U.S. patent application number 10/084277 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-26 for device for attaching an elastic member to exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Endelman, Ken.
Application Number | 20020137607 10/084277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26770789 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020137607 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Endelman, Ken |
September 26, 2002 |
Device for attaching an elastic member to exercise apparatus
Abstract
A spring anchor for a spring biased exercise device has an
hourglass shaped solid body adapted to receive one closed loop end
of a coil spring therearound. The solid body has a central axial
bore therethrough, a maximum outer diameter and a waist having a
diameter less than the outer diameter. A flexible disc is fastened
transversely to a top portion of the body. The disc has an outer
diameter greater than the outer diameter of the solid body so that
it extends beyond the outer diameter of the body. A cap member
fastens the flexible disc between the top of the solid body and a
cap portion of the cap member. The cap member in turn fastens the
anchor to a flat surface of the exercise device. The spring anchor
outer diameter is sized to fit within a closed loop at one end of
the coil spring. The flexible disc is sized larger than the closed
loop, so that the flexible disc must elastically deform to permit
the eye to pass over the disc and onto the spring anchor. The
flexible disc prevents inadvertent slippage of the closed loop of
the spring off of the anchor.
Inventors: |
Endelman, Ken; (Sacramento,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
26770789 |
Appl. No.: |
10/084277 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60277331 |
Mar 20, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/123 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/0429 20130101;
A63B 22/0056 20130101; A63B 21/023 20130101; A63B 23/03541
20130101; A63B 2208/0228 20130101; A63B 21/00065 20130101; A63B
21/0421 20130101; A63B 21/055 20130101; A63B 2022/0038 20130101;
A63B 21/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/123 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A spring anchor adapted to be fastened to a surface, the anchor
comprising: an hourglass shaped solid body adapted to receive one
closed loop end of a coil spring therearound, the solid body having
a central axial bore therethrough, a maximum outer diameter, a
waist having a diameter less than the outer diameter; a flexible
disc fastened to a top portion of the body, the disc having an
outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the solid body,
and a cap member fastening the flexible disc between the top of the
solid body and a cap portion of the cap member, wherein the spring
anchor outer diameter is sized to fit within the closed loop end of
the coil spring and the flexible disc is sized larger than the
closed loop, the flexible disc elastically deflecting to permit the
closed loop to pass over the disc and onto the spring anchor, the
flexible disc preventing inadvertent slippage of the closed loop of
the spring off of the anchor.
2. The spring anchor according to claim 1 wherein the flexible disc
is an elastomeric material.
3. The spring anchor according to claim 1 wherein the cap member is
a threaded bolt passing through the solid body and through a
central aperture in the flexible disc.
4. The spring anchor according to claim 1 wherein the flexible disc
is a composite material having a fabric reinforcing layer and
elastomer substrate layers sandwiching the reinforcing layer.
5. The spring anchor according to claim 1 further comprising a
washer positioned over the flexible disc on the cap member.
6. The spring anchor according to claim 5 wherein the cap member is
a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, the threaded portion
passing through the washer, the flexible disc, and through the
axial bore in the solid body, the head and the solid body
sandwiching the washer and the flexible disc therebetween.
7. In an exercise apparatus having one or more springs fastened
between a movable member and a frame member, a spring anchor
adapted to be fastened to one of the members, the anchor
comprising: an hourglass shaped solid body adapted to receive one
closed loop end of a coil spring therearound, the solid body having
a central axial bore therethrough, a maximum outer diameter, a
waist having a diameter less than the outer diameter; a flexible
disc fastened to a top portion of the body, the disc having an
outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the solid body,
and a cap member fastening the flexible disc between the top of the
solid body and a cap portion of the cap member, wherein the spring
anchor outer diameter is sized to fit within the closed loop end of
the coil spring and the flexible disc is sized larger than the
closed loop, the flexible disc elastically deflecting to permit the
closed loop to pass over the disc and onto the spring anchor, the
flexible disc preventing inadvertent slippage of the closed loop of
the spring off of the anchor.
8. The spring anchor according to claim 7 wherein the flexible disc
is an elastomeric material.
9. The spring anchor according to claim 7 wherein the cap member is
a threaded bolt passing through the solid body and through a
central aperture in the flexible disc.
10. The spring anchor according to claim 7 wherein the flexible
disc is a composite material having a fabric reinforcing layer and
elastomer substrate layers sandwiching the reinforcing layer.
11. The spring anchor according to claim 7 further comprising a
washer positioned over the flexible disc on the cap member.
12. The spring anchor according to claim 11 wherein the cap member
is a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, the threaded
portion passing through the washer, the flexible disc, and through
the axial bore in the solid body into one of the movable member and
the frame member, the head and the solid body sandwiching the
washer and the flexible disc therebetween.
13. An exercise apparatus having a movable member and a frame
member and a coil spring fastened therebetween and a spring anchor
fastened to one of the members removably fastening one end of the
spring to the spring anchor, wherein the spring anchor comprises:
an hourglass shaped solid body receiving one closed loop end of the
coil spring therearound, the solid body having a central axial bore
therethrough, a maximum outer diameter, a waist having a diameter
less than the outer diameter; a flexible disc fastened to a top
portion of the body, the disc having an outer diameter greater than
the outer diameter of the solid body, and a cap member fastening
the flexible disc between the top of the solid body and a cap
portion of the cap member, wherein the spring anchor outer diameter
is sized to fit within the closed loop end of the coil spring and
the flexible disc is sized larger than the closed loop, the
flexible disc elastically deflecting to permit the closed loop to
pass over the disc and onto the spring anchor, the flexible disc
preventing inadvertent slippage of the closed loop of the coil
spring off of the anchor.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the flexible disc
is an elastomeric material.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cap member is a
threaded bolt passing through the solid body and through a central
aperture in the flexible disc into the one member.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the flexible disc
is a composite material having a fabric reinforcing layer and
elastomeric substrate layers sandwiching the reinforcing layer.
17. The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a washer
positioned over the flexible disc on the cap member.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the cap member is a
bolt having a head and a threaded portion, the threaded portion
passing through the washer, the flexible disc, and through the
axial bore in the solid body, the head and the solid body
sandwiching the washer and the flexible disc therebetween.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention generally relates to resistance based
exercise equipment and more particularly to a spring anchor for a
spring biased resistance exercise devices such as a Pilates combo
chair.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Today, many types of exercise equipment are available and
used for fitness and/or medical reasons to burn off undesired
calories, to improve cardiovascular ability, to tone or strengthen
muscles, or to improve flexibility, balance, posture, etc. No
matter what the desired end goal of a user of exercise equipment
may be, almost all types of exercise equipment aid the user to
achieve his or her desired goal by creating some form of adequate
and effective resistance against repeated bodily movements of the
user.
[0005] A hook is often used to connect each of the two ends of the
spring (or generally a force resisting mechanism) to a fixed
location on the exercise equipment. However, a hook may easily
become unattached from the exercise equipment if the spring to
which the hook is connected becomes relaxed. Thus, there is a need
for a device that securely connects a force resisting mechanism to
an appropriate location of exercise equipment and that allows the
force resisting mechanism to remain securely connected in place as
the tension and stress of the force resisting mechanism is varied
or modulated.
[0006] A Pilates Wunda or Combo chair is one such exercise device
that is basically a box structure that has one open side out of
which one or two spring biased pivot arms protrude. The box
structure is designed to rest on a horizontal surface such as a
floor. Each of the pivot arms has one end fastened to an inside
wall of the box. The free end of the pivot arm has a foot
step/support pad mounted thereon. A user typically stands on the
floor and steps or presses downward on the step pad at the free end
of the pivot arm with his or her foot or hand to rotate the arm
downward against tension provided by one or more coil springs
attached between an anchor point on the arm and an anchor point
inside the box in order to perform various exercise movements.
[0007] One end of each coil spring is attached to one of the pivot
arms typically via a hook. The other end of each coil spring
typically has a hook that must be inserted into the eye of an
eyebolt fastened to the inside or the inner sidewall of the combo
chair structure. The user must physically bend down, look under the
top of the chair to align and engage the hook into the eyebolt.
This action is awkward and inconvenient for the user as it is often
difficult to attach the spring without visually watching connection
as it is being made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Against this backdrop the present invention has been
designed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a
spring anchor adapted to be fastened to a surface of an exercise
apparatus such as a Pilates combo chair. In the combo chair
application, the anchor in accordance with the present invention
may be mounted on the pivot arm and also mounted to the inner
sidewall of the box frame structure.
[0009] The anchor basically is an hourglass shaped solid body
adapted to receive one end of a coil spring therearound. The solid
body has a central axial bore therethrough, a maximum outer
diameter, and a waist having a diameter less than the outer
diameter. A flexible disc is fastened to a top portion of the body.
This disc has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of
the solid body so that the outer edge of the disc extends beyond
the solid body. A threaded cap member passes through the flexible
disc and through the solid body fastening the flexible disc between
the top of the solid body and a cap portion of the cap member. The
threaded cap member then threads into the surface of the exercise
device. The spring anchor outer diameter is sized to fit within an
eye at the one end of the coil spring and the flexible disc is
sized larger than the eye, so that the flexible disc elastically
deflects and deforms to permit the eye to pass over the disc and
onto the spring anchor.
[0010] After a spring is fastened to the anchor, the flexible disc
prevents inadvertent slippage of the eye of the spring off of the
anchor. The spring can easily be removed from the anchor by
releasing the tension on the spring and forcing the eye over the
flexible disc and off the anchor body. The flexible disc acts as a
retainer or guard on the anchor to prevent inadvertent dislodging
of the spring from the anchor. These and other features, advantages
and objects of the invention will become more apparent from a
reading of the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus that
incorporates an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of an anchor in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention separate from the exercise
apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] One type of exercise apparatus, which utilizes an embodiment
of the present invention described hereinafter, is shown in FIG. 1.
The Pilates combo chair 100 may have single or split steps 102. The
split steps 102 may easily be converted into a single step by
inserting a dowel (not shown), horizontally through a bore 108
through each of the two aligned split steps 102. The dowel connects
the split steps together forming a single step. As shown in FIG. 1,
each step is at the free end of a pivot arm 104. The other end of
the pivot arm 104 is connected to the base of the box shaped frame
structure 106 the combo chair 100 by a self-lubricating bearing for
smooth operation and rotation of the arm 104. The step 102 is
padded and covered with a rubberized or other type of non-slip
material that minimize accidental foot slippage by increasing the
surface friction between the step and a user's foot that rests on
the step 102. One or more springs 110 each have one end 112
connected to the pivot arm 104 via an anchor 120. The other end 114
of the spring 110 is fastened to a sidewall of the frame structure
106 via another anchor 120 in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] A user performs various exercises by placing one or two feet
on the footrests and undergoing a series of stepping movements. The
springs 110 provide a level of resistance that may be varied by
changing the number of springs and/or the spring attachment
location to one of the anchors 120 to which the spring or springs
are attached. For example, the combo chair 100 shown in FIG. 1 has
five spring attachment anchors in accordance with the present
invention for each step 102. There are three anchors on the
sidewall of the frame 106 of the combo chair 100 and two on the
step pivot arm 104 near the step 102.
[0015] The anchor 120 is shown in a separate side view in FIG. 2.
Also shown in FIG. 2 is a cross section of one of the closed hook
ends of a spring that forms a ring or eye 132 that is positioned
just over the anchor 120 to illustrate the relative dimensions of
the ring 132 and the anchor 120. The anchor 120 has an
hourglass-shaped solid body 122 preferably made of a metal such as
aluminum or steel that has a central axial through bore 124. The
upper portion 126 of the body 122 has an outer diameter greater
than a mid waist portion 128. Thus the waist 128 has a diameter
less than the maximum outer diameter of the upper portion 126. The
body 122 is shaped and sized to receive one closed end 132 of a
coil spring 110 therearound.
[0016] A flexible disc 130 is positioned on the top of the upper
portion of the body. This disc 130 has an outer diameter greater
than the maximum outer diameter of the upper portion 126 of the
solid body 122. A washer 134 is positioned on top of the flexible
disc 130 and a cap bolt 136 passes through the washer 134, the disc
130, and through the axial bore 124. The cap bolt 136 is then
fastened to a surface such as the box frame 106 of the combo chair
100 or fastened to the pivot arm 104 as is shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] The spring anchor outer diameter is sized to fit within the
ring 132 at the end of the coil spring 110. The flexible disc 130
is sized larger than the eye of the ring so that the flexible disc
130 must elastically deform or deflect to permit the ring 132 to
pass over the disc 130 and onto the spring anchor body 122. The
flexible disc 130 prevents inadvertent slippage of the ring 132 of
the spring 110 off of the anchor 120. The flexible disc 130 is an
annular disc made of an elastomeric material and is preferably made
of a reinforced neoprene that is flexible yet has sufficient
stiffness to preclude inadvertent dislocation of the ring 132 from
the anchor 120. One such material is a neoprene laminate that has
one or more reinforcing fabric layers embedded in the neoprene
substrate.
[0018] The cap member that holds the washer 134, the flexible disc
130, and the anchor body 122 together is preferably a threaded bolt
136 that has a cap portion and a threaded portion that passes
through the solid body 122 and through the central aperture in the
flexible disc 130. This cap member may be a screw or a bolt and the
cap portion preferably is a rounded head to hold the washer in
place on the flexible disc 130 and together with the body 122
against the supporting surface. The washer 134 may be omitted from
the anchor 120 if the flexible disc 130 has sufficient rigidity of
its own accord to retain the ring 132 on the anchor 120. The washer
134 may also be omitted if the head of the bolt 136 is wide or
broad enough in diameter to provide the support of the flexible
disc 130 required. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention
described hereinabove provides safety, convenience, and ease of use
to users of exercise equipment.
[0019] It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted
to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those
inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment has been
described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be
made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the
art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention as set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *