Adjustable Exercise Bar

Abstract

Adjustable-length exercise bars that can be non-destructively mounted between two upright members and resist forces oriented at any angle through the axis defined by the length of the bar.

1 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly; and   a first clamp coupled to an end of the adjustable-length bar assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise bar of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second clamps is configured to exert at least forces that are substantially perpendicular to the length of the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise bar of  claim 2 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the adjustable-length bar assembly and the first clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise bar of  claim 4 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the adjustable-length bar assembly and the second clamp. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable-length bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise bar of  claim 6 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube, and manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise bar includes an axis and the first clamp includes an auxiliary exercise attachment element to which an auxiliary exercise structure can be coupled and used by a user after the exercise bar is mounted to place a force on the exercise bar that includes a component that is normal to the axis of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         9 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members separated by a space, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly having a first end and a second end;   a first clamp coupled to the first end;   a second clamp coupled to the second end;   wherein each of the first and second clamps is configured to grip an exterior surface positioned outside the space between the two upright members.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable-length bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise bar of  claim 10 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube, and manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise bar of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise bar includes an axis and the first clamp includes an auxiliary exercise attachment element to which an auxiliary exercise structure can be coupled and used by a user after the exercise bar is mounted to place a force on the exercise bar that includes a component that is normal to the axis of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , further comprising a first cam coupled to the adjustable-length bar assembly, and wherein the first clamp comprises a first cam follower. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise bar of  claim 13 , further comprising a second cam coupled to the adjustable-length bar assembly, and wherein the second clamp comprises a second cam follower. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise bar of  claim 14 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that the first cam follower will contact the first cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the first clamp during mounting of the exercise bar, and the second cam follower will contact the second cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the second clamp during mounting of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , further comprising a first indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise bar of  claim 16 , wherein the first indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise bar of  claim 16 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first indicator component that is coupled to or integral with a portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the first indicator comprises a second indicator component that is coupled to the first clamp and that includes a second indicator component portion that is configured to cover the first indicator component so that the first indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise bar of  claim 16 , further comprising a second indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise bar of  claim 19 , wherein the second indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise bar of  claim 19 , wherein the second indicator comprises a third indicator component that is coupled to or integral with another portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the second indicator comprises a fourth indicator component that is coupled to the second clamp and that includes a fourth indicator component portion that is configured to cover the third indicator component so that the third indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the first clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The exercise bar of  claim 22 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the second clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         24 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 a bar assembly having a length adjustable along an axis;   a first clamp coupled to an end of the bar assembly, the first clamp configured to exert at least forces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis.   
     
     
         25 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the bar assembly, the second clamp configured to exert at least forces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , wherein the bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         27 . The exercise bar of  claim 26 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube, and manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         28 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , wherein the first clamp includes an auxiliary exercise attachment element to which an auxiliary exercise structure can be coupled and used by a user after the exercise bar is mounted to place a force on the exercise bar that includes a component that is normal to the axis. 
     
     
         29 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , further comprising a first cam coupled to the bar assembly, and wherein the first clamp comprises a first cam follower. 
     
     
         30 . The exercise bar of  claim 29 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the bar assembly and a second cam coupled to the bar assembly, and wherein the second clamp comprises a second cam follower. 
     
     
         31 . The exercise bar of  claim 30 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that the first cam follower will contact the first cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the first clamp during mounting of the exercise bar, and the second cam follower will contact the second cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the second clamp during mounting of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         32 . The exercise bar of  claim 31 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting of the exercise bar, the first cam follower will travel through a lateral force portion of the first cam before traveling through a clamp force portion of the first cam. 
     
     
         33 . The exercise bar of  claim 32 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting of the exercise bar, the second cam follower will travel through a lateral force portion of the second cam before traveling through a clamp force portion of the second cam. 
     
     
         34 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , further comprising a first indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         35 . The exercise bar of  claim 34 , wherein the first indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         36 . The exercise bar of  claim 34 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first indicator component that is coupled to or integral with a portion of the bar assembly, and the first indicator comprises a second indicator component that is coupled to the first clamp and that includes a second indicator component portion that is configured to cover the first indicator component so that the first indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         37 . The exercise bar of  claim 34 , further comprising a second indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         38 . The exercise bar of  claim 37 , wherein the second indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         39 . The exercise bar of  claim 37 , wherein the second indicator comprises a third indicator component that is coupled to or integral with another portion of the bar assembly, and the second indicator comprises a fourth indicator component that is coupled to the second clamp and that includes a fourth indicator component portion that is configured to cover the third indicator component so that the third indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         40 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the first clamp and the length bar assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The exercise bar of  claim 40 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the second clamp and the bar assembly. 
     
     
         42 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly;   a first clamp coupled to one end of the adjustable-length bar assembly; and   a first cam coupled to the adjustable-length bar assembly;   wherein the first clamp has a first cam follower.   
     
     
         43 . The exercise bar of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 a second clamp coupled to another end of the bar assembly; and   a second cam coupled to the adjustable-length bar assembly;   wherein the second clamp has a second cam follower.   
     
     
         44 . The exercise bar of  claim 43 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that the first cam follower will contact the first cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the first clamp during mounting of the exercise bar, and the second cam follower will contact the second cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the second clamp during mounting of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         45 . The exercise bar of  claim 44 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting of the exercise bar, the first cam follower will travel through a lateral force portion of the first cam before traveling through a clamp force portion of the first cam. 
     
     
         46 . The exercise bar of  claim 45 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting of the exercise bar, the second cam follower will travel through a lateral force portion of the second cam before traveling through a clamp force portion of the second cam. 
     
     
         47 . The exercise bar of  claim 42 , wherein the adjustable-length bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         48 . The exercise bar of  claim 47 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube, and manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         49 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise bar includes an axis and the first clamp includes an auxiliary exercise attachment element to which an auxiliary exercise structure can be coupled and used by a user after the exercise bar is mounted to place a force on the exercise bar that includes a component that is normal to the axis of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         50 . The exercise bar of  claim 42 , further comprising a first indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         51 . The exercise bar of  claim 50 , wherein the first indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         52 . The exercise bar of  claim 50 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first indicator component that is coupled to or integral with a portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the first indicator comprises a second indicator component that is coupled to the first clamp and that includes a second indicator component portion that is configured to cover the first indicator component so that the first indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         53 . The exercise bar of  claim 50 , further comprising a second indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         54 . The exercise bar of  claim 53 , wherein the second indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         55 . The exercise bar of  claim 53 , wherein the second indicator comprises a third indicator component that is coupled to or integral with another portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the second indicator comprises a fourth indicator component that is coupled to the second clamp and that includes a fourth indicator component portion that is configured to cover the third indicator component so that the third indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         56 . The exercise bar of  claim 24 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the first clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         57 . The exercise bar of  claim 56 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the second clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         58 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly;   a first clamp coupled to one end of the bar assembly; and   a first cam assembly coupled to both the adjustable-length bar assembly and the first clamp, the first cam assembly having a mounted position;   wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting, the exercise bar will exert lateral forces against the two upright members before the mounted position is reached.   
     
     
         59 . The exercise bar of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a second clamp coupled to another end of the bar assembly; and   a second cam assembly coupled to both the adjustable-length bar assembly and the second clamp, the second cam assembly having a mounted position;   wherein the exercise bar is configured such that, during mounting, the exercise bar will exert lateral forces against the two upright members before the mounted positions are reached.   
     
     
         60 . The exercise bar of  claim 58 , wherein the bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         61 . The exercise bar of  claim 60 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube, and manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         62 . The exercise bar of  claim 58 , wherein the exercise bar includes an axis and the first clamp includes an auxiliary exercise attachment element to which an auxiliary exercise structure can be coupled and used by a user after the exercise bar is mounted to place a force on the exercise bar that includes a component that is normal to the axis of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         63 . The exercise bar of  claim 58 , further comprising a first indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         64 . The exercise bar of  claim 63 , wherein the first indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         65 . The exercise bar of  claim 63 , wherein the first indicator comprises a first indicator component that is coupled to or integral with a portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the first indicator comprises a second indicator component that is coupled to the first clamp and that includes a second indicator component portion that is configured to cover the first indicator component so that the first indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         66 . The exercise bar of  claim 63 , further comprising a second indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         67 . The exercise bar of  claim 66 , wherein the second indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         68 . The exercise bar of  claim 66 , wherein the second indicator comprises a third indicator component that is coupled to or integral with another portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the second indicator comprises a fourth indicator component that is coupled to the second clamp and that includes a fourth indicator component portion that is configured to cover the third indicator component so that the third indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         69 . The exercise bar of  claim 58 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the first clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         70 . The exercise bar of  claim 69 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the second clamp and the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         71 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly; and   an indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position.   
     
     
         72 . The exercise bar of  claim 71 , wherein the indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         73 . The exercise bar of  claim 71 , further comprising a first clamp coupled to an end of the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         74 . The exercise bar of  claim 73 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         75 . The exercise bar of  claim 74 , wherein each of the first and second clamps is configured to grip an exterior surface positioned outside the space between the two upright members. 
     
     
         76 . The exercise bar of  claim 74 , wherein each of the first and second clamps is configured to exert at least forces that are substantially perpendicular to the length of the adjustable-length bar assembly. 
     
     
         77 . The exercise bar of  claim 74 , further comprising a first compression spring in contact with both the adjustable-length bar assembly and the first clamp. 
     
     
         78 . The exercise bar of  claim 77 , further comprising a second compression spring in contact with both the bar assembly and the second clamp. 
     
     
         79 . The exercise bar of  claim 71 , wherein the adjustable-length bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user. 
     
     
         80 . The exercise bar of  claim 79 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a first direction will cause the end tubes to retract into the central tube. 
     
     
         81 . The exercise bar of  claim 80 , wherein manipulation of the central tube in a second direction will cause the end tubes to extend out of the central tube. 
     
     
         82 . The exercise bar of  claim 73 , further comprising a first cam coupled to the adjustable-length bar assembly, and wherein the first clamp comprises a first cam follower. 
     
     
         83 . The exercise bar of  claim 82 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the adjustable-length bar assembly and a second cam coupled to the bar assembly, and wherein the second clamp comprises a second cam follower. 
     
     
         84 . The exercise bar of  claim 83 , wherein the exercise bar is configured such that the first cam follower will contact the first cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the first clamp during mounting of the exercise bar, and the second cam follower will contact the second cam for at least a portion of the time it takes to adjust the second clamp during mounting of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         85 . The exercise bar of  claim 73 , wherein the indicator comprises a first indicator component that is coupled to or integral with a portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the indicator comprises a second indicator component that is coupled to the first clamp and that includes a second indicator component portion that is configured to cover the first indicator component so that the first indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         86 . The exercise bar of  claim 85 , further comprising a second clamp coupled to the opposite end of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and a second indicator configured to indicate, during mounting of the exercise bar, when the adjustable-length bar assembly reaches a pre-determined mounting position. 
     
     
         87 . The exercise bar of  claim 86 , wherein the second indicator is further configured to indicate when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         88 . The exercise bar of  claim 87 , wherein the second indicator comprises a third indicator component that is coupled to or integral with another portion of the adjustable-length bar assembly, and the second indicator comprises a fourth indicator component that is coupled to the second clamp and that includes a fourth indicator component portion that is configured to cover the third indicator component so that the third indicator component is not visible to a user when the exercise bar has been properly mounted. 
     
     
         89 . The exercise bar of  claim 73 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator. 
     
     
         90 . The exercise bar of  claim 86 , wherein both the indicator and the second indicator are visual indicators. 
     
     
         91 . The exercise bar of  claim 85 , wherein the adjustable-length bar assembly comprises a central tube coupled to two end tubes, the end tubes being movable with respect to the central tube upon manipulation of the central tube by a user, and the first indicator component is coupled to or integral with one of the end tubes. 
     
     
         92 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly comprising:
 a central tube coupled to a first end tube that is movable with respect to the central tube; and 
 a first damper that, because of the configuration of the exercise bar, will move the first end tube with respect to the central tube when the first damper transitions between a first position and a second position. 
   
     
     
         93 . The exercise bar of  claim 92 , wherein the damper comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         94 . The exercise bar of  claim 93 , further comprising a second end tube that is moveable with respect to the central tube. 
     
     
         95 . The exercise bar of  claim 94 , further comprising a second damper that, because of the configuration of the exercise bar, will move the second end tube with respect to the central tube when the second damper transitions between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         96 . An exercise bar configured to be mounted between two upright members, comprising:
 an adjustable-length bar assembly comprising:
 a central tube; 
 a first end tube coupled to the central tube; 
 a driver configured to move the first end tube with respect to the central tube from a first end tube starting position to a first end tube advanced position as a result of user manipulation of the exercise bar; and 
 a first damper configured to move the first end tube with respect to the central tube if a distance between the two upright members increases when the exercise bar is mounted between the two upright members; 
 wherein the driver and the first damper are capable of maintaining the first end tube in the first end tube advanced position without additional user manipulation. 
   
     
     
         97 . The exercise bar of  claim 97 , wherein the first damper comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         98 . The exercise bar of  claim 96 , further comprising a second end tube, the driver being further configured to move the second end tube with respect to the central tube from a second end tube starting position to a second end tube advanced position as a result of user manipulation of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         99 . The exercise bar of  claim 98 , further comprising a second damper configured to move the second end tube with respect to the central tube if a distance between the two upright members increases when the exercise bar is mounted between the two upright members, wherein the driver and the second damper are capable of maintaining the second end tube in the second end tube advanced position without additional user manipulation.