WO1989001805A1

WO1989001805A1 - Exercise apparatus with weight lifting bar

Info

Publication number: WO1989001805A1
Application number: PCT/GB1988/000694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Waddicar
Original assignee: Ian Waddicar
Priority date: 1987-08-24
Filing date: 1988-08-24
Publication date: 1989-03-09
Also published as: GB8719928D0; AU2305388A

Abstract

Exercising equipment comprises a support frame including first and second upright members (1, 4) adapted to stand on the floor. First and second pivotal members (7, 12) are mounted on the upright members for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane and each has first and second ends. A means (9, 13) is provided at said first ends of the first and second pivotal members for releasably attaching a weight lifting bar (19) so as to link the pivotal members together and similar means (10, 14) may be similarly provided at the second ends of the pivotal members. A bench is located between the upright members and includes a seat portion (16) upon which the exerciser can sit or lie whilst carrying out exercises using the weight lifting bar (19). A multiplicity of different exercises can be carried out using the equipment.

Description

Exercise apparatus with weight lifting bar.

This invention relates to exercising equipment and is concerned with equipment including a bench upon which a multiplicity of exercises can be carried out for the purpose of improving physical health and/or fitness.

According to the present invention there is provided exercising equipment comprising:- (a) a support frame including first and second upright members adapted to stand on the floor,

(b) a first pivotal member mounted on the first upright member for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane and having first and second ends,

(c) a second pivotal member mounted on the second upright member for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane and having first and second ends, (d) means at said first ends of the first and second pivotal members for releasably attaching a weight lifting bar so as to link the pivotal members together, and

(e) a bench located between the upright members and including a seat portion upon which the exerciser can sit or lie whilst carrying out exercises using said weight lifting bar.

It is particularly preferred for the equipment to include a means limiting the pivotal movement of the pivotal members about the upright members and this may take the form of a suitable stop mounted on each upright member.

The means for releasably attaching the weight lifting bar is preferably in the form of a tubular sleeve at the first ends of the first and second pivotal members and into which the weight lifting bar can be axially introduced. Alternatively, the tubular sleeves may be in two parts hinged together about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular sleeve to facilitate the introduction of th.e bar. The hinged parts can be kept in their closed position, about the bar, by any suitable device such as for example, a tubular collar having a quick release device as commonly used for attaching the weights to weight lifting bars.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weight lifting bar can be releasably attached to the second ends of the first and second pivotal members instead of to the first ends. In this case, the means of releasably attaching the bar at said second ends is also preferably in the form of tubular sleeves provided at the second ends into which the weight lifting bar can be axially introduced. In this way, the weight lifting bar may be positioned at either end of the pivotal members.

Advantageously, the pivot point of each of the pivotal members about the upright members is adjustable. In this case, each upright member may, for example, include a plurality of holes axially located along the member into which a suitable pin may be inserted about which the pivotal members can pivot. Additionally, it is preferred for each pivotal member to be such that it can be pivotted about its upright member at one of a plurality of pivot points provided along the pivotal member. Also, the length of each pivot member is preferably adjustable.

Advantageously, each upright member includes a support means on which the weight lifting bar can be supported in a rest position. In a preferred embodiment the, or part of, the seat portion of the bench is capable of being inclined to a variable degree to facilitate the carrying out of different exercises using the equipment.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made , by way o'f example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of exercising equipment in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of exercising equipment in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a section through a part of the equipment of Figure 2 with the part in an open configuration, and

Figure 4 is a section through the part shown in Figure 3 with the part in a closed configuration.

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a first upright member 1 formed of tubular steel (which may be circular or square in section) and having at one end a foot portion 2 adapted to rest on the ground and linked by a generally horizontal cross bar 3 of tubular steel to a similar second upright member 4 having a foot portion 5. A plurality of holes 6 is provided along each upright member. A first tubular steel pivotal member 7 is provided with a plurality of holes 26 and is pivotally mounted on the first upright member 1 by means of a bolt 8 passing through one of the holes 26 and one of the holes 6 and carrying a nut (not shown). A nylon bush (not shown) is fitted in the holes through which the bolt 8 passes. Thus, the first pivotal member 7 is mounted so as to pivot in a generally vertical plane about the upright member 1. The first pivotal member 7 includes a tubular sleeve 9 at one of its ends and a similar tubular sleeve 10 at its other end. The tubular sleeves 9 and 10 are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pivotal member 7 and extend in a generally horizontal direction. A stop member 11 is affixed to the upright member 1 so as to restrict the pivotal movement of the pivotal member 7 about the upright member 1.

A second pivotal member 12 of tubular steel and provided with a plurality of holes 26 is^' similarly mounted on the second upright member 4 by means of a bolt passing through corresponding holes 6 and 26 so that it can pivot in a generally vertical plane about the second upright member 4. This second pivotal member is generally identical to the first pivotal member 7 and thus includes a tubular sleeve 13 at one end and a tubular sleeve 14 at the other end extending in a generally horizontal direction. A stop member 15 similar to stop member 11 is affixed to the second upright member 4 to limit the pivotal movement of pivotal member 12 about upright member 4.

Located across the cross member 3 is a bench comprising a padded seat portion 16 mounted on a frame 17 provided with legs 18. The legs 18 are hingedly mounted on the frame 17 so that they can be moved into a location in which they are flat against the frame 17 for storage purposes. A part 16a of the seat portion 16, is hingedly mounted on the frame 17 so that it can adopt a position as^' shown in the drawing wherein it is generally coplanar with the remainder of the seat portion 16 or can be tilted into an inclined position shown by the dotted lines in which it is at an angle to the remainder of the seat portion -16. The angle of inclination is adjustable.

In use of the exercising equipment, a weight lif ing bar 19 is passed through the tubular sleeve 9 at a first end of the pivotal member 7, through a padded resilient tubular sleeve 20 formed of foam and through the tubular sleeve 13 at the first end of the second pivotal member 12. Disc weights 21 are then mounted on the weight lifting bar 19 in conventional manner. The number of weight discs and their weight will be selected in accordance with the particular requirements and preferences of the person carrying out the exercises. A person.lying on the padded portion 16 of the bench can then carry out bench press exercises. Also, by utilising the foam sleeve 20 he can carry out "stomach crunch" exercises. In each case, the presence of the stop members 11 and 15 prevent excessive movement of the members 7 and 12 about upright members 1 and 4 which might cause injury to the exerciser.

In an alternative way of using the equipment, the weight lifting bar may be threaded through the tubular sleeves 10 and 14 at the second ends of the pivotal members 7 and 12, respectively instead of through the tubular sleeves at the first ends and weight discs can then be fitted to the free ends of the weight lifting bar. Then, squat exercises can be carried out where the exerciser stands adjacent to the weight lifting bar 19, holds onto the bar and straightens his legs thereby lifting the bar about pivots 8. In the event that the bar slips from the exerciser's grasp, the stop members 15 and 11 prevent the weight lifting bar 19 pivoting around the upright members to such an extent that the weight discs contact the floor and possibly damage the exerciser's toes.

Alternatively, with the weight lifting bar 19 at the second ends of the pivotal members 7 and 12 and with the pivotal members 7 and 12 mounted in appropriate holes 6 in the upright members, the exerciser may sit at the end of the bench and perform a leg lift by lifting the bar 19 with his legs. The effective height of the end of the bench can be varied by means of a vertically adjustable padded support (not shown) for the back of the knee detachably mounted on the end of the bench. The stop members 11 and 15 again prevent the pivotal members pivoting to a dangerous extent and thereby causing damage to the legs.

In a further alternative, the exerciser can lie on his back on the bench and perform a reverse bench press by grasping the first ends of the pivotal members .7 and 12 and pulling these down so as to raise the weight lifting bar 19 attached to the second ends. Because of the presence of the stop members 11 and 15, it is possible for the exerciser to carry out exercises without the need to have a second person present in case of difficulties as is conventionally the case.

By removing the weight lifting bar 19, the exerciser can carry out rowing exercises whilst seated or lying on the seat portion 16 of the bench. Also, by removing members 7 and 12, the bench may be used in the conventional way.

Each of the upright members 1 and 4 includes a generally curved portion 22 to receive the weight lifting bar 19 when the exerciser is using the bar 19 for independent exercises.

By providing a plurality of holes 6 in each of the upright members 1 and 4 and a plurality of holes 26 in each of the pivotal members 7 and 12, the equipment can be assembled to take into account the size of the particular exerciser and the nature of the exercise being carried out.

After exercising has been completed, the equipment can be readily dismantled by removing the weight lifting bar 19 and the weight discs 21, removing the bolts 8 so as to disassemble the pivotal members 7 and 12 from the upright members 1 and 4, and collapsing the legs 18 of the bench against the frame 17. The bench can then be positioned parallel to the upright members 1 and 4 so that the whole equipment can then be stored in a relatively small space. Also, this enables the equipment to be transported and sold in a dis¬ assembled form.

It will be apparent that many different exercises can be carried out using the equipment without removing the weights and without changing from one position to another.

Referring now to Figure 2, parts corresponding to parts of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals.

In this embodiment, each of the tubular pivot members 7 and 12 includes a central portion of an internal diameter which is slightly greater than the external diameter of the end portions including the tubular sleeves. Thus the length of each of the pivot members 7 and 12 can be varied by axially displacing the central and end portions relative to one another in the manner of a telescope. A means (not shown) is provided to lock the central and end portions together so as to prevent unwanted telescopic movement once the pivot members 7 and 12 have been adjusted to the desired length. This means may be in the form of a collar, such as that denoted by reference numeral in Figure 4, which acts on the ends of the central portions and urges them into frictional contact with the end portions.

In this embodiment, each of the tubular sleeves 9, 10, 13,14 is hinged so as to facilitate introduction of the bar 19. The sleeves are identical and one such sleeve is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each sleeve includes a first component 31 and a second component 32 hinged together about an axis 33 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. With the sleeve in its open configuration as shown in Figure 3, the bar 19 can simply be introduced into the sleeve by moving it transversely in the direction of the arrow so that it is supported by component 32. Then the component 31 is pivoted about axis 33 into the closed configuration shown in Figure 4. It can then be held in that configuration by means of a collar 34 comprising a generally circular portion 35 terminating in flanges 36 and 37. The flanges 36 and 37 are held together by a connector portion 38 including a cam 39 engaging with a cam face on the flange 37. Rotation of the portion 38 causes the cam 39 to co-operate with the cam face of the flange 37 and tighten the collar around the sleeve 9 (10, 13. 14). This embodiment is useful where the space available is insufficient to enable the bar to be axially introduced into the sleeves.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Exercising equipment comprising:-

(a) a support frame including first and second upright members (1,4) adapted to stand on the floor,

(b) a first pivotal member (7) mounted on the first upright member (1 ) for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane and having first and second ends, (c) a second pivotal member (12) mounted on the second upright member (4) for pivotal movement in a substantially vertical plane and having first and second ends,

(d) means (9,13) at said first ends of the first and second pivotal members for releasably attaching a weight lifting bar (19) so as to link the pivotal members together, and

(e) a bench (17,18) located between the upright members and including a seat portion (16) upon which the exerciser can sit or lie whilst carrying out exercises using said weight lifting bar.

2. Exercising equipment as claimed in claim 1 and including a means (15) limiting the pivotal movement of the pivotal members about the upright members.

3. Exercising equipment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for releasably attaching the weight lifting bar (19) is in the form of a tubular sleeve (9,13) at the first ends of the first and second pivotal members (7,12) and into which the weight lifting bar (19) can be introduced.

4. Exercising equipment as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein a means for releasably attaching the bar is provided at said second ends of the first and second pivotal members, said means also being in the form of tubular sleeves (10,14) into which the weight lifting bar (19) can be introduced.

5. Exercising equipment as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein each tubular sleeve is formed of two components (31, 32) pivoted together about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

6. Exercising equipment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pivot point of each of the

^: pivotal members about the upright members is adjustable.

7. Exercising equipment as claimed in claim 6 wherein each upright member includes a plurality of holes axially located along the member into which a pin may be inserted about which the pivotal members can pivot.

8. Exercising equipment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each pivotal member is of adjustable length.

9. Exercising equipment as claimed in any preceding claim and including a support means (22) on which the weight lifting bar (19) can be supported in a rest position.

10. Exercising equipment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the, or part of, the seat portion (16) of the bench is capable of being inclined to a variable degree.