U.S. patent number 3,709,488 [Application Number 05/199,597] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-09 for collapsible portable exercising machine.
Invention is credited to Jimmy D. Garner.
United States Patent |
3,709,488 |
Garner |
January 9, 1973 |
COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE EXERCISING MACHINE
Abstract
An exercising machine of the type to permit exercising while the
body is extending horizontally with arms stretched vertically and
with the feet disposed in the foot support that can swivel
comprising a vertical support frame, an adjustable brace support
frame and a hammock support frame, all of the frames being formed
of U-shaped member and collapsible one upon the other to extend the
frames vertically for the purpose of storage. Wheels are provided
upon the brace support frame at the lower end thereof onto which
the collapsed frames of the machine can be pivoted for the purpose
of being transported. All of the frames are formed of U-shaped
members with the brace frame comprising two U-shaped members with
the legs of one U-shaped member telescoping with the legs of the
other U-shaped member and held extended by latch pin devices but
releasable to permit the collapse of the machine. The hammock frame
assembly comprises a U-shaped member at the outer end having legs
collapsible into sleeves which are pivotally connected to the legs
of the vertical support and from which the hammock is supported.
Handle bars are adjustably provided upon the vertical support frame
and a winch can be used for vertically adjusting the hammock frame
support to a vertically extended position when the machine is being
adapted for storage. Either a T-shaved swivel foot support is
provided upon the hammock frame assembly or a bicycle like pedal
crank can be used for supporting the feet.
Inventors: |
Garner; Jimmy D. (Deatsville,
AL) |
Family
ID: |
22738209 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/199,597 |
Filed: |
November 17, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/145 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
23/00 (20130101); A63B 2210/50 (20130101); A63B
2225/09 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
23/00 (20060101); A63b 023/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/1R,33R,57R,58,60,73
;128/25R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Strappello; Harry G.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A portable exercising machine comprising a U-shaped vertical
support frame having vertically extending legs and a top bight
portion, the lower end of said legs being engageable with a floor
support surface, a downwardly and forwardly inclined brace frame
assembly including a U-shaped member having a bight portion and
downwardly extending legs and a telescoping part slidably fitted
upon the ends of the legs, the bight portion of the U-shaped member
being hingedly connected to the bight portion of the vertical
support frame, collapsible brackets connected between the lower
ends of the vertical support frame and the brace frame to permit
the collapse of the brace frame onto the vertical support frame
when the machine is to be transported or stored, and a U-shaped
hammock frame assembly having a bight portion with legs pivotally
connected with the legs of the vertical support frame, a hammock
suspended between the legs of the hammock frame assembly for
supporting the user when at rest and a swiveled foot support
assembly journaled upon the bight portion of the hammock frame
assembly, handle bars extending between the legs of the vertical
support frame and vertically spaced from one another, said handle
bars adapted to be gripped by the hands of the user while resting
in the hammock and while supporting the feet in the swiveled foot
support.
2. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said
brace support frame further including a second U-shaped member
having a bottom bight portion and hollow legs telescopingly
receiving the legs of the first U-shaped member of the brace frame
assembly and said legs of the further U-shaped member having spring
pin latch retaining devices and the legs of the first U-shaped
member having adjusting holes for receiving the pin latches,
whereupon with the releasing of the pin latches and the collapsing
of the brackets connected to the lower ends of the vertical support
and brace frames, the frames can be readily collapsed vertically
upon one another.
3. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 2 and said
further U-shaped member having wheel assemblies connected at the
ends of the bight portion for supporting the exercising machine
when collapsed.
4. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said
hammock support frame including sleeves respectively pivotally
connected at their ends to the vertical legs of the vertical
support frame and the legs of the U-shaped hammock frame member
being respectively adjustable in and out of the outer ends of the
sleeves and respectively having adjusting holes, pin latch devices
provided on the outer ends of the sleeves for holding the frame
member of the hammock support frame in its adjusted position within
the sleeves and a hammock suspended between the sleeves in
longitudinal alignment with the pivotable foot support.
5. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 4, and a winch
mechanism carried on one of the hammock sleeves and having a cable
extending therefrom to the forward end of one of the sleeves
upwardly and across between pulleys on the bight portion of the
first U-shaped brace member and to the opposite sleeve.
6. A portable exercise machine as defined in claim 1, and said
vertical support legs having adjusting holes and said vertically
spaced handle bars having pin latch devices at the opposite ends of
the same adapted to engage with the adjusting holes of the vertical
legs of the vertical support frame to hold the handle bars at
different vertically adjusted positions.
7. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said
swiveled foot supporting device including a double pedal crank, a T
fitting member having a stem, said double pedal crank journaled in
the T fitting member and axially extending sleeve in said stem of
the T fitting member being journaled in the axially extending
sleeve, said sleeve being secured to the bight portion of the
hammock frame U-shaped member.
8. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 1, and said
brace frame assembly including a further U-shaped member being
formed of tubular stock having a bight portion and vertically
extending legs telescopically receiving the legs of the first brace
frame U-shaped member, and pin latch devices for adjustably
retaining the U-shaped members in positions extended from one
another and releasable to permit the collapse of the machine and
said hammock frame including sleeves pivotally connected at their
ends to the legs of the vertical frame support and the U-shaped
member of the hammock frame having legs respectively telescopingly
fitted in the outer ends of the sleeves, said legs of the U-shaped
hammock frame member having adjusting holes and said sleeves having
pin latch devices engageable with the adjusting holes of the
hammock frame U-shaped member to permit the collapse of the hammock
frame U-shaped member into the sleeves and to hold the same to an
outwardly extended adjusted position, said hammock being extended
between the sleeves of the hammock frame assembly, wheel support
devices connected to the lower ends of the U-shaped brace member
and engagable with a floor surface upon brace frame being collapsed
onto the vertical frame support.
9. A portable exercising machine as defined in claim 8, and a winch
carried on the hammock frame assembly on one of the sleeves thereof
and having cables extendable along the one sleeve and a pulley on
the other end of the sleeve for receiving the cable, transversely
spaced pulleys carried on the bight portion of the first U-shaped
member of the brace frame assembly and receiving the cable and
anchor means on the sleeve of the opposite side of the hammock
frame support, said winch means and cable serving to elevate the
hammock frame assembly to different vertical positions and upwardly
to a vertically extended position parallel with the vertical
support on the brace frame assembly being collapsed and the
exercising machine being made ready for transport and storage.
Description
This invention relates to a collapsible portable exercising machine
in which the user can extend himself horizontally and be held
suspended for twisting movement of the body while grasping handle
bars vertically spaced from one another on the vertical frame
support.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hammock type
exercising machine in which the frames of the machine consist of an
assembly of U-shaped members to thereby make possible a machine
which can be readily assembled without putting parts together but
merely with the extending of the frame assemblies so that they span
the bottom of the machine for support upon a floor surface.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable
exercising machine in which the frame assemblies are hinged upon
one another and wherein the frames can be adjusted to adapt the
machine to users of different lengths.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an
exercising machine formed of U-shaped frame members which can be
collapsed upon one another for the adapting of the machine for
purposes of transport or storage and readily extended when the
machine is to be set up at a new location and wherein the brace and
the vertical frame are held separate from one another by simple
collapsible brackets extending between the lower ends of the frame
members and wherein wheeled supports are provided on one of the
frame members for the removal of the collapsed machine to a new
location by pivoting the machine onto the wheels and the collapsed
machine moved in wheel-barrow like fashion.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible
portable exercising machine adapted for use by a user when extended
in a horizontal position and including pivotable foot supports,
which, having the above objects in mind, is of simple construction,
has a minimum number of parts, easy to initially assemble, easy to
collapse for transport, durable, light in weight, of pleasing
appearance, efficient and effective in use.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had
to the following detailed description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the exercising machine formed
of U-shaped vertical and bracing members and embodying the features
of the present invention, the machine being erected for use.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exercising machine.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the hinge
bracket fittings fixed to the vertical members to hingedly support
the hammock pivot frame on the outer end of which the foot grip
support is pivotally mounted.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a latch pin used
for securing the U-shaped brace members telescoped one from the
other.
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the latch pin assembly
shown in FIG. 4 and as viewed on line 5--5 thereof.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the exercising machine
collapsed vertically preparatory to being transported on its
wheels.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the exercising
machine looking in elevation generally upon the U-shaped vertical
support member and upon the handle bars that are gripped by the
user of the machine when performing the exercise.
FIG. 8 shows handle bars adjustable upon the vertical support
member legs to different pin hole elevations thereon.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the handle bar
pin lock mounting assembly as used on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a plan view taken of the outer end of the U-shaped frame
member of the hammock supporting frame assembly with a bicycle type
foot supporting apparatus pivoted upon the bight end of the support
member and with pedals arranged in crank fashion.
FIG. 11 is a top and side perspective view of the exercising
machine showing all of the U-shaped frame members in full and with
the machine set up fully for receiving the user of the machine.
Referring now to the Figures, 15 represents the main vertical
support formed of tubing and bent into U-shape to provide for a top
bight portion 16 and side legs 17 and 18 that respectively have
foot plates 19 and 21 at their lower end on which the vertical
support 15 is rested when the machine is set up for use. The
vertical support 15 can be formed by a simple bending
procedure.
Hingedly connected to the bight portion 16 of the vertical support
15 by spaced hinges 22 and 23 is a telescoping brace assembly 24
comprising two upper and lower U-shaped telescoping members 25 and
26 which are axially adjustable one with another to either set up
the assembly 24 for effecting the raising of the vertical support
in a vertically extending position or for the collapse of the parts
when the brace assembly 24 is being hinged so that the same can be
moved to a position vertically overlying the vertical support 15 so
that the machine can consume little space and at times of transport
of the machine.
The upper telescoping brace member 25 is formed of a rod bent into
U-shape by the usual bending procedure and has a bight portion 27
connected by the hinges 22 and 23 to the bight portion 16 of the
vertical support 15 and which is of equal width to the bight
portion 16 thereof. Legs 28 and 29 descend from the bight portion
27 and are interfitted for telescoping movement within upwardly
extending legs 31 and 32 of the lower U-shaped member 26 having a
bight portion 33 that will rest on the floor when the machine is
set up for use to brace the main vertical frame support 15. On the
upper ends of the legs of tubular lower brace member 26 are
respectively pin lock assemblies 33 and 34 adapted to enter pin
receiving holes 35 and 36 of the respective legs 28 and 29 of the
upper U-shaped member 25 of the brace assembly 24. These pinlatch
assemblies 33 and 34 are shown more in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.
They include a pin 37 having a hand knob 38 mounted on a raised
outer end of a spring mounting member 39 welded at 41 to the outer
surface of leg 31 or 32. The legs 31 and 32 have a hole 42 for
accommodating the pin 37 which hole can be aligned with one of the
adjusting holes 35 or 36 of the leg 28 or 29 respectively of the
upper brace member 25.
When it is desired to collapse the apparatus to conserve space and
for purposes of transport the pins 37 of the pin assemblies 33 and
34 are simply pulled to allow the legs 28 and 29 of the upper
U-shaped member 25 to be lowered into the respective legs 31 and 32
of the lower U-shaped member 26.
At each side of the lower U-shaped member at the respective
opposite end of the bight portion 33 are mounted wheel brackets 44
and 45 carrying respectively wheels 46 and 47. These brackets and
wheels extend normally when the exercising machine is set up for
use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 extend rearwardly and out of contact
with the floor but when the machine is collapsed in a manner to be
made more clear as is shown in FIG. 6 so that the brace frame
assembly 24 is collapsed onto the vertical support 15 as shown in
FIG. 6, the wheels 46 and 47 may contact the floor so that upon the
machine being tilted downwardly from its upper end portions the
same may be supported in wheel barrow fashion upon the floor to
allow the machine to be easily transported to a new location. This
is all effected without any detailed disassembling of any of the
parts.
In order that the brace assembly 24 can be held in its outwardly
extended position from the vertical frame support 15 at times when
the machine is being used, collapsible brace assemblies 48 and 49
extend between the vertical frame and the brace assembly at their
lower ends and can be collapsed upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 6
by their respective hinge connections 51 and their pivotal
connections respectively at their ends with the side legs of frame
support and the brace assembly as indicated respectively at 52 and
53. When the collapsible braces 48 and 49 are lifted as best shown
in FIGS. 6, the lower end of the brace assembly 24 can be joined or
made to overlie the lower end of the vertical frame support 15.
Thus again by merely pulling the pin assemblies 33 and 34 of the
brace assembly 24 and lifting the collapsible brackets 48 and 49
the brace 24 can be collapsed onto the vertical support 15.
Mounted respectively on the legs 17 and 18 of the vertical support
frame 15 and intermediate the height thereof are respectively pivot
brackets 56 and 57 as best shown in FIG. 3 and to which are
respectively pivotally connected the ends of tubular sleeves 58 and
59 by respective pivot pins 61 and 62. Telescopically fitted into
the free ends of the sleeves 58 and 59 are respective legs 63 and
64 joined by a bight portion 65 to provide a U-shaped member which
when taken with the sleeves 58 and 59 provides for a hammock frame
assembly which may be indicated generally at 66 that is vertically
adjustable within the brace frame assembly 24 and through the
brackets 56 and 57 upon the vertical frame support 15. This
vertical adjustment of the hammock frame 66 is effected by means of
a winch 68 operated by a hand crank 69 easily accessible to the
user of the exercising machine when stretched horizontally within
the hammock frame assembly 66 at the opposite side of the machine.
As the crank 69 is turned one way to the other, the hammock frame
assembly 66 can be lifted or lowered at the will of the user and
who will be lying in a hammock fabric 76 loosely stretched and so
as to cradle between the sleeves 58 and 59 and with its ends looped
and sleeved onto the sleeves 58 and 59 to thereby provide a
vertical connection of the hammock therebetween so that
considerable weight may be supported by the hammock fabric 76. The
legs 63 and 64 of the U-shaped frame member have respectively
adjusting holes 63' and 64' into which pin assemblies 77 and 78
constructed similar to the pin assemblies 33 and 34 may be extended
to hold the U-shaped frame in its adjusted position with its legs
telescoped in or out of the sleeves 58 and 59. The adjustment is
made to adapt the hammock and frame assembly for persons of
different height.
On the bight portion 65 of the U-shaped frame member a sleeve 81 is
rigidly connected to extend axially and longitudinally with the
hammock frame 66. A T-shaped foot support member 82 is journaled by
its stem 83 in the sleeve 81 and on the outer ends are mounted foot
supports 84 and 85 into which the user's feet are extended when
lying in the hammock 76.
In order that the user can hold himself out of the hammock 76 while
his feet are being supported in the supports 84 and 85, vertically
spaced handle bars 87 and 88 are adjustably secured between the
legs 17 and 18 of the vertical frame support 15. The distance
between the handle bars 87 and 88 will be equal to the spance of
the arms of the user extended outwardly from the shoulders. With
the arms so gripping the handle bars 87 and 88 and with the body of
the user out of the hammock 76 and his feet in place in the foot
grip supports 84 and 85 the user can twist and turn to work the
various muscles of the body to particularly exercise the legs and
torso muscles as well as the shoulder and arm muscles. The body is
lifted clear of the hammock and the muscles of the body must
support the full weight of the user's body against the pull of
gravity. When the exercise is complete or the user desires a rest,
he may drop onto the hammock 76. While on the hammock with the
hands made free of the handle bars 87 and 88 the user may turn the
crank 69 of the winch 68 to raise or lower the hammock frame
support assembly 66 and if lowered to the full extent the user can
leave the hammock with the feet having been taken from the foot
supports 84 and 85 and dropped to the floor and the body positioned
by the lowering of the hammock frame 66 to nearly a vertical
position so that the user can slide out of the forward end of the
hammock 76.
The handle bars 87 and 88 are connected at their ends to the legs
17 and 18 of the vertical support frame 15 by respective pin latch
devices 89 and 91 for the handle bar 87 and 92 and 93 for the upper
handle bar 88. One of these spring latch devices will be described
which will suffice for a description of all of the devices. The
spring latch device 92 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9 and
comprises a cradle like fitting member 94 that is slidable upon the
legs 17 and on which there is provided a spring leaf 95 that has a
latch pin 96 that overlies the lower end of the member 94 and can
be extended into any one of several adjusting holes 96' in the
vertical legs 17. The handle bar 88 has an internal metal tube 97
on which a rubber grip sleeve 98 is fixed. Extending outwardly from
the end of the tube 97 is a pivot fitting 99 that is journaled in
the cradle like member 94. By lifting the spring latch 95 and
withdrawing the pin 96 from the pin holes 96' the handle bar 88 or
87 can be adjusted vertically, the spring latch 93 of the opposite
assembly being lifted simultaneously so as to free both ends of the
handle bar 87 or 88 at the same time.
In FIG. 10 there is shown a pedal crank assembly 101 that can
replace the foot rest assembly 82 so that the feet of the user may
be supported in a bicycle crank manner to permit the legs to be
worked like on a bicycle while lying in the hammock 76 and at the
same time permit the user to bicycle while lifting his body from
the hammock 76. This bicycle crank has oppositely extending crank
arms 102 and 103 which respectively have pivotal foot grips 104 and
105 on their outer ends. The crank 101 is journaled in a T fitting
106 carried on a stem 107 that is journaled into sleeve 81 fixed to
the bight portion 65 of between legs 63 and 64 of the outer
U-shaped member of the hammock frame assembly 66.
The user of the machine can use the hammock 76 while resting
between exercises. The user of the machine can exercise as
vigorously or mildly as he wishes. The arms, legs, shoulders, back
and neck muscles will be gradually developed and strengthened by
the use of the machine.
When the machine is not to be used it can be easily collapsed as
above described and transported on its wheels 46 and 47 to another
location or to a storage space. By the provision of the use of
U-shaped members the cost of producing this machine has been
greatly reduced and at the same time permits the machine to be a
portable one and one which can be collapsed and easily rearranged
for use without need for disassembling members or assembling the
members when the machine is to be put into use. A minimum number of
parts has thus been provided for the manufacture of this type of
exercising machine to make for an original and easy assembling of
the parts and to provide parts which permit for the adjustment of
the parts to adapt the machine to the user's height.
* * * * *