Friction-stabilized back and shoulder stretch bar for use in a doorframe

Abstract

A friction-stabilized back and shoulder stretch bar to facilitate a plurality of stretches, including “kitchen sink stretches” to prevent and treat conditions such as neck and back pain. In use, the friction-stabilized back and shoulder stretch bar is not mounted to a door frame, but instead includes two friction-based stabilizers for use with door frames and entryways. The stretch bar can be made in lengths to fit within standard door frame widths, or can be made to be length-adjustable. The friction-based stabilizers are at opposite ends of a handlebar of the stretch bar, the handlebar having gripping regions or grips that can be: cushioned vertical grips with finger grooves, custom grip attachments, and/or handlebar curvature gripping areas with neutral wrist placement. The handlebar can be made from structurally reinforced plastic, and can have custom over molding or a covering and/or padding made from one or more resilient materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A friction-stabilized back and shoulder stretch bar for use in a doorframe, the stretch bar comprising:
 a substantially rigid handlebar configured to be gripped while in use, and configured to span a width of a doorframe, the handlebar having a right end and a left end; and   a right friction-based device attached to the right end, and a left friction-based device attached to the left end, each friction-based device configured to resist slippage along the door frame when pulled against the doorframe while in use.   
     
     
         2 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar includes:
 a first pair of bends;   a straight section after the first pair of bends; and   a second pair of bends after the straight section, the second pair of bends being a mirror image of the first pair of bends.   
     
     
         3 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein each bend is  90  degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the right and left friction-based devices include at least one of:
 rubber, silicone, silicone rubber, foam rubber.   
     
     
         5 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar includes:
 two gripping devices symmetrically located between the right end and the left end of the substantially rigid handlebar, each gripping device attached to the substantially rigid handlebar, each gripping device configured to provide a place to comfortably and securely hold onto the substantially rigid handlebar.   
     
     
         6 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar includes:
 two gripping regions symmetrically located between the right end and the left end of the substantially rigid handlebar, each gripping region configured to provide a place to comfortably and securely hold onto the substantially rigid handlebar.   
     
     
         7 . The stretch bar of  claim 6 , wherein each gripping region is  5  inches to  7  inches long. 
     
     
         8 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar is  24  inches- 38  inches long. 
     
     
         9 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar is made from one of:
 polypropylene, aluminum, steel, wood, plastic, fiberglass.   
     
     
         10 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar is one inch in diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar is configured to be adjustable in length so as to accommodate a variety of door frame widths. 
     
     
         12 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar is made from structurally reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid handlebar includes a central curvature that is slightly bowed so as to provide a neutral wrist angle when gripped. 
     
     
         14 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the handlebar includes symmetric bifurcations which support vertical grips. 
     
     
         15 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the handlebar includes two attachable vertical grips. 
     
     
         16 . The stretch bar of  claim 1 , wherein the right friction-based device and the left friction-based device each include a convex surface which promotes static frictional contact, regardless of the angle of pulling force application during use.