112 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 upbar122 may be used at a first height, andstabilizer bar112 provides a bar for exercises at an alternate height. The free extendedarea132 ofsegment106 provides an alternate grip for pull ups or other exercises. It will be appreciated that there are numerous alternate ways to mount themounting bracket108 and/orapparatus100 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 showsexemplary exercise apparatus100′ in an extended position ofexercise apparatus100. Becausemounting bracket108 is fixed above a frame, extended position ofapparatus100′ places pull-upbar122 at a lower position relative to the non-extended, or closed,apparatus position100 shown inFIG. 1. Thefirst segment104 includes a plurality oftelescoping tubes204a,204b, and104bwithin theouter tube104a. The plurality oftelescoping tubes104 are slidably attached;adjacent tubes104 lock together at the extended position.FIG. 2 shows fourtubes104a,204a,204b,104b, but there may be as few as two telescoping tubes,outermost tube104aandinnermost tube104b, up to any number of additional tubes204n. Theoutermost tube104acontains a throughhole206 for receiving a pin on its distal end, and theinnermost tube104bcontains a through hole for receiving a pin on its distal and proximal end. Eachtelescoping tube204a,204b. . .204nincludes two through-holes206, one at the distal end frombracket108, and one at the proximal end frombracket108. Each through-hole206 is sized to receivepin120.
• Each telescoping tube204 provides an additional extension length forapparatus100′. For example,FIG. 2 shows threetelescoping tubes204a,204b, and104bwithin theouter tube104a, for a total of four positions to choose from. The first position, shown inFIG. 1, in a fully retracted, or closed position, and pull-upbar122 is locked at the highest position. In this first position, the plurality oftelescoping tubes104 are locked within theouter tube104aby insertingpin120 through each distal pin-hole206 of the plurality thetelescoping tubes104.
• Pull up bar124 onapparatus100′ may be lowered by removingpin120 from the through-holes206 oftelescoping tubes104, and sliding at least oneinner telescoping tube104b,204a, or204b, out fromouter telescoping tube104a,204a, or204bto a desired extension length, and inserting the pin through the aligned through-holes206 of thetelescoping tubes104 of the selected extension. For example,tube104bmay be slid out fromtube204b, andpin120 inserted through the proximal through-hole206 oftube104band the distal through-holes206 oftubes104a,204a,204b. Thetubes104 do not have to be slid out consecutively,e.g. tube104bmay remain locked in intube204bwithpin120, even if204bhas been slid out from204a. As a second example,telescoping tube204amay be slid out fromouter tube104a, andtelescoping tubes104aand204bmay remain withintelescoping tube204aby insertingpin120 through the distal through-holes206 oftube204a,204b, and104b.
• Apparatus100′ may be raised to lock pull upbar122 at a higher height, for use or storage. This may be accomplished by removingpin120 from the through-holes206 of the plurality of telescoping tubes204, and sliding or pushing at least one inner telescoping tube into an outer telescoping tube. At the desired height,pin120 is inserted through the aligned through-holes206 of thetelescoping tubes104. 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 theapparatus100 at any set height variation.Stability bar112, exposedsections132 of thesecond segment105, and accessory rings126 may also be used for performing exercises.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 3, further comprising:

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

8. The exercise device ofclaim 7, wherein:

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

9. The exercise device ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment are connected by a connector.

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

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

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