Gymnastic Apparatus

Abstract

A gymnastic apparatus having a pair of spaced parallel upright posts, each post having a horizontally extending crossmember independently secured thereto at the upper end of the post. The crossmembers are in substantially coplanar alignment, and together with the upright posts form a pair of parallel T-shaped members. A plurality of spaced horizontal bars are interposed between the crossmembers and are connected at the opposite ends to the crossmembers. The crossmembers and spaced bars thus form a horizontal ladder for exercising. The crossmembers and upright posts provide a common support structure for a plurality of exercising devices, including a punching bag and heavy training bag, each secured at opposite sides to the crossmembers and a basketball backstop and a climbing rope each secured to the outer ends of, and held in place by, a pair of upwardly and outwardly inclined bars whose inner ends are secured to the crossbars at opposite ends of the device. Each upright post is adjustable with respect to its height.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in exercising and recreational equipment and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a simple and economical gymnastic device providing a plurality of items on a single apparatus.

There is considerable concern today with physical health and well-being, and as a result there is great emphasis on exercise and recreational activities. Many persons are able to take advantage of large exercising or gymnastic apparatus in commercial-type installations, such as in schools, or the like, but it is often difficult if not impossible for some persons to make arrangements to take advantage of this type of equipment. In addition, most persons would exercise more if such equipment were more readily available, such as in his own yard or playground area. Of course, there are many types of gymnastic devices on the market today for home use, such as swing sets having slide boards, teeter-totters, and the like incorporated thereon. However, these devices normally do not include equipment for use by both children and adults, and those devices having equipment for adult use are usually quite expensive, and difficult to install.

The present invention contemplates a simple, economical gymnastic apparatus which may be used by both children and adults, and which is particularly designed and constructed for ease of assembly and installation. The entire device may be erected and installed by an individual, unassisted. The device may be originally purchased with a minimum of exercising equipment provided thereon, and additional items may be subsequently required and added to the original installation without disassembling or dismantling the apparatus. The economy of construction assures that the apparatus will be available for home yard use, or may be utilized in substantially any exercising or recreational area, such as institutional grounds, both private or public, campgrounds, places of relatively small area such as in conjunction with motels and the like, or substantially any site wherein it is desirable or advantageous to provide exercising devices. The apparatus includes horizontal bars, basketball net and backboard, punching bag, heavy training bag, rings, climbing rope, height scale for jumping exercises, all mounted on a common support structure. Furthermore, the equipment is mounted on the structure in a manner wherein more than one of the devices or items may be utilized simultaneously, thus providing recreation or exercising opportunity for more than one person at a time.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a common structure for a plurality of exercising items which is of an economical structure for facilitating use of the device by a greater number of people than otherwise possible.

It is another object of this invention to provide a gymnastic device including a plurality of exercising items which is of extreme simplicity of erection and installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical gymnastic apparatus wherein additional or optional exercising devices may be readily installed thereon without dismantling the previously installed equipment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a gymnastic apparatus wherein a plurality of recreational or exercising items are mounted on a common support structure in such a manner than several of the items may be utilized simultaneously by different persons.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a gymnastic apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of a gymnastic apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a gymnastic apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is a broken sectional view of a support post for the gymnastic apparatus, particularly depicting one form of height adjustment therefor.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally indicates a gymnastic apparatus comprising a pair of substantially identical support members 12 and 14 spaced apart an appropriate distance in accordance with the desired overall width for the apparatus. Each post 12 and 14 is adapted for installation in the ground in any well-known manner, such as being set in a concrete foundation 16. Since the posts 12 and 14 are substantially identical, only the structure of the post 12 will be set out in detail herein.

The post 12 is preferably adjustable with respect to the overall height thereof, and as particularly shown in FIG. 4, the post 12 may comprise a first rod or pole member 18 set in the concrete pad 16 in any well-known manner, or may be threadedly secured to a base or foot member 20 which in turn is bolted or otherwise secured to the concrete foundation 16. An outer sleeve 22 may be telescopically arranged with respect to the rod 18 in any well-known manner. As shown herein a collar member 24 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper end of the rod 18 for receiving a threaded shank or rod member 26 therethrough. The collar 24 is provided with a centrally disposed internal bore 28 extending therethrough and provided with a thread complementary to that of the threaded shank 26.

The upper end of the shank 26 is smooth, as shown at 30 and extends through a sleeve 32 which is preferably centrally disposed in the sleeve 22, and secured thereto in any well-known manner such as by welding, or the like. Of course, the upper end 34 of the sleeve 22 is preferably closed, and may be angularly disposed, as shown in FIG. 4. The inner sleeve 32 extends through the closed end 34 and the shank portion 30 is journaled in the sleeve 32 in any suitable manner (not shown). A pair of stop members 36 and 38 are spaced on the outer periphery of the shank portion 30 and disposed adjacent the opposite ends of the sleeve 32 for maintaining the rod 26 in a preselected longitudinal position within the sleeve 22 whereby rotation of the rod 26 in one direction causes the sleeve 22 to move downwardly with respect to the rod or pipe 18, and rotation of the rod 26 in an opposite direction causes the sleeve 22 to move upwardly with respect to the pipe 18. Of course, any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shank 26, and as shown herein, a handle 40 is secured to the upper end of the shank portion 30 for facilitating manual rotation of the rod 26. It is preferable to secure the handle 40 to the shank portion 30 by a suitable ratchet member as indicated at 42.

The uppermost end of the sleeve 22 extends beyond the ratchet and handle 40 and is flattened as shown at 44 for receiving a pair of horizontally extending crossbeams 46 and 48 on the opposite flat faces thereof. The crossbeams 46 and 48 are preferably made from angle stock, and are preferably of a lightweight metal, such as aluminum, but not limited thereto. The beams 46 and 48 are bolted, or otherwise secured to the flat portion 44 in such a manner that the horizontal legs of each beam extend outwardly from the flat portion 44 in opposite directions, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Suitable angularly disposed brace members 50 and 52 are secured between the support post 12 and the beams 46 and 48 for stabilization as depicted in FIG. 3, and as is well known in this type of structure.

As hereinbefore set forth, the support posts 12 and 14 are substantially identical, and are disposed in a spaced relationship for receiving and supporting a plurality of spaced horizontally disposed bars 54 therebetween. Substantially any desired number of the horizontal bars may be provided, and the spacing therebetween may be at the preferred interval for facilitating the use thereof during gymnastic exercising thereon, as is well known. The bars 54 may be secured to the aligned crossbeams 46--48 of the posts 12 and 14 in any well-known manner. For example, a rod member (not shown) may extend through each bar and through spaced apertures (not shown) provided in the crossbeams 46--48. The rods may be threaded on the outer ends thereof for receiving nuts 56 for securing the rods and respective bars 54 in position between the crossbeams 46--48.

A first pair of complementary bars 58 and 60 are bolted or otherwise secured to the crossbeams 46--48 of the support posts 12 and 14, respectively. The bars 58 and 60 extend upwardly at an angle from the crossbeams 46--48, and converge in a direction toward each other at the outer ends thereof, as particularly shown in FIG. 1. The outer ends of the bars 58 and 60 are spaced apart by a transversely extending bar 62. The opposite ends of the bars 58 and 60 may be flattened, as is well known, and as shown in FIG. 1, for facilitating connection thereof with the crossbeams 46--48 and crossbar 62. In addition, suitable cross wires 64 and 66 may be secured between the bars 58 and 60 and the respectively opposite support posts 12 and 14 for additional stability and strength for the bars 58 and 60, and for maintaining the bars 58 and 60 in the desired upwardly extending angular position. Furthermore, suitable holddown members, or turnbuckle arrangements 68 and 70 may be secured between the bars 58 and 60 and the respective support posts 12 and 14 for additional stability for the bars 58 and 60.

The opposite ends 72 and 74 of the crossbar 62 extend beyond the bars 58 and 60, respectively, whereby the usual type of still ring 76 may be hung from or secured to each of the ends 72 and 74. In addition, a pair of spaced outwardly extending flange members or keeper members 78 and 80 are provided on the bar 62 and interposed between the bars 58 and 60 for retaining a climbing rope 82 in position and supported from the bar 62. Of course, the rope 82 may be secured to the bar 62 in any suitable manner to preclude accidental dislodging of the rope during any climbing thereon.

A second pair of complementary bars 84 and 86 substantially identical with the bars 58 and 60 are similarly secured to the support posts 12 and 14 respectively and extending upwardly and angularly therefrom in a direction opposite from the bars 58 and 60. The bars 84 and 86 are retained in the upward angular position by suitable cables or wires 88 and 90 secured between the bars 84 and 86 and the respectively opposite support posts 12 and 14 in a similar manner as hereinbefore set forth with regard to the wires 64 and 66. Holddown members or turnbuckle arrangements 92 and 94 may also be provided between the support posts 12 and 14 and respective bars 84 and 86 for facilitating the retaining of the bars in the desired position. In addition, the outer ends of the bars 84 and 86 are spaced apart by a transversely extending crossbar 95 which may be spaced slightly inwardly from the outer extremities of the bars 84 and 86, if desired.

A basketball backboard 96 having the usual basketball net device 97 secured to one face thereof is secured between the outer ends of the rods or bars 84 and 86 in any suitable manner, and as depicted herein is preferably adjustably secured on the bars 84 and 86 in such a manner that the height of the basketball net 97 may be adjusted to provide equal function thereof for both children and adults. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the adjustable connection of the backboard 96 may comprise a first pair of complementary angle iron members 98 secured to the face of the backboard 96 opposite from the basket 97, and bolted to the opposite faces or sides of an upright bar or vertical rib 100 secured to the outer extremity of the bar 86. A second pair of spaced angle iron members 102 are spaced from and parallel with the brackets 98 and are similarly secured to a vertical rib 104 secured to the outer extremity of the bar 84. It is preferable to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures (not shown) on the rib 100 in alignment with a similar plurality of spaced apertures (not shown) on the rib 104 in order that the vertical position of the angle iron member 98 and 102 may be adjusted to adjust the overall height of the backboard 96.

It is also preferable to provide a pair of stabilizer members 106 and 108 between the lower portion of the backboard 96 and the bars 84 and 86, respectively. The stabilizers 106 and 108 are adjustably secured to the respective bars 84 and 86 in any well-known manner, as shown at 110 and 112 to facilitate the adjustment of the vertical height of the backboard 96.

An outwardly extending support member 114 is bolted or otherwise secured to the crossmember 46--48 of the support post 12 for supporting a heavy training bag 116 which is suspended therefrom in any well-known manner, such as by the chain device 118. A pair of angularly disposed strengthening webs 120 and 122 are bolted or suitably secured between the support 114 and the post 12.

An outwardly extending arm 124 is suitably secured to the support post 14 for supporting a punching bag 126. The bag 126 may be secured to and suspended from the support 124 in any well-known or suitable manner, and a pair of oppositely disposed brace members 128 and 130 are suitably secured between the support arm 124 and the post 14 to properly strengthen and brace the arm 124.

It is preferable to provide a gymnastic mat or pad (not shown) on the surface of the ground beneath the apparatus 10 to cushion any falls during use of the device.

It is preferable to provide a jump scale 132 for the device, with said jump scale being secured to one of the crossmembers 46--48 in such a manner as to extend upwardly therefrom. The scale 132 is provided with suitable indicia for indicating a scale of height in order to provide a reference for jumping heights, as is well known. A second jump scale 134 may also be provided for the device, if desired, and may be secured to one of the support braces 106. The second jump scale 134 may be provided with a second indicia for indicating greater heights than the first jump scale 132, thus providing a more versatile use of the jump scale on the apparatus.

In order to assemble and erect the apparatus 10, the support posts 12 and 14 may be properly embedded in the ground or in the foundations 16 in any well-known manner. Of course, it is to be noted that the apparatus may also be installed within an enclosure, such as in a gymnasium, or the like, in which event the posts 12 and 14 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the floor or foundation base of the structure. It is further noted that substantially all of the elements of the apparatus 10 are bolted together thus providing great ease of assembly of the entire device. In addition, the height of the posts 12 and 14 may be adjusted by manipulation of the ratchet handle 40.

The crossmembers 46--48 are bolted to the upper ends of the support posts 12 and 14 in such a manner that upon the initial securing of the crossmembers to the posts the crossmembers may be pivoted about the single bolt connection therebetween. Of course, the crossbars 54 may be bolted between the crossmembers 46--48 prior to installation of the crossmembers 46--48 on the respective posts 12 and 14. In one pivotal position of the crossmembers 46--48 one end portion thereof will be lowered to a position substantially close to the surface of the ground for facilitating access thereto for installation of the bars 58 and 60 thereon. The bars 58 and 60, brace wires 64 and 66, and other elements supported by and included in conjunction with the bars 58 and 60 may be assembled on the crossmembers 46--48, and the crossmembers 46--48 may be pivoted in an opposite direction to facilitate access to the opposite end thereof.

In this second position, the bars 84 and 86 may be secured to the crosspieces 46--48, with the assembly of the wires 88 and 90, and remaining elements associated with the bars 84 and 86 assembled therewith. The crossmembers may then be pivoted to a substantially horizontal position, and the brace members 50 and 52 may be installed for facilitating retaining of the crossmembers 46--48 in the horizontal position.

The support arms 114 and 124 may be bolted to the respective support posts 12 and 14 either prior to the embedding of the posts in the foundation, or subsequent thereto, as desired. Of course, the apparatus 10 may be initially procured with a minimum of elements or items therewith, such as the horizontal bars and basketball portion only, and the additional or auxiliary items or features may be procured subsequently and added to the apparatus. Thus, the expense of the apparatus is lessened or eased, and the simple installation renders the device attractive for individual ownership.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel gymnastic apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be readily assembled and installed. A plurality of exercising devices are provided on the apparatus and so arranged that several of the items may be utilized at the same time, thus providing simultaneous utilization by several persons. The apparatus may be assembled for either indoor or outdoor installation, and may be readily disassembled for removal to a second or new site, then quickly reassembled and installed at the new location.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A gymnastic apparatus comprising a support structure, a plurality of exercising devices carried by the support structure, said support structure comprising a first upright post member, a second upright post member spaced from the first post member, a horizontally extending crossmember independently secured to the upper end of each post, said crossmembers being disposed in substantially coplanar alignment, a plurality of transversely extending horizontally disposed spaced bars interposed between the crossmembers and having the opposite ends thereof secured to the crossmembers to provide horizontal ladder rungs for exercising, said crossmembers and supports posts providing a common support structure for the said plurality of exercising devices, wherein each upright post is adjustable with respect to the height thereof.

2. A gymnastic apparatus comprising a support structure, a plurality of exercising devices carried by the support structure, said support structure comprising a pair of spaced upright post members, horizontally extending crossmembers secured to the upper end of each post and disposed in substantially coplanar alignment, a plurality of transversely extending horizontally disposed spaced bars secured between the crossmembers to provide horizontal ladder rungs for exercising, said crossmembers and support posts providing a common support structure for the said plurality of exercising devices, a first pair of upwardly and angularly extending aligned bars secured to the support structure, brace means secured between the support structure and the said first pair of bars for stabilization thereof, a transversely extending rod secured to the said bars in the proximity of the outer ends thereof, a plurality of ring members suspended from said transverse rod for exercising manipulations thereon, and climbing rope means secured to the said transverse rod.

3. A gymnastic apparatus comprising a support structure, a plurality of exercising devices carried by the support structure, said support structure comprising a pair of spaced upright post members, horizontally extending crossmembers secured to the upper end of each post and disposed in substantially coplanar alignment, a plurality of transversely extending horizontally disposed spaced bars secured between the crossmembers to provide horizontal ladder rungs for exercising, said crossmembers and support posts providing a common support structure for the said plurality of exercising devices, a first pair of upwardly and angularly extending aligned bars secured to the support structure, brace means secured between the support structure and the said first pair of bars for stabilization thereof, a transversely extending bar secured between the outer ends of the first pair of bars, exercising ring means suspended from the transversely extending bar, climbing rope means suspended from the transversely extending bar, a second pair of upwardly and angularly extending aligned bars secured to the support structure and oppositely disposed with respect to the first pair of bars, brace means secured between the support structure and said second pair of bars for stabilization thereof, and basketball net means secured to the outer ends of the said second set of bars.

4. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said basketball net means includes a backboard secured to the second pair of bars, a basketball net secured to the outer face of the backboard, said backboard being adjustably secured to said second pair of bars for variation of the height of the basketball net.

5. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and including a jump scale means secured to at least one of said second pair of bars.

6. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including support arm means secured to one of said upright posts and extending outwardly therefrom, and punching bag means suspended from said support arm means.

7. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including support arm means secured to one of said upright posts and extending outwardly therefrom, and heavy training bag means suspended from said support arm means.

8. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including first support arm means secured to one of said upright posts and extending outwardly therefrom, punching bag means suspended from said first support arm means, second support arm means secured to the other of said upright posts and extending outwardly therefrom opposite from the first support arm means, and heavy training bag means suspended from said second support arm means.

9. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said upright posts is adjustable with respect to the height thereof.

10. A gymnastic apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the basketball net means is adjustably secured to the second pair of bars for variation of the overall height of the basketball net means.