GB2472408A

GB2472408A - Dips bar

Info

Publication number: GB2472408A
Application number: GB0913613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Hicks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-05
Filing date: 2009-08-05
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: GB0913613D0

Abstract

A fitness device operable for fitting to a framework. The fitness device includes a first member (3) operable to press against the framework; a second member (5) operable to press against the framework; a connecting rod (4) connecting the first and second members; and handgrip means operable to, when a force is applied thereto, cause the first and second members to press against the framework and secure the device to the framework. When the force is applied to the handgrip means, the first and second members are operable to press against the framework in opposite directions. The first member (3) is also operable to stabilize the device against the frame by providing an outward pushing force against the inside face of the frame. In a particular arrangement, the fitness device of the present invention is a dips bar and is operable for fitting to a door frame (2).

Description

Page 1

Dips Bar Description

This invention relates to a device for carrying out Dips exercises.

The dips exercise is carried out by gripping two parallel bars spaced at shoulders width apart. The bars would generally be positioned above waist height.

During this exercise the users weight is held fuliy by gripping the parallel bars with arm straightened, and legs lifted clear of the ground.

The user lowers his I her body, bending arms whilst keeping his I her weight suspended from the two parallel bars, At the lowered position the user then lifts his /her body weight upwards until the original straight arm position is met, at all times throughout the exercise the legs and feet remain clear of the ground.

This exercise is commonly practiced in gyms; the commercial products are most often free standing, these are generally constructed from heavy gauge tubular steel or timber.

Other variations include wall-mounted frames or an additional facility, which may be part of a larger more elaborate piece of equipment used for a wider range of exercises.

Similar equipment can be found for home use, but these products are heavy, they generally take up a great deal of space, they are not usually of a design that can be easily folded or stored away.

Existing products, which fit into a door frame are available, but these require screw fixings to hold them securely in place causing permanent damage to door opening, this screw fixing method also prevents the dips bar from being used in multiple locations without the need for additional fixings and damage to the door frame.

A dips bar that could be used at home which was compact and easy to store would make this exercise easier to carry out when away from the gym.

If such a product could be fitted without the need for screw fixings it could be used in various locations at the home, at work or on vacation.

According to the said invention a Dips Bar, which can be adjusted in width to fit a range of door openings without the need for permanent screw fixings will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows A dips bar fitted in a doorway opening Figure 2 Shows an exploded view of the Dips Bar hand grip assembly Figure 3 Shows a threaded adjuster assembly Figure 4 Shows A dips bar in a closed folded position Figure 5 shows A view of the dips bar fitted in a door opening from the opposite side to Fig 1 Figure 6 shows an alternative adjusting mechanism to allow for quick release of the frame from the door opening Page 2 1. A tubular steel frame shown in Figs 1 and 4 commonly of welded construction, this comprises a horizontal cross member 3. A horizontal cross member 5, and two vertical connecting rods 4.

2. The horizontal cross tube 3. Can be adjusted in length at each end by means of a threaded adjuster assembly 6,13,14,15 and 17, shown in figure 3. The adjuster assembly can be extended in length so that the rubber pads 6, which are attached to the adjuster pads 17, push firmly on each side of the door frame opening 19.

3. Fig 3. Shows a view of the adjuster assembly, part 17, and 13, are held together by means of a screw an alternatively these parts could be of a snap together type design in order to avoid part 17 becoming detached from the dips and lost during transportation or storage.

4. The adjuster parts 17, and 13. Are fixed together axially, part 13, can be rotated freely in relation to part 17, this allows part 13 to be rotated during adjustment while part 17 does not rotate as the tightening procedure takes place.

5. In order that the Dips bar does not slip downwards during use, the outward pushing force required by the adjuster assemblies against the inside faces of the door opening 19, is considerable. In order to apply sufficient leverage during the tightening procedure a sliding toggle type lever 14, can be turned in a clockwise direction to tightening the adjuster assembly against the doorway sides 19.

6. An alternative would be to replace the sliding lever 14 with a large diameter-tightening knob, but this would add considerably to the packaged size of the product.

7. By way of example an alternative method of adjustment can be seen in Fig 6 where a quick release type mechanism is introduced into the centre section of cross member 3, a further alternative would be to position a similar type quick release mechanism at both ends or one end the cross member 3 8. Figure 4, shows a moulded plastic part 8. In fig 1, it can be seen that the moulding is C shaped in order that it can be clipped onto part 5. The moulded part 8 can be rotated freely about the axis of member 5 and adjusted laterally along its length; the moulded part 8 can be adjusted to fit centrally and adjacent to the vertical architrave on a range of doorway widths.

9. It can be seen in Fig 4 that the front flat face of the part 8. has a rubber pad 7 permanently attached which prevents damage to the door architrave during use. An alternative method be to replace the parts 8, and 7 with a single part, most likely made from a rubber or rigid foam material.

10. Fig 2 shows an exploded view or metal assembly. Comprising two side members 11, and a support tube 18, this would commonly be of welded construction to provide a rigid support for the hand grip 13 which is fitted to the metal assembly by means of screws. Or similar fixings Page 3 C 11. The assembly 11.12,16 and 18 shown in Fig 2 is attached to each of the vertical connecting rods By means of a split plastic moulding 16 and a semi tubular rivet 9 shown in Fig 4.

12. The handgrip assembly 11,12,1 6,and 18 can be adjusted axially along the cross member 4. The assembly can also be rotated freely in either direction about member 4. The movement is illustrated by the direction A. and B in Fig 4. the metal assembly is also free to pivot about the semi tubular rivet 9, shown in Fig 1.

11. Fig 4. shows the hand grip arms adjusted to a closed / folded position in order that the dips bar can be stored when not in use, to ease storage of the bar it can be seen in Fig 1. That the ends of hand grips 12 are cut away in a semi circular C shape in order that they may be snapped into a closed position over the cross rail 5, preventing the arms from swinging open during storage or transportation.

12. In order for the dips exercises to be carried out, the grip arms assemblies 16,l1,12,and 18 are rotated from the closed / folded position through 90 degrees to the open position, shown in figi. The grip arm assembly is then engaged in a locked open position by sliding each arm downwards on the direction of (A) shown in fig 4 so that each of the cut out slots 10. Engage onto cross tube (5) 13. A considerable amount of grip is required to hold the frame securely in place without the need for permanent fixings, the required gripping action is achieved in part by the adjuster assembly shown applying a strong outward pushing force on the door opening 19, shown in Fig 5.

14. An alternative design, shown in Fig 6, provides a facility for quick release of the frame from the door opening. A pivot able handle 20. is connected to a tubular sliding section 24. by means of 2 pivotable links 21, As shown in Fig 6, the movement of the handle 20 in the direction of (B) moves the adjuster tubes in direction of (A) to increase the overall length of cross member 3, holding the dips bar securely in place 15. By the same principle the handle can be moved from the closed position in the opposite direction to direction (B) which contracts the members 24 and the connected assemblies to allow the frame to be removed from the door opening without the need to slacken the threaded adjuster assemblies, 17 and 13 by means of the toggle adjusters 14.

16. A secondary gripping action is achieved by a cantilever principal, It can be seen in Fig 5. that as the users weight is applied downwards on the grip handles 12. the side face of the rubber pad 6, pushes against the edge of the door shut moulding 2. this pushing action is intensified proportionally to the users weight acting downwards on the frame, thus converting a proportion of the downward force, to horizontal inward force on door shut 2.

17. A third gripping action is achieved, by a cantilever principal. On the opposite side of the doorframe. As shown in Fig 1, the rubber pads. 7, bare against the door architrave, this provides a further inward pushing force which again is intensified as the users weight is exerted on the frame is increased.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fitness device operable for fitting to a framework (1), comprising: a first member (3) operable to press against the framework; a second member (5) operable to press against the framework; a connecting rod (4) connecting the first and second members; and handgrip means operable to, when a force is applied thereto, cause the first and second members to press against the framework and secure the device to the framework.
2. A fitness device according to claim 1, wherein when the force is applied to the handgrip means, the first and second members are operable to press against the framework in opposite directions.
3. A fitness device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first member (3) is operable to stabilize the device against the frame by providing an outward pushing force against the inside face of the frame.S..... * .
4. A fitness device according to claim 3 wherein the first member (3) includes an :. adjuster assembly (6, 13, 14, 15) operable to adjust the length of the first member so as to apply the outward pushing force against the inside face of the frame.
5. A fitness device according to claim 4 wherein the adjuster assembly includes a rotating portion (13) that is operable to adjust the length of the first member (3).
6. A fitness device according to claim 5 wherein the rotating portion (13) includes a sliding toggle lever (14) to provide leverage.
7. A fitness device according to claim 5 wherein the rotating portion (13) includes a large diameter tightening knob to provide leverage.
8. A fitness device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the adjuster assembly comprises a secondary release mechanism (20, 21, 23, 24) operable to adjust the length of the first member (3).S
9. A fitness device according to claim 8, wherein the secondary release mechanism (20, 21, 23, 24) is provided in the centre section of the first member (3), or at one end of the first member (3).
10. A fitness device according to claim 8, wherein another secondary release mechanism (20, 21, 23, 24) is provided, the secondary release mechanism and the another secondary release mechanism being located at respective ends of the first member (3).
Ii. A fitness device according to any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the adjuster assembly comprises a rubber pad (6) and an adjuster pad (17), the rubber pad (6) and adjuster pad (17) operable to spread the load and reduce point contact between the adjuster assembly and the inside face of the framework.
12. A fitness device according to any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the second member (5) S includes moulded parts (7, 8) located at each end for fitting adjacent to an outer surface of the * frame, each moulded part (7, 8) freely rotatable about the axis of the second member (5) and adjustable laterally along the length of the second member (5).
13. A fitness device according to any one of claims I to 12, wherein the handgrip means :.: . comprises two handgrip assemblies (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18) operable to allow a user to support * their body weight and apply the force to the handgrip means.
14. A fitness device according to claim 13 wherein the fitness device includes two connecting rods (4), each handgrip assembly (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18) being fitted to a respective connecting rod (4) such that each handgrip assembly is freely rotatable about the axial direction of the respective connecting rod (4) from a closed position to an open position and from the open position to the closed position.
15. A fitness device according to claim 14 wherein each handgrip assembly (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18) includes a first cut-out and a second cut out located at opposite ends of the handgrip assembly, and when the handgrip assembly is in the closed position the first cut-out engages with the second member (5) and when the handgrip assembly in the open position the second cut-out engages with the second member (5).
16. A fitness device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each handgrip assembly (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18) is attached to the respective connecting rod (4) by means (16) allowing movement of the handgrip assembly along the axial direction of the respective connecting rod (4).
17. A fitness device according to any one of claim 14 to 16, wherein each handgrip assembly (9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18) is attached to the respective connecting rod (4) by means (9, 16) allowing rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the respective connecting rod (4).
18. A fitness device according to any one of claims I to 17, wherein the fitness device is a dips bar. S... * S S...S***...*
19. A fitness device according to any one of claims I to 18, wherein the framework is a door : frame.

I S..
20. A dips bar operable for fitting to a door frame, the door frame comprising an inner *: . door shut moulding (2) and vertical architrave, the dips bar comprising: * a first member (3) operable to press against the door shut moulding (2) of the door frame; a second member (5) operable to press against the architrave of the door; a connecting rod (4) connecting the first and second members; and handgrip means operable to, when a force is applied thereto, cause the first member to press against door shut moulding, and cause the second member to press against architrave of the door, in order to secure the dips bar to the door frame.
21. A dips bar according to claim 21, wherein the second member (5) has a length longer than the width of the door frame.
22. A fitness device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the figures. * * *S*.* .. *1. * S * *5 * S * *** 5 * I..S * *S * * * S** *S ***S