CA1169891A - Folding exercising apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

FOLDING EXERCISING APPARATUS

ABSTRACT
A simple and versatile folding exercising apparatus which enable the user to perform a wide variety of weight training exercises. The apparatus includes an upstanding frame and a bench pivoted to the frame for movement between a laterally extended use position and an upright, compact storage position juxtaposed with the frame. The apparatus includes barbell support cradles, a rope and pulley weight pull device, a lat bar device with squat rack and chinning bar, and readily detachable devices for performing curling, sit-ups, leg lifts and head lifts.

Description

1 3 fi9~391 .

2. 1 --l?OLDING EXERCISING A.PPARATUS

.

. . .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~- L Pield of the InYention The present invention relates to exercislng devices for developing and conditioning various parts of the body and, more 5 ps*ticularly, to an exercising app~ratus which can be folded into a compact unit for storage.
2. Descri~on of the Prior Art ~ The importance of regular exerc`ise for bu~ding and maintaining stren~ and endurance cannot be overemphasized. The modern 10 ~ontreniences which we enjoy and the sedentsry tasks which we Increasingly perform have given us a comfortable lifestyle at the expense of physical fitness. Highly active exercise programs, such ~s running, deyelop endurance of the cardiovascular system. Muscular ~trength and endurance is best developed through weight tr~ining.
The simpl~st and least expensive appar~tus for weight training ~s the ~rben ~vith removable weights. However, the use of a bQrbe~ aIone cannot develop alI areas of the body. Hence7 additional ~pparatus must be employed for a comprehonsive conditioning p~ogram. Devices developed for Ulis purp~e gencrally provide ~he 20 uscr with ~ forcc resister against which musculqr effort must be ~plicd. Resistance is typically provided by means of ~ weight ~nd ~Ucy arrangement, or an el~tic elemcnt. These dcvices pcrmit Ulo ~oree îO be applicd to the user's body from m~ny di~fcrcnt r ~ ~ 69~g.1 directions in order to develop subs-tantiall~ all areas of the body.
Few of these weight training devices, however, can proviae the user with substantially all of the exercising variants required to develop the entire body. Those that do are generally large, complex and costly machines which occupy a substantial amount of space, cannot be used with a common barbell set and consequently are not suitable for home use. These are usually found onl~ at health clubs and other athletic establishments. More specialized devices for developing limited areas of the body are available, but a number of different devices of this type must be used in order to provide a complete range of exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of the present invention to obviate the above-noted disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple, compact and inexpen-sive exercising apparatus for performing a complete range of weight training exercises.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is self-supporting yet strong, stable and relatively compact.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is foldable into a compact unit for storage.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide such an apparatus having some components which may be used - independently of or interchangeably with others.
~ An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is used in conjunction with a simple and inexpensive barbell set for providing the desired exer-cises.
An object of an aspect of the invention ls to provide such an apparatus which is designed to be shipped in sepa-rate cartons of manageable size, and assembled by theconsumer.

.

-2a An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide such an apparatus having adjustable components which may be adjusted to suit the needs of various users, In U. S. Patent No. 4,316,609, an exercising apparatus is disclosed which comprises, in combination, a bench with barbell support tubes and weight pull and lat bar devices attached to the head end of the bench for performing 6~91 ;; .
complete r~nge o~ exercises. The present invention is a modirication of the exercising app~atus disclosed in the earlier filed ~opending application.
The ~bove and other objects of the present invention are 5 accomplished by providing an exercising app~ratus comprising~ a floor-Eiupported chiMing bar ~ssembly having upstanding frame means ~ncluding an overhead bar, and an e~ercising bench having an ~longated bench frame and a seat supported on the bench frame, the bench frame being pi~otall!lr at~ached near one of its ends to 10 ff~e frame means for pivotal movement between a laterally extended use position for supporting a user on the seat, and an upright, compact storage position j~taposed with the frame means.
Bench locking means may be provided for preventing pivotal movement of the bench relative to the frame means when the bench 15 ~s in either its use position or its storage position. The bench . .
frame is provided with legs at its unpiYoted or free end, and the ~egs ~re foldable between a first extended position to support the bench in ~ substantia~ly level attitude, and a second folded position to support the bench at an incline with its unpivvted end lower than 20 Its pivoted end. ~eg locking means may be provided for locking the legs in their extended positions~ .
The invention also includes a weight pull exercising device having a pair of upstanding, spaced guide posts~ a weight pull assembly slidlably guided along the guide posts, a tension element connected ?5 ~ the weight assembly and pulley me~ns supported flbove the weight assembly for ~yiding the tension element9 wherein the mutually facing - surfaces of each of the guide posts are provided with a longitudinally extending guide track, the weight assembly has cornplementary side s~faces which mate with the guide tracks, and the weight assembly 30 ~cludes spring means for resiliently outwardly biasin~ the side surfaccs o~ the weight assembl~ into positive slidirg eng~gement w;th U~e guidc tracks. The side surfaces of the weight assembly ~re preferably formed of a low fr;ction materiaL The weight ~ssembly mny comprise a transvcrse tubular membcr having a low 35 frlction matcrial piston reccivcd in eacl~ of its ends, with a 1 1 6 9 ~

. ~ 0,. .

~ompression spring between the piston~ to bi~qs the pistons ou~wardly into engagement with the guide t~acks.
~3RIEF DESCRIPrION OF THE DRA~INGS
., , . . _ ~
t The novel features of the inventiorl are set sut with S particularity in the appended claims, but the invention will be ~derstood more fully and clearly from U~e following detailed description of the invPntion as set forth in the accompanying wings, in which:
. . Eigure 1 is a perspective ~riew of the exereising apparatus 10 according to the invention, but with the weight assembly, pulley and tension element removed for the sake of clarity;
Figure 2 is a deta~ view, partly in section, of the barbell support posts of t~e apparatus and the mechanism for supporting the incline seat portion of the bench;
~igure 3 is a detail view of the interconnection of one of the foldable legs of the bench with the bench frame, and thc cooperating locking means;
Pigure 4 is a detail view of a portion o the upstanding framc means showing one of a pair of barbell cradles which enable ~he 20 apparatus to f~ction as a squat rack;
~ igure 5 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus showing theP entire bench in an inclined attitude for use as a slant board sit~p device;
~igure 6 is B partial perspective view of the bench showin~
25 its use irl conj~ction with one type of ~uxiliary exercising devicc;
~i~re 7 is an elevational view of the exercising device of Figure 6$
Figure ~ is a part;al perspective view of Ule bench showing its use wi.th another type of auxiliary exercising device;
l?igure 9 is an elevational view o~ Ule exex cising device ot P;gure 4;
Pigure lû is a p~rtial perspective v;ew of the apparatus showinlt the wei~ht assembly and tension element and its flexibility tn perform;n~ different types of exercises;

I 1 69~,9 1 ~ S ~

~ re 11 is a partial p~rspective view ot the same showing the tension element at~ached to Q lat b~r for performing lat puIl - exescises;
~ igure 12 is a sectional view of the weight assembly t~ken 5 ~l~ng line 12~2 of Figure l0;
F3gure 13 is a perspective view of the entire exercising ratus in its folded, storage position; and ~ igure 14 is a perspective detail view of ~ storage bracket for holding one of the suxili~ry exercising devices in a storage 10 positio~.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
_ _ _ In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, most of the structural elements of the invention are tubular or channel-shaped steel members which are secured together by bolted connections. Of course, other types of members of various cross-æction may be used, and they may be seeured together by other means, such as welding.
Referring to Fi~ure 1, the apparatus according to the invention includes an upstanding chinning bar, squat rack and weight pull frame 20 mo comprising t~o spaced, parallel, upstanding guide posts 102 secured togethèr at their upper ends by an inverted U-shaped tubular overhead bar 104, and at their lower ends by a tubular perirneter base member 106, and stabilized by l~Lteral oblique stabilizer struts 108. The parallel legs 110 of base perimenter member 106 are spanned by a front tubular strut 112 and R rear tubular strut 114~ Upstanding barbell suppor~ posts 116 are bolted to strut 112, and are stabilized at their upper ends by top side members 118 secured to guide posts 1U2. Lower side members 120 intereonnect barbell support posts 116 with strut 114. Barbell support posts 116 terminate at their upper ends in barbell rest cradles 122. A pair o~ squat rack b~rbell rest ~adles 124 ~re adjustnbly bolted t~ guide posts 102 (see Figure 4).
Cr~dles 122 and 124 serve ~s supports for a barbell B having weights W during the course of performing various exercises. The n~r~ngcme~lt of clements of the weight pull framc l00 results in YCry strong, rigid and stabl~ structure.
An cxcreisin~ bcnch 200 is s~portcd on frame l00 bctween ~ -I fi ~

b~be~ support po6ts 116. Bench 200 ~mprises a p~ir of L-shaped side rails 202 which are pivot~lly sttached ~o ~I rod 204 Lnterconneeting lower side mernbers 120. The unpivoted or free end of the bench is supported on folding legs 206 which are pivotally 5 attached to side rails 202 by bolted eonnections 208 through U-s~aped sections 210 of the side rails. Legs 206 csn be locked in ~ir extended positions as shown in Figures 1 and 3 by a lock rod 212 received in aligned holdes 214 in side rails 202 and holes 216 ~see Figure 5) in legs 206. Legs 206 are interconnected near their 10 'dps by ~ strut 218. When lo k rod 212 is removed from holes 214 and 216, legs 206 may be pivoted in unison about bolted connections 208 to a folded position (see Figure S) wherein their curved portions 2ao support the free end of the bench on the floor in a slanted attitude. In this mode the bench may be used as a slant board 15 ~dt-up device, with the user's ankles being held by an anlcle strap 222 pivotally secured to rod 204.
Side ra~s 2û2 support a fixed seat portion 224 at the free end of the bench, and an incline seat portion 226 at the pivoted end. Each of these sest portins may comprise a vinyl~overed foam 20 cus~ion which is secured to a plywood base. O~her materials may also be used. The plywood base of fix~d seat portion 224 is provided with flanged tubular nuts (not shown) secured in predrilled ~les.
Ihe fixed seat portion 224 is secured to ~ide ra~s 202 by means o bolts received in these nuts. Fixed seat portion 224 serves to 25 rigidly brace side rails 202 in their respective po~itions. Lrlcline seat portion 22~ is s~ported on a pair of L-shaped members 228 (see Figure 13) which aE e pivoted fldjacent to fixed seat portion 224 on a pivot rod 23û extending between side ra~s 202. Incline seat p~tion 226 is adjustably supported at ~ny desired ~ngul~ position 30 bq~ a support bar 232 (see ~i~ure 2) which extends ~tween pairs of ~ertically spaced notches 234 in the channels of b~rbell suFport posts B~ch 200 may serve ~s A support for ~uxiliary cxercising ~ iecs. To this end, Icgs 2D~ are providcd with a pair of sockets 35 236 which ~re wcldcd or otherwise secured to legs 20~. ~loles 238 are providcd in sockcts 23~ and ~re adnptcd to be aLlgT cd with 11 ~ 6989 ~

cally spaced holes in the frames of other exercising dcvices ~nserted into Ule sockets 236 and secured thereto by means of ring-~ttached shear pins 240. One su~h auxiliary exercising device which may be attached to bench 200 in this manner is Ule upper arm 5 8upporting barbell curling device 241 illustrated in Figure 1, which oosnprises a cushioned board 242 secured to a ~ent, U-shaped tubular ~rame 244 having depending, apertured legs 246.
Another type of auxiliary exercising device which can be used ~n conjunction with bench 200 is the neck developer 250 illustrated 10 ~ Figures 6 and 7. This device:

comprises a pair of inverted J-shaped members 252 which are adapted to be supported in sockets 236. A tubular crosspiece 254 is bolted ~cross the J~haped members 253 just beneath their curved upper 1~ portions. A tubular strut 256 is bolted across the tips of the curved portions. A pivoted weight support comprises two spaced parallel ~rms 258 which are pivotally mounted on crosspiece 254 by means of cylindrical collars 260 welded to the ends OI arms 258. The free ends of arms 258 are secured to a padded board 262 by means 20 of screws 264. Board 262 may comprise a plywood base having a lower padded surface of vinyl-wrapped polyurethane foam.
Conventional flanged tubular nuts (not shown) are secured in predrilled h~l~; in the plywood base and are engaged by screws 264 to secure bosrd 262 to the arms 258. Selected weights W are retained on 25 the weight support by an upright post 266 secured to the upper side of board 262. Strut 256 acts as a stop to limit downward pivotal movement of the weight support. Exercises are performed by r~pe~tedly elevating the weight support with the head.
Another type of auxiliary e~cercisin~ device which can be used 30 ~n conjunction ~Yith bench 200 is the leg lift devicc 270 illustrated In Pigures 8 and 9. This ~evice comprises ~ pair of apertured tubular mounting members 272 which ~re adjustably rcceiYcd in ~ockcts 236, Padded crossbar 274 is boltcd across the tips of mcmbers 272. Any suitable p~dding may be used, such as a vinyl-35 wrappcd polyL rethnne fo~m. A p~ddcd weight b~r 276 is pivotallysuspcndcd from crossbar 274 by mc~ns of two struts 27B having ,

3 g ~
"" ~

tllbUlar coll&rs R'Z their upper ends. Any desir~d number of weights W m~y be cl~mped to weight b~r 276. Exercises are performed by repe~tedly elevating weight b~r 276 with Ulè ~nkle~
- Referrirg to Figures lD and 12, a weight ssembly cradle 280 S oomprises a transverse tube 282 to which are welded stub tubes 284 ~nd an upstanding weight r~d 286. The ends of tube 282 are closed t~y nylon pistons 288 which are biased outwardly by compression spring 290. Pistons 288 may be formed of any other suitable low ~iction material, and each has a groove 292 formed therein for 10 ~dirg, guided engagement with a longitudinal rail 294 formed on ~e mutually facing surfaces of guide posts lD2. Tubes 282 and 284 support a selected number of weights W, which are lifted by the user through a rope 296 attached to weight rod 286 and trained over a pulley 298 suspended from overhead bar 104. Rope 296 15 branches into two separate ropes 300, eRch of which is provided With a handle 302 for engagement by the user~. As shown in Figure 10, weight pull devices may be performed by a user seated on bench 200, or by a user standing adjacent to the uprigi-t frame 100 by training rope 296 through a lower pulley 304. Alternatively, as 20 shown in Figure 119 a lat bar 306 having handles 308 may be attached to rope 296 for performing lat pull exercises. With pulley 298 removed,overhead bar 104 m~y be used as a chinning bar.
Bench 200 is normally locked in its level position, with legs 206 extended9 by a lock rod 320 inserted in aligned holes 322 in . 25 barbell support posts 116 and holes 324 in bench side rails 202.
Pigure 13 illustrates the storage position of the various components of the exercising apparatus. When lock rod 320 is withdrawn from ~oles 322 and 324, bench 200 may be pivoted ~o ~n uprigh~ storage pcx;ition and retained there by inserting lo~k rod 32 0 through aligned 30 hol~; 310 in top side members 118 and holes 326 in bench side rails 202. ~ Figure 13, legs 206 are shown folded and supporting in a storage pc~iition lcg lift dcviee 270. Neck devcloper 250 is supportcd ~or s~orage in a strap 312 which is bolted to one guide pos~ 102.
BDrbcll curling deYiC~ 241 is s~ported fo~ storage in a strap 314 35 ~ce Figure 14) boltcd to Ulc othcr guide post 102. Lat b~ 306 is ~tored in crndlcs 1~4. - .

i~6~

.. ~ ~ - .

In ~n be sppreciated that Ute exescising apparatus of tJ~e InYention successfully aceomplishes its objectives by virtue of its simplicity, ri~dity, versstility and compactness when ~Ided for storage. It is cap~ble of many vsried uses for exercising substantially S all portions of ~e body. It is estimated that at least lSG different e~ercises can be performed using this exercising apparatus., lt ~rill be obvious to one of ordinary skill that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the ~ue spirit and scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the 10 appended claims.

:

Claims (4)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a weight pull exercising device having a pair of upstanding spaced guide posts, a weight assembly slidably guided along said guide posts, a tension element connect-ed to said weight assembly and pulley means supported above said weight assembly for guiding said tension ele-ment, the improvement comprising:
a longitudinally extending guide track on the mutually facing surfaces of each of said guide posts;
complementary side surfaces on said weight assembly which mate with said guide tracks; and spring means in said weight assembly for resilient-ly outwardly biasing the side surfaces of said weight assembly into positive sliding engagement with said guide tracks.

2. An exercising device according to claim 1 wherein said side surfaces of said weight assembly are formed of a low friction material.

3. An exercising device according to claim 2 wherein said weight assembly comprises a transverse tubular member, a low friction material piston received in each end of said transverse tubular member, and said spring means comprises a compression spring in said transverse tubular member between said pistons to bias said pistons outwardly into engagement with said guide tracks.

4. An exercising device according to claim 3 wherein each of said guide tracks comprises a raised rib, and the exposed end of each of said pistons has a comple-mentarily shaped groove which engages the rib of a respective guide post.