GB2507591A

GB2507591A - Pulley bar for weight stack comprising resilient hinge

Info

Publication number: GB2507591A
Application number: GB1219964.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-06
Filing date: 2012-11-06
Publication date: 2014-05-07
Also published as: GB201219964D0

Abstract

A resistance exercise apparatus 10 comprises two gripping arms 12A, 12B connected by a hinge 14, characterised in that an attachment point 26 is provided to allow the apparatus to be attached to a cable pulley or another exercise equipment. The hinge 14 may comprise a coiled spring to resiliently resist the pivoting movement of the gripping arms 12A, 12B. The gripping members 16A and 16B may comprise resilient handles. The apparatus 10 may replace a conventional rigid pulley bar of a weight training machine to provide improved ergonomics, target specific muscle groups or increase the work out intensity. Alternatively, the hinge 14 may be provided with a locking arrangement to selectively prevent movement between gripping arms 12A, 12B. The apparatus 10 may also be used independently for strength training when the attachment loop 26 is not connected to a weight machine.

Description

Pulley Bar Apparatus The present invention relates to pulley bar apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively pulley bar apparatus for attachment to a piece of standalone exercise equipment having a cable pulley or similar arrangement provided thereon.

Weight training machines having a pulley arrangement connected to weights at one end and a pulley bar at the other end for a user to grip during a weight training exercise are very common in gym and fitness studios. Since such weight training machines are typically designed to be used during multiple different exercises a number of differently shaped pulley bars are typically provided for use. For example, a Y-shaped pulley bar may be used to work the triceps, a flat pulley bar may be used to work the back muscles etc. This allows users to select an appropriately shaped pulley bar from a selection of shaped pulley bars depending upon the exercise to be conducted and the muscle groups to be worked. The end of the cable pulley on the weight machine and / or the attachment of the pulley bar is typically provided with a universal "carabiner" style or similar connector to allow the user to easily swap one shape of pulley bar over with another shape of pulley bar between exercises. In addition, rather than fixed pulley bars, ropes or slings are sometimes also attached to the cable pulley in order to work different muscle groups. However, the muscle groups that such pulley bars and ropes can be used to exercise is limited.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided pulley bar apparatus comprising a pulley attachment point adapted to allow the apparatus to be attached to a cable pulley or other component of exercise equipment, a first gripping member adapted to allow a user to grip the apparatus with a first hand, a second gripping member adapted to allow a user to grip the apparatus with a second hand, the first and second gripping members being hingeably attached to the apparatus such that the first and second gripping members may move in a hinged mode between an open and a closed configuration around a pivot axis when gripped by a user.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the attached claims and the following description.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of pulley bar apparatus according to the present invention where the apparatus is shown in an open configuration; Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the pulley bar apparatus of Fig. 1 where the apparatus has been actuated by a user toward a closed configuration; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pulley bar apparatus of Fig. 1, illustrating a coiled spring passing around the hinge of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the pulley bar apparatus of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an view of the pulley bar apparatus of Fig. 1 from inside of the hinge; and Fig. 6 is a transverse view of the outside of the pulley bar apparatus.

With reference to Fig. 1, pulley bar apparatus generally designated 10 comprises a first gripping arm 1 2A connected to a second gripping arm 1 2B by a hinge arrangement 14 such that the first and second gripping arms 12A, 12B can actuate toward or away from one another around a pivot axis P-P defined by the hinge 14.

Each gripping arm 1 2A, 1 2B tapers from a relatively wide dimension at one end to a relatively narrow dimension at the other end. Hand grips 16A, 16B are provided atthe relatively wide ends of the arms 12A, 12B. D-shaped cut-outs 18A, 18B are provided adjacent the hand grips 16A, 16B to comfortably receive a user's hands / arms therein. In the embodiment shown, the hand grips 16A, 16B are covered with a foam or rubber sheath to provide additional comfort and improved grip for a user's hands during use; however, any alternative material could be used here to provide a similar effect. Further cut-out sections 20A, 20B are also provided toward the middle of each gripping member 1 2A, 1 2B.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the outer side of each gripping member is provided with an anchor point 22A, 22B which each locate an end of a coiled spring 24 which extends around the outside of the hinge 14. A cable pulley attachment loop 26 projects from the rear of the hinge 14 for attachment to an existing cable pulley of a piece of exercising equipment (not shown).

In use, a user would normally connect the attachment loop 26 to a corresponding attachment hook of a cable pulley provided on a weight training machine (not shown). In order to begin the exercise, the user then grips handle 16A with one hand and handle 16B with the other hand and begins to pull. As the cable pulley is pulled the weight of the weight stack on the weight training machine will be transferred into the user's muscles (normally the muscles found in the back and forearms). This works those muscles in a first "weight-lifting" mode. However, as the user continues to pull the cable pulley attached to the apparatus 10 towards them they can also move the first and second gripping arms 1 2A, 1 2B closed in the direction indicated by arrow A in Fig. 3, or open in the direction indicated by arrow B in Fig. 3, depending upon the desired muscle groups to be worked. In either case, the resilience of the coiled spring 24 will tend to resist such opening or closing movement of the gripping arms 12A, 12B to thereby impart an additional resistive force on the user's muscles during the pulling manoeuvre. This therefore works the muscles in a second "hinged mode".

In this way, the pulley bar of the present invention is very ergonomic since it is able to adapt to the user's physique (by hinged movement around the hinge 14) as the weight stack on the weight training machine is pulled. Furthermore, this motion provides the user with a completely new exercise experience since the user's muscles will be worked in a different way (by way of the weight lifting mode combined with the hinged mode) than they have previously ever worked. For this reason, the targeted muscle groups will need to create additional power (to overcome the resistance of the coiled spring 24) when they are already under significant strain (from the weights on the end of the cable pulley). This can be used to target specific muscles groups and maximise the efficiency of a training session (in other words more muscles can be worked, and at a greater intensity, in a shorter time period).

Another advantage of the present invention is that it creates a high level of control in the exercise routine. This is because the amount of resistance provided by the coiled spring 24 in the hinged mode can be altered depending upon the user's desires and requirements.

Furthermore, the invention allows a variety of combinations of resistance in the hinged mode and resistance in the weight-lifting mode to be selected depending upon the user's physique, strength, experience and desired outcomes. For example, the user may choose:- -A relatively low weight on the cable pulley, and a relatively low on-board hinge resistance of the apparatus 10 to provide relatively gentle exercise for their muscles. This could help in rehabilitation from an injury for example; -A relatively /ow weight on the cable pulley, and a relatively high on-board hinge resistance of the apparatus 10. This could help a user target muscles in the hinged mode more than in the weight-lifting mode; -A relatively high weight on the cable pulley, and a relatively/ow on-board hinge resistance of the apparatus 10. This could help a user target muscles in the weight-lifting mode more than the hinged mode; -A relatively high weight on the cable pulley and a relatively high on-board hinge resistance of the apparatus 10. This could help a user to maximise the intensity of their exercise by working their muscles at a high level of intensity in both the weight-lifting and hinged modes.

In order to provide variation in the degree of resistance to suit different user demands, the pulley bar apparatus 10 may comprise a tension adjustment arrangement in order to alter the amount of force required to move the apparatus in the hinged mode. In one embodiment, this could be provided by moveable anchoring points 22A, 22B. In such an arrangement, the position of the anchoring

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points along the length of the gripping arms 1 2A, 1 2B can be altered in order to increase or decrease the total distance therebetween and hence alter the length of the coiled spring 24 and tension provided thereby. Alternatively, or additionally the coiled spring 24 may comprise a removable cartridge arrangement such that different cartridges having a spring with a higher or lower level of resilience may be interchanged with one another depending upon the level of resistance desired in the hinged mode.

Variation of the apparatus' resistance to movement in the hinged mode can also be achieved by providing a selection of pulley bars according to the present invention.

This allows a range of pulley bars, each having different pre-set resistance levels, to be provided. A number or colour-coded system may be provided to allow a user to easily identify the correct resistance pulley bar for their exercise. With this system, the user simply selects the pulley bar with the correct resistance level and attaches this to the cable pulley of the weight training machine by attachment loop 26. When a different level of resistance in the hinged mode is required, the user simply swaps the pulley bar over with another one having the required level of resistance.

The skilled person will realise that the present invention provides a number of significant advantages over known pulley bars. For example, the invention allows specific muscle groups to be worked when they are already under stress from the weight on the cable pulley. In particular, the invention helps to work several groups ot muscles (such as the back, shoulder and torearm muscles) simultaneously. In addition, this leads to a whole range of new exercises for e.g. the arms, back, shoulder, chest and abdominal muscles which would previously not have been sensible, viable or worthwhile but which, with the arrangement provided by the present invention, are in fact highly beneficial.

In addition, when compared to existing fixed pulley bars, there is a reduced likelihood of injury since the pivoting ability in the hinged mode creates a more ergonomically optimised piece of equipment. Furthermore, the apparatus is less likely to wear and tear than some pieces of equipment (such as rope) which can quickly become worn, unsightly and potentially hazardous.

As well as allowing specific muscle groups to be targeted, the increased work-out intensity resulting from use of the present invention can also help increase a user's cardiovascular work-out at the same time.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims.

It is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Examples of these include the following:-Although in the specific embodiments described above, the apparatus is used during a pulling exercise; it could alternatively be used during a pushing exercise with little or no modification being required. In addition, rather than the arms, the apparatus could alternatively be used to exercise other parts of the body such as the torso or legs etc. Rather than attaching the coiled spring 24 to the outside of the first and second gripping arms 12A, 12B and passing this around the outside of the hinge 14, the coiled spring 24 could alternatively be attached to the inside of the first and second gripping arms 12A, 12B and passed around the inside of hinge 14. Indeed, coiled springs and / or other means of creating resistance between the first and second gripping arms 12, 12B in the hinged mode could be provided on both the outside and inside of the hinge 14.

In some instances, the user may not wish to use the pivoting or hinged mode resistance capability of the pulley bar provided by the present invention. To account for this possibility, the pulley bar apparatus 10 may therefore be provided with a locking arrangement that locks the first and second gripping arms 12, 12B against hinged movement with respect to one another (such that they can no longer pivot around the pivot axis P-P). In this way, the pulley bar apparatus 10 of the present invention can be used in a more traditional fixed configuration, if desired.

In addition, the pulley bar apparatus 10 can be used independently as a resistance training aid at home or at the gym when not connected to a cable pulley of a weight training machine.

The additional cut out sections 20A, 20B may also be modified to provide additional hand holds. This allows the user to grip the pulley bar apparatus 10 toward the middle of each gripping member 1 2A, 1 2B and rest the outside or inside of their arms against the first hand holds 1 6A, 1 6B to obtain greater leverage on the apparatus 10 during movement.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Pulley bar apparatus comprising a pulley attachment point adapted to allow the apparatus to be attached to a cable pulley or other component of exercise equipment, a first gripping member adapted to allow a user to grip the apparatus with a first hand, a second gripping member adapted to allow a user to grip the apparatus with a second hand, the first and second gripping members being hingeably attached relative to one another such that the first and second gripping members may move in a hinged mode between an open and a closed configuration around a pivot axis when gripped by a user.
2. Pulley bar apparatus according to claim 1, turther comprising resilient means adapted to resiliently resist movement of the gripping members in the hinged mode.
3. Pulley bar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resilient means is provided at or toward a hinge arrangement.
4. Pulley bar apparatus according to either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the resilient means comprises a coiled spring arrangement.
5. Pulley bar apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a first end of the coiled spring arrangement is attached to the outside of the first gripping member, a middle section extends around the outside of the hinge arrangement and a second end is attached to the outside of the second gripping member.
6. Pulley bar apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a resilience adjustment arrangement adapted to allow the magnitude of resilience provided by the resilient means to be adjusted.
7. Pulley bar apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second gripping members each comprise a relatively rigid plate having a relatively narrow section adjacent the hinge arrangement and a relatively wide section at the other end thereof.
8. Pulley bar apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each gripping member comprises a first hand-hold provided at or toward the relatively wide section.
9. Pulley bar apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each gripping member further comprises a second hand-hold located between the relatively narrow and the relatively wide section of each gripping member.
10. Pulley bar apparatus according to either of claims 8 or 9, wherein the hand-holds comprise a resilient gripping material.
11. Pulley bar apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the hinge arrangement comprises a pin and cylinder hinge arrangement and wherein a pulley attachment point is mated therewith to allow the apparatus to be attached to a cable pulley of a weight machine.
12. An exercise machine comprising pulley bar apparatus according to claim 1.
13. Pulley bar apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated in any of Figs. ito 6.