Hand stand trainer
[451 Apr. 22, 1975 HAND STAND TRAINER [76] Inventor: Robert M. Martin, 90 N. Hudson Ave. Pasadena. Calif. 9l [GI [22] Filed: Dec. 26, I973 [2|] Appl. No.: 428,385  
 [52] [1.8. CI. 272/60 R; 272/DIG. 4 (5 l] Int. Cl A63b 3/00 [58] Field ot Search 272/57 R. 60 R. 63. 70.l, 272/70.2  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4l2.772 l0/l889 Mcdart 272/63 2.666.640 l/l954 Jennings 272/63 2.9l9.9l8 l/l960 Horn 272/60 R 3,077,347 2/l963 Nova 272/57 R 3.1 l4,545 l2/l963 Horn 272/60 R 3,173.4l5 3/l965 Rubin 272/60 R 3.679.203 7/l962 Grana 272/60 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 334,452 l92l Germany 272/70.l  
 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant E.\&#39;aminer.loseph R. Taylor Auomvy, Agent. or Firm-Zarley, McKee. Thomte &amp; Voorhees [57] ABSTRACT A base assembly includes a pair of upstanding members on which cushioned shoulder guards or supports are vertically adjustably carried. The upstanding mem bers are horizontally adjustably connected to the base assembly. The cushioned shoulder guards or supports are L-shaped and include vertical and horizontal portions. The upstanding members in one embodiment extend from one end upwardly and rearwardly while in another embodiment the upstanding members are perpendicular to the base and are positioned substantially along the center line. A pair of hand stations are provided on the base.  
 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HAND STAND TRAINER Therapeutic exercises and gymnastics may include performing a hand stand. For some people this is not easily accomplished.  
  One of the principal purposes of the hand stand trainer is to help one learn to do a free hand stand. The vertical portion of the L-shaped shoulder guard is to catch the persons shoulder and thereby stop the person by putting pressure on the shoulders thereby preventing him from falling over backwards onto his back. The horizontal support portion keeps the person from bending the elbows or catching them if and when they bend the elbows thereby safeguarding them from weakening and striking head on floor. The L-shaped guard or supports of the trainer are cushioned for the users comfort. Adjustments may be made for varying widths of shoulders and arm reaches to accommodate different users of the trainer.  
  The trainer may be easily fabricated through use of a pair of tubular members being bent to form a base portion terminating in an upstanding portion extending rearwardly and upwardly from the front end of the base.  
  This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand stand trainer of this invention;  
 FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;  
  FIG. 3 is a front elevational view taken from the lefthand side of FIG. 1;  
 FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof;  
 FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view thereof; and  
  FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of the hand stand trainer.  
  The hand stand trainer of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10 and includes a base structure comprising front feet 12 and a rear transversely elongated plate 14. A pair of tubular members 16 are provided in spaced apart relationship and are welded to the feet 12 and plate 14 and include upstanding portions 18 extending upwardly and rearwardly. The upstanding portions or members 18 terminate in vertically disposed sleeves 20 having rearwardly facing vertically disposed slots 22.  
  A cushion 24 includes an L-shaped plate 26 on which an L-shaped cushion 28 is carried. A tube 30 is positioned in the sleeve 20 and a stem 32 connects the tube 30 to the vertical portion 34 of the L-shaped plate 26. The tube 30 includes a plurality of vertically spaced apart holes 36 adapted to align with an opening in the sleeve 20 for a locking pin 38 to extend therethrough and thus provide vertical adjustment for the cushioned shoulder guards or supports 28. A gusset 40 reinforces the horizontal portion of the L-shaped plate 26 to the tube 30 and a gusset 42 reinforces the upstanding member portion 18 to the sleeve 20.  
  Spacing between the upstanding portions 18 is accomplished through telescopic portions 44 and 46 on the tubular portions l6 over the feet 12. A wing nut 48 is provided for selectively locking the tubular tele scopic portions 44 and 46 in the desired position. The tubular members 16 are horizontally adjustably spaced at the rear by one of the tubular members being positioned over transversely extending slots 50 and a pair of bolts 52 extending through the tubular member and being provided with a head 54 for maintaining it in the slots 50 such that a tubular member may be moved towards and away from the other tubular member. Locking is accomplished by the manually adjustable wing nut 56 on the top side of the tubular member 16.  
  An alternate embodiment of the hand stand trainer is shown in FIG. 6 and includes upstanding posts 18A on which cushioned shoulder guards or supports 28A are carried through square in cross section sleeves 60 positioned on the upstanding members 18A. A pin 38A selectively locks the shoulder guards or supports 28A in the desired vertical position by extending through aligned openings in the sleeve 60 and the upstanding members 18A.  
  A base structure includes spaced apart front to rear members 62 from which the upstanding members [8A extend. A front platform 64 is provided on the member 62 while an enlarged platform 66 is provided at the rear end thereof. A pair of bolts 68 connect one end of the rear platform 66 to the adjacent member 62 while the other member 62 is selectively positioned to align with one of a plurality of bolt hole openings 70 through which a pair of bolts may extend.  
  Thus it is seen in operation that the user of the hand stand trainer will position the shoulders over the guards or supports in spaced relationship to correspond to a comfortable position for him such that the shoulder supports will engage him under the shoulders, as seen in FIG. 1, if he looses his balance or support of arms. His hands will be placed on the plate 14 in FIG. I or on the platform 66 in FIG. 6 such that his hands balance and support him above the shoulder supports. The guards stop him from falling over or falling down on to head if he looses his balance or cannot obtain or retain his balance. Furthermore, the height of the shoulder guards or supports will be selectively chosen to accommodate the user&#39;s reach to make it comfortable for him to reach the base structure.  
  It is seen that the hand stand trainer is provided with a sufficiently large base to allow for out of the ordinary forces being applied to it without causing it to tip to either side or tip over backwards or forwards. Fabrication of the trainer is readily accomplished and it is noted that in the embodiment of FIG. I a pair of tubu lar members 16 upon being bent intermediate their ends, provide for a part of the base structure as well as the upstanding members supporting the shoulder rests 28 since the upstanding members 18 extend from the forward end of the base structure upwardly and rearwardly to position the shoulder guard 28 over the center area of the base structure. Conversely, in FIG. 6 square in cross section upstanding members 18A are provided extending directly up from the front to rear member 62 on which the front and rear platforms 64 and 66 are carried.  
 I claim:  
 1. A hand stand trainer comprising,  
 a base assembly,  
 a pair of spaced apart upstanding members on said base,  
 a pair of spaced apart shoulder supports on said upstanding members positioned above said base, each of said shoulder supports being L-shaped with a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, said vertical portion extending upwardly from one end of said horizontal portion for engagement with the back portion of the shoulder supported on said horizontal portion to prevent the person from falling over onto his back.  
  2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shoulder supports are cushioned.  
  3. The structure of claim I wherein said upstanding members are further defined as being adjustahly connected to said base to provide for horizontal adjustment between said shoulder supports.  
  4. The structure of claim I wherein said base assembly includes front and rear ends and said pair of upin said sleeve with said stem positioned in said slot.