Portable exercise bar

Abstract

A portable exercise bar is provided. The bar is particularly suited to individuals wishing to obtain balance and positional support during an exercise routine, especially routines involving the lifting and balancing of the user's legs. The bar is useful for practicing ballet and dance moves in temporary environments where there is a door that can be used for supporting the device. Thus, the bar is configured for secure, yet removeable, attachment to a common door. Further, the exercise bar of the present invention is lightweight and can be conveniently packed for modern travel needs.

Claims

1. A portable exercise bar, comprising: an elongated balance bar having a first end and a second end; at least two substantially triangular shaped brackets, each bracket having: a base member; an upper side member; a lower side member; a fastener configured to secure an end of the balance bar to the bracket; and an attachment point; at least two vertical straps, each vertical strap having: a loop end configured to receive an end of the balance bar; a door bracket end configured to secure to a door; and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the length of the vertical strap; and a horizontal strap configured to thread between the brackets and the door wherein a first end of the horizontal strap is connected to the attachment point of a first bracket of the at least two substantially triangular shaped brackets and a second end of the horizontal strap is connected to the attachment point of a second bracket of the at least two substantially triangular shaped brackets.

2. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the balance bar is made of a durable material selected from the group consisting of wood, steel, aluminum, and modern composite materials.

3. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the balance bar is hollow.

4. The portable exercise bar of claim 3, further comprising end caps disposed in each of the first end and the second end of the balance bar.

5. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the balance bar is about 26 inches long.

6. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein each bracket further includes a substantially semicircular indentation with opposing ridges opposite the base member and configured to receive a circumferential portion of the balance bar.

7. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein an anti-slip material is disposed on an underside of the base member of each bracket.

8. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the faster is a nut and bolt assembly.

9. The portable exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the horizontal strap is made from 1-inch flat webbing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a top-right perspective view of the portable exercise bar of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the portable exercise bar of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the support bracket of the portable exercise bar of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a strap and door hook of the portable exercise bar of the present invention.

(5) It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. There are also representative examples of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numeral refers to the same elements in all figures.

(7) The present invention provides a portable exercise bar. In one embodiment of the invention (referring to FIG. 1), there is a balance bar (10) affixed to side brackets (20). Balance bar (10) is rod-shaped and can be made of any material suitably strong enough to support the forces involved in a typical exercise routine, such as wood, steel, aluminum, and modern composite materials. Preferably, bar (10) is formed of a lightweight, hollow aluminum tube. In a preferred embodiment, bar (10) is 26″ long or less, which allows the device to be placed on an average sized door without impairing the opening and closing of the door even when the device is installed. If bar (10) is formed in a hollow shape then end caps (60) can be placed into the bar to prevent both the user and the surrounding walls from unwanted damage from the hard edges of the bar. Alternatively, if bar (10) is formed as a solid piece then the ends could be rounded to provide a similar safety feature.

(8) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, side bracket (20) has a generally triangular shape that offers sufficient horizontal displacement of bar (10) from the door (not shown) such that the user has room to exercise without striking the door. Bracket (20) can be solid or, preferably, semi-solid, the advantage of the latter configuration being that semi-solid brackets are more lightweight without any structural or functional disadvantages. If provided in triangular form, bracket (20) has a base (22) and sides (24). In one embodiment, top region (26) is a semi-circular indentation shaped to accept a circumferential portion of bar (10) with opposing ridges (27) providing additional partial containment of said bar. In this arrangement, bar (10) can be secured to brackets (20) not only through typical means of connection (as explained, below) but also assisted through the structural form of top region (26). The invention also contemplates anti-slip material (23) being placed on an underside of base (22) to help prevent the device from slipping when installed on the door. In one embodiment, anti-slip material (23) is a 1.0″ wide strip of 1/16″ thick neoprene.

(9) Bar (10) can be connected to bracket (20) in a number of different ways commonly known to those of skill in the art, such as via glue, bolts, straps, hook-and-loop affixments, and hooks. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, bar (10) is connected to bracket (20) via a pan-head hex screw approximately 1″ in length, using an opposing lock washer (36) and hex nut (38). In a preferred embodiment, bracket (20) is formed in a semi-solid design. If the configuration of the semi-solid bracket design does not provide a flat surface for attachment of the screw or bolt (34) and nut (38) then the present invention also contemplates wedge piece (39), which is shaped to provide a flat surface for securely tensioning bar (10) and bracket (20) together via the bolt and nut arrangement. However, the invention also contemplates that bracket (20) may be formed in a manner such that wedge piece (39) is not needed.

(10) As depicted in FIG. 1, the portable exercise device of the present invention is secured to a door using vertical straps (42) and horizontal strap (44). Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, vertical strap (42) comprises a length of strap having a sewn loop (43) on one end and a door bracket (45) on the other end. There is also an adjusting mechanism (46) located therebetween. The end portions of bar (10) extending beyond affixed brackets (20) are connect to support straps (42) via strap loops (43) and door brackets (45) are connected to the top of the opened door. In this manner, portable exercise bar (10) can be easily and quickly suspended onto the door. Adjusting mechanism (46) is then used to set the height of bar (10) a desired distance from the floor. There are many types of adjusting mechanisms that will work with the present invention, including figure-8 brackets, belt and hole arrangements, hook-and-loop affixments, and even tying knots in vertical straps (42). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, adjusting mechanism (46) is a 1″ figure-8 bracket and vertical straps (42) are made of 1″ strap webbing.

(11) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, horizontal strap (44) is a single strap threaded between brackets (20) and the door. To accommodate the threading and horizontal securing of the present device against the door, there is an attachment point (50) provided on each bracket (20). Horizontal strap (44) is preferably made from 1″ flat webbing such that the door can be closed without marking or injuring the side door jambs. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, attachment point (50) is a chaff tab or ring connected to or formed on brackets (20). The ends of horizontal strap (44) have hook-and-loop afffixments such that each side of bar (10) and the corresponding bracket (20) can be secured and then cinched in alternating succession to provide a secure horizontal but temporary affixment of the portable exercise bar to the door.

(12) The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.