Abstract:
A door-frame mounted exercise bar having two ends, each covered by a frictional, compressible substance, wherein said exercise bar is lengthwise adjustable by means of a ratchet operated strap, thus allowing the user to securely fit the exercise bar into a door-frame. The exercise bar has attachment points for elastic straps and other devices and mounting posts on its top surface. A stabilizer/attachment bar is provided having mounting sleeves aligned to coincide with, and attach to, the mounting posts on top of the exercise bar. These mounting sleeves also serve as attachment points for handles, exercise bars, and other accessories. The stabilizer/attachment bar is lengthwise adjustable such that the ends of the bar may be fixably insinuated behind the door stop molding found on most doors. When thus deployed, the stabilizer/attachment bar prevents the exercise bar from rotating when used.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an exercise bar with attachments that can be adjustably mounted in a door-frame. In particular, the device uses a ratchet strap mechanism to secure the exercise bar at a fixed position in a door-frame. By actuating a release lever, the ratchet strap mechanism is loosened thus allowing easy movement of the exercise bar and attachments to a new vertical position in the door-frame or a new door-frame. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Door-frame mountable exercise devices are a common means to provide a user with a versatile, relatively compact and affordable exercise bar. These devices can be useful in a variety of exercise routines, which are often dependent on the location of the exercise bar within a door-frame. For instance, a bar fixed at the bottom portion of a door-frame can be useful in assisting in push-up and sit-up style exercise activities, whereas a bar fixed at the top portion of a door-frame can be useful for pull-up and chin-up style exercise activities. Further, such devices also support additional hand-grips, dip bars, or elastic resistance bands for increased exercise routine versatility and with these accessories the bar&#39;s ideal location is often near the center-height of the door-frame. Obviously, an exercise bar that is easily and rapidly repositionable within the door frame is of great importance in these applications. 
         [0004]    However, one obstacle for such devices is that the exercise bar must be able to support a substantial load, at least the user&#39;s full body weight, while also providing for easy adjustment of the bar when a new position is desired, or a new length is required to fit door-frames of varying widths. 
         [0005]    Early inventions, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,047,293 and 3,502,326 disclose telescoping exercise bars that employ the use of a frictional, compressible pad on the mounting faces at each end of the bar, such that the telescoping feature allows the user to set the proper length to match the width of the door-frame, and the frictional, compressible pads allow the device to be fixed into place in a relatively secure fashion. However, such devices may fail under substantial loads. 
         [0006]    A more substantial invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,521 employs the use of an angled wedge within each mounting face at each end of the bar, such that as downward pressure is exerted on the bar, additional outward force is exerted on the door-frame, further securing the bar in place. Upward force has the opposite effect, loosening the bar. The first goal of the present invention is to improve upon this invention by providing a securing means such that an increase in the load force in either an upward or downward direction or indeed, in a rotational direction about the long center axis of the bar, has no effect on the outward force exerted on the door-frame. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve a more securely mounted device, still other devices have employed mounting brackets that must be affixed to the door-frame, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,405,127, 5,180,350, and 7,540,831. A second goal of the present invention is to avoid such mounting brackets, and thus allow the exercise device of the present invention to be fully portable and quickly and easily transferable to any position in any door-frame. 
         [0008]    Yet another more recent invention employs an alternative means of securing the frictional compressible ends to the door frame. U.S. Pat. App. No. 2011/0190098 discloses an exercise bar with a dual adjusting system employing a screw mechanism inside the telescoping bar to rapidly achieve a “rough fit” in the doors and separate cam actuators within one, or both, mounting faces at each end of the bar to more securely affix the bar in the frame when a downward or upward load is placed on the bar. This device suffers from at least three weaknesses, to wit: 1) it is incapable of resisting rotational forces about the long axis of the exercise bar; 2) because of the design of the cam actuating mechanism, additional securing force is provided only when the bar is pushed up or pulled down and thus unsuited to withstand pulling or pushing forces from the front or the rear of the bar; and, 3) the bar is mechanically complex and thus costly to manufacture. As a result, three further goals of the present invention are to: 1) avoid such dual adjusting systems and their resulting inability to resist rotational forces about the long axis of the exercise bar; 2) provide a bar that is fixed and immovable in virtually all dimensions, whether pulled down, pushed up, pulled towards the user, or pushed away from the user; and,  3 ) vastly simplify the mechanical complexity and resulting expense associated with manufacturing the bar. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to the preferred embodiment of present invention, an exercise bar with two end plates, adjustable by telescoping, and a separable stabilizer/attachment bar is provided. Each end plate has a frictional, compressible outer pad or pads that engages the door-frame. A vertical linear groove or depression is molded or otherwise formed into the outward-facing face of each frictional, compressible pad such that the outer pad rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the right end plate is attached to a right innermost telescoping bar. This right innermost telescoping bar is equipped with a first bolt or other anchoring means protruding though a linear slot machined or otherwise formed in a central outermost telescoping bar. The central outermost telescoping bar is equipped with a second bolt or other anchoring means mounted at the right end of the central outermost telescoping bar and in line with the first bolt or other anchoring means and linear slot. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the left end plate is attached to a left innermost telescoping bar. This left innermost telescoping bar has a multiplicity of circular holes drilled or otherwise formed through the bar so that when slid into the central outermost telescoping bar, one of the multiplicity of holes drilled or otherwise formed through the left innermost telescoping bar aligns with a circular mating hole drilled or otherwise formed through the central outermost telescoping bar. Also, welded or otherwise attached at regular interval spanning the length of the central outermost telescoping bar are rectangular rings or other elastic band points. 
         [0010]    A variable length ratchet adjustable strap is secured between the first bolt or other anchoring means and second bolt or other anchoring means. This variable length ratchet adjustable strap includes an integral ratchet lever for retracting the strap, an integral release lever for extending the strap, and a drum for receiving the strap as it is retracted and releasing it when extended. Mounted to the central outermost telescoping bar on the side opposite the ratchet adjustable strap are two mounting posts, one at each end of the central outermost telescoping bar. These mounting posts are welded or otherwise attached such that they are perpendicular to the central outermost telescoping bar. 
         [0011]    A separable stabilizer/attachment bar is provided that is slidably mountable to the mounting posts present on the central outermost telescoping bar. This separable stabilizer/attachment bar is comprised of a horizontal stabilizer tube to which are welded or otherwise attached two mounting sleeves such the center axis of each mounting sleeve is perpendicular to the center axis of the horizontal stabilizer tube and the center axis of each mounting sleeve is aligned with the center axis of one the mounting posts attached to the central outermost telescoping bar. These two mounting sleeves are sufficiently long that when slidably placed over the mounting posts attached to the central outermost telescoping bar sufficient unoccupied length remains in each mounting sleeve that a handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar, or other accessory may be slidably inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. To ensure that these handles, pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted so that they point away from the side of the door stop molding against which the protective caps impinge, a rivet or other pin is inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. This rivet or other pin engages a notch machined or otherwise formed in that part of the handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar or other accessory that is slidably inserted into the mounting sleeve(s). 
         [0012]    The horizontal stabilizer tube is further comprised of two holes machined or otherwise formed in the horizontal stabilizer tube such that one hole lies adjacent to each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube. Welded or otherwise attached to the horizontal stabilizer tube over each of the two holes is a machine nut such that the center axis of the threaded portion of each machine nut is collinear with the center axis of each hole. Screwed into each machine nut so that it is capable of protruding into the center cavity of the horizontal stabilizer tube is a threaded thumb screw or other screw. Slidably inserted into each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube is an extensible outrigger tube. Covering the distal end of each extensible outrigger tube is a protective cap, or similar device. 
         [0013]    In use, the user first selects a convenient initial length for the exercise bar by inserting the left innermost telescoping bar into, or withdrawing it from, the central outermost telescoping bar, until one of the holes drilled or otherwise formed in the left innermost telescoping bar aligns with the mating hole drilled or otherwise formed in the central outermost telescoping bar. The user then inserts a pin through the central outermost telescoping bar and the left innermost telescoping bar to fix them together thus setting the exercise bar&#39;s initial length. When the exercise bar is placed in the door frame, the ratchet lever is repeatedly actuated to cause the right innermost telescoping bar to incrementally extend from the central outermost telescoping bar thus compressing each of the frictional compressible outer pads attached to each respective end plate against the door-frame. This securely wedges the exercise bar in place in the door frame. Next, the user mounts the separable attachment/stabilizer bar to the top of the exercise bar by slidably inserting the mounting posts affixed to the horizontal stabilizer tube into the mounting sleeves affixed to horizontal stabilizer tube. Next, the user slidably extends each extensible outrigger tube such that the protective cap is insinuated against the door stop molding found on most doors. The user then tightens the thumb screws such that the extensible outrigger tubes are firmly locked into position and cannot retract. The user then inserts a pair of handles, a pull-up bar, a dips-bar, or other exercise accessory into the unused cavity atop each mounting sleeve such that the handles or other exercise accessory point away from the side of the door stop molding against which the protective caps are insinuated. To ensure that these handles, pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted, a rivet or other pin is inserted into the top of each mounting sleeve. This rivet or other pin engages a notch machined or otherwise formed in that part of the handle, pull-up bar, dips-bar or other accessory that is slidably inserted into the mounting sleeve(s). 
         [0014]    The user then performs one or more exercises using the handles or other exercise accessory inserted into the mounting sleeves. The extensible outrigger tubes extending from either end of the horizontal stabilizer tube and abutting the edge of the door stop molding serve to limit the rotational movement of the entire exercise bar so that the user can exercise in security and safety. To move the exercise bar up or down in the door frame: 1) the user actuates the release lever allowing the right innermost telescoping bar to slide into the central outermost telescoping exercise bar thus relieving the pressure on the frictional compressible outer pads against the door frame; 2) releases one, or both, thumb screws allowing one, or both, extensible outrigger tubes to be pushed into the horizontal stabilizer tube; and, 3) repositions the bar at any appropriate height in the door frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partially exploded view of the exercise bar as recited in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the exercise bar with a partially exploded view of the extensible stabilizer bar and representative exercise handles as recited in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention fully assembled and mounted in a door-frame.  FIG. 3A  is an inset detail showing the reverse side of the right end of the preferred embodiment of the present invention fully assembled and mounted in a door-frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the exercise bar  100  is comprised of central outermost telescoping bar  101 , left innermost telescoping bar  120 , and right innermost telescoping bar  130 . Left innermost telescoping bar  120  and right innermost telescoping bar  130  slide into, and out of, central outermost telescoping bar  101  thereby enabling the user to shorten or lengthen exercise bar  100  to fit within door-frame  300 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , welded or otherwise attached to central outermost telescoping bar  101  at its midpoint and at either end are rectangular rings or other elastic band attachment points  102 ,  103 , and  104 . Each of rectangular rings or other elastic band attachment points  102 ,  103 , and  104  is attached to central outermost telescoping bar  101  such that a gap is formed between the front and rear surfaces of central outermost telescoping bar  101  and rectangular rings or other elastic band attachment points  102 ,  103 , and  104 . These gaps provide for the attachment of elastic bands and other accessories used in various exercise routines. Adjacent to rectangular ring or other elastic band attachment point  103  and welded or otherwise attached to the bottom surface of central outermost telescoping bar  101  is a first bolt or other anchoring means  105 . Adjacent to this first bolt or other anchoring means  105 , linear slot  106  is machined or otherwise formed in the bottom surface of central outermost telescoping bar  101 . At the opposite end of central outermost telescoping bar  101  and adjacent to rectangular ring or other elastic band attachment point  104 , circular mating hole  107  is drilled or otherwise formed through the top and bottom surfaces of central outermost telescoping bar  101 . Locking pin  108  is provided, capable of being inserted through circular mating hole  107  in such a way that it extends completely through central outermost telescoping bar  101 . 
         [0021]    Attached to the distal end of right innermost telescoping bar  130  is right end plate  131 . Attached in turn to right end plate  131  is right frictional, compressible outer pad comprised of one or more separate compressible elements identified in the preferred embodiment as  132 A,  132 B, and  132 C. These elements are assembled to thus present a vertical linear groove or depression  133  in the outward-facing face of the frictional, compressible pad such that it rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. Welded or otherwise attached to the bottom surface at the proximal end of right innermost telescoping bar  130 , is a second bolt or other anchoring means  134 , such that when (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) right innermost telescoping bar  130  is assembled into central outermost telescoping bar  101 , second bolt or other anchoring means  134  protrudes through linear slot  106  machined or otherwise formed in the bottom surface of central outermost telescoping bar  101 . 
         [0022]    Attached to the distal end of left innermost telescoping bar  120  is left end plate  121 . Attached in turn to left end plate  121  is a frictional, compressible outer pad comprised of one or more separate compressible elements identified in the preferred embodiment as  122 A,  122 B, and  122 C. These elements are assembled to thus present a vertical linear groove or depression  123  in the outward-facing face of the frictional, compressible pad such that it rests securely over the door stop molding found on most door frames. Circular holes  124  are drilled or otherwise formed through the top and bottom surfaces of left innermost telescoping bar  120 , such that when left innermost telescoping bar  120  is assembled into central outermost telescoping bar  101 , any one of circular holes  124  can be aligned with circular mating hole  107  drilled or otherwise formed through the top and bottom surfaces of central outermost telescoping bar  101 . 
         [0023]    A variable length ratchet adjustable strap, or other adjusting means,  140  is attached between the first bolt or other anchoring means  105  and second bolt or other anchoring means  134 . The variable length ratchet adjustable strap or other adjusting means includes an integral ratchet lever  141  for retracting the strap  143 , an integral release lever  142  for extending the strap, and a drum  144  for receiving strap  143  as it is retracted and releasing it when extended. Mounted to the top of central outermost telescoping bar  101  are two mounting posts,  109  and  110 , one at each end of the central outermost telescoping bar  101 . These mounting posts are welded or otherwise attached to the central outermost telescoping bar  101  such that they are perpendicular to central outermost telescoping bar  101 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a separable stabilizer/attachment bar is provided that is slidably mountable to mounting posts  109  and  110  present on the top surface of exercise bar  100 . This separable stabilizer/attachment bar is comprised of horizontal stabilizer tube  150  to whose front surface is welded, or otherwise attached, two mounting sleeves  152  and  151 . Each of mounting sleeves  152  and  151  is affixed such that the center axis of each mounting sleeve is perpendicular to the center axis of horizontal stabilizer tube  150 . Also, the center axis of each of mounting sleeves  152  and  151  is aligned with the center axis of mounting posts  109  and  110  attached to the top of exercise bar  100 , respectively. Mounting sleeves  152  and  151  are sufficiently long that when slidably placed over mounting posts  109  and  110  attached the top surface of exercise bar  100 , respectively, sufficient unoccupied length remains in the top portion of the inner cavity of each mounting sleeve that handles  170  and  171  or a pull-up bar, dips-bar, or other exercise accessory may be slidably inserted into the mounting sleeves. To ensure that handles  170  and  171 , or pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted, rivets  163  and  164  or other pins are pressed or otherwise inserted into holes  161  and  162 , respectively, in mounting sleeves  152  and  151 , respectively. Rivets  163  and  164  or other pins engage notches  172  and  173 , respectively, machined or otherwise formed in that part of handle  170  and  171  respectively, or pull-up bar, dips-bar or other accessory that is slidably inserted into mounting sleeves  152  and  151 . 
         [0025]    The separable stabilizer/attachment bar is further comprised of two holes machined or otherwise formed in horizontal stabilizer tube  150  such that one hole lies adjacent to each end of the horizontal stabilizer tube. Welded or otherwise attached to the horizontal stabilizer tube over each of the two holes are machine nuts  157  and  158  such that the center axis of the threaded portion of each machine nut is collinear with the center axis of each hole. Screwed into each machine nut  157  and  158  is a threaded thumb screw or other screw  159  and  160 , respectively, such that when turned, screws  159  and  160  are capable of protruding into the center cavity of horizontal stabilizer tube  150 . Slidably inserted into each end of horizontal stabilizer tube  150  is an extensible outrigger tube,  153  and  154 , respectively. Covering the distal end of each of extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154  is a protective cap, or similar device  155  and  156 , respectively. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 , and  3 , to use the device, the user selects a convenient initial length for the exercise bar  100  by inserting left innermost telescoping bar  120  into, or withdrawing it from, the central outermost telescoping bar  101 , until one of holes  124  drilled or otherwise formed in left innermost telescoping bar  120  aligns with mating hole  107  drilled or otherwise formed in the central outermost telescoping bar  101 . The user then inserts pin  108  through the central outermost  101  and left innermost  120  telescoping bars to secure the left innermost telescoping bar  120  thus setting the initial length of the exercise bar  100 . The user then places exercise bar  100  in door frame  300 , such that mounting posts  109  and  110  point upward and grooves  123  and  133  in frictional compressible outer pads comprised of  122 A,  122 B, and  122 C and  132 A,  132 B, and  132 C, respectively, align with the door stop molding found on most doors. The user then repeatedly actuates ratchet lever  141  thus causing ratchet strap  143  to be retracted onto drum  144  which in turn causes right innermost telescoping bar  130  to incrementally extend from the central outermost telescoping bar  101  such that frictional compressible outer pads comprised of  122 A,  122 B, and  122 C and  132 A,  132 B, and  132 C, respectively, are firmly compressed against opposite sides of door-frame  300 . This securely wedges exercise bar  100  in place in door frame  300 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  3 A the user mounts the separable stabilizer/attachment bar onto exercise bar  100  by slidably inserting mounting posts  109  and  110  welded or otherwise attached to the top surface of exercise bar  100  into mounting sleeves  152  and  151  welded or otherwise attached to the front of horizontal stabilizer tube  150 , respectively. The user slidably extends or retracts extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154  from horizontal stabilizer tube  150  until the protective caps or similar devices  155  and  156  affixed to the distal ends of extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154 , respectively, impinge on door frame  300  behind door stop molding  301 . The user then secures extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154  in this fully extended position by tightening threaded thumb screws or other screws  159  and  160 , respectively thus locking extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154  firmly in place. The user then slidably mounts handles  170  and  171 , or pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories into mounting sleeves  152  and  151  welded or otherwise attached to the front of horizontal stabilizer tube  150 , respectively, in such a manner that the tips of handles  170  and  171  point in a direction opposite that of the door stop molding surface against which protective caps or similar devices  155  and  156  impinge. To ensure that handles  170  and  171 , or pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessories are properly mounted, rivets  163  and  164  or other pins are pressed into in mounting sleeves  152  and  151 , respectively. Rivets  163  and  164  or other pins engage notches  172  and  173 , respectively, machined or otherwise formed in that part of handle  170  and  171  respectively, or pull-up bars, dips-bars, or other accessory that is slidably inserted into mounting sleeves  152  and  151 . 
         [0028]    To move exercise bar  100  up or down in the door frame  300 , the user loosens one or both threaded thumb screws or other screws  159  and  160 , respectively, thus unlocking one or both extensible outrigger tubes  153  and  154  and allowing them to telescope inside horizontal stabilizer tube  150 . The user then actuates release lever  142  thus causing ratchet strap  143  to be released from drum  144  which in turn causes right innermost telescoping bar  130  to slide into the central outermost telescoping bar  101  and relieves the pressure on frictional compressible outer pads comprised of  122 A,  122 B, and  122 C and  132 A,  132 B, and  132 C against door frame  300 . The user may then reposition exercise bar  100  at any appropriate height in the door frame  300 . 
         [0029]    Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that numerous modifications are possible to the described embodiment. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.