U.S. patent number 3,874,657 [Application Number 05/346,168] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for exercise apparatus including stall bars and exercise equipment mounted thereon.
Invention is credited to Frank J. Niebojewski.
United States Patent |
3,874,657 |
Niebojewski |
April 1, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
EXERCISE APPARATUS INCLUDING STALL BARS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
MOUNTED THEREON
Abstract
An exercise apparatus includes a basic stall bar unit and a pair
of parallel bar units each having an attachment plate with a top
hook for hooking over a stall bar and with the plate abutting the
adjacent stall bars. A tubular parallel bar projects forwardly from
each plate and a brace extends from the center of the parallel bar
to the plate. A chinning bar has outer mounting rings adapted to
telescope over the outer ends of the parallel bars. A shoulder unit
includes tubular mounts telescopic with the parallel bars and a
flexible connector for coupling to a rowing lever having a
releasable pivotal connector for mounting upon a stall bar. The
rowing lever is adjustable to permit proper extension of thereof
for use as a part of the press unit or as a separate rowing lever
exerciser. A bicycle type pedal unit has tubular mounts for
releasable locking attachment to the parallel bars. A barbell and
parallel bar bracket attachments are also provided as well as an
exercise board and a supporting stool for use with the other
elements. The board is provided with the necessary pad and straps
for various exercises including calf exercises.
Inventors: |
Niebojewski; Frank J.
(Brookfield, WI) |
Family
ID: |
26720309 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/346,168 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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43337 |
Jun 4, 1970 |
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294975 |
Oct 4, 1972 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/104; 482/23;
482/38; 482/41; 482/57; 482/62; 482/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
22/0002 (20130101); A63B 22/0694 (20130101); A63B
22/0605 (20130101); A63B 21/4043 (20151001); A63B
21/4047 (20151001); A63B 21/154 (20130101); A63B
17/00 (20130101); A63B 21/16 (20130101); A63B
1/00 (20130101); A63B 2210/06 (20130101); A63B
21/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
17/00 (20060101); A63b 017/04 (); A63b 021/10 ();
A63b 013/00 (); A63b 023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/58,62,63,6R,79R,81,82,83R,84 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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334,318 |
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Oct 1903 |
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FR |
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56,191 |
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May 1967 |
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DL |
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Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Stouffer; R. T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Andrus, Sceales, Starke &
Sawall
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of my application filed
June 4, 1970 with Ser. No. 43,337 and my application filed Oct. 4,
1972 with Ser. No. 294,975, both of which are now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically
spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of
separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting means
for releasably attaching the corresponding parallel bar to the
stall bars with the parallel bars projecting outwardly in parallel
relationship from the stall bars, said parallel bars including
grippable free outer end portions for hand gripping by exercising
personnel and further adapted to telescopically receive auxiliary
equipment, and auxiliary exercise equipment including telescoping
attachment members adapted to detachably telescope over the free
end of the parallel bars to provide a direct support of such
auxiliary equipment.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting means of
said parallel bar means includes a plate-like bracket member, a
hook member formed on one end and offset from the general plane of
the bracket member, said hook extending over the back and side and
top of one of said stall bars with the bracket depending from said
hook and resting against the front of the lower stall bars
immediately below the hooked stall bar, said parallel bar
projecting from said bracket, and a supporting brace member
extending between the central portion of the parallel bar
downwardly and inwardly to the lower portion of the bracket to form
a supporting unit with the portion of the parallel bar outwardly of
the supporting brace constituting said grippable free outer end
portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said parallel bar is a tubular
round member and said auxiliary equipment includes a member adapted
to detachably telescope onto said tubular parallel bar.
4. The appartus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment
includes a chinning bar including a pair of end tubular members
adapted to detachably telescope over the outer end of the parallel
arms and including a cross member extending therebetween.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment
includes a bicycle sub-assembly comprising a pair of end tubular
support members adapted to detachably telescope over the
corresponding parallel bars, a pedal crankshaft member rotatably
attached to each of the tubular support members and including a
pair of oppositely offset pedal cranks located to define foot and
hand engageable portions.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said oppositely offset portions
include oppositely located parallel base portions, and a
bicycle-type foot pedal rotatably attached to the corresponding
base, said crankshaft terminating in bearing members having
brackets secured to the sidewalls of the tubular mounting
members.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary
equipment comprising a rowing lever unit having an inner pivotal
mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars
and a support shaft projecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting
means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a
plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the
outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending
laterally to the opposite sides of the extension.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment
includes a shoulder yoke means including a pair of laterally spaced
interconnected yoke members having an inner end adapted to
releasably telescope with the grippable free end portions of the
parallel bars, shoulder pads secured to the outer end of the yoke
members, and including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a
pivotally mounted weighted lever having an inner end with pivotal
means for pivotal interattachment to one of said stall bars and
having an arm member projecting outwardly therefrom and terminating
in generally corresponding spaced relation to the shoulder yoke
unit, and a flexible member interconnecting the shoulder yoke unit
and the pivotal arm, said arm including weight means.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment
includes a pair of cradle members having telescoping support
members adapted to detachably telescope with the corresponding
parallel bars and including upwardly facing cradle members to
support a laterally extending bar, said laterally extending bar
being adapted to support weights. lever
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary exercise
equipment includes a chinning bar member having a pair of end
tubular members adapted to detachably telescope over the parallel
bars and including a chinning bar secured between said elements, a
pair of supporting bracket units, each of said bracket units
including a tubular member to detachably telescope over one of said
parallel bars and a U-shaped bracket extending perpendicular to the
tubular member, a shoulder yoke unit including a pair of elongated
tubular members adapted to detachably telescope with said parallel
bars and including a laterally extending connecting brace adjacent
the inner end of the tubular members, said yoke unit including a
hook member provided on the cross brace and a flexible attachment
means connected to said cross brace, and further including
additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever unit
having an inner pivot mount adapted to be releasably attached to
one of said stall bars and projecting forwardly therefrom and
terminating in the outer end in a weight assembly, said rowing
lever unit being extendible to a plurality of predetermined
positions, the outer end of said rowing lever unit having means for
releasable attachment to said flexible connecting member for
interconnection between the shoulder yoke unit and the rowing lever
unit, an abdominal board having a pair of hook members on one end
adapted to overlie any one of the stall bars and projecting
forwardly therefrom, said board having a foot strap adjacent the
hook end, said board having a pair of foot strap members spaced
inwardly from the first harness member, a pair of deep knee bend
harness members having means for releasable attachment to the
abdominal board and each harness member having a loop member
adapted to be located about the upper calf portion of the legs with
the feet implanted within the feet strap members and having
weighted pulley units provided to the opposite sides of the stall
bar unit and secured to the supporting structure and a lat machine
having a mounting bracket with an upper hook member for releasable
mounting on one of said stall bars.
11. An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically
spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of
separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting strap
having an upper curved hook portion and a depending flat base
portion of a length greater than the vertical spacing of two of
said stall bars for releasably hooking the corresponding parallel
bar means to the upper of said two stall bars with the base portion
abutting at least the lower of said two stall bars, said bar means
including a parallel bar projecting outwardly from the base portion
immediately beneath the hook portion and in parallel relationship
to the parallel bar of the other of said parallel bar means, and
each of said bar including a strengthening member connected to the
base portion thereof and to the parallel bar thereof in spaced
relation to the outermost end of the bar, whereby the ends of the
parallel bars define grippable free outer end portions for hand
gripping by exercising personnel and further adapted to
telescopiclly receive auxiliary equipment.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary
equipment comprising a rowing lever means having inner pivotal
mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars,
a support shaft projecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting
means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a
plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the
outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending
laterally to the opposite sides of the extension.
Description
This invention relates to gymnastic equipment and particularly to a
coordinated unit providing a plurality of different body building
and developing devices in a compact unit.
Various individual exercise devices have been designed for
assisting in the development of the body muscles and the like.
Generally, individual devices are provided in a gymnasium, each of
which is especially constructed for particular muscle exercise.
Such an arrangement is, of course, acceptable in a gymnasium and
other establishments without severe space limitations and where
usage may justify the attendant expense of individual units. The
use of such facilities, however, does require travel to and from
the location having the desired faacilities. Further, in some
smaller facilities they may not have all of the desired muscle
exercising devices for one reason or another. There is, therefore,
a distinct need for a small compact unit which can be provided for
relatively small facilities and even desirably as a home exercise
gymnasium. Such a unit, however, should be extremely versatile in
order to provide for a wide range of various individual exercises
such as normally provided in a complete facility. Although various
cabinet type devices have been suggested they have not generally
provided a highly versatile type unit having the various desired
exercising devices in a small compact arrangement.
SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is particularly directed to aa relatively
small compact assembly providing all of the essential muscle
building facilities in a single interrelated package. Generally in
accordance with the present invention, a basic stall bar unit is
provided consisting of a plurality of parallel vertically spaced
bars for the usual basic fitness exercises. A pair of basic support
parallel bar means is provided with each means having a releasable
connection means at one end for selective connection of the
corresponding parallel bar means individually and separately to the
stall bars. The releasable interconnection is such as to provide a
pair of forwardly projecting and laterally spaced parallel bars
which are firmly interconnected in a releasable manner to the stall
bars to readily support the weight of the personnel desiring to
exercise on the equipment. The bars may, of course, be spaced for
the various types of muscle exercises. Further, various other
associated equipment is provided having means for releasable
telescoped attachment to the parallel bars and providing for
various intercoordinated exercises by releasably attachment to the
parallel and stall bars. Thus, a chinning bar and barbell rack
support for a bench press unit may be provided. Generally, an
abdominal board as well as a supporting stool and a set of
conventional barbells or the like are also employed to complete a
self-contained home-type gymnasium. The unit preferably also
provides for advanced exercise devices such as generally separately
provided by a lat machine, a rowing lever as well as a leg press
machine and calf exercise machine. In accordance with the
particularly novel aspect and feature of the present invention, a
bicycle type exercise attachment is also provided to permit
exercising of the arms, legs and associated muscles.
Thus in accordance with a particularly novel and significant
construction of the present invention, a stall bar assembly has
plurality of stall bars extending throughout the depth of the unit
between a pair of vertical supports with the conventional stall bar
spacing. The stall bar assembly may form an integrated part of a
storage cabinet or may be a separate unit which can be releasably
mounted within a suitable storage cabinet. If desired, it can of
course be incorporated in a form to be attached to a suitable wall
or other supporting structure within a home or the like to form
built-in home unit. The parallel bar means in accordance with a
preferred and particularly novel construction each includes an
attachment base member having a hook at one end to permit hooking
of the base portion over the stall bars and with the base portion
extending downwardly therefrom and abutting the stall bars to
provide a firm support. A supporting tubular member as a parallel
bar projects forwardly from the base and is preferably provided
with an interconnecting strengthening brace attached generally
centrally of the parallel bar and to the base to provide a very
strong parallel bar construction. Then mounting of the parallel
bars provides free outer end portions to permit the grasping by the
exerciser and also forming a support for various exercise change
elements. The parallel bars are preferably formed as hollow tubular
members which are adapted to receive supporting members, internally
and/or externally. For example, a chinning bar may conveniently be
provided with outer mounting rings adapted to telescope over the
outer ends of the parallel bars. Suitable locking means can, of
course, be provided to permit locking of the chinning bar in
position. A shoulder unit includes tubular mounts telescopic with
the parallel bars for location to permit convenient resting of the
unit on the shoulders. A rowing lever includes a releasable
interconnection to be mounted upon a stall bar below the parallel
bars and interconnected to the shoulder unit by a suitable flexible
element such as a chain, The rowing lever is adjustable to permit
proper extension thereof for use as a part of the press unit or as
a separate rowing lever exercise.
Further, in accordance with a very important aspect of the present
invention, a bicycle type pedal unit is provided having end
mounting members adapted to be releasably locked to the parallel
bars at the oppposite ends and providing a pair of pedal units
between the parallel bars. The parallel bars are conveniently
located on the stall bars for leg and/or arm manipulation to
thereby permit corresponding bicycle type exercises.
The present invention thus provides a very compact and versatile
gymnastic assembly which can be practically constructed at a very
reasonable cost for use in relatively small facilities and
particularly in the home, and/or an executive office. The apparatus
may also be used as a "Home" physical therapy aid, thereby
minimizing out patient visits to a hospital or clinic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the present invention and in which
the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as
others which will be readily understood from the following
description of such embodiment.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a cabinet type gymnastic assembly
unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a rowing lever adapted to form a part
of the unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a vertical fragmentary section illustrating a further
modification to the structure, and particularly illustrating a lat
machine for use with the structure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing an alternative free
standing unit constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4 showing the alternative
attachment to the aparatus;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to FIG. 4
showing a cross bar unit mounted on the parallel bars;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 showing a
further modified attachment in accordance with the invention
providing a rowing lever unit which may be modified to provide a
calf exerciser;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view more clearly illustrating a
part of the exercise unit shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view showing a bicycle attachment
mounted to the unit of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top view of the structure shown in FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a further pictorial view showing the board application
of the invention; and
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a board component shown in FIG.
12.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the present
invention is shown forming a part of a compartmented exercise
device, including an outer cabinet 10 having an interconnected top
wall 11 and floor wall 12 interconnected by vertical sidewalls 13
and 14. The front of the cabinet 10 is closed by pivotally or
otherwise movably mounted doors 15 and 16. The doors 15 and 16 are
preferably selected with the bottom edges 17 and 18 providing a
vertical support in the open position, as shown. Thus, the lower
door edges may be flush with the bottom exterior face of the wall
12 or spaced slightly above the bottom wall such that when inclined
outwardly, the doors bear against the supporting surface upon which
the cabinet 10 is placed thereby positively preventing forwarding
tipping of the cabinet during the use of the apparatus as presently
described.
The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a stall bar
rack 19 permanently fixed within the cabinet and in particular
including a plurality of vertically spaced stall bars 20, which are
equally spaced throughout the depth of the cabinet 10. The bars are
shown spearately mounted within the unit between a pair of
sidewalls 21 and 22 which extend parallel to and are spaced
inwardly from the sidewalls 13 and 14 of the cabinet. The multiple
wall construction provides added strength and stability and in
addition defines storage areas to either side of the stall bar
assembly. In accordance with a particularly important novel feature
of the present invention, the exercising assembly includes a pair
of special parallel bar units, shown mounted in parallel spaced
relation to one of the stall bars 20 in the upper portion of the
cabinet, and in place for use. Each of the arm units includes a
base bracket 23 formed of a plate-like construction with an upper
hook portion 24 which extends about the backside of a stall bar 20
and then over the top thereof to provide a depending parallel brace
portion which extends downwardly and abutts the front edge or
portion of the stall bars 20 immediately below the stall bar 20
upon which the hook portion rests. Each of the units further
includes a similar parallel bar 25 attached to the base bracket 23
immediately below the hook as by welding and projecting outwardly
therefrom. A reinforcing member or rod 26 is preferably secured
between the parallel bar 25 and the depending brace bracket 23 to
provide a very firm support for the parallel bar 25. The stall bars
2 and separate parallel bars 25 form the basic supporting unit for
directly performing many exercises in the illustrated embodiment of
the invention. Thus, the stall bars may be used directly without
the parallel bars in place and with the parallel bars in place for
various exercises.
In FIG. 1 a horizontal pull-up or chinning bar 27 is attached to
the outer free ends of the parallel bars 25. The bar 27 is shown as
a tubular bar member having similar ring-like supports integrally
or otherwise fixedly connected to the opposite ends of the bar 27.
The ring members slide over the free ends of the bar 25 to
releasably mount the bar 27 in position for use. This construction
may be provided with a relatively firm fit to prevent accidentally
movement of the horizontal bar 27 from the parallel bars 25. Thus,
as shown in FIG. 1, the bar 27 is conveniently located for chinning
exercises and the like.
Other accessories may also be provided. For example, in FIG. 2 a
pivoted weight arm or rowing lever unit is illustrated including a
rod-like support 30 having a journal means 31 secured to one end.
The illustrated journal means 31 is shown as a generally tubular
member welded to the end of the arm 30 and having a pair of
overlapping clamping plate-like extensions. Thus the member 31 may
be opened to telescope over a stall bar 20 and establish a pivotal
mounting thereto. The outer end of the pivot arm 30 is provided
with a cross shaft 32 with weight means 33 suitably secured to the
outer ends thereof such as in the manner of a usual barbell
construction. With the lever arm pivotally mounted to a lower one
of the stall bar 20 the user can manually grasp the cross shaft 32
to lift the weights 33. The user can stand in front of the device,
or can stand with his legs straddling the bar 30 behind the weight
33, and grasp the bar 32 either between the weights or to the
outside of the weights to provide a conventional rowing lever
exercise. It also can be incorporated as a part of a calf machine
or leg press unit as more fully developed hereinafter.
An additional separate lat machine attachment is shown in FIG. 3
which is a fragmentary vertical section through the bar stall unit
with the back wall 35 illustrated.
The lat machine adapter or attachment is shown including a
supporting base bracket 36 similar to the bracket 23. Thus the
bracket 36 includes an upper hook portion 37 adapted to hook behind
and over a stall bar 20 with the bracket depending downwardly over
the adjacent stall bars. A pulley support bracket 38 is welded or
otherwise secured to the bracket 36 and projects outwardly
therefrom with a pair of spaced pulleys 39 and 40 rotatably mounted
within the bracket 38. A flexible rope or cable is fed over the
pulleys 39 and 40 with a hand grip unit 41 provided on the outer
depending portion of the cable and an adjustable weight unit 42
secured to the opposite inner end. This permits application of the
unit in accordance with the usual features and applications of a
lat machine.
In addition, the gymnasium assembly is preferably provided with an
abdominal board unit 43 having a pair of hook members 44 secured at
one end. The hook members 44 are shown as plate-like members
adapted to extend over the front and top of a stay bar 20 to raise
the corresponding end of the board to the desired height for the
various exercises. Thus when it is attached to a stall bar, it can
be located to provide a conventional inclined press apparatus.
The assembly with bar 27 can be lowered to locate the bar 27
beneath the armpit level, and the board 43 hooked on to bar 27. The
user then stands within the assembly rests his arm on the board 43
and raises and lowers a barbell unit, such as shown in FIG. 4.
In accordance with the presention invention other exercise elements
are provided with those illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 to produce a total
exercise facility, as presently described.
Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a generally free standing
gymnastic assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated.
In FIG. 4, a base member 43 is provided having a stall bar unit
projecting upwardly therefrom, with a plurality of parallel
vertically spaced stall bars 44 secured between a pair of vertical
posts 45 and 46. The posts 45 and 46 are firmly secured to the base
members 43 which may be of a sufficient size and weight such that
it can be used without a minimum of any further attachment. The
upper end is however normally secured to a suitable upper wall
structure to insure a firm and stable support. The unit may also be
removably housed within a suitable storage cabinet along with other
accessories as in FIG. 1.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, wall pulley
weight units 47 and 48 are secured within the vertical posts 44 and
45. Each of the pulley units may be of an essentially conventional
construction and unit 48 is described. A top pulley 50 is rotatably
mounted within the sidewall. A line 51 is looped over the pulley 50
and extends down and around a second pulley 52 with the opposite
end of the line affixed secured to the wall 46 adjacent the pulley
50. An adjustable weight member 53 is mounted on the lower pulley
52 and thus pulls on the line hand grip unit 54 is secured to outer
end of line 51. In use, the user grasps the hand unit 54 and pulls
outwardly thereon in accordance with the conventional type wall
pulley assembly. The weight system may of course be provided in any
other suitable manner. For example, the ropes may be wound on a
spring-loaded reel unit having an adjustable coil spring to vary
the force or load on the rope.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4-11 a pair of
parallel bar units 55 and 56 essentially as shown in FIG. 1 are
provided. Unit 55 is described and corresponding elements of unit
56 are identified by corresponding primed numbers. Unit 55 includes
a plate-like hook base 57 having the upper hook portion for
releasable attachment over a stallbar 44 in combination with a
forwardly projecting parallel bar 58 which is braced by a similar
tubular bar member 59. The parallel bars 58 and 58' are shown as
tubular pipes of a sufficient structural strength to readily
support the weight of the personnel which will be using and
exercising on the assembly. In FIG. 4 the units 55 and 56 are shown
located on a lower stall bar such that the user may do headstands
employing the parallel bars for support.
The tubular extension construction as previously noted permits
attachment of pull-up bars and other related devices. In FIG. 4,
similar barbell support units 60 and 61 are provided on units 55
and 56. Unit 60 includes a tubular mount 62 adapted to slip over
the hand portion of the bar 58. A U-shaped bracket 63 is secured to
the upper wall of mount 62. Unit 61 is similarly constructed. The
units 60 nd 61 provide a support for a barbell unit 64 for any
desired exercise. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the user may locate a
stool 65 immediately forwardly of or adjacent to the supported
barbell 64 with his back resting on the stool to lift the barbell
unit 64 upwardly and thus forming an assembly, in essence, similar
to or the same as the more conventional bench press rack. Such
units conventionally have a framework for supporting of a barbell
unit with an integrated bench upon which the user lies. The
illustrated assembly of FIG. 4 may be modified by providing of a
chinning bar unit 66 such as shown in FIG. 6 and used for push-up
and/or pull-ups.
Bar 66 has similar telescopic mounts 67 for attachment to the
parallel bars 55 and 56, with a spring loaded latch pin 68 in the
opposite ends passing through mounts 67 and into appropriate
openings in the bars. The mounts are shown secured within the bar
66 with inclined outer ends 69 for suitable wide arm pullups and
other exercises.
As previously noted a rowing lever attachment such as shown in FIG.
2 may be provided and interconnected with the parallel bars to
provide a calf exercise machine. A particularly advantageous
structure is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, a novel rowing lever 70 is shown with a preferred
construction including a hinge clamp bracket 71 which spans and
encompasses a pair of adjacent stall bars 44. The bracket 71 is
formed of a pair of similar shallow U-shaped members hinged
together at one end as at 71a. The opposite ends are provided with
upwardly extending abutting flanges 72, with a bolt and wing nut
unit 72a passed therethrough for firmly attaching of the clamp unit
to the stall bars 44. A support shaft 73 is pivotally attached to
the bracket 71 by a pivotal attachment which, in the illustrated
embodiment of the invention, includes a pair of L-shaped pivot
brackets 74 welded or otherwise secured to the clamp bracket 71.
Support legs of the brackets 74 are spaced generally in accordance
with the width of the support shaft 73. A pivot bolt member 75
extends through the extended legs of brackets 74 and the shaft 73
to pivotally attach the support shaft 73 to the clamp bracket 71
and therefore to the stall bars 44. The shaft 73 extends outwardly
from the pivot support and is adapted to slidably receive an
extension sleeve 76 projecting outwardly therefrom, and terminating
in the outermost end in a variable weight means 77. The shaft 73
and the sleeve 76 are provided with appropriate openings to permit
locking of the extension sleeve 76 in either of a plurality of
positions, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention,
between a short position, as illustrated, when the device is to be
used for a calf machine, and in an extending position, when it is
to be used as a conventional rowing lever. More particularly, the
shaft 73 is provided with axially spaced openings 79. The extension
sleeve is provided with a single opening 80 which may be aligned
with any one of the shaft openings 79. A pin-type key 81 is
provided to firmly interlock the sleeve 76 to the shaft 73 in
either of the selected positions.
The outer end of the sleeve 76 is provided with a laterally
extending tube member 82, welded or otherwise secured to the
undersurface thereof. A barbell shaft or rod 83 extends
therethrough with suitable weights 84 secured to the barbell
adjacent to the support tube member 82. The outer end of the
barbell rod 83 is freely available for use as a rowing lever.
The upper surface of the outermost end of the sleeve 76 is provided
with a hook member 85 for selectively receiving of an
interconnecting means 86 to form a calf machine, such as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8. Generally, in accordance with the illustrated
embodiment of the invention, a shoulder yoke unit 87 is provided
which is specially constructed for releasable interconnection to
the parallel bars 58 and 58' which are appropriately located with
respect to the rowing lever 70 to form a calf machine. The yoke
unit 87 includes a pair of appropriately spaced tubular arms 88 and
89 interconnected by a lateral brace 90. The arms 88 and 89 are
adapted to mate with the tubular parallel bars 58 and 58', and the
illustrated embodiment of the invention are shown projecting onto
the parallel bars. The lateral brace 90 is spaced inwardly from the
arm ends which are adapted to project onto the parallel bars and
thus provided a locating means for the inward projection of the
yoke arms.
The yoke arms 88 and 89 project outwardly therefrom a significant
distance and releasably receive similar shoulder pads 91, which are
shown at tubular foam members telescoped over the ends of the
arms.
The cross brace 90 of the yoke unit 87 is provided with a hook
member 92 permitting selective connection of any one of the chain
links of the illustrated flexible connector 86. The chain length is
adjusted to raise the rowing lever 70 with the yoke unit 87 in a
parallel position. In use, the personnel stands immediately in
front of the rowing lever with the shoulder pads resting on his
shoulders. The connecting chain 86 extends downwardly and inwardly
of the rowing lever 70 and the yoke unit 87 is urged onto the
parallel bars 58 and 58' to prevent slippage therefrom. The
parallel bars 58 and 58' are located on the stall bars 44 to
normally locate the yoke unit 87 below the level of the user's
shoulders. Thus the parallel bar units 55 and 56 pivot about the
stall bar 44 and the rowing lever 70 pivots about its pivot
connection 75 to permit raising of the assembly. The shoulder pads
91 rest on and transmit the weight of the rowing lever 70 and
particularly the barbell 77 to the user. The user then manipulates
the unit by knee bends in accordance with the conventional calf
machine.
Further, and in accordance with an important feature of the present
invention, a bicycle unit 93 is provided for interconnection to the
parallel bars, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The
illustrated bicycle unit 93 includes a pedal support crankshaft 94
with end supporting units 95 and 96 for telescopic attachment with
the parallel bars 58 and 58'.
More particularly, the crankshaft 94 includes end bearing
projection 97 having a common axis. Similar ball bearing units 98
and 99 are secured to the shaft projections and each includes an
outer exterior sidewall mounting bracket 100 which is otherwise
secured to the side of a mounting tube 101 as by welding or the
like. The tube 101 as illustrated is of a relatively short length
and is adapted to telescope over the parallel bar. A locking screw
102 firmly interconnect tubes 101 to the bars and firmly supports
the bicycle pedal assembly 93 upon the parallel bars. The
crankshaft 94 extends between the parallel bars 58 and 58' and is
provided with a pair of similar and oppositely offset generally
U-shaped cranks or arms 102 and 103. Each of the arms has a base
portion 104 spaced from the centerline defined by the common
bearing mountings. This portion is relatively flat and a foot pedal
member 105 is rotatably mounted thereon in any suitable manner. The
foot pedal member 105 is adpated to accommodate the foot of the
user in the normal manner, or the hand of the user. Thus by
locating of the parallel bars at an appropriate level, the user can
stand on the bicycle unit, grasp an appropriate upper stallbar 44
and pedal in the conventional bicycle manner. Alternatively, by
placing of the parallel bars 55 and 56 on an upper stall bar, the
pedals are located such that the user grasps the pedals with his
hands whicle standing on the floor, and rotates the pedal unit with
his arms.
The abdominal board 106 is preferably constructed as shown in FIGS.
12 and 13. A padded portion 107 is provided adjacent one end,
covering a little over one-half of the board. The oppositie end is
provided with stall bar hooks 108. A web strap 109 is provided
adjacent the stall bar hook end and may be provided with an
adjustable buckle arrangement, not shown. The board may be
positioned on the stall bar, as shown, with the user lying on the
board 106 with his feet supported within the web.
Further, a pair of flexible stirrup members 110 are provided in
slightly spaced relation to the cross web 109 to permit further
application of the unit. The boards's hook members 108 are such
that the hook portion lies generally in the plane of the board 106,
as shown in FIG. 13 with the hook portion bent upwardly over the
end of the board such that the outermost hook end 111 lies
generally within the bottom plane of the board. This permits
placing of the board directly on the floor in a relatively flat
position as in FIG. 13. A pair of calf support fabric loops 112
have connecting chains 113 which may be attached to a ring 114 on
the board and thereby provide for the deep knee bend exercises, in
accordance with the conventional manner.
The present invention thus provide a compact and extremely
versatile assembly of gynmastic equipment which provides means for
essentially all of the basic and advanced body building exercises.
The illustrated attachments provide the necessary equipment for all
of the exercises permitted in a complete full-facility gymnasium
such as th YMCA, and commercial health establishments. Thus,
assemblies as illustrated, provide the necessary sit-ups, push-ups,
pull-ups, pressing, rowing as well as various leg and arm exercises
with and without barbells or other weight elements such as provided
by the lat attachment, wall pulleys and the like.
Further it is readily adjustable and adapted to personnel of
various size, ability and the like. This invention thus provides a
very practical unit and one which is readily adapted to normal
manufacturing processes. The total cost of the assembly is
minimized by the interchangeable and interrelated exercise elements
and this with the compactness readily adapts the unit as a "home"
gymnasium.
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as
being within the scope of the following claims, particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is
regarded as the invention.
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