Abstract:
A trainer for tap swing and giant swing training (collectively, “giant maneuvers”) on a high bar comprises an engagement rotatably coupled to the high bar, a cantilever affixed to the engagement, an upper support member joined at an obtuse angle to the cantilever, a lower support member pivotally coupled to the upper support member, a foot grasp joined to the lower support member at a location remote from the pivotal coupling to the upper support member, and a safety harness coupled to at least one of the upper support member and the lower support member proximate to the pivotal coupling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to equipment for use in a gymnasium, and more particularly to equipment suitable for tap swing and giant swing training, a movement in which a gymnast revolves around the high bar, and methods for using such equipment. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   To assist in training to perform giant swings, straps have been arranged relative to the high bar. The gymnast wraps his or her hands about the straps and supported from the bar by a PVC collar and holds them as casts, push aways and swings are performed to practice the giant maneuver. However, the gymnast does not properly grip the high bar itself when using straps for training, and, therefore, does not practice of all motions used in performing a giant maneuver. In particular, in the course of performing a giant, trainees can get “stuck” or fall once past perpendicular because they do not learn to shift their grip when using conventional trainers. Strength, form and timing of movement are critical to giant completion, particularly wrist shifting motions. 
   While safety of the user is promoted by using straps as in prior designs, an improved giant trainer is needed in the art, such as one that addresses wrist motions as well as abdominal muscles, shoulder muscles, back muscles, and which enhances safety by not allowing the gymnast to come off the bar or collapse into the bar past perpendicular. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a trainer for tap swing and giant swing training (collectively, “giant maneuvers”) on a high bar comprises an engagement rotatably coupled to the high bar, a cantilever affixed to the engagement, an upper support member joined at an obtuse angle to the cantilever, a lower support member pivotally coupled to the upper support member, a foot grasp joined to the lower support member at a location remote from the pivotal coupling to the upper support member, and a safety harness coupled to at least one of the upper support member and the lower support member proximate to the pivotal coupling. 
   In further aspects, the trainer can include a moveable joint which couples the cantilever to the engagement, and a resistance element can be disposed between the high bar and the engagement such as may be used to impart fixed or varying resistance against rotation of the engagement relative to the high bar. 
   Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the piece of gym equipment according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trainer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing a gymnast in the hanging position. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  to illustrate a resistance mechanism that optionally can be included in an embodiment constructed in accordance with further aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the trainer of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view taken along circle  4  of  FIG. 1  of a rotatable swivel joint that can be included in an embodiment constructed in accordance with further aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a detail taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  of a pivot mechanism included in the trainer of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a giant trainer  10  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and has an engagement  20  rotationally coupled to a high bar  22 , the high bar itself forming no part of the present invention. The engagement permits rotation in the directions of arrow A and supports a safety harness  30  which is preferably sizable to fit the pelvis and shoulders of a range of gymnast users. 
   The safety harness  30  can include one or more leg and shoulder straps  32 ,  34  which accommodate the legs of a gymnast user. The safety harness  30  is vertically positionable relative to the engagement  26  and the high bar  22  by adjustable upper member  40 . In particular, the upper member can comprise telescoping tubes  42 ,  44  each having respective apertures  46  that can be aligned and secured in position using a T-pin  48 , 
   As is known in the art of exercise equipment, the T-pin  48  can include a spring based protrusion that yieldably locks the T-pin in a chosen position. The upper member  40  is adjustable so as to accommodate users of varying arm lengths. 
   In use, a gymnast grips the high bar and has the safety harness  30  positioned at arms length from the high bar in a hanging position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The T-pin  48  is positioned in the holes in tuber  42 ,  44  to achieve this orientation of the upper member  40 . 
   A gymnast starts from the hanging position below the bar in the giant trainer device  10 . With a series of swings, a gymnast will safely develop the strength and technique required to achieve an inverted position above the bar. 
   The upper member is offset from the engagement  20  by cantilever  50 . Cantilever  50  permits the user to hang below the high bar with the safety harness  30  generally positioned below the high bar when in the hanging position. 
   Optionally, the cantilever  50  is secured to the upper member  40  by a swivel joint  60  (see  FIG. 4 ). The joint  60  permits at least rotation of the upper member  40  in the direction of arrow B. The joint  60  enables a user to release grip from the high bar  22  and perform a pirouette while being cradled by the safety harness  30  and supported from the high bar  22 , so as to not fall, by the engagement  20 . Alternatively, the swivel joint  60  might be disposed between the engagement  20  and an upper end of the cantilever  50 . This arrangement would permit rotation of the upper member  40  in the direction of arrow B, and is presently believed to be an ideal location for the joint  60 . 
   Part of the motion required to achieve a giant from a hanging position is a series of “taps” combined with coordinated small arch and hollow positions which, when properly timed and repeated, advance the user from the hanging position to the start position, in which the gymnast user is upside down, with arms stretched downward and legs stretched upward. Thereafter, the gymnast practices giants, with the trainer  10  attached, and completes the giant maneuver with all wrist shifting motions being performed. Notably, the giant is performed in the trainer without a conventional cast or push away movement. 
   In order to train leg position and movement in coordination with other movements, the trainer includes lower member  70 , illustrated as a U-shaped element. The cover member  70  is preferably adjustable, and can comprise telescoping tubes  72 ,  74  which secure relative to one another by cinching respective alignment holes  76  with a T-bar  78 . The lower member is vertically adjustable so as to accommodate gymnasts of different leg length. A suitable setting for the lower member is one in which telescoping tubes  72 ,  74  are cinched such that the user&#39;s pelvis is in the safety harness  30  and the users legs are fully extended with pointed toes and extending through a grasp hole  82  of a follower board  80 . 
   The follower board  80  provides a surface for the gymnast to stand on while mounting the trainer  10  that is, while securing himself or herself to the safety harness  30  and grasping the high bar  22 . The follower board has grasp hole  82 , which optionally is padded for comfort, which the gymnast uses to swing the bottom member  80  forward and back during tap and swing and giant movements. 
   The bottom member and follower board  70 ,  80  move as an assembly relative to the upper member  4  about a pivot  90 , shown in the detail view of  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pivot  90  rotationally joins the upper member  40  to the lower member  70  via a housing  92  which is rigidly secured to the upper member via adhesive  94 . The housing includes a hollow portion within which lower member  70  can rotate. In one embodiment, the pivot comprises a milled T-joint section of PVC tubing. Rotation of the lower member is preferably limited by a slot  96  and pin  98  arrangement. For example, the slot and pin can limit the lower member to a constrained range of motion of about 100°, say, 30° backward (to generally align with the elongation of cantilever  50 ) and 70° forward. Such limits prevent the small arch position from becoming too big and the hollow position from becoming too small. In use, the gymnast taps and performs the small arch and hollow positions while moving the lower member  70  due to engagement of his or her pointed toes with the grasp  82 . It should be understood that the grasp can take other forms such as a stirrup, if desired, but a proper position includes pointed toes and so the illustrated arrangement is preferred. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2A  and  2 B, the engagement  20  preferably comprises a split-bearing construction that can be seated upon the high bar  22  rather than requiring the high bar to be removed from a support to have the engagement slid onto the high bar. Use of a split-bearing connection permits rapid mount and dismount of the trainer  10 . 
   Optionally, the engagement  20  includes a resistance element  24  which is moveable in the direction of arrow C so as to apply a brake material  26  against the high bar  22 , such as by manipulating a handle  28 . The resistance element increases the force needed to rotate the engagement  20  around the high bar  22  in the direction of arrow A. As a result, the resistance element  24  can assist in training the gymnast by increasing the work necessary to achieve a giant maneuver during training while still requiring wrist shifting motions to complete the maneuver. Optionally, the amount of resistance or drag can be adjustable from none to a range of drag settings. 
   To provide for a safe dismount from and mount onto the trainer  10 , the lower member  70  can be temporarily engaged to a high bar support via a hinged support  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). The support can be connected to the lower member  70  by a hinge  102  and have an opposing end with a grip  104  suitable for engaging or abutting the high bar support. A clip  106  enables the support  100  to be stowed. 
   Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.