Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INFLATABLE EXERCISING STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an inflatable
s exercising structure formed of flexible, inflatable sheet
material whereby, when inflated, forms an inflated upright
structure, and wherein the outer surface of said structure
is provided with hand and foot engaging elements such as
grip holds or foot holds whereby a person can climb on the
~o outer surface of the structure and therefore physically
exercise thereon.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to construct an artificial rock
15 Climbing structure from hardened material such as fiberglass
or rigid plastics whereby to simulate a rock surface. Grip
holds and foot holds are formed integral with the outer
surface of the structure or attached thereto whereby a
person can climb the surface of the artificial rock
zo structure and thus simulating a rock climbing exercise. It
is also known to construct upright equipment with various
exercising means associated therewith to provide a multitude
of physical exercising devices, as is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 6,095,950. There also exists a need to transport and
2s quickly erect these structures and such need is exemplified
by U.S. Patent 6,083,142 wherein a simulated rock structure
is placed on a trailer in a horizontal fashion and then
erected upright on a site.
3o SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to
provide an inflatable exercising structure which is easily
and quickly erected, which is easy to transport and store in
a small package and safe to use.
35 Another feature of the present invention is to
provide an inflatable exercising structure formed of an air-
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tight enclosed membrane and which can be inflated by
utilizing an ordinary vacuum cleaner capable of pumping one
pound per square inch pressure in the inflatable structure.
Another feature of the present invention is to
s provide an inflatable exercising structure comprised of an
air-tight enclosed membrane which is supported on a support
frame to provide stability to the structure when inflated
and wherein casters can be connected to the frame and
disconnected therefrom to provide for the transport of the
~o structure.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide an inflatable exercising structure comprised of an
air-tight enclosed membrane which is provided with improved
grip holds and foot holds formed by an improved attachment
assembly preventing detachment thereof while permitting easy
replacement of these grip holds and foot holds.
According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides an inflatable
exercising structure which comprises an air-tight enclosed
zo membrane formed of flexible inflatable sheet material. An
air intake valve is secured to the membrane to inflate the
enclosed membrane to form an inflated upright structure.
Attachment means is provided to immobilize the inflated
upright structure. A plurality of gripping means are
zs secured to an outer surface of the membrane to provide for
one or more persons to exercise on the outer surface of the
upright structure.
According to a further broad aspect of the present
invention the attachment means is formed by a skirt of
3o flexible sheet material which is secured to the membrane and
disposed about a lower section of the membrane and secured
to a support frame.
According to a further broad aspect of the present
invention the inflatable exercising structure support frame
35 1S provided with a stabilizing framework for abutting
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engagement with a lower wall of the membrane to provide
stability to the inflated upright structure.
According to a still further broad aspect of the
present invention the inflatable exercising structure
s support frame is formed of hinged sections which are hinged
to predetermined positions when the membrane is deflated and
wherein casters are easily connected and disconnected from
the support frame to transport the hinged support frame and
the collapsed membrane thereon.
~o According to a still further broad aspect of the
present invention the membrane is provided with grip holds
and foot holds secured to an outer surface thereof. The
foot holds and grip holds are detachably secured to an
attachment assembly comprised of a rectangular flat backing
is plate having a connector projecting from a surface thereof
and through a hole formed in the membrane with the backing
plate disposed flat on an inner surface of the membrane and
immobilized by a patch disposed thereover and heat-welded
about the backing plate to prevent displacement thereof.
zo The grip holds and foot holds have a connecting rod
removably secured to the connector from the outer surface of
the membrane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
z5 A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the inflatable
exercising structure of the present invention which
3o simulates a rock wall having grip holds and foot holds
secured thereto;
FIG. 2 is a fragmented side view similar to
Figure 1 illustrating the use of the inflatable exercising
structure;
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FIG. 3 is a top view of the inflatable
exercising structure showing an assembly of shock absorbing
pads disposed on a ground surface all about the inflated
upright structure;
s FIG. 4 is a fragmented section view of a lower
end of the inflatable membrane when in its inflated state;
FIG. 5 is a section view showing the
construction of a grip hold;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration
~o of the flat backing plate and the patch disposed thereover;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the
construction of the support frame;
FIG. 8 is a side view showing the hinged
sections of the support frame;
~5 FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmented view showing
the construction of the caster assembly and how it is
detachably secured to one of the circle segment sections of
the support frame;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the
2o inflatable exercising structure in its deflated state with
the support frame disposed upright on its casters and
wherein the structure is in a storage or non-use condition;
FIGS. 11A to 11C are simplified side views
illustrating how the inflatable exercising structure is
2s erected;
FIG. 12 is a fragmented side view showing how the
support frame may be immobilized on a support surface by the
provision of foot plates;
FIG. 13 is a partly fragmented and partly
3o sectioned side view showing the stabilizing framework of the
support frame and how it deforms the lower wall of the
inflatable membrane when inflated to form the upright
structure; and
FIG. 14 is a side view showing the inflated
35 upright structure of the present invention and wherein
different types of gripping means are secured to the outer
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surface of the membrane to provide for different types of
exercises.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
s Referring now to the drawings and more
particularly to Figures 1 to 3, there shown generally at 10
the inflatable exercising structure of the present
invention. This structure is comprised of an air-tight
enclosed membrane 11 formed of flexible inflatable sheet
~o material such as the type that is used to construct
inflatable dinghies. Such membrane material is fabricated
from a lamination of a woven fiber, such as Dacron
(registered trade mark of Dupont) and which resists
stretching and perforation while permitting flexibility.
15 These fibers are saturated by a molecular process which
makes it possible to laminate on both sides of the fabric
various sheet layers of textile such as polyurethane-PVC
fabric. This fabric is cut in sections to form a cylinder-
like membrane and the sections are thermo-bonded together to
2o form the air-tight enclosed membrane 11.
As hereinshown a skirt 12 of the same flexible
sheet material is bonded to the membrane 11 and disposed
about a lower section of the membrane. A plurality of
gripping means, herein in the form of grip holds 8 and foot
z5 holds 9, are secured to the outer surface 19' of the
cylindrical side wall 19 of the structure 10 and as well on
the skirt 12 whereby to permit a person 13 to climb the side
wall to perform a physical climbing exercise.
A plurality of shock absorbing pads 14 are
3o disposed all about the inflatable upright structure 10 on
the ground surface 15. As shown in Figure 3, these shock
absorbing pads 14 are formed in sections and interconnected
by loop connectors 14'. Still further, an attachment ring
16 may be immovably secured to the top wall 17 of the
35 inflatable upright structure whereby a safety rope 18 can be
passed through the attachment ring 16 and connected to the
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exercising person 13 and held by another person 20 located
on the ground surface and watching the person 13 climb the
cylindrical side wall 19. The use of such safety rope is
well known in the art.
s The inflatable enclosed membrane 11 is also
provided with an air intake valve secured to the membrane 11
at an appropriate location for ease of access thereto
whereby to permit the enclosed membrane to be inflated.
Figure 11C shows how the inflation takes place and this is
to done effectively by an ordinary workshop vacuum 40 capable
of delivering 1 p.s.i. of pressure to the membrane. With 1
p.s.i. of pressure, the membrane remains rigidly upright as
shown in Figure 1. This air intake valve is a pressure
release intake valve adapted to automatically release air
15 from the inflated upright structure 10 when air pressure
within the structure exceeds a predetermined p.s.i. value
and namely 1 p.s.i. This increased pressure may be caused
by heat, particularly when the structure is erected outdoors
and under a hot summer sun.
zo In order to immobilize the inflated upright
structure 10 on the support surface 15, the skirt 12 may be
provided with attachment means in the form of eyelets 21
disposed all about a lower connecting skirt section 12'
whereby to receive fasteners, herein illustrated as a ground
zs anchor rod 22 to exert and hold down pressure in the
direction of arrow 24 as the air-tight membrane 11 is being
inflated. The lower wall 25 of the membrane is formed with
a flattened section 26 to provide support on the surface 15
and the skirt provides the immobilizing or stabilizing
3o attachment in one example of how the structure may be held
securely. Of course, bolt fasteners may be provided instead
of ground anchors 22 to secure in complimentary fasteners
which may be permanently secured in a hard surface. As
shown in Figure 4, the skirt 12 is connected about the side
35 wall 19 by thermo-fusing.
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Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there will be
described the manner in which the gripping means, herein the
grip holds 8 and foot holds 9 are constructed. As
hereinshown, the grip hold 8 is detachably secured by a bolt
s 30 to an attachment assembly which comprises a rectangular
flat backing plate 31 provided with a connector 32 in the
form of a rigid cylinder having a threaded inner bore 33
provided with an open end and which projects through a hole
34 formed in the membrane 11 whereby to receive the bolt
~o fastener 30 in threaded engagement therein. The fasteners
30 are hereinshown as threaded studs but the fasteners 30
and the connectors 32 may be of another type, such as
bayonet-type connectors. An important feature of the
attachment assembly is that the rectangular flat backing
is plate 31 is of rectangular outline, herein having a square
periphery 35 and is held immobilized or captive by a patch
36 which is also thermo-fused on the inner surface of the
membrane 11. Accordingly, the backing plate will resist
planar displacement thereof when tension is applied on the
zo grip holds or foot holds 8 and 9.
With reference now to Figure 7, there is shown the
construction of a support frame 38 to which the inflatable
membrane is preferably secured for immobilization and
stability. The support frame 38 is constructed for abutment
zs with the lower wall 25 (see Figure 13) of the inflatable
membrane 11 to provide stability as will be described later.
As hereinshown, the support frame 38 is formed of
interconnected channel members, and namely an outer circular
channel member 39 and transverse straight members 41, such
3o as steel tubing interconnected together by welding. The
transverse straight members are connected inwardly of the
outer circular channel member. A stabilizing framework is
secured to the support frame and projects upwardly thereof.
This stabilizing framework is comprised by tubular
35 pyramidal-shaped ribs 42 disposed at opposed end sections of
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two transverse diametrical axes of the outer circular
channel member 39 and projecting vertically thereabove.
As shown in Figure 13, these stabilizing ribs 42
cause the lower wall 25 of the membrane to deform by the
s hold-down tension of the skirt 12 which is rigidly secured
at its lower end section to the outer circular channel
member 39 by fasteners 43. The deformations 44 caused by
the ribs 42 as well as the hold-down tension provided by the
skirt 12 prevents the inflated upright structure 10 from
~o swaying off its central vertical axis 45 when the structure
is in use.
As shown in Figures 7 and 13, a convex arch rib 46
may also be secured between a pair of diametrically opposed
ones of the pyramidal-shaped ribs 42 to deform a central
~S section 47 of the lower wall 25 to increase the stability of
the inflated upright structure.
With reference to Figures 7 to 11C, there will now
be described a preferred construction of the support frame
38. As hereinshown, the support frame is a sectional
zo support frame having a generally rectangular central frame
section 50 having arcuate outer end channel members 51 and
opposed longitudinal straight parallel channel members 52.
Opposed like circle segment sections 53 are hingedly secured
by hinges 54 on opposed sides of the central frame section
z5 50. Each of the circle segment sections has a long arcuate
outer channel member 55 and a straight member 56 spanning
opposed free ends 55' of the arcuate outer channel member
55.
As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the opposed circle
3o segment sections 53 may be disposed upwardly of the central
frame section 50 by their hinge connections 54 to a
predetermined upright position. This predetermined upright
position is determined by arresting lugs 57 welded on the
top wall of the straight parallel channel members 52 for
35 abutting engagement with a side wall of the straight tubular
members 56 when they are hinged upwardly. Preferably, one
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of the circle segment sections 53, herein segment 53' as
shown in Figure 9, is held substantially vertically upwards
for a reason which will now be described.
As shown in Figure 9, the support frame 38 may be
s converted to a mobile frame by detachable caster assembly 60
to provide ease of displacement of the frame and the
collapsed membrane thereon for relocation or storage.
The detachable caster assembly comprises a caster
support bar 61 to which is secured a pair of spaced casters
~0 62. A transverse attaching bar 63 is secured to an end 64
of the support bar 61 and extends transversely of the bar
and the pair of casters. One or both of the circle segment
sections, namely section 53' as shown in Figure 9, is
provided with a hollow caster connecting tube 65 which is
welded to the straight member 52 and extends transverse
thereof to the edge of the member 52. A caster connecting
tube 65 is secured spaced from each of the opposed ends of
the long arcuate channel member 55 at a predetermined
location. In order to secure the detachable caster assembly
zo 60 to the circle segment section 53', the transverse
attaching bar 63 is slidingly disposed in the connecting
tube 65 in close sliding fit therein. Accordingly, a pair
of these caster assemblies are removably securable adjacent
opposed ends of the circle segment section 53' which is
z5 substantially vertically upright and arrested at that
position. By tilting the folded frame structure and the
collapsed membrane 11 upright, to a position as shown in
Figure 10, the inflatable structure 10 is in a storage
condition.
so With reference now to Figure 10, it can be seen
that the lower end section of the membrane has a plurality
of eyelets 21 disposed thereabout and that lower section is
reinforced to provide a secure attachment of the lower
section of the skirt which is under tension when the
3s membrane is inflated, as previously described. Although not
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shown, a cover may be disposed over the folded structure, as
illustrated in Figure 10, to place same in storage.
With reference now to Figures 11A to 11C, there is
shown the manner in which the structure is erected. The
s folded structure is brought to a site where the structure
needs to be erected and laid on its side, namely with the
central frame section 50 disposed on the support surface 51.
As hereinshown the detachable caster assembly 60 is provided
with a handle 70 for ease of displacement but this handle is
~o not essential. The assembly 60 is then removed from the
circle segment section 53', and as shown in Figure 11B,
these circle segment sections 53 and 53' are hinged
downwardly in the direction of arrow 71 to lie on the floor
surface in a manner as illustrated in Figure 11C. The
~s vacuum hose 40' of the Shop Vac 40 is then connected to the
valve 23 to inflate the membrane. As the membrane becomes
inflated, the lower end section of the skirt 12 is secured
to the frame, as shown in Figure 13 by the fasteners 43.
The structure continues to be inflated and the lower wall 25
20 of the membrane deforms as the structure becomes fully
inflated due to the clamping hold-down force exerted by the
skirt.
With reference now to Figure 12, there is shown
the provision of a stabilizing foot assembly 80 which is
25 securable in the hollow connecting tubes 65 after the
casters have been removed. Preferably, these hollow
connecting tubes 65 are secured to each side of the central
frame section 50, as shown in Figure 8, whereby to receive
therein the stabilizing foot assembly 80. This stabilizing
3o foot assembly is comprised of a foot plate 81 of rectangular
shape secured to a connecting rod 82 which is dimensioned
for close sliding fit within the hollow channel member 65.
The foot plate has a through-hole 83 for receiving a
fastening element, herein shown as a ground anchor rod 84
35 therethrough to secure the plate 81 flat on a ground surface
85. The connecting rod 82 may be fairly long whereby the
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foot plate 81 is secured spaced outwardly of the support
frame to provide added stability. Of course, these foot
plates could also be engaged in a hard surface by screw
fasteners or other type fasteners, not shown, but obvious to
s a person skilled in the art.
Figure 14 is a side view showing the inflated
upright structure 10 herein provided with different types of
attachment elements and as hereinshown the grip holds 8 and
foot holds 9 may be disposed in a section of the outer
~o surface 19 of the membrane 11 and extend from the skirt 12
to the top wall 17. The cylindrical side wall 19 is also
provided with loop elements 90 which are attached to the
outer surface of the membrane by an attachment assembly as
previously described for the grip holds and foot holds.
15 Accordingly, a person can climb up the wall merely by using
his arms if he so desires or a combination of the loops 90
and the foot and grip holds 9 and 8. Additionally, there is
shown a plurality of ladder-like bar engaging elements 91
secured to the outer surface of the membrane and which can
2o be used for a different type of exercise. It may also be
used in combination with the loop elements 90 or grip holds
8 and foot holds 9.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to
cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment
z5 and structural examples described herein, provided such
modifications fall within the appended claims.
