GB2518515A

GB2518515A - Gym equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2518515A
Application number: GB1414264.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ricardo Macedo
Original assignee: SUPREMACY FITNESS Ltd
Current assignee: SUPREMACY FITNESS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-12
Filing date: 2014-08-12
Publication date: 2015-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-12
Also published as: GB2518515B; GB201414264D0

Abstract

An article of gym equipment comprises a gym bar 10 for simultaneous use by two people. The gym bar comprises two handgrip tubes 21,22 and a straight member 15 passing though the handgrips, which are spaced apart along a length of the straight member. The straight member has a length of between 0.5m and 1.1m, preferably between 0.7m and 0.9m. The handgrips each have a length of between 0.18m and 0.4m, preferably between 0.22m and 0.32m. The straight member may be formed of two sub members 1,2 that may be detachably connected by a screw thread. The straight member may be made of metal while the handgrips may be made of foam. The gym bar may comprise at least one retaining portion 30 for retaining a strap 50. The retaining portion may comprise a length of the straight member and, a stopper in the form of a collar 11,12 and/or an end of the handgrip tubes. The straps may have retention loops 51, for retention in the retaining portions, and handle loops 53 which may pass through handle tubes 54.

Description

GYM EQUIPMENT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an item of gym equipment, for performing gym exercises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large variety of gym equipment is known in the art to assist persons in performing gym exercises.

Gym equipment for performing resistance-based exercises typically incorporates weights against which the person must act to perform the exercise.

For example, known gym equipment includes items such as dumbbells where weights are moved directly by the person, and various frame arrangements where weights are moved via ropes/pulleys attached to handles/pressure plates that the person acts against.

One of the problems with such gym equipment is that it is often large and heavy by the very nature of the weights that it requires, making transportation difficult. Such gym equipment is often treated as a permanent fixture of the room where it is located, and cannot easily be moved from place to place for user convenience. In commercial settings there may be a requirement to make sure that persons are properly trained in the use of such gym equipment, due to the risks that working with large weights entails.

Gym equipment such as benches and mats are also known in the art, although these typically do not enable the user to perform high-resistance exercises, unless the exercises are performed in combination with additional weights. Furthermore, the types of exercises which can be performed with such equipment may be limited, and the user may find such equipment boring to use in comparison to other more sophisticated equipment incorporating weights and/or allowing more unusual types of exercise.

It is therefore an aim of the invention to improve upon known gym equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided gym equipment that comprises a gym bar for simultaneous use by two persons. The gym bar comprises two handgrip tubes and a straight member passing through the handgrip tubes, wherein the handgrip tubes are spaced apart from one another in a direction along a length of the straight member. The straight member has a length of between O.5m and 1.lm, and each handgrip tube has a length of between O.lBm and O.4m.

The provision of a gym bar that is suitable for use by two persons simultaneously, means that the two persons can act against one another via the gym bar, to greatly increase the resistance of the exercises compared to the resistance of exercises achievable by one person exercising alone. Furthermore, the increase in resistance levels is achieved without the addition of weights, meaning that the gym equipment can be much lighter and easier to transport compared to conventional high-resistance gym equipment.

Since the straight member has a length of between O.5m and 1.lm, it can easily be held by two persons facing directly towards or away from one another, with the length of the straight member corresponding well with the distance at which people naturally separate their hands apart when holding a straight member horizontally out in front or behind of them. More preferably, the straight member has a length of between O.7m and O.9m, to more closely match the widths at which people naturally separate their hands apart.

Additionally, since each handgrip tube has a length of between O.lSm and O.4m, each handgrip tube is suitable for holding by two hands simultaneously, for example a left hand of a first person and a left hand of a second person.

Therefore, since there are two handgrip tubes, the first and second persons may both hold the gym bar with both of their hands.

More preferably, each handgrip tube has a length of between O.22m and O.32m, to more closely match the combined width of two hands holding the handgrip next to one another.

Preferably, the handgrip tubes are symmetrical about a midpoint of the length of the straight member, so that the size and weight of the straight member is balanced about the handgrip tubes. The straight member may have a width of between O.02m and O.04m, so that it is sufficiently strong and can easily fit within the hand of a person even when the handgrip tube surrounds it.

Advantageously, the straight member may be formed from two sub-members which are connected together, the sub members being repeatedly connectable and detachable from one another to allow assembly and disassembly of the gym bar respectively. The disassembly of the gym bar reduces its overall length, enabling it to be more easily transported or stowed away. Each sub-member may have a length substantially half the length of the assembled straight member, i.e. the straight member may be halved in length when it is disassembled. Conveniently, the two sub members may be connectable to one another by screwing an end of one of the sub members into an end of another one of the sub members.

The straight member may have a tubular shape and have a cross section of a circle, so that the straight member can be easily rotated, either within the hands of a person holding it, or within loops of any straps that may be used with the gym bar. The width of the straight member may be consistent, i.e. the same, along the whole length of the straight member.

Preferably, the straight member is formed of metal for strength and hygiene reasons, although other materials such as carbon composites or plastics could alternatively be used. The handgrip tubes may be formed of a foam material to improve user comfort when holding the gym bar.

Advantageously, the gym bar may comprise at least one retainer portion for retaining a strap to the straight member, for example by passing a loop of the strap around the retainer portion. Each retainer portion comprises a length portion of the straight member and a stopper at an end of the length portion, the stopper increasing an overall width of the gym bar to prevent sliding of the strap beyond the length portion of the retainer portion. Therefore, the gym bar may be used together with straps to increase the range of exercises that may be performed with it. For example, the gym bar could be suspended from a ceiling by a strap connected between the ceiling and a retainer portion at a centre of the gym bar.

Or, the strap may have a handle so that a person can hold the gym bar using the strap. The length portion of the retainer portion may have a circular cross section and a smooth external surface to allow rotation of the straight member within a loop of the strap, as may occur during performing exercises.

Preferably the length portion is between O.Olm and O.lm, to provide sufficient room for a strap, but not so much room that the strap can move excessively along the length of the gym bar. More preferably, the length portion is between O.02m and O.06m, to allow space for a strap at least O.02m wide, and to more closely constrain the position of the strap.

A central one of the retainer portions, referred to as a central retainer portion, may comprise two stoppers in the form of collars which are fixed around the straight member. The collars may be located symmetrically about a midpoint of the length of the straight member, so that they define a length portion between them which is at the centre of the gym bar. Then, the central retainer portion can be used to suspend the gym bar in a horizontal orientation. Optionally, the collars may have a grooved outer surface to assist screwing and unscrewing of the two sub members from one another in the case where the straight member is formed from two sub members rather than a single member.

An intermediate one of the retainer portions, referred to as an intermediate retainer portion, may comprise a stopper defined by one of the collars, and a stopper defined by a first end of one of the handgrip tubes. An end one of the retainer portions, referred to as an end retainer portion, may comprise a stopper defined by a second end of one of the handgrip tubes, the second end of the handgrip tube spaced apart from an end of the straight member by the length portion of the end retainer portion. Although only one end of the length portion is provided with a stopper for the end retainer portions, many exercises will tend to pull the strap towards the handgrip tube rather than off the end of the straight member, and so the lack of a stopper at the very end of the straight member is not a problem for such exercises. Alternatively, a strap could be looped around one of the handgrip tubes, the foam of the handgrip tube deforming to help prevent the strap sliding along the handgrip tube.

Advantageously, the gym equipment may further comprise an accessory for use with the gym bar, the accessory comprising a strap having a retainer loop for retention to one of the retainer portions. The accessory may be for connecting the gym bar to other physical entities such as ceilings or frameworks, or the accessory may comprise handles for holding by the person(s) using the gym bar. For example, the accessory may be a single-handled accessory or a double-handled accessory.

The gym equipment may comprise two single-handled accessories, each single-handled accessory comprising strap(s) forming a retainer loop, for passing around the gym bar, and a handle loop, for holding by a person using the gym equipment with the retainer loop around the gym bar. One of the single-handled accessories may be held by the left hand of a person and for example pass around one of the intermediate retainer portions, and the other of the single-handled accessories may be held by the right hand of the person and for example pass around the other one of the intermediate retainer portions.

Each handle loop may be further formed by a tubular member through which strap(s) pass, the tubular member having a length of between 0.05 and 0.15m so that it fits with one hand of one person.

The double-handled accessory may comprise strap(s) forming a central retainer loop for retention to a central one of the retainer portions; two end retainer loops, one for passing around each end of the gym bar; and two handle ioops, for holding by a person using the gym equipment. The two end retainer loops may be passed around the handgrip tubes towards each end of the gym bar, or each end retainer loop may be passed around a respective one of the end retainer portions to retain them thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective diagram of a gym bar according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the gym bar of Fig. 1; Figs. 3a -3c show the gym bar of Fig. 1 being dissembled for storage; Fig. 4 shows two first accessories for use with the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a side view of the gym bar of Fig. 1 when fitted with the first accessories of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a second accessory for use with the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows a side view of the gym bar of Fig. 1 when fitted with the second accessory of Fig. 6; Figs. 8a and Bb show a third accessory fitted to the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 shows a fourth accessory for use with the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 shows a first mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 shows a second mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 shows a third mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1 and the first accessories of Fig. 4; Fig. 13 shows a fourth mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1 and the first accessories of Fig. 4; Fig. 14 shows a fifth mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1 and the second accessory of Fig. 6; Fig. 15 shows a sixth mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1 and the second accessory of Fig. 6; Fig. 16 shows a seventh mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1 and the third accessory of Fig. 8a; and Fig. 17 shows an eighth mode of exercise using the gym bar of Fig. 1, the first accessories of Fig. 4, and the fourth accessory of Fig. 9.

The figures are not to scale, and same or similar reference signs denote same or similar figures.

The diagram of Fig. 1 shows gym equipment consisting of a gym bar 10.

The gym bar 1 comprises a straight member 15 that is formed by two sub-members 1 and 2 which are connected to one another at the centre of the gym bar 10. The two sub-members 11 and 12 are formed from chrome steel tubing.

A left collar 11 and a right collar 12 are fixed near the middle of the gym bar, equidistant from the centre of the gym bar. The collars are formed as rings around the straight member 15, and are separated from one another to define a central retainer portion 30.

A left handgrip tube 21 is mounted around the left sub-member 1. The left handgrip tube and the left sub-member are cylindrical and are co-axial to one another. The left handgrip tube 21 is shorter than the left sub-member 1 and so the left handgrip tube does not cover the whole length of left sub-member 1.

Specifically, a left intermediate retainer portion 31 is defined by a length portion of the left sub-member 1 between the left handgrip tube 21 and the left collar 11, and a left end retainer 41 is defined by a length portion of the left sub-member 1 between the end of the left sub-member land the left handgrip tube 21.

A right handgrip tube 22 is mounted around the right sub-member 2. The right handgrip tube and the right sub-member are cylindrical and are co-axial to one another. The right handgrip tube 22 is shorter than the right sub-member 2 and so the right handgrip tube does not cover the whole length of right sub-member 2. Specifically, a right intermediate retainer portion 32 is defined by a length portion of the right sub-member 2 between the right handgrip tube 22 and the right collar 12, and a right end retainer 42 is defined by a length portion of the right sub-member 2 between the end of the right sub-member 2 and the right

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handgrip tube 22.

The central, intermediate, and end retainer portions are for retaining straps of accessories which may optionally be used with the gym bar, as will be described later in relation to Figs. 12-17.

The left sub-member 1 and the left handgrip tube 21 are substantially symmetrical to the right sub-member 2 and the right handgrip tube 22. The diagram of Fig. 2 shows a side view of the gym bar 10. The centre of the gym bar is marked with reference CNT, and is mid way along the centre retainer portion 30. The centre retainer portion 30 has a length Li of 0.04m, providing enough space for a strap to be looped around it, with the width of the strap aligned with the length of the gym bar.

Each collar 11 and 12 has a length L2 of 0.03m, each intermediate retainer portion 31 and 32 has a length L3 of 0.05m, each handgrip tube 21 and 22 has a length L4 of 0.27m, and each end retainer portion 41 and 42 has a length L5 of 0.03m. Accordingly, the total length LT of the gym bar 10 is 0.8m. Clearly, these dimensions may vary in alternate implementations of the gym bar.

The disassembly of the gym bar 10 for storage/transit will now be described with reference to Figs. 3a to 3c. Fig. 3a shows that the two sub-members 1 and 2 may be unscrewed by the user gripping the collars ii and 12 and rotating them in opposite directions to one another, to progressively reveal the external screw thread 13 of the left sub-member 11. The external surfaces of the collars 11 and 12 are provided with grooves 17 to assist the user in gripping and rotating the collars 11 and 12. The straight member 15 has a width Wi of 0.03m, which is consistent along the whole length of the straight member 15.

The sub-members 1 and 2 are unscrewed from one another until they are detached, as shown in Fig. 3b, wherein the internal screw thread 14 of the right sub-member 14 is visible. The external screw thread 13 has been unscrewed from the internal screw thread 14 in the Fig. 3b configuration.

Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 3c, the left collar 11 can also be unscrewed from the external screw thread 13, to separate it from the left sub-member 1.

Furthermore, the right collar 12 can be unscrewed from an external screw thread 18 of the right sub-member 2, to separate it from the right sub-member 2. The gym bar may then be packed away for storage/transit. Clearly, other ways of connecting the sub-members 1 and 2 of the gym bar together are also possible, for example a latch of one sub-member could be arranged to latch into a hole through the tube of the other sub-member.

The gym bar 10 can be used by two persons P1 and P2 to perform various exercises, for example as shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. In a first exercise mode shown in Fig. 10, the weight of person P1 is used as resistance against the person P2 pushing the gym bar 10 upwardly. In a second exercise mode shown in Fig. 11, both persons P1 and P2 work against one another and so can control the amount of resistance that they present to one another. As shown in Fig. 11, the handgrips 21 and 22 can be used to accommodate the feet of the person P2.

Alternatively, the gym equipment may further comprise various accessories for expanding the range of exercises that can be performed with the gym bar. The diagram of Fig. 4 shows two first accessories 50 for use with the gym bar 10. Each first accessory 50 is a single-handled accessory comprising a strap forming a retainer loop 51 and a handle loop 53. The retainer loop 51 is closed by a join 52 across a looped over portion of the strap, and the retainer loop 53 is formed by joining opposing ends of the strap to one another inside of a plastic tube 54. The plastic tube 54 is covered by a foam covering 55 to provide a handle grip for the user of the accessory 50.

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of the first accessories 50 attached to the gym bar 10. The gym bar is passed through the retainer loop 51 of one of the accessories until the retainer loop 51 reaches the left intermediate retainer portion 31, and the gym bar is passed through the retainer loop 51 of the other one of the accessories until the retainer loop 51 reaches the right intermediate retainer portion 32, as shown in Fig. 5.

The left retainer ioop 51 is retained in place at the left intermediate retainer portion 31 by the collar 11 and the end 26 of the left handgrip 21. The collar 11 and the end 26 constitute stoppers which stop the retainer loop 51 from moving beyond the left intermediate retainer portion 31 along the gym bar by the collar 11 and the end 26 being of increased width compared to the width of the length portion of the left intermediate retainer portion 31.

The right retainer loop 51 is retained in place at the right intermediate retainer portion 32 by the collar 12 and the end 27 of the right handgrip 22. The collar 12 and the end 27 constitute stoppers which stop the retainer loop 51 from moving beyond the right intermediate retainer portion 32 along the gym bar, by the collar 12 and the end 27 being of increased width compared to the width of the length portion of the right intermediate retainer portion 32.

Clearly, the retainer loops 51 are most securely retained between the stoppers 26, 11, and 12, 27, when the retainer loops 51 are under tension and therefore pressed against the length portions of the intermediate portions. The chrome steel of the sub-members 1 and 2 provides a smooth surface for the retainer loops to rotate about the retainer portions 30, 31, 32, 41, and 42 of the gym bar 10.

The gym bar 10 can be used with the two first accessories 50 for two persons P1 and P2 to perform various exercises, for example as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. In a third exercise mode shown in Fig. 12, both persons P1 and P2 work against one another and so can control the amount of resistance that they present to one another. In a fourth exercise mode shown in Fig. 13, the weight of person P2 is used as resistance against the person P2 pulling the gym bar 10 upwardly.

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a second accessory 60 which can be used with the gym bar 10. The second accessory 60 is a doubled-handled accessory comprising a strap forming a left retainer loop 61, a centre retainer loop 65, and a right retainer loop 62. The left and centre retainer loops are connected by a left handle loop 63, and the centre and right retainer loops are connected by a right

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handle loop 64. The various ioops are formed by doubling over the opposite ends of a strap and adding joins 67 and 68 to form closed retainer loops 61 and 62. The centre retainer loop 65 is formed by doubling over the strap at its centre, and making the join 68. Then, the length of strap between the retainer loops 61 and 65 constitutes the left handle loop 63, and the length of strap between the retainer loops 65 and 62 constitutes the right handle loop 64.

Fig. 7 shows a diagram of the second accessory 60 attached to the gym bar 10. The gym bar is passed through the retainer loops 61, 65, 62, until the retainer loop 61 reaches the left handgrip 21, the retainer loop 65 reaches the centre retainer portion 51, and the retainer loop 62 reaches the right handgrip 22. The collars 11 and 12 constitute stoppers which retain the retention loop 65 within the length portion of the central retainer, and the retention loops 61 and 62 sink into the foam handgrips 21 and 22 when placed under tension to help retain them in place.

Alternatively, the gym bar may be passed through the retainer loops 61, 65, 62, until the retainer loop 61 reaches the left end retainer portion 41, the retainer loop 65 reaches the centre retainer portion 51, and the retainer loop 62 reaches the right end retainer portion 42. Then, a left end 28 of the left handgrip 21 constitutes a stopper which prevents the retainer loop 61 from moving inwards towards the centre of the gym bar, and a right end 29 of the right handgrip 22 constitutes a stopper which prevents the retainer loop 62 from moving inwards towards the centre of the gym bar.

The gym bar 10 can be used with the second accessories 60 for two persons P1 and P2 to perform various exercises, for example as shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. In a fifth exercise mode shown in Fig. 14, the weight of person P1 is used as resistance against the person P2 pulling the gym bar 10 upwardly. In a sixth exercise mode shown in Fig. 15, the weight of person Al again used as resistance against the person P2 pulling the gym bar 10 upwardly. The exercises differ in that person P1 exercises different muscles in the fifth exercise mode compared to the sixth exercise mode. In both of these modes, the handles 63 and 64 of the accessory 60 are used as foot straps, although alternate modes of

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exercise could use the handles 63 and 64 as hand holds.

Fig. Ba shows a diagram of a third accessory 70 which can be used with the gym bar 10. The accessory 70 comprises a strap 74 having a retainer loop 71 formed at one end by a buckle 73. The retainer loop 71 is shown located within the central retainer portion of the gym bar 10. As shown in Fig. 8b, the other end of the strap 74 terminates in a metal loop 76, which may be used to suspend the strap (and therefore the gym bar 10) from a ceiling bar or beam 78, to assist in performing exercises.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 16, the strap 74 may be directly held by the person P1 instead of being suspended by the ceiling bar 78. Then, the person P2 can pull the gym bar 10 towards them under resistance that is controlled by person P1, in a seventh mode of exercise.

Fig. 9 shows a diagram of a fourth accessory 80, comprising a length of strap with left and right retainer loops 81 and 82 formed at opposing ends of the strap by respective buckles 84. A middle portion 86 of the strap forms a shoulder loop for looping over the shoulders of a person performing exercises. For example, in an eight exercise mode should in Fig. 17, the person P2 uses the fourth accessory 80 to pull upwardly on gym bar 10, and the person P1 uses the first accessories 50 to pull downwardly on the gym bar 10. The weight of the person P1 is used to provide resistance for the person P2 to act against.

Many other variations of the described embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the various accessories may be used in to perform different exercises to those shown, and in different combinations with one another to those shown. 1-, Ii

Claims

CLAIM S1. Gym equipment, comprising a gym bar for simultaneous use by two persons, the gym bar comprising two handgrip tubes and a straight member passing through the handgrip tubes, wherein the handgrip tubes are spaced apart from one another in a direction along a length of the straight member, wherein the straight member has a length of between O.Sm and 1.lm, and wherein each handgrip tube has a length of between O.lBm and O.4m.
2. The gym equipment of claim 1, wherein the handgrip tubes are symmetrical about a midpoint of the length of the straight member.
3. The gym equipment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the straight member has a length of between O.7m and O.9m.
4. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein each handgrip tube has a length of between O.22m and O.32m.
5. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member has a width of between O.02m and O.04m.
6. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member is formed from two sub-members which are connected together, the sub members being repeatedly connectable and detachable from one another to allow assembly and disassembly of the gym bar respectively.
7. The gym equipment of claim 6, wherein each sub-member has a length substantially half the length of the assembled straight member.
8. The gym equipment of claim 6 or 7, wherein the two sub members are connectable to one another by screwing an end of one of the sub members into an end of another one of the sub members.N
9. The gym equipment of any preceding claim] wherein the straight member has a tubular shape and has a cross section of a circle.
10. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein a width of the straight member is consistent along the whole length of the straight member.
11. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member is formed of metal.
12. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the handgrip tubes are formed of a foam material.
13. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the gym bar comprises at least one retainer portion for retaining a strap to the straight member, each retainer portion comprising a length portion of the straight member and a stopper at an end of the length portion, the stopper increasing an overall width of the gym bar to prevent sliding of the strap beyond the length portion of the straight member.
14. The gym equipment of claim 13, wherein the length portion has a circular cross section and a smooth external surface to allow rotation of the straight member within a loop of the strap.
15. The gym equipment of claim 13 or 14, wherein a central one of the retainer portions comprises two stoppers in the form of collars which are fixed around the straight member, the collars being located symmetrically about a midpoint of the length of the straight member, the collars being spaced apart from one another by between O.Olm and 0.lm.
16. The gym equipment of claim 15, wherein an intermediate one of the retainer portions comprises a stopper defined by one of the collars and a stopper defined by a first end of one of the handgrip tubes, the stoppers being spaced apart from one another by between 0.Olm and 0.lm.
17. The gym equipment of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein an end one of the retainer portions comprises a stopper defined by a second end of one of the handgrip tubes, the second end of the handgrip tube spaced apart from an end of the straight member by between 0.Olm and 0.lm.
18. The gym equipment of any one of claims 13 to 17, further comprising an accessory for use with the gym bar, the accessory comprising a strap having a retainer ioop for retention to one of the retainer portions.
19. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising two single-handled accessories, each single-handled accessory comprising straps forming: a retainer loop, for passing around the gym bar, and a handle loop, for holding by a person using the gym equipment with the retainer loop around the gym bar.
20. The gym equipment of claim 19 when appended to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein each retainer loop is for retention to a respective one of the retainer portions.
21. The gym equipment of claim 19 or 20, wherein each handle loop is further formed by a tubular member through which the strap passes, the tubular member having a length of between 0.05 and 0.15m.
22. The gym equipment of any one of claims 13 to 18, 20, or 21, further comprising a double-handled accessory, the double-handled accessory comprising straps forming: a central retainer loop for retention to a central one of the retainer portions; two end retainer loops for respectively passing around opposing ends of the gym bar; and two handle loops, for holding by a person using the gym equipment.
23. The gym equipment of claim 22 when appended to claim 17, or the gym equipment of claim 22 when appended to both claim 17 and any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein each end retainer ioop is for retention to a respective one of the end retainer portions.
24. Gym equipment substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
25. Use of the gym equipment of any preceding claim to perform gym exercises.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows:CLAIMS1. Gym equipment, comprising a gym bar for simultaneous use by two persons, the gym bar comprising two handgrip tubes and a straight member passing through the handgrip tubes, wherein the handgrip tubes are spaced apart from one another in a direction along a length of the straight member, wherein the straight member has a length of between 0.5m and 1.1 m, and wherein each handgrip tube has a length of between 0.lSm and 0.4m, the gym bar further comprising retainer portions for retaining straps to the straight member, wherein one of the retainer portions, referred to as a central retainer portion, comprises two stoppers in the form of collars which are fixed around the straight member, the collars being located symmetrically about a midpoint of the length of the straight member, the collars being spaced apart from one another by a length portion of the straight member of between 0.01 m and 0.1 m, wherein two further ones of the retainer portions, referred to as intermediate retainer portions, each comprise a stopper defined by a respective one of the collars and a IC) stopper defined by a first end of a respective one of the handgrip tubes, the stoppers of each intermediate retainer portion being spaced apart from one another by a length o portion of the straight member of between 0.Olm and 0.lm, and wherein each of the stoppers increases an overall width of the gym bar to prevent sliding of the strap beyond the length portion of the associated retainer portion.2. The gym equipment of claim 1, wherein the handgrip tubes are symmetrical about a midpoint of the length of the straight member.3. The gym equipment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the straight member has a length of between O.7m and 0Gm.4. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein each handgrip tube has a length of between 0.22m and O.32m.5. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member has a width of between 0.02m and 0.04m.6. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member is formed from two sub-members which are connected together, the sub members being repeatedly connectable and detachable from one another to allow assembly and disassembly of the gym bar respectively.7. The gym equipment of claim 6, wherein each sub-member has a length substantially half the length of the assembled straight member.8. The gym equipment of claim 6 or 7, wherein the two sub members are connectable to one another by screwing an end of one of the sub members into an end of another one of the sub members.9. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member has a tubular shape and has a cross section of a circle.IC') 10. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein a width of the straight member is consistent along the whole length of the straight member.11. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the straight member is formed of metal.12. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the handgrip tubes are formed of a foam material.13. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein each length portion has a circular cross section and a smooth external surface to allow rotation of the straight member within a loop of a strap.14. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, wherein another one of the retainer portions, referred to as an end retainer portion, comprises a stopper defined by a second end of one of the handgrip tubes, the second end of the handgrip tube spaced apart from an end of the straight member by between 0.Olm and 0.lm.15. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising an accessory for use with the gym bar] the accessory comprising a strap having a retainer loop for retention to one of the retainer portions.16. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising two single-handled accessories, each single-handled accessory comprising straps forming: a retainer loop, for passing around the gym bar, and a handle loop, for holding by a person using the gym equipment with the retainer loop around the gym bar.17. The gym equipment of claim 16, wherein each retainer loop is for retention to a respective one of the retainer portions.18. The gym equipment of claim 16 or 17, wherein each handle loop is further formed by a tubular member through which the strap passes, the tubular member IC) having a length of between 0.05 and 0.15m. (4. .o 19. The gym equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising a double-handled accessory, the double-handled accessory comprising straps forming: a central retainer loop for retention to the central retainer portion; two end retainer loops for respectively passing around opposing ends of the gym bar; and two handle loops, for holding by a person using the gym equipment.20. Gym equipment substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.21. Use of the gym equipment of any preceding claim to perform gym exercises.