Patent Publication Number: US-9427611-B1

Title: Adjustable mount pull-up bar

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a mountable pull-up bar. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     A properly shaped pull-up bar can dramatically enhance muscle building and muscle tone in comparison to a straight bar. For example, a properly shaped pull-up bar provides inherent assistance with the proper spacing and positioning of the hands. Further, the shape of the pull-up bar can assist with the proper hand orientation, which can both enhance the effectiveness of the workout and reduce the probability of injury. 
     However, issues such as those described above can be moot if the pull-up bar is not securely retained in a proper position during use. While a variety of different mounting systems have been used, many of these systems either are not sufficiently secure as to prevent failure and injury, or interfere with the proper shape of the bar. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a mountable pull-up bar that reduces issues such as those described above, at least in part. 
     SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMS 
     The above and other needs are met by an adjustable mount pull-up bar. A first strut has a mounting plate at one end and an attachment point at the other end, with an offset between the two ends. A second strut is similarly constructed, but the offset of the first strut is a mirror image of the offset of the second strut. A bar has two attachment points to connect to either of the first and second struts. When the struts are connected to the bar in one orientation, the mounting plates at the ends of the struts are relatively closer together, and when the struts are connected to the bar in a second orientation, the mounting plates at the ends of the struts are relatively farther apart. This enables the pull-up bar to be mounted, for example, to wall studs or ceiling joists that are disposed at different distances from each other. 
     In various embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, the bar is a shaped bar that is configured to be placed in a proper orientation. In some embodiments, the first and second struts when attached to the bar depend substantially vertically upwards and at substantially right angles from the bar when the bar is in the proper orientation. In some embodiments, the first and second struts when attached to the bar depend substantially horizontally outwards at substantially right angles from the bar when the bar is in the proper orientation. 
     In some embodiments, a first hand-hold is connected to the first strut near the second end, with the first hand-hold disposed so as to be substantially linear with the first strut. In some embodiments, a second hand-hold is connected to the second strut near the second end, the second hand-hold disposed so as to be substantially linear with the second strut. 
     In some embodiments, a first hand-hold is connected to the first strut near the second end, where the first hand-hold is disposed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first strut. In some embodiments, a second hand-hold is connected to the second strut near the second end, where the second hand-hold is disposed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the second strut. 
     In some embodiments, the linear offsets of the first and second struts are configured as curved inflections along the lengths of the first and second struts. In some embodiments, the linear offsets of the first and second struts are configured as angular bends along the lengths of the first and second struts. In some embodiments, the mounting plates are flat plates having holes formed therein for receiving fasteners. In some embodiments, the bar is substantially covered along its length with a cushioning material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an adjustable ceiling mount pull-up bar in a first configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an adjustable ceiling mount pull-up bar in a second configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an adjustable ceiling mount pull-up bar according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adjustable ceiling mount pull-up bar in a first configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an adjustable wall mount pull-up bar in a first configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an adjustable wall mount pull-up bar in a second configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an adjustable wall mount pull-up bar in a second configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference now to the figures, there are depicted various embodiments of the adjustable mount pull-up bar  100 .  FIGS. 1-5  depicts various configurations and views of an adjustable ceiling mount pull-up bar  100 , and  FIGS. 6-8  depict various configurations and views of an adjustable wall mount pull-up bar  100 . 
     In all of the embodiments depicted, the pull-up bar  100  includes two interchangeable struts  112  and a bar  102 . The struts  112  each have a first connection point on a first end that is attachable to the bar  102  at connection points  106 , and a mounting plate  104  on a second end that is attachable to the structure of a building, such as ceiling joists or wall studs. Either strut  112  can be attached at its first end to either of the two attachment positions  106  on the bar  102 . 
     Each strut  112  includes an inflection  110  along its length that provides a linear offset between its two ends. When the struts  112  are mounted to the bar  102  in a first configuration, such as is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 4-5 , the inflections  110  cause the spacing  114  between the mounting plates  104  (which are mountable to the building structure, such as the ceiling or the wall) to be less than the spacing  116  between the first connection points (which are mounted to the bar  102  at positions  106 ). When the struts  112  are mounted to the bar  102  in a second configuration (with the struts  112  swapped from the first configuration) as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 6-7 , the inflections  110  cause the spacing  114  between the mounting plates  104  to be greater than the spacing  116  between the first connection points. 
     In this manner, the struts  112  can be selectively mounted to the bar  102  in a configuration that disposes the mounting plates  104  at a spacing that matches the building structure, such as joists in the ceiling or studs in the wall. If the building structure has a relatively narrower spacing, then the struts  112  can be mounted on the bar  102  in the first configuration, such that the mounting plates  104  are relatively closer together, and if the building structure has a relatively wider spacing, then the struts  112  can be mounted on the bar  102  in the second configuration, such that the mounting plates  104  are relatively farther apart. 
     In one embodiment, the two connection points  106  on the bar  102  are spaced twenty inches apart, and each strut  112  has a two inch linear offset in the inflection  110 . Thus, when the struts  112  are mounted to the bar  102  in the first configuration, with the inflections  110  sweeping inward from the connection points  106 , the mounting plates  104  on the struts  112  are disposed sixteen inches apart, which matches the spacing between the joists or studs in some structures. 
     However, when the struts  104  are mounted to the bar  102  in the second configuration, with the inflections sweeping outward from the connection points  106 , the mounting plates  104  on the struts  112  are disposed twenty-four inches apart, which matches the spacing between the joists or studs in other structures. Other spacings of the connection points  106  and inflection offsets  110  are also contemplated. In some embodiments, such as depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 , the offsets  110  are configured as curved inflections in the struts  112 . In other embodiments, such as depicted in  FIGS. 6-8 , the offsets  110  are configured as angular bends in the struts  112 . 
     In some embodiments the bar  102  is configured as an ergonomic or shaped pull-up bar  102 . In some embodiments the bar  102  is padded, such as with foam or rubber, or some other cushioning material. 
     In some embodiments hand-holds  108  are attachable to the struts  108 . In one embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 , the hand-holds  108  are disposed so as to extend out in a perpendicular manner from the struts  112 . In another embodiments, as depicted in  FIGS. 6-8 , the hand-holds  108  are disposed so as to extend out in a linear manner from the struts  112 . The offsets  110  in the swappable struts  112  enable the hand-holds  108  to be maintained at the desired distance  116  between the connection points  106  regardless of the spacing  114  that is desired to match the building structure. 
     In various embodiments the struts  112  and bar  102  are formed of a relatively lightweight, strong, and rigid material, such as either hollow or solid tubes of steel, titanium, aluminum, magnesium, or a composite material. The connections between the struts  112  and the bar  102  can be formed such as by pin and slot connections or nut and bolt connections. In some embodiments, the mounting plates  104  are welded to the struts  112 . In some embodiment that two struts  112  are identical, on to another, but one of the struts  112  is mounted backward in relation to the other, thus providing the mirror-image arrangement of the offsets  110 . In some of those embodiments, the hand-holds  108  can be mounted on either side of the struts  112 , such as by being screwed into a threaded hole, where such a threaded hole is provided on both sides of the second end of the struts  112 . In other embodiments, the hand-holds  108  are welded onto the struts  112 . 
     The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.