Barbell

Abstract

A bar bell comprises a plate-accepting bar that extends longitudinally between two end regions at which weight plates can be mounted, a longitudinally-extending handle positioned above the plate-accepting bar and supported by the barbell, a pair of barbell-supporting brackets positioned at respective end regions of the plate-accepting bar to stably support the barbell on a supporting surface without contact between mounted weight plates and the supporting surface, and at least one longitudinally-extending fulcrum bar affixed to the barbell in such a way that it is positioned to contact a user's forearm during a bicep curl and create a lever arm vis-a-vis the handle that maintains the barbell's center of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert enhanced resistance to the curling movement during the movement.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to exercise apparatus of the type employing movable weight plates. Examples of such devices are barbells and dumbbells.

[0002] There are two fundamental types of dumbbells and barbells: the "fixed weight" type, wherein the weight plates are permanently secured on the ends of a bar, and the "adjustable" type, wherein weight plates are secured on the bar by removable collars that permit the user to add or remove individual weight plates to the bar.

SUMMARY

[0003] An improved barbell for bicep curl movements is described herein that remains stationary when set on the floor or other support surface, provides convenient mounting and dismounting of weight plates, and provides less back stress as it is grasped.

[0004] Briefly, the bar bell comprises a plate-accepting bar that extends longitudinally between two end regions at which weight plates can be mounted, a longitudinally-extending handle positioned above the plate-accepting bar and supported by the barbell, a pair of barbell-supporting brackets positioned at respective end regions of the plate-accepting bar to stably support the barbell on a supporting surface without contact between mounted weight plates and the supporting surface, and at least one longitudinally-extending fulcrum bar affixed to the barbell in such a way that it is positioned to contact a user's forearm during a bicep curl and create a lever arm vis-a-vis the handle that maintains the barbell's center of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert enhanced resistance to the curling movement during the movement.

[0005] These and other details concerning the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, of which the drawings form a part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] In the preferred embodiment,

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred barbell constructed in accordance with the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of a dumbbell constructed in accordance with the invention, with the weight plates removed; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view showing a user grasping the barbell in its resting position; and

[0010] FIG. 4 is an oblique front view showing a user performing a bicep curl with the barbell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a barbell 10 comprises a plate-accepting bar 11 that extends longitudinally between two end regions at which weight plates 14 can be mounted. A longitudinally-extending handle 16 positioned above the plate-accepting bar 11 is supported by the barbell, namely (in the preferred embodiment) by a pair of barbell-supporting L-shaped brackets 12 positioned at respective end regions of the plate-accepting bar.

[0012] The brackets 12 stably support the barbell on a supporting surface (typically, a floor) via respective leg portions 12a formed by the base of the "L". The preferred brackets 12 accordingly include a through hole which permits passage of the plate-accepting bar 11 therethrough. The bar 11 is welded or otherwise securely affixed to the bracket.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bar 11 is supported above the support surface (i.e., the floor) at a height sufficient to enable the weight plates to be clear of the supporting surface. This permits easy mounting and dismounting of the weight plates, a particularly important feature when Olympic plates or standard plates of substantial poundage are being used. The brackets also preclude the barbell from rolling, as barbells with round plates can do when the supporting surface is not perfectly horizontal.

[0014] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the position of the longitudinally-extending handle 16 above the plate-accepting bar 11 presents the handle to the user at a height that decreases the degree to which the user must bend in order to grasp the handle. Compared with conventional barbells whose plate-accepting bar also provides the handle grasped by the user, the decrease is equal to the height the plate-accepting bar is raised from the floor by the brackets 12 plus the height above the plate-accepting bar at which the handle 16 is positioned. The raised position of the handle vis-a-vis a conventional barbell means that less stress is placed on the user's back and legs in grasping and lifting the barbell because the user need not stoop as low.

[0015] The barbell 10 includes at least one longitudinally-extending fulcrum bar 18 (and preferably a pair of such bars) affixed to the barbell in such a way that it is positioned to contact a user's forearm during a bicep curl and create a lever arm vis-a-vis the handle that maintains the barbell's center of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert enhanced resistance to the curling movement during the movement. Turning to FIG. 4, the function of the leverage bar is seen as the user approaches the upper region of a bicep curl. Pads, mounted about the fulcrum bar 18 for safety and comfort of the user, have contacted the user's outer forearms, forming a first moment arm whereby the curling force applied by the user to the handle acts against the first moment arm created by the radial distance between the user's contact with the handle and user's contact with the fulcrum bar, while the effective resistance to the user's effort is a vertically downward force vector acting on a second moment arm that is a function of the radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the plate-accepting bar 11 and the user's contact point with the fulcrum bar 18.

[0016] As best illustrated in FIG. 2, each bracket 12 has a lower relatively wide portion 12a against which the weight plates are mounted, and an upper stem portion 12b which provides the height for mounting the handle 16 to the bracket. The handle 16 is preferably mounted about a bar that extends longitudinally between and into the brackets 12, and is preferably supported about the bar by bearing means such as those known in the art for smooth and virtually friction-free rotation.

[0017] The bracket can be provided with means for adjusting the height at which the plate-accepting bar is positioned, thereby controlling the length of the second moment arm and, consequently, the counter-torque to be provided by the weight of the barbell. In addition, and as best appreciated by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the height at which the plate-accepting bar 11 is supported limits the diameter, and therefore the weight, of weight plates that can be accepted by the barbell. Since the number of weight plates mountable on the bar 11 is limited by the length of the bar 11 protruding outward from the bracket 12, limiting or adjusting the diameter of the accommodated plates limits the weight that a user can curl. This provides a safety feature attractive to liability-conscious gym owners and training professionals, especially in gyms where inexperienced users might overextend and injure themselves.

[0018] Similarly, the amount of effort needed to curl a given weight is a function of the aforedescribed first moment arm. Accordingly, the height of the lifting bar 16 can be fixed at a desired height, or the barbell can be configured to provide a height-adjustment mechanism that changes length of the second moment arm and the consequential curling effort needed. In the illustrated embodiment, the height of the lifting bar 16 is fixed by coupling the bar 16 between opposite stem portions 12b that are integral parts of the brackets 12. While currently preferred, other bracket shapes and added adjustment mechanisms are within the scope of this invention.

[0019] Although a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various details, changes, substitutions and alterations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the foregoing specification. It is intended that all such variations be within the scope and spirit of the invention, and that the invention be solely defined by the appended claims, which are to be given the broadest allowable interpretation consistent with the Doctrine of Equivalents.

Claims

1. A barbell comprising: a plate-accepting bar that extends longitudinally between two end regions at which weight plates can be mounted, a longitudinally-extending handle positioned above the plate-accepting bar and supported by the barbell, a pair of barbell-supporting brackets positioned at respective end regions of the plate-accepting bar to stably support the barbell on a supporting surface without contact between mounted weight plates and the supporting surface, and at least one longitudinally-extending fulcrum bar affixed to the barbell in such a way that it is positioned to contact a user's forearm during a bicep curl and create a lever arm vis-a-vis the handle that maintains the barbell's center of gravity in a lagging position with respect to the user's hands so as to exert enhanced resistance to the curling movement during the movement.

2. The barbell of claim 1 wherein the brackets each include a through hole permitting passage of the plate-accepting bar 11 therethrough so that weight plates can be mounted about the portions of the plate-accepting bar lying longitudinally outward of the brackets.

3. The barbell of claim 2 wherein the bar is welded to the brackets.

4. The barbell of claim 1 wherein the brackets each have a lower relatively wide portion against which weight plates can be mounted, and an upper stem portion to which a respective end of the handle is coupled.

5. The barbell of claim 4 wherein the handle comprises a bar that extends longitudinally between the brackets, and a grippable surface supported for rotation about said bar.