CA1047059A - Exercising device for aerial exercises - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A harness securable about a user's torso is suspended from a fixed horizontal support through a system of pulleys providing a mechanical advantage in displacing the harness in the vertical direction. A pair of cords having one end anchored with respect to the pulley system and other end depending from the pulley system terminate in a pair of hand grips, respectively.
Downward movement of the hand grips produces an upward movement of the harness in correspondence with the mechanical advantage provided by the selected combination of pulleys. Thereby, the user can raise himself and perform various exercises by exerting a downward force on the pair of hand grips equivalent to a fraction of one's own weight, which fraction is dependent upon the selected mechanical advantage.

Description

~7~59 harness securable abou-t a u6er's -torso is suspended ~m d fixed hori20ntal support -through a sys-tem oF pulleys providing a mechanical advan-tage in displacing the harness in the vertical direction. A pair of cords having one end anchored with respect to the pulley system and other end depending from the pulley system terminate in a pair of ha~d grips, respectively. Downward movement of the hand grips produces an upward movement of the harness in correspondence with the ~-mechanical advantage provided by the selec-ted combination of pulleys. Thereby, the user can raise himself and perform various ;`
exercises by exer-ting a downward force on the pair of hand grips equivalent to a fraction of one's own weight, which fraction is dependent upon the selected mechanical advantage.
The present invention relates to exercising devices and, more particularly, to exercising devi~es which employ a system of pulleys to provide a mechanical advantage in lifting and suspending the exercising person above ground while doing aerial exercises.

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In present d~y society, many persons are employed in

2~ capacities which required very little physical activity. Hence, most persons have either poor muscle tone or substantially under developed muscles. Poor muscle tone or weak muscle have insuffcient resiliency to prevent muscular injury or broken bones from occurring during minor spills or falls. i In an effort to combat this state of poor physical development, a susbtantial industry has been developed for the purpose of conditioning and/or building the physique of both ~ `
males and females. In conjunction therewith, an even larger industry has been spawned which manufactures and sells various

3~ muscle building or conditioning devices. These devices , . . .. . . . . .. .
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genera]ly fall into one of -three categori.es. The first category includes such devices as bar bells, dumb bells, weight with harnesses that are attachable to various parts o~ the body and elements which must be compressed or stretched~ The second category of devices ~nclude those which require an interplay of various muscles of the user, such as, for example, rowing machines, stationary pedalling apparatus and the type of equipmen-t found in most gymnasiums. The third category includes those devices which are motor driven to massage, pummel and vibrate the user without requir~ng that the user exerts any active efforts.
Regardless of which cate~ory the exercising devices may fall into, they all suffer from one basic defect - they lack the combination of fun and challenge. Therefore, the user must have a strong sense of perserverance to continue to use them ~
day after day. ~;
Most persons enviously admire the grace and beauty of the aerial gymnasts. However, few persons can even attempt to emulate their seemingly effortless frolicking. It is there$~re an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide apparatus which permits a person of average or even below average physical capability to perform aerial gymnastics. ;
An object of another aspect of the presen-t invention is ~ ' to provide exercising apparatus which tones and conditions all of the muscles of the user.
An object of yet another aspect of the present invention ~;
is to provide an exercising device which is equally easily usable by the frail and the obese.
An object of still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus wherein the degree of , - . .
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~ffort r~qulr~a 1~ tabl~ function Or th~ u~r~s body w~lght .
An ob~eot of` a ~urth0r aap-ot o~ th~ pr~ nt inv~ntion .
1~ to provld~ rurc~ ~n,g d~vic~ usabl~ by tho~a~ phy~icall~r.
lnrlrm or d~rorme~.
An obJ~ct o~ a ~t furthor a~p~ot o~ th~ pro~qDnt lnv-ntios~
19 to provid- an o:roroi3in~ d~vlc~ 3ultabl~ ~or family u~o,, By ~ bro~d ~sp~ct o~ this l~v-ntlon. 81 por~onal 0~r~1~in~ :
apparatu~ i~ provldod. ~hioh d~pond~ ~rom a fl:god hor'lzontal ~;
0 8uppo:r1; rOr p~r~or~ s a~ri~ orciso~ abov~ grou~d3 said ~xorcl~ing app~r~tus comprl~in~ in ~omblnatlon;
a) a har~ uspo~di3d fro~ ~la horlzontal ~upport by 8 pair of Gords~ ~ld hR~o~s b~in,3 a~pt-d ~or ~irclln~g a uæ0r ' ~ low0r tor80:
b ) a ~yst~m Or pul~y8 int~roonn~oti~g saia horlzo~t~l ~upport ~d said palr ~f oord~ ~usp~nding ~aid ha~ 8 7 ~aid pull~y ~g~tom provldlng a ~ ohani~al ad~t~ ln vorl;i~~11y disp~aoi~g s~id h~ with ro~p~ot to sald horizontal ~pport. and said pull~g ~y~t~ inoludln~5 a palr o~ oords. ono 20 ~nd o~ ~ach Or æaid pair of oora~ b-i~ anohor~ad ~h rg~p~30k: ~ -to ~a~d pullo~ ~y~t~m a~d tho oth~r ~s~d of oach o~ 3~id p~ir o~ :
oord~ d~p~ndin~ ~rola ~aid pu110y sy~t~m: a~d c) a palr o~ h~na ~rlps adaptoà o~ ~ra~pln~ b~ th~ us0r~
~ach o~ ~ai~ p~lr of hand g;rip~ attaoh~d to oaoh o~ sald pair o~ oord~ d~pendlng rro~n sa9 d pull~y ~yet~m ~ ~?h~r~by. tha mcchanlGal ad~ tag~ provi~od by ~aid pull~y ~yst~m p~rmits tha usor to rai~o and malntain onesol~ o~r th~ ~round ~ith a dow~ward forco appli~d to said :pair o~ han~ rlp3 . ~hich do~n-ward rorce i9 8ubgtantl8,11y 1~89 than th~ ~lght Or th~ u~r.
By a~othl~r asp~ct o~ thl~ invontion a lino short~nir~;

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~l~m~nt 13 provid~d comprl~in~i a ) a ~h~ot of rl~id matorial s b ) a palr o~ dspr0sslon~ . ~aoh sald acpr~slon b~in,g al~po~ed within opposito ~dg~s o~ said sh~et J and c ) at l~a~t on~ ap~rture wlthin sald ~h~t intor~*dlat~
sald palr o~ depr~s~ions ~ whorob~. a loop o~ tho lln~ i~
lns~rt~d throu~gh said aporturo and wrapped around ~ald palr o~
rlopr~ssions to short0n tho ~ald llno.
In th~ QOCOmp~lyi.ng ~igur~s 1 10Fi~ur0 1 illu~tra$~s a por~p~oti~o vi0~ o~ ono ~sp~¢t of ~h~ pros~nt lnvontlon ln ~itu.
F1~ur~ 2 lllustratc~ a ~ront~l vlo~ of th~ compon~nts of on~ asp@ct o:f tho prosant inv~ntlon.
Fl~ure 2a 18 a cros3 ~ctional rîew o~ th~ pull~y syst~m ~mployed in on~ asp00t of the pro~ont l~vention takon along lino 2a . ~s shown in Figure 2 .
Fl~ure 3 illustratos th~ harn~s~ s~ourablo about th~
torso o~ th~ usor.
Fi~ur~ 4 illustrat~æ:~ modl~loakion of tho harn~ss shown in Fl~ure 3.
~ gure g illu~trato~ furth~r boay attashm~nt ~oharllsm :
usabl~ in con~ tion with th~ pr~3~nt in~ont~on.
Fi~ur0 6 illu~trat~s an aeoo~æory harnoess se~ura~l~ about tho upp~r cho~t o~ th0 u~r. whl~h cho~t harn~ss i9 usabl~ :
ln oon~unction uith tho pr~nt inv~ntlon.
Flguro 7 lllu~trat~s ~n aocos~ory rOot harn~ usabl~
i~ conJunction ~ith an asp~ot Or th~ prosont invsntîon.
Fl~ure 8 lllustrat~æ a d~rics ~or ~hort~ning one o~ th~
cords æusponding th~ h~rnosæ o~ an aæp~ct o~ th~ pro~nt 30 invontion .

3a -~ 7~59 Figure 9 illustra-tes a modiEicatior~ o~ the device shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 illustra-tes a device Eor nonslidably joining two adjacent cords depending from a pulley.
Figure 11 - 14 illustrate various modes of the operation of aspects of the presen-t invention.
While one aspect of the present invention may ~e supported ~ -from any convenient horizontal suppor-t, Figure 1 illustrates a suita~le superstructure 1. The superstructure is formed of a horizontal beam 2 secured to the upper extremity of a pair of uprights 3 and 4. Guy wires, or bracing posts, 5 and 6 may be employed to stabilize the uprights. ;
An exerciser 10 constructed in accordance with the teaching of an aspect of the present invention depends from beam 2. The i -;~
upper bar 11 of exerciser 10 may be attached to beam 2 by rigid ; ~-mounting devices or by non-rigid elements such as eye bolts or chains, or combinations thereof. A vertically movable lower bar i, :
12 is suspended from upper bar 11 by a pulley system 13. A -harness 14 is attached to lower bar 12, which harness is attached to the torso of the person using exerciser 10. By . i i ~: . .
inspection, it may be appreciated that any vertical movement of lower bar 12 results in a corresponding movement of harness 14.
The ends of the cords forming a part of pulley system 13 terminate in a pair of hand grips 15 and 16. A downward movement of these hand grips results, due to action of the pulley system 13, in a propor-tional upward movement of lower bar 12, the amount of which movement is dependent upon the mechanical advantage of the pulley system. Similarly, any upward movement of hand grips 15 and 16 results in a propartional downward movement of lower bar 12.

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~ efore a ~ur-ther detailed description of an aspect of the present invention will be given, a brief discussion of the operation of exerciser 10 is in order.
To use these aspects of the present invention, a person would strap himself into harness 14. By grasping hand grips 15 and 16 and pulling downwardly thereon, a proportional upward vertical displacemen-t of lower bar 12 will occure. The force required to pull down on hand grips 15 and 16 is a function of the person's weight divided by the mechanical advantage of pulley system 13 (less friction losses). It may there~ore be appreciated that by appropriate adjustmen-ts of pulley system 13, a person can raise and lower himself with a fully commensurate with his muscular developmentl Ha~ness 14 is configured to fully support the person at his approximate center of gravity whether he be right side up, as shown, prone, supine, or upside down (see Figure 12). Thereby, once a person has raised himself off the ground he can perform all manner of exercises normally performable only by adept gymnast. This capability provides the user with a great degree of fun and satisfaction. ~hen the person~s physical prowess increases, he can, as will be explained below, reduce the mechanical advantage provided by pulley system 13 and thereby continually increase the force required to raise and maintain himself off the ground.
Thereby, aspects of the present invention are easily adaptable to a neophyte or an'experienced gymnast.
Referring jointly to Figures 2 and 2a, the basic components of aspects of the present invention will be described in fur-ther detail. Upper har 11 is formed of a length of U-shaped channel having a base and downwardly depending flanges. Connec-tion means~
such as, for example, eye bolts 20, are secured to and _ 5 _ L7~1~9 extend upwardly fro~ the base of the channel for a-ttachment to beam 2. A plurality of pulleys 21 are journalled intermediate the flanges of the channel by a plurality of shafts 22. Lower ~;:
bar 12 is formed of U shaped channel having a base and upwardly extending flanges. A plurality of fur-ther pulleys 24 .
are journalled intermediate the flanges by an equivalent ~:
number of shaf-ts 25. Upper bar 11 and lower bar 12 are connected -to one another and limited in displacemen-t from one another by means of a rope 27, or other similar flexible interconnection, firmly secured to the approximate midpoint of the upper and lower bars. ~ope 27 primarily serves as a safethy meachnism to -~limit the downward movement of lower bar 12, and hence the person strapped within the harness,~should -the person accidentally lose his grip on the hand grips. Rope 27 also enables to use the present exerciser in doing aerial balancing exercises without holding the pair of hand grips.
It is to be understood that one half of upper bar 11 with its pulleys engaging cord 31 and one half of lower bar 12 with it~ pulleys engaging cord 31 can be replaced by a block and tackle system and the other half of upper bar 11 with its pulleys engaging cord 30 and the other of lower bar 12 with its pulleys engaging cord 30 can be replaced by another block and tackle system without departing from -the -teachings of aspects ~.
of the present invention. : :
A pair of cords are attached to the approximate ~.
midpoint of upper bar 11 at points 32 and 33, respectively .
(which cords may be attached to lower bar 12 dependiD~ on the pulley arrangement). Thence, cords 30 and 31 are threaded about alternatively outwardly extending pulleys 24 and 21 to form :
pulley system 13. A pulley block 36 is dispo~ed at one ', ' .

~0~7(~5;9 extremity o~ upper bar and another pulley block 37 is disposed a-t the other extremity of upper bar 11. These pulley blocks are pivotally connected to upper bar 11 to ensure a smooth operation even when hand grips 15 and 16 are moved laterally away from the plane defined by upper bar 11 and lower bar 12.
~arness 14 includes a pair of suspension lines 40 and 41, which lines are connected to respective extremities of lower bar 12. The lower extremi-ty of each of the suspension . ,; ,i lines includes a releaseable clasp a2 to permit detachment of the harness i-tself. The length of -the suspension lines 40 and 41 must be commensurate with the heigh-t of l~wcr bar 12 above the ground and the heigh-t of the person using the exerciser.
To permit variation of the length of the suspension lines, line shortening elements 43 may be employed. ~ -As discussed above~ the mechanical advantage of pulley - -system 13 can be varied to increase or decrease the force necessarily applied to hand grips 15 and 16 to raise the user off the ground. The mechanical adv~antage of pulley system 13 may be altered by means of adjustment element 45.
The details of the ~arness 14 will be described with joint reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4. The harness is formed of two distinct components. The first component ~ncludes a plurality of pairs of belts 50 and 51 securable about the torse of the user.
Each of the pairs of belts is composed of two be-~ts (such as, for example, belts 50a and 50b) which are oriented so that the respective adapters thereof are lodged at the approximate center of the user,s stomach and lower back. The second component includes a pair of seat strap 52 and 53. Each of the seat strap is disposed at the approximate lateral extrem~y of the belt of the harness 14 and includes a first , . - - , . . . :
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strap 56 secured ~o and exterldirl~ transverse to pairs of belts 50 and 51. A second ~trap 57 is attached to strap 56 and extends upwardly therefrom. An adapter 60 is disposed at the extremity of each strap 57 for engagement with the free end of strap 56. Each of rings 58 and 59 are secured to the respective belts oE pair of belts 50 by means,of webbing, such as, for example, webbing 61, and to the respective belts of pair of belts ' Sl by means of strap 57. Thereby, rings 58 and 59 are fixedly , secured at opposed lateral extremities of -the belt of harness ~ ~
14. The pairs of belts 50 and 51 permit adjustment of these belts ~ ~`
to maintain the ri~gs 58 and 59 at the lateral extremity of -the ,-,~ ',;
belt of the harness regardless of the girth of the user.
For additional comfort, it may be advisable to employ '~
a harness such as, for example, that shown in Figure 4. Herein, three pairs of belts l~9 ? 50 and 51 are employed. The ~dditional ~ -belt 49 may be disposed intermediate belts 50 and 51; or, additional belt 49 may be disposed above bel-t 50 and be connected ~, to belts 50 and 5I by one or more segments of webbing disposed , laterally across the belts.
Referring jointly to Figures 5, 6 and 7, cer-tain attachments usable in conjunction with various aspec-ts of the '-present invention will be described. To exercise muscles of the `' thighs, calves and ankles of the user, a foot harness 65 may be incorporated. The foot harness includes a pair of detachable pulley blocks 66 and 67 suspended from eyelets 68 and 59, which , eyelets depend from upper bar 11. Releasable snap hoo]cs 70 and 71 may be disposed intermediate the pulley blocks and their respec- ;
-tive harnesses. A further pulley blocks 76 and releasable snap hook 77 is secured to an eyelet 78, which eyelet extends upwardly from the approximate midpoint of lower bar 12. The approximate 7~
midpoint of a line 73 engages pulley bloc]c 76 and respec-tive half leng~hs of -the line ex~end upwardly from the pulley block to engage pulley blocks 66 and 67 and depend downwardly there~rom, each terminating in a stirrup 74, 75.
A chest harness 80 may be a-ttached to eyelets 81 and 82 depending from lower bar 12. The chest harness can be used to serve as a mechanism for maintaining the user's backbone in tension by appropriate adjustments to the relative heigh-ts of the chest harness and torso harness 14. The chest harness ;
includes a belt 83 securable about the user t S chest in proximity to his armpits. A pair of loops 84 and 85 slidably engage and extend upwardly from belt 83 to receive the upper ~
arms of the user. Lines 86 and 87 extend upwardly from loops ~ ~-84 and 85, respectively. The snap hooks engage eyelets 81 and 82 to suspend the chest harness from lower bar 12. Line shortening elements 43 may be used for adjusting the length of lines 86 and 87 to accomodate the physique of the user.
Referring jointly to Figure 8 and 9, there are shown two illustrations of the previously mentioned line shortening -~
elements 43. Line shortening element 43a is formed of a piece of sheet metal or other relatively rigid material. The longitudinal edges of the element include aligned depressions -~
90 and 91. A pair of apertures 92 and 93 are disposed intermediate the depressions. In operation, a line 94 which is to be shortened is threaded through apertures 92 and 93 and then loop of the line between apertures 92 and 93 is wrapped about depression 91 and 90. The degree of shortening of line 94 may be varied depending upon the number of times the line is ~
wrapped around depressions 90 and 91. ~-Referring to Figure 9, element 43b is also formed of _ g _ ~ ~

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~47()59 a piece of shee-t metal or o-ther relatively rigid Material. A
pair of depressions 95 and 96 is disposed at -the opposite longitudinal ed~es thereof. An elonga-ted cen-tral aperture 97 is disposed intermediate depressions 95 and 96. In operation, a loop of a line 9~ to be shortened is inserted through aperture 97 and thence wrapped around depressions 95 and 96. Again the degree of shortening may be varied depending upon the number of times the loop is wrapped around the depressions.
Referring to Figure 10, -there is shown a line adjustment element 45 which can be used to vary the mechanical advantage of the pulley system 13 (see Figure 1). Element 45 is formed of a piece of sheet metal or other relatively ~igid material. Aligned pairs of depressions 100, 101 and 102, 103 ~ ;
are disposed at opposite longitudinal edges of -the e~ement.
An elongated aperture 104 is disposed intermediate depressions 100 and 101 and a further aperture 105 is disposed intermediate depressions 102 and 103. In operation, a loop of each of two adjacent cords extending from any one of the pulleys of the pulley system 13 is inserted through one of aper-tures 104 and ~ ~ ~
105 and wrapped about element 45'in the manner shown in Figure ?
9. Thereby, independent movement between the two adjacent cords is inhibited, Thus, any one of the pulleys 21 or 24 effectively becomes the anchor point for one of cords 30 and 31 respectively, whereby ~he mechanical advantage of the pulley system can be selectively varied. In the alternative, the ends of cords 30 and 31 can be detached from anchor points 32 and 33 and reattached to one of the pulleys to vary the mechanical advantage. In the preferred embodiment, the wid-th of the depressions is slightly less than the dlameter of the cord so that cords are wedged in the depressions and restrained from -- 10 ~

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Figure 11 illustrates a user strapped into harness 14 in the upright posi-tion after lifting oneself off the ground.
It may be no-ted -that harness 14 is secured just above the user's hip with pair of straps 57 being wrapped around the user's thighs. Figure 12 illustrates certain ones of various -positions into which the user can place oneself. Not only the user can balance oneself in vertical position or horizontal posi-tion, but one can place oneself in any orientation in the air. In each of these positions or modification thereof, a variety of exercises can be performed, which variety is only .
limited by the user's imagination~ Figure 13 illustrates the user using the foot harness in combination with the torso --harness~ It may be noted that downward movement of one stirrup is countered by the upward movemen-t of lower bar 12 or by the upward movement ~f the other stirrup. It should be understood that the kicking, splitting and stepping movements of legs in various positions shown in Figure 12 provide more than plenty of leg exercising. The foot harness shown in Figure 13 may be used for therapeutic purpose. Figure 14 illustrates the user with the chest harness strapped about one's shoulders. By appropriate adjus~ments to the lines su~pending the chest harness from lower bar 12 relative to the lines suspending the torso harness,~*he stress on the user~s back can be controlled from any tension to any compression. The chest harness may be `
used to prevent the user from -tumbling and imposing unwanted stress on bne~s back in therapeutic application.

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Claims (4)

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An exercising device for physical training, said exerciser comprising:
a first bar including a first pulley disposed within one extremity of said first bar and a second pulley disposed within other extremity of said first bar;
a first ring secured to one end of a first rope, said first rope engaging said first pulley;
a second ring secured to one end of a second rope, said second rope engaging said second pulley;
a belt securable to the lower torso of an exercising person, said belt including;
a. a first means of adjusting the length of the front half of said belt;
b. a second means of adjusting the length of the rear half of said belt;
c. a first strap securable around one thigh of a person wearing said belt; whereby, said first strap prevents said belt from slipping upward;
and d. a second strap securable around other thigh of a person wearing said belt; whereby, said second strap prevents said belt from slipping upward;

a third rope attached to said belt intermediate said first and second means of adjusting the length of said belt;
a fourth rope attached to said belt diametrically to said third rope;
a first mechanically advantageous hoist means linking said first and third ropes; whereby, pull of said first ring hoists said belt;
a second mechanically advantageous hoist means linking said second and fourth ropes; whereby, pull of said second ring.
hoists said belt; wherein said first and second hoist means providing mechanical advantage include means of varying tensions on said first and second ropes, said tension caused by the weight attached to said belt; wherein a plurality of sheaves disposed along said first bar constitute part of said hoist means providing mechanical advantage; and wherein second bar is disposed intermediate said first bar and said belt, said second bar including;
a. said third rope extending from said belt secured to one extremity of said second bar;
b. said fourth rope extending from said belt secured to other extremity of said second bar; and c. a plurality of sheaves disposed along said second bar constituting part of said hoist means oviding mechanical advantage.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a fifth rope having one end secured to the middle of said first bar and other end secured to the middle of said second bar limits the separation of said bars from each other to a desirable distance.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second ropes extending from said rings are securable to said bars; whereby, said first and second ropes can engage various combinations of said sheaves.

4. An exercising device for physical training, said exerciser comprising:
a first bar including a first pulley disposed within one extremity of said first bar and a second pulley disposed within other extremity of said first bar;
a first ring secured to one end of a first rope, said first rope engaging said first pulley;
a second ring secured to one end of a second rope, said second rope engaging said second pulley;
a belt securable to the lower torso of an exercising person, said belt including;
a. a first means of adjusting the length of the front half of said belt;
b. a second means of adjusting the length of the rear half of said belt;
c. a first strap securable around one thigh of a person wearing said belt; whereby, said first strap prevents said belt from slipping upward, and d. a second strap securable around other thigh of a person wearing said belt; whereby, said second strap prevents said belt from slipping upward;
a third rope attached to said belt intermediate said first and second means of adjusting the length of said belt;
a fourth rope attached to said belt diametrically to said third rope;

a first mechanically advantageous hoist means linking said first and third ropes; whereby, pull of said first ring hoists said belt; and a second mechanically advantageous hoist means linking said second and fourth ropes; whereby, pull of said second ring hoists said belt; wherein said first and second hoist means providing mechanical advantage include means of varying tensions on said first and second ropes, said tension caused by the weight attached to said belt; and wherein said hoist means providing mechanical advantage and including means of varying said tension comprise;
a. a first multiple sheave means secured to said first bar near one extremity of said first bar;
b. a second multiple sheave means secured to said first bar near the other extremity of said first bar;
c. a third multiple sheave means secured to the end of said third rope extending from said belt;
d. a fourth multiple sheave means secured to the end of said fourth rope extending from said belt;
e. said first rope selectably engaging said first and third multiple sheave means; whereby, said tension on said first rope is varied as said first rope engages various combinations of sheaves included in said pair of multiple sheave means; and f. said second rope selectably engaging said second and fourth multiple heave means; whereby, said tension on said second rope is varied as said second rope engages various combinations of sheaves included in said pair of multiple sheave means.