PERSONAL EXERCISE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS
A personal exercise system including an exercise bar having opposing end portions, a grip portion intermediate to the end portions wherein the grip portion is w-shaped, and an elongate resistance band removably secured to at least one of the end portions. Each end portion of the exercise bar includes a loop for accepting a fastener at the end of the elongate resistance band. The loop is operable to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the exercise bar. The system further includes at least one support member each having a groove for receiving an end portion of the exercise bar.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/877,843, filed Oct. 7, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/061,078, filed Oct. 7, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention generally relates to exercise systems in general, and more particularly, to a personal exercise system.
BACKGROUNDPersonal exercise systems are commonly used in lieu of formal gym memberships for individuals who seek alternative means of maintaining fitness. These systems are typically utilized as in-home systems, where users may exercise without suffering the inefficiencies associated with sharing a limited number of exercise “stations” with others at a gym. Moreover, these systems often permit quick, efficient workouts to be completed within a relatively short time span—accommodating for users with busy lifestyles who nonetheless desire to remain physically fit. These systems are also commonly used in a group setting as part alternative fitness groups such as during Crossfit™ training.
These systems typically include pushup bars and accessories and elastic cord based systems. An example of a pushup based system is the Perfect Pushup®, which includes a pair of rotating handlebars resting on the floor at a distance from each other so as to enable a user to perform a pushup while gripping the handlebars. An example of an elastic cord type system is the TRX Rip Trainer™, which includes an elastic cord irremovably connected at one end to the tip of a straight stick and secured at the other end to an immovable object, such that the elastic cord provides resistance to a user swinging the stick much like a baseball bat.
One of the failings of these systems is that they are all limited to a small number of exercises a user is able to perform. Thus, although they provide an alternative to going to the gym—or purchasing an expensive all-in-one home gym system—a user is unable to take advantage of the full range of exercises that would be available at the gym without purchasing multiple different personal exercise systems. Additionally, these systems (as well as gym stations) do not permit users the ability to transition quickly from one exercise to another.
It is therefore desirable to provide an effective, efficient, low-cost, space saving personal exercise system and apparatus that provides advantages heretofore unknown in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONProvided herein are embodiments of a personal exercise system comprising an exercise bar having opposing end portions, a grip portion intermediate to the end portions wherein the grip portion is w-shaped, and an elongate resistance band removably secured to at least one of the end portions. Each end portion of the exercise bar includes a loop for accepting a fastener at the end of the elongate resistance band. The loop is operable to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the exercise bar.
In some embodiments, the personal exercise system further includes at least one supplemental exercise bar having end portions, wherein the supplemental exercise bar is removably attached to the exercise bar at their respective end portions. In at least one embodiment, the supplemental exercise bar is straight.
In some embodiments, a personal exercise system comprises an exercise bar having opposing end portions, each end portion including a loop for accepting a fastener at the end of a removably elongate resistance band, a grip portion intermediate to the end portions wherein the grip portion is w-shaped, at least one support member each having a groove for receiving an end portion of the exercise bar, and wherein the loop at each end portion is operable to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the exercise bar.
Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention. In such drawing(s):
The below described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated. All features, elements, components, functions, and steps described with respect to any embodiment provided herein are intended to be freely combinable and substitutable with those from any other embodiment unless otherwise stated. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it should be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the present invention and its method of use.
In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” and “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation, unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” or “includes” means “including, but not limited to,” or “includes, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted.
As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entities listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one or more” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities may optionally be present other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.
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In at least some exemplary modes of operation, the exercise bar 100 may be supported by the support members 300 so as to be displaced from the floor, permitting a user to utilize the bar as a pushup bar or the like, as shown, for example, in
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As discussed herein, the resistance band 200 is removably securable to the end portions 120 of the exercise bar 100. Accordingly, as shown in an exemplary embodiment in
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The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.
The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
Changes from the described subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.
The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims, if any, and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.
Claims
1. A personal exercise system comprising:
- an exercise bar having opposing end portions;
- a grip portion intermediate to the end portions wherein the grip portion is w-shaped; and
- an elongate resistance band removably secured to at least one of the end portions.
2. The personal exercise system of claim 1, wherein each end portion includes a loop for accepting a fastener at the end of the elongate resistance band.
3. The personal exercise system of claim 2, wherein the loop is operable to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the exercise bar.
4. The personal exercise system of claim 2, wherein the loop includes a swivel pin portion and wherein the end portions of the exercise bar further includes a receptacle for pivotally accepting the swivel pin portion.
5. The personal exercise system of claim 4, wherein the receptacle further receives a cylindrical gasket within which the swivel pin portion freely rotates.
6. The personal exercise system of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical gasket is rotatable within the receptacle.
7. The personal exercise system of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical gasket further includes a groove circumscribing the cylindrical gasket, and the cylindrical gasket is rotatably held in place via a pin extending through the surface of the receptacle mating with the groove.
8. The personal exercise system of claim 5, wherein the swivel pin portion includes one or more stop element.
9. The personal exercise system of claim 5, wherein an o-ring is interposed between the cylindrical gasket and the swivel pin portion.
10. The personal exercise system of claim 1, wherein the exercise bar is supported by at least one support member each having a groove for receiving an end portion of the exercise bar.
11. The personal exercise system of claim 10, wherein the support member is polygonal in cross-sectional shape, with one of the sides forming a base for resting on a surface, and the groove is formed opposite the base.
12. The personal exercise system of claim 10, wherein the end portions of the exercise bar each further includes a mounting pad for mating with the groove of a support member.
13. The personal exercise system of claim 1 further includes at least one supplemental exercise bar having end portions, wherein the at least one supplemental exercise bar is removably attached to the exercise bar at their respective end portions.
14. The personal exercise system of claim 13, wherein the supplemental exercise bar is straight.
15. The personal exercise system of claim 1, wherein the grip portion of the exercise bar further includes a grip sleeve.
16. The personal exercise system of claim 1, wherein the exercise bar is constructed of a thin walled steel tube.
17. The personal exercise system of claim 1, wherein the exercise bar is approximately 24, 30 or 36 inches in length.
18. A personal exercise system comprising:
- an exercise bar having opposing end portions, each end portion including a loop for accepting a fastener at the end of a removably elongate resistance band;
- a grip portion intermediate to the end portions wherein the grip portion is w-shaped;
- at least one support member each having a groove for receiving an end portion of the exercise bar; and
- wherein the loop at each end portion is operable to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the exercise bar.
19. The personal exercise system of claim 18, wherein the at least one support member is polygonal in cross-sectional shape, with one of the sides forming a base for resting on a surface, and a groove is formed opposite the base for receiving an end portion of the exercise bar.
20. The personal exercise system of claim 18 further includes at least one supplemental exercise bar having end portions, wherein the at least one supplemental exercise bar is removably attached to the exercise bar at their respective end portions.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2017
Publication Date: Jan 4, 2018
Inventor: Damian Sanders (Orange, CA)
Application Number: 15/603,930