Adjustable and lockable gymnasium apparatus

Sept. 19, 1967

A. C. CHRISTENSEN

3,342,484

ADJUSTABLE AND LOCKABLE GYMNASIUM APPARATUS

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Sept. 19, 1967 a. c. Christensen 3,342,484

ADJUSTABLE AND LOCKABLE GYMNASIUM APPARATUS

Filed July IS, 1963 ₉ .

Sheets-Sheet 2

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3,342,484

Patented Sept. 19, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,342,484

ADJUSTABLE AND LOCKABLE GYMNASIUM APPARATUS

Ahlmann C. Christensen, deceased, late of Phoenix, Ariz., by Julia M. Christensen, executrix, 2526 N. 52nd St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85035

Filed July 18, 1963, Ser. No. 296,131 6 Claims. (CI. 272—85)

The present invention relates to gymnasium apparatus and, more particularly, to exercising and play equipment installable in a doorway or the like.

The present invention provides simple, effective and economic apparatus which is useful indoors so that individuals may, at any time desired, have available equipment for healthful exercise and calisthenics. The apparatus provided by the present invention is adjustable so that it may be used to advantage both by children and by adults. Further, individual components of the equipment provided by the present invention are useful as play equipment apart from the combination of apparatus which comprises the gymnasium apparatus. The apparatus includes support members for various exercising devices provided by the invention. The support members are semi-permanently installable in a doorway in an attractive manner and do not detract from the appearance of the doorway. This last feature of the present invention is particularly important when the gymnasium apparatus is used indoors in a residence.

Generally speaking, the present invention comprises, in combination, an exercising device and a pair of anchor members for the exercising device. The anchor members are adapted to be secured to the opposing sides of the jambs of a doorway or the like. The combination further includes means for connecting the exercising device to at least one of the anchor members.

As used herein, the term “exercising device” encompasses a chinning bar, a punchball, elastic exerciser cords, and also a swing, flying rings and a rope which are engageable with the chinning bar. The anchor members preferably are elongated hollow channel-like members having a plurality of identically configured apertures formed through the channel at selected locations along the elongated extent of the channel. The means for connecting the exercising device to he anchor member are engageable in these apertures.

The above mentioned and other features of the present invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a doorway showing the gymnasium apparatus installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of the doorway shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an anchor member according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmetnary elevation view of the section of the anchor member enclosed within circle IV—IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectioned elevation view of a chinning bar according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion of the chinning bar enclosed in circle VII—VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevation view of a chinning bar end cap;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a chinning bar end cap;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a swing according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a pair of rings according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 shows a climbing rope useful with the present invention.

In the following description like numerals refer to like elements of structure.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a doorway 20 is illustrated in which a door 21 cooperates with a pair of spaced apart jambs 22 and 23 which define the lateral jq limits of the doorway. Such a doorway normally has a pair of molding strips (not shown) secured to the opposing surfaces of the jambs so as to abut the surface of the door opposite from the door hinge when the door is closed as shown in FIG. 2. These molding strips, in order to 15 accommodate the anchor members of the present invention, are removed and a pair of anchor members 25 and 26 are secured to the opposing surfaces of jambs 22 and 23 in the places which initially were occupied by the molding strips. It is apparent from FIG. 2 that anchor 20 members 25 and 26 function as door stops for door 21 in addition to their functions as parts of the present invention.

. The anchor members preferably are substantially identical and accordingly only anchor member 25 will be de25 scribed in detail herein. Anchor member 25 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) is an elongated channel-like member haying ends 27 and 28 which are spaced apart from each other a distance corresponring substantially to the vertical extent of the jambs of the doorway in which the 30 channel member is to be installed. The anchor member is of hollow substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration (see FIG. 5) and defines an internal cavity 29 along the entire elongate extent of the anchor member. In cross-section, the anchor member has a configuration 35 resembling a block letter “C” and includes a web portion 30, a pair of substantially parallel legs 31 and 32 extending from opposite vertical edges of the web portion, and a pair of substantially coplanar flanges 33 and 34 extending toward each other from the ends of the legs 4b spaced from the web portion. The flanges are spaced apart from each other so that there is an opening to cavity 29 along the entire elongate extent of the anchor member between the flanges. The flanges define the rear side of the anchor member and are disposed against the 45 exposed surface of jamb member 22 when the anchor member is mounted in doorway 20; as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A pair of apertures 35 are formed through the web portion of each anchor member adjacent each of the ends of the anchor member for securing the anchor member to the cooperating jamb by means of screws engaged through apertures 35 to extend transversely across cavity 29 and between flanges 33 and 34 into the adjacent jamb. _5g Additional apertures 36 are provided through the anchor member web portion at selected intervals along the elongate extent of the anchor member to receive additional screws 37 for semi-permanently securing the anchor member to the jamb.

A. plurality of slot-apertures 38 are provided through the web portion of each of the anchor members at selected locations along the anhor member and comprise receptacle means for connecting the several exercising devices of the present invention to the anchor members.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each slot-aperture 38 is defined by an elongated slot 39 aligned with the elongate extent of the anchor member. Each slot has a circularly configured portion 40 centrally intermediate the ends nf the slot having a diameter greater than the width of the slot transversely of the anchor member. The anchor members are mounted to the opposing surfaces of the jambs of

3,342,484 loorway 20 with corresponding slot-apertures 38 aligned lorizontally across the doorway.

As noted above, the present invention includes a pluralty of exercising devices which are supported by anchor members 25 and 26. These exercising devices include a ihinning bar, a punchball, a pair of elastic exerciser loops, 1 swing, a pair of lings and a climbing rope. Each of :hese exercising devices are engageable either directly or indirectly with at least one of slot-apertures 38 in at least me of the anchor members.

Chinning bar 45, shown installed in the doorway in FIG. 1 and illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, includes an elongated straight and preferably cylindrical body member 46 preferably fabricated of wood, light weight metal or plastic. An elongated cavity 47, 48 is formed axially of the body member at each end of the body member, as shown in FIG. 6. A preferably circular shaft 49, 50 is engaged in each of recesses 47, 48 for slidable movement axially of the cooperating recess through an end cap 51, 52, respectively, secured to the respective ends of the bar body member across recess 47, 48, respectively. The shafts comprise means for mounting the chinning bar between the spaced apart anchor members disposed in doorway 20.

The diameter of each shaft 49, 50 is such that it is engageable with circular portion 40 of each slot-aperture 38 of the anchor members. A pair of parallel notches 53 is formed in each shaft 49, 50 adjacent the end of the shaft which is spaced apart from the adjacent end of chinning bar body member 46. The distance transversely of the shaft between the bases of the notches is less than the width of slots 39 of slot-apertures 38. A pin 54 is disposed transversely of each shaft normal to the parallel bases of notches 53 between the notches and the adjacent end of the shaft and projects laterally and preferably equidistantly from opposite sides of the shaft to define lug means engageable with slot-apertures 38. The length of each pin 54 is less than the width of cavities 29 between legs 31 and 32 of the anchor members.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, shaft 50 has a plurality of aligned recesses 55 formed therein at spaced apart intervals along the shaft. Recesses 55 cooperate with a set screw 56 carried by a boss portion 57 of chinning bar end cap 52 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Both end caps 51 and 52 have a circular body portion 58 and a circumferential flange 59 disposed at right angles to the body portion to define a socket for the cooperating end of the chinning; bar body member. The body portion of each chinning bar end cap has a pair of apertures 60 formed therethrough to receive screws or the like to secure the end cap to the chinning bar. A large diameter aperture 61 is formed axially through each end cap for slidable movement of shafts 49 and 50 through the respective end caps. An aperture 61 is formed through boss portion 57 of end cap 52. A tapped aperture 62 is provided in the boss portion radially of aperture 61 to receive set screw 56. The set screw is releasably engageable with one of recesses 55 in shaft 50 to position the shaft in a predetermined relation axially of the chinning bar.

The chinning bar is supported between the spaced apart pair of anchor members 25, 26 by inserting the end of shaft 50 into a selected one of slot-apertures 38. As the end of shaft 50 is engaged with one of the anchor members, pin 54 is positioned so as to pass through the elongated slot of the slot-aperture. Shaft 49 is moved axially relative to the chinning bar and is inserted into the slot-aperture in the other anchor member that is aligned with the slot-aperture with which shaft 50 is engaged. Shaft 49 is engaged in its corresponding slot aperture 38 in the manner described above. The chinning bar is then rotated 90° so that the pins 54 are disposed transversely to the elongate extent of the anchor members in the cavities 29 of the anchor members. The chinning bar is then interlockably but releasably engaged with the anchor members so that it may be used as an exercising bar in any desired manner. The chinning bar is prevented from rotating relative to the anchor members by engagement of notches 53 in the lower portion of slot 39 and by engagement of set screw 56 in one of recesses 55.

Bar 45 has been referred' to above as a chinning bar and may be used in a conventional manner by a person doing pull-ups or the like in the gymnasium apparatus provided by the present invention. The chinning bar may be disposed in slot-apertures very close to the floor of doorway 20 to hold down the legs of a person engaged in sit-ups or the like. It is thus apparent that chinning bar 45 has many uses in combination with anchor members 25 and 26.

A swing 100, comprising still another of the several exercising devices provided by the present invention, is shown in FIG. 10. The swing includes a seat 101 which preferably is planar and rectangular. The seat is engaged at its ends in loops 102 formed at the lower end of each of a pair of swing supports 103. The swing supports preferably are fabricated from lengths of heavy duty fabric tape or the like such as that used in military belts or seat belts. Loops 102 are formed by doubling the lower ends of the tape strips back upon the tape and securing the ends to the tape by clips 104. It is apparent, however, that the tape may be stitched, riveted or the like to form loops 102. A smaller loop 105 is formed at the upper end of each swing support by means of a clip 104. Loops 105 are engageable circumferentially of chinning bar 45 which is mountable in a doorway as described above.

The exercising device provided as a part of the present gymnasium apparatus include flying rings 110 shown in FIG. 11. Each of the rings includes a ring element 111 engaged in a loop 112 formed at the lower end of a length of fabric tape 113. Loops 112 are formed by means of clips 104 described above. Chinning bar loops 114 are formed at the upper ends of the tapes by means of additional clips 104 for circumferential engagement with chinning bar 45 to support the loops relative to the anchor members..

Yet another exercising device is climbing rope 120 shown in FIG. 12. The rope defines a loop 121 at one end thereof for engagement with the chinning bar to support the rope relative to the anchor members.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the chinning bar is connected directly to the anchor members. The swing, the flying rings and the climbing rope are connected indirectly to the anchor members by means of the chinning bar.

There has been described above a novel gymnasium apparatus which provides sturdy and versatile equipment for play and physical exercise. The apparatus is useful indoors and thereby provides for entertainment of children regardless of weather conditions. Further, the anchor members described above are installable in a doorway in such a manner as to be unobvious to guests in a house in which they are used. The anchor members thus may be a semi-permanent part of the structure of the house. The remaining components of the gymnasium apparatus are easily storable in a closet or the like when not in use.

The invention has been described above in conjunction with a presently preferred gymnasium apparatus for the purpose of illustrating the invention; but this description should not be regarded as restricting the scope of the present invention beyond what is defined in the following claims.