CA2764275A1 - Upper body exercise equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is an exercise equipment. It is used to exercise the upper body, mainly Chest, Arm and Shoulder muscles. With this equipment a different approach is used to exercise these muscle groups than with a conventional Bench Press (Bar-Bell) for the same muscle groups. This invention has the motions similar to a conventional Bench-press.
But the weight is not on top/overhead of the Person but located on the Floor on either the sides or behind the bench connected through a cable or cables via a Pulley system with Handles attached to the other end of the cable.
One lies on the Bench, less than shoulders wide and pushes with the Hands the two Handles (one in either hand) up, until the elbows are locked, preferable in a straight line and then let back down slowly. The resistance is from the bottom somewhere below the shoulders where the first or last Pulley (depends how one traces the system), in the Pulley system, is located.
The weight is adjustable by a locking pin, which is inserted into the Holes of the selected weight.

Description

SPECIFICATION
TITLE
Exercise Equipment = This invention is an "exercise equipment" for workout of the upper body muscles.
= Commonly one uses a generic or conventional "bench press" with weights loaded on either side of a steel bar (called Bar-Bell), to exercise the upper body muscles. This type of exercise equipment has some limitations for once because of the one only Hand position (parallel to the chest muscles), which allows one to exercise a fewer muscle groups.
Disc type weights are attached to or loaded on both ends of a steel bar (Bar Bell). The Bar Bell/weight is overhead as one lifts it out of its resting fixture or holder, while lying on a bench. This is an inherent danger, in that, that the weight could drop onto the person chest, Neck or Face, if suddenly too heavy or the person having cramps or any other types of physical problems.
For this reason a second person (called a spotter) is sometimes asked to stand behind the equipment to assist the lifter when assistance is necessary (in the case the weight gets to heavy, cramps, etc.) and can not be lifted anymore.
Also with this conventional bench press type, weights have to be carried to and from the "weight stand" or "shelf' for different selections of weights.
There are equipments that have a pulley system with handles at the end where you would sit upright on a "chair" type, the handles are located on the side and much farther apart and therefore have to be pulled forward (horizontally), which does not simulate the otherwise effective "Bar-Bell bench press" motion (which is straight up).

= To overcome these disadvantages this invention is using a pulley system, with cables, which has "Handles" attached to one end and "stacked weights" attached to the other.
By having all the "weights" located at the base of the Equipments, there is no need to transport them to and from a "weight stand" or "shelf".
The danger of the weights (Bar Bell) being dropped onto ones Chest, Face or Neck, is eliminated by the use of a Pulley system, where the weights are on the side (or behind by design) and not overhead.
Therefore there is no need for a "second Person" (Spotter) to stand behind the "Equipment" in the case the weight gets too heavy or for any other kind of problems.
By using Handles that one can rotate into a different Hand position enables one to exercise additional /different muscle groups than with a "one hand position"
on the Bar of a conventional bench press.
This Invention has all the benefits of a conventional Bench Press including the benefit of the free weights, which is more beneficial to the building of additional muscles (i.e.
biceps and forearms used as stabilizers) compare to some rigid machines with levers, which allows only for a rigid linear motion.
The width between one's hands while doing the exercise is also significant and can be adjusted during the exercise.

DESCRIPTION
= In the Drawings one can recognize the embodiment of the invention, where FIG.1 is showing the exercise equipment as a whole in a solid 3D view. FIG. 2 also shows the whole equipment in an "open view" also in 3D. In FIG. 3 it shows one side of the equipment for a better, detailed view, also in 3D. FIG. 4 shows one side of the equipment in solid 3D. FIG. 5 shows a "side" view of one side of the equipment. FIG. 6 shows a "front" view of the whole equipment. In FIG. 7 it shows a "top" view of the whole equipment in solid. FIG. 8 shows a "disassembled" view of one side of the equipment.
FIG. 9 shows the "Rotary Handle" in 4:1 scale for a better, detailed view.
= The Equipment illustrated in the Drawings is comprised of the "Main Structure" (# 1), "Rails" (# 2) to guide the weights as they move up and down, "Stacked Weights"
(# 3), a "Pulley system" (# 4) (single Pulleys, double Pulley, rotary Pulleys &
cables), a "Bench"
(# 5) with a "curved support Part" (# 6), a "Handle" (# 7), a "resting Fixture" (# 8) (for the Handle), "Hooks" (# 9), a "Pull Rod" (# 10), a "lock Pin" (# 11) and "Cable Retainers" (# 12), "length adjustment loops" (# 13). Alternatively also the "Rotary Handle" (FIG. 9) with the "rotary Gripper" (# 14).
This arrangement is set up on both sides of the bench (one for each Hand) as illustrated in FIG.1 and FIG. 2.
= To utilize this equipment first one selects the weight by inserting the lock pin (# 11) into the hole of the selected weight (incl. the "pull rod" (# 10), which attaches the cable to the "stacked weights" (# 3)).
Then the actual exercise is done by one lying down on the bench (# 5) so that the Chest is aligned (same level) approximately with the Handles (# 7) and with the feet flat on the floor.
Then one takes both of the Handles (# 7) into the Hands, brings them into starting position (close to shoulder) and pushes them straight up in a slow and consistent motion until the arms are fully extended or the elbows are gently locked and then lowers the weight slowly to the level of the chest (or starting position), without having the stacked weights touching the floor. (This is repeated as required).
The last pulleys before the Handles are sideways rotatable (#15) to allow for the user to be in a slightly off position on the bench (not exactly having the shoulders aligned with the Handles).
O Once the exercise is completed with the Handles again in the "lower" or "starting"
position, they then can be placed on the ground or returned into its "resting fixture" (# 8), depending on the design (at this point the "stacked weights" are rested on the floor).
= With the "Rotary Handle" option (FIG. 9), the gripping part (# 14) of the Handle can be rotated (90 degrees or less) into a different position (roughly parallel or perpendicular to the Chest) so that different muscle groups are being targeted.
Alternative Designs (to the one illustrated and described):
= "Two pulley system" leading to the Handle, as in the illustrated version but with one Pulley & cable on either side of the "stacked weights" system (leading to the same Handle).
= One central "stacked weights" system behind the bench (or any other convenient location) connected to the Pulley system on both side of the bench.

LIST OF FIGURES & NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 - Whole Equipment in solid 3D.
FIG. 2 - Whole Equipment in 3D.
FIG. 3 - One side of Equipment in 3D.
FIG. 4 - One side of Equipment & Rotary Handle solid in 3D.
FIG. 5 - Side view of one side of Equipment.
FIG. 6 - Front view of whole Equipment in solid.
FIG. 7 - Top view of whole Equipment in solid.
FIG. 8 - Disassembled view of one side of Equipment.
FIG. 9 - Rotary Handle.
# 1 - Main Structure #2 -Rails # 3 - Stacked weights # 4 - Pulley system #5 -Bench # 6 - Curved Support # 7 - Handle # 8 - Resting Fixture # 9 - Hooks #1O - Pull Rod #11 - Lock Pin # 12 - Cable Retainer # 13 - Length Adjustment Loops # 14 - Rotary Gripper # 15 - Rotatable Pulley

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

In Claim 1, I claim the "design" itself as seen in FIG.1 and FIG. 2, where all the elements (structure, pulley system, stacked weights, etc.) are arranged in a fashion so that it simulates the motion or movement of a conventional/generic Bench Press (Bar Bell) with all of its benefits plus additional benefits and none of its disadvantages (benefits are as follows and are also listed in the specification).
Benefits of Invention:
- Effective "straight up" motion (as with conventional/generic bench press).
- Acts as a "free weight" (as with conventional/generic bench press).
("Free weights" are more effective) - No "transfer" of weights to & from weight stand (shelf) necessary.
- Weights can not drop onto the user's chest, face or neck during exercise.

- (Weights are not overhead as with conventional bar bell bench press).
- Because of the previous point there is no need for a second person (spotter) to assist.
- The actual hand motion could be straight up or towards a point above ones chest (For different effects).
In Claim 2, I claim a "rotary handle" shown in (FIG. 9), where one can rotate the gripping part (# 14) of the "Rotary Handle" from a "parallel" to a "perpendicular" hand position (90 degree or less) in order for different muscle groups to be exercised (targeted).

In Claim 3, I claim a "curved part" (# 6) of the Bench at or near the waist, which gives lateral support for a more enjoyable and more effective workout.
This "curved part" can be a solid part of the bench or an adjustable attachment but flexible enough for different size body waist.
The material can be anything flexible yet stiff enough for support and shall be covert with cushioning (i.e. Foam and leather).
In Claim 4, I claim the alternative to the "two" cables coming from "two"
pulleys attached to the Handle (# 7), which would be just "one" cable coming from "one" pulley and attached to the Handle (# 7) or the "Rotary Handle" (FIG. 9). The cable would have some soft patting/cushioning (i.e. Foam covert with leather) around it where it makes contact with the forearm during exercise (not illustrated).
In Claim 5, I claim the alternative of having a "central" "stacked weights"
system "behind" the bench (or at any other convenient location), which is connected to the Handles via four cables (two for each Handle) or just "two" cables as in "claim 4".
In Claim 6, I claim that the last "Pulleys" before the "Handles" are adjustable in a way so that the "width" between the Pulleys on the left side and the Pulleys on the right side (of the bench) can be adjusted to approximately the width of the individuals shoulders (the person using the equipment) in order to keep the "straight up" motion.