GB2580065A

GB2580065A - Anchor arrangement for mounting on a door

Info

Publication number: GB2580065A
Application number: GB1820831.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Farhana Haque Annette
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-12-20
Filing date: 2018-12-20
Publication date: 2020-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-20
Also published as: WO2020128513A1; GB201820831D0; GB2580065B

Abstract

An anchor arrangement 10 that may be mounted on a door 12 comprises: a vertical strap 14 that may be mounted to a door 12 along the vertical dimension; the vertical strap14 including a number of anchor members 30, or attachment points, for coupling to an exercise apparatus; the anchor arrangement 10 also including a horizontal strap 16 that may be mounted to the door 12 along the horizontal dimension. The horizontal strap 16 has an upper horizontal slit and a lower horizontal slit spaced vertically from the upper horizontal slit. The upper and lower horizontal slits (36, 38, 40) are arranged to receive the vertical strap 14 therethrough. The anchor arrangement is suitable for coupling to exercise apparatus, such as resistance band apparatus.

Description

I

ANCHOR ARRANGEMENT FOR MOUNTING ON A DOOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an anchor arrangement mountable on a door and in particular, but not limited to, an anchor arrangement for coupling to exercise apparatus. Aspects of the invention include an anchor arrangement and apparatus including the anchor arrangement.

BACKGROUND

Resistance band training is a widely-used form of general fitness and strength training. Resistance bands are elastic bands or tubes attached or coupled at one end to a fixed structure, and having means to interact or connect to a user at the other end, such as a handle, a waist or ankle strap, or a glove. This means that resistance bands can be used to exercise many different parts of the body. Different resistance bands can have different levels of resistance appropriate to a particular user and to the types of exercise to be undertaken. Conveniently, resistance band apparatus is lightweight and compact, which allows a user the flexibility of transporting the apparatus easily and using the apparatus in a number of different locations.

Resistance band apparatus typically includes an anchoring structure or arrangement to secure one or more resistance bands to a fixed structure, such as a door. Some known anchoring arrangements include an arrangement of straps that are secured to a fixed structure, and one or more of the straps have one or more points at which a resistance band may be attached.

Some of the known anchoring arrangements suffer the drawbacks of: having many parts; lacking flexibility in terms of the type of fixed structure to which they may be secured; lacking flexibility in terms of the locations at which resistance bands may be attached; lacking flexibility in terms of the degrees of movement of the resistance band that is permitted; being relatively complex to assemble or disassemble; and/or, not being sufficiently secure when attached to a fixed structure.

It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior ad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an anchor arrangement mountable on a door having a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension. The anchor arrangement may be for coupling to exercise apparatus. The anchor arrangement may comprise a vertical strap mountable to the door along the vertical dimension. The vertical strap may comprise a plurality of anchor members for coupling to the exercise apparatus. The anchor arrangement may comprise a horizontal strap mountable to the door along the horizontal dimension. The horizontal strap may comprise an upper horizontal slit and a lower horizontal slit spaced vertically from the upper horizontal slit The upper and lower horizontal slits may be arranged to receive the vertical strap therethrough.

The present invention is advantageous in that it provides an anchor arrangement that may be fitted securely to a door. The anchor arrangement may be mounted to the door in a relatively simple manner and using few pads or components. In particular, no additional components are needed for the vertical strap to be fitted to, or engaged with, the horizontal strap. Instead, the vertical strap may be interwoven through the horizontal strap by means of the horizontal slits. The invention is advantageous in that sagging of the vertical strap is decreased, by interweaving the vertical strap with the horizontal strap, when one or more of the anchor members of the vertical strap are coupled to exercise apparatus or equipment and when the exercise equipment is being used.

A width of the upper and lower horizontal slits may be greater than a width of the vertical strap. This allows easy insertion of the vertical strap through the horizontal slits. It also allows easy adjustment of the vertical strap in the horizontal direction, which increases flexibility of positioning of the vertical strap to a position suitable for the user.

The upper and lower horizontal slits may be located substantially centrally along a length of the horizontal strap.

At least one of the anchor members may be located between the upper and lower horizontal slits when the vertical strap is received therethrough. Conveniently, this allows coupling of the exercise apparatus to the anchor arrangement at a relatively well-supported point of the vertical strap, which therefore increases security and rigidity during use of the exercise equipment.

The horizontal strap may comprise a window or gap spaced vertically from the upper and lower horizontal slits. One of the anchor members may be located adjacent to the window when the vertical strap is received through the upper and lower horizontal slits.

That is, one of the anchor members is visible through the window when the vertical strap is received through the upper and lower horizontal slits. Conveniently, this provides another attachment point for the exercise apparatus that is proximal to the horizontal strap and, as such, relatively well-supported and secure.

A width of the window may be greater than the width of one of the anchor members of the vertical strap that is received therethrough. If the vertical strap is adjusted in the slits in the horizontal direction then advantageously the anchor member may still be visible through the window and therefore still provide another attachment point. In the case where the vertical strap has a plurality of (vertical) rows of anchor points the width of the window may be greater than the distance between the outermost rows of anchor points. The width of the window may be less than or equal to the width of the associated vertical strap. Advantageously, this guards against the vertical strap slipping through the window during use of the anchor arrangement.

The window may be an upper window. The horizontal strap may comprise a lower window spaced vertically from the upper window. One of the anchor members may be located adjacent to the lower window when the vertical strap is received through the upper and lower horizontal slits. Conveniently, this increases the flexibility of the anchor arrangement by providing multiple possible points of attachment that are secure.

The upper window may be above the upper horizontal slit and the lower window may be below the lower horizontal slit.

The vertical strap may comprise a row having a plurality of the anchor members. The 30 anchor members in the row may be spaced vertically apart. Advantageously, this allows an appropriate attachment point for the exercise apparatus to be chosen based on the particular user and the particular exercises to be performed.

The anchor members in the row may be spaced equally apart.

A height of the horizontal strap may be greater than a spacing between adjacent ones of the anchor members in the row. This facilitates multiple anchor members, and therefore attachment points, to be located adjacent to the horizontal strap and so multiple secure attachment points to be available.

The height of the horizontal strap may be greater than a spacing between three adjacent anchor members in the row. This further increases the possible number of secure attachment points.

The row may be a first row. The vertical strap may comprise a second row having a plurality of the anchor members. The anchor members in the second row may be spaced vertically apart. The second row may be spaced horizontally from the first row. Advantageously, this allows two components of the exercise apparatus to be attached adjacent to each other for exercises that require such a configuration. For example, this conveniently allows two resistance bands to be attached beside each other, one for each arm of the user.

The horizontal strap may comprise a first end and a second end each having complementary connecting means arranged to connect to each other to mount the horizontal strap to the door. Note that the connecting means may or may not be at the extreme end of the horizontal strap. Rather, the first and second ends may instead be regarded as first and second end portions of the horizontal strap, with the connecting means being arranged on along the first and second end portions, as appropriate.

The connecting means at the first end may be a loop and the connecting means at the second end may be a hook arranged to engage with the loop. Advantageously, this facilitates relatively simple assembly and disassembly.

The complementary connecting means may comprise adjustment means arranged to adjust a tightness of the horizontal strap to mount it to the door. Advantageously, this allows the horizontal strap to be mounted securely and tightly to the door. In addition, this means that the horizontal strap may be mounted securely to a variety of different doors, or other fixed supporting member, having different dimensions.

The adjustment means may comprise a ratchet mechanism.

The height of the horizontal strap may taper towards the first end and towards the second end. This facilitates easy connection of the two ends, and therefore easy mounting of the horizontal strap to the door.

The upper and lower horizontal slits of the horizontal strap may be arranged to be at an opposite side of the door from the first and second ends of the horizontal strap when the horizontal strap is mounted to the door. Advantageously, this means that the means for mounting the horizontal strap to the door is distant from the means for supporting the vertical member such that there is no interference between the two. Also, this means there is no interference between the means for mounting the horizontal strap to the door and the exercise apparatus coupled to the anchor arrangement The vertical strap may comprise a first end and a second end having complementary connecting means arranged to connect to each other to mount the vertical strap to the door. The vertical strap may comprise a central portion between the first and second ends. The plurality of anchor members may be arranged on the central portion such that the anchor members are at an opposite side of the door from the first and second ends of the vertical strap when the vertical strap is mounted to the door. Advantageously, the means for mounting the vertical strap to the door therefore do not interfere with the points at which the exercise apparatus is attached to the anchor arrangement.

Advantageously, the anchor members may not get caught between the door and the door frame, and so not interfere with the operation of the door.

In embodiments, one end of the vertical strap may have connecting means arranged to connect to one of the anchor member to secure the vertical strap to the door.

Advantageously, this increases the flexibility of the anchor arrangements to allow it to be used on doors of non-standard size.

The plurality of anchor members may be in the form of hook anchor points.

The vertical strap may be a first vertical strap and the upper and lower horizontal slits of the horizontal strap may be first upper and first lower horizontal slits. The anchor arrangement may comprise a second vertical strap mountable to the door along the vertical dimension. The second vertical strap may comprise a plurality of anchor members for coupling to the exercise apparatus. The horizontal strap may comprise a second upper horizontal slit and a second lower horizontal slit spaced vertically from the second upper horizontal slit. The second upper and second lower horizontal slits may be arranged to receive the second vertical strap therethrough. Advantageously, the provision of two or more vertical straps provides greater flexibility for choosing which anchor members to use to attach the exercise apparatus.

A width of the second upper and second lower horizontal slits may be greater than a width of the second vertical strap. Advantageously, this allows for one of the vertical straps to be moved or slid relative to another one of the vertical straps in a relatively simple manner so as to adjust the horizontal distance between them. This allows the anchor arrangement to be arranged optimally for the dimensions of a particular user, or for a particular exercise that is to be performed_ The second upper and second lower horizontal slits may be spaced horizontally from the first upper and first lower horizontal slits.

The anchor arrangement may comprise any suitable number of vertical straps, for example three vertical straps. For example, the anchor arrangement may comprise two vertical straps having a single row of anchor members, and one vertical strap having two rows of anchor members. Increasing the amount of vertical straps can advantageously increase the number of anchor members and so increase the number of possible locations for coupling the exercise apparatus to the anchor arrangement, thereby increasing flexibility.

The anchor arrangement may comprise a plurality of horizontal straps, for example five horizontal straps. The horizontal straps may be disposed or spaced vertically apart when mounted to the door. The or each vertical strap may be interwoven with each of the plurality of horizontal straps. Advantageously, a plurality of horizontal straps may further reduce sagging of the or each vertical strap.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising an anchor arrangement as described above. The apparatus may comprise an exercise band grip for coupling the anchor arrangement to an exercise band of the exercise apparatus. The exercise band grip may comprise attaching means for attaching the exercise band grip to one of the anchor members of the anchor arrangement. The exercise band grip may comprise a body that forms an aperture arranged to receive the exercise band to secure the exercise band to the exercise band grip. Advantageously, the exercise band grip allows simple, adjustable and secure coupling of the exercise band or bands to the anchor arrangement.

The attaching means may be connected to the body. The body may comprise an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The aperture may be defined by the upper and lower body portions.

A size of the aperture may be adjustable to secure the exercise band to the exercise band grip. This allows easy release and restraint of the exercise band. As the exercise band may be secured to the exercise band grip at any point along the band, then the exercise band grip offers maximum flexibility in terms of setting the usable length of the exercise band or bands for a particular user or exercise. This is of particular use when both the arms and legs of a user are being worked or exercised simultaneously.

The exercise band grip may comprise at least one screw for adjusting the size of the aperture. The at least one screw hole may be actuated through at least one screw hole in the upper body portion and at least one screw hole in the lower body portion. This allows easy adjustment of the size of the aperture.

The attaching means may be rotatable relative to the body of the exercise band grip.

This provides increased flexibility for the user when performing exercises in that twisting and turning relative to the secure attachment of the anchoring arrangement is permissible.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise band grip as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1(a), (b) and (c) show front, rear and side views, respectively, of an anchor arrangement according to an aspect of the invention, the anchor arrangement being mounted on a door, and the anchor arrangement including three vertical straps and five horizontal straps; and, Figures 2(a), (b), (c) and (d) show front, rear, side and plan views, respectively, of an exercise band grip and an exercise band, where the exercise band grip is for coupling the exercise band to the anchor arrangement of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1(a)-(c) shows an anchor arrangement 10 mounted to a door 12. In particular, Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) shows front, rear and side views of the anchor arrangement 10 and the door 12. The door 12 has a horizontal dimension X and a vertical dimension Y. The anchor arrangement 10 allows exercise apparatus, such as an exercise band or elastic resistance band, to be secured to the door 12 to facilitate use of the exercise apparatus. In the described embodiment, the anchor arrangement 10 includes three vertical straps 14a, 14b, 14c mounted on the door 12 along the vertical dimension Y and five horizontal straps 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e mounted on the door 12 along the horizontal dimension X. The anchor arrangement 10 is formed of webbing material.

The vertical straps 14a-c include a central strap 14a mounted centrally on the door 12 in the horizontal direction X, and two side straps 14b, 14c located on either side of the central strap 14a when mounted on the door 12. The side straps 14b, 14c have the same dimensions and the central strap 14a is wider than the side straps 14b, 14c. In the described embodiment, the central strap 14a is approximately double the width of the side straps 14b, 14c. Each of the vertical straps 14a-c has a first end 18a and a second end 18b with a central portion 20 therebetween. The width of the vertical straps 14a-c decreases, i.e. tapers, towards each of the first and second ends 18a, 18b. The central portion 20 of each of the vertical straps 14a-c is of substantially constant width.

To mount each of the vertical straps 14a-c to the door 12, the vertical straps 14a-c are wrapped around the door 12 such that the central portion 20 is adjacent to a front side 22a of the door 12, and the first and second ends 18a, 18b are adjacent a rear side 22b of the door 12. The first and second ends 18a, 18b have respective and complementary connecting means 24 that connect to each other to secure the vertical strap 14a-c to the door 12. The connecting means 24 are in the form of a flat, ring or loop attachment 24a and a hook 24b for engaging with the loop attachment 24a.

The connecting means 24 of the vertical straps 14a-c also include a ratchet mechanism 26 at the ends 18a, 18b for tightening or loosening the vertical straps 14a-c when mounting to, or dismounting from, the door 12. This allows the vertical straps 14a-c to be mounted securely to doors of different dimensions. There is an additional piece of material 28 at the ends 18a, 18b when mounted to the door 12 that is positioned between the ratchet mechanism 26 and the door 12 to guard against the ratchet mechanism 26 coming into contact with, and potentially causing damage to, the surface of the door 12.

Each of the vertical straps 14a-c has a number of anchor points or anchor members 30 disposed or arranged on the straps 14a-c. The anchor members 30 are in the form of 'D-shaped' loops or hooks attached at either side to the vertical strap 14a-c. In the described embodiment, each anchor member 30 is oriented horizontally when the vertical strap 14a-c is mounted to the door 12.

Referring to the central vertical strap 14a, the central strap 14a has two vertical rows 32a, 32b of anchor members 30. The anchor members 30 in each row 32a, 32b are spaced apart equally and the rows 32a, 32b are spaced apart horizontally. In the described embodiment, each of the rows 32a, 32b have 25 anchor members 30; however, any suitable number of anchor members 30 may be used. Each of the side vertical straps 14b, 14c has a single row of anchor members 30 and, in this case, each of these rows has 25 anchor members 30; however, any suitable number of anchor members 30 may be used.

The anchor members 30 are attached to the vertical straps 14a-c generally at the central portion 20 of the vertical straps 14a-c away from the ends 18a, 18b. In particular, the anchor members 30 are positioned on the part of the vertical straps 14a-c adjacent to the front side 22a of the door 12 when the straps 14a-c are mounted to the door 12. In the described embodiment, the anchor members 30 are disposed along substantially the entire portion of the vertical straps 14a-c that is adjacent to the front side 22a of the door 12.

The spacing between consecutive anchor members 30 in a particular row is approximately equal to, or greater than, the depth of the door 12. On differently-sized 35 doors, some of the anchor members may be on the rear side 22b of the door 12.

Referring now to the horizontal straps 16a-e, each of the horizontal straps 16a-e has the same dimensions and the straps 16a-e are spaced equally apart in the Y direction when mounted to the door 12. Each of the horizontal straps 16a-c has a first end 32a and a second end 32b with a central portion 34 therebetween. The height (i.e. the measurement in the Y direction when mounted to the door 12) of the horizontal straps 16a-c decreases, i.e. tapers, towards each of the first and second ends 32a, 32b. The central portion 34 of each of the horizontal straps 16a-c is of substantially constant height. In the described embodiment, the height of each of the horizontal straps 16a-c is greater than the total spacing between three consecutive or adjacent anchor members 30 in a row; however, the horizontal straps may be any suitable height, for example greater than the spacing between two consecutive or adjacent anchor members 30.

To mount each of the horizontal straps 16a-c to the door 12, the horizontal straps 16a-c are wrapped around the door 12 such that the central portion 34 is adjacent to the front side 22a of the door 12, and the first and second ends 32a, 32b are adjacent the rear side 22b of the door 12. The first and second ends 32a, 32b have complementary connecting means 24 similar to the vertical straps 14a-c and so not discussed further here.

Each of the horizontal straps 16a-e has three pairs of horizontal slits 36, 38, 40. The horizontal slits are oriented in the X direction when the horizontal straps 16a-e are mounted to the door 12. In particular, each pair of the horizontal slits 36, 38, 40 includes an upper slit 36a, 38a, 40a and a lower slit 36b, 38b, 40b. The upper slits 36a, 38a, 40a are parallel to the lower slits 36b, 38b, 40b, and each of the upper slits 36a, 38a, 40a is vertically above the respective lower slit 36b, 38b, 40b when the horizontal straps 16a-e are mounted to the door 12.

Each of the pairs of horizontal slits 36, 38, 40 are arranged to receive a respective one of the vertical straps 14a-c therethrough when mounted to the door 12. Specifically, when the anchor arrangement 10 is mounted to the door 12 each of the vertical straps 14a-c is positioned behind each of the horizontal straps 16a-e, i.e. adjacent to the door 12, above the upper slit 36a, 38a, 40a to an upper edge 42 of the horizontal strap 16a-e and below the lower slit 36b, 38b, 40b to a lower edge 44 of the horizontal strap 16a-e. Each of the vertical straps 14a-c is positioned in front of each of the horizontal straps 16a-e between the upper slit 36a, 38a, 40a and the lower slit 36b, 38b, 40b. A single one of the anchor members 30 from each row is located between the upper slit 36a, 38a, 40a and the lower slit 36b, 38b, 40b when the anchor arrangement 10 is mounted to the door 12.

The pairs of horizontal slits 36, 38, 40 include a central slit pair 36 located centrally on the horizontal strap 16a-e in the horizontal direction X, and two side slit pairs 38, 40 located on either side of the central slit pair 36. The central slit pair 36 is arranged to receive the central vertical strap 14a therethrough, and the side slit pairs 38, 40 are arranged to receive respective ones of the side vertical straps 14b, 14c therethrough.

The side slit pairs 38, 40 are of equal width and the central slit pair 36 is wider than the side slit pairs 38,40 (because the central vertical strap 14a is wider than the side vertical straps 14b, 14c). In the described embodiment, the central slit pair 36 is approximately double the width of each of the side slit pairs 38, 40. Each of the horizontal slit pairs 36, 38, 40 is wider than respective one of the vertical straps 14a-c to be received therethrough. In different embodiments, only the side slits may be wider than the vertical strap to be received therethrough.

Each of the horizontal straps 16a-e has three upper windows 46a, 48a, 50a and three lower windows 46b, 48b, 50c. These windows are generally rectangular-shaped apertures in the horizontal straps 16a-e. Each of the upper windows 46a, 48a, 50a is located above a respective one of the upper slits 36a, 38a, 40a and below the upper edge 42 of the horizontal strap 16a-e. Each of the lower windows 46b, 48b, 50b is located below a respective one of the lower slits 36b, 38b, 40b and above the lower edge 44 of the horizontal strap 16a-e.

The width of each of the windows is slightly less than the width of the vertical strap 14a-c adjacent thereto when the anchor arrangement 10 is mounted to the door 12. That is, the width of the central windows 46a, 46b is slightly less than the width of the central vertical strap 14a, and the width of the side windows 48a, 48b, 50a, 50b is slightly less than the width of the side vertical straps 14b, 14c.

A single one of the anchor members 30 from each row is located in or adjacent to each of the windows 46a, 46b, 48a, 48b, 50a, 50b when the anchor arrangement 10 is mounted to the door 12. That is, a single one of the anchor members 30 from each row is visible through each of the windows when the anchor arrangement 10 is mounted to the door 12.

Each of the horizontal slits 36, 38, 40 and the windows 46a, 46b, 48a, 48b, 50a, 50b is located on the central portion 34 of the horizontal straps 16a-e so that they are at the front side 22a of the door 12 when mounted to the door 12.

Figures 2(a)-(d) shows an exercise band grip 60 according to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention, together with a resistance band 62, also referred to as a fitness band or an exercise band. In particular, Figures 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) show front, rear, side and plan views of the exercise band grip 60 and resistance band 62.

The grip 60 has a body 64 including an upper body portion 66a and a lower body portion 66b. The body 64 is generally rectangular and defines an aperture 68 therethrough. In particular, a lower edge 70 of the upper body portion 66a faces an upper edge 72 of the lower body portion 66b to define the aperture 68 therebetween. The shape of the aperture 68 generally matches that of the resistance band 62, and the aperture 68 is arranged to receive the resistance band 62 therethrough. The resistance band 62 is formed of two tubular bands 70a, 70b joined together by woven material. This not only improves the appearance of the resistance band 62, but lessens the impact in the case of one of the bands 70a, 70b failing during use. As such, the lower edge 70 of the upper body portion 66a and the upper edge 72 of the lower body portion 66b have a generally double-arch shape to match to the outer surface of the resistance band 62. The lower edge 70 and the upper edge 72 have a rough or toothed surface (or an indented or grooved surface) to increase the grip when the resistance band is secured in the exercise band grip 60.

The upper and lower body portions 66a, 66b of the grip 60 are joined together via two screws 74a, 74b, one at each side of the grip 60. The upper body portion 66a has screw holes passing all the way from an upper edge 76 to the lower edge 70 of the upper body portion 66a. The lower body portion 66b has screw holes into the upper edge 72 of the lower body portion 66.When the upper and lower body portions 66a, 66b are brought together, the screw holes are adjacent so that the screws can pass through both to connect or join the portions together. In particular, the screws 74a, 74b enter at the upper edge 76 of the upper body portion 66a all the way through the upper body portion 66a, and then enter the screw holes in the upper edge 72 of the lower body portion 66b.

The screws 74a, 74b are used to adjust the size of the aperture 68. In particular, actuation of the screws 74a, 74b either causes the upper and lower body portions 66a, 66b to be brought together so as to make the aperture 68 smaller, or causes the upper and lower body portions 66a, 66b to move further apart so as to make the aperture 68 larger. Specifically, when assembling the entire apparatus, the aperture 68 may be made larger and the resistance band 62 is passed through to set the appropriate length for the particular user or exercise to be performed. The screws 74a, 74b are then actuated to decrease the aperture size until the resistance band is gripped firmly by the exercise band grip 60. The screws 74a, 74b are twist-and-lock'-type screws in order to secure the upper and lower portions 66a, 66b relative to each other. In particular, the screw end or top end 80a, 80b of the screws 74a, 74b flip down to secure the lock of the screws 74a, 74b.

The grip 60 also includes attaching means 78 for attaching the exercise band grip 60 to one of the anchor members 30 of the anchor arrangement 10. The attaching means 78 is at a rear side of the grip 60 on the lower body portion 66b. The attaching means 78 is in the form of a hook or loop, for example a carabiner loop, which may be coupled or attached to one of the anchor members 30. The attaching means 78 may attach directly to the anchor member 30 or may be attached or coupled to the anchor member 30 via a separate clip, for example a carabiner clip. The attaching means 78 is rotatable relative to the body 64 of the grip 60, in particular relative to the lower body portion 66b to which it is connected. This means that the grip 60 and the resistance band 62 are rotatable relative to the anchor arrangement 10, in use.

One end 82 of the resistance band 62 has a metal tooth grip bar 84 with attaching means 86 in the form of a loop, for example a carabiner loop, which is rotatable relative to the main body of the resistance band 62. A variety of different accessories may be attached to the loop 86 depending on the exercise to be performed, for example a handle, a glove or a waist band. Specific examples of attachable accessories include: a T-bar, which is a straight bar with a fixed, metal loop; and, a long bar, which is a straight bar with fixed loops near to its ends for wide grip exercises attaching to the outer or side vertical straps. A further specific example is an adjustable wrist/arm/ankle/thigh hook-and-loop (e.g. Velcro®) strap, which is a relatively long piece of leather, or other material, with soft Velcro material on a side in contact with the user's skin and hard Velcro material on the opposite side. There is a split along the middle of the strap along the section of strap longer than a circumference of a user's wrist. The end of the strap does not have a split.

The split is to allow the raised loop attachment to fit through the slit at any point to enable the strap to be used for different-sized users and to ensure security.

These accessories will be rotatable relative to the resistance band 62 and also the anchor arrangement 10 to give increased flexibility when using the apparatus.

The other end 84 of the resistance band 62 has a woven finish.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

The scope of the invention includes apparatus including one or more of the individual features, i.e. one or more of the anchor arrangement, one or more of the exercise band grips, one or more of the resistance bands, and one or more user attachments for the resistance bands, for example a handle, a glove, and/or a waist band.

In the above-described embodiment, the anchor arrangement is mounted to a door; however, the anchor arrangement may also be mounted on any other suitable type of (vertical) support member.

In the above-described embodiment, the anchor arrangement has three vertical straps and five horizontal straps; however, it will be appreciated that the anchor arrangement may include any suitable number of vertical and horizontal straps. For example, the anchor arrangement may include a single vertical strap and a single horizontal strap.

In the above-described embodiment, the anchor arrangement includes two vertical straps having one row of anchor members and one (wider) vertical strap having two rows of anchor members. In different embodiments, any suitable combination of vertical straps having any suitable number of rows of anchor members may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the width of each of the windows is slightly less than the width of the vertical strap adjacent thereto when the anchor arrangement is mounted to the door. In different embodiments, the width of each of the windows is less than in the described embodiment or substantially equal to the width of the vertical strap adjacent thereto when the anchor arrangement is mounted to the door. Optionally, the width of the windows may even be greater than that of the associated vertical strap. That is, the width of central windows may be greater than the width of a central vertical strap, and the width of side windows may be greater than the width of side vertical straps.

In the above-described embodiment, the first and second ends of the vertical strap have respective and complementary connecting means that connect to each other to secure the vertical strap to the door. Note, however, that the vertical strap need not be secured to a door by attaching its ends together. For example, for a non-standard door of lesser height, one end of the vertical strap may clip or attach onto one of the anchor members. A ratchet mechanism may still be provided to tighten and secure the vertical strap to the door. More generally, neither the vertical nor the horizontal straps need to attach at their ends in order to secure then to the door; rather, there may be a number of points along their length at which they may attach.

The present invention may equally be used with multiple doors or fixed structural members. For example, in the case of two doors or fixed structures being positioned at an angle relative to each other, for example 90 degrees apart, one anchoring arrangement may be mounted to one of the fixed members and another anchoring arrangement may be mounted to the other fixed member. One or more resistance bands may then be fixed to each of the two anchoring arrangements. This gives the user even more flexibility during use.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anchor arrangement mountable on a door having a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension, the anchor arrangement being for coupling to exercise apparatus, 5 the anchor arrangement comprising: a vertical strap mountable to the door along the vertical dimension, the vertical strap comprising a plurality of anchor members for coupling to the exercise apparatus; and, a horizontal strap mountable to the door along the horizontal dimension, the horizontal strap comprising an upper horizontal slit and a lower horizontal slit spaced vertically from the upper horizontal slit, wherein the upper and lower horizontal slits are arranged to receive the vertical strap therethrough.
2. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein a width of the upper and lower horizontal slits is greater than a width of the vertical strap.
3. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the upper and lower horizontal slits are located substantially centrally along a length of the horizontal strap.
4. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, wherein at least one of the anchor members is located between the upper and lower horizontal slits when the vertical strap is received therethrough.
5. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, the horizontal strap comprising a window spaced vertically from the upper and lower horizontal slits, wherein one of the anchor members is located adjacent to the window when the vertical strap is received through the upper and lower horizontal slits.
6. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the window is an upper window, the horizontal strap comprising a lower window spaced vertically from the upper window, and wherein one of the anchor members is located adjacent to the lower window when the vertical strap is received through the upper and lower horizontal slits.
7. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the upper window is above the upper horizontal slit and the lower window is below the lower horizontal slit.
8. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, the vertical strap comprising a row having a plurality of the anchor members, wherein the anchor members in the row are spaced vertically apart.
9. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 8, wherein a height of the horizontal strap is greater than a spacing between adjacent ones of the anchor members in the row.
10. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 9, wherein the height of the horizontal strap is greater than a spacing between three adjacent anchor members in the row.
11. An anchor arrangement according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the row is a first row, the vertical strap comprising a second row having a plurality of the anchor members, wherein the anchor members in the second row are spaced vertically apart, and wherein the second row is spaced horizontally from the first row.
12. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, the horizontal strap comprising a first end and a second end each having complementary connecting means arranged to engage with each other to mount the horizontal strap to the door.
13. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 12, wherein the connecting means at the first end is a loop and the connecting means at the second end is a hook arranged to engage with the loop.
14. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, the complementary connecting means comprising adjustment means arranged to adjust a tightness of the horizontal strap to mount it to the door.
15. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 14, wherein the adjustment means 30 comprises a ratchet mechanism.
16. An anchor arrangement according to any of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the height of the horizontal strap tapers towards the first end and towards the second end.
17. An anchor arrangement according to any of Claims 13 to 16, wherein the upper and lower horizontal slits of the horizontal strap are arranged to be at an opposite side of the door from the first and second ends of the horizontal strap when the horizontal strap is mounted to the door.
18. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, the vertical strap comprising a first end and a second end having complementary connecting means arranged to engage with each other to mount the vertical strap to the door, the vertical strap comprising a central portion between the first and second ends, wherein the plurality of anchor members are arranged on the central portion such that the anchor members are at an opposite side of the door from the first and second ends of the vertical strap when the vertical strap is mounted to the door.
19. An anchor arrangement according to any previous claim, wherein the vertical strap is a first vertical strap and wherein the upper and lower horizontal slits of the horizontal strap are first upper and first lower horizontal slits, the anchor arrangement comprising a second vertical strap mountable to the door along the vertical dimension, the second vertical strap comprising a plurality of anchor members for coupling to the exercise apparatus, the horizontal strap comprising a second upper horizontal slit and a second lower horizontal slit spaced vertically from the second upper horizontal slit, wherein the second upper and second lower horizontal slits are arranged to receive the second vertical strap therethrough.
20. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 19, wherein a width of the second upper and second lower horizontal slits is greater than a width of the second vertical strap.
21. An anchor arrangement according to Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the second upper and second lower horizontal slits are spaced horizontally from the first upper and first lower horizontal slits.
22. Apparatus comprising: an anchor arrangement according to any previous claim; and, an exercise band grip for coupling the anchor arrangement to an exercise band of the exercise apparatus, the exercise band grip comprising attaching means for attaching the 35 exercise band grip to one of the anchor members of the anchor arrangement, and the exercise band grip comprising a body forming an aperture arranged to receive the exercise band therethrough to secure the exercise band to the exercise band grip.
23. Apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein a size of the aperture is adjustable to 5 secure the exercise band to the exercise band grip.
24. Apparatus according to Claim 23, the exercise band grip comprising at least one screw for adjusting the size of the aperture.
25. Apparatus according to any of Claims 22 to 24, wherein the attaching means is rotatable relative to the body of the exercise band grip.