GB2161086A

GB2161086A - Gymnastic bar and connecting devices

Info

Publication number: GB2161086A
Application number: GB08516990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Charles Barrett
Original assignee: GYMSPORT EQUIPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: GYMSPORT EQUIPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-05
Filing date: 1985-07-04
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: GB8516990D0; GB8417222D0; GB2161086B

Abstract

A bar or pole 11 has a connecting device 10 projecting from each end. Each device comprises a plate 12 having a pin 16 which locates in a hole in a piece of apparatus 14 (to which the pole 11 is to be secured), a flap 8 hinged and juxtaposed with the plate 12, and a thrust pad 20 mounted on a thumb screw 9 which screws in and out of a pivotally mounted long nut 19. The thrust pad 20 may be brought into contact with the flap 8 whereby tightening of the screw 9 causes the end of the pole 11 to be firmly secured to the piece of apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heaving members This invention relates to heaving members being pieces of gymnastic equipment. In this specification the term "heaving member " is used to include all heaving bars, heaving poles, beams and like equipment from which a gymnast may hang by his hands and/or to which he may heave or pull himself, or on which he may do balancing exercises.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved heaving member which may be easily and firmly secured between two pieces of gymnastic apparatus, for example, two climbing frames.

According to the present invention there is provided a heaving member, being a piece of gymnastic equipment, which comprises an elongated member having, at each end thereof, a plate securely fitted to the elongated member and projecting beyond the end of the elongated member, a hinged flap which is also secured to the elongated member and which has a bearing surface, a pin mounted in the projecting plate for passing through a hole in apparatus to which the heaving member is to be fastened, a long nut mounted on the projecting plate, and a screw engaging the long nut and operable to bring a thrust bearing into engagement with the bearing surface on the flap when the flap is positioned such that the pin extends into an aperture in the flap.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a heaving member comprises a heaving pole, heaving bar or the like which has a plate projecting from each end, each plate having a steel pin, the pins locating in holes in two pieces of apparatus between which the heaving member extends, and the thrust bearing is an axial thrust pad mounted on a thumb screw which screw in and out of the long nut. The long nut is itself conveniently pivoted on the plate so that the thrust pad on the screw may be brought into contact with the hinged flap when this is juxtaposed parallel with the plate so that tightening of the screws causes the ends of the heaving member to be firmly secured to the two pieces of apparatus.

The present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is made by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a cross-section through one end of a heaving pole, a portion of a piece of gymnastic apparatus and the projecting plate and associated members by which the heaving pole is secured to the piece of apparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing a heaving member is in the form of a tube 11 which is securely fitted into an aluminium casting 10.

A projecting plate 1 2 moulded as part of the casting 10 extends beyond the end of the tube 11 and the plate 1 2 has a pin 1 6 fixed in the end of the plate 1 2 remote from the tube 11 by a bearing disc 1 7 and a pair of lock nuts 18.

A long nut 1 9 is pivotally mounted in an aperture in the plate 1 2 so as to be movable in an arcuate manner as indicated by arrow A.

The long nut 1 9 has a thumb screw 9 engaging with it, and the thumb screw 9 carries a thrust pad 20 which is effective to secure the heaving member to a piece of apparatus as will be described.

A flap 8 is mounted to the casting 10 by a hinge 7 so that the flap may be moved away from the position shown in the drawing in which the flap 8 lies parallel with the projecting plate 12.

In use in connecting a heaving bar 11 to a piece of apparatus 14, the pin 1 6 is passed through a hole in the apparatus 14 so that a surface 1 3 of the plate 1 2 is in contact with the apparatus 1 4. The flap 8 is then hinged forward to the position shown so that the pin 1 6 passes into an aperture 6 in the flap 8 and a surface 1 5 of the flap 8 is also in contact with the apparatus 14 which is then sandwiched between the flap 8 and the projecting plate 12.

The long nut 1 9 is then pivoted forward in a clockwise direction from the position shown for the long nut 1 9 and the thumb screw 9 to an alternative position in which the thumb screw is denoted by 9'. In this position the thumb screw 9' is screwed into the long nut 1 9 so that the thrust pad 20 is located hard against a bearing surface 21 on the flap 8.

The tightening of the thumb screw pulls the surfaces 1 3 and 1 5 of the plate 1 2 and the flap 8, respectively, firmly on to the apparatus 14.

The bearing surface 21 on the flap 8 has an upstanding rim 22, the height of which is greater than 3 or 4 times the pitch of the screw thread. In consequence, slight accidental unscrewing of the thumb screw 9 will not be sufficient to enable the long nut 1 9 to be pivoted backward to move thrust pad 20 out of engagement with the bearing surface 21.

The arrangement herein described provides a positive locking device for securing portable heaving members, such as beams, bars and poles to uprights on other pieces of gymnastic equipment.

1. A heaving member, being a piece of gymnastic equipment, which comprises an elongated member having, at each end thereof, a plate securely fitted to the elongated member and projecting beyond the end of the elongated member, a hinged flap which is also secured to the elongated member and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heaving members This invention relates to heaving members being pieces of gymnastic equipment. In this specification the term "heaving member " is used to include all heaving bars, heaving poles, beams and like equipment from which a gymnast may hang by his hands and/or to which he may heave or pull himself, or on which he may do balancing exercises. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved heaving member which may be easily and firmly secured between two pieces of gymnastic apparatus, for example, two climbing frames. According to the present invention there is provided a heaving member, being a piece of gymnastic equipment, which comprises an elongated member having, at each end thereof, a plate securely fitted to the elongated member and projecting beyond the end of the elongated member, a hinged flap which is also secured to the elongated member and which has a bearing surface, a pin mounted in the projecting plate for passing through a hole in apparatus to which the heaving member is to be fastened, a long nut mounted on the projecting plate, and a screw engaging the long nut and operable to bring a thrust bearing into engagement with the bearing surface on the flap when the flap is positioned such that the pin extends into an aperture in the flap. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a heaving member comprises a heaving pole, heaving bar or the like which has a plate projecting from each end, each plate having a steel pin, the pins locating in holes in two pieces of apparatus between which the heaving member extends, and the thrust bearing is an axial thrust pad mounted on a thumb screw which screw in and out of the long nut. The long nut is itself conveniently pivoted on the plate so that the thrust pad on the screw may be brought into contact with the hinged flap when this is juxtaposed parallel with the plate so that tightening of the screws causes the ends of the heaving member to be firmly secured to the two pieces of apparatus. The present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is made by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a cross-section through one end of a heaving pole, a portion of a piece of gymnastic apparatus and the projecting plate and associated members by which the heaving pole is secured to the piece of apparatus. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing a heaving member is in the form of a tube 11 which is securely fitted into an aluminium casting 10. A projecting plate 1 2 moulded as part of the casting 10 extends beyond the end of the tube 11 and the plate 1 2 has a pin 1 6 fixed in the end of the plate 1 2 remote from the tube 11 by a bearing disc 1 7 and a pair of lock nuts 18. A long nut 1 9 is pivotally mounted in an aperture in the plate 1 2 so as to be movable in an arcuate manner as indicated by arrow A. The long nut 1 9 has a thumb screw 9 engaging with it, and the thumb screw 9 carries a thrust pad 20 which is effective to secure the heaving member to a piece of apparatus as will be described. A flap 8 is mounted to the casting 10 by a hinge 7 so that the flap may be moved away from the position shown in the drawing in which the flap 8 lies parallel with the projecting plate 12. In use in connecting a heaving bar 11 to a piece of apparatus 14, the pin 1 6 is passed through a hole in the apparatus 14 so that a surface 1 3 of the plate 1 2 is in contact with the apparatus 1 4. The flap 8 is then hinged forward to the position shown so that the pin 1 6 passes into an aperture 6 in the flap 8 and a surface 1 5 of the flap 8 is also in contact with the apparatus 14 which is then sandwiched between the flap 8 and the projecting plate 12. The long nut 1 9 is then pivoted forward in a clockwise direction from the position shown for the long nut 1 9 and the thumb screw 9 to an alternative position in which the thumb screw is denoted by 9'. In this position the thumb screw 9' is screwed into the long nut 1 9 so that the thrust pad 20 is located hard against a bearing surface 21 on the flap 8. The tightening of the thumb screw pulls the surfaces 1 3 and 1 5 of the plate 1 2 and the flap 8, respectively, firmly on to the apparatus 14. The bearing surface 21 on the flap 8 has an upstanding rim 22, the height of which is greater than 3 or 4 times the pitch of the screw thread. In consequence, slight accidental unscrewing of the thumb screw 9 will not be sufficient to enable the long nut 1 9 to be pivoted backward to move thrust pad 20 out of engagement with the bearing surface 21. The arrangement herein described provides a positive locking device for securing portable heaving members, such as beams, bars and poles to uprights on other pieces of gymnastic equipment. CLAIMS

1. A heaving member, being a piece of gymnastic equipment, which comprises an elongated member having, at each end thereof, a plate securely fitted to the elongated member and projecting beyond the end of the elongated member, a hinged flap which is also secured to the elongated member and which has a bearing surface, a pin mounted in the projecting plate for passing through a hole in apparatus to which the heaving member is to be fastened, a long nut mounted on the projecting plate, and a screw engaging the long nut and operable to bring a thrust bearing into engagement with the bearing surface on the flap when the flap is positioned such that the pin extends into an aperture in the flap.

2. A heaving member according to Claim 1, which is a heaving pole and in which the projecting plate is moulded as part of a casting which also includes a sleeve into which the heaving pole is securely fitted.

3. A heaving member according to Claim 1, which is a heaving bar and in which the projecting plate is moulded as part of a casting having parallel members which embrace opposite sides of the heaving bar and which are securely fastened thereto.

4. A heaving member according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the hinged flap is pivotally mounted on the casting.

5. A heaving member according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the casting is aluminium.

6. A heaving member according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the long nut is pivotally mounted on the projecting plate for movement between a position in which the screw is clear of the bearing surface on the flap and a position in which the screw is operable to cause the thrust bearing to engage the bearing surface on the flap.

7. Gymnastic equipment comprising two pieces of gymnastic apparatus, each piece of apparatus having at least one hole therein, and a heaving member according to any one of the preceding claims extending between the two pieces of apparatus with each pin located in a hole in one piece of apparatus and each screw operated to locate the associated thrust bearing onto the bearing surface of the hinged flap and thereby pull the plate and the flap towards one another to secure the heaving member firmly to the two pieces of apparatus.

8. A heaving member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.