Patent Publication Number: US-9409220-B2

Title: Exercise equipment, connector or anchor, and method of making same

Description:
FIELD 
     An exercise equipment, exercise equipment connector, and method of making same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exercise equipment can be free standing; however, it is desirable to be able to secure exercise equipment to a support such as the floor, wall, ceiling, or other exercise equipment for performance and safety reasons. For example, exercise equipment can move and/or tip over during use, and proper anchoring is essential for performance and safety. 
     There exists a need for anchoring exercise equipment quickly and effectively. Further, it is desirable that such connector is sufficiently strong and durable during long term use and operation of the exercise equipment, and properly anchor same. 
     SUMMARY 
     An improved exercise equipment. 
     An improved exercise equipment anchor. 
     An improved exercise equipment connector. 
     An exercise equipment comprising or consisting of a member connected to connector or anchor. 
     An exercise equipment comprising or consisting of a vertical member connected to a connector or anchor. 
     An exercise equipment comprising or consisting of a vertical member connected to a three-sided connector or anchor. 
     An exercise equipment comprising or consisting of a vertical member connected to a three-sided connector or anchor comprising three finger connector portions bent outwardly from each side of the three-sided connector. 
     An exercise equipment anchor or connector comprising or consisting of a channel and at least finger connector portion. 
     An exercise equipment anchor or connector comprising or consisting of a three-sided channel and three finger connector portions. 
     An exercise equipment anchor or connector comprising or consisting of a three-sided channel and three finger connector portions each, respectively, extending outwardly from a side of the three-sided channel. 
     An exercise equipment anchor or connector comprising or consisting of a three-sided channel and three finger connector portions each, respectively, extending outwardly from a side of the three-sided channel at one end of the three-sided channel. 
     An exercise equipment anchor or connector comprising or consisting of a three-sided channel and three finger connector portions each, respectively, bent outwardly from a side of the three-sided channel at one end of the three-sided channel. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, and bending the flat metal sheet two times to create three-sided channel. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, and bending the flat metal sheet two times to create three-sided channel comprising three side portions connected together along bends in the three-side channel. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, bending the flat sheet two times to create a three-side channel comprising three side portions connected together along bends in the three-side channel. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, bending the flat sheet at two locations to create a three-side channel comprising three side portions connected together along bends in the three-side channel. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, bending the flat metal sheet two times to create three channel side portions connected together at the bends, and bending at least one side flange portion from the flat metal sheet. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, bending the flat metal sheet at a first location and a second location to create three channel side portions connected together at the bends, and bending the flat metal sheet at a third location to create at least one side flange connector portion from the flat metal sheet. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, bending the flat metal sheet two times to create three channel side portions connected together at the bends, and bending the three channel side portions to create three side flange connect portions so that each side flange connector portion is bent outwardly from each channel side portion. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank, and bending the flat metal blank to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank, and bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank, and simultaneously bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank, and bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations in a particular sequence to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank comprising a main blank portion and at least one finger blank portion, and bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank comprising a main blank portion and three finger blank portions, and bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations to create the anchor or connector. 
     A method of making an exercising equipment anchor or connector, comprising or consisting of providing a flat metal sheet, stamping the flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank comprising a main blank portion and three finger blank portions positioned side-by side at one end of the main blank portion, and bending the flat metal blank at multiple locations to create the anchor or connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise equipment. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the exercise equipment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connector or anchor of the exercise equipment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top planar view of a stamped metal blank prior to being formed into the connector or anchor, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the connector or anchor after being formed into a connector or anchor, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the connector or anchor, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top planar view of the connector or anchor, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the resulting connector made from the plate shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A exercise equipment  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The exercise equipment  10  comprises a member  12  (e.g. vertical member) and a connector  14  (e.g. anchor). The connector  14  is shown connecting the member  12  to a floor F ( FIG. 2 ); however, the connector  14  can be used to connect the member  12  to a wall, ceiling, support, member, beam, and/or to another piece of exercise equipment. 
     The member  12  is provided with through holes  13  along the entire length of the member  12 . The holes extend through both sets of opposed sides of the member  12  to allow connection with the connector  14  at different heights and different perpendicular orientations relative to a longitudinal axis of the member  12 . This allows multiple members  12  to be connected together to make up a rack arrangement (e.g. four (4) members  12  connected together in a square or rectangular arrangement when viewing from top of rack). 
     The connector  14  can be connected to the floor F by bolt anchors  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2  to prevent movement of the member  12  relative to the floor F. This can be done, for example, in the final installation of exercise equipment in a gym. 
     The connector  14  by itself is shown in  FIG. 3  as a three-sided connector  14  having one open side and three closed sides. The open side facilitates assembly with the member  12 . Specifically, the open side of the connector  14  allows for an end of the member  12  to be moved laterally into the connector  14  for assembly. 
     The connector (e.g. anchor) can also be two-sided (e.g. adjacent or opposed sides) or four-sided (e.g. four sides with an open seam provided by bending the metal plate three times, or four sides with a closed seam, for example, by welding the seam closed after bending to enhance the strength of the connector). In a two sided connector (i.e. two adjacent sides removed, or two opposed sides removed), for example, a flat metal plate is bent into a channel with two sides being mostly removed along a length of the channel. A metal blank must be initially formed (e.g. by stamping a metal sheet) so that when bent a channel portion is provided at one end of the connector so that the two remaining sides are still connected together by the channel portion after the connector is created. 
     The connector  14  comprises three (3) flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  extending outwardly from the connector  14 . The flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  are shown perpendicular (i.e. 90°) relative to the center vertical axis of the connector  14 ; however, the flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  can be set at a different angle from that shown (e.g. 0° to 180° relative to the plane of each side channel portions  18 ,  20 ,  22 ). Further, the flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  can be set at the same angle or different angles. 
     The opposed side channel portions  18  and  22  are each provided with a set of spaced apart through holes  24 ,  24 , to allow connection with the member  12 , for example, by a set of bolts  28 ,  28  ( FIG. 2 ) having a set of locking nuts (not shown). The flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  are each provided with a through hole  26  ( FIG. 3 ) for securing the connector  14  to the floor F, for example, with a set of bolt anchors  11  ( FIG. 2 ). The through holes  26  can be elongated shaped, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The connector  14  can be made by a variety of methods using a variety of materials. For example, the method can include one or more steps of forming, bending, welding, machining, molding, injection molding, insert molding, or a combination thereof. Further, for example, the connector  14  can be made of metal, plastic, composite, or other material suitable for a particular application. For use in an exercise apparatus, metal can be a suitable material due to its relatively low cost and high strength. 
     The connector  14  can be made from a flat sheet of metal to create the flat metal blank  30 . The flat metal blank  30  can be bent to create the connector  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the flat metal blank  30  will be bent along the bending lines  32 ,  32  to create or form the three side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  defining the three sided channel  15  of the connector  14  shown in  FIG. 8 . The three side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  are contiguous with each other, and share a continuous wall with each other, since the connector  14  is created or formed by bending the single flat metal blank  30 . Thus, the three side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  are joined together by the integral bent connections  19 ,  21 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The step or steps of bending the flat metal blank  30  into the three sided channel  15  results in an integral high strength connection between the respective side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  providing a high strength connector  14  suitable for use in assembling or anchoring exercise apparatus. In this arrangement, due to the bending step, the respective side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  are also connected along their entire lengths and the length of the three sided channel  15 , again increasing the integrity and high strength of the resulting connector  14 . 
     The flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  As also shown in  FIG. 4 , the flat metal blank  30  will be bent along the bending lines  34 ,  34 ,  34  to create or form the three flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  extending outwardly from the three sided channel  15  of the connector  14  shown in  FIG. 8 . The three flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  are contiguous and continuous with a main portion  31  of the flat metal blank  30 , since the connector  14  is created or formed from the single flat metal blank  30 . 
     The step or steps of bending the flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  relative the main portion  31  of the flat metal blank  30  results in integral high strength connections between the respective flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  and main portion  31  of the flat metal blank  30  also enhancing the high strength of the high strength connector  14  suitable for use in assembling or anchoring exercise apparatus. In this arrangement, due to the bending step, the respective side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  are also connected along their entire widths to the main portion  31  of the flat metal blank  30 , again increasing the integrity and high strength of the resulting connector  14 . 
     The integral bent connections  19 ,  21  between the side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the three sided channel  15  and the integral bent connections  17  between the side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and the flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16  all contribute to the integrity and high strength of the box-like construction of the connector  14 . Specifically, the bent nature of the walls of the integral bent connections  17 ,  19 ,  21  allow stress to flow around the bent connections  17 ,  19 ,  21 , and then to be dispersed into the side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  enhancing the high strength, performance, and longevity of the connector  14  under heavy work loads for a long period of time. 
     The radius of the integral bent connectors  17 ,  19 ,  21  can be configured to enhance the high strength of the connector  14 . For example, the radius can be increased to enhance the flow of stress from the bent connectors to the side panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and prevent stress risers. Further, the shape of the bent connectors  17 ,  19 ,  21  can be modified by changing the cross-sectional wall shape at the bend, again to customize stress flow for various purposes (e.g. integral bent connectors are made stronger at base of connector  15  to provide enhanced flexibility of members  12  to prevent cracking or wear). Thus, the thickness of the walls of the connector  14  can be varied and customized accordingly. 
     Method of Making 
     A metal connector  14  can be made, for example, by one of the following methods:
     1) Stamping a flat metal sheet to create a flat metal blank having a particular shape; and bending the flat metal blank to create the connector  14 .   2) Cutting flat metal sheet (e.g. by machining, grinding, sawing, waterjetting, torching, industrial lasering, cutting, plasma cutting) to create a flat metal blank having a particular shape; and bending the flat metal blank to create the connector  14 .   3) Making metal components or parts of connector (e.g. three separate metal plates used to form the connector channel; and assembling (e.g. mechanically connecting and/or welding the three plates).   

     The steps in the above methods can occur simultaneously, or in a particular sequence. In addition to the above steps, the flat metal sheet or flat metal blank can, for example, be punched, cut, drilled, machined to provide connector (e.g. bolt, screw, anchor) holes. Further, the connector  14  can be hardened, coated (e.g. paint, powder coated), metal coated (e.g. chromed), treated (e.g. polished, beaded, surfaced, etched) to create a finished connector  14 . 
     A method of making the connector  14  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8   
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a flat metal blank  30  (e.g. flat plate made of steel, aluminum, titanium) having the particular shape shown is created or provided. For example, the flat metal blank is stamped, cut, machined and/or welded. 
     The flat metal blank  30  is then bent along fold lines  32 ,  32 . Further, the flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16 , are bent along fold lines,  34 ,  34 ,  34 , and outwardly relative to the side channel portions  18 ,  20 ,  22 . The order of bending, for example, can be by first bending the metal blank  30  for form the side channel portions  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and then the side channel portions  18 ,  20 ,  22  are bent outwardly, or the bending occurs in the opposite order. Alternatively, the bending can occur simultaneously by using a stamping press that bends and/or cuts the edges of the flat metal blank is a single step or multiple step process. 
     The through holes  24 ,  26  can be made (e.g. punched, cut, drilled, machined) in the connector  14  before, after, or simultaneously with other connector forming or creating operations. 
     The flat metal plate blank  30  is formed or created to have the particular shape shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, by stamping, cutting, machining, milling, electro discharge machining, water jet cutting, laser cutting, or other suitable shaping method. The resulting flat metal plate blank  30  can included rounded edges  36  and slots  38  dividing the flat metal plate blank  30  into the three flanges  16 ,  16 ,  16 . The slots  38  have rounded holes  40 ,  40  to eliminate a stress riser and prevent tearing (i.e. by reducing shearing forces). 
     The flat metal blank  30  can be bent into the connector  30  by using a metal brake or by stamping.