GB2576718A

GB2576718A - Pulley Arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2576718A
Application number: GB1813946.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Christopher Henley Filip; William Stuart Henley Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-08-28
Filing date: 2018-08-28
Publication date: 2020-03-04
Also published as: GB201813946D0

Abstract

A pulley arrangement 1 for an exercise apparatus comprises a sheave 4 having an axis and being rotatable within a block 2. The block is attached to a ring 8. The axes of the sheave and the ring lie in substantially parallel planes. An exercise apparatus comprises a horizontal bar (12, see figure 3) and two of the pulley arrangements 1, the bar (12) extending through the rings 8.

Description

PULLEY ARRANGEMENT

Background to the Invention [0001] This invention relates to a pulley arrangement and to an exercise apparatus comprising a pulley arrangement.

[0002] A pull up bar can be attached to the opposite jambs of a door frame. Pull up bars can also be mounted by suitable brackets on a wall or ceiling.

[0003] A further known pull up bar comprises a horizontal bar intended to span a door frame. Two L-shaped brackets are fixed to the horizontal bar, and near their top the brackets are joined by an upper bar. With the brackets extending through a doorway, the horizontal bar and the upper bar are braced on opposite sides of the doorway. This bears the weight of a user performing pull ups on the horizontal bar.

[0004] Pull ups, in which a person pulls himself or herself up with hands facing away, and chin ups, in which the hands face the person, are difficult exercises.

[0005] It is an aim to the invention to adapt a known pull up bar for easier exercising.

Summary of the Invention [0006] The invention provides a pulley arrangement for an exercise apparatus, the arrangement comprising a sheave having an axis and being rotatable within a block, the block being attached to a ring having an axis, the axis of the sheave and the axis of the ring lying in substantially parallel planes.

[0007] If the ring is placed over the pull up bar, the pulley arrangement can be used to lift a weight using a cable running over the sheave and for other exercises.

[0008] The two planes can be horizontal, the plane of the ring axis being above that of the sheave axis.

[0009] The block can be attached to the ring so as to be rotatable with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to the two planes. In particular a peg fixed to the ring can extend through a hole in an upper part of the block.

[0010] The ring can be formed as a cylinder that can be fitted over a pull up bar.

[0011] The invention also provides an exercise apparatus comprising a horizontal bar and a pulley arrangement as described above, the bar extending through the ring.

[0012] In one embodiment, two of the pulley arrangements are provided with the bar extending through the ring of each arrangement.

[0013] The apparatus can comprise a cable extending over the sheave. A first end of the cable can be attached to a weight. A second end of the cable can be attached to a handle or to a movable pull down bar.

[0014] Where two pulleys are provided, each with a cable and a weight, the two weights can be attached together.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0015] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a front view of a pulley arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pulley arrangement of Figure 1 in an alternative configuration;

[0018] Figure 3 shows an exercise apparatus comprising a bar and two of the pulley arrangements of Figure 1; and [0019] Figure 4 shows a pull down bar usable in a different configuration of the apparatus of Figure 3.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments [0020] Figures 1 and 2 show a pulley arrangement 1 comprising a block 2 having an inverted U shape. A grooved sheave 4 is rotatably mounted within the block 2, on an axle riveted to the block.

[0021] A peg 6 extends through a hole in the top of the block 2 so that the latter can rotate around the peg. The peg 6 is welded to a cylindrical ring 8 extending horizontally. Figure 1 shows the axis of the sheave 4 substantially parallel to that of the ring 8, whilst Figure 2 shows the block 2 rotated so that the axis of the sheave is transverse to that of the ring, but still in a plane parallel to the axis of the ring 8.

[0022] Figure 3 shows an exercise apparatus comprising a known pull up bar assembly 10. This includes a main horizontal bar 12, spanning a doorway (not shown). An upper bar 14 is connected to the main bar 12 by L-shaped brackets 16, and is braced on the other side of the doorway.

[0023] The apparatus includes two of the pulley arrangements 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2. In each case the ring 8 of the pulley arrangement has been fitted onto the main bar 12. A cable 18 is fed over each sheave. The term cable in this specification includes an alternative flexible line such as a wire or rope. In a particular example, a steel wire rope of diameter 3 mm is used.

[0024] On one side of the apparatus, distal ends of the cables 18 are attached to weights 20. In this example, dumbbells have been used as the weights. Whilst a weight could simply be attached to each cable 18, in this example the two dumbbells 20 have been connected together, here by cables 22, for greater control. The attachment of the weights to the cables 18 can be facilitated by karabiners 24.

[0025] On the other side, the proximal end of each cable 18 is attached to a handle 26. Handle karabiners 28 can be used for this purpose, and adjustment karabiners 30 can be used to adjust the effective length of the cables 18. Other known loops and attachment means can be used.

[0026] With such an apparatus, a user 32 can perform different exercises involving raising the weights 22 by pulling the handles 26.

[0027] Figure 4 shows how a known pull down bar 34 can alternatively be attached to the proximal ends of the cables 18, instead of the handles 26. The bar 34 has a central eye 36 to which the cables 18 can be attached. This is suitable for exercising the lats (latissimus dorsi muscles). Other devices such as a triceps rope or triceps bar can be attached in a similar manner.

[0028] Modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the pull up bar could be of a known type other than the assembly shown which is braced through a doorway.

Claims

1. A pulley arrangement for an exercise apparatus, the arrangement comprising a sheave having an axis and being rotatable within a block, the block being attached to a ring having an axis, the axis of the sheave and the axis of the ring lying in substantially parallel planes.

2. A pulley arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the two planes are horizontal, the plane of the axis of the ring being above the plane of the axis of the sheave.

3. A pulley arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is attached to the ring so as to be rotatable with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to the two planes.

4. A pulley arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a peg fixed to the ring extends through a hole in an upper part of the block.

5. A pulley arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the ring is formed as a cylinder that can be fitted over a pull up bar.

6. An exercise apparatus comprising a horizontal bar and a pulley arrangement according to any preceding claim, the bar extending through the ring.

7. An exercise apparatus according to claim 6, comprising two of said pulley arrangements, the bar extending through the ring of each arrangement.

8. An exercise apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, including a cable extending over the or each sheave.

9. An exercise apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a first end of the or each cable is attached to a weight.

10. An exercise apparatus according to claims 6, 7 and 8, wherein two pulley arrangements are provided, each with a cable and a weight, and the two weights can be attached together.

11. An exercise apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein a second end of the or each cable is attached to a handle or to a movable pull down bar.