Abstract:
An exercise assembly for performing a wide array of exercises including pull-ups and chin-ups is provided which includes a bar connected between rotatable swing arm assemblies. The swing arm assemblies extend along vertical faces of a frame and are adapted to rotate the bar from one position between the vertical faces to another position. The exercise assembly includes at least one handle assembly removably grasping the central bar and having a handle adapted to rotate 360 degrees during exercise.

Description:
DOMESTIC PRIORITY STATEMENT 
     This application claims domestic priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/983,111 to Stephen G. Hauser, et al., filed Oct. 26, 2007 in the United States Patent &amp; Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Example embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an exercise assembly with rotatable handle assemblies and a bar assembly that enhances a pullup and/or chin-up exercise, and which can be adapted for different exercises due to a pivoting feature of the bar assembly. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Pullups and chin-ups are exercises consisting of chinning oneself, as on a horizontal bar attached at each end to a frame of a door or doorpost, or of chinning oneself on other outdoor or fitness equipment. Both are compound exercises designed to work the muscles of the upper body. Basically, the difference lies in the grip. One performing a chin-up uses a narrow grip with the palms facing inward, while a pullup is done with typically a wider grip on the bar and with the palms facing outward. 
     Traditionally, the exercise of performing a pullup or chin-up places substantial strain on the joints and is limited to exercising certain muscles in the arms, neck and back. Pullup bars with rotatable handle assemblies have been developed to exercise additional muscles in the arms, neck and back. However, these systems do not address or facilitate core muscle exercises (abdominal, trunk). 
     SUMMARY 
     An example embodiment is directed to an exercise assembly that includes a bar connected between rotatable swing arm assemblies which extend along vertical faces of a frame and are adapted to reposition the bar from a fixed horizontal plane between the vertical faces to another lower horizontal position. The exercise assembly includes at least one handle assembly removably grasping the central bar and having a handle adapted to rotate 360 degrees during exercise. 
     Another example embodiment is directed to a handle assembly adapted to grasp a bar for exercise. The handle assembly includes a J-shaped hook for placement on the bar. The J-hook has a curved portion which grasps the bar to secure the assembly to the bar. The handle assembly includes a rotation assembly which permits the handle to be rotated 360 degrees around a vertical axis of the J-hook that is perpendicular to the bar during exercise. 
     Another example embodiment is directed to a bar assembly for placement between vertical sides of a frame for performing exercises. The bar assembly includes a central hollow bar and a pair of swing arms assemblies secured to either side of the central bar. Each swing arm assembly includes an end stub having a first and second end and a side strut having a first and second end. The first end of each end stub is connected to the first end of its corresponding side strut, and the second end of each end stub extends into a corresponding open end of the central bar. The second end of each side strut is secured to a vertical side of the frame between which the bar assembly is mounted. The side strut second end includes a slotted aperture receiving a pivot pin therein. The interconnected central bar between swing arm assemblies is configured to be selectively rotated from a horizontal plane between the frame to another position away from the frame via the pivot pins. 
     Another example embodiment is directed an exercise assembly for placement between two vertical surfaces. The exercise assembly includes a horizontally oriented bar having open, hollow ends and secured between a pair of swing arm assemblies. Each swing arm assembly includes a pivot pin at a lower end thereof that permits the bar to rotate a desired angle from vertical. The exercise assembly includes a pair of handle assemblies removably connected to the bar, each having a rotatable handle thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the example embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise assembly in accordance with the example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the handle assembly in accordance with the example embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 2  to illustrate components in greater detail. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the handle assembly in  FIG. 4  taken across a line A-A. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the bar assembly  200  to illustrate components in greater detail. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial exploded view of the bar assembly  200  to illustrate connection thereof between vertical surfaces. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a user performing a standard chin-up or pullup on the exercise assembly  1000 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a user performing an Australian pullup on the exercise assembly  1000 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a user performing a standing row on the exercise assembly  1000 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The example embodiments in general relate to a pullup exercise assembly that includes rotatable handle assemblies and a pivotable bar assembly which can be oriented and secured into various positions between two vertical surfaces, such as the doorposts or sides of a door frame. The example exercise assembly can combine the pullup and chin-up exercise, and can be used for performing core exercises such as an inverted pushup (known as an “Australian pullup”), standing row exercise and a dip exercise, for example. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise assembly in accordance with the example embodiments. The pullup exercise assembly, hereafter “exercise assembly  1000 ”, is shown positioned between vertical surfaces  305  of a frame  300 . The exercise assembly  1000  includes a bar assembly  200  comprising a central bar  205  connected between a pair of side arm assemblies  250 . The central bar  205  may include a rubber overmold grip, for example. One or more handle assemblies  100  can be affixed to the central bar  205  via a J-hook  110  that forms part of the handle assembly  100 . 
     The handle assembly  100  includes a J-hook  110 , a rotation assembly  120 , and a handle  130 . The J-hook  110  grips the central bar  205 . The J-hook  110  is connected to the rotation assembly  120 , which in turn is connection to the handle  130 . The J-hook  110  remains fixed in place as the handle  130  can be rotated around the axis of the J-hook  110  via the rotation assembly  120 . 
     Each side arm assembly  250  includes a vertical side strut  252  connected to a horizontal end stub  254 . The end stub  254  can be welded to the side strut  252 . The side struts  252  extend along the vertical surface  305  between an upper hook mount  215  (which receives the portion of the side-arm assembly where the end stub  254  is attached to the side strut  254 ) and a lower mount  251  which includes a pivot pin  255  that extends through a slotted aperture  253  in the side strut  252 . 
     The bar assembly  200  can pivot about the pivot pins  255 . In an example, the bar assembly  200  is first lifted out of the upper hook mounts  215  to unlock the pivot pin  255 , such that the pin  255  slides down into the wider part of the slotted aperture  253 . The bar assembly  200  can then be rotated to a desired angle from vertical to perform a different exercise such as a dip, standing row, inverted pullup, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bar assembly  200  includes a central hollow metal bar  205 , which can be covered with an overmold grip, as previously described. The central bar  205  is dimensioned so that its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the end stubs  254 . Accordingly, the end stubs  254  are received within the central bar  205 , and may be secured via retaining rings  210 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the handle assembly in accordance with the example embodiments. The handle assembly  100  is a standalone component; in other words it is freely removable from the bar  205  and is not fixed to the central bar  205  by a connection means which requires assembly/disassembly, such as a pin, screw or actuation mechanism which locks and unlocks the handle assembly  100  from the central bar  205 . 
     The J-hook  110  includes an upper curved portion  112 , an elongate intermediate body that is generally semi-circular in shape and which forms a circular shape at a base  116  of the hook  110 . The J-hook  110  may be made of a metal material such as steel (which may be painted for stylistic purposes), and alloy thereof, aluminum, etc. The handle  130  is connected to the rotation assembly  120  at a neck  139 . The handle  130  includes a metal U-bracket  132  having a grip member  138  secured therein by way of threaded fasteners  134 . The U-bracket  132  may be made of a medium or heavy gauge impact plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or of a metal material such steel, and alloy thereof, cast aluminum, etc. The fasteners  134  may be pins for example. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 2  to illustrate components in greater detail. The rotation assembly  120  includes a generally circular or cylindrical bearing  119  which is positioned between a washer  125  and an internally threaded plug  118 . The bearing  119  permits the handle  130  to be rotated 360 degrees in either direction around a vertical axis of the J-hook  110  that is perpendicular to the bar  205  during exercise. The plug  118  receives a hex bolt  126  such that the external threads on bolt  126  mate with internal threads within plug  118  to connect the J-hook  110  with handle  130 . The plug  118  has a hex head shape that is a standard profile for an Allen wrench, and fits into a bore  117  formed in base  116 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , bolt  126  extends through neck  139 , washer  125  and bearing  119 , to be threaded into the plug  118 . 
     The rotation assembly  120  includes a rubber bellow  128  between the hook  110  and the neck  139  of the handle  130 . At its top, the rubber below  128  attaches to the base  116  of the J-hook  110 . The rubber bellow  128  mates with the neck  139  of handle  130  at its bottom so that a portion of the neck  139  contacts an interior surface of the bellow  128 . The rubber below  128  encloses the washer  125  and a portion of the bolt  126  extending there through. 
     The handle  130  includes a hollow metal shaft  137  overlaid with or sheathed within grip member  138 . Shaft  137  may be composed of chrome steel or aluminum, for example, and is secured to arms of the U-bracket  132  via insertion of fasteners  134  through holes  133  in the U-bracket  132 . The grip member  138  may be made of a foam rubber or suitable elastomeric material and has a wider or thicker center portion which tapers down to the end portions of the grip member  148 . 
     The bearing  119  has an opening for receiving the bolt  126 . When the handle assembly  100  is assembled, the bearing  119  fits up into a bore  117  formed within the base  116  of the J-hook  110 , contacting an underside surface of plug  118 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the handle assembly in  FIG. 4  taken across a line A-A. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the relationship between moving and fixed components with rotation assembly  120  can be seen in greater detail. The bearing  119  is designed to rotate around the fixed bolt  126  with the hook  110  being fixed on the central bar  205  and the user swiveling or rotating the handle  130  around the rubber bellow  128  such that the neck  139  and bearing  119  rotate together. Thus, the bearing  119  and handle  130  rotate together for desired rotational movement in either direction. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the bar assembly  200  to illustrate components in greater detail, and  FIG. 7  is a partial exploded view of the bar assembly  200  to illustrate connection thereof between vertical surfaces. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the outer ends of each end stub  254  are attached to corresponding upper ends of the side struts  252 . The portion of the side-arm assembly  250  shown in circle B of  FIG. 7  is received into the upper hook mount  215 . The upper hook mount  215  includes a channel  216  to receive the end of end stub  255  and top of side strut  252  at the intersection thereof. Thus, the channel  216  has a sufficient width to accommodate the upper portion of the side-arm assembly  250 , as shown best in  FIG. 7 . The upper hook mount  215  is secured to a vertical surface  305  of a door frame  300  for example by suitable fasteners  217  (such as wood screws) through holes  219  formed in the upper hook mount  215 . 
     A lower pivot mount  251  is provided to enable the bar assembly  200  to be pivotable, once the top of the assembly  200  is lifted out of the channels  216  of the hook mounts  215 . The lower pivot mount  251  is secured to the vertical surface  305  by suitable fasteners  258  (such as wood screws) through holes  259  formed in the lower pivot mount  251 . The lower pivot mount  251  contains the pivot pin  255 . The pivot pin  255  has a post with a mushroom head  257  that is configured to extend into the larger opening of the slotted aperture  253 . Once the desired location of the bar assembly  200  is set, i.e., the assembly  200  has either (a) been set for conventional pullup/chin-up exercises, or (b) has been pivoted to some desired angle from vertical for another exercise, the mushroom head  257  captures surfaces of the side struts  252 . 
     For example, once the bar assembly  200  has been pushed downward so that the pivot pin  255  rides up the narrower channel  256  of slotted aperture  253 , the mushroom head  257  of the pivot pin  255  captures surfaces of the side struts  252  along the slotted aperture  253 . Exercising may begin. In one example, the bar assembly  200  can be removed from the channels  116  of the upper hook mounts  215  and rotated up to 180 degrees to a lower dimension, pivoting around the lower pivot mounts  251  so as to permit one to perform inverted pushup exercises from the ground up, a standing rowing exercise, a dip exercise etc. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a user performing a conventional pullup or chin-up exercise on the exercise assembly  1000 . Since the handle assemblies  100  swivel, the user&#39;s hands can rotate as the user is moving up and down, engaging additional muscle groups. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a user performing an Australian pullup on the exercise assembly  1000 . In this example, the fitness trainer has oriented the exercise assembly  1000  such that the side struts  252  and central bar  205  have been rotated downward approximately 180 degrees from vertical. In this orientation, the trainer can perform a reverse pushup (Australian pullup) to work different muscles than can be achieved with a conventional pullup/chin-up bar. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a user performing a standing row on the exercise assembly  1000 . In this example, the fitness trainer has oriented the exercise assembly  1000  such that the side struts  252  and central bar  205  have been rotated downward approximately 120 degrees from vertical. In this orientation, the trainer can perform a rowing exercise to work the core abdominal muscles, in addition to working the biceps, deltoids, pectorals and other back muscles. 
       FIGS. 8 through 10  are merely example orientations of the exercise assembly  1000  to perform exercises other than standard pull-ups or chin-ups. It would be evident to one or skill in the art to re-position the side-arm assemblies  250  and central bar  205  to perform exercises other than shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . 
     Therefore, unlike traditional pullup or chin-up bars that limit the user&#39;s range of motion, the example exercise assembly  1000  includes twisting handles  130  on adjustable swing arms  250  which attach to the central bar  205  to maximize muscle motion. The handle assemblies  100  incorporate bearings  119  to enable 360 degree rotation. This permits the user&#39;s arms to move naturally, reduces strain on joints, and engages additional muscle groups as compared to the standard pullup bar. The example exercise assembly  1000  thus may combine the standard pullup and chin-up exercises into one, and can facilitate additional workouts to core and abdominal muscle groups. 
     The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the embodiments of the present invention. All such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the following claims.