GB2589624A - Hip thrust barbell - Google Patents

Abstract

A barbell 10 with which a user may perform a hip thrust exercise. The barbell has a pair of plate mounting portions 14a, 14b for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate, the plate mounting portions extending along a first axis. A main shaft 12 extends between the plate mounting portions along a second axis offset from the first axis. The barbell includes a pair of handles 18 configured to allow a user to modify a height of the main shaft when two or more weight plates are mounted to the plate mounting portions. A similar barbell comprising a pair of mounting portions and a main shaft portion as per the previous embodiment is also disclosed. The barbell further comprises one or more support legs 16, each terminating in a support foot 17 for contacting a ground surface during movement of the barbell. The feet are arranged to prevent rotation of the shaft. The feet may comprise a wheel 17. A method of performing a hip thrust exercise is also disclosed.

Description

Hip Thrust Barbell [0001] This invention relates to a barbell, more specifically a barbell with which the user may perform the exercise known as a hip thrust, to exercise the gluteus muscles.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Numerous exercise devices and assemblies exist with which the user can perform a "Hip Thrust" exercise. These devices typically include a frame denoting an exercise area, weight stacks, cables, pulleys, and so forth are invariably expensive, with retail prices of up to several thousand dollars. Additionally, they require a large floor area dedicated to the performance of a single exercise and are therefore most commonly only found in large commercial gymnasiums. As such the exercise is often performed with equipment not designed specifically for the purpose, but readily available at much lower retail prices than the aforementioned specialist hip thrust exercise machines.

[0003] One extremely common method of performing the hip thrust that requires less investment in expensive equipment is the barbell hip thrust. The barbell hip thrust requires only a barbell (for example a 7 foot long standard Olympic barbell), disc shaped weight plates (typically of roughly 45cm in diameter with a central hole to receive the barbell) as shown in Figure 1, and commonly a cushioned bench or similar surface on which to the user can safely prop their upper back whilst performing the exercise. An example of a bench constructed for performance of the barbell hip thrust is shown in Figure 2. As such the owner investment is less. Furthermore, the barbell, weight plates and bench can all be utilised for other exercises.

[0004] The mechanism of the barbell hip thrust exercise is described below and with reference to Figures 3A and 3B. The barbell hip thrust is executed by the user beginning in a semi supine position, with the back of their legs and buttocks on the floor and their upper back reclined against the edge of a bench or other raised surface, typically 35 centimetres to 55 centimetres in height. After assuming this position a barbell with weight plates attached at each end is rolled along the floor, from a position beyond the users feet and broadly perpendicular to their legs, over their thighs and towards their torso until it is traversing their lower torso and roughly aligned with the crease of their hip joint.

[0005] The user then bends their knees and places their feet flat on the floor, with their buttocks still in contact with the floor, before shuffling their upper back upwards along the edge of the bench or other raised surface, till their upper back is on contact with the top most surface of the bench or other raised surface, whilst simultaneously raising their hips and hence the barbell and weight plates from the floor, until their upper back is supported by the uppermost surface of the bench and the barbell and weight plates are supported off the floor by the users lower torso, with the feet remaining flat on the floor. This is the starting position of the exercise itself, with the knees bent and the hip joint in flexion with the barbell lying across the crease of the hip joint, as shown in Figure 3A. The hip joint is then extended by a thrusting motion, using predominantly the muscles of the gluteus, resulting in the buttocks moving upwards, and barbell and weight plates being raised further upwards from the floor by the upward movement of the hip joint, until the hip joint is fully extended, as shown in Figure 3B. The exercise is then completed by reversing the upward thrust, bringing the hip joint, barbell and plates back downwards towards the floor. On completion of the desired number of repetitions then user then shuffles their upper back down the side of the bench, still supporting the full load of the barbell plus weight plates across the crease of their hip joint, until the weight plates and the user's buttocks contact the floor. The user then straightens their legs and the barbell and weight plates are then rolled back towards and beyond the users' feet, allowing them to return to a standing posture unimpeded.

[0006] The barbell hip thrust when performed with a standard barbell involves lifting the full weight of the barbell and attached weight plates to the users preferred exercising starting height, whilst moving from a semi-prone position on the floor by shuffling the upper back upwards on to a bench until the buttocks are raised off the floor.

[0007] This action is difficult and potentially even dangerous to perform with weights attached to either end of a standard barbell. As such, the exercise is often limited in its effectiveness as the load that can be safely raised by the user to their preferred starting position is substantially less than the load with which they could perform the exercise itself, leading to the user being forced to use less than optimal training loads and therefore not adequately stimulating the muscles of the gluteus.

[0008] Additionally, due to the unstable nature of the 7 foot long, weight loaded standard barbell being support by the centrally placed hips during the act of shuffling upwards on the bench, the users spine is often subjected to potentially injurious rotational forces as the barbell tips towards one side or the other. Additionally, any rolling motion of the barbell across the hip crease and pubis during this action of shuffling the upper back upwards on to the bench can be extremely painful, and depending on the loads used, may leave the user with abrasions or bruises where the loaded barbell has moved across their skin.

[0009] Finally, if the user's thighs have a larger diameter than the radius of the weight plates utilised, then the bar must be dragged across the thighs before the exercise starting position can be assumed, and again at the end of the exercise; potentially leading to pain, abrasions and bruises.

[0010] It is in this context that the present invention has been devised.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0011] In accordance with the present disclosure there is provided a hip thrust barbell for use in performing a hip thrust exercise. The hip thrust barbell comprises: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate; a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis; and one or more handles extending transverse to the axial direction. The handles are for operation by a hand of a user to modify a height of the main shaft portion away from an equilibrium position during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise.

[0012] Thus, there is provided a hip thrust barbell where the main shaft portion can be easily moved by use of handles to allow easy movement of the hip thrust barbell into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise, and also to allow the main shaft portion to be positioned more spaced from the ground surface before the user engages the hips with the main shaft portion of the hip thrust barbell to raise the hip thrust barbell off the ground surface. As a result, the hip thrust exercise can be performed with increased convenience and/or safety without use of expensive, complicated equipment.

[0013] It will be understood that a hip thrust barbell is a barbell suitable for use across the hips of the user for performing a hip thrust exercise. In particularly, it is generally expected that the hip thrust barbell is to be used as a free barbell. In other words, that the hip thrust barbell is not expected to be used in a frame, or in conjunction with other support apparatus.

[0014] It will also be understood that the axial direction of the hip thrust barbell is the direction, typically parallel to a ground surface, across a body of a user, when the hip thrust barbell is raised during a hip thrust exercise. In other words, the axial direction is a long direction of the barbell, between a first plate mounting portion and a second plate mounting portion of the pair of plate mounting portions.

[0015] It will further be understood that the weight plates to be mounted on the plate mounting portions are typically standard Olympic weight plates, having a diameter of approximately 450mm. Nevertheless, of course the disclosure herein could be applied to substantially any size of weight plate where the clearance off the ground from a straight barbell mounted through the centre opening of the weight plate would not be sufficient for clearing all parts of the legs of the user when moving the barbell into the starting position for the hip thrust exercise.

[0016] The handles can be considered to extend transverse to the axial direction if at least a portion of the handles extend to a position defined to be transverse to the axial direction.

[0017] The one or more handles may be arranged to extend in a handle direction having at least a component in a direction from the first axis to the second axis. Thus, the handles can be easily grasped by the user with the hand(s) positioned above the height of the plate mounting portions, for added convenience. The user may pull or push on the handles as appropriate to manipulate the position of the main shaft portion relative to the pair of plate mounting portions.

[0018] It will also be understood that use of the handles may result in a stabilising effect of the hip thrust barbell in position on the user, again increasing the safety of the hip thrust exercise.

[0019] The handle direction may be substantially the direction from the first axis to the second axis. Thus, the hand(s) of the user holding the handles can be directly above the first axis and the second axis when the main shaft portion is provided with a maximum clearance off the ground surface relative to the clearance of the plate mounting portion from the ground surface. In other examples, the handles may extend transverse to the axial direction to a handle portion running in a different direction, such as substantially parallel to the axial direction.

[0020] The one or more handles may comprise two handles. Thus, there may be a handle for each hand of the user. The two handles may be spaced apart by at least 30 centimetres in the axial direction. In other words, the handles may be provided substantially shoulder-width apart. In some embodiments, the handles may be provided at a width wider than the hips of the intended user. The two handles may be spaced apart by less than 1 metre in the axial direction. Thus, the handles are convenient to hold by a user performing the hip thrust exercise. Each handle may extend in the same direction.

[0021] The one or more handles may extend from the main shaft portion. The handle(s) may be rigidly connected to the main shaft portion. Thus, the handle(s) may be easily manipulated to change the relative positioning between the main shaft portion and the plate mounting portions.

[0022] The one or more handles may extend less than 20 centimetres from the second axis. The one or more handles may extend more than 5 centimetres from the second axis. Thus, the handle(s) can be easily gripped by the user. The surface of the handle(s) may be textured. Thus, easy grip of the handle(s) by the user is facilitated during the hip thrust exercise.

[0023] The hip thrust barbell may further comprise one or more support legs. Each support leg may be terminated in a support foot for contacting a ground surface during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, across a ground surface into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise. The support foot may be arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position, in which the first axis is directly below the second axis, to a second rotation position, in which the second axis is directly below the first axis.

[0024] This in itself is believed to be novel and so, in accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a hip thrust barbell for use in performing a hip thrust exercise. The hip thrust barbell comprises: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate; a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis; and one or more support legs. Each support leg is terminated in a support foot for contacting a ground surface during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, across a ground surface into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise. The support foot is arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position, in which the first axis is directly below the second axis, to a second rotation position, in which the second axis is directly below the first axis.

[0025] Thus, the hip thrust barbell can be easier to move into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise because there is less chance of the main shaft portion fouling against the legs of the user. As a result, the hip thrust exercise can be performed with increased convenience and/or safety without use of expensive, complicated equipment.

[0026] The support foot may comprise a movement means, for example a wheel. Thus, the hip thrust barbell can be more easily moved into the starting position by rolling on both the wheel of the support foot and the weight plates mounted on the plate mounting portions.

[0027] The support foot may be arranged to substantially prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in the first rotation direction from the first rotation position to any rotation position in which a ground surface clearance of the main shaft portion is equal or less than a ground surface clearance of the pair of plate mounting portions. Thus, the hip thrust barbell always provides greater ground clearance than a straight barbell in at least one rotation direction when moving into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise.

[0028] The support leg may comprise a first leg portion extending from a first plate mounting portion past the main shaft portion in a direction from the first axis to the second axis. Thus, the main shaft portion can be easily offset from the plate mounting portions by mounting to the first leg portion of the support leg. The first plate mounting portion may be mounted to the main shaft portion via the support leg.

[0029] Typically, the hip thrust barbell comprises two support legs, one each for the plate mounting portions.

[0030] The support leg may comprise a second leg portion extending between the first leg portion and the support foot in a direction substantially transverse to the first leg portion and the axial direction. Thus, the support foot can be positioned to support the main shaft portion to have a ground surface clearance greater than the ground surface clearance of the plate mounting portions.

[0031] Typically, a length of the first leg portion may be substantially equal to a length of the second leg portion.

[0032] The main shaft portion may be adjustably mounted relative to the pair of plate mounting portions. Thus, an offset distance between the first axis and the second axis may be adjusted. As a result, the hip thrust barbell can be used effectively by a number of different users of different sizes. In some embodiments, the main shaft portion may be slidably mounted relative to the pair of plate mounting portions.

[0033] The main shaft portion may be slidably mounted on the support leg. The main shaft portion may be slidably mounted on the first leg portion of the support leg.

[0034] The main shaft portion may be mountable at any one of a discrete plurality of predetermined mounting locations relative to the pair of plate mounting portions. The main shaft portion may comprise a collar for surrounding the support leg for mounting the main shaft portion thereto.

[0035] The support foot may be spaced in the radial direction from the first axis by more than 225 millimetres. It will be understood that the radial direction is transverse to the axial direction. Thus, the support foot can be used when the weight plates are of the same size as Olympic weight plates.

[0036] The main shaft portion may comprise padding. Thus, a hip of the user can be at least partially protected from the barbell main shaft portion material (typically metal) by padding.

[0037] The hip thrust barbell may comprise one or more mounting protrusions for attachment of resistance bands thereto.

[0038] Viewed from another aspect, the present disclosure also provides a method of performing a hip thrust exercise using a hip thrust barbell. The method comprises: providing a hip thrust barbell. The hip thrust barbell comprises: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and engaged with a hole defined in a weight plate; and a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis. The method further comprises rolling the hip thrust barbell along a ground surface, above legs of a user, such that the plate mounting portions straddle the legs of the user, into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise; and raising hips of a user against the main shaft portion to lift the hip thrust barbell, including the weight plates, off the ground surface to perform the hip thrust exercise. During at least a portion of the method, the main shaft portion is arranged to be spaced from the ground surface by greater than a spacing between the ground surface and the plate mounting portions.

[0039] Thus, there is provided a method of performing a hip thrust exercise in a convenient and safe manner, without the need to use expensive and/or complicated equipment.

[0040] It will be understood that the hip thrust barbell used in the method may be as described elsewhere herein.

[0041] The method may comprise, during the rolling of the hip thrust barbell over the legs of a user, manipulating the hip thrust barbell with one or more hands of the user to arrange the main shaft portion to be spaced from the ground surface by greater than the spacing between the ground surface and the plate mounting portions. Thus, the main shaft portion can be raised up for easy movement of the hip thrust barbell into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise. As described hereinbefore, the hip thrust barbell may comprise handles for using by one or more hands of the user for movement of the main shaft portion relative to the plate mounting portions. The hip thrust barbell may comprise support legs arranged to at least partially prevent rotation of the main shaft portion as described hereinbefore. In this way, it can be understood that the support legs may ensure that the main shaft portion is arranged to be spaced from the ground surface by greater than a spacing between the ground surface and the plate mounting portions.

[0042] In one embodiment, the method comprises providing the hip thrust barbell such that the support legs prevent rotation of an upper surface of the plate mounting portions away from the user to such an extent that the main shaft portion rotates from a first position in which the first axis is below the second axis to a second position in which the first axis is above the second axis. When the handles are provided on the hip thrust barbell, the method may comprise pulling the handles with the hands above the main shaft portion to rotate the hip thrust barbell such that the second axis is above the first axis. Thus, there is provided a particularly convenient method of performing a hip thrust exercise.

[0043] The method may further comprise viewing, by the user, a video depicting the hip thrust exercise performed using the hip thrust barbell before completion by the user of the hip thrust exercise. It will be understood that the video may depict any similar hip thrust barbell as described herein, even if it is not exactly identical in design to the particular hip thrust barbell to be used by the user. Thus, the user may perform the hip thrust exercise in accordance with a hip thrust exercise technique demonstrated in the video. In some examples, the user may perform the hip thrust exercise as part of an exercise routine shown in the video. It will be understood that the video may be stored locally on an electronic device viewable by the user. In some examples, the video may be streamed over the internet to an electronic device viewable by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a conventional 7 foot long barbell of the prior art; Figure 2 illustrates a typical bench constructed for performance of the barbell hip thrust exercise, found in the prior art; Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the performance sequence of the barbell hip thrust with a standard barbell and a typical hip thrust bench; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a hip thrust barbell as disclosed herein; Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate the performance sequence of the barbell hip thrust exercise with a hip thrust barbell; and Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a hip thrust barbell, with weight plates in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The hip thrust barbell disclosed herein aims to solve at least some of the problems of prior barbells for use in performing the barbell hip thrust exercise by providing a barbell with a main shaft, the height of which can be raised upwards from the floor upon rotation of the main shaft, such that the clearance of the shaft off the floor can be increased without the attached weight plates leaving the floor.

[0046] Figure 4 shows a hip thrust barbell 10 for use in performing a barbell hip thrust exercise, as described hereinafter. The hip thrust barbell 10 comprises a main shaft portion 12, having extending therefrom a pair of plate mounting portions 14a, 14b in the form of a pair of plate mounting shafts 14a, 14b. The plate mounting portions 14a, 14b extend in an axial direction from the main shaft portion 12, each along a first axis. In other words, the pair of plate mounting portions 14a, 14b comprise a first plate mounting portion 14a extending from a first side of the main shaft portion 12 in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell 10 along the first axis and a second plate mounting portion 14b extending from a second side of the main shaft portion 12 in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell 10 also along the first axis. The main shaft portion 12 extends between the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b in the axial direction along a second axis. The second axis is offset from the first axis. In this way, it can be understood that when weight plates are mounted on the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b, and the hip thrust barbell 10 is resting on a ground surface via the weight plates, a clearance between the main shaft portion 12 and the ground surface can be varied by rotating the main shaft portion 12 about the first axis passing through the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b.

[0047] The hip thrust barbell 10 further comprises one or more support legs 16 for supporting the hip thrust barbell 10 on a ground surface to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion 12 about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position to a second rotation position. In the first rotation position, the first axis is directly below the second axis. In the second rotation position, the second axis is directly below the first axis. In other words, the one or more support legs 16 help retain the hip thrust barbell 10 in a non-equilibrium position of the assembly of the main shaft portion 12 and the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b when the weight plates are mounted on the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b. In this example, each end of the main shaft portion 12 is provided with a support leg 16; the hip thrust barbell 10 comprises two support legs 16. In the present example, each support leg 16 is terminated in a support foot 17 for contacting the ground surface. In some examples, the support foot 17 is provided with movement means, such as a wheel for easy movement of the hip thrust barbell 10 over the ground surface. The wheel may be a roller.

[0048] The hip thrust barbell 10 of the present example further comprises one or more handles 18 for operation by a hand of a user to modify a height of the main shaft portion 12 away from an equilibrium position during movement of the hip thrust barbell 10 into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise, when the hip thrust barbell 10 has two or more weight plates mounted to the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b. In this example, the handles 18 are provided on a side of the main shaft portion 12 opposite the offset between the main shaft portion 12 and the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b. In this way, a user can easily reach over the top of the main shaft portion 12 and pull the one or more handles 18 to a substantially uppermost position to raise the main shaft portion 12 to a maximum clearance height off the ground surface. In this example, the one or more handles 18 extend transverse to the axial direction. In particular, the one or more handles 18 are two handles 18, each extending transverse to the main shaft portion 12, from the main shaft portion 12.

[0049] In the present example, each end of the main shaft portion 12 is slidably mounted relative to the pair of plate mounting portions 14a, 14b, for example via a slide mechanism 20, as will be described further hereinafter. Thus, an offset between the first axis and the second axis can be varied in some examples.

[0050] In the present example, the main shaft portion 12 is provided with a pad 22 for protecting a user. Also in the present example, the hip thrust barbell 10 is provided with one or more band pegs 24 for optionally having resistance bands secured thereto (not shown), as preferred by some users during the barbell hip thrust exercise.

[0051] The main shaft portion 12, sometimes referred to as a main barbell shaft, may be made of any suitable material, such as but not limited to solid cylindrical form steel, circular hollow section (CHS) steel, square hollow section (SHS) steel or any other material of sufficient strength and suitable diameter to lie across the users hips. In the preferred embodiment, the main shaft portion 12 is made of hardened cylindrical steel rod of between 20mm and 40mm diameter. The main shaft portion 12 may be of a length between 65cm and 150cm. In the preferred embodiment the length of the main shaft portion 12 is 115cm.

[0052] Affixed at least broadly perpendicular to each of the two ends of the main shaft portion is the support leg 16. In the present example, the support legs 16 are each formed from a first stem portion 26 and a second stem portion 28. The first stem portion 26 extends from the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b past the main shaft portion 12. The second stem portion 28 extends from a distal end of the first stem portion 26 to the support foot 17. In this example, the second stem portion 28 extends perpendicular to the first stem portion 28 and the first stem portion 26 extends from the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b in the direction from the first axis to the second axis.

[0053] The first stem portion 26 may be fixed to the main shaft portion 12 by any suitable means, such as welding, chemical bonding, or removable fasteners (nuts and bolts). The first stem portion 26 may be made of any suitable material, such as but not limited to solid cylindrical form steel, circular hollow section (CHS) steel, square hollow section (SHS) steel, or sheet steel and may remain fixed in one position relative to the main shaft portion 12 or as in the preferred embodiment may be attached to the main shaft portion 12 by selectively engageable means such that the main shaft portion 12 may abut the first stem portion 26 at various points along the first cam portion 26. The first cam portion 26 may be of a length between 8 and 45cm. In the preferred embodiment the first cam portion 26 is 30cm long.

[0054] In some embodiments the main shaft portion 12 and the first stem portion 26 are formed from a single piece of material, bent to shape such that a broadly perpendicular angle is formed between the longest portion of material and each of 2 shorter portions at its extremities.

[0055] At one end of each first stem portion 26 is affixed the second stem portion 28. The second stem portion 28 is oriented such that when the hip thrust barbell 10 is laid on the ground, such that both the main shaft portion 12 and the first stem portion 26 are broadly parallel to the ground, the second stem portion 28 will project from the side of the first cam portion 26 that is most proximal to the ground, in a downwards direction broadly towards the ground. The second stem portion 28 may be made of any suitable material, such as but not limited to solid cylindrical form steel, circular hollow section (CHS) steel, square hollow section (SHS) steel, or sheet steel. The second stem portion 28 may be of any length greater than 22cm, and as in the preferred embodiment a portion of its total length may be comprised of a wheel 17 such as a roller 17 affixed to the end of the second stem portion 26 that is proximal to the floor when the hip thrust barbell 10 is laid on the ground such that both the main shaft portion 12 and the first stem portion 12 are broadly parallel to the ground. In some embodiments the first stem portion 26 and the second stem portion 28 are formed from a single piece of material, bent to shape such that a broadly perpendicular angle is formed between the portion of material oriented parallel to the ground and the portion of material oriented towards the ground. In still further embodiments the main shaft portion 2, the first stem portion 26 and the second stem portion 28 are all formed from a single piece of material, for example solid steel rod, circular hollow section steel, oval hollow section steel, or any other suitable material, bent to shape.

[0056] At the opposite end of the first stem portion 26 from the second stem portion 28 is affixed the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b. The plate mounting portion 14a, 14b is oriented such that it runs broadly parallel to the main shaft portion 12. The plate mounting portion 14a, 14b may be fixed to the main shaft portion 12 by any suitable means, such as welding, chemical bonding, or removable fasteners (nuts and bolts). The plate mounting portion 14a, 14b may be of any suitable diameter to receive a weight plate or multiple weight plates. The plate mounting portion 14a, 14b may be of any length between 5cm and 50cm. The plate mounting portion 14a, 14b may be made of any suitable material, such as but not limited to solid cylindrical form steel, or circular hollow section (CHS) steel or any other tubular metal.

[0057] In the preferred embodiment the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b is made of circular hollow section steel, has an outside diameter of between 48mm and 49.5mm, suitable to receive a standard size Olympic weight plate with a 50mm diameter hole in its centre, and is 35cm in length.

[0058] In the preferred embodiment, each end of the main shaft portion 12 is selectively engageable at differing points along the length of the first stem portion 26 by means of being affixed to a length of square hollow section, the slide mechanism 20, through which the first stem portion 26 passes, allowing the main shaft portion 12 to be slidably mounted at a plurality of points along the length of the first stem portion 26.

[0059] The slide mechanism 20 comprises a spring-loaded, clamping, indexing pin for securing the main shaft portion 12 at a predetermined position along the length of the first stem portion 26 by engagement of the pin through any one of a series of holes along the length of first stem portion 26. Once positioned the indexing pin handle can then be rotated to produce a clamping force on the first stem portion 26 and hold the main shaft portion 12 against the first stem portion 26. In other embodiments this locating function can be performed by a simple pin passing through both the slide mechanism 20 and the holes along the length of the first stem portion 26.

[0060] In further embodiments in which the first stem portion 26 is formed from a cylindrical tube or solid metal tube, the slide mechanism 20 is of a tubular shape, and can be positioned by turning a thumb screw passing through the slide mechanism 20 to produce a clamping force on the first stem portion 26. In still further embodiments of the invention in which the first stem portion 26 is formed from sheet metal, the selective engagement of the main shaft portion 12 with the first stem portion 26 is accomplished via a channel cut out in the sheet metal of the first stem portion 26, interconnecting a series of hook shaped cut-outs, allowing the ends of the main shaft portion 12 to pass along the channel and into a selected hook shaped cut out, hence retaining the main shaft portion 12 in the desired position along the length of the first stem portion 26.

[0061] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotation of the main shaft portion by the user is made easier by the addition of two handles 18 to the main shaft portion 12, orientated broadly perpendicular to the main shaft portion 12 such as to aid in the rotation of the hip thrust barbell 10 by providing an easily gripped surface and an increased leverage to the user. In some embodiments, it will be understood that the handles 18 may be provided with a textured, such as a knurled, surface to aid grip.

[0062] The handles 18 may be attached at any point along the length of the main shaft portion 12, be made of tubular steel, square hollow section, or any other suitable material, and may be fixed to the main shaft portion 12 by any suitable means, such as welding, chemical bonding, or removable fasteners (nuts and bolts). The handles 18 may be of any length between 7cm and 20cm, and of any diameter suitable to be gripped by the human hand. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handles 18 are 12cm long, have a diameter of 30mm and are made of solid steel rod coated with a rubber material to provide comfortable and secure surface for the user to grip.

[0063] A further feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the support foot 17, in this example provided by the wheel 17, in the form of the roller 17. In the preferred embodiment the wheel 17 is mounted to the end of the second stem portion 28 proximal to the floor when the main shaft portion 12 and first stem portion 26 are broadly parallel to the floor. The wheel 17 allows the hip thrust barbell 10, when loaded with weight plates, to be easily rolled along the ground by the user into their preferred exercise starting position or away from their body when exercise is completed. The body of the wheel 17 may be made of urethane, plastic, metal, solid rubber, or any other suitable material. The wheel 17 may be a wheel with a central axle consisting of a bolt, or through pin supported at each side by mounting pegs, a cylindrical roller, or a bearing. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the wheel 17 is a urethane wheel supported on an axle consisting of a solid steel cylindrical bolt mounted on two lugs on opposing faces of the second stem portion 28.

[0064] A still further feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the pad 22 covering the main shaft portion 12. The pad 22 can improve the comfort of the user whilst performing the hip thrust exercise. In the preferred embodiment the pad 22 is comprised of high-density foam, and is cylindrical in shape, with a 12cm dimeter and a length of 65cm.

[0065] Another feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the band peg 24. The band peg 24 provides a secure mounting point for an elastic resistance band such that the elastic band can be secured to the hip thrust barbell 10 in order to further increase the resistance encountered by the user in raising the hip thrust barbell 10 from the floor when performing the hip thrust exercise. To this purpose the band would first be secured by one of its ends end to a mounting point on the floor or a suitably heavy object, then passed over the band peg 24, and then secured by its second end to a further mounting point or heavy object on the floor, such that the hip thrust barbell 10, on being raised, shall encounter ever greater resistance to its upward travel against the stretching of the elastic band. In the preferred embodiment the band peg 24 is made of solid steel rod, with a 25mm diameter, and is broadly '12' shaped, with the longer of the stems being 90mm long and the shorter being 30mm long. The band peg 24 may be fixed to the first stem portion 26 by any suitable means, such as welding, chemical bonding, or removable fasteners (nuts and bolts). In the preferred embodiment the band peg 24 is mounted to the surface of the first stem portion 26 directly opposite to the mounting point of the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b, such that its axis of rotation is identical to the that of the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b. In other words, a central axis of the band peg 24 is the first axis.

[0066] Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate the use of the hip thrust barbell shown in Figure 4. Performing the hip thrust exercise using the hip thrust barbell 10 is executed by a user 30 beginning in a semi supine position, with the back of their legs and buttocks on the floor and their upper back reclined against the edge of a bench 40 or other raised surface, typically 35 centimetres to 55 centimetres in height. After assuming this position a hip thrust barbell 10, with weight plates attached at each end, is moved along the floor, from a position beyond the users feet and broadly perpendicular to their legs, over their thighs and towards their torso until it is traversing their lower torso and roughly aligned with the crease of their hip joint, as shown in Figure 5A. The user 30 can use the handles 18 as necessary to raise the main shaft portion 12 of the hip thrust barbell 10 during movement of the hip thrust barbell 10 into position over the thighs. This ensures that the hip thrust barbell 10 can be manoeuvred into position even where the user has thighs which extend off the ground by a distance greater than a clearance between the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b and the ground.

[0067] The user 30 then bends their knees and places their feet flat on the floor, with their buttocks still in contact with the floor, whilst grasping the rotation handles 18 of the hip thrust barbell 10 and rotating the hip thrust barbell 10 through broadly 90 degrees of rotation. In doing so, the height of the main shaft portion 12 is elevated from the floor by a vertical distance equivalent to the distance between the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b and the main shaft portion 12. Having elevated the main shaft portion 12 through rotation of the hip thrust barbell 10, the user 30 may then elevate their hips from the ground surface and shuffle their upper back upwards along the edge of the bench 40 or other raised surface, till their upper back is on contact with the top most surface of the bench or other raised surface. Throughout this initial upward motion of the hips and positioning of the upper back upon the bench 40, the user 30 remains unencumbered by the weights mounted upon the plate mounting portion 14a, 14b of the bar, as the weights remain entirely supported on the ground surface at this point. This is the starting position of the exercise itself, with the knees bent and the hip joint in flexion with the hip thrust barbell 10 lying across the crease of the hip joint, as shown in Figure 5B.

[0068] To begin the hip thrust exercise, the hip joint is then extended by a thrusting motion, using predominantly the muscles of the gluteus, resulting in the buttocks moving upwards, and hip thrust barbell 10 and weight plates being raised upwards from the floor by the upward movement of the hip joint, until the hip joint is fully extended, as shown in Figure 5C.

[0069] The exercise is then completed by reversing the upward thrust, bringing the hip joint, hip thrust barbell 10 and weight plates back downwards towards, but not into contact with, the ground surface. On completion of the desired number of repetitions the user 30 then allows the hip to descend until the weight plates borne upon the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b are once again in contact with the ground surface. The user 30 then shuffles their upper back down the side of the bench 40, unencumbered by the weights, disengaging the hip from contact with the hip thrust barbell 10 and bringing their buttocks back into contact with the ground surface (into the position as shown in Figure 5B). The user 30 then straightens their legs, and rotates the hip thrust barbell via the rotation handles until the balancing stem is once again in contact with the ground surface Onto the position as shown in Figure 5A). The hip thrust barbell 10 and weight plates are then rolled back towards and beyond the users' feet, allowing them to return to a standing posture unimpeded.

[0070] It will be understood that prior to or during performance of the hip thrust exercise using the hip thrust barbell 10, the user can view an instruction video or an exercise video showing the correct use of the hip thrust barbell 10. The user may view the video on a personal electronic device, such as a mobile phone as is well known to users.

[0071] A hip thrust barbell 10, having weights 50 mounted on the plate mounting portions 14a, 14b is shown in Figure 6. As can be seen, the hip thrust barbell 10 can be supported on a ground surface at both the weight plates 50, and also by the support foot 17 of each support leg 16.

[0072] In summary, there is provided a hip thrust barbell (10) for use in performing a hip thrust exercise. The hip thrust barbell (10) comprises a pair of plate mounting portions (14a, 14b) each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell (10) along a first axis and for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate. The hip thrust barbell (10) further comprises a main shaft portion (12) extending between the plate mounting portions (14a, 14b) in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis. In one embodiment, the hip thrust barbell (10) further comprises one or more handles (18) extending transverse to the axial direction for operation by a hand of a user to modify a height of the main shaft portion (12) away from an equilibrium position during movement of the hip thrust barbell (10), having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions (14a, 14b), into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise. In another embodiment, the hip thrust barbell (10) instead or additionally further comprises one or more support legs (16) each terminated in a support foot (17) for contacting a ground surface during movement of the hip thrust barbell (10), having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions (14a, 14b), across a ground surface into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise, such that the support foot (17) is arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion (12) about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position, in which the first axis is directly below the second axis, to a second rotation position, in which the second axis is directly below the first axis.

[0073] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0074] Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS1. A hip thrust barbell for use in performing a hip thrust exercise, the hip thrust barbell comprising: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate; a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis; and one or more handles extending transverse to the axial direction for operation by a hand of a user to modify a height of the main shaft portion away from an equilibrium position during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise.
2. 2. The hip thrust barbell of claim 1, wherein the one or more handles are arranged to extend in a handle direction having at least a component in a direction from the first axis to the second axis.
3. 3. The hip thrust barbell of claim 2, wherein the handle direction is substantially the direction from the first axis to the second axis.
4. 4. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more handles comprises two handles spaced apart by at least 30 centimetres in the axial direction.
5. 5. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more handles extend from the main shaft portion
6. 6. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more handles extend no further than 20 centimetres from the second axis.
7. 7. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more support legs each terminated in a support foot for contacting a ground surface during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, across a ground surface into the starting position of the hip thrust exercise, such that the support foot is arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position, in which the first axis is directly below the second axis, to a second rotation position, in which the second axis is directly below the first axis.
8. 8. A hip thrust barbell for use in performing a hip thrust exercise, the hip thrust barbell comprising: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and for engagement with a hole defined in a weight plate; a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis; and one or more support legs each terminated in a support foot for contacting a ground surface during movement of the hip thrust barbell, having two or more weight plates mounted to the pair of plate mounting portions, across a ground surface into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise, such that the support foot is arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in a first rotation direction from a first rotation position, in which the first axis is directly below the second axis, to a second rotation position, in which the second axis is directly below the first axis.
9. 9. The hip thrust barbell of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the support foot comprises a wheel.
10. 10. The hip thrust barbell of any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the support foot is arranged to substantially prevent rotation of the main shaft portion about the first axis in the first rotation direction from the first rotation position to any rotation position in which a ground surface clearance of the main shaft portion is equal or less than a ground surface clearance of the pair of plate mounting portions.
11. 11. The hip thrust barbell of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the support leg comprises a first leg portion extending from a first plate mounting portion past the main shaft portion in a direction from the first axis to the second axis.
12. 12. The hip thrust barbell of claim 11, wherein the support leg comprises a second leg portion extending between the first leg portion and the support foot in a direction substantially transverse to the first leg portion and the axial direction.
13. 13. The hip thrust barbell of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the first plate mounting portion is mounted to the main shaft portion via the support leg.
14. 14. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, wherein the main shaft portion is adjustably mounted relative to the pair of plate mounting portions, such that an offset distance between the first axis and the second axis is variable.
15. 15. The hip thrust barbell of any preceding claim, wherein the main shaft portion comprises padding.
16. 16. A method of performing a hip thrust exercise using a hip thrust barbell, the method comprising: providing a hip thrust barbell having: a pair of plate mounting portions each extending in an axial direction of the hip thrust barbell along a first axis and engaged with a hole defined in a weight plate; and a main shaft portion extending between the plate mounting portions in the axial direction along a second axis, offset from the first axis; rolling the hip thrust barbell along a ground surface, above legs of a user, such that the plate mounting portions straddle the legs of the user, into a starting position of the hip thrust exercise; and raising hips of a user against the main shaft portion to lift the hip thrust barbell, including the weight plates, off the ground surface to perform the hip thrust exercise, wherein during at least a portion of the method, the main shaft portion is arranged to be spaced from a ground surface by greater than a spacing between the ground surface and the plate mounting portions.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises, during the rolling of the hip thrust barbell over the legs of a user, manipulating the hip thrust barbell with one or more hands of the user to arrange the main shaft portion to be spaced from the ground surface by greater than the spacing between the ground surface and the plate mounting portions.
18. 18. The method of claim 16 or claim 17, further comprising viewing, by the user, a video depicting the hip thrust exercise performed using the hip thrust barbell before completion by the user of the hip thrust exercise.