Patent Publication Number: US-2023149768-A1

Title: Supporting device for performing exercises

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a supporting apparatus for performing exercises. More particularly, the present invention is related to a portable door mountable accessory for aiding users in performing exercises such as sit-ups. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There has been a dramatic increase in health consciousness during recent years, as well as the desire to appear fit and trim. Health benefits associated with regular exercise are well known, and many methods of exercise have been developed to achieve this end. Common methods of exercising include home workout gyms, treadmills, bicycling, running, walking, and jogging. Though these methods have proven beneficial, the equipment is costly and not portable, and the person exercising often wishes to utilize weights to supplement running or jogging to firm and tone muscles. To meet this goal, users often resort to barbells, or body weight exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, and the like. 
     One of the most famous type of exercise which requires little to no equipment is sit-up. The sit-up (or curl-up) is an abdominal endurance training exercise to strengthen, tighten and tone the abdominal muscles. It is similar to a crunch (crunches target rectus abdominis and also work the biceps and external and internal obliques), but sit-ups have a fuller range of motion and condition additional muscles. The movement can be made easier by placing the arms further down away from the head. Typical variations to this include crossing the arms to place the palms on the front of the shoulders and extending the arms down to the sides with palms on the floor. The ‘arms on shoulders’ variation is also used to make the incline sit-up easier. With improper form, full sit-ups may cause back pain and arching of the lower back, increasing the risk of back injury. More intense movement is achieved by doing weighted sit-ups, incline sit-ups with arms behind neck and even harder by doing the weighted incline sit-up. 
     While sit-ups may be performed without equipment, a leg/foot support is often used to improve balance and maintain form. Foot support may be provided by another person or may be provided using supporting equipment fixed onto the floor or on certain objects. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,816A discloses a sit-up exercise apparatus adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a door having spaced apart vertically extending surfaces and a bottom intermediate the surfaces. The apparatus comprises a frame having oppositely disposed sides and adapted to be removably secured to the door. The frame includes an elongated base adapted to extend below the bottom of the door, and front and rear members, each one of the members having an oppositely disposed lower end connected to the base and an upper end with spaced apart inner and outer walls intermediate the ends. A clamp is operatively connected to one of the members and extends inwardly of the inner wall for releasably clamping one of the surfaces of the door, such that the frame is fixedly secured to the door at a selected position thereon and may be readily removed from securement therewith by releasing the clamp. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,630,054B1 discloses a sit-up foot anchor includes a door bumper that includes a planar section that extends over to a pair of footholds. The pair of footholds is parallel with one another, and are hemi-cylindrical cavities adapted to receive a foot of an end user therein. The planar section is adapted to be positioned underneath a door, and the door bumper is adapted to be positioned on a first side of said door whereas the pair of footholds is adapted to be positioned on a second side of said door. In use, the device utilizes said door in order to securely hold feet of said end user while said end user conducts a sit-up. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,939A discloses a device for holding a person&#39;s feet while doing “sit-up” exercises or the like, comprising a plate anchored to the left or right side of the metal “L” frame on either side of bed. Exerciser can be used in any radius from 0° to 180° on either side of bed. Apparatus has a pivot arm, attached to plate anchored to underside of “L” frame by two (2) unique pressure clamps that are employed to hold mounting plate on “L” frame with wing nuts, eliminating the need for holes to be drilled in bed frame. Exerciser has an oval ring which is attached to pivot arm on the outward end. Oval ring has foam cushion installed so the person&#39;s feet will be comfortable while doing sit-ups or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,022A discloses a sit-up exercise apparatus having a structure that can be secured to the bottom of a door which comprises, means for restraining feet of an exerciser when performing a sit-up exercise, support means for supporting the foot restraining means at a height above the base of the structure, and screw means for releasably but rigidly securing the foot restraining means to the support means. The support means is substantially an elongated plate member extending from the structure and having, one end thereof downwardly extending to releasably but rigidly be affixed to the structure and another end thereof successively bent into a form resembling stair steps which accomplish height adjustment of the foot restraining means so as to accommodate different size feet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,626A discloses a sit-up support device is designed to hold a person&#39;s feet when they are performing bent knee sit-ups. Primarily, it consists of a base plate that is rendered stationary to the floor by a clamp that fastens to a door. The device also includes quick-release straps on the base plate, for comfortably holding the user&#39;s feet, and a threaded shaft and sleeve are provided in conjunction with the clamp, to force the base plate hard down to the floor. 
     While the prior-arts mention different solutions that may be used as supporting equipment, they may not be portable or easily installable due to their complex design. Moreover, they are fixed in nature and hence cannot be adapted to different configurations depending upon the size, weight, body type and other requirements of the user performing the exercise. Hence, it will be advantageous to have a portable and easy to install device that can act as a supporting device while performing exercises such as sit-ups. The device should further allow multiple configurations capable of adapting to the requirements of different users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the disadvantages mentioned in the previous section, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification and drawings as a whole. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure proposes a supporting device for performing exercise. The device comprises of a mounting panel that may be clamped to bottom sides of doors using an adhesive. A support plate may be pivotably connected to the mounting panel using a hinged connector. A locking mechanism for adjusting the angle between the support plate and the mounting panel may be provided. Herein, the locking mechanism may lock the support plate at one or more angles with respect to the mounting panel. A cylindrical support bar may be mounted on the bottom side of the support plate for providing a primary support for a user performing exercise. Further, a rope and pulley mechanism mounted on the top side of the support plate may provide a secondary support for the user performing exercise. 
     This summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description and figures. 
     The abovementioned embodiments and further variations of the proposed invention are discussed further in the detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exemplary perspective view of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an exemplary side view of a mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an exemplary bottom perspective view of the mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an exemplary top perspective view of the mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an exemplary rear perspective view of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is an exemplary view of the mounting panel of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    depicts exemplary views of the pulley mechanism at various angles of the supporting device performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is an exemplary view of a support plate the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    depicts exemplary views of the horizontal bar of the locking mechanism of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    depicts exemplary views of the hand grip of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter in any way. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a supporting device for performing exercises such as sit-ups is disclosed. The device primarily comprises of a mounting assembly and a secondary support rope. The mounting assembly includes a mounting panel that may be clamped to bottom sides of doors using an adhesive. The mounting panel may be slid into the bottom sides of most of the standard type doors and may be clamped onto them using an adhesive provided on the inside portion of the mounting panel. The mounting clamp may support most commonly available door-types. The mounting clamp may be manufactured in different sizes to match doors of different thickness and form factors as understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     A support plate may be pivotably connected to the mounting panel using a hinged connector. The support plate may be a rectangular in shape and may have a thin form factor. The angle between the supporting plate and the mounting panel may be adjusted using a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include a horizontal bar having a plurality of holes, a mounting panel connector pivotably connecting the mounting panel and the horizontal bar, and a barrel bolt lock that locks the horizontal bar onto the support plate. The barrel bolt lock may lock into one of the plurality of holes provided in the horizontal bar. The locking mechanism may adjusting the angle between the support plate and the mounting panel. Herein, the locking mechanism may lock the support plate at one or more angles with respect to the mounting panel. 
     Further, a cylindrical support bar may be mounted on the bottom side of the support plate for providing a primary support for a user performing exercise. The cylindrical support bar may support the hand or the foot of the user. The cylindrical support bar may be locked at one or more configurations by adjusting the angles between the mounting panel and the support plate. The height of the cylindrical support bar from the ground may be adjusted using this configuration. The cylindrical support bar may act as a primary support for the user while performing an exercise such as sit-up exercise. Furthermore, a rope and pulley mechanism may be provided with the supporting device to act as a secondary support for the user. The pulley may be mounted on the top side of the support plate and a rope may be tied around the pulley to provide a secondary support for the user performing while performing an exercise. 
     In the following description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. A single feature of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     In the foregoing sections, some features are grouped together in a single embodiment for streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure must use more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. 
     Before explaining the working of the clamping device in detail, it is pertinent to refer to the figures enclosed with this disclosure. Referring to the figures,  FIG.  1    is an exemplary perspective view  100  of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The supporting device primarily comprises of two sections, the mounting assembly and the secondary support rope. The rope  108  and hand grips  106  connected to the two ends of the rope  108  comprise the second section of the device. The first section (core section) of the device includes the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a mounting panel  102  and a support plate pivotably connected to the mounting panel. Further, a cylindrical support bar  104  is mounted on the support plate at its bottom side. 
       FIG.  2    is an exemplary side view  200  of the mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise,  FIG.  3    is an exemplary bottom perspective view  300  of the mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise, and  FIG.  4    is an exemplary top perspective view  400  of the mounting assembly of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The mounting assembly includes a mounting panel  102 , a support plate  402  (referred in  FIG.  4   ), a cylindrical support bar  104 , a pulley  202 , a pulley connector  204 , a cylindrical support bar connector  206 , a horizontal bar  208 , a pivotable horizontal bar connector  210 , a barrel bolt  404 , and a barrel bolt support  406 . 
       FIG.  5    is an exemplary rear perspective view  500  of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG.  6    is an exemplary view  600  of the mounting panel  102  of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The mounting panel  102  may include a hinge connector comprising of a hinge bolt  604  and hinges  606 . The mounting panel  102  further comprises a pivot connector  602  for connecting the pivotable horizontal bar connector  210 . 
     The mounting panel  102  may be slid into the bottom portion of a door and may be locked into position using an adhesive. The adhesive may be replaced by a nut and bolt or other similar fasteners as understood by a person skilled in the art. The mounting panel  102  may be securely clamped onto the bottom side of the door. The locking mechanism includes the horizontal bar  208 , the pivot connector  602  and pivotable horizontal bar connector  210  that connects the horizontal bar  208  onto the mounting panel  102 , the barrel bolt  404 , and the barrel bolt support  406 . 
     The locking mechanism allows the support plate  402  to lock at various angles with respect to the mounting panel  102 . The barrel bolt  404  along with the barrel bolt support  406  locks the barrel bolt  404  into one or the plurality of holes provided in the horizontal support bar  208 . This locking mechanism fixed the angle between the support plate  402  and the mounting panel  102 . The height of the cylindrical support bar  104  mounted on the bottom side of the support plate  402  may be varied and fixed at one or more heights with respect to the floor by varying the angle between the support plate  402  and the mounting panel  102 . 
     The locking mechanism thereby allows the supporting device to be fixed at various configurations (by varying the height of the cylindrical support bar  104 ) thereby allowing users of different foot sizes, heights, and weight to comfortably use the support device for performing exercises such as sit-ups. 
       FIG.  7    depicts exemplary views  700  of the pulley mechanism at various angles of the supporting device performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The pulley mechanism includes a pulley  202  and a pulley connector  204  for allowing the pulley  202  to rotate freely. A rope  108  having grips  106  at both ends may be connected to the pulley  202 . The rope and pulley mechanism may be used as a secondary support by the user while performing exercise. The rope  108  may be rigid or flexible depending upon the type of exercise being performed by the user. A rigid rope may be used for performing exercises that targets the users hands, shoulders, chest, and the like. An elastic rope may be used when the user wants the rope to have a pulling action. 
       FIG.  8    is an exemplary view  800  of a support plate  402  the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The support plate  402  may be pivotably connected to the mounting panel  102  using hinged connectors  604  and  606  as described earlier. The support plate  402  may have a rectangle shape and may further allow mounting of the pulley mechanism on its top side and the cylindrical support bar  104  on its bottom side. The support plate further locks the horizontal bar  208  using the combination of barrel bolt  404  and barrel bolt plate  406 . 
       FIG.  9    depicts exemplary views  900  of the horizontal bar of the locking mechanism of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The horizontal bar may comprise of a plurality of holes as described in the figure. At one end, it may have a pivotable horizontal bar connector  210  that may be connected to the pivot connector  602  of the mounting panel  102 . The barrel bolt  404  may be inserted into one of the plurality of holes of the horizontal bar  208  for locking the horizontal bar  208  onto the support plate  402 .  FIG.  10    depicts exemplary views  1000  of the hand grip  106  of the supporting device for performing an exercise according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The support device may be manufactured using strong and durable materials including steel, aluminium, aluminium alloy, billet aluminium, carbon fibre, plastic, or the like, as understood by a person skilled in the art. The support device may be used for performing a variety of exercises as understood by a person skilled in the art. It may be used with or without the secondary support. The combination of primary and secondary supports along with the mechanism for varying the height of the foot support makes the supporting device attractive and user-friendly. Furthermore, the device is portable and easy to assemble and dismantle. 
     The features and advantages listed in the previous sections of the document illustrate the various technical advancements provided by the present invention in solving the technical problems faced in this field of invention. It may be noted that the present disclosure covers obvious modifications of the abovementioned ideas and concepts that are similar and related as understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art. 
     It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
     The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or an appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term “based on”, as used herein, means “based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus. 
     The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter.