Device for Suspending Rings for Gymnastic Exercises

Abstract

A device for suspending gymnastic rings and handles is described. The device has a power spring to automatically retract a strap onto a spool. There is a cam buckle that holds the strap in place at a desired height. There are marks on the strap to use as reference to easily match the rings to the same height. The device is typically used as a pair, one device for each ring. Many handle and bars can be attached.

Claims

1. A system for suspending at least one hand grasped device such as an exercise ring from an elevated structure and allowing for variations in the height of the hand grasped device, the system comprising: a device frame; a cam buckle supported on the device frame a spring loaded spinning spool supported on the device frame; a strap wound onto the spinning spool, the strap comprising indicia at regular intervals to facilitate setting a plurality of hand grasped devices to the same height; wherein the spring loaded spinning spool further comprises a power spring to retract the strap after it is unwound from the spool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front view of the device of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a section of the frame removed to show the power spring in the spool.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a typical gymnastic ring attached.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a typical installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Reference is first made to FIG. 1 for a description of the overall system of the present invention. As indicated above, the device of the present invention is intended to hang gymnastic rings from an elevated mounting place above an exercise surface. The device is intended to provide a means for quick and accurate adjustment of the rings height as well as coil up and store the extra strap out of the way of the user.

[0023] A pair of the devices of the present invention are operated as follows. The user depresses the cam buckle 8 with one hand to allow the strap 7 to move through the cam buckle 8. The user grasps the ring 9 or strap 7 with the other hand and raises or lowers the ring 8 to the desired height. The user then releases the cam buckle 8 clamping the strap 7 in place. Making note of which numbered mark 10 on the strap 7 the device is set at, the process is repeated with the other device and set to the same numbered mark 10 to ensure each ring 9 is at the same height from the ground.

[0024] The cam buckle 8 is typically spring loaded and increases its clamping force on the strap 7 when pulled in one direction. The cam buckle 8, is facing so when the strap 7 is pulled down the cam buckle 8 clamps tighter on the strap 7. When a user depresses the cam buckle 8, it unclamps and allows the strap 7 to move through it freely. The strap 7 will start recoiling automatically because of the tension of the power spring 6.

[0025] The power spring 6 is wound about the shaft 5. One end attaches to the spool 7 by means of spool/spring attachment pin 11. The other end of the spring 6 is attached to the frame by means of a frame/spring attachment pin 12. During assembly of the device a number of pre-tensioning rotations are performed on the spool 4 to cause the strap 7 to be under tension even when the strap 7 is fully retracted into the device. The spool 4 is rotated in the direction of rotation that pays out strap 7, then the strap 7 is fed through the cam buckle 8 and attached to the ring 9.