GB2425269A

GB2425269A - Exercise bench

Info

Publication number: GB2425269A
Application number: GB0607471A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2006-04-13
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-13
Also published as: GB2425269B; GB0507536D0; GB0607471D0

Abstract

A bench incorporates a support portion 12, 20 which is raised from the floor and on which a person can sit or lie. In accordance with the invention the bench is provided with at least one extension portion 16, 18 which extends to a side of the support portion, typically at the location of the person's torso and in particular the shoulders, when lying on the support portion. In one embodiment, the extension portions 16, 18 can be selectively positioned with regard to the support portion in terms of the length of the extension from the support portion and/or angular position with respect to the support portion. The invention particularly relates to an exercise bench.

Description

Exercise Bench The invention to which this application relates is to a

support or bench (hereinafter referred to as a bench in a non-limiting manner), typically but not necessarily exclusively, for use by a person sitting or lying on the same to perform fitness exercises.

Benches for use in fitness exercises are well known and typically comprise a support portion having a top surface, on which the user is required to sit or lie. The support portion is spaced from a floor or surface on which the bench is placed, by a base assembly typically in the form of a frame having a series of legs.

The height of the support portion from the floor may be adjustable by the user to suit particular fitness exercises and/or the general size of the user.

Also, in many embodiments, the support portion is formed from at least two cushioned parts, one of which is angularly adjustable so as, for example, to provide a raised angle for greater support of a person's back when lying on the same.

The benches, in use, typically allow the user to perform a range of fitness exercises. un certain of the fitness exercises, the user is required to hold one or more weights with their hands and then raise and lower the weights between a position higher than the support portion to a position substantially in line with the support portion. l-Iowever, in practise, it is found that in many instances, and especially when the person becomes tired, the person allows the weights, via their arms, to be moved to a position below the surface of the support portion. As the bench typically has a width which is less than the distance between the person's shoulder blades, this means that the arms, and in particular shoulders, are required to move to a position lower than the support portion of the bench.

* *s * * ** * U U U U U * S. U * * . S US * * U Set *.I * S U U * U * * U S U U S.. U S * S It is found that in practise, this movement to a level below the support portion, can cause significant risk of injury to the person using the bench as their shoulders and arms are moving in a direction which is not intended, the said movement is made more extreme by the fact that the person is holding weights and, furthermore, the movement is completely unsupported and hence uncontrolled as the bench is not in contact with the shoulders or arms.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a bench for use in fitness exercises, which bench has an improved support for the person using the bench when performing said fitness exercises.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bench, said bench having a support portion on which a person can lie or sit, said support portion spaced from the floor and having a head end and a foot end and wherein the bench includes at least one portion which extends to a side of the support portion.

Typically the portion acts as an extension portion extending laterally to the support portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said support portion. Typically the longitudinal axis extends between the head and foot ends of the support portion.

Preferably, there arc provided two extension portions, respectively extending to opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the support portion at the head end thereof.

In one embodiment, the said extension portions lie in the same plane as the part of the support portion from which the same extend. In an alternative embodiment, the extension portions * I. S * ** * S I S * S I * I. * S * S * *S * I S 555 *II S I * S * S S I S I I S ISS 5 5 * 5 arc located so as to extend angularly from the part of the support portion from which the same extend.

In a further embodiment, one or more of the extension portions are provided to be selectively angularly positionable with respect to the part of the support portion from which the same extend.

In another embodiment, the extension portions are provided to be selectively movable such that the length of the extension from the support portion can be selected by the user to suit the particular person's body dimensions and comfort when using the bench.

In one embodiment, the extension portions can be moved between an in-use position in which the same extend from the support portion and a storage position in which the same are removed from the bench or remain connected to the bench but moved to an out-of-use position.

Typically, both the support portion and extension portions are padded. Typically the extension portions are formed such that the widest part of the extension is positioned at or adjacent to the location of the person's shoulders when lying on the support portion and therefore in one embodiment, the position of the extension portions in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the support portion can be selectively adjusted.

In one embodiment the support portion is angularly position able.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bench with a support portion on which a user lies or sits, said support portion defined by a head end and a foot end and side edges intermediate the same and wherein each side edge of the support * I. * I *I * I * I I I I * II I I * I I I* * I S S.. III I * I * S I I I S I a ISS * I S I portion is formed to include a portion which extends or protrudes outwardly from the respective side edge.

Typically the extension or protrusion portions arc located at a common location along the length of said support portion.

In one embodiment the said portions are provided as an integral part of the support portion.

In an alternative embodiment at least one of said portions are provided separate to the support portion. In this embodiment the said at least one portion is provided to be movable with respect to the support portion to allow removal and/or angular adjustment.

Typically said portions are located towards one end of the bench such that when a user lies on the support portion, the said extension or protrusion portions are located to support the shoulder area of the user.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bench in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates an end view of the bench in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a bench 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The bench includes a support portion 4 which is spaced from the floor 6 via a base 8 which is formed from a series of members provided in a configuration of a frame and having a series of legs 10 to * a. I I ** * I I S I I I * a. * . * * a St * * . I.. It. S * I * * a S I I * * *.. . * S S provide support for the support portion and/or extension portions. Although not shown in this embodiment, it is possible that the legs 10 may be adjustable in terms of height so as to allow the spacing between the support portion 4 and the floor 6 to be adjusted. The support portion 4 comprises a first part 12 in a substantially horizontal plane and a second part 14 which is raised angularly from the first part 12 as shown. The angle of the part 14 may also be adjustable to suit particular exercises and/or particular persons sizes.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided first and second extension portions 16, 18. The extension portions in this embodiment are located at the head end 20 of the bench.

The normal width X of the bench is selected so as to sit between the shoulder blades of the user when lying on the support portion 4. However, with the provision of the extension portions 16, 18, the person's shoulder blades lie on these extension portions and are therefore supported. Preferably, the edges 20, 22 of the extension portions are angled inwardly, away from the head portion 20 so as to allow freedom of movement of the user's arms but to retain support of the shoulder blades which is the critical part for reducing injury to the user.

If required, in certain embodiments, the extension portions 16, 18 can be angularly adjustable as indicated by arrows 24, 26 and/or slidably adjustable as indicated by arrows 28, 30. The angular adjustment can be provided so as to allow the angle of the top surfaces of the extension portions to be in line with the top surface of the support portion or either angled downwardly or upwardly with regard to the same so as to suit particular exercises and comfort of the user.

The sliding movement as indicated by arrows 28, 30 allows the user to ensure that the extension portions arc positioned such * .* S * ** * S S 0 * * S 4 IS S I S I * 0* * I S US* III * I * * S I S I S S S S.. * . S S that the same act to support the shoulder blades of the user as, one will appreciate that persons of different height will have their shoulder blades positioned at a different location on the support portion.

Thus, it will readily be appreciated that when a user is lying on the support portions 4, with their head at the head end 20 and their shoulder blades positioned on the extension portions 16, 1 8, the person will still be able to raise and lower their arms with weights supported thereby but the extension portions prevent the arms from being lowered below the level of the extension portions and hence typically below the level of the person on the support portion and therefore prevent or minimise the risk of injury to the person in comparison to conventional gym benches which have no extension or protruding portions.

Claims

* It I I II * I I I * S I

I II S I I S I II

* I * 115 *qI I I I * * I I S I I S III * I S S Claims 1. A bench, said bench having a support portion on which a person can lie or sit, said support portion spaced from the floor and having a head end and a foot end and wherein the bench includes at least one portion which extends to a side of the support portion.
2. A bench according to claim 1 wherein the said portion acts as an extension extending laterally to the support portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said support portion.
3. A bench according to claim I wherein there are provided two extension portions respectively extending to an opposing side of the longitudinal axis of the support portion.
4. A bench according to claim I wherein the at least one extension portion is positioned at or adjacent the head end of the support portion.
5. A bench according to claim 1 wherein the said at least one extension portion lies in the same plane as the support portion.
6. A bench according to claim 1 wherein the at least one extension portion extends at an angle from the support portion from which the same extends.
7. A bench according to claim 1 wherein the at least one extension portion is selectively angularly positionable with respect to the support portion.
8. A bench according to any of the preceding claims wherein the at least one extension portion is provided to be selectively * 1* * a * * a I I * * * * * a a II * * . las III * * 1 * s a a a a a a *,, * * I S movable such that the length of extension from the support portion can be selected by the user.
9. A bench according to any of the preceding claims wherein the extension portion can be moved between an in-use position extending from the support portion and a storage position.
10. A bench according to any of the preceding claims wherein the extension portion is formed such that the widest part of the portion is positioned at or adjacent to the location of a person's shoulders when lying on the support portion.
11. A fitness bench with a support portion on which a user lies or sits, said support portion defined by a head end and a foot end and side edges intermediate the same and wherein each side edge of the support portion is formed to include a portion which extends or protrudes outwardly.
12 A bench according to claim 11 wherein the extension or protrusion portions are located at a common location along the length of said support portion.
13 A bench according to claim 11 wherein the said portions are provided as an integral part of the support portion.
14 A bench according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said portions are provided as a separate item to the support portion.
A bench according to claims 11-14 wherein the portions are provided to be movable with respect to the support portion.
16 A bench according to claims 11-15 wherein said portions arc located at or towards one end of the bench such that when a user lies on the support portion, the said extension or * id a I a I t I I I II I S I I I ** * * S III III I I S * * * . . a S II, S S I S protrusion portions are located to support the shoulder area of the user.
17 A bench according to claims 11-16 wherein support legs are provided to support the said portions above the support surface on which the bench is positioned.
18. A bench as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.