U.S. patent number 3,640,529 [Application Number 05/048,085] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for push-pull spring-type exercising device.
Invention is credited to John F. Kane.
United States Patent |
3,640,529 |
Kane |
February 8, 1972 |
PUSH-PULL SPRING-TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE
Abstract
An exercising apparatus for bar bell-type exercises for the
development and strengthening of major portions of the body
including arms and legs, in which the forces are provided by
resisting springs with the same freedom that weights are used in
connection with the bar bells themselves and which are used in
connection with the bar bells themselves and which includes a
horizontal work bar that can be vertically connected to springs at
its opposite ends and the spring force resisted intermediate its
ends while the user is positioned between vertical guides. Top,
bottom and vertically adjustable intermediate spring arm supports
are detachably carried on opposing channel supports. Parts are
provided so that the arm supports can be easily adjusted or
disassembled and the bar is carried in sliding bar guides adapted
to be adjusted in and between space formed by opposed channel
guides extending vertically and held upon the base by insertion at
their lower ends into laterally-spaced sleeve supports. Knob
projections are provided upon the vertical channel guides and upon
the work bar are disposed sleeve disc assemblies adapted to be
engage the knob projections of the vertical guides to support the
bar when not being used and which can, by the user of the bar, be
easily slid out of engagement with the knob projections when the
bar is to be worked against the action of the springs.
Inventors: |
Kane; John F. (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
21952652 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/048,085 |
Filed: |
June 22, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/129;
482/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/023 (20130101); A63B 21/04 (20130101); A63B
2208/0252 (20130101); A63B 21/00061 (20130101); A63B
2208/0228 (20130101); A63B 21/055 (20130101); A63B
21/0428 (20130101); A63B 2208/0233 (20130101); A63B
21/078 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/04 (20060101); A63B 21/02 (20060101); A63B
21/06 (20060101); A63B 21/055 (20060101); A63B
21/078 (20060101); A63b 021/20 (); A63b 023/04 ();
A63b 023/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/83R,82,79R,80,81,DIG.4,DIG.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercising apparatus comprising a base platform, vertical
sleeve supports removably secured to the platform, two pairs of
vertically extending opposed channel guides secured at their lower
ends in the vertical sleeve supports, bar guides freely slidable in
the opposed channel guides, a work bar extending between the
vertical supports through the bar guides and outwardly therebeyond,
upper and lower spring supporting arm assemblies removably secured
to the vertical sleeve supports and channel guides, work springs
detachably connected between the outer ends of the work bar and any
one of the spring supporting arm assemblies, a means carried by the
work bar for aiding in securing the bar in a predetermined elevated
position on the vertical channel guides, said means comprising two
independently movable members that are attached to and manually
movable laterally along the longitudinal axis of the work bar, and
extended projections on the vertical channel guides that engage the
movable members so as to support said work bar during one exercise
program and to prevent vertical movement of the work bar during a
different exercise program.
2. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each said
upper spring supporting arm assembly comprises a block disposed
within each pair of said pairs of opposed channel guides, bolt
means extending through the channel guides to hold the block
against the channel guides, a rod extending into and carried by
said block, and bolt and wing nut means for removably securing the
rod to the block.
3. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising
a lower spring supporting arm assembly, said lower spring
supporting arm assembly comprising a rod having a reduced portion
extending through one side of one of the vertical sleeve supports
and into engaging relationship with the other side of the said one
of the vertical sleeve supports, and bolt and nut means on the rod
for securing said rod to the said one of the said vertical sleeve
supports.
4. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 further comprising an
intermediate spring supporting arm assembly said intermediate
spring supporting assembly comprising an intermediate block adapted
to be fitted between one pair of said pair of opposing channel
guides, a rod extending through the block and beyond the opposite
side of said intermediate block, bolt and nut means for securing
said rod to the intermediate block, said vertical sleeve supports
having slots extending downwardly from the upper ends thereof to
permit vertical adjustment of the intermediate spring supporting
arm assemblies in the vertical sleeve supports, bolt extending
through each of said vertical sleeve supports and opposed channel
guide to support the block and the rod within each vertical sleeve
support, and a removable pin extending through each of said
vertical sleeve supports to hold the interspring supporting arm
against upward displacement in each of said vertical sleeve
supports.
5. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising
a series of vertically spaced adjusting holes in each pair of said
pairs of vertically extending opposed channel guides for receiving
the removable pin and thereby permit location of the spring arm
assembly at different elevations upon the vertically extending
opposed channel guides.
6. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising
a latch means, said latch means comprising vertically spaced pairs
of knob projections provided on the respective pairs of said pairs
of channel guides, a work bar said work bar having two separate
sleeves axially adjustable along the work bar and each of said
axially adjustable sleeves having a disc, each one of said discs
adapted to span a pair of said pairs of knob projections thereby
supporting the work bar when the work bar is not being used, said
axially adjustable sleeves being inwardly adjustable by hands of a
user to disengage the discs from the pair knob projections and free
the work bar for use with the work springs.
Description
This invention relates to an exercising apparatus of the barbell
type in which springs are employed in lieu of the barbell
weights.
It is the principal object of the invention to provide a knockdown
spring barbell-like apparatus which can be easily assembled for use
or disassembled to consume little space for shipment or
storage.
It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising
apparatus of the barbell like in which the parts can be arranged
and rearranged for the different exercises and the springs attached
between the supporting arm parts readily and even while the user is
positioned within the apparatus so that the different exercises can
be effected with less difficulty than with the ordinary barbells
which require the use of heavy weights.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus that
can be adapted for the different exercises so that the different
exercises can be made much the same as with a barbell and wherein
there is principally only but three different setups of the
apparatus that will give the full advantage for a number of the
principal exercises that can normally be effected with the
barbells.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a simple
device associated with the working bar for the securement of the
working bar in place upon the upright channel guide members and
against displacement by the springs and which can be easily
disengaged upon the bar and from the vertical supports so that the
exercise can be effected with such freedom as with an ordinary
barbell yet using the springs for the resisting weights.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a barbell-like
exercising apparatus that makes possible all of the barbell-like
exercises through movement of work bar in up and down directions
and which is controlled in its movements by vertically extending
channel for the bar guides and which are adapted to support the bar
in its highest position so that chinning and other hanging-type
exercises can be performed by the user.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a barbell-type
exercising apparatus with above objects in mind, which is of simple
construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and
disassemble, durable, strong and effective, and efficient in
use.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had
to the detailed description of the invention taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the barbell-like exercising
apparatus embodying the features of the present invention and
illustrating the manner in which the apparatus is used for a prone
press exercise.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2--2 at right
side of the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken at line 3--3
of FIG. 2 and of a top laterally extending spring support arm.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontally extending sectional view taken
on line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and through the work bar support and
illustration being made as to the inward sliding movement of the
sleeve disc latch.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the bottom
spring support arm at one side of the apparatus and as viewed on
line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right side of the
apparatus wherein the work springs are connected between the bar
end and the immediate lateral spring support arm.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bar guide slide.
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the apparatus with the
springs being attached between the upper spring support arm at the
top of the vertical supports and at the laterally and outwardly
extending ends of the work bar with illustration being made to a
sitting pull down exercise.
Referring now to the figures, 25 represents a flat base to the
lateral side ends of which there are respectively supported in
transverse alignment with one another, vertical sleeve support
structures 26 and 27 respectively having bases 28 and 29 which are
detachably connected to the flat base 25 by flat-headed bolts and
wing nut means 30 and 31.
The vertical support structure 26 carries opposing channel guides
32 and 33 removably fitted at their lower ends into the support
structure 26 and retained therein against upward displacement by
flat-headed bolt and wing nut means 34.
At the opposite side of the apparatus is shown a similar
arrangement of opposing channel guides 35 and 36, removably fitted
at the lower ends into the vertical support structure 27 and
retained against vertical displacement by flat-headed bolt and wing
nut means 37, as best shown in FIG. 5.
The upper ends of the opposing channel guides 32 and 33 at the left
side of the apparatus are held apart by a laterally extending
spring arm assembly 38 while the opposing channel guides 35 and 36
at the right side of the apparatus are held apart by a laterally
extending spring arm assembly 39. The construction of these
assemblies 38 and 39 are best shown in section in FIG. 3 with
reference to the assembly 39, and of which the spring arm assembly
is similar.
The left spring arm assembly has a hollow block 41 that spans the
space between the vertical channel guides 35 and 36 and are
supported against downward displacement by a long-headed bolt and
wing nut assembly 42 to hold the channel guides 35 and 36 against
the hollow block 41 and in proper spaced relationship to provide a
guideway for a work bar guide as will be apparent as the
description proceeds. This block member 41 removably carries the
upper spring arm rod 45 which extends into a hole 46 in the side of
the block 41 and held in abutting relationship against the inner
face of the opposite side of the block 41 by means of a stud bolt
47 carried on the inner end of the rod 45 and extending through a
hole in the opposite side of the block 41 and made secure
thereagainst by a wing nut 48. The rod 45 of the spring arm support
39 has depending hooks 49 and 50 spaced from each other by which
work springs 51 and 52 may be respectively attached to the rod 45
as shown in FIG. 8.
The spring arm assembly 38 has a similar construction and includes
a hollow block 53 and a laterally extending rod 54 having depending
hooks 55 and 56 for the securement thereto of work springs 57 and
58, as best shown in FIG. 8, when the springs are to be used for an
exercise in which the force applied on the bar in a downward manner
and against the upward pull of the springs, such as for the sitting
pull down exercise. The lateral spring arm supporting assembly 38
is held elevated by a long bolt and wing nut bolt assembly 61.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the apparatus arranged for the
prone press exercise, the lower ends of the right work springs 51
and 52 are connected to a bottom spring arm assembly 62 having
upwardly extending hooks 63 and 64 to which the respective spring
ends are connected. This spring arm assembly 62 is shown in detail
in FIG. 5 and comprises a laterally extending rod 65 having a
reduced diameter portion 66 and a shoulder 67 that abuts the outer
face of the sleeve support 27 upon the reduced diameter portion 66
being extended through a hole 68 in the sleeve support 27 and
engaged with the opposite wall of the sleeve support 27 wherein the
rod 65 is made secure by a stud bolt 69 fixed in the end of the
reduced diameter portion 66 of the rod 65 and extending through the
opposite wall of the sleeve support 27 and made secure to hold the
end of rod 65 shouldered against the inner face of the opposite
wall of the sleeve support 27 by a wing nut 70.
At the left side of the apparatus, a bottom spring supporting arm
assembly 71 is provided. This spring arm assembly 71 includes a
laterally extending rod 72 having upwardly extending hooks 73 and
74 to which the lower ends of springs 57 and 58 are respectively
connected as shown in FIG. 1. The rod 72 extends through the left
sleeve support 26 and is made secure at the inner side thereof by a
stud bolt and wing nut means 75' and in the same manner as the
bottom spring supporting arm 62 is made secure to the sleeve
support 27.
Extending between and through the vertical channel guide assemblies
is a work bar assembly 75, FIG. 1, the opposite ends of which
extend laterally outwardly of the vertical channel guides, and at
the right side of the apparatus, has hooks 76 and 77 to which
springs 51 and 52 are connected and while their opposite ends are
connected respectively to hooks 63 and 64 of the bottom spring
supporting arm assembly 62. At the left side of the apparatus as
viewed in FIG. 1, the work bar 75 has depending hooks 78 and 79 to
which the upper ends of springs 57 and 58 are respectively attached
while their lower ends are respectively connected to bottom spring
supporting arm hooks 73 and 74.
In the space between the opposing channel guides 35 and 36 at the
right side of the apparatus is a bar guide 81 such as shown in the
enlarged view of FIG. 7 and which has a web 82 and opposite guide
flanges 83 and 84 that slide in the channel guides 35 and 36. The
web portion 82 has an upwardly extending slot 85 adapted to receive
the bar 75 and a depression 86 in vertical alignment therewith for
no particular purpose. The edges of the guide flanges 83 and 84 are
preferably chamfered to facilitate the sliding movement bar guide
81 in the channel guides 35 and 36.
At the left side of the apparatus, a bar guide 87 similar to that
shown in FIG. 7 is slidably contained between the opposing channels
32 and 33 and which has an elongated slot 88 in its web through
which the work bar 75 extends to the left of the apparatus. It
should now be apparent that with this work bar, with the user lying
on his back as shown in FIG. 1, upon a bench 90 that the bar can be
worked upwardly against the action of the work springs connected to
the bar and anchored to the bottom spring arm assemblies 62 and 71.
The bar guides 81 and 87 are carried on the work bar 75 and are
free to slide therewith in the opposing channel guides. The user
may detach the spring end from the bar when lying on his back in
the exercise position by reaching over to the opposite sides with
the bar down and tension taken off the springs.
When the work bar 75 is not being put to use, the work bar and its
guides 81 and 87 can be supported and the springs detached by right
and left slide sleeve disc latch assemblies 91 and 92, slidable
upon the bar, and having respectively end discs 93 and 94 that will
engage with any one of a pair of knob projections 95 and 96
extending laterally inwardly from the sides of the vertically
extending opposing channels 35, 36 and 32, 33 and at vertically
spaced elevations thereon. The disc 93 will be supported upon pairs
of knob projections 95 extending inwardly from the flanges of the
opposing vertically extending channel supports 35, 36 at the right
side of the apparatus, and the disc 94 will be supported upon a
pair of knob projections 96 extending inwardly from the flanges of
the channel supports 32, 33. When it is desired to disengage the
discs 93 and 94, the sleeve assemblies 91 and 92 are, as the discs
are lifted above the knob portions 95 and 96, drawn together toward
the center and as shown in FIG. 1, and thereby placing the full
action of the spring upon the arms of the user. When the bar is
free of the springs and rested upon the knob projections it can be
used for exercises free of the springs such as chinning
exercise.
When the user is through with the exercise, the springs are
detached, the sleeve assemblies 91 and 92 are pushed outwardly and
the discs 93 and 94 will be rested upon opposing pairs of knob
projections 95 and 96 on the right and left vertical channels as
best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. When the apparatus is being used and
the bar 75 is made free as shown in FIG. 4, the sleeve assembly 91
will assume a full line position. When the user is not doing the
exercise, the disc 93 will be placed upon the knob projections 95
as shown in broken lines at 93'.
With exercises such as the military press, curls and shoulder
shrugs, the lower ends of the springs will be connected to
vertically adjustable intermediate spring supporting arm assemblies
100 and 101 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, that are readily removable
from the vertical sleeve supports 26 and 27 and are constructed
similar to the top spring arms 38 and 39 and best shown detail in
FIG. 3. These intermediate spring arm assemblies 100 and 101 have
hooks 102, 103 and 104, 105 to which the lower ends of the
respective springs 51, 52 and 57, 58 are attached while the upper
ends of the springs as shown in FIG. 6, will have been attached to
the depending hooks 76, 77 and 78, 79 of the work bar 75 and the
discs 93, 94. When the apparatus is not being used, and the springs
detached, the bar will be supported upon knob projections 95 and
96. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a military press exercise is being
performed with the spring detached and the sleeves 91 and 92 are
pulled inwardly toward one another to release the bar 75 and allow
the bar to be worked by the user upwardly and downwardly, forcing
the bar upwardly and resist downward movement of the bar against
the action of the pairs of springs 51, 52 and 57, 58 at the
opposite sides of the apparatus.
As seen in FIG. 1, the top spring supporting arms 38, 39 are held
against downward displacement by bolt and nut assemblies 42 and 61,
the same being located under the hollow blocks 41 and 53, disposed
between the opposing channels since these spring supporting arms 38
and 39 are to be held up against downward displacement by the work
springs. With the intermediate supporting arms 100 and 101, the
same must be held against upward displacement and to accomplish
this pull pins 42', 61' are extended through any set of adjusting
holes 107 and 108 in the channel guides above the hollow block
parts 41' of the intermediate spring supporting arms 100 and 101 in
order to prevent their upward displacement in the channel guides at
different vertical heights.
Since the intermediate spring arm supports 100 and 101 may lie
within the vertical support sleeves 26 and 27, and in order to
permit their removal, enlarged depending slots 26' and 27' are
provided through which rods 100' and 101' of the intermediate
supports 100 and 101 can be laterally removed by the disengagement
of their wing nuts 48' from rod studs 47'. After rods 100' and 101'
are removed, the blocks 41' and 53' can be dropped onto the bottom
rods 65 and 72 as seen in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 8, there is shown the apparatus set up for the back muscle
building exercise wherein the work springs are secured to the top
spring supporting arms 38 and 39 and depend downwardly for
connection with the ends of the work bars. Here the exercise is
effected by a pull down of the bar 75 against the action of the
springs. When the apparatus is not in use, when the exercise has
been concluded, the discs 93 and 94 may instead of engaging on top
of the knob projections 95 and 96 at the bottom edges, can be
pulled upwardly by the springs so that their top edges may engage
the underside of the knob projections. When the apparatus is to be
put into use, the latch sleeves 91 and 92 will, as illustrated in
FIG. 8, be pulled inwardly so that the full force of the springs
are being controlled by the user of the apparatus.
It should now be apparent that this apparatus can be set up for use
of various exercises normally used with barbells and that the
changeover of the springs between elevated and lowered positions
for the different exercises can be effected easily by a mere
connecting of the springs to the hooks of the spring supporting
arms and that the intermediate supporting arm can be removed easily
or adjusted to a different level when it is not being used for
exercises where the lower ends of the springs are to be connected
not so close to the floor as the exercises where the ends of the
springs may be connected to the bottom supporting arms 62 and
71.
It will also be apparent that this apparatus is of the knockdown
type and can be assembled and disassembled easily for purpose of
shipment and storage, the assembly being more or less assembled
with bolts and wing nuts and upon release of which, parts can be
disassembled from one another.
It should be further apparent that the supporting arm assemblies
100 and 101 are similar to the assemblies 38 and 39 and can be
interchanged with one another.
* * * * *