Abstract:
This new and unique adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device offers a clean modern appearing device for exercising on the side of a swimming pool or from the end of a diving board. By mounting two extension arms to two horizontal support arms connected and mounted to the pool deck surface by mounting plates, angle-mounting brackets or slid over the end of the diving board, a single exercise bar may be relocated between pluralities of orifices on the extension arms to achieve a wide variety of elevations to exercise at the side of a swimming pool. This device can be pivoted back from the edge of the pool and remains completely out of the water when in use, not requiring the need to be constructed from expensive materials, and may be finished with a wide variety of rust preventative and cushioned coatings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the field of physical fitness and exercise, in particular exercise in an aquatic environment. It provides a new and unique device that allows individuals to do a broad range of exercises in a cool, refreshing water environment. The desire of the inventor is to improve and simplify aquatic exercise equipment giving them a clean modern appearance in a swimming pool environment without having the equipment under the surface of the water. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Due to the relatively recent awareness of advantages of physical fitness and the increasing number of obese people throughout the world, there has been an increased desire to exercise by individuals. Exercising can take any of many forms, for example: jogging, biking, tennis, etc. In addition to these forms of exercise there has been an upsurge of health clubs, fitness centers and the like which have come into being in recent years. Most of them are fitness centers that consist of a gym-like environment wherein members can come to workout on the various types of exercise machines and other exercise equipment. Most of these exercises are undertaken in a non-aquatic environment and tend to dehydrate the body, requiring the individuals to consume large quantities of water while exercising. It is well known that exercising in an aquatic environment is more beneficial to the person doing the exercise because of the resistive force of water being used to promote muscle tone, while the buoyancy of water reduces the likelihood of muscles stress. Exercising in the cool aquatic environment is invigorating and tends to reduce excessive sweating. 
   The convenience and economy of this adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device can be described by the clean modern design, the simplification of the mechanism and the poolside deck mountings or optional diving board attachment means. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,031 of Horst A. Olschewski describes a pool exercise device that includes a pair of supports having upright portions having a slot therein. End members having a regular angular geometric shape are removably positioned in the slots. Rods fixed to the end members project collinearly and are connected by a sleeve. The height of the rods is adjusted by removing the end members from the slots selectively rotating and returning the end members to the slots for securement therein, 
   This invention offers a similar adjustable exercise bar that mounts on the horizontal poolside decking but does not offer the cantilevered structure that extends out over the pool and does not have the latitude of adjustments of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device. Also this invention does not offer the option of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that removably attaches to the diving board. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,673 of Curtis Erickson discloses an aquatic exercise apparatus having a main frame with accurate upper supports, which are secured, to a pool decking and having lower supports connected thereto. The main frame is provided with a first upper pair and a second lower pair of outwardly projecting arms for user exercise purposes. An exercise platform is pivotally attached to the main frame and is adjustable in any position from vertical to ninety degrees relative to the main frame. 
   Although this invention has an upper structure that is secured to the pool-decking surface, a portion of the device extends below the surface of the water and rests or is attached to the vertical side of the pool below the surface of the water. Also, this invention does not offer the option of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that removably attaches to the diving board of a swimming pool. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,659 of Claudio Silvestri teaches of an invention that relates to an aquatic exerciser or rehabilitation equipment and, particularly, to an exerciser mounted for positioning a user engaging component in a cantilevered configuration over the edge of a swimming pool or other water body. The exerciser suspends user-engaging members over the water and allows the user to carry out various exercises within the pool. Typically, the exercises include body-lifting exercises and in contrast to conventional body lifting exercises carried out outside the water, the force required by the user increases in proportion to the amount of his body that is above the water level. In other circumstances the difficulty may be increased by carrying out certain movements within the water at higher speeds with the water providing a drag force as an increasing function of the speed. Thus, the user can either increase or decrease the difficulty of the exercise easily. 
   This is another patent that is similar in that it attaches to the pool-decking surface and extends outwardly over the pool surface, but this invention offers no adjustability in the location of the user-engaging members and does not offer the option of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that removably attaches to the diving board of a swimming pool. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,961 of Jeffery T. Quint tells of a universal aquatic exercise machine that includes a plurality of exercise devices, for example: a first exercise device rotatably mounted on a base that moves through a rotary path of motion; a second exercise device rotatably connected to the base that moves back and forth in a reciprocating motion; and a third exercise device mounted on the base for reciprocating back and forth motion. The aquatic exercise machine includes a pivoting seat that permits the exercise devices to be performed in either a seated or an erect posture. The exercise devices may have fixed area resistance elements, or variable area resistance elements. In addition, underwater footwear facilitates submerged leg exercises and activities such as sliding, skating and other activities. 
   This patent describes a device that rests on the bottom of a pool beneath the surface of the water and has a variety of exercise mechanisms, but has no similarities to the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,735 of Curtis Erickson describes an aquatic exercise device wherein several embodiments are disclosed. The first embodiment utilizes a unitary aquatic exercise device which is adaptable for use with a conventional pool ladder. The second embodiment is directed to a unitary aquatic exercise device, which is adaptable for use with an inverted pool ladder. Both of these embodiments are readily placed in the vertical position when not in use and are also readily removable from the pool when so desired. A third embodiment utilizes a unitary aquatic device which includes mounting legs that are permanently mounted in recesses of the pool decking. All of these embodiments are made of lightweight PVC components eliminating any corrosion problems and also rendering the device readily cleanable. 
   This patent describes an invention that attaches to a conventional pool ladder of other existing poolside hand bars. Pool ladders and other hand bars are not designed for the loads put on them by additional apparatus and the leverage incurred by the individuals using these apparatus. Significant damage may be done to the pool by the devices of this kind. This invention is partially submerged below the water level and has no similarities to the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,171 of Billy Gene Hicks describes an apparatus suspending a detachable accessory adjacent to a vertical wall defining a swimming pool. The apparatus includes a pair of U-shaped arms having base ends fixed outside the swimming pool and cantilever ends supported inside the swimming pool below the base ends. A support bar is rotatably mounted between the arms and includes a plurality of mounting tubes within which a plurality of accessories are detachably mounted. 
   This patent consists of a mounting system for detachable swimming pool accessories that attaches to the pool-decking surface but also has attachments below the surface of the water on the vertical side of the pool and has no similarities to the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,649 of Curtis Erickson et al. tells of an aquatic exercise device which is to be used within a body of water such as a pool and has an element which can be engaged by the foot or hand of an individual linked to a piston-cylinder combination so that as the user engagement element is moved by the user, the piston rides in the cylinder. At the head end of the cylinder there is an opening, which provides communication between the cylinder chamber and the water environment. As the piston moves back and forth water is either pushed out of the chamber through that opening or drawn into the chamber through that opening. The size of the opening, which may be selected by the user, determines the degree of resistance to the user&#39;s movement against the user engagement element. 
   This patent describes an apparatus that mounts to the pool-decking surface, but rests on or attaches to the pool vertical side surface with the majority of the device below the surface of the water. It does not indicate any of the unique capabilities of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,351 of James A. Sizemore III et al. teaches of an aquatic abdominal exercise apparatus having a pair of parallel tubular arms connected together by a first connecting member mounted over a pool deck surface juxtaposed to an edge of a pool. The arms extend downwardly along a side edge of the pool and then turn inwardly to space the apparatus from the pool wall. A second connecting member connects the portion of the arms extending downwardly and a back support is mounted on the second connecting member. A pair of arm supports project outwardly from the portion of the arms extending downwardly to provide hand supports for the exerciser. 
   This invention mounts to the pool deck surface with arms extending downwardly into the pool to rest against the vertical side with the structure of the device below the surface of the pool and has no similarities to the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device. 
   Thus there is a continuing need for improving and simplifying the many aquatic exercise devices used by individuals in pools while increasing their capabilities. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that has a clean modern design for the swimming pool environment. 
   Another object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that can pivot away from the pool edge or be easily removed from the mounting plates on the pool deck surface. 
   Another object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that can be mounted on the pool deck surface, not requiring any mountings below the surface of the water. 
   Another object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that in an alternate embodiment can be slid over the end of the diving board, not requiring any permanent attachments. 
   Another object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that can be adjusted and have one or more levels of application. 
   Still another object of the invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that is not under the surface of the water. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that will allow a variety of exercise movements for individuals of varying capabilities. 
   A further object of this invention is to create an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that is portable and can be taken to other locations. 
   A final object of this invention is to advance and simplify aquatic exercise devices while increasing their capabilities. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. 
   The preferred embodiment of this device consists of an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device that will be attached to the horizontal pool deck surface by the means of two mounting plates. The mounting plates will be anchored to the horizontal pool deck surface by the means of inserting anchors in the concrete surface of the pool deck surface and permanently attaching the mounting plates. Two inverted “T” pivot arms that will slide into the mounting plates are attached to two horizontal support arms spaced apart by a “T” brace adjacent to the inverted “T” pivot arms and an angle brace incorporating an adjustable support leg with a rubber non-slip end. Minor adjustments of the height and level of the device may be made by screwing in or out the adjustable support leg. The “T” brace and the angle brace will be attached to the horizontal support arms by the means of conventional threaded fasteners for easy shipping and assembly, but in some cases the “T” brace and the angle brace will be welded into position and still remain within the scope of this patent. Two extension arms are fixably attached to the distal ends of the two horizontal support arms by the means of conventional fasteners. Each of the extension arms has a plurality of orifices aligning on one or more axes when mounted to the distal ends of the horizontal support arms. Each orifice in the two extension arms is equipped with a nylon bushing to allow for a smooth sliding support of the adjustable exercise bar. Rubber boots at the distal ends of the extension arms allow that when the device is pivoted 108 degrees, it will rest on the rubber boots on the pool deck surface. By positioning the adjustable exercise bar within the bushings in the matching orifices of the two extension arms at different elevations, the person using the device can vary the buoyancy level of their body and thus adjust the degree of effort in their exercise program. In this preferred embodiment the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device may be rotated 180 degrees to be out of the way of the pool edge or may be easily removed by lifting the device slightly and sliding the inverted “T” arms out of the mounting plates. When the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device is in position over the pool edge the rubber non-slip end of the adjustable support leg holds the inverted “T” arms in position within the mounting plates. 
   The first alternate embodiment of this device consists of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device permanently anchored to the horizontal deck surface of a swimming pool by the means of a forward angle bracket and a rear angle bracket. Conventional concrete anchors with mounting nuts are used for the means of attachment to the horizontal pool deck surface. Two horizontal support arms are attached to the forward angle-mounting bracket and the rear angle-mounting bracket and extend outwardly over the pool edge. Two extension arms are fixably attached to the distal ends of the two horizontal support arms by the means of conventional fasteners. Each of the extension arms has a plurality of orifices aligning on one or more axes when mounted to the distal ends of the horizontal support arms. Each orifice in the two extension arms is equipped with a nylon bushing to allow for a smooth sliding support of the adjustable exercise bar. 
   The second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device consists of the device being easily slid over the end of the swimming pool diving board. This device is similar in construction to the preferred embodiment of the device in that it has two horizontal support arms that in this case grip the sides of the diving board. A top strap and a bottom strap are attached to the horizontal support arms providing the leverage points for restraining the device on the end of the swimming pool diving board. The extension arms with the orifices and bushings are attached to the horizontal support arms by common fasteners. It must be understood that the top strap and the bottom strap could be reversed in their mounting position or be on both top and bottom of the device so that the device can be used with the extension arms directed downwardly instead of in an upward direction, giving a wider range of adjustability or lowering the adjustable exercise bar if the diving board is too far off the surface of the water. 
   A third alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device can have orifices and bushings for a single workout bar with the extension arms in a horizontal position and will also be covered within the scope of this patent. 
   The extension arms of the device have been depicted in the up position, but it must be understood that by reversing the extension arms that they will extend in a downward direction with the same intended purpose and this will still remain within the scope of the patent. 
   All of the embodiments of this invention either mount to the pool deck surface or to the end of the diving board and they are not intended to extend to or penetrate the surface of the swimming pool water. 
   With respect to the above description it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, coatings, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device attached to the pool deck surface by the means of two mounting plates. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the a single mounting plate and a single inverted “T” arm connected to the horizontal support arm by the means of a conventional bolt and locking nut. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a side section view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device attached to the pool deck surface by the means of two mounting plates. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device permanently anchored to the pool deck surface. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a side view of the first alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device permanently mounted on the pool deck surface 
       FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view the second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device removed from the swimming pool diving board. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device with mountings for a single workout bar. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A extending over a swimming pool  12  attached to the pool deck surface  14  by the means of two mounting plates  16  and  18  held in place by screws  20  attached to conventional concrete anchors in the pool deck surface  14 .  FIG. 2  illustrates how the two inverted “T” pivot arms  22  and  24  slide into the mounting plates  16  on the pool deck surface  14  when installing the device.  FIG. 3  clarifies how the two inverted “T” arms  22  and  24  are attached to two horizontal support arms  26 A and  28 A by the means of a bolt  30  and lock nut  32  and are spaced apart by a “T” brace  34  adjacent to the two inverted “T” pivot arms  22  and  24  and an angle or “L”-shaped brace  36  incorporating an adjustable support leg  38  with a rubber non-slip end  40 . Minor adjustments of the height and level of the device may be made by screwing in or out the adjustable support leg  38 . The “T” brace  34  and the angle brace  36  will be attached to the horizontal support arms  26 A and  28 A by the means of conventional threaded fasteners  42  for easy shipping and assembly, but in some cases the “T” brace  34  and the angle brace  36  will be welded into position and still remain within the scope of this patent. Two extension arms  44 A and  46 A are fixably attached to the distal ends of the two horizontal support arms  26 A and  28 A by the means of conventional fasteners  42 . Each of the extension arms  44 A and  46 A has a plurality of orifices  48  aligning on one or more axes A 1 , A 2 , A 3  or A 4  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Each orifice  48  in the two extension arms  44 A and  46 A is equipped with a nylon bushing  50  to allow for a smooth sliding support of the adjustable exercise bar  52 . Rubber boots  54  at the distal ends of the extension arms  44 A and  46 A allow that when the device is pivoted 108 degrees, it will rest on the rubber boots  54  on the pool deck surface  14 . By positioning the adjustable exercise bar  52  within the nylon bushings  50  in the matching orifices  48  of the two extension arms  44 A and  46 A at different elevations, the person using the device can vary the buoyancy level of their body and thus adjust the degree of effort in their exercise program. This preferred embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A may be rotated 180 degrees to be out of the way of the pool edge  56  or may be easily removed by lifting the device slightly and sliding the inverted “T” arms  22  and  24  out of the mounting plates  16  and  18 . When the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A is in position over the pool edge  56  the non-slip rubber end  40  of the adjustable support leg  38  holds the inverted “T” arms  22  and  24  in position within the mounting plates  16  and  18 . 
   The first alternate embodiment of this device shown in  FIG. 4 , consists of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 B permanently anchored to the pool deck surface  14  of a swimming pool  12  by the means of a forward angle mounting bracket  60  and a rear angle mounting bracket  62 . Conventional concrete anchors with mounting screws  20  are used for the means of attachment to the pool deck surface  14 . Two horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B are attached to the forward angle-mounting bracket  58  and the rear angle-mounting bracket  60  and extend outwardly over the pool edge  56  of the pool deck surface  14 . Two extension arms  44 B and  46 B are fixably attached to the distal ends of the two horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B by the means of threaded fasteners  42 . Each of the extension arms  44 B and  46 B has a plurality of orifices  48  aligning on axes A 1 , A 2 , A 3  and A 4  when mounted to the distal ends of the horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B. Each orifice  48  in the two extension arms  44 B and  46 B is equipped with a nylon bushing  50  to allow for a smooth sliding support of the adjustable exercise bar  52 . The position of the extension arms  44 B and  46 B could be reversed to allow the extension arms  44 B and  46 B to project downwardly instead of upwardly as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  to get them closer to the surface of the water, and still remain within the scope of this patent. 
     FIG. 5  depicts a side view further illustrating the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 B mounted in the pool deck surface  14  to illustrate the positioning of the device with relation to the pool edge  56  and the other pertinent design features. The spacing V of the concrete anchors and mounting screws  20  will vary with the desired size of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 B and the weight of the individuals using the device. The height W of the forward angle mounting bracket  58  and the rear angle-mounting bracket  60  will be 3 inches in the described embodiment but also may vary with the size and requirements of the individuals using the device. The horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B will extend a distance X, 18 inches past the pool edge  56  in the first alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 B with the understanding that this also may vary with the size and weight of the person  62  using the device. The extension arms  44 B and  46 B are shown at a 60-degree angle Y off the horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B. 
   It must be fully understood that on all of the embodiments of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D the angle Y may vary from being horizontal to being 90 degrees from horizontal, the number of orifices  48  and nylon bushings  50  in the extension arms  44 B and  46 B may be one or more on each side and the distance X between the distal end of the horizontal support arms  26 B and  28 B and the pool edge  56  also may vary and still be within the scope of this patent. 
     FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view the second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 C illustrating the convenience of being easily placed over and removed from a swimming pool diving board  64 . The second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 C is similar in construction to the preferred embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A and  10 B in that it has two horizontal support arms  26 C and  28 C that in this case grip the sides of the diving board  64 . A top strap  66  and a bottom strap  68  are attached to the horizontal support arms  26 C and  28 C providing the leverage points for restraining the device on the end of the swimming pool diving board  64 . The extension arms  44 C and  46 C with the orifices  48  and nylon bushings  50  are attached to the horizontal support arms  26 C and  28 C by threaded fasteners  42 . It must be understood that the top strap  66  and the bottom strap  68  could be reversed in their mounting position or be on both top and bottom of the device so that the second alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 C can be used with the extension arms  44 C and  46 C directed downwardly instead of in an upward direction if the diving board  64  is too far off the surface of the water. 
     FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of the adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 D with orifices  48  and nylon bushings  50  for an adjustable exercise bar  52  with the extension arms  44 D and  46 D in a horizontal position extending from horizontal support arms  26 D and  28 D. 
   The adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred and alternate embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed for providing an adjustable cantilevered aquatic exercise device  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D in accordance with the spirit of this invention, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.