Bar with sliding handgrips for resistance exercise devices
An elongate bar having sliding handgrips concentrically mounted thereon adapted for use with various types of resistance-type exercise devices. In a preferred embodiment, the handgrips, which are constrained to move only in an axial direction with respect to the bar, are interconnected on an inner bar-facing portion of the handgrips by linking means such as belts, in such a manner that the handgrips and bar retain a low profile, and the handgrips remain equidistant from the center of the bar throughout their axial range of motion. In the preferred embodiment, the linking means are belts that are supported by pulleys housed within recesses in the bar and rotatably attached thereto. Embodiments of the bar for performing various exercises are disclosed which include resistive force attachment means affixed to the bar operable for attaching weights, lever arms, springs, cable(s), belts(s), elastic bands or the like thereto or by using an exerciser's own body weight to provide a resistive force for exercising a variety of muscles.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/691,733, filed Oct. 22, 2003, which has been allowed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resistance exercise device and, more particularly, to a bar having a pair of handgrips slidably mounted thereon, the bar being adapted to be attached to a resistive force such as weights.
2. Prior Art
Resistance exercise devices are well represented in the art. Perhaps the most common such device is the barbell in which weights are removably attached to opposing ends of an elongate bar. An exerciser grips the bar with both hands and moves the bar and weights through a range of motion against the force of gravity. In most such barbell devices, the handgrips are a knurled or textured portion on the outer surface of the bar and necessarily remain stationary with respect to the bar throughout the movement (repetition). Brasher, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,229, discloses an exercising apparatus including a bar having a pair of rings slidably connected thereto. Handgrips for gripping by the hand of the user are positioned within, and rotatably connected to, each of the rings. A cable connects the two rings to one another for maintaining each ring at an equal distance from the end of the bar. The assembly permits the handgrips to both rotate and move laterally during a repetition. A disadvantage of the Brasher device is that the oval bar employed to mount the cable-supporting pulleys upon has a high profile and does not have the familiar appearance and feel of a conventional (stationary handgrips) barbell wherein the bar is not oval but substantially cylindrical.
Dibrowski, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,122 discloses a barbell wherein the handgrips are concentrically and slidably mounted on a bar and are free to rotate and slide axially. The axial motion of the handgrips is constrained by laterally disposed springs concentrically mounted on the bar, and by medially disposed stops. The springs are connected to the lateral ends of the handgrips and to the weight bar. The springs are passive centering devices that serve to generally maintain the handgrips equidistant from the center of the bar. In the event the bar tilts during a lift, the lower spring will extend and the higher spring will compress. There is no constraining interconnection of the handgrips to maintain their axial position on the bar equidistant from the center of the bar. Accordingly, due to the compressibility and extensibility of the springs, the Dibrowski device may become unbalanced when the handgrips are not equidistant from the center of gravity of the weighted bar as, for example, when the bar is tilted.
Another barbell-type resistance exercise device wherein the bar includes slidably mounted handgrips is disclosed by Troutman in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,731. While the Troutman device permits the position of the handgrips to shift in an axial direction during a repetition, as with Dibowski, the handgrips are not interconnected to keep the handgrips equidistant from the center of gravity of the bar. Each grip includes a number of bearings that allow the grip to slide along the bar without resistance. The grips and bar include complementary anti-rotation apparatus that prevents the grips from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the bar. A number of adjustable stop members may also be placed on the bar to limit the axial travel of the grips. It is common for one arm of an exerciser to be stronger (or more fatigued) than the other. As a result, when an exerciser lifts the bar, one hand will lag relative to the other hand during the lift, tilting the bar from the horizontal. While a slight tilt is normally not a problem, with the Troutman device the bar will slide sideways through the handgrips in the direction of the lower hand. This, in turn, shifts more weight over the more fatigued or weaker arm, causing it to drop further and with weight shifted off of the stronger arm, it will rise faster causing a rapidly increasing tilt in the bar. The result is that the Troutman bar can quickly slide to one side causing the lower arm to collapse, cause muscle strain, or even cause the exerciser to fall off of the bench.
Nearly 20 years ago, Pearson, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,535, disclosed an upper body building machine with a pair of linked sliding handles affixed to a bar. The body building machine enables a user to exercise the chest, back shoulders and other upper body muscles. The machine comprises a rigid frame adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface such as a floor. The frame comprises a bottom, a top, and a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel sides extending upwardly from the bottom to the top. Each of the sides includes a rigid, elongated guide rod extending between the frame bottom and the frame top. The machine further includes weight bar extending generally horizontally across the machine between the sides; the weight bar being mounted to enable vertical displacement thereof by a user. The direction of travel of the weight bar is constrained by the guide rods. The ends of the weight bar are adapted to be affixed to, and stressed by, suitable weights. The weight bar has a pair of handles coupled to the weight bar. The handles have bearing collar portions coaxially and slidably coupled to the weight bar permitting horizontal movement with respect thereto and twistable portions associated with the collar portions adapted to be grasped by the hands of the user, thereby concurrently permitting generally horizontal hand/arm movement and hand/wrist rotation with up and down vertical displacements of the weight bar. Cables interlinking the handles provide means for synchronizing horizontal movements of the handles along the weight bar. The handgrips (i.e., “handles”) are mounted on the bearing collars and are rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the weight bar. The relative angle of rotation of the handgrips with respect to one another is not synchronized which is undesirable for some exercises. The handgrip linking means (cables) are not disposed to abut the weight bar and, accordingly, the structure has an awkward, relatively high profile. Further, the weight bar is not adapted to be free-standing and is adapted for use only with the other structural features of the machine.
Surprisingly, a bar for a resistance-type exercise device combining the most desirable features of prior art exercise bars to provide a bar that overcomes the limitations of each of the prior art bars has not been suggested or disclosed in the art. There remains a need for a bar having slidably mounted handgrips for use with an exercise device wherein the handgrips are either nonrotatable or rotatable only around the axis of the bar, has a low profile and remains balanced throughout the range of motion of an exerciser.
SUMMARYIt is an object of the present invention to provide a resistance exercise device and a bar for use with the resistance exercise device. The bar comprises slidably mounted handgrips that are mounted to move only in an axial direction parallel to the long axis of the bar. In a preferred embodiment, the resistance exercise device of the present invention comprises: (a) an elongate bar having first and second ends and a midpoint therebetween; (b) weight attachment means affixed to the bar either adjacent to the first and second ends and disposed equidistant from the midpoint of the bar, or at the middle of the bar, the weight attachment means being operable for removably attaching weights or another resistive force to the bar; (c) first and second handgrips slidably and concentrically mounted on the bar and disposed equidistant from the midpoint of the bar wherein the handgrips are preferably nonrotatable and can be moved on the bar in an axial direction (i.e., parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bar); and (d) handgrip coupling means connecting the first handgrip to the second handgrip, the coupling means being operable for maintaining the first and second handgrips equidistant from the midpoint of the bar when the first and second handgrips are moved in an axial direction. Each of the handgrips may also include adjustable braking means operable for either dampening or preventing the sliding action of the handgrips with respect to the bar. Alternatively, the adjustable breaking means can be affixed, either temporarily or permanently, to the bar such as by clamping, the braking means thereafter being operable for adjustably applying resistance to motion of either the pulleys or the belt(s) without contacting the handgrips.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for an exerciser to perform an exercise comprising the steps of: (a) presenting a resistance exercise device as described above; then (b) positioning the exerciser's body with respect to the bar of the resistance exercise device and grasping the first and second handgrips with the exerciser's respective hands; then (c) applying a force to the first and second handgrips with the hands in opposition to the resistive force. The method can be used for performing an exercise selected from the group consisting of bench press, shoulder press, bicep curl, triceps (press-downs or extensions), rows (upright, seated, bent-over or lying), shoulder shrugs, wrist curls, front or lateral raises, pullovers, pull-downs, deadlifts and latissimus contractions.
In a further embodiment, the bar includes floor supporting means and can be used for performing pushups. In yet a further embodiment, the bar includes wall attachment means and can be employed for performing pull-ups. The pull up version can be floor-mounted. In yet a further embodiment, the bar may include floor, wall or machine mounting means with the handgrip(s) replaced by footgrip(s) to perform a variety of exercises including leg presses, leg curls, leg extensions, and various abdominal exercises.
The various embodiments of the invention provide advantages over traditional exercise devices. Since the hands (or legs) are not constrained to fixed paths of motion during exercise movements, more natural exercise movements are possible with the bar of the present invention resulting in reduced joint stress and strain. The sliding handgrips (or footgrips) also provide an increased range of motion during exercise movements thereby exercising more muscle fibers as compared to traditional exercises. New, heretofor unavailable exercise movements and variations are also made possible by the bar of the present invention. Adding variation to routine exercise movements has been proven to stimulate muscle growth. Since the handgrips (or footgrips) remain equidistant from the center of gravity, symmetrical loading of the left and right sides is always maintained during exercise movements. Finally, the ability of the handgrips (or footgrips) on the invention to slide during exercise movements leads to maximum muscle fiber recruitment since additional muscles are needed to stabilize and control a given motion during the exercise movements.
The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. However the invention itself, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIGS. 1(a)-(c) are a sequence of drawings illustrating various instantaneous (i.e., “snap-shot”) hand positions that may occur during a lifting repetition using an exercise device in accordance with the present invention.
The present invention provides an exercise apparatus for performing two-handed exercises and includes a bar to which a resistive force is applied and a pair of handgrip assemblies concentrically and slidably attached to the bar which the user grips in order to move the bar against the resistive force during the performance of an exercise. The resistive force may be simply the weight of the bar or it may comprise weights connected to the bar. Alternatively, another piece of equipment capable of providing a resistive force can be connected to the bar by resistive force attachment means such as, for example, by a cable or two “U”bolts. Each handgrip is slidably connected to the bar, the sliding paths being generally parallel to the long axis of the bar, generally in line with each other, and disposed symmetrically with respect to a center plane perpendicular to the long axis of the bar and intersecting the bar at the center of gravity thereof. (The terms “generally parallel” and “generally in line” are meant to include variations of up to approximately 30 degrees and offsets of up to approximately 12 inches.) The handgrips are linked together by handgrip linking means to maintain each handgrip generally at an equal distance from the center of gravity of the bar. Thus the handgrips are constrained to move only in opposition to one another in an axial direction (i.e., toward and away from the center plane). The linking means may be a pair of belts guided over pulleys mounted at each end of the bar, with one end of the first belt connected to the lateral end of a first handgrip and the opposing end of the first belt connected to the medial end of the second handgrip. One end of the second belt is attached to the medial end of the first handgrip and the opposing end of the second belt attached to the lateral end of the second handgrip. Alternatively, the linking means for interconnecting the handgrips may incorporate a pinion gear rotatably mounted on the bar and engaged to gear racks connected separately to each handgrip. In yet a further embodiment, the linking means may include two oppositely directed helical threads that rotate together along their common axis and separately engage each handgrip, the handgrips being restrained from rotating with respect to each other. A number of fixed or adjustable stop members may also be placed on the bar to limit the travel of the handgrips. The handgrips may further include braking and/or locking means operable for varying the resistance of the handgrips to sliding in an axial direction (i.e., in a direction parallel to the axis of the handgrip), or locking the handgrips in a preferred position with respect to the center plane of the bar.
The bar, described above, may be adapted for the performance of a variety of other types of exercises wherein the exerciser's weight provides the resistive force. In a further floor-supported embodiment, the bar includes, or is placed upon, floor supporting means and can be used for performing pushups. In yet a further wall-supported embodiment, the bar includes, or is adapted to be attached to, wall attachment means and can be employed for performing pull-ups. The various embodiments of the bar, notwithstanding the nature of the resistive force, all include slidably mounted handgrips that are interlinked so as to maintain the handgrips equidistant from a center plane of the bar as will be discussed below. The pull up version can also be floor mounted.
Turning now to
With reference to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the device 10 is shown in elevational view with the first and second handgrips 15a and 15b slid inwardly and disposed adjacent the center 16 of the bar 11 (
As used herein, the term “low profile,” when used in the context of a characteristic of the bar 11, means that the diameter of the bar 11, whether the bar has a circular or polygonal cross section, is substantially the same as the diameter of a conventional cylindrical bar in accordance with the prior art that is commonly employed in barbells to support a weight and provide handgrip means for lifting the weight. The low profile bar of the present invention is not bifurcated along any portion of the length thereof.
With reference now to
Turning now to
Returning now to
The general principles of the present invention are illustrated in an embodiment of the exercise device shown in
It should be noted that an important feature of the bar 11 of the present invention is that the interlinking belts or cables that interconnect the handgrips 15a and 15b are attached to the portion of the handgrips abutting the bar in such a manner that the interlinking belts to not significantly alter the profile of the bar. This feature enables the profile of the bar 11 to remain similar to the familiar profile of a conventional bar lacking sliding handgrips.
A variety of exercises may be performed using the bar 11 with sliding handgrips of the present invention to strengthen different muscles or groups of muscles in the body.
With reference to
When viewing the drawings, it should be noted that the direction of the exercise motion is represented by the direction of the accompanying arrows. The applied resistance vectors are generally opposite the direction of motion indicated in the Figures. Generally, the handgrips move laterally (i.e., perpendicular to the direction of motion, or usually “in and out of the page” as shown in the depicted figures) during exercise movements.
The artisan will recognize that the handgrips 15a and 15b can be modified to receive feet thereon to provide yet further exercises that can be performed using the same interlinking system to interconnect the footgrips.
As stated earlier, an important feature of the present invention is to provide a bar with interlinked sliding handgrips for performing exercises wherein in addition to the advantages offered by balanced slidable handgrips, the bar has the familiar appearance (profile) and “feel” of a conventional prior art weightlifting bar of the type used in many gyms for supporting free weights or as part of a machine. This low profile advantage is accomplished by positioning the belts 60 and 61 (that serve to interlink the handgrips 15a and 15b) such that the belt(s) are constrained to travel along a path that abuts the surface of the bar 11.
Claims
1. A resistance exercise device comprising: (a) an elongate, nonbifurcated, substantially cylindrical bar having first and second ends and a center plane therebetween, said center plane intersecting said bar at a center of gravity thereof; (b) first and second handgrips slidably mounted on said bar such that an inner portion of said first and second handgrips abuts said substantially cylindrical bar, said first and second handgrips being disposed equidistant from said center plane wherein said handgrips have a longitudinal axis and can be slidingly moved on said bar in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handgrips; and (c) coupling means connecting said inner portion of said first handgrip to said inner portion of said second handgrip, said coupling means being operable for maintaining said first and second handgrips equidistant from said center plane when said first and second handgrips are moved in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handgrips.
2. The resistance exercise device of claim 1 further comprising resistive force attachment means affixed thereto, said resistive force attachment means being operable for removably attaching a resistive force to said bar.
3. The resistance exercise device of claim 1 further comprising locking means operable for locking at least one of said handgrips in a locked position with respect to said bar.
4. The resistance exercise device of claim 1 further comprising braking means operable for applying friction to said coupling means.
5. The resistance exercise device of claim 2 further comprising a resistive force attached to said resistive force attachment means.
6. A method for an exerciser to perform an exercise comprising the steps of:
- (a) presenting a resistance exercise device in accordance with claim 3; then
- (b) positioning the exerciser's body with respect to said bar of said resistance exercise device and grasping said first and second handgrips with the exerciser's respective hands; then
- (c) applying a force to said first and second handgrips with said hands in opposition to said resistive force.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said exercise is selected from the group consisting of bench press, shoulder press, bicep curl, triceps press-downs, triceps extensions, rows (upright seated, bent-over, or lying), shoulder shrug, wrist curls, raises, pullovers, pull-downs, or deadlifts and latissimus contractions.
8. A resistance exercise device comprising: (a) an elongate, platform having first and second ends and a center plane therebetween, said center plane intersecting said platform at a midpoint thereof; (b) first and second footgrips slidably mounted on said platform such that an inner portion of said first and second footgrips abuts said platform, said first and second footgrips being disposed equidistant from said center plane wherein said footgrips have a longitudinal axis and can be slidingly moved on said bar in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said footgrips; and (c) coupling means connecting said inner portion of said first footgrip to said inner portion of said second footgrip, said coupling means being operable for maintaining said first and second footgrips equidistant from said center plane when said first and second footgrips are moved in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said footgrips.
9. The resistance exercise device of claim 8 further comprising resistive force attachment means affixed thereto, said resistive force attachment means being operable for removably attaching a resistive force to said platform.
10. The resistance exercise device of claim 9 further comprising a resistive force attached to said resistive force attachment means.
11. A method for an exerciser to perform an exercise comprising the steps of:
- (a) presenting a resistance exercise device in accordance with claim 8; then
- (b) positioning the exerciser's body with respect to said platform of said resistance exercise device and placing feet against said first and second footgrips with the exerciser's respective feet; then
- (c) applying a force to said first and second footgrips with said feet in opposition to said resistive force.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said exercise is selected from the group consisting of leg presses and leg curls.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 16, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 7, 2006
Inventors: Jeffrey Wilson (Goleta, CA), Jeff Jenneve (Santa Barbara, CA), Daniel Sanchez (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number: 11/454,200
International Classification: A63B 21/072 (20060101); A63B 21/075 (20060101);