WO1989010773A1

WO1989010773A1 - Exercise bar and attachment

Info

Publication number: WO1989010773A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/001420
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis Asbury
Original assignee: Dennis Asbury
Priority date: 1988-05-02
Filing date: 1988-05-02
Publication date: 1989-11-16
Also published as: JPH03500490A; AU623081B2; AU1937888A

Abstract

A versatile baton (2) to perform a variety of muscle-developing exercises. A tubular elastomeric band (8) with an elastomeric plug (15) inserted within its opposite ends, expanding their tubular cross-section, is translated into an elastomeric insert (16) which bears against the inside wall of the tubular exercise baton. The combination of elastomeric plug and insert materials bearing against the elastomeric band avoids sharp edges, stress concentrations and the need for specially formed mating surfaces in the baton, and allows speedy assembly. The exercise baton can be a set of bar sections (4, 5, 6), capable of several assemblies, allowing uses of the equipment for different exercises.

Description

EXERCISE BAR AND ATTACHMENT

SPECIFICATION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise devices, more specifically to exercising equipment utilizing resilient force-resisters.

Background of the Invention

Exercise equipment for in-home use should be small, light weight, rugged construc ion, pleasing in appearance and low in cost. However, at the same time, the exercise equipment must have a high reliability and be able to safely perform a variety of exercise functions within the limitations of an in-home environment.

Typical in-home exercise equipment currently employs resilient bands or metal springs which must be stretched by the user. However, the user does not grip the bands or springs directly, but grips a solid handle or other portion of the equipment, as shown in Figure 4 of U.S. Patent No. 4,257,591. Metal springs are sturdy and can be easily attached to the handle or other parts of the exercise equipment, but can be misused, can allow clothing or other objects to get caught between coils, are subject to corrosion, tend to be heavy, and may interfere with other sets of coils.

Resilient elastomeric bands are light weight, do not tend to capture objects (between coils) , and can be very tolerant of many types of misuse. However, they are susceptible to abrasion, and cutting failures, especially at the attachment point to the handle or other equipment. This type of failure can be very damaging to the user, even if safety chords are used to restrain motion of bands. Various approaches to minimize the danger of abrasion and cutting failures have been applied to exercise equipment. The simplest approaches generally depend upon a knotting of the elastomeric band_* The knot may bear against a bare hole in the equipment or the knot may form a loop allowing bearing around a bar (as shown in Figure 10 of U.S. Patent No. 4,059,265) , or the knot may bear against a pair of rings attached to the handle (as shown in Figure 11 of U.S. Patent No. 3,256,015). A modification of this approach is to preform an expanded portion of the elastomeric band which can substitute for a knot (as shown in Figure 12 of U.S. Patent No. 4,059,265) .

Another approach is to attach the elastomeric band by friction (as shown in Figures 7 and 8 of U.S. Patent No. 3,256,015) or friction assisted by compressing and inserting the elastomeric material into a preformed element of the handle (as shown in figure 5-9 of U.S. Patent No. 4,059,265) .

These prior approaches have many limitations. These include: additional cost and weight of attachment equipment (rings, preformed elements, knots, etc.) , careful deburring, chamfering and/or rounding of interface surfaces, and added assembly time and costs for the added equipment and interfaces.

Summary of the Inventin

The principal and secondary objects of the invention are: to provide a simple exercise bar capable of a variety of exercise uses; to provide a simple and reliable means of attaching an elastomeric band to exercise equipment; to provide an attachment means capable of resisting abrasion and cutting during a variety of exercise functions; and to provide an attachment means which may be quickly assembled.

These and other objects are achieved by a tubular elastomeric band within a plug insert expanding the tubular cross-section into an elastomeric insert which bears against an exercise bar or other exercise equipment. The combination of elastomeric materials bearing against the elastomeric band avoids sharp edges, stress concentrations and the need for specially fo^'rmed mating surfaces in the handle or other exercise equipment, and allows speedy assembly. The specific exercise equipment can be a set of bar sections, capable of several assemblies, allowing multiple uses of the equipment for different exercises .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of an exercise bar;

Figure 2 shows a back exploded view thereof; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bearing element;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the flexible band attachment; and Figure 5 shows a use of the exercise bar.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of an exercise baton or bar. Left and right handle surfaces 2 and 3 covered by a fabric or synthetic padding allow a user to grip the bar sections 4 and 5 with each hand. The bar sections 4 and 5 are removably attached to center bar section 6, which is partially covered with an alternate center handle padding 7. A flexible and resiliently extensible band 8 is attached to the left and right bar sections 4 and 5 passing through left and right handles 2 and 3. The user may use both hands to grip the left and right handles while portions of band 8 are restrained (by the user's feet in one configuration) , or he may use one or both hands to grip the center handle 7. In this embodiment, the bar sections 4, 5 and 6 are hollow tubular members, made from metal, however, the members may be other than circular and may be made from plastics, wood or other structural material.

Left and right handles 2 and 3 include portions of left and right bar sections 4 and 5 which are attached to center bar section 6. Left and right handles have respective ports through which the flexible band 8 passes. In the embodiment shown, the ports do not extend through both sides of the handles. Alternate configurations could allow the flexible band to pass entirely through a rigid element of exercise equipment o .

Figure 2 shows a front exploded view of the bar sections. Bar sections 4 and 5 are hollow tubular elements with dimpled internal protrusions

11 and 12. Dimples 11 and 12 mate with grooves 13 and 14 in the center bar section 6. This allows the left and right bar sections 4 and 5 to be used independently, with the center section 6, or with another mating component of an exercise system. A section of flexible band 8 shows the hollow construction of the band. The band can be made from a stretchable rubber or plastic material, which may also be reinforced with cords for additional strength and safety.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bearing element 16 which is inserted into each handle to retain opposite ends of the band 8. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of each of the attachments of the flexible band ends to the bar sections. The stretchable and flexible band 8 enters port 10 in right handle 3 of right bar section 5. The port 10 has a diameter larger than the flexible band 8. The larger port accommodates the beaded rim 20 of the bearing element 16 preventing contact of the band with the edge of the port to minimize abrasion. A cylindrical plug 15 has been inserted into the hollow end portion of band 8, expanding the cross-sectional dimensions (diameter) proximate to the plug. The plug is made from elastomeric materials such as plastic or rubber. Alternate embodiments could be a sphere or other shape with an outside dimension larger than the internal diameter of band 8. Insertion of the plug 15 can be accomplished outside or separate from, bar section 5 and band 8 pulled until the plug is proximate to the bearing element 16. The bearing element 16 has a bore 17 through which also passes band 8, a beveled band bearing surface 18 which mates with and supports the expanded portion of band 8 proximate to plug 15, and a rigid bar bearing surface. The bore 16 in this embodiment is dimensioned to be in sliding contact with the external surface of band 8, allowing the band to be pulled while the bearing element is restrained, or to allow the bearing element to translate along the length of the band. The bearing element also has a lower bearing surface 19 which distributes the forces stretching the band 8 over the peripheral area of the port inside the bar section 5. Although bar section 5 is shown as a hollow tubular member, a bored solid bar sections could be used, especially if the bore or port is expanded near the surface of the bar to rest the plug 15 and the bearing element 16. The bearing element or insert 16 is made from an elastomeric material such as rubber or plastic to provide smooth, non-abrasive bearing surfaces. The central gussets 21 on either side of bore 17 strengthen the rigidity of the bearing element.

The dimensions of the components are critical to the function. Band 8 must be tough enough to withstand a variety of exercise forces to be within the large cycle life fatigue limits of the material. The hollow design gives maximum bending strength and flexibility with minimum weight, and the hollow dimensions selected to achieve the strength/flexibility performance requirements. Experimentation with this design has indicated that a stretchable rubber tube with an outside diameter of approximately 1.3 cm (0.2 inch) and an inside diameter of approximately 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) satisfy the performance requirements. The diameter of the bearing element port 17 is slightly smaller than the 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) outside diameter of band 8. The optimal outside diameter of the solid rubber plug 15 is approximately 1 cm (0.4 inch) . Larger plugs present difficulties in inserting into the hollow band, while smaller plugs do not provide sufficient surface area to transfer the stretching forces to the plastic bearing element. The band bearing surface 18 has been found to function well using a bell-shaped surface with a maximum diameter of from 1.5 to 1.9 cm (0.6 to 0.75 inches) .

Figure 5 shows a use of the exercise bar. User 22 is pulling up on the center handle 7, stretching the band 8 which is restrained by user's feet. The handles in this embodiment are covered with a deformable foam material, which allows the handles to be comfortably grasped, or pressed against other part of the body.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims with departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. The combination of a rigid tubular exercise baton for use by an exercise enthusiast, a flexible band and means for the attachment to said exercise baton comprising: a hollow flexible and resiliently extensible band having given circular cross- sectional dimensions; a plug inserted within the interior of said band, said plug shaped and dimensioned to expand said cross-sectional dimensions of a portion of said band; a bearing element engaged in said baton adjacent to a port in a side of said baton, said bearing element having a circular bore, said bore having a diameter generally equal to the cross- sectional diameter of said band, a band bearing surface within said bore shaped and dimensioned to mate with and restrain said expanded portion, and a bearing contact surface shaped and dimensioned to intimately mate with an inside section of said baton surrounding said port.

2. The combination claimed in Claim 1, wherein said exercise baton comprises: a left bar section having a first of such port and bearing element retaining one end of said band; a right bar section having a second of such port and bearing element retaining the other end of said band; and a center bar section removably attached at opposite ends to said left and right bar sections.

3. The combination claimed in Claim 2 which also comprises resilient pads covering each of said bar sections.

4. The combination claimed in Claim 3, wherein said pads are made from a deformable foamed material and said bar sections are made from hollow metal tubes.

5. The combination claimed in Claim 4, wherein said band is made from rubber tubes having an outside diameter of approximately 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) and an inside diameter of approximately 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) .

6. The combination claimed in Claim 5, wherein said plug is a cylinder made from solid rubber having an outside diameter of approximately 1 cm (0.4 inch) .

7. The combination claimed in Claim 1, wherein said bearing element comprises a beaded rim around one end of said bore, said beaded rim being dimensioned to engage and line said port.