Tilting inversion exercise table mount

A mount for a tilting inversion exercise table includes a stand composed of spaced A-frames having spaced trunnion-supporting bearing plates with blind bearing slots receiving trunnions in such slots, and swingable keeper arms pivoted on the trunnion-supporting bearing plates and having hooked ends swingable into positions blocking escape of the trunnions from the bearing slots. Helical tension springs connected between the trunnion-supporting bearing plates and the keeper arms urge the arms into positions in which their hooked ends block escape of the trunnions from the blind bearing slots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to the supports for trunnions of a tilting inversion 
exercise table and particularly to keeper means for preventing inadvertent 
escape of the trunnions from their mounts. 
2. Prior Art 
Tilting inversion exercise tables are known, and the present invention 
relates to an improved type of pivotal support for such tables. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present is to improve the safety of use of a 
tilting inversion exercise table when a person exercising may execute more 
or less violent maneuvers. 
A further object is to provide a safe tilting inversion exercise table 
which can be demounted quickly and easily. 
The foregoing objects can be accomplished by mounting the tilting inversion 
exercise table by trunnions received in blind bearing slots provided in 
the apex plates of foldable A-frames and retained in such slots against 
inadvertent displacement from such slots by swingable keeper hooks 
retained in trunnion-retaining position by helical tension springs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The tilting inversion exercise table 1 is shown in generally horizontal 
position located between and supported from A-frames of a supporting 
stand. Each A-frame includes a leg 2, the upper end of which is secured to 
an apex-connecting plate 3 in rigid relationship by rivets or bolts 4 and 
5 spaced lengthwise of the leg 2. The upper end of the other leg 6 of each 
A-frame is connected pivotally to its apex plate 3 by a pivot bolt 7 so 
that the leg 6 can swing about such pivot relative to the apex plate 3 and 
the other leg 2 of its A-frame. 
When the A-frames are erected, their legs 2 and 6 are held in predetermined 
downwardly divergent relationship by a brace spaced from pivot 7 and 
composed of a link 8 pivoted to leg 2 and a link 9 pivoted to leg 6, the 
adjacent ends of which links are pivotally connected by pivot 10. When the 
links 8 and 9 are swung relative to each other by raising the pivot 10, 
the leg 6 is drawn toward the leg 2 until the legs lie in parallel folded 
relationship. During such movement, the leg 6 swings about its pivot 7 
relative to apex plate 3. 
The table 1 is hung from and between the A-frame stands by hanger bars 11 
secured to opposite edges, respectively, of the table 1 by pins 12 
extending through apertures 13 in the hanger bars 11. The upper ends of 
the hanger bars 11 are supported by trunnions 14 in the form of stubs 
secured by bolts 15 to the upper end of the hanger bars. Each stub has a 
collar 16 spaced from an end flange 17 of the stub to provide an annular 
groove 18 of a width just slightly greater than the thickness of the apex 
plate 3. 
The upper edge of each apex plate 3 has in it an upwardly-opening blind 
slot 19 of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the bottom of 
trunnion groove 18. The trunnion groove 18 of each hanger bar is fitted 
into the blind slot of its apex plate 3 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 
2, 4 and 5. The trunnion is lowered relative to the apex plate with the 
groove 18 in registration with the blind slot in the apex plate. The 
trunnion is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 2 through the position 
shown in FIG. 4 to the seated position shown in FIG. 5 in which the bottom 
of the groove 18 seats on the concave blind end of the slot 19 so that the 
apex plate becomes a trunnion-supporting bearing plate. 
The trunnion 14 is held in the seated position of FIG. 5 by a swingable 
keeper arm 20 mounted on the pivot 7. The swinging end of the keeper arm 
has a hook 21 that engages over and embraces the trunnion collar 16 when 
the trunnion groove is seated in the bearing slot as shown in FIG. 5. 
A tab 22 projects transversely from the swinging end of the keeper 20, 21 
in a position to be engaged by the trunnion collar 16 as the trunnion 14 
is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 
4 relative to the bearing slot 19. Depression of the trunnion from the 
position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 will effect such 
engagement of the collar 16 with the tab 22 as to swing the keeper hook 21 
aside so that the trunnion can pass into the bearing slot 19. 
Alternatively, the keeper can be swung in this fashion by manually 
grasping the tab 22 serving as a handle for seating the trunnion in the 
bearing slot or for removing the trunnion from the bearing slot. 
The keeper is normally held in the active position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 
relative to the apex plate 3 by holding means including a helical tension 
spring 23 having one end secured to a lug 24 projecting from the side of 
the keeper as shown best in FIG. 8. The other end of the tension spring 23 
is anchored to a projection 25 carried by the apex plate 3 as shown in 
FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8. When the keeper arm is deflected to the released 
position of FIG. 4, whether by manual manipulation of tab 22 or by 
pressure of collar 16 on such tab in opposition to the force of the spring 
23 such spring is stretched and the lug 24 moves along the slot 26 in apex 
plate 3 which slot is of circular arcuate shape concentric with the pivot 
7. 
The tilting inversion exercise table 1 may be equipped with a foot support 
at one end and ankle holders 27 which may be generally of the type shown 
in Teeter U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,152, issued May 7, 1985 secured to the foot 
end of the table. 
In use, a person having his feet secured to the table can swing the table 
from the generally horizontal position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 into 
the generally upright position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 about the 
axes of the trunnions 14 to invert the exerciser. A stop or stops 28 
mounted on the stand legs 6 may be provided to be engaged by the tilting 
table 1 to limit its extent of swing relative to the stands about the 
trunnions 14. 
The person using the exercise table may swing it violently and may even 
roll from side to side. Whatever jostling may be applied to a trunnion 14, 
it will be retained securely in its bearing slot 19 in the position shown 
in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 by engagement of the keeper hook 21 with the collar 16 
of the trunnion.