BRIDGE BENCH

Abstract

A bridge bench comprises a pair of stationary vertical base supports which are engaged with the floor to provide stability for the bench, a pair of adjustable legs for adjusting the length of the legs based on the user body length, a pair of hinges attached to the top of the base support legs of the bench from distal end of the legs and pivot/hinging mechanism which attaches to the bench support which supports the back of the user at changing angles as the back moves and changes angles when the user successfully completes the Bridge exercise off of the floor via raising the hips up from resting position on the floor to complete extension. Thus the Bridge exercise can be completed safely, ergonomically, with varying degrees of range, and with added resistance. In the same ergonomically correct and dynamic way, this invention may be used to support the lower part of the back leg when the user is completing split squats, Bulgarian split squats, lunges, or similar single leg exercises.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority date of the provisional patent application No. 62/210,523 filed Aug. 27, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fitness and exercise equipment and especially to a bridge bench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The gluteus maximus muscles are among the body's largest and most powerful muscles. They are the strongest hip extensor muscles. They contract to move the hips in multiple directions, moving the hips up, forward, and side-to-side. Since they are large muscles, working them can dramatically increase the metabolic rate and improve strength and overall function.

The bridge exercise is a highly recommended exercise for developing the glute muscles. The bridge exercise is one of the best movements to stretch the hips and activate the glutes, lower back muscles as well as many other muscles. The bridge exercise becomes increasingly effective (to maximize gluteal development) as a lifter starts using heavier loads. It is imperative that a lifter adheres to progressive overload and uses heavier weights over time during hip thrusts, or the Bridging exercise off of the floor, against gravity and resistance.

The bridge exercise becomes more difficult if the user adds resistance, in addition to body weight during the exercise. Current methods for doing the bridge exercise off of the floor do not provide any ergonomically friendly or correct back support to effectively complete this exercise with added resistance. This may result in a back injury or discomfort to the point where adding additional resistance to complete this exercise is neither practical, nor comfortable during a repetitive bridge exercise with added resistance.

Therefore, there is a need for a device designed for the bridge exercise to be completed off the floor, against gravity, and with either body weight or added resistance, such that the user's requisite moving back angle is accommodated. The device needs to provide dynamic, moving back support at all angles during the bridge exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bridge bench which assists a user to do bridge exercise with or without resistance. During the bridge exercise with the bridge bench, the back portion of the user is fully supported during whole period of the exercise. The device also allows the user to increase the range of the motion for this exercise.

The present invention is an ergonomically designed bridge bench providing a more comfortable condition for the bridge exercise, especially when the user adds resistance (weight) to the exercise. The bridge bench of the present invention provides more support for the back portion of the user during the exercise.

The present invention with a unique design can automatically increase the range of movement during the bridge exercise since user's back is raised off of the floor.

The present invention with a unique design can pivot freely around an axis to provide support and increase range of motion for the user. This is important as every user will have slightly different lower leg, upper leg, and back length and overall individual anthropometry.

The present invention is robust having two stationary support rods to engage with the floor and is constructed to handle large weights during the bridge exercise with extra resistance.

The present invention has adjustable length support rods or legs to allow users with different heights and weights to adjust the device for their comfort and preference. The adjustable length support rods may also be used to change the range of movement for this exercise.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

The present invention also allows for single leg comfortable, ergonomically friendly single leg squat movements of all kinds, including “Bulgarian Split Squats”. The stationary, non-active lower part of the leg which is not directly involved in the squatting movement and not in direct contact with the floor can now move freely via resting on the moving part of the bridge bench device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A shows a user doing the bridge exercise while lying on the floor;

FIG. 1B shows a user doing the bridge exercise while lying on the floor

FIG. 2A shows a user doing the bridge exercise using a bench;

FIG. 2B shows a user doing the bridge exercise using a bench;

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention from the back;

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention in different height;

FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention from the back at different height;

FIG. 5A shows a side view of a bridge bench of the present invention in different height;

FIG. 5B shows a side view of a bridge bench of the present invention from the back at different height;

FIG. 6A shows a side view of a bridge bench of the present invention in different position;

FIG. 6B shows a side view of a bridge bench of the present invention from the back at different position;

FIG. 6C shows a side view of a bridge bench of the present invention in different position;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention with combination of a power rack;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a bridge bench of the present invention with combination of a power rack;

FIG. 9 shows a user doing the bridge exercise using a bridge bench of the present invention inside a power rack;

FIG. 10A shows a user doing the bridge exercise using a bridge bench of the present invention;

FIG. 10B shows a user doing the bridge exercise using a bridge bench of the present invention;

FIG. 11A shows a user doing Bulgarian split squats with a simple bench; and

FIG. 11B shows a user doing Bulgarian split squats with a single leg exercise bench.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to perform a bridge exercise, the user 100 lies on his/her back 101 with his/her buttocks 102 on the floor, knees 103 bent at approximately 45° or another desired angle, and then raises his/her hips 102 up, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B. The other possibility for doing the bridge exercise is to use a bench 200 to lean on and rotate around a contact point 201, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B.

Again as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, a free barbell 202, dumbbells, kettlebell or weight plate, or any stationary weight, or band etc. directly off of the ground, in a rack, a smith machine or similar apparatus can be used during the bridge exercise. The user 100 places the barbell 202, dumbbells, kettlebell or weight plate across his/her pelvis 204, directly below his/her hip bones, in the acetabulum and using a barbell pad or a towel (not shown), if the weight is uncomfortable, performs the bridge exercise. The user 100 grabs the barbell 202, dumbbells, kettlebell or similar weight or presses against an elastic band and holds it in place and tightens his/her core muscles, contracts his/her glutes and hamstrings, and powerfully thrusts his/her hips upwards and contracts his/her buttocks as hard as possible on the way up in order to successfully complete the movement to full hip extension.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, the back portion 205 of the user 100 does not have any support while doing the bridge exercise. Having an ergonomical support for the back portion 205 of the user's body is necessary while doing the bridge exercise with some resistance. It provides stability and comfort for the moving back of the user to do the exercise.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, a bridge bench 10 of the present invention provides support for the back portion of the user's body while doing the bridge exercise. The bridge bench 10 is comprised of two stationary bases 11, 12, which is engaged with the floor to provide stability for the bench 10; a pair of adjustable legs 13, 14 for adjusting the height of the legs 13, 14 based on the user's body length; and a pair of hinges 15, 16 attached to the legs 13, 14 of the bench 10 from the distal end 22, 32 of the legs 13, 14. The hinges 15, 16 attach to the moving bench 30 which directly supports the user's upper body (back) when it presses against the bench 10 at the changing angles produced when a person completes the bridge exercise. This pivoting action of the supporting bench 30 provides the full movement required for successfully and comfortably completing this exercise. The supporting bench 30 moves from an angle of almost vertical to almost horizontal in the end position. Thus moving a total of approximately 55 degrees and allowing the user to effectively and comfortably complete the bridge exercise in an ergonomically correct way, through the full range of motion required for this exercise.

A bridge bench 10 for bridge exercise comprising of a back-support bench having a length and a width to provide support for a back portion of a user's body while doing the bridge exercise; a pivoting means attached to said back-support bench to allow said back-support bench to rotate around a pivoting axis, wherein said pivoting said axis is along said length; an adjustable height stand attached to said pivoting means, wherein said stand having means to adjust the height of said bridge bench, whereby user's back is forced onto said back-support bench and pivot around said pivoting axis, thereby the user's back has ergonomic support throughout the bridge exercise.

The pivoting means comprises of a tube attached to said stand; a set of flanges attached to said back-support bench; each said flange having an aperture; a connecting rod passing through said apertures and said tube; a set of locking pins to attached to the ends of said connecting rod.

As shown in FIG. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, the bridge bench 10 has two telescopic legs 25, 26 to adjust the height of the legs 13, 14 by a plurality of apertures 31-34 designed on the legs 13, 14. A locking mechanism 40, which has a spring loaded rod member 41, engages with the apertures 31-34 of the legs 13, 14 to help the users to adjust the height of the legs 13, 14.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C show the bridge bench 10 of the present invention at different angles. When the user does the bridge exercise with help of the bridge bench 10, user's back is forced onto the supporting back bench 30 and pivots around the pivot axial 15, 16. Therefore, the user's back has ergonomic support throughout the whole movement.

Again as shown in FIG. 6A, a force (F) applied on the bench 10 has a component F₁ normal to the surface of the bench. That same force F₁ is exerted on the floor with a horizontal component F₂ and a vertical component F₃. The vertical component tends to hold the bench 10 on the floor whereas the horizontal component tends to slide the bench 10 on the floor. The bench 10 should either be bolted to the floor or having an anti-skid bottom to overcome the horizontal force F₂. The bench 10 in the normal condition has a 45 degree angles with respect to vertical axis. Therefore, only half of the force applied by the user (F) is converted to horizontal force F₂ (ie., F sin(45)cos (45)=0.49F).

FIGS. 7, 8 show a perspective view of the bridge bench 10 of the present invention with a power rack 300. The bridge bench 10 can be used alone or by combination with a power rack 300, a Smith machine, or similar apparatus to keep the barbell within the rack 300 or similar apparatus while supporting the back portion of the user. The power rack 300 safety features can be used for grabbing a barbell during the bridge exercise.

FIG. 9 show a user 100 doing the bridge exercise with the help of a bridge bench 10 of the present invention with combination of a power rack 300. As shown in FIG. 9, the user 100 should lean her back onto and against the supporting bench 10 with her buttocks 202 on the floor and knees 203 bent at approximately 45° and typically bring her feet 204 closer to her buttocks 202. A barbell 400 with weights 401 placed approximately in her acetabulum is then used on the floor, or in a rack 300 to provide added resistance for the exercise.

FIG. 10 shows a user 100 places the barbell 400, across her pelvis 205, directly below her hip bones in the area of the acetabulum and typically using a barbell pad or a towel for added comfort. The user 100 grabs the barbell 400, to hold it in place and tightens her core muscles, contracts her glutes and hamstrings, and powerfully thrusts her hips upwards. The user 100 then contracts her buttocks 202 as hard as possible on the way up in order to successfully complete this exercise movement with help of the bridge bench.

FIG. 11A show a user doing Bulgarian split squats or lunges with a simple bench. Typically, people completing these exercises complain about foot discomfort, especially while balancing with a heavy weight on their shoulders or holding dumbbells for added resistance. As shown in FIG. 11B. As a solution, the bridge bench 10 of the present invention provides a support for non-active lower part 207 of the leg 208 which is not directly involved in the squatting movement and not in direct contact with the floor to move freely, comfortably, and in an ergonomically correct way via resting on the moving bridge bench 10.

A single leg exercise as shown in FIG. 11B for Bulgarian split squats exercise comprising of a leg-support bench having a length and a width to provide support for a leg portion of a user's body while doing the Bulgarian split squats exercise; a pivoting means attached to said leg-support bench to allow said leg-support bench to rotate around a pivoting axis, wherein said pivoting said axis is along said length; an adjustable height stand attached to said pivoting means, wherein said stand having means to adjust the height of said bench, whereby user's leg is forced onto said leg-support bench and pivot around said pivoting axis, thereby the user's leg has ergonomic support throughout the Bulgarian split squats exercise.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bridge bench may have one stationary base to hold the device on the floor.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the stationary base has a means to add friction between the base and the floor. The means to increase the friction can be selected from an elastic material, a plastic material, a silicon material or any similar material.

The technology disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A bridge bench for bridge exercise comprising:

a. a back-support bench having a length and a width to provide support for a back portion of a user's body while doing the bridge exercise;

b. a pivoting means attached to said back-support bench to allow said back-support bench to rotate around a pivoting axis, wherein said pivoting said axis is along said length;

c. an adjustable height stand attached to said pivoting means, wherein said stand having means to adjust the height of said bridge bench, whereby user's back is forced onto said back-support bench and pivot around said pivoting axis, thereby the user's back has ergonomic support throughout the bridge exercise.

2. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said width ranges from 15 inches to 40 inches.

3. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein the height of said bench ranges between 10 inches to 30 inches, to support a user's upper back in a sitting position.

4. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said back-support bench is cushioned for user's comfort.

5. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said pivoting means allows said back-support bench to rotate from substantially vertical position to substantially horizontal position.

6. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said pivoting means allows said back-support bench to rotate from 45 degrees to 100 degrees with respect to a vertical axis.

7. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said pivoting means comprises of a tube attached to said stand; a set of flanges attached to said back-support bench; each said flange having an aperture; a connecting rod passing through said apertures and said tube; a set of locking pins to attached to the ends of said connecting rod.

8. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said means to adjust the height comprises of telescopic legs having a plurality of apertures, a spring loaded rod member to engage with said apertures at a predefined height.

9. The bridge bench of claim 1, wherein said adjustable height stand comprises of a pair of vertical telescopic legs and a pair of horizontal bases to engage with a floor.

10. A single leg exercise bench comprising:

a. a leg-support bench having a length and a width to provide support for a leg portion of a user's body while doing single leg exercise;

b. a pivoting means attached to said leg-support bench to allow said leg-support bench to rotate around a pivoting axis, wherein said pivoting said axis is along said length;

c. an adjustable height stand attached to said pivoting means, wherein said stand having means to adjust the height of said bench, whereby user's leg is forced onto said leg-support bench and pivot around said pivoting axis, thereby the user's leg has ergonomic support throughout the split squats, Bulgarian split squats, lunges, or single leg exercises.

11. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said width ranges from 5 inches to 10 inches.

12. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein the height of said bench ranges between 10 inches to 40 inches, to support a user's upper back in a sitting position.

13. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said leg-support bench is cushioned for user's comfort.

14. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said pivoting means allows said leg-support bench to rotate from substantially horizontal position to substantially vertical position.

15. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said pivoting means allows said leg-support bench to rotate from −20 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis.

16. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said pivoting means comprises of a tube attached to said stand; a set of flanges attached to said leg-support bench; each said flange having an aperture; a connecting rod passing through said apertures and said tube; a set of locking pins to attached to the ends of said connecting rod.

17. The single leg exercise bench of claim 10, wherein said means to adjust the height comprises of telescopic legs having a plurality of apertures, a spring loaded rod member to engage with said apertures at a predefined height.