US3226115A - Compact gymnasium - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 R. s. UNDERHILL 3,226,115

` COMPACT GYMNASIUM Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BYGQaCHwL- AYTOR/VEY Dec. 28, 1965 R. s. UNDERHILL. 3,226,115

COMPACT GYMNASIUM Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

BY @Saw ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,226,115 CMPACT GYMNASIUM Richard S. Underhill, Battle Creek, Mich., assigner, by rnesne assignments, to Battle Creek Equipment Co., Battie Creek, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,133 Claims. (Cl. 272-58) This invention pertains to exercise equipment and, in particular, to a compact gymnasium comprising an exercise platform or bench on which various exercises may be performed and having the additional function of providing a housing for compact storage of a plurality of items of exercise equipment, the latter alone and in combination with the exercise platform of bench making available an extremely large range of exercising routines.

Over the years, and particularly in recent times, it is safe to say that a majority of people have recognized the advantageous effects of exercise and, particularly, a planned program thereof. However, until the advent in recent times of exercise salons equipped with a great variety of exercising equipment, most people who have recognized the need for and have desired to participate in planned programs of exercise have had to content themselves generally with a limited exercising program predicated to a great extent on seasonal facilities indigenous to the locale in which they live such as, for example, skiing for those living in northern climes and swimming and similar sports for those living in southern climes. It is also true that, in addition to the development of the exercise salon as mentioned above, the variety of exercises available to individuals living in a particular climate have gradually increased due to the construction of indoor recreation areas for the purpose of bowling, swimming and the like. However, and apart from the exercise salon, it will be immediately apparent that a given individual wishing to participate in a planned program of exercise including an optimum number and variety of exercising routines to tone and conditi-on all parts of the body, has often been required to travel great distances and to different locations in order to participate in a large variety of exercising activities.

While the more modern exercise salons are equipped with a great variety of exercising equipment, such salons and the equipment therefor represent a considerable investment, thereby resulting in fees for their use which are considered to be relatively expensive by many people. Furthermore, such fully equipped salons are normally located only in major population areas presenting considerable inconveniences in visiting same even by those living in such areas. It may also be observed that, even though such a salon or similar type of recreational facility offering a wide variety of exercises and a planned program thereof may be conveniently located with respect to a given individual, the pace of society today involves so many activities for so many people that it is not convenient at all times for one to avail himself of the facilities of such a salon or recreation area. It was a recognition of these and other problems in the field of body conditioning and exercising which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

In view of the foregoing considerations, the present invention includes among its objects the provision of an extremely compact gymnasium which may be easily stored in a house or apartment, such as in a closet, on the back of a door or under a bed, while including a plurality of items of exercise equipment which alone and, in particular in combination with each other provide an almost unlimited variety of exercise routines compatible with practically any program of exercise an individual may wish to undertake.

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It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned comprising, in combination, an exercise platform or bench including a body support surface and a substantially continuous side wall projecting therefrom and forming with the opposite surface thereof a recessed housing in which a plurality of items of exercise equipment may be removably mounted for storage purpose when not in use, the exercise platform or bench being readily storable within a house or apartment such as in a closet, under a bed or hung on the back of a door, and such items of exercise equipment being removable from the exercise platform or bench for use alone or in combination with each other to provide an extremely great variety of exercise routines.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which the items of exercise equipment include a multipurpose gym bar having relatively reciprocable bar members adapted to grippingly engage opposite vertical frame members of a doorway within a home to removably support the gym bar at selectively vertically adjustable positions therebetween for use alone in chinning exercises and the like and, more particularly, in combination with other items of equipment including the exercise platform or bench to provide an extremely great variety of exercise routines.

More specifically, it is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium comprising a multi-purpose gym bar as aforementioned adapted to be removably mounted in a predetermined selected position or height within a doorway of a home for cooperation with notch means carried in opposite portions of the substantially continuous side wall aforementioned of the exercise platform or bench at one end thereof, whereby the inclination of the latter may be varied by varying the position of the gym bar means within the doorway to provide varying loads of exercising effort for a person exercising on the platform or bench such as while doing sit-ups.

It is yet another object andl feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned further comprising, in combination with the aforementioned multi-purpose gym bar and exercise platform or bench, at least a pair of support legs adapted to be removably mounted on the end of the platform or bench remote from the end equipped with the aforementioned notch means whereby, in cooperation with the gym bar at a predetermined selected position Within a doorway and supporting one end of the exercise platform or bench, such legs will function to dispose the exercise platform or bench in a level position for exercises compatible therewith.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned further comprising a cycling mechanism comprising .a tubular or rod-like body member including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member at the upper end of the body member, and a tubular or rod-like support member at the lower end of the body member, whereby the body member may be removably wedged within a doorway of a home at an angle with respect thereto with the aforementioned seating member abuttingly engaging the aforementioned gym bar means in a predetermined selected position or height within the doorway and the support member at the other end of the body member wedged against the floor adjacent the doorway so tha-t the pedaling action and thrust on the cycling mechanism by a person sitting in a chair or the like adjacent the doorway and grasping the gym bar means tends to further wedge the cycling mechanism in rm engagement between the aforementioned gym bar means and oor, thus eliminating from the cycling mechanism the usual wheel, handle bars, framework and seat usually associated with equipment of this type.

It is yet another object and feature -of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned including a gym bar means removably vertically adjustably mountable within a doorway as previously mentioned, further comprising ring and strap members engageable with the gym bar means in a predetermined selected position thereof for performing various exercises, and still further comprising weight and pulley means attachable to the aforementioned ring and strap means and connectible to the gym bar means to perform still other exercises.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which one of the items of equipment thereof comprises a pair of dumbbells which may be used 4independently in various types of arm exercises, as well as providing the weights for use with the aforementioned ring and pulley means.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a compact gymnasium of the type aforementioned in which the -aforementioned dumbbells are particula-rly characterized by grip members which may be used alone in exercising and two pairs of weighted plates respectively removably mountable on the ends of each grip member to vary the overall weight of the dumbbell whether used alone or in combina-tion with the ring and pulley means aforementioned, only one or both weighted plates of each pair thereof being mountable on each end of each grip member to provide a great variation in overall weight which may be selected.

Still further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment -of ythe foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out vin the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth i-n detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventi-on may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevation of a compact gymnasium illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which the various components -thereof are disposed in the relative positions they occupy for storage purposes;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating one use of the gym bar of the gymnasium in cooperation with the exercise platform or bench thereof for varying 4the angular inclination of the lat-ter for various exercising purposes;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view corresponding generally to FIGURE 2, but further illustrating the cooperation between the gym bar and exercise platform or bench of FIGURE 2 with legs for the latter to dispose the exercise platform or bench in a level position for cer-tain types of exercises;

FIGURE 4 is aperspective view illustrating another use for the gym bar in combination with a cycling mechanism forming a part of the gym equipment;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View illustrating yet anotheruse for the gym bar of FIGURES 2 and 3 in which the latter is mounted relatively high in a doorway and exercise rings attached to straps are suspended therefrom for still further types `of exercises;

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 5 but illustrating still another use for the gym bar in combination wi-th pulley and weight means; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the dumbbells shown in FIGURE 6 and illustrates certain details there-of.

Referring now to the drawings, the compact gymnasium with the various items of exercise equipment forming a part thereof is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in FIGURE 1, and comprises an elongate exercise platform or bench 12, an ankle strap 14, gym bar means I6, at least a pair of legs 1'8, a cycle mechanism 2t), a pair of ring and strap means 22, a pair of pulley and cord means 24 and a pair of dumbbells 26.

The exercise platform or bench IZ is of rectangular configuration and comprises an upper or body support surface 28 from which there projects a substantially continuous rectangular side wall 30 to form with the opposite or lower surface 32 of the platform or bench a recessed opening or housing for receipt of the various items of exercise equipment aforementioned and as illustrated in FIGURE 1. While other devices may be employed, FIG- URE 1 further illustrates the various items of exercise equipment as being removably mountable against the lower surface 32 of the exercise platform or bench by looped belting 34 either along or cooperating with support brackets 36 and also by yielda-ble clips 38 respectively secured to such lower surface of the platform or bench as will be readily understood.

Rubber or similar resilient bumpers 40 are suitably secured on posts in each corner of the exercise platform or bench so as to project at least slightly beyond the lower edge of the side wall 30 thereof, whereby the platform or bench may rest -on such bumpers on the floor without damage to the latter. In addition, a pair of conventional mounting brackets 42 are provided on the lower surface 32 adjacent each corner of the exercise platform or bench at one end thereof for releasable engagement with the respective legs 1.8 as will appear hereinafter. A pair of oppositely disposed seating notches 44 are provided in the lower edges of opposite portions of the continuous side wall 30 at the other end of the platform or bench for cooperation with the gym bar means 1'6 as will also 4appear more fully hereinafter. The opposite ends of the ankle strap I4 are adapted to be secured, preferably removably so by snap fasteners, to opposite portions of the continuous side wall 30 adjacent seating notches 44.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1 and 5, the gym bar means 16 is of a known commercially available construction comprising the relatively axially reciprocably adjustable bar members 46 each including a rubber or resilient pad 48 at the end thereof for gripping engagement with the opposite vertical frame members 50 of a doorway within a house or apartment. Thus, by adjusting the bar members 46 relative to each other, the gym bar means may be mounted within the doorway at any selected height or vertical position therein as illustrated, lfor example, in FIGURES 2 through 6.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, the gym bar means 16 is illustrated as being removably mounted at a relatively low level within a doorway and the seating notches 44 of the exercise platform or bench 12 resting thereon so as to incline the platform or bench for a particular program of exercises as will be apparent to those familiar with this art. Thus, an individual may place his ankles beneath the ankle strap 14 and do situps on the platform or bench toward the open doorway. If it is desired to vary the inclination of the platform or bench from that shown in FIGURE 2, it will be apparent that it is only necessary to manipulate the gym bar means and relock it at any given position or height within the doorway.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the gym bar means is illustrated in substantially the position of FIGURE 2, but the legs 18 have been clamped within the mounting brackets 42 to level the platform or bench for another program of exercises such as, for example, lying on the platform or bench and raising and lowering the dumbbells 26, thereby preventing the dumbbells from striking the floor during the exercises. It will also be noted that rubber tips or the like 52 are provided on each of the legs 18 to prevent marring the floor.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the gym bar means 16 may be locked within the doorway at another predetermined position for cooperation with the cycle mechanism 20. The cycle mechanism comprises a single tubular rod or body member 54 having a short arcuately shaped seating member or saddle 56 extending perpendicularly of one end thereof, and a longer single tubular rod or support member 58 extending perpendicularly of the other end thereof and provided at its opposite ends with rubber tips 60 or the like to prevent marring the floor. A pedal mechanism 62 includes the usual axle shaft suitably rotatably supported within a housing 64 secured to a lower portion of the body member 54, and an adjustable knob 66 is connected to a suitable brake means interiorly of the housing 64 and acting upon the pedal mechanism to vary the resistance of pedaling action thereof.

To use the cycle mechanism, the seating member or saddle member 56 is engaged with a bar member 46 of the gym bar disposed at a predetermined height within the doorway so that the support member 58 engages the floor adjacent and to one side of the vertical frame members 50 of the doorway; in other words, so that the body member 54 extends downwardly from the gym bar means and away from the doorway.l Thus, an individual may sit on a conventional chair, hassock or the like, grasp the gym bar means 16 on each side of seating member or saddle 56 and drive the pedal mechanism 62, resulting in a thrust which wedges the seating member or saddle 56 and support member 58 into even firmer wedging engagement with the gym bar means and the floor, respectively.

In FIGURE 5, still another use of the gym bar means is illustrated in combination with the ring and strap means 22. Before installing the gym bar means in the position illustrated, the straps are looped therearound to suspend the ring and `strap means for various types of exercises thereon as will be readily apparent to those acquainted with the art.

FIGURE 6 shows yet another use for the gym bar `means in combination with the ring and strap means 22, the pulley and cord means 24 and the dumbbells 26. Thus, the respective pulleys may be removably connected to conventional clips removably mounted about the gym bar means 16 disposed at a suitable height within the doorway, and the respective cords reaved about each of the pulleys. One end of each cord is removably connected through a suitable fastener to one end of the strap associated with each of the ring and strap means 22, while the other end of each cord is removably connected through a suitable fastener to an eye screw 68 extending from one end of each of the dumbbells 26. Thus, the ring and strap means 22 may be pulled upon for exercising in a well known manner.

The dumbbells 26 may be used independently from the equipment aforedescribed, as in conjunction with the level exercise platform or bench illustrated in FIG- URE 3 and as aforementioned. Whether used alone or in the combination illustrated in FIGURE 6, it is significant to note that each of the dumbbells involves a con struction permitting variation in the weights thereof and ready attachment to the pulley and cord means 24. Thus, and referring to FIGURE 7, each dumbbell comprises a hand grip 70 including a threaded bore 72 in each end thereof. A pair of weight plates 74 and 76 are provided for each end of the hand grips 70, the weight plates 74 including threaded fasteners 78 secured thereto and the weight plates 76 including bores 80 therethrough. Thus, the hand grips 70 may be used alone, or various combinations of the weight plates 74 and 76 removably attached thereto. FIGURE 7 illustrates all the weight plates attached by inserting the threaded fasteners 78 on weight plates 74 through bores 80 in weight plates 76 an-d into threaded bores 72 in each end of the hand grip. As will be apparent, only weight plates 74 or only one thereof may be attached to the hand grip so that the latter may receive from one to four such weight plates. The eye screws 68 are threadable into suitable bores in threaded fasteners 78 to permit ready attachment of the dumbbells to the pulley and cord means as previously described.

From the foregoing description, it will now be appreciated that the present invention provides an extremely versatile array of exercise equipment cooperable in such a manner as to provide a practically unlimited variety of eX- ercising routines compatible with any practically conceivable program of body conditioning, and which equipment is, nonetheless, so constructed and arranged as to form an extremely compact gymnasium readily stored in any convenient place within the home when not in use.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawing and described above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the apparatus and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination, gym bar means mountable between the opposite vertical frame members of a doorway, cycling means comprising a body member including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member at -the upper end of said body member, and a support member at the lower end of said body member, said body member being removably wedgeable within said doorway at an angle thereto with said seating member abuttingly engaging said gym bar means and said support member engaging the floor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means may be operated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedaling action further wedges said body member between said gym bar means and the floor.

2. In combination, gym bar means mountable between the opposite vertical frame members of a doorway, cycling means comprising a rod-like body member including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member extending perpendicularly of said body member at the upper end thereof, and a rod-like support member extending perpendicularly of said body member at the lower end thereof, said body member being removably wedgeable within said doorway at an angle thereto with said seating member abuttingly engaging said gym bar means and said support member engaging the floor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means may be operated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedaling action further wedges said body member between said gym bar means and the oor.

3. In combination, a multipurpose gym bar means including relatively reciprocably adjustable bar members respectively removably engageable with opposite vertical frame members of a doorway to removably support said gym bar means at selectively vertically adjustable positions therebetween; cycling means comprising a single rod-like body member including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member extending perpendicularly of said body member at the upper end thereof, and a single rod-like support member extending perpendicularly of said body member at the lower end thereof, said body member being removably wedgeable within said doorway at an angle thereto with said seating member abuttingly engaging said gym bar means in a predetermined selected position thereof within said doorway and said support member engaging the oor adjacent said doorway, whereby said pedal means may be operated by a person sitting adjacent said doorway and the pedaling action further wedges said body member between said gym bar means and the floor.

4. A compact gymnasium comprising, in combination, an exercise platform including a body support surface and substantially continuous side Wall means projecting therefrom and forming with the opposite surface thereof a recessed housing, a plurality of items of exercise equipment including multi-purpose gym bar means, at least a pair of leg means for one end of said exercise platform and cycling means, and means detachably supporting said items within said housing; said multi-purpose gym bar means including relatively reciprocably adjustable bar members respectively removably engageable With opposite vertical frame members of a doorway to removably support said gym bar means at selectively vertically adjustable positions therebetween; a pair of notch means in opposed portions of said side wall means adjacent one end of said exercise platform, said notch means being engageable with said gym bar means in selected positions thereof to vary the angular inclination of said exercise platform; said leg means being removably mountable adjacent the other end of said platform and cooperable with said gym bar means in a predetermined selected posi-tion thereof in engagement with said notch means to level said exercise platform; said cycling means comprising a single tubular body member including pedal means rotatably mounted thereon, a seating member extending perpendicularly ofv said body member at the upper end thereof, and a single tubular support member extending perpendicularly of said body member at the lower end thereof, said body member being removably wedgeable within a doorway at an angle thereto with said seating member abuttingly engaging said gym bar means `in a predetermined selected position thereof within said'doorway and said support member engaging the floor adjacent said doorway, whereby operation of said pedal means by a person sitting adjacent said doorway further wedges said body member between said gym bar means and the floor.

5. The compact gymnasium as dened in claim .4 further comprising a pair of dumbbells, each of said dumbbells comprising a grip member, a pair of weights for each end of said grip member, andathr'eaded member secured to one weight of each pair of weights and insertable through the other thereof to removable th're'adable engagement with respective ends of said grip member, whereby said one weight of each pair thereof may be engaged with said grip member alone and with the other thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,326 2/ 1893 Whitney 272-81 1,126,857 2/1915 Platt 272-61 1,431,673 10/1922 Lucus 108-48 1,645,457 10/1927 Schall 272-84 X 1,646,818 10/ 1927 Holland 272-84 1,672,944 6/1928 Jowett 272-84 2,632,645 3/1953 Barkschat 272-62 2,783,045 2/ 1957 Bosch 272-81 2,817,522 12/1957 Margulies 272-58 2,855,200 10/ 1958 Blickman 272-58 2,919,134 12/1959 Zuro 272-62 X 3,127,171 3/1964 Noland et al 272-58 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 4. A COMPACT GYMMASIUM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN EXERCISE PLATFORM INCLUDING A BODY SUPPORT SURFACE AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS SIDE WALL MEANS PROJECTING THEREFROM AND FORMING WITH THE OPPOSITE SURFACE THEREOF A RECESSED HOUSING, A PLURALITY OF ITEMS OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT INCLUDING MULTI-PURPOSE GYM BAR MEANS, AT LEAST A PAIR OF LEG MEANS FOR ONE END OF SAID EXERCISE PLATFORM AND CYCLING MEANS, AND MEANS DETACHABLY SUPPORTING SAID ITEMS WITHIN SAID HOUSING; SAID MULTI-PURPOSES GYM BAR MEANS INCLUDING RELATIVELY RECIPROCABLY ADJUSTABLE BAR MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH OPPOSITE VERTICAL FRAME MEMBERS OF A DOORWAY TO REMOVABLY SUPPORT SAID GYM BAR MEANS AT SELECTIVELY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY POSITION THEREBETWEEN; A PAIR OF NOTCH MEANS IN OPPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID EXERCISE PLATFORM, SAID NOTCH MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID GYM BAR MEANS IN SELECTED POSITIONS THEREOF TO VARY THE ANGULAR INCLINATION OF SAID EXERCISE PLATFORM; SID LEG MEANS BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SAID PLATFORM AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID GYM BAR MEANS IN A PREDETERMINED SELECTED POSITION THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOTCH MEANS ROTATABLY EXERCISE PLATFORM; SAID CYCLING MEANS COMPRISING A SINGLE TUBULAR BODY MEMBER INCLUDING PEDAL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED THEREON, A SEATING MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, AND A SINGLE TUBULAR SUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AT THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING REMOVABLY WEDGEABLE WITHIN A DOORWAY AT AN ANGLE THERETO WITH SAID SEATING MEMBER ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING SAID GYM BAR MEANS IN A PREDETERMINED SELECTED POSITION THEREOF WITHIN SAID DOORWAY AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING THE FLOOR ADJACENT SAID DOORWAY, WHEREBY OPERATION OF SAID PEDAL MEANS BY A PERSON SITTING ADJACENT SAID DOORWAY FURTHER WEDGES SAID BODY MEMBER BETWEEN SAID GYM BAR MEANS AND THE FLOOR.

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