AU2020203333A1 - Fitness Equipment Support System - Google Patents

Abstract

A fitness and training equipment support system upon which various forms of exercise equipment may be mounted. The support system defines a frame; comprising: a plurality of frame members that are releasably mounted together 5 such that the fitness equipment support system can be assembled in a plurality of configurations. The frame members omprising two profiled members extending longitudinally between opposite end regions, and at least two connecting members which laterally space the profiled members apart between side regions. 10 13

Description

FITNESS EQUIPMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates a fitness and training equipment support system upon which various forms of exercise equipment may be mounted including frame members which may be assembled in a plurality of configurations.

BACKGROUND ART

Various types of exercise machines for strengthening and conditioning the body are known. Known exercise equipment is designed to provide a variety of different exercises, but typically include a main support frame that is fixed. In this way, the main component of the machine is easy to manufacture and replicable, but not very adaptable to suit the user's needs or future use.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a fitness and training equipment support system upon which various forms of exercise equipment may be mounted, the support system defining a frame;

the frame comprising:

a plurality of frame members that are releasably mounted together such that the fitness equipment support system can be assembled in a plurality of configurations,

each frame member comprising two profiled members extending longitudinally between opposite end regions, and at least two connecting

12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 members which laterally space the profiled members apart between side regions.

In this way, the frame is modular which allows it to be customisable to suit the user's specific needs for any given exercise(s). Advantageously, the frame member increases strength and rigidity of the fitness and training equipment support system while also allowing more flexibility of the design of the equipment. The frame is also largely self-supporting. In some embodiments, the frame is self-supporting.

It is understood that the fitness and training equipment support system is suitable for all types of exercise, conditioning, training, rehabilitation, and any activity that promotes or restores a condition of good health etc.

In some forms, each frame member is generally rectangular including end regions, side regions and internal and external faces, each frame member is configured to interconnect to adjacent frame members in end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side, face-to-face, end-to-face, or side-to-face configurations. This achieves design flexibility.

Interconnection the frame members together is easy and thus installation of the frame is easy. The fitness and training equipment support system is reconfigurable to suit the user's needs for a wide variety of exercises to receive a wide variety of fitness and training equipment attachments.

In some forms, each frame member further comprises mounting regions formed on any of the end regions, side regions, and front and rear faces for mounting the various forms of exercise equipment.

In some forms, the interconnection between the frame members in the end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side, face-to-face, end-to-face, or side-to-face configurations, the frame members are individually releasable to allow for selective demounting of individual frame members from the fitness equipment support system. The

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 frame members may be reused in other configurations once they are demounted from the frame.

In some forms, each frame member further comprises preformed holes to facilitate the frame members being secured together by a mechanical fastener. The preformed holes are also able to receive any attachment which allows a broad range of different types to be performed using a broad range of exercise and training equipment. The attachments are easy to install and can be bolted anywhere using the preformed holes. This helps increase the flexibility of the design.

Further, the frame members may be identical which allows them to be easily replicable and thus easily manufactured.

Further, if the fitness and training support system is built outside, a roof may be built with the frame members and covered with some material, for example, water proof material, steel, sheet, fabric, plastic sheet or similar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a frame member of a fitness equipment support system;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the frame member of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the frame member of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the frame member of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fitness equipment support system;

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Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a fitness equipment support system;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a fitness equipment support system;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a fitness equipment support system; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a fitness equipment support system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

The Figures illustrate embodiments of a fitness and training equipment support system 10 upon which various forms of exercise equipment may be mounted, the support system defining a frame 12 including frame members 14. The frame members 14 are releasably mounted together such that the fitness equipment support system 10 can be assembled in a plurality of configurations. In this way, the frame 12 of the fitness and training equipment support system 10 is modular which allows it to be customisable to suit the user's specific needs at any given time. The frame members 14 are easy to assemble into an embodiment of the

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 frame 12 (which may take any desirable shape or design) and thus provide a flexible arrangement. The frame members increase strength and rigidity of the frame while also allowing more flexibility of the design of the equipment. The frame is also largely self-supporting depending on the configuration of the frame members.

Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of the frame member 14. Each frame member 14 includes two profiled members 16 extending longitudinally between opposite end regions 18. Each frame member 14 also includes at least two connecting members 20 which laterally space the profiled members 16 apart between side regions 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the profiled members 16 are in the form of two angled sections 16, and each frame member 14 also includes five connecting members 20. The two angled sections 16 are welded to the connecting members 20 which space the angled sections 16 apart approximately the length of the connecting members 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting members 20 are spaced apart along the length of the angled sections 16 from end to end. The end connecting members 24 are also in the form of angled sections but they are smaller in length. Part of the end connecting members 24 form the end regions 18. Two of the middle connecting members 26 are welded along their flat surface to the angled sections 16. One of the middle connecting members (e.g., the centre connecting member 28) is welded along its edge (extending in a plane that is at a right angle to the other middle connecting members 26). As discussed above, the angled sections 16 are welded together with the connecting members 20 form connecting surfaces. The angled sections 16 include side faces 34 which form the side regions 22.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an internal face 30 of the frame member 14. An external face 32 of the frame member 14 is opposing the internal face 30 but not shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The connecting surfaces of the internal face 30 include front faces 36 of the angled sections 16 and the front faces 36 of some of the connecting

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 members 20. Each frame member 14 is configured to interconnect to adjacent frame members in end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side, face-to-face, end-to-face, or side-to-face configuration. This increases the flexibility of the arrangement of frame members when interconnected.

Each frame member further comprises mounting regions formed on any of the end regions 18, the side regions 22, and the internal and external faces 30, 32 for mounting the various forms of exercise equipment. Each of the end regions 18, the side regions 22, and the internal and external faces 30, 32 all include preformed holes 38 spaced apart along either of their length. The preformed holes 38 do not need to be equally spaced apart and do not need to extend the entire length of the respective region or face.

Interconnecting the frame members 14 together via the mounting regions is safe and easy, which makes installation of the frame 12 safe and easy. and attachment of the fitness equipment safe and easy. Assembly is easy using the preformed holes 38 for easy connections. In the illustrated embodiment, the preformed holes 38 are 18mm in diameter for use with standard mechanical fasteners, such as M16 bolts, in a grid of 80mm spacing horizontally and vertically. It is understood that any size preformed holes may be used and positioned in any position in the mounting regions.

Once the frame 12 is installed in the desired location, various forms of exercise equipment may be attached or mounted to the frame 12. The fitness equipment support system 10 is flexible. The support system 10 can be altered at any time for different requirements. The design of the support system 10 suits the user's specific needs and can be changed when the needs of the user change. Different embodiments of the fitness equipment support system are shown in different configurations Figs. 5 to 9 and will be discussed in more detail below. Each fitness support system can be dismantled and re-assembled to any design. For example, a small support tower or a huge training tower 30m high by 30m x 30m base with all sorts of stairs, ramps, fitness station, resting platform, boot camp

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 station, obstacle course, etc. Further still, if the fitness and training support system is built outside, a roof may be built with the frame members, and covered with a material, such as a water proof material, steel sheet, fabric, plastic sheet or similar.

Referring to Fig. 5, the frame members 14 are mounted together to form an embodiment of the fitness equipment support system 100. In this configuration, the fitness equipment support system 10 is self-supporting. The frame members 14 are configured to include two upright members 140, one transverse member 142 extending between the two upright members 140, and two base members 144 extending along the ground. The two upright members 140 and the transverse member 142 defining the frame 12. Other components may be attached to the frame 12 to facilitate fitness equipment being mounted to the frame. For example, pegs 146 are mounted to the upright members 120 to receive weights or a bar with weights. Other components such as brackets 148 may also be attached to the frame to reinforce the rigidity of the frame 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the brackets are in the form of triangular brackets 148 and are positioned at the corner of the respective upright member 140 and the transverse member 142.

Now referring to Fig. 6, a further embodiment of the fitness equipment support system is shown 200. In this embodiment, the frame members 14 are configured in a similar shaped frame as illustrated in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5. Again, there are two upright members 240 and a transverse member 242, and the frame is self-supporting. At the base of the uprights members 240 are two interconnected frame members to increase thickness of the upright members at their base which increases the strength and rigidity of the frame.

Joining the two upright members is the transverse member 242 which includes two angled sections 250 and four brackets 258 positioned at each corner. In addition, two additional angled sections 256 extend outwardly from the corners of the transverse member 242 and the upright members 240 for mounting fitness

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 equipment, such as pulleys, thereto. This arrangement may be more suitable for CrossFit style exercise regimes.

This embodiment of the support system 200 does not include wide base members extending along the ground as disclosed in Fig. 5, but is able to be self-supporting because of the increased rigidity at its base by including the two interconnected frame members 14 (e.g., face-to-face connection) which increase the thickness of the upright members 240 at their base, and brackets 252 on either side of each upright member 240 securing the frame 212 to the floor.

A further embodiment of the fitness equipment support system 300 is shown in Fig. 7. This embodiment includes two upright members 340 and base members 344 as shown in Fig. 5. The primary difference between the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 and the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, is that the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 includes crossbars 354. The crossbars 354 extend between the upright members 340 (formed of the interconnected frame members 14). The crossbars 354 are equally spaced apart and are mounted at every second preformed hole 38 for the length of the upright members 340. The fitness support system 300 may be used as a self-support wall which could be used in an obstacle course for users to climb up and over.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the fitness equipment support system 400 which is very similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7. The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 does not include base members and thus is not self-supporting. In operation, the frame 414 may be mounted vertically parallel to a wall by using ties or may be hung horizontally from a ceiling or another frame and used as monkey bars.

Now referring to Fig. 9, a larger, more extensive embodiment of the fitness equipment support system 500 is shown. There is a plurality of upright members 540 and transverse members 545. Some of the upright members 540 extend up from the floor and are supported by brackets 552, and some of the upright members 540 extend up from some of the transverse members 545. Some of the

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12378261_1 (GHMaers) P108003.AU.2 transverse members are supported by the ceiling. This frame 512 provides support for any type of fitness equipment and can be erected in more commercial settings where larger groups of people may be using the space for exercise.

The fitness and training equipment attachments are easy to install and can be bolted anywhere using the preformed holes 38. Using the preformed holes 38 any of the following attachments may be bolted to the fitness support system:

• Ring Thing;

• Monkey Bars;

• Parallel Bars;

• Peg Boards;

• Ropes or Rings;

• Rock Climbing;

• Climbing Frames or Boards;

• Salmon Ladders;

• Boxing Bags;

• TRX;

• Stall Bars;

• Pull Up Bars;

• Hand Stand Support Panel;

• Or any other attachments.

All the components of the fitness equipment support system are manufactured from steel, and in some embodiments, with high quality control and hot dipped galvanised steel. 9

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Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure.

For example, it is also understood that the frame members may also be arranged to form a storage rack for fitness equipment such as weight plates, free weights or kettle balls.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A fitness and training equipment support system upon which various forms of exercise equipment may be mounted, the support system defining a frame;

the frame comprising:

a plurality of frame members that are releasably mounted together such that the fitness equipment support system can be assembled in a plurality of configurations,

each frame member comprising two profiled members extending longitudinally between opposite end regions, and at least two connecting members which laterally space the profiled members apart between side regions.

2. The fitness and training equipment support system according to claim 1, wherein each frame member is generally rectangular including the end regions, the side regions and internal and external faces, each frame member is configured to interconnect to adjacent frame members in end to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side, face-to-face, end-to-face, or side-to-face configuration.

3. The fitness and training equipment support system according to claim 2, wherein each frame member further comprises mounting regions formed on any of the end regions, the side regions, and the internal and external faces for mounting the various forms of exercise equipment.

4. The fitness and training equipment support system according to either claim 2 or 3 wherein the interconnections between the frame members in the end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side, face-to-face, end-to-face, or side to-face configuration the frame members are individually releasable to allow for selective demounting of individual frame members from the fitness equipment support system.

5. The fitness and training equipment support system according to either claim 3 or claim 4 wherein each frame member further comprises preformed holes to facilitate the frame members being secured together by mechanical fasteners.

6. The fitness and training equipment support system according to any preceding claim, further comprising additional components that are connected to, or form part of, the support system.