Magnetic exercise anchor

Abstract

The Magnetic Exercise Anchor is an exercise device providing an attachment point to anchor resistance bands to a metallic structure, wherein the exercise apparatus includes a series of magnets working as an anchor to serve as an attachment point, which may temporarily affix the device and resistance bands to a metal surface.

Claims

1. A magnetic anchor comprising: a base; a retainer affixed to said base; a hole in said base; a magnet secured to the bottom of said base such that said magnet is exposed at the bottom of the magnetic anchor for abutment against a surface to securely attach said base to said surface; a post secured to said base by a ball joint, said post extending upwardly through said hole and terminating in an attachment point configured to accept an exercise attachment; a coupler affixed to said post configured to accept the exercise attachment wherein said coupler is slidingly engaged to said post; a spring disposed between a grommet and a nut, said grommet abutting said coupler, wherein said nut is configured to slide up and down said post; a screw passing through said nut and securing said nut to said post in order to compress said spring.

2. The magnetic anchor of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of holes through said base; a plurality of bolts passing through said holes in said base, a plurality of magnets, affixed to said plurality of bolts; a pulley affixed to the end of said post.

3. The magnetic anchor of claim 1 wherein said attachment point is a hook.

4. The magnetic anchor of claim 1 further comprising: means for collecting data as the device is used; means for communicating said data for analysis, wherein said means for communicating said data for analysis is a port in the base configured to accept a computer chip or sensor.

5. The magnetic anchor of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor configured to collect data from one or more points on the magnetic anchor, said sensor configured to communicate said data by visual means.

6. The magnetic anchor of claim 5 further comprising: additional sensors configured to communicate data collected from the magnetic anchor to a computer chip for preservation and later analysis of said data.

7. The magnetic anchor of claim 4 wherein said means for collecting data is a computer chip and said base is configured to accept said computer chip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the magnetic anchor is shown. The magnetic anchor has a base 2 manufactured to have a plurality of holes 4 (not shown) through the base 2 such that a bolt 6 can pass through. The bolt 6 can be a standard bolt or a screw or any other fastener that can pass through the hole 4 in the base 2. The bolt 6 is removably affixed to a magnet 8 such that the magnet 8 is below the base 2 and secured to the bottom of the base 2 by the bolt 6. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the magnet 8 can be of varying size and strength, although it is generally contemplated that in a preferred embodiment the magnet 8 should be sufficiently strong to adhere to a metal surface with enough force to provide resistance to removal. It should also be understood that the number of magnets 8 used is only limited by the number of holes 4 passing through the base 2. Thus, it is possible to configure the anchor to use fewer magnets 8 than holes 4, if one desires.

(7) Attached to the base 2 is a retainer 10 configured to encapsulate the base 2 and provide an attractive alternative to simply showing the machined edge of the base. It should be appreciated that the retainer 10 can be manufactured from different materials, such as chrome, carbon fiber, stainless steel, or plastic, and painted or dyed varying colors. Further, the retainer 10 can be shaped in different ways.

(8) In the center of the base 2 is a ringed hole 12 that is configured to accept a ball joint 14 affixed to a post 16 extending upwardly from the ball joint 14 and terminating in a coupler 18. The ball joint 14 is configured to allow rotational movement of the post 16. The coupler 18 is affixed to the post 16 and configured to accept a pulley 20 for attaching a resistance band (not shown). It should be appreciated that the coupler 18 is configured to accept other attachments, such as a hook or loop (not shown), depending on the desires of the user and the exercise to be performed.

(9) The anchor can be configured such that the coupler 18 is slidingly engaged to the post 16 such that the coupler 18 can move up and down the post 16 as the pulley 20 is pulled and/or pushed. In order to maintain resistance on the pulley 20 a spring 22 is disposed between a grommet 24 that is between the coupler 18 and the top of the spring 22. The bottom of the spring 22 abuts a nut 26. In an alternative configuration, the nut 26 can be manufactured to slide up and down the post 16. In this configuration, the coupler 18 is affixed to the post 16 such that the coupler 18 is prevented from moving up the post 16 at a certain point and can slide down the post 16 when force is exerted against the pulley 20. The spring 22 controls the movement of the coupler 18 and the pulley 20 and provides resistance to the movement. The nut 26 can be configured to accommodate a screw 28 that provides the ability to secure the nut 26 to the post 16 in order to compress the spring 22. Thus, the amount of compression, and therefore the resistance to further compression and movement, of the spring 22 can be controlled by the nut 26.

(10) Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The basic operation of the invention remains the same, but an additional attachment point is provided. The post 16 is replaced with an eyed T-bar 30 extending upwardly through the ringed hole 12 in the base 2. The T-bar 30 is configured to include the ball joint 14 at the bottom and an eye into which a first axle 32 is attached on one side and a second axle 34 is attached on the opposite side. The first axle 32 and the second axle 34 are each affixed to the eyed T-bar 30 such that the first axle 32 and the second axle 34 can rotate independently of each other. The first axle 32 and the second axle 34 are attached to a post 16. The post 16 is configured as described and shown in FIG. 1. Thus, since the ball joint 14 provides the ability for the eyed T-bar 30 to rotate and the first axle 32 and the second axle 34 each provide the ability for the post 16 and the pulley 20 to rotate, a full range of rotational motion is achieved. Also shown in FIG. 2 are lock nuts 36 used to affix the magnets 8 to the base 2. It should be appreciated that the anchor can be configured to contain any number of posts 16 ending in the pulley 20 or other attachment. Thus, an anchor can be configured with four posts 16 such that a person can use four resistance bands on the same anchor and attach the resistance bands to his or her left arm, right arm, left leg, and right leg. Because the post 16 can rotate in a full range of motion, the movement of the each post 16 is independent from the other posts 16.

(11) Turning now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In addition to the pulley 20, this anchor is configured to have an arm 38 protruding out from the pulley 20 to provide another attachment point for a resistance band, hook, or other exercise device. Also, this anchor is configured to allow a lanyard 40 to pass through a ring 42 affixed to or configured into the base 2. This allows one to use the lanyard 40 as a convenient method of transporting the anchor. The base 2 in this embodiment is configured to have a port 50 where a computer chip (not shown) may be inserted to collect biometric or other data from the magnetic anchor 44. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the magnetic anchor 44 can be wired with sensors (not shown) or other means for collecting information which is used to determine and make biometric analyses of the data.

(12) FIG. 4 shows the magnetic anchor in use in a preferred embodiment. The magnetic anchor 44 is attached to a metal weight by the magnets 8. The user attaches resistance bands 46 to the anchor 44 via the pulley 20 or arm 38. Pulling the resistance bands exerts force on the anchor which is prevented from moving because it is attached to the weight. If the user exerts enough force to overcome the inertia of the weight, the weight will start to slide.

(13) The foregoing presents a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The preferred embodiment should not be interpreted to define the limits of the present invention, but rather to enable those skilled in the art to appreciate a preferred embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and those skilled in the art should appreciate that the present invention can be practiced with varying modifications to the above disclosure without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention. Thus, the present invention is defined and limited by the following claims and their equivalents.