Abstract:
An intermediate section is inserted into the mid-portion of an exercise bar&#39;s body to increase its effectual length. The section is locked in place at each end thereof by the protrusion of a separation release button in one of the connecting members through a button opening in the member it is joined to. The button is retained in place either by a grasshopper leg spring supported upon a spring seat or a plastic memory resilient integral finger as snap-fit connection means.

Description:
This instrument, filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) and 1.78, invoking the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 120, is a Continuation-in-Part of presently copending application Ser. No. 10/602,928 entitled “Exercise Bar and Cord Connector”, filed Jun. 23, 2003.  

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   1. Field of the Invention  
   Exercise equipment  
   2. Description of the Prior Art  
   Occasionally a descriptive term in this application may be shortened so as to recite only a part rather than the entirety thereof as a matter of convenience and to avoid needless redundancy. In instances in which that is done, applicant intends that the same meaning be afforded each manner of expression. Thus, the term bar separation release button  31  might be used in one instance but in another, if meaning is otherwise clear from context, expression might be shortened to release button  31  or merely button  31 . Any of those forms is intended to convey the same meaning.  
   The term attach or fasten or any of their forms when so used means that the juncture is of a more or less permanent nature, such as might be accomplished by bolts, welds or adhesives. Thus it is stated herein  that one side of the prior art resilient integral finger  348  partially cut out of the bar&#39;s body  310  from which it  348  was formed remained attached to it  310 . A connection in which one object is easily removed from another is described by the word emplace, as where it is stated herein that in preparation for the snap-fit  32  connection, the intervening section&#39;s insertion end  12  is slid into or emplaced within one portion of the exercise bar&#39;s body  310 . A connection in which two objects, though not attached, could be separated only with at least some degree of difficulty is referred to herein as one of rigid emplacement. The snap-fit means of connection  32 , once completed between the intervening section which is the subject hereof and the exercise bar&#39;s body  310  is stated herein to be such a connection. Employment merely of the words connector join or forms derived from their roots is intended to include the meaning of any of those terms in a more general way.  
   The word comprise may be construed in any one of three ways herein. A term used to describe a given object is said to comprise it, thereby characterizing it with what could be considered two-way equivalency in meaning for the term. Thus, it is stated that the bar separation seam  340  comprised the dividing place between the two parts of the bar&#39;s elongated extension or body  310 , meaning that the place indicated actually was that seam  340 . The term comprise may also be characterized by what might be considered one-way equivalency, as when it is stated herein that the grasshopper leg spring  347  in conjunction with a spring seat  344  within the bar&#39;s body  310  sometimes comprised the snap-fit means  342  provided in certain of the prior art exercise bar body  310  versions, meaning that in the given instance, that object is itself the type of means  342  employed. This use of the word has a generic sense to it. That is, the grasshopper leg spring  347  and spring seat  344  will always—at least potentially—be one kind of snap-fit means  342  but snap-fit means may be the grasshopper spring  347  and seat  344  in one case but something else such as a  resilient integral finger  348  in another. However, the word comprise may also be used to describe a feature which is part of the structure or composition of a given object. Thus, the prior art release button  341  is indicated to have comprised as a component thereof, a protrusion molded upon it shaped to fit the button opening  343  of the bar&#39;s body  310 . The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the three uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.  
   The word proximate with reference to two objects herein need not entail true nearness but may express a relative relationship between them. Thus, the release button  31  is said to be disposed proximate the receptor end  11  of the subject matter hereof while the button opening  33  is indicated to proximate the insertion end  12  thereof. The proximity in both cases is, nevertheless, such as to allow substantial clearance at those sites, however.  
   Terms relating to physical orientation such as top or bottom, upper or lower, refer to the positioning of the assembly in the manner it would be observed during a commonly practiced mode of operation. This convention has been adopted as a matter of convenience in discussing orientation and as shown in the drawings. Thus, the release button  31  is stated to be preferably disposed upon the bar body&#39;s uppermost surface  310  where it is most accessible to the operator; and that the cord stretching recess  49 , when present, is described as being disposed longitudinally along the underside of the intervening section. The use of the terms in this manner must, of course, be interpreted so as to be equally understood regardless of what attitude the assembly is positioned—such as, for example, when it is inverted in switching from one mode of exercise to another. In such instances, it is appropriate to specifically qualify what is meant by such recitations as on top of or beneath.  
   The word longitudinal and derivations thereof refer merely to the longest dimension of a given object, provided it has one. Thus, it is stated  herein that the cord stretching recess  49  along the intervening section&#39;s underside is longitudinal in disposition. This merely means that the recess  49  is oriented along the length of the structure.  
   In recent decades, popularity of exercise bar assemblies  300  has increased dramatically. The currently available models  300 , while useful for many, could best be lengthened to suit the exercise needs of some who use them  300 . Following that line, one might devise a short bar for youths, one of medium length for women and yet an elongated one for men. Better still would be an exercise bar capable of having its body itself  310  easily extended in length.  
   It readily occurs to one that an exercise bar&#39;s body  310  which can be taken apart for packing, storage or other convenience, might accept an intermediate piece to provide the desired length. Two part separable models, herein considered to be part of the prior art, have, in fact, already been provided by the applicant hereof.  
   Some of the prior art take-apart assemblies  300  additionally comprised a button opening  343  and snap-fit means of connection  342 . Such means  342  usually comprised either a grasshopper leg spring  347  connected both to a separation release button  341  and a separation spring seat  344 ; or the more preferred plastic memory resilient integral finger  348 . Upon depressing the button  341 , it  341  was cleared from an otherwise obstructing site, permitting opposing portions of the exercise bar&#39;s elongated body  310  to separate from one another  310 . Upon rejoining the portions  310  and releasing the button  341 , causing it  341  to co-engage a button opening  343 , the snap-fit connection means  342  returned the button  341  to its obstructing disposition thereby preventing unintended separation of the portions  310 .  
   The bar separation seam  340  comprised the dividing place between the two parts of the bar&#39;s elongated extension or body  310 . When the two pieces were interconnected, the release button  341  was disposed to emerge  through the button opening  343 —merely an orifice in the body of the longitudinal extension  310 . The two pieces were usually shaped to slide together in telescope-like fashion as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The separated members of the exercise bar&#39;s body  310  may be considered to comprise a bar&#39;s receptor end  311  and a bar&#39;s insertion end  312 . The bar body&#39;s receptor end  311  is that at which its button opening  313  is disposed. The body&#39;s insertion end  312  is that at which its separation release button  311  is disposed. These respective sites  311 ,  312  become important in connection with the subject matter hereof, ante.  
   The grasshopper leg spring  347 —so named because of its strength and resilience when bent and seated as shown there—together with a spring seat within the bar&#39;s body  310  sometimes comprised the snap-fit means  342  provided in certain of the prior art exercise bar body  310  versions. It  347  was connected to the release button  341  in any known manner; often by impingement within a hollow disposed within the button  341 . The mid-portion of the spring  347  could be bent to accomplish this fitted connection. The ends of the spring  347  were then preferably bent as shown and fitted along portions within the body  310  to provide a firm tensioning seat. When the button  341  was depressed, it  341  cleared the opening  343  and the two body  310  pieces could be pulled apart at the separation seam  340 . When the pieces were slid back together, by reason of the tension provided by the grasshopper leg spring  347 , the button  341  popped through the opening  343  the instant the two  341 ,  343  became aligned.  
   The resilient integral finger  348  comprised merely a somewhat elongated partial cut-out in the bar&#39;s body  310 , permitting it  348  to be pushed downward so that its  348  inherent plastic memory provided it  348  a springboard-like character. Thus, when released, it  348  popped back into its  348  previous position. The release button  341  comprised a protrusion molded upon it shaped to fit the button opening  343  so that the mechanism produced the same result as  that of the grasshopper leg spring  347 . The cut-out, had the shape of three sides of a rounded rectangle. One of the finger&#39;s  348  short sides—uncut—of course, remained attached to the body  310  from which it  348  was formed. This version of snap-fit means  342  was understandably preferred in large part because of its  348  lower production cost.  
   One may conceive of various other snap-fit means  342 , of course. Over the years, a number of longitudinal pole or pipe extension schemes have emerged which would provide an acceptable connection. Although great effort is not required to snap-fit the body&#39;s  310  pieces together or pull them apart once the release button  341  is depressed, because of the body&#39;s  310  structural integrity, the connection could properly have been considered one of rigid emplacement.  
   Certain modes of exercise were also made possible in the prior art exercise bar assembly  30  by the usual addition of an underlying cord stretching recess  371  in the bar&#39;s body  310 , a feature which permitted the stretchable exercise cord  200  to seat within it  371  against the bar&#39;s body  310  with the ends of the cord  200  anchored elsewhere.  
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,456,304 issued to Fritschka represented in part a fairly early version of prior art snap-fit means  342  in which a spring supported button  341  was urged through a button opening  343  to lock together two parts of a combination walking stick and outdoor stool. U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,653 issued to Danciart, et al provided similar means  342  for the take-apart center-post of the familiar beach umbrella. These useful constructions did not immediately translate over into any of the exercise bar assemblies  300 . U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,610 issued to Hinds, the inventor herein, provided an exercise bar assembly  300  featuring snap-fit means  342  entirely within the bar&#39;s body  310 , so that there was no exterior projecting button  341  to depress. The two portions of the bar&#39;s body  310  were merely pushed together or pulled apart to forcibly  compress or expand the supporting spring. Because the put-together and take-apart works was ensconced entirely inside the bar&#39;s body  310 , repair or replacement of a failed spring would provide difficulty. Looking beyond the differences between the snap-fit means  342  therein from that  342  provided by the subject matter hereof, however, that patent may be properly recognized as prophetic in expressing the possibility of incorporating within the length of the bar&#39;s body  310  one or more sections to be added to the two already present.  
   As merit-worthy as the exercise bar assemblies  300  of prior art were, such additional section accommodation would be highly beneficial where increased bar body  310  length is sought after. The more recent prior art assemblies  300  offer considerable benefit to exercise enthusiasts in meeting the needs and objectives relevant. Some still remain to be addressed, however.  
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   In its most important aspect, the invention is a construction which may be emplaced for connection within the mid-portion of a separable exercise bar&#39;s body  310 . Emplacement is effected at the bar&#39;s separation seam  340  by disconnecting respective parts of the body  310  and snap-fitting the structure into it, thereby increasing the bar&#39;s overall length. The separation and rejoining means already in place within the body  310  is duplicated and used within this intermediate structure. Thus, duplications of the exercise bar&#39;s separation release button  341  and button opening  343  are made to appear at opposing ends of the intervening section. Thus, the section&#39;s insertion end  12  may be slid into the bar&#39;s body  310  and the bar&#39;s separation release button  341  caused to pop in snap-fit fashion into the section&#39;s button opening  33 ; and the bar body  310  may be slid into the section&#39;s receptor opening  11  and the section&#39;s separation release button  31  caused to similarly connect with the bar body&#39;s  310  button opening  343 .   
   The button  341  is connected to known prior art snap-fit structures preferably comprising either a grasshopper leg spring  47  and spring seat  44  or a resilient integral finger  48  molded within the structure itself.  
   By thus snap-fitting the intermediate section into place, the exercise bar&#39;s body  310  is effectually lengthened.  
   An orientation assuring track  45  and orientation juncture groove  46  are also present to aid in the section&#39;s emplacement and retention.  

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     Solid lines in the drawings represent the invention. Dashed lines represent either non-inventive material, that not incorporated into an inventive combination hereof and which may be the subject of another invention, or that which although so incorporated, lies beyond the focus of attention.  
       FIG. 1  represents a cut-away view of an exercise bar assembly  300  wherein the intervening section therefor is connected by snap-fit means at each of its ends to the bar&#39;s elongated body  310 .  
       FIGS. 2-12  are perspective depictions of exercise bar assemblies  300  capable of accommodating the subject matter of this application as respective improvements thereto. All were previously invented by the applicant hereof and most are the subject matter of pending applications. The assembly disclosed by  FIG. 9  comprises that of an expired patent. Although certain portions of all are carried over in one case or another as a novel part of the combination which is the subject hereof, for the sake of discussion the entirety or wholeness of each of those assemblies is herein designated prior art.  
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate embodiments of the invention positioned for connection by separation snap-fit means  32  to the elongated body  10  portions of respective exercise bars. The means  32  is shown in  FIG. 13  to  comprise a grasshopper leg spring  347  and in  FIG. 14 , a resilient integral finger  34 .  
       FIGS. 15 and 16  address prior art versions of embodiments in which snap-fit means  32  were employed to join opposing parts of the exercise bar&#39;s elongated body  10 .  
       FIG. 17  features a resilient integral finger  34  as prior art snap-fit means  32 .  
       FIG. 18  comprises an orientation securing track  345  and orientation juncture groove  346  as convenient prior art means of aligning the pieces of the exercise bar&#39;s elongated body  10  when snap-fitted  32  together.  
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
   The subject of this application is an intervening section for an exercise bar body  310 , the section is in the main comprised of a separation release button  34 , a button opening  33  and separation snap-fit means  32 . This combination permits the section to be snap-fitted into the mid-portion of a prior art exercise bar body  310 , itself  310  already comprising snap-fit means  342  of its  310  own by which it  310  was already capable of being separated for storage, portability or other convenient handling. By reason of its emplacement, the snapped-in section effectually lengthens the bar&#39;s body  310 .  
   The intervening section is configured slightly elongated, thereby comprising an insertion end  11  and a receptor end  12 . Its interior is preferably configured to match the interior of the particular exercise bar body  310  it is designed to be joined to. Thus, if the bar&#39;s body  310  has a hollow aspect, the intervening section is also preferably hollowed. It should be recognized, of course, that an exercise bar body  310 —and for that matter, the subject matter hereof—may be generally of solid configuration comprising merely a hollowed  sector allowing space to accommodate the snap-fit means referred to supra. Completely hollow construction, however, is less expensive to manufacture, provides the more sought-after lightweight characteristic and is generally simpler to produce in the molding process.  
   The intervening section&#39;s release button  31  is disposed proximate the section&#39;s insertion end  11  and the section&#39;s button opening  33  proximate its receptor end  12 . Each  31 ,  33  should be set back sufficiently to assure some degree of security upon the joining of the respective parts.  
   The intervening section&#39;s separation release button  31  is disposed to work in conjunction with the button opening  343  of the bar&#39;s body  310 , disposed upon the section—preferably upon its uppermost surface where it is readily accessible to the operator—and configured to operate in the same manner as the bar body&#39;s release button  341 , so that when the intermediate section&#39;s insertion end  11  is joined to the body&#39;s separation receptor end  311 , the section&#39;s release button  31  will snap through the body&#39;s button opening  343  in the same manner the body&#39;s release button  341  would have if the intervening section were not in place.  
   Conversely, an intermediate section&#39;s button opening  33  is disposed to work in conjunction with the separation release button  341  of the bar&#39;s body  310 . The button opening  33  is disposed upon the intervening section and configured to operate in the same manner as the bar body&#39;s button opening  343 , so that when the section&#39;s receptor end  12  is joined to the bar body&#39;s insertion end  312 , the body&#39;s release button  341  will snap through the intervening section&#39;s button opening  33  in the same manner it  341  would have with the body&#39;s button opening  343  if the intervening section were not in place.  
   Preferably, the fit between the intervening section&#39;s ends  11 ,  12  and that of the bar body&#39;s separation ends  311 ,  312  are both snug and the respective members joined are, therefore, properly stated to be mated in  configuration and size to the cross-sectional configuration and size of the exercise bar&#39;s body  310 . Moreover, the relationship of any separation release button  31 ,  341  to its respective button opening  33 ,  343  is such that upon proper alignment, the button  31 ,  341  is urged through a respective button opening  33 ,  343  by snap-fit means, thereby retaining the joined members.  
   Just as the separation seam  340  comprised merely the dividing place between the two parts of the prior art bar&#39;s elongated body  310 , snap-fitting the intermediate section in place transforms that singular seam  340  into two sectional separation seams  38 ,  39 —one at each of the section&#39;s ends  11 ,  12 , respectively. That nearest the insertion end  11  is herein designated the section&#39;s insertion separation seam  38 ; that nearest its receptor end  12 , its receptor separation seam  39 .  
   As was the case with the prior art exercise bar&#39;s snap-fit means of connection  342 , that  32  of the intervening section preferably comprises a release button  31  and either a grasshopper leg spring  47  connected both to it  31  and a separation spring seat  44 ; or the more preferred resilient integral finger  48 . Upon depressing the button  31 , it  31  is cleared from an otherwise obstructing site, permitting the intervening section at its receptor end  11  to separate from the exercise bar&#39;s elongated body  310 . A similar effort is required—depression of the exercise bar&#39;s button  341  to clear it  341  from the otherwise obstructing site comprising the intervening section&#39;s button opening  33 —to permit separation of the intervening section at its insertion end  12  from the bar&#39;s body  310 . Upon sliding the pieces back together the portions— 31 ,  310  and  33 ,  310 —become rejoined. This is accomplished by two simple operations, identical but at different sites. The section&#39;s depressed button  31  is released, causing it  31  to co-engage or pop through the bar body&#39;s opening  343  the instant the two  31 ,  343  become aligned. This snap-fit connection means  32  returns the button  31  to its obstructing disposition thereby preventing unintended separation of the  intervening section&#39;s receptor end  11  from the bar&#39;s body  310 . Similarly, releasing the bar body&#39;s depressed button  341  and causing it  341  to co-engage the intervening section&#39;s button opening  33 , by reason of the tension provided by either the grasshopper leg spring  47  or the resilient integral finger  48  reconnects the section&#39;s insertion end  12  to the body  310 .  
   The grasshopper leg spring  47  and separation spring seat  44  when employed herein, comprise the same configuration, function and relative disposition as their counterparts  347  within any of the prior art exercise bar assemblies  300 . Similarly, the resilient integral finger  48 , when employed herein, comprises the same configuration, function and relative disposition as their counterparts  348  for those models. It should be readily apparent, of course, the same is true of the section&#39;s separation release button  31  and button openings  33  vis-a-vis their counterparts  341 ,  343 , respectively, in the prior art constructions.  
   As in prior art, the grasshopper leg spring  47 —so named because of its strength and resilience when bent and seated as shown there—is connected to the release button  31  in any known manner; preferably by impingement within a hollow disposed within the button  31 . The mid-portion of the spring  47  may be bent to accomplish this fitted connection. The ends of the spring  47  are then preferably bent as shown and fitted along portions within the body  310  to provide firm tension at the separation seat  44  within the section, supra.  
   The resilient integral finger  48 , similarly as in prior art, comprises merely a somewhat elongated partial cut-out in the intervening section, permitting it  48  to be pushed downward so that its  48  inherent plastic memory provides it  48  a springboard-like character. Thus, when released, it  48  pops back into its previous position. The release button  31  comprises a protrusion molded upon it shaped to fit the bar body&#39;s button opening  343  so that the mechanism produces the same result as that of the grasshopper leg spring   47 . The cut-out, has the shape of three sides of a rounded rectangle. One of its  48  short sides—uncut—of course, remains attached to the intervening section from which it  48  is formed. This version of snap-fit means  32  is preferred in large part because of its  48  lower production costs.  
   One may conceive of various other snap-fit means  32 , of course. Although great effort is not required to snap-fit the pieces together or pull them apart once the release buttons  31 ,  341  are depressed, because of the structural integrity of the bar body  310  and the intervening section which is the subject hereof, the connection may properly be considered one of rigid emplacement as it has been at prior art.  
   If the exercise bar body  310  comprises a cord stretching recess  371 , a similarly configured sectional cord stretching recess  49  is disposed longitudinally upon the intermediate section&#39;s underside so that the surfaces match when the section is snap-fitted into place. This is consistent with the preference herein that the intervening section&#39;s configuration be consistent with that of the exercise bar&#39;s body  310 .  
   An orientation assuring track  45  and orientation juncture groove  46  are also present to aid in the section&#39;s emplacement and retention.