Weight Lifting Exercising Apparatus

Abstract

An exercising apparatus for toning up various parts of the human body including pulley weights, chinning bars, parallel horizontal bar, rowing seat, hand strengthening roll and foot exerciser. The apparatus has an upright stationary frame, adapted to be mounted on a wall or closet door, and a U-shaped frame pivotally mounted on the stationary frame. Pulleys, ropes and weights are mounted on the stationary frame as well as pivotable rests for the feet, and rollers for hand exercising, and rowing seat on the pivotable frame. The weights slide on laterally spaced vertically extending bars supported in the side posts of stationary frame. The weights are cylindrical members which are combined with one another by moveable pins to provide variable amounts of weights.

Description

This invention relates generally to exercising apparatus for performing physical exercise to tone all the different parts of the body, and more specifically to exercising apparatus of the parallel bar type which is adaptable for many forms of exercise. This invention involves improvements over the exercising apparatus described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,200, by providing a more versatile device upon which a greater variety of exercises can be performed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which incorporates a plurality of suspended pulley weights, which must be raised against the normal force of gravity, by the different parts of a person's body that is to be exercised.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus wherein the weights can be assembled and adjusted to the desired amount of weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which includes a chinning bar that is vertically adjustable so as to accommodate persons of various heights.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which further includes a pair of horizontal bars, thereby permitting exercises conventionally associated with horizontal bars.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus including hand roller to which the weight pulley ropes can be attached for hand strengthening exercises.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which includes foot exercising means so as to improve blood circulation therein, improve the ankle strength, and improve the muscle strength therein and eliminate foot tiredness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus wherein various elements of the device may be combined in use so as to produce multiple hand and leg exercises such as rowing and swimming exercises may be performed by raising the weights while sitting or lying across a roller supported seat between the parallel bars.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which is readily foldable against a wall or closet door when not in use so as to be out of the way when not in use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which is designed for use either in a public gymnasium or in the privacy of a home.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which is made from light weight standard shapes of tubular and channel metal material, so that the same may be easily moved between a folded away stored position and an extended operative position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved exercising apparatus which is fully adaptable for use by all adults as well as children for performing various exercises in simple or compound form.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple grasshopper-type fastener on the side posts for holding the horizontal bars raised upon the side posts.

Still other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved exercising apparatus which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed construction taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an improved parallel bar type of exercising apparatus incorporating the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of top chin bar and parallel bar leg support portion.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the adjustable chin bar bracket support taken in the direction of line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view taken on the same plane as FIG. 1, and showing a portion thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the grasshopper-type spring catch for holding horizontal bars in the raised and stored position upon the wall supporting frame.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the supporting structure for a foot support and exercising element, as viewed in the direction of arrows 7--7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an end view thereof taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 1 and showing the foot exercising element per se.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pivot connection of the horizontal bars to the side post as taken on the line 10--10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged front fragmentary perspective view showing the upper portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged front fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus immediately below the structure shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front perspective view of the apparatus showing the foot exercising structure immediately below the structure illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the foot exercising structure taken on the line 14--14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the foot exercising and support structure.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged assembled fragmentary top plan view thereof taken on the line 16--16 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view of the weights and pulley rope means for lifting them and assembling upon one of the side posts.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the pulley weights taken on the line 18--18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an enlarge cross-sectional view of the top plate rope wedge anchor taken on the line 19--19 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged bottom perspective exploded view of the uppermost weight and one of the sliding bolt assemblies therefor.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pivot connection of one of the tubular horizontal bar members to the side post, and

FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the wooden hand roller bearing taken on the line 22--22 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 30 represents an improved parallel bar type exercising apparatus according to the present invention wherein there is an upstanding stationary frame 31 that may be secured to a wall of a room or to the innerside face of a closet door D as preferred.

The stationary frame 31 is comprised of a pair of upstanding, spaced apart side posts 32, each of which is made from an elongated upright channel opening forwardly and having parallel sidewalls 33 and an interconnecting channel rear wall 34, the channel posts being connected together by a plurality of small transversally extending horizontal channel pieces 35 opening rearwardly. The elements comprising this frame 31 are made preferably from stainless steel and are welded together to provide one rigid frame adapted to lie flush against a wall or door face to support the operating parts of the apparatus.

The bottom end of each side post 32 is formed with a forwardly extending integral foot 36 serving as a base upon which the frame can stand when held against the wall surface. At the upper end of each of the side posts 32, a portion thereof is cut away so that the channel configurated post is at an end of the configuration and converted into a single angular extension 32', as best shown in FIG. 11 of the drawing. A series of aligned openings 37 is provided along each post and extension 32' for the purpose of receiving screws or bolts so that the apparatus may be secured to a wall face or to the closet door D. At an intermediate portion, between the upper and lower ends of each of the posts 32, the post is provided with a forwardly extending platform 38 rigidly secured thereto, as best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 11, the platform 38 and the foot 36 providing support means for a pair of parallel, vertical rods 39 therebetween. Each of the rods 39 is internally threaded at each end so as to receive a screw 40 having a head that bears flush against the platform or foot thus rigidly securing the rod to the side post 32. A rectangular rubber bumper 41 is supported upon the foot 36 and has a pair of openings 42 therethrough so to receive the rods 39, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Rubber rings can be used on the rods 39 in lieu the rectangular bumper 41.

A plurality of stacked cylindrically configurated lift weights 43 are slidably mounted upon the rod 39, each of the weights being provided with a pair of openings 44 so to receive the rods 39, thereby permitting the weights to slide vertically along the rods. These weights 43 are thus slidably movable between the bottom rubber bumper 41 and the upper ends of the rods.

Each of the weights 43 is made of heave weight metal such as stainless or iron and includes a cylindrical mass or body with a side surface 45 which is bounded at its upper edge by a circular top wall face 46 and bounded at its lower edge by a bottom wall face 47, and all of the weights being of relatively equal diameter and thickness. As is shown in FIG. 18 of the drawing, the uppermost weight 43A and the lowermost weight 43B are specifically different in construction from the intermediate weights 43C. Means are provided for selectively interconnecting the weights together so that one or any more of the weights may be lifted. Thus, a person can adjust the total weight that is to be raised. Each of the weights 43A and 43C have a bottom downwardly extending central plug portion 48 of cylindrical configuration and the weights 43C and 43B have cylindrical recesses 49 in the top side thereof.

A sliding bolt assembly 50 selectively secures a plug portion within an associate recess to a lower weight. As shown in FIG. 18, each of the sliding bolt assemblies 50 includes a bar 51 which is slidable in a direction that is slightly tilted relative to a horizontal direction from the outside inwardly whereby the bar 51 moves slightly downward when moved inwardly to effect lifting engagement of the weights to one another. As is readily evident in FIG. 18, only the bottom and intermediate weights 43B and 43C have the sliding bolt assemblies, and each of these weights include an opening 52 for slidably receiving the bar 51 in an engaged or disengaged position, as shown. Only the weights 43A and 43C include the plug portion 48 to provide engagement means with a weight located immediately therebelow. Each of these plug portions have an opening 53 into which the end of the bar 51 is slidable to effect an engagement as is shown by the three uppermost sliding bolt assemblies in FIG. 18. Each of the sliding bolt assemblies 50 further includes a channel configurated handle 54 that is secured pivotally free to the bar 51 by means of a pin 55. The handle 54 is thus pivotable about the bar 51 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 20 thereby permitting the bar to be in engagement or retained out of engagement with an adjacent weight.

The uppermost weight 43A has a pair of parallel upstanding brackets 56 welded thereto, and with openings therethrough for receiving a pin 57 upon which a pulley 58 is freely rotatable. The brackets 56 are provided by a U-shaped weldingly secured by its bight portion 56' to the top wall face 46 of the weight.

A U-shaped member 65, shown in detail in FIG. 12, is welded by the ends of its legs to each of the channel side posts 32 at an intermediate point between the lowered weights 43 and the top platform 38. The forward end of the member 65 is rounded and a sleeve 66 is welded thereto for receiving a vertical extending swivel pin 67 on the lower end of a pulley bracket 68 that holds a pin 69 which supports rotatably free a pulley 70.

As shown in FIG. 17 of the drawings, the upper platform 38 has a cylindrical sleeve bearing 80 welded thereto, the sleeve having a central opening for receiving therein a pin 81 on U-shaped bracket 82 that supports a transverse pin 83 upon which a pulley 84 is freely rotatable. The rope 73 extends around the upper side of the pulley 84 and the terminal end of the rope 73 is provided with a hook element 85 fastened thereto. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 19, each of the platforms 38 has a tapered bushing 90 welded thereto and into which the other terminal end of the rope 73 is received. A conically configurated wedge 91 is driven into the end of the rope 73 thereby locking the rope end within the tapered bushing.

A lowermost one of the transversely extending connecting channels 35 provides support means for a swivel foot support unit 100, shown in greatest detail in FIG. 13. This foot support unit 100 includes a pair of forwardly extending arms 101 rigidly affixed to the transverse channel 35, each of the arms having an angle 102 welded thereto and to the channel 35 which is more clearly indicated in FIGS. 7, 8, 15 and 16. One end of each of the arms 101 has a circular opening 103 therein for the purpose of rotatably receiving one end of a roller 104.

A leaf spring 105 is secured at one end by a screw 106 to the angle 102, the opposite end of the leaf spring being in alignment with the center of the opening 103, as best shown in FIG. 8, and this end of the leaf spring being received within a slot 107 provided at each end of the roller 104. The roller 104 is rotatable within the openings 103 and the leaf spring 105 urges the roller to rotate to a normal return position wherein the leaf spring extends in a straight line as is illustrated in FIG. 8.

A sidewardly pivotable unit 110 is welded to the normally front side of the roller 104, and generally comprises a pair of circular interfitting inner and outer dishes 111 and 112, as best shown in greater detail in FIGS. 14 and 15. The inner dish 111 is welded to the roller 104 at 104' and is provided with a semicircular slot 113 and an integrally fixed pin 114. The outer dish 112 is likewise provided with a semicircular slot 115 and an integrally affixed pin 116. As shown in FIG. 14, the pin 114 on dish 111 is receivable within the slot of outer dish 112 whereas the pin 116 of outer dish is receivable within the slot 113, thereby limiting the rotational movement of the two dishes relative to each other to approximately 180.degree.. A cotter pin 117 or the like is used on the pins 116 and 117 to keep the dishes from being disassembled.

A pair of foot rests 118, best shown in FIGS. 9, 13 and 14 are rigidly secured upon the front face of the outer dish 112 that is rotatably mounted upon the stationary dish 111. A pair of vertically spaced holes 120 are provided in each of the foot rests and corresponding threaded screw holes 119 in the rotatable outer dish 112 to receive fastening screws 121 which secure the foot rests to the sidewardly pivotable unit 110. Each of the foot rests 118 comprises a flat, elongated sheet metal base 122 having a rounded toe edge 123 and a plurality of parallel grooves 124 so as to provide rigidity thereto against flexing. A heel brace 125, made likewise of sheet metal or leather is secured around the lower end of the base 122 for the purpose of supporting a person's heel therein. A conventional adjustable strap 126, made preferably from leather and including a buckle 127 is secured at its opposite ends to a pair of tabs 128 rigidly affixed upon opposite sides of the base 122 for the purpose of retaining the front portion of a person's foot in the foot rest. Thus, a person may secure his feet to the foot exercising device, pivot them sidewardly and also pivot them forwardly back and forth against the resistance of the leaf springs 105.

It will be understood that the foot rests 118 may be mounted on a plate and the plate mounted on a rotatable sleeve supported by the arms 101. A coil spring around the sleeve retracts the same as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,200.

A pivotable rectangular generally U-shaped horizontal bar frame 130 is pivotable forwardly upon the stationary frame 31, between a retracted stored position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, and a forwardly extended, horizontal position as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The frame 130 comprises a pair of L-shaped tubular horizontal bar members 131 of which is pivotally secured at its free end to the inner sidewall 33 of frame 31 by a pin 132. Each of the L-shaped tubular members 131 has a flat tab 133 formed integrally with one end thereof, the tab 133 having an opening 134 in which is received the pivot pin 132, the pin being secured in a sidewall flange 33 of the channel side posts 32, as is best shown in FIGS. 2, 9, 10, 12 and 21. The L-shaped horizontal bar members 131 extend parallel relative to each other at the innerside of side posts 32 and at the opposite ends are connected by means of pins 140 to an H-shaped leg unit 141 to be adjustable upon the horizontal bar members 131.

This unit 141 includes a pair of legs 142 in parallel spaced apart relationship and being interconnected together by means of a chinning bar crossarm 143. Rubber pads 144 in the ends of each of the legs 142 provide cushion scratch preventing means when the pivotable frame 130 is tiltable to the floor for support thereon. When the pivotable horizontal bar frame 130 is in a vertically upstanding position as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, then the crossarm 143 may serve as a chinning bar.

In order that the same may accommodate persons of various heights, adjustment means 145 are provided so that the chinning bar 143 is located in any selected elevation position, as shown in FIG. 2 by the phantom lines. The adjustment means 145 comprises a lug 146 secured to each of the legs 142 to which one end of a link 147 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 148, FIGS. 3 and 11. At its opposite end the link 147 is adjustably connected to a vertical plate 149 rigidly secured to each tubular member 131. The plate 149 includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart openings 150 into which selectively a pin 151 may be secured, thereby causing the H-shaped legs unit 141 to assume either of the positions shown in FIG. 2. A leaf spring 152 is secured at its one end by a screw 153 to the link 147 and at its opposite end bears pressure against a head 154 on the pin 151 to normally retain the pin in engagement and thereby prevent accidentally the same from falling out, the leaf spring 152 being further provided at the same end with a hook 155 to permit easy lifting of the same so to adjust the position of the pin 151 selectively to the openings 150. The L-shaped horizontal bar members 131 and legs 142 may be integral or one-piece as shown in FIG. 2A and without the adjustment means 145.

When the pivotable horizontal bar frame 130 is pivoted downwardly into a horizontal position as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, the same may be made to receive a wheeled rowing seat 160 or similar structure with wheels 161 upon which a person may sit when he wishes to use the device for purpose of doing rowing or bicycling exercises. In such position, the pads 144 are engaged with the floor. A grasshopper-type fastener 162, has a screw 163 fixed to each side post extension 32' and a pivot plate 162' supported outwardly from the side flange of the extension by a coil spring 163'. The plate 162' has a pin 164 receivable within openings in the sides of the flange extension and the horizontal bar member 131, for retaining the pivotable frame 130 in an upstanding position during a chinning exercise or for storage purposes. Thus the bar frame 130 is releaseably held in a locked position when raised by the fasteners 162.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 11 and 22, the tubular members 131 may be bridged by one or a plurality of elongated wooden rollers 165 which are supported rotatably free at each end within a bracket 166 secured by screws 166' to each tubular horizontal bar member 131. The roller 165 may be of any configuration, and may have cylindrical bumps against which a person may lower his body for the purpose of performing reducing exercises. Each bracket 166 includes a circular channel 167 with a relatively friction free bearing 168 which supports rotatably directly the reduced diameter roller ends 169. Screw eye bolts 165' are secured in the roller extensions 165' by a nut 165" and to which a pulley rope hook 85 can be attached so that lifting of the weights can be effected by grasping the roller with the hands and twisting to lift the weights.

Conventional gripping handles 170, comprised of a rotatable wooden roller 171 supported upon a steel wire bale 172 are detachably secured to each of the pulley hooks 85 at the ends of the ropes 73 when it is desired to pull upon the weights 43 while the person is on the rowing seat or when standing in front of the apparatus.

In operative use the present apparatus is used for various exercises such as chinning, rowing, swimming, bicycling, and other exercises associated with chinning bar, parallel bars and the lifting weights. When it is desired to use the present apparatus for rowing exercise, the pivotable frame 130 is lowered forwardly to the flow and into a horizontal position and the roller seat 161 is fitted thereupon. The person then grasps the grip handles 170 and pulls upon the same thus causing the weights to be lifted, this force developing the appropriate muscles used for rowing. When the device is used for bicycling exercises, then the feet, instead of the hands, may engage the grip handles 170. When swimming exercises are to be performed, then the grip handles 170 may be grasped either with the hands or feet while the person is lying in a prone position face side downwardly upon a seat structure supported upon the pivotable frame 130.

In FIG. 5, it will be noted that provision can be made for the standing up of this apparatus in the middle of a floor rather than from a door by simply fastening long brace bars 172 to the aligned openings 37 at the upper ends of the posts 32 by bolts 173 and nuts 174 and inclined downwardly and rearwardly and extending to the floor where the lower ends will be bolted to the floor. At the same time screws will be extended through the integral foot of each post 32 into the floor. Thus this apparatus can be either supported upon a wall, door, or in the middle of the floor as just described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus for performing weight lifting exercises, comprising a stationary frame, a pivotable frame, said pivotable frame being pivotably supported upon said stationary frame and movable between a vertical and a horizontal position, said stationary frame incorporating means for vertical weight lifting, said pivotable frame in a horizontal position providing a support for a person performing certain weight lifting exercises simulating rowing, swimming, and bicycling while operating the weight lifting means, said stationary frame comprising a pair of vertical, spaced apart side posts, each of said side posts being of channel configuration opening to the front and comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart sidewalls and an interconnecting rear wall, the lower end of each of said posts having a horizontal foot plate, said side posts being rigidly secured to a plurality of spaced apart, interconnecting transversely extending members, each of said side posts having an upper platform rigidly secured thereto in the vicinity where one of said transversely extending members meets with said channel configuration of said posts, a pair of vertically extending parallel rods secured between said upper platform and said foot plate to provide guide means for a plurality of slidable weights between said foot plate and said upper platform, said weight lifting means being slidably mounted upon the parallel rods, said pivotable frame comprising a pair of L-shaped tubular members pivotable at one end to the side of each of said posts, and an H-shaped leg unit pivotably attached to the opposite end of each L-shaped tubular member to support the pivotable frame in horizontal position, whereby weight lifting exercises simulating rowing, swimming and bicycling can be performed by a person lifting the weights while he is supported on said pivotable frame while it is in horizontal position.

2. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said weight means comprising separable weights, one of said weights being a cylindrical member having a cylindrical sidewall bounded by a circular top wall and a circular bottom wall, said weights being of relatively equal diameter and positioned one over the other, the uppermost of said weights having a pair of upwardly extending plates in parallel spaced apart relationship, a pin extending through said plates and a freely rotatable pulley mounted upon said pin and securement means associated with the weights for selectively securing one or more of said weights to the upper most weights as preferred.

3. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said securement means comprises all of said weights except a lowermost of said weights being provided with a downwardly extending plug portion, said plug portion being concentric with said cylindrical side of each of said weights, a recess within the upper side of each of said weights except said uppermost weight, said plug portion of an upper weight being receivable with the recess of a lower weight, and a sliding bolt assembly for selectively connection said plug portion to an adjacent weight.

4. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sliding bolt assembly for connecting weights together comprises a radially sliding bar, said radially sliding bar being slightly tilted downwardly at the radial center of each of said weights, said bar being connected pivotally free to a handle, said bar being receivable with a slightly downwardly inclined opening in said plug and an associate adjacent weight, said bar being slidable between an engaged and disengaged position of said weights.

5. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sliding bar handle is pivotable between a vertical depending position when said bar is in engagement position between said weights and an approximate horizontal position against the upper side of said bar when said bar is in a weight disengaged position, thereby preventing said bar from sliding radially inwardly to engage an associate weight.

6. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said upper platform is provided with an upwardly extending sleeve secured thereto, a pin of a bracket supported within said sleeve, said bracket supporting a pulley and said pulley having a rope extending around the upper side thereof and around a lower side of said pulley secured to the uppermost of said weights, the terminal end of said rope passed around the lower end of said pulley secured to said uppermost weight being secured in a conical sleeve secured within said upper platform and the opposite end of said rope having a hook attachment secured thereto for selective securement to a grip handle.

7. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 6, a third pulley bracket assembly fixed to the front of each side post intermediate between the upper and lower channel platforms including a sleeve for supporting a pin of a bracket of a third pulley, a swivel pulley bracket with its pin in said sleeve whereby a third pulley may be selectively used to receive said rope therearound.

8. An exercising apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a wheeled seat rollably mounted on the tubular members of the pivotable frame while it is in horizontal position to serve as a support for a person in sitting position doing weight lifting exercises while grasping the grip handles.

9. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the upper ends of each of said side posts having a portion thereof removed to transform said channel configuration into an angle configuration and a grasshopper-type fastener carried on each angle configuration, said angle configuration and the pivotal frame having elongated and aligned pin hole openings, said fastener including a headed pin fixed to the angular configuration, a pivot plate slidably and pivotally support upon the headed pin, a coil spring biasing the plate against the pin head, a catch pin fixed to one end of the plate and adapted to extend into the pin hole openings of the frame to lock the frames together, said fastener plate being pivotable against the action of the spring to retract the catch pin from the pin hole openings of the frames.