Deadlift bar apparatus and method
A deadlift device includes a cylindrical shaft attached to a base with a selectable weight. Horizontal channels in the shaft have a main horizontal through hole with a downwardly extending keyhole slot extension with beveled edges, so that portions of one or more resistance bands may be routed through the keyhole slots and used with minimal wear. A removable Y-lift bar with right and left hand vertical upper portion and diagonal lower portion which may be attached at any of the channels. An alternative removable short horizontal bar may be inserted at at any of the channels to permit kettlebell swing exercises. The device may be used effectively with a range of lift and walking exercises using the deadlift device with added weights and/or one or more resistance bands.
This U.S. non-provisional application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/386,312 filed by applicant on Dec. 21, 2016, which is related to US Provisional Application No. 62/383,220 filed by applicant on Sep. 2, 2016, and claims the benefit of that provisional application filing date.
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe current invention relates to an improved weight lifting device, and more particularly to an improved deadlift device and method of use.
BACKGROUND—PRIOR ARTThe deadlift is a key exercise in strength and conditioning programs. There are several deadlift variations, classifiable by the type of barbell used; and the technique used (sumo, conventional, stiff-legged, Romanian). The deadlift involves greater upper lumbar erector spinae muscle activity, but less lower lumbar erector spinae muscle activity than the back squat. It involves similar abdominal muscle activity to the back squat, side plank and superman exercises. Deadlifts work the butt, upper thighs, hamstrings, lower back, upper middle back, traps, and gives a kind of “fullness” in the chest. The deadlift is in fact considered by many fitness professionals to be the king of exercises for expending great amounts of energy and wasting calories.
The deadlift is considered to have many benefits:
- 1. Fat Burning Lift: Lifting weights and resistance training, especially with a full body exercise like deadlifting, will burn more fat than just dieting or dieting with cardio exercise alone.
- 2. Works The Most Muscles In The Body: The Deadlift works more muscles than any other exercise, including the squat. The lift engages all of the major muscle groups. The Deadlift works your lower and upper body, including your back muscles.
- 3. Real Life Lift: The Deadlift develops the muscles you need to actually carry something in real life situations; whether on the playing field, or in everyday life.
- 4. It's Safe: When performed with good form, the deadlift is one of the safest weightlifting exercises.
- 5. Increased Cardio: The deadlift increases cardiovascular ability, due to all of the muscles involved in performing the lift.
- 6. Improves Posture: Deadlifting increases your core strength and adds to core stability, according to Robson. Deadlifting targets all of the muscles responsible for your posture and enables you to keep your back straighter during regular daily activities.
- 7. Increases/Improves Athletic Performance: Every athlete can improve at almost every dimension of their sport by including deadlifting into their workout regime.
- 8. Great Lift for Pregnant Women: It has been scientifically proven that women can deliver a baby easier by having control of the creation of intraabdominal pressure, a strong pelvic floor, and can survive the rigours of delivery with fewer soft tissue injuries; by having a strong deadlift prior to third trimester.
- 10. Great For People With Back Injuries and/or Preventing Back Injuries: The ability to develop strength and stability through the lumbar spinal muscles is one of the primary factors in preventing lumbar discogenic issues, as it helps buffer shear forces the disc is exposed to; which if left unchecked could result in a bulge, herniation, or even spondylolisthesis. Deadlifts build the strength and stability of lumbar spinal muscles.
- 11. Prevents Many Other Injuries: When performed properly/correctly, The Deadlift can help prevent injuries by increasing the strength of your muscles around critical tendons and—ligaments. Supporting joints with strong muscles is crucial to preventing injury, especially in the hamstrings and lower back.
- 12. Great For Sculpting The Body: Great glutes and legs can be built by deadlifting. The deadlift is an excellent glute, hamstring, and quad builder exercise. It not only sculpts the lower body, but also sculpts the core, back, arms, shoulders, and traps as well.
A deadlift, whether it is sumo style, conventional style, or Romanian style, is hard to perform with proper form. This lift can cause the user serious injury if not performed properly, due to all the steps needed to ensure the lift is done correctly.
Using a straight barbell to perform the deadlift can be too big and heavy for new lifters. Also, when using a straight barbell correctly for the deadlift; it can result in scraping the skin off the shins and thighs of the lifters.
Prior art patents and published applications show a variety of resistance training devices:
U.S. Patent D653,715 to Tumminia (
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,147 to Rochelle (
U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,240 to Damm (
U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,157 to Lee (
U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,002 to Connelly (
U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,553 to Song (
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/017445 (
The prior art also shows a variety of resistance band exercises and devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,041 (
There does not appear to be any deadlift device on the market, so most users attempt the lifts and other exercises with a straight barbell as shown in prior art
In one embodiment, an improved deadlift device includes a cylindrical shaft having a lower end threaded onto a base. The cylindrical shaft is configured to accept one or more weights to be inserted onto the shaft and resting on the base. The cylindrical shaft has a plurality of horizontal channels, where each channel has a main horizontal through hole with a downwardly extending keyhole slot extension. Both the main holes and the keyhole slots have beveled edges so that portions of one or more resistance bands may be routed through the keyhole slots and used with minimal wear. The main holes have a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of a removable elongated bar which may be inserted into any of the channels. In one example, the elongated bar has a length of approximately 10 inches or less so that the device may be used for kettlebell swing exercises. In other examples, the elongated bar is longer so that the user may grasp the bar with hands spaced below the user's shoulders.
In another example, a removable handle with a grip may be secured to the top end of the shaft. The combination of a lift bar and a handle permit the deadlift device to be used effectively with a range of lift and walking exercises using the deadlift device with added weights and/or one or more resistance bands.
In another example, a Y-lift handle with right and left side vertical upper sections and diagonal lower sections with may be secured to the to any of the shaft channels.
In another example, a plurality of interchangeable bases are provided in different weights, such as from 5 to 50 pounds. The user selects a desired base and attaches it to the shaft with a bolt or pin.
In another example, the base is provided as an adjustable weight stack where the user can select a desired weight.
The following element list is provided for convenience in reviewing the figures:
- user 50
- head 51
- shoulders 52, 53
- back 54
- spine 56
- arms 58, 59
- hands 63, 64
- feet 70, 71
- Weights 60, 61, 62,
- Deadlift device 100, 101, 102
- Base 120
- floor protector 122
- central recess 123
- shaft attachment threads 124
- shaft weld 126 (not shown)
- interchangeable base 128
- shaft connection bolt 129
- main shaft 130
- handle mounting pin holes 131A, 131B, 131C
- external diameter 132
- top portion of shaft 140
- top of shaft 142
- rounded top 144
- bottom portion of shaft 150
- bottom of shaft 152
- base attachment threads 154
- overlapping thread lip locking element 156
- rubber pad 158
- first channel 160
- bottom portion of hole 161
- main through-hole 162
- beveled edge 163
- keyway slot 164
- beveled edge 165
- second channel 170
- bottom portion of hole 171
- main through-hole 172
- beveled edge 173
- keyway slot 174
- beveled edge 175
- third channel 180
- bottom portion of hole 181
- main through-hole 182
- beveled edge 183
- keyway slot 184
- beveled edge 185
- Handle 200
- handle opening 210
- grip portion 212
- handle attachment sleeve 240
- shaft mounting recess 242
- first side hole 244
- second side hole 246
- sleeve locking element 249
- sleeve locking pin 248
- Lift Bar 250
- first shaft mounting pin hole 220
- pin 222
- second shaft mounting pin hole 230
- pin 232
- Lift Bar 260
- shaft pin mounting hole 261
- shaft mounting pin 262
- grip knurling 264
- Y-lift Handle 270
- right side 272
- vertical upper portion 273
- diagonal lower portion 274
- left side 275
- vertical upper portion 276
- diagonal lower portion 277
- shaft mounting sleeve 278
- mounting bolt or pin 279
- adjustable weight stack base 290
- a weight selection element 292
- selected weight portion 294
- docking portion 296
- resistance band 300
- resistance band 310
The deadlift devices permit the user to maintain an erect posture during this walking exercise. By contrast
When performing the deadlift, whether it is sumo style, conventional style, or Romanian style is hard to perform with proper form. This lift can cause the user serious injury if not performed properly, but is difficult to properly perform due to all the steps needed to ensure the lift is done correctly. The embodiments described herein make it much easier to perform exercises with proper form.
The “Perfect Deadlift Bar” forces the user to keep the weight that is being lifting properly aligned with the human body, keeps the weight being lifted centered with the spine, and allows the lifter to lift the entire weight off the ground, or carry the device and weights, without pushing the weight away from the body. When the weight being lifted is pushed away from the body, that motion causes serious strain on the spine and back, resulting in serious injury. This bar eliminates all of that, thus resulting in a perfect lift every time the bar is used.
The deadlift device permits all lifters to perform the deadlift with proper form. The bar design also allows for resistance bands to fit in the desired slots, so both weights and/or resistance bands can be used. The beveled keyhole slots permit insertion of one or more resistance bands at each desired location, and both bands and a lift bar can be inserted into the same hole on the shaft.
base
In one example, the base is fabricated from Aluminum 60-61 material to provide a lightweight device with the capability to lift over 300 pounds. The base has a smooth finish on the bottom where a 1/16″ recycled rubber with a permanent adhesive is placed as a floor protector. In this example, the bottom of the shaft screws into threading in the center of the base. Other shaft attachment methods may be used, including welding.
In other examples, the base may be made of regular carbon steel or other materials.
interchangeble base
adjustable weight stack base
In another example, the base is provided as an adjustable weight stack where the user can select a desired weight, such as by inserting one or more pin or clip at a desired location which permits the shaft to left a portion of the base weights from the adjustable weight stack. In one example, a first base weight can be selected in a range of 5 to 50 pounds. After an exercise, the user lowers the base back onto the adjustable weight stack so that another base weight may be selected for the next exercise.
An example adjustable weight stack base 290 is shown in
In other examples, different weight ranges and increments may be used, and alternative weight selection elements may be provided.
main shaft
In one example, the main shaft is fabricated from Aluminum 60-61 material,and has a diameter of 2 inches. The overall length is 14.5 inches. The top of the shaft has a flat smooth finish with a 1/10 radius in order to prevent the user from cutting a hand or other body part. The purpose of the flat finish with 1/10 radius is also to accommodate the handle attachment. The bottom of the shaft will also have threading, to screw into the base. When screwed all the way on, the last thread will overlap the bottom of the base to serve as a locking mechanism. This will prevent the shaft from being pulled out of the base, and serves as an additional safety measure. This “overlapping thread lip” will not be seen by the user, as it will have the rubber pad covering it.
In one example, the main shaft has 3 holes, each with a keyway slot machined through the entire shaft. The hole has a 1 inch diameter permit a 1 inch diameter handle to slide through. The bottom of the hole tapers to a ½″ in length and ¾″ in width keyway slot.
The keyway slot has a 1/10 radius (termed a “bevel” in this specification. The purpose of the keyway slot is to also allow for resistance bands to slide perfectly through the shaft. The bands can be used in place of weights, or in conjunction with weights. The bands will also serve as a great teaching tool for people who have never lifted before.
In other examples, the shaft or base may be made of regular carbon steel or other materials. In other examples, the shaft may have a non-circular cross section.
In some examples, a hollow shaft may be molded or cast, and the elongated handle may be stored in the hollow shaft.
lift bar
In one example, the main shaft is fabricated from Aluminum 60-61 material with an overall length of 12 inches and a 1 inch diameter. The ends of the handle are flat with a smooth finish, and a 1/10 radius. The lift bar has a course ping finish to provide a comfortable grip.
Two holes will be drilled all the way through the lift bar, and will have 2 pins pressed through. The purpose of the pins are to hold the lift bar in place, while in use. The pins will prevent the handle from sliding out in either direction.
short lift bar
The shorter 10 inch length permits kettlebell swing exercises, with the device less likely to hit the user in between the legs.
By having one drilled hole directly in the center, the handle may be securely lock in place without rotation so that the user can now use the T-Bell for swings in an overhead motion. The user can now slide the handle in the desired main shaft slot, then securely lock in place by using a standard cotter pin. The ball point at the end of cotter pin prevents the pin from sliding out, and securely keeps the pin locked in place.
The knurled handles provide extra grip for the user, and makes the device more user friendly. The knurling prevents the hands from slipping as sweat gets on the handle, and serves as an extra safety feature.
In one example, the handle is fabricated from Aluminum 60-61 material. The handle attachment is machined in 2 sections. The first section is sleeve that will fit and slide on top of the main shaft. A 1 inch hole is drilled on each side of the sleeve. The holes on the sleeve line up with the top hole on the main shaft.
The hand grip will have a rounded square finish, or round circular finish. The hand grip portion will also have a coarse ping finish for grip, or machined grooves for finger placement. The top of the sleeve will have an indention to where the bottom of the hand grip can sit in. Then, it will be welded together to make one piece. This entire handle attachment may also be cast in one complete piece. A pin will be machined separately. This pin will slide all the way through the handle attachment and main shaft. It will have a hole drilled on the end where a locking pin can slide through and keep the pin from sliding out of the main shaft.
Y-lift HandleThis handle slides up and down the main shaft of the T-Bell, and can be locked in place on any on the slots; that slot placement is the user's preference. This attachment serves as a “landmine” replacement, and is considered to be a “free weight landmine”. The pictures how the handle attachment to be locked in place with a bolt and screw, but that is only for prototype purposes. The finished product will lock in place with a locking pin and cotter pin, not a bolt and screw. There are two ways to grip the handle: one is on the angled section, and the other is on the top straight section. The gripping placement depends on the user and what drill is being performed.
This handle attachment makes the overall T-Bell more versatile, and allows for countless explosive drills to be performed.
Because the weight is centered in line with body, the weight is centered on the hip structure itself; and the outer extremities don't work as hard like they would with a standard long barbell. Due to the design of this device, the bio mechanics now allow for an individual with a bad back and bad knees to lift up the weight from the ground up, having the same effect with a standard barbell; but makes it pain free. By using the device t, an individual with injuries can still work the hips, the glutes, the back, the lower back, and the inner and external obliques; safely and effectively.
other advantages
The device is an effective tool for teaching proper form, as well as safety to those with limited lifting experience. It is hard to teach lifting methods from the ground up, and the deadlift device helps teach proper techniques.
Use of the deadlift device develops the posterior chain. The posterior chain is a group of muscles consisting predominantly of tendons and ligaments on the posterior of the body. Examples of these muscles include the biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, erector spinae muscle group, trapezius, and posterior deltoids.
The deadlift device serves as a progression and regression tool. It does not eliminate the barbell, but adding a progression tool leading up to the barbell; and regression tool from people that are injured and not able to use standard barbell.
The compact design takes up very little space, so it is good for group training settings and also field work.
The design of the lifting bar makes it a good tool for grip strength training. Single finger, double finger, and triple finger deadlifts can now be performed with the device; resulting in an effective, and safe workout.
The handle attachment allows for many variations of endurance training; resulting on less pounding and stress on my athletes knees and joints”. The device allows for maximum heart rate workouts and is a good cardio tool.
The deadlift device design keeps the weight in line with the center of gravity, creating a safe and effective workout. The design of the lifting bar allows for any sized hands to fit properly, thus not resulting in narrowed hand placement, rolled shoulders, and upper back discomfort such as the kettle bell.
It is to be understood that the specific embodiments and examples described above are by way of illustration, and not limitation. Various modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill, and the scope of the invention is as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A deadlift device comprising
- a first base,
- a vertically-oriented shaft comprising a bottom end portion connected to the base, a top end portion comprising a top edge, and a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, each horizontal channel comprising a bottom portion, a main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through-hole having the same diameter as the other horizontally-oriented cylindrical through holes, and a keyhole slot extending downwardly from the bottom portion; and
- a removable lift bar assembly comprising a locking pin or bolt, a lift bar comprising a sleeve configured to slide over the vertically-oriented shaft, the sleeve having a first hole, and a second hole, diametrically-opposed to the first hole, such that the locking pin or bolt is partially insertable through the first hole, through any one of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through-holes, and through the second hole in order to secure the sleeve to the vertically-oriented shaft, a left side and a right side, each comprising a vertical upper shaft having an upper end and a lower portion, and a diagonal shaft extending from the sleeve to the lower portion of the side vertical upper shaft.
2. The deadlift device of claim 1 further comprising
- a removable handle attachable to the proximal end of the vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft, the removable handle comprising a handle opening, and a handle attachment sleeve comprising a shaft mounting recess configured to overlap the top end portion of the vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft, and a sleeve locking element.
3. The deadlift device of claim 2 wherein the handle opening further comprises a grip portion.
4. The deadlift device of claim 1 wherein the handle attachment sleeve further comprises a first side hole, and
- a second side hole.
5. The deadlift device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve locking element further comprises a sleeve locking pin.
6. The deadlift device of claim 1 wherein
- the main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole of each horizontal channel comprises a beveled edge; and
- keyhole slot of each horizontal hole comprises a beveled edge.
7. The deadlift device of claim 1 further comprising an elongated lift bar having a length of about 10 inches and a circular cross section with a diameter matched to the main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole diameters; such that the elongated lift bar is configured to be inserted through any of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through holes.
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. The deadlift device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of detachable bases of different weights, each of the plurality of detachable bases configured to be attached to the vertically-oriented shaft.
11. A deadlift system comprising
- a deadlift device comprising a base, a vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft comprising a bottom end portion connected to the base, a top end portion comprising a top edge, an external diameter, and a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, each channel comprising a top portion, a main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole, and a keyhole slot in the top portion, and
- a removable lift bar assembly comprising a locking pin or bolt, a lift bar comprising a first end and a second end, and a sleeve configured to slide over the vertically-oriented shaft, the sleeve having a first hole, and a second hole, diametrically-opposed to the first hole, such that the locking pin or bolt is partially insertable through the first hole, through any one of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through-holes, and through the second hole in order to secure the sleeve to the vertically-oriented shaft, a left side and a right side, each comprising a vertical upper shaft having an upper end and a lower portion, and a diagonal shaft extending from the sleeve to the lower portion of the side vertical upper shaft; and
- a first resistance band.
12. The deadlift system of claim 11 further comprising
- a removable handle attachable to the proximal end of the vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft, the removable handle comprising a handle opening, and a handle attachment sleeve comprising a shaft mounting recess configured to overlap the top end portion of the vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft, and a sleeve locking element.
13. (canceled)
14. The deadlift system of claim llfurther comprising
- a set of resistance bands having a range of resistance.
15. A method of performing deadlift exercises with resistance,
- the method comprising providing a deadlift device comprising a base, a vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft comprising a bottom end portion connected to the base, a top end portion comprising a top edge, an external diameter, and a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, each channel comprising a top portion, a main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole, and a keyhole slot in the top portion, and a removable lift bar assembly comprising a locking pin or bolt, a lift bar comprising a sleeve configured to slide over the vertically-oriented shaft, the sleeve having a first hole, and a second hole, diametrically-opposed to the first hole, such that the locking pin or bolt is partially insertable through the first hole, through any one of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through-holes, and through the second hole in order to secure the sleeve to the vertically-oriented shaft, a left side and a right side, each comprising a vertical upper shaft having an upper end and a lower portion, and a diagonal shaft extending from the sleeve to the lower portion of the side vertical upper shaft;
- selecting a resistance; and
- performing one or more exercises with the handle.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising
- providing a removable elongated lift bar for the deadlift device;
- inserting the elongated lift bar into a channel; and
- performing one or more exercises with the lift bar.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting a resistance further comprises
- providing a plurality of detachable bases of different weights;
- selecting one of the plurality of detachable bases; and
- attaching the selected one of the plurality of detachable bases to the vertically-oriented shaft.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting a resistance further comprises selecting a channel on the vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft; and routing a first resistance band through the selected channel.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein selecting a resistance further comprises
- routing a first resistance band through one of the plurality of horizontal channels.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising teaching proper deadlift exercise techniques by using the deadlift device with a resistance band rather than added weight.
21. The deadlift device of claim 1 wherein the first base further comprises
- an adjustable weight stack base; and
- a weight selection element.
22. The deadlift system of claim 11 further comprising
- an elongated lift bar having a length of about 10 inches and a circular cross section with a diameter matched to the main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole diameters; such that the elongated lift bar is configured to be inserted through any of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through holes.
23. The deadlift system of claim 11 wherein the base further comprises
- an adjustable weight stack base; and
- a weight selection element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2019
Publication Date: Sep 19, 2019
Inventor: Roberto Acuna, JR. (Katy, TX)
Application Number: 16/259,320