U.S. patent number RE33,218 [Application Number 07/185,819] was granted by the patent office on 1990-05-22 for weight lifting bar.
Invention is credited to Brian Twardosz.
United States Patent |
RE33,218 |
Twardosz |
May 22, 1990 |
Weight lifting bar
Abstract
A weight lifting bar has hand grip members selectively rotatable
relative to the longitudinal axis of the bar so that an exercisor
can perform lifting exercises benefiting different muscle groups
using a single bar and a single set of weights. A pair of
concentric rotatable rings are used, the outer ring being secured
to the bar and the inner ring carrying the hand grip member. The
rings are securable against rotation after the desired angular
relationship between the hand grip member and the bar is
selected.
Inventors: |
Twardosz; Brian (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
26881502 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/185,819 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
679869 |
Dec 10, 1984 |
04618143 |
Oct 21, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/106; 482/139;
482/908 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/0724 (20130101); A63B 2023/003 (20130101); A63B
21/4017 (20151001) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/072 (20060101); A63B 21/06 (20060101); A63B
23/00 (20060101); A63B 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/67,68,93,116,122,123,124,143,DIG.4 ;D21/197 ;173/170
;74/552,553,554,555,556,557 ;16/11R,127 ;135/72,76 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bahr; Robert W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill, Van Santen, Steadman &
Simpson
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. In a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions
receiving selectively removable weights, a central portion and two
spaced hand grip portions each inboard of said end portions and
outboard of said central portion, said hand grip portion
comprising:
an outer ring member secured on one peripheral side to said outer
portion and on opposite peripheral side to said central
portion;
said outer ring member having a plurality of spaced apertures
therethrough around its periphery;
an inner ring member concentrically captured in said outer ring
member and being free to rotate relative to said outer ring
member;
said inner ring member having at least one aperture therethrough
selectively alignable with said apertures in said outer ring;
a retaining means extendable through said aperture in said inner
ring and said aligned aperture in said outer ring to selectively
secure said two rings against relative rotation;
a cylindrical hand grip member extending across said inner ring and
being secured thereto;
whereby, said hand grip member can be selectively rotated relative
to said bar and retained in said selected position to permit
various exercises to be performed without removal of said weights
from said bar.
2. A device according to claim 1, said retaining means comprising
at least one screw and associated nut for each set of rings.
3. A device according to claim 1, said retaining means comprising
at least one spring loaded button held in said aperture in said
inner ring for engaging with one of said apertures in said outer
ring.
4. A device according to claim 1, said apertures in said outer ring
being evenly spaced around the periphery of said outer ring and at
least two spaced apertures in said inner ring, said inner ring
apertures having a different spacing than said outer ring apertures
whereby the number of selectable positions for said hand grip
member is increased. .Iadd.
5. A device use to hold weights during human exercise
comprising:
a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions
receiving selectively removable weights, a central portion and two
spaced hand grip portions each inboard of said end portions;
said hand grip portions each comprising:
an outer ring member non-removably secured with respect to one of
said end portions;
a cylindrical hand grip member extending across said ring member;
and
a retaining means engageable between said grip member and said ring
member to selectively secure said grip member against relative
rotation;
whereby, said hand grip member can be selectively rotated relative
to said bar and retained in said selected position to permit
various exercises to be performed without removal of said weights
from said bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
6. In a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions,
receiving selectively removable weights, a central portion and two
spaced hand grip portions each inboard of said end portions, said
hand grip portion comprising:
a fixed ring member non-removably secured with respect to said end
portion and to said central portion;
a cylindrical hand grip member captured on said ring member and
being free to rotate relative to said ring member; and
a retaining means engageable between said hand grip member and said
ring member to selectively secure said grip member and ring member
against relative rotation;
whereby, said hand grip member can be selectively rotated relative
to said bar and retained in said selected position to permit
various exercises to be performed without removal of said weights
from said bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A device according to claim 6,
said retaining means comprising an inner ring member concentrically
captured in said fixed ring member and being free to rotate
relative to said fixed ring member, said inner ring member and
fixed ring members having apertures therethrough which are
selectively alignable and at least one screw and associated nut for
each set of rings to secure said two rings in a selected position
by extending
through said aligned apertures. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A device
according to claim 7, said apertures in said fixed ring being
evenly spaced around the periphery of said fixed ring and at least
two spaced apertures in said inner ring, said inner ring apertures
having a different spacing than said fixed ring apertures whereby
the number of selectable positions for said hand grip member is
increased. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A device used to hold weights during
human exercise comprising:
a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions
receiving selectively removable weights, a central portion, and two
spaced hand grip portions inboard of said end portions and
non-removably secured relative to each other and said end
portions;
said hand grip portions each comprising a cylindrical hand grip
member selectively rotatable perpendicular to said bar axis;
a retaining means associated with said hand grip portions to hold
said hand grip portions in a selected rotational position during
the exercise. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A device used to hold weights
during human exercise comprising:
a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions
receiving selectively removable weights and two spaced hand grip
portions each inboard of said end portions and non-removably
secured relative to each other and said end portions;
said hand grip portions each comprising:
an outer ring member secured against rotation to said bar;
a cylindrical hand grip member extending across a diameter of said
ring member; and
a retaining means engageable between said hand grip member and said
ring member to selectively secure said hand grip member against
rotation relative to said bar member;
wherein said hand grip member can be selectively rotated relative
to said bar and retain in said selected position to permit various
exercises to be performed without removal of said weights from said
bar. .Iaddend.
.Iadd. . A device used to hold weights during human exercise
comprising:
a bar with a longitudinal axis having opposed end portions
receiving selectively removable weights, a central portion, and two
spaced hand grip portions each inboard of said end portions;
said hand grip portions each comprising: an outer ring member
non-removably secured, at a plurality of points along its periphery
with respect to one of said end portions;
a cylindrical handgrip member extending along a diameter of said
outer ring member;
wherein the diameter of said outer ring member permits the
unobstructed grasping of said handgrip member by a user of said
device;
retaining means engageable between said hand grip member and said
outer ring member to selectively secure said handgrip member, in
any one of a plurality of positions, against rotation relative to
said outer ring member; and
whereby, said handgrip member can be selectively rotated relative
to said bar and retained in said selected position to permit
various exercises to be performed without removal of said weights
from said bar. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more
particularly to an improved bar for use in lifting weights.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The sport of weight lifting using barbells to lift weights is well
known. In performing such lifting exercises, different bars may be
used depending on which particular set of muscles are being
exercised during the lifting routine. For example, straight bars
are used for general lifting, equal sets of weights being removably
secured near the outer ends of the bar, outboard of a gripping
area. Curling bars are known which have kink or bend in the bar in
each of the two hand grip areas so that the exercisor's hands will
be turned slightly relative to the axis of the bar during lifting.
This increases the benefical result to the biceps. A tricep bar is
known which has an even more pronounced bend in each hand grip
portion so that exercisor's hand are positioned at an even greater
angle relative to the axis of the bar. As suggested by the name,
this bar increases the benefits to the triceps during lifting
exercise.
With the use of these prior and known bars, the exercisor would
either have to have multiple sets of weights, each set being held
on one of the respective bars for performing the various exercises
serially, or else the exercisor would have to remove each set of
weights from a particular bar and replace those selected weights on
another one of the bars to perform the next lifting exercise. In
any event, the exercisor would have to have at least three separate
bars for performing the three exercises described above. For each
different angle of handle grip, the exercisor would require a
separate bar and, perhaps, its associated weights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a weight lifting bar in which the
grip area is selectively rotatable relative to the axis of the bar
such that an exercisor may select one of a plurality of different
angular relationships between the handle portion and the bar to
exercise various sets of muscles without requiring separate bars or
requiring multiple sets of weights.
The angle of the grip portion can be changed rapidly and easily
without requiring the removal of the weights and can be securely
held in the selected angular position for lifting.
Each hand grip area has a pair of concentric rings which are
relatively rotatable, an outer ring being permanently affixed to
the bar and an inner ring have a cylindrical grip permanently
affixed to it. Retaining means are provided to hold the rings in a
selected rotational position during the lifting exercise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weight bar incorporating the
principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the hand grip area of the
weight bar shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the hand grip portion.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the retaining means for
the handle portion.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment
of the retaining means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 there is shown a weight lifting apparatus generally at 10
comprised of a weight lifting bar 12 which two sets of selectively
removable weights 13, 13 which are secured near opposite ends 14,
15 of the bar 12. Positioned inboard of the weights 13, 13 are a
pair of grip assemblies 16, 16 spaced out board of a central area
17 of the bar 12 and are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4.
As shown in FIGS. 2-4 the grip assembly 16 is comprised of a grip
cylinder 18 secured to an inner ring 20. The inner ring 20 is
rotatably carried in an outer ring 22. The outer ring 22 is
permanently affixed to the bar 12 such as by welding one peripheral
side of the ring 22 to the end portion 14 and an opposite
peripheral side of the ring 22 to the central portion 17.
The inner ring 20 is just slightly smaller than the outer ring so
that the rings freely rotate relative to one another, but without a
large degree of relative lateral movement permissable between the
rings. The inner ring 20 is axially captured in the outer ring 22
by ears 24, 24 which form a part of the outer ring 22 and overlie a
portion of the inner ring 20. The ears 24, 24 may be located on
only one side of the outer ring 22 with the inner ring seated on an
annular flange 25 (FIG. 4) on the outer ring 22 or the ears 24, 24
may be located on both sides of the outer ring 22, each ear 24
located at 90.degree. from an ear on the opposite side and
180.degree. from an ear on the same side. Thus, the inner ring 20
is free to rotate relative to the outer ring 22, but is held in a
fixed axial and lateral position relative to the outer ring 22.
Since the grip cylinder 18 is fixed to the inner ring 20, the grip
cylinder 18 is rotatable relative to the bar 12.
The rotational position of the inner ring 20 relative to the outer
ring 22 can be selectively fixed by means of a pair of retaining
means 26, 26 shown in FIGS. 2-4 as comprising a wing 27 nut
captured on a screw 29. A plurality of spaced apertures 28 are
provided around the circumference of the outer ring 22 and two
pairs of opposed apertures 30 are provided through the inner ring
20 for receiving the retaining means 26.
The apertures 28 formed in the outer ring 22 are preferably spaced
at even intervals of, for example, 15.degree.. The adjacent
apertures 30 in the inner ring are preferably spaced at an interval
different than the spacing of the outer ring, for example,
22.5.degree.. By such an arrangement, the grip cylinder 18 may be
selectively retained at a desired angular position, with the
selectable positions being every 7.5.degree.. Also, with at least
two apertures 30 in the inner ring any interference due to the bar
12 is avoided.
Thus, to change the angular position of the grip cylinder 18
relative to the bar 12, the two wing nuts would be removed from the
screws, the screws removed from the apertures 28, 30 and the grip
cylinder 18 would then be free to rotate relative to the bar 12
several angular positions are shown in phantom in FIG. 3. Upon
arrival at a desired angular position, the screws would be
reinserted through two opposite apertures 30 and through the
aligned apertures 28 to retain the rings 20, 22 in a fixed
relationship. Thus, an exercisor could readily perform general
lifting exercises, curling exercises and tricep exercises serially
without having to remove the weights 14, 14 from the bar 12. The
only removal or addition of the weights would be dependent on the
amount of weight desired to be lifted in any particular exercise.
In most cases, the majority of the weights would remain in
place.
In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the retaining
means 26A which comprises a spring loaded button manually
displaceable for selectively retaining the rings 20A, 22A in the
desired rotational relationship. Specifically, the retaining means
26A comprises a button member 32 which protrudes upwardly through a
bevelled opening 34 in the outer ring 22A. The opening 34
corresponds to the openings 28 identified in the first embodiment
above. The button 32 has an annular shoulder 36 at a bottom end for
seating against a step portion 38 of the inner ring 20A. Thus, the
button 32 is prevented from moving outwardly beyond the engagement
point of the shoulder 36 with the step 38.
A button housing 40 is frictionally seated in the inner ring 20A
and is hollow to receive the annular shoulder 36 of the button 32
as the button 32 is depressed into the housing 40. A coil spring 42
is positioned on the interior of the housing 40 and button 32 to
continuously bias the button 32 outwardly.
When the exercisor wishes to select a different rotational position
of the grip cylinder 18 relative to the bar 12, he would merely
depress the buttons 32, of which would there would preferably be
two opposed, so that the button 32 would clear the inside of the
outer ring 22A. Then, the inner ring 20A would be free to rotate
within the outer ring 22A. When the desired position is reached the
button 32 would align with one of the apertures 34 in the outer
ring 22A and would securely hold the inner ring 20A in a fixed
rotational position relative to the outer ring. Although other
types of retaining devices can be used to selectively hold the two
rings in a fixed relative rotational position, a retaining means of
the type shown in FIG. 5 is advantageous in that it avoids the
necessity of removal and replacement of any parts.
It is thus seen from the foregoing description that the present
invention comprises a weight lifting bar having hand grip portions
selectively rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis of the bar
and which can be selectively rotated without requiring the removal
of the weights on the bar, such that a plurality of different
exercises may be performed using a single bar and a single set of
weights. Various retaining means can be used to secure the
concentric rings in the desired rotational positions.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is
susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and
modifications which may differ particularly from those that have
been described in the preceding specification and description. It
should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the
patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and
properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.
* * * * *