WO1998036799A1

WO1998036799A1 - Bell weight support apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998036799A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Terrence Jordan; Mark Cameron Yates
Original assignee: Raymark Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1996-02-02
Filing date: 1997-02-21
Publication date: 1998-08-27

Abstract

This invention provides bell weight support apparatus for supporting a bell weight comprising a weight portion and a bar, and includes a base assembly (40), and elongate support means (43) on the base assembly (40) adapted to receive the weight portion at one of a plurality of positions therealong and supporting the bell weight with the bar thereof clear of the elongate support means (43). The base assembly (40) can be free standing or adapted to be fixed to a wall, floor or the like. The base assembly (40) may include means for adjustment (13) or selection of the height thereof whereby the height of the elongate support means (43) may be adjustable or selected. Further, the base assembly (40) may include adjustment means permitting adjustment of the relative positions of a user bench (41) and the elongate support means (43) with respect thereto. Supporting the weights or bells rather than the bar the elongate support means (43) makes use of the enlarged diameter of the bells relative to the bar to support the bell weights with the bar clear of the elongate support means (43). The elongate support means (43) may comprise an elongate gutter or part circular or elliptical cross section or may comprise a pair of spaced bars (46, 47, 54) or rollers. The supporting height of the gutter may be selected such that the bell weight will not readily roll transversely through the gutter when released from the lip, but should not be so deep as to require excess lifting to discharge the bell weight.

Description

"BELL WEIGHT SUPPORT APPARATUS* — BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION — This invention relates to bell weight support apparatus. This invention has particular but not exclusive application to bell weight support apparatus suitable for use with an incline, decline or flat bench, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as supporting barbells and dumbbells for storage. As used herein, the term "bell weight" is to be taken to include fixed and variable weight barbells and dumbbells comprising a bar having terminally attached thereto a pair of weights or weight assemblies.

Dumbbell repetitions are often done on a level, vertical, inclined or declined bench on which the subject lies supine or is seated. A pair of dumbbells may then be picked up by, or handed by a trainer to, the subject for the repetitions. At the end of the exercise, the dumbbells are generally dropped to the floor or placed thereon, or taken by the trainer. The dropping of the bells risks wear or damage thereto, and scars the floor. Picking up and placement of the bells generally requires the adoption of extreme joint angles by the subject, at increased risk of injury. The use of a trainer to avoid such disadvantages is of course not practical in home gyms, and wasteful of human resources in commercial establishments.

Barbells, having the weights disposed at opposite ends of a long bar, are often supported on stands such that the bar may be picked up from the shoulders or arms to avoid lifting from the floor. In general, such stands comprise a pair of cup like channel sections of dimensions adapted to receive opposite ends of the bar. Such a configuration permits the bar to be lifted straight up to disengage the bar from the stand. Barbell apparatus attaching to or usable with benches are currently in use for barbell bench exercises. However, this configuration of barbell support is unsuited to either barbell or dumbbell use, since this configuration requires an accuracy of placement that many subjects would lack when manipulating the bells behind their head in the supine or seated position. This may result in one or both of the bar ends missing the cups, which may result in joint strains or worse. This configuration also requires an upward lifting action behind the head from the supine position.

— SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION — The present invention aims to substantially alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide bell weight support apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent. With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in bell weight support apparatus for supporting a bell weight comprising a weight portion and a bar, said bell weight support apparatus including: - a base assembly, and elongate support means on said base assembly adapted to receive said weight portion at one of a plurality of positions therealong and supporting said bell weight with said bar thereof clear of said elongate support means. The base assembly may comprise a free standing base assembly or a base assembly adapted to be fixed to a wall, floor or the like. The base assembly may include a user bench. The base assembly may include means for adjustment or selection of the height thereof whereby the height of the elongate support means may be adjustable or selected. Further, the base assembly may include adjustment means permitting adjustment of the relative positions of the user bench and the elongate support means.

By supporting the weights or bells rather than the bar the elongate support means may make use of the enlarged diameter of the bells relative to the bar to support the bell weights with the bar clear of the elongate support means. The elongate support means may comprise an elongate gutter of part circular or elliptical cross section or may comprise a pair of spaced bars or rollers.

The bars or rollers may be plastic or rubber coated to absorb shocks. Bars may be of round or other section, hollow or solid, or may be of channel or angle stock construction.

Preferably, the supporting height of the gutter is selected such that the bell weight will not readily roll transversely through the gutter when released from the lip, but should not be so deep as to require excess lifting to disengage the bell weight. Accordingly, it is preferred that the gutter have a depth of between 3.5 to 25% of the diameter of the weight or bell.

Where the elongate support means comprises a pair of spaced bars or rollers, it is preferred that these be spaced apart such that the weight or bell portions depend from 3.5 to 25% of its diameter below the upper extremity of the supporting bar or roller on the side towards the user. An offset in height between the front and rear bars may be included to provide a slight fall to front of the elongate support means for ease of removal and replacement of dumbbells. Back stop means may be provided to ensure dumbbells could not be rolled or pushed off the back of the elongate support means . The spacing of the bars or rollers may be adjustable to accommodate different diameters of weight portions. The adjustment may be by any suitable means such as a sliding tube mount with a plurality of locking pin locations, or may be continuously variable such as by winding screw similar to a workbench. Fixed or adjustable-dimension elongate support means may be adapted whereby segments of the front (nearest) bar may be foldable or removable to enable arms to slide in and out or for sighting purposes.

However, in practice it has been found that an important limitation on the accommodation of varying bell sizes relates to the positioning of any stop means provided relative to the bars, rather than the spacing of the bars comprising the elongate support means proper. Accordingly, whether the support bars are of a fixed or adjustable type, the stop may be selected to be adjustable in its position relative to the support bars in order to accommodate differing bell weight diameters^'.

The adjustment of the stop means may take any form consistent with the form of the stop selected. For example, the stop means may comprise a bar or panel disposed substantially parallel to the elongate support means and adjustable in its position relative to the elongate support means. The adjustability may be by slotted end supports and lock screws, threaded or worm drive adjustment or the like.

Preferably, the elongate support means and stop means are co-located on the apparatus by means of common end members configured to provide for the adjustment of the elongate support means and/or the stop means. If desired, the adjustment for the stop means may be configured to include an adjustment position where the stop means is inactivated . The elongate support means may extend laterally to the reasonable limits of a user's ability to place the bell weights. Alternatively, the elongate support means may include guides to constrain the bell weights to within the ends of the elongate support means. Apparatus for use with bar or dumbbells may comprise a single support means extending across the full dimension of the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise two separated support portions. In this case the intervening part of the apparatus may be used to support additional apparatus such as pull-down type cable operated apparatus, or a static handle to assist the subject in demounting from the bench.

Any type of bench may be integrated with apparatus in accordance with the present invention. For example, attachments to the base assembly may include a flat, incline or decline bench for chest work or a vertical bench for shoulder work. If desired, a combination of the foregoing may comprise a variable angle adjustment mechanism for the bench.

The apparatus may be integrated into a multi use style commercial or home gym centre. Further, in a commercial gym or when training with a partner, a step attachment may be added to the base assembly to enable the training partner to

"spot" when the apparatus is fully extended.

— BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS — In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the portion of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

— DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT — In the FIGS. 1 to 4 there is provided bell weight support apparatus including a base frame member 10 adapted to support the apparatus on the ground. The base frame member 10 supports a spotting step 11 through risers 12, adapted in use to provide a vantage point for the trainer to observe the exercise. The spotting step or other frame portion may also be used to support an edge of a bench attachment (not shown). Feet 18 at the bottom of the base frame member 10 permit free standing or floor fixing of the apparatus.

Spaced apart on the base frame 10 are a pair of telescopic supporting strut assemblies 13 each comprising a lower member 14 integral with the base frame 10, an intermediate member 15 having a spigot member 16 telescoping into the lower member 14, and an upper member 17 telescoping into the intermediate member 15. The respective strut assembly 13 members are engaged selected relative positions for length by pins 20 engaging locating holes 21. To adjust the height of the apparatus for certain bench configurations and/or positions of the user, the upper member 17 is adapted to fit and be secured into the lower members 14 whereby the intermediate members may be dispensed with for those exercises or positions. The upper members 17 are fabricated integrally with an interconnecting cross member 22. The cross member 22 in turn provides a mounting for a dumbbell support assembly 23 and a pair of dumbbell weight changing rests 24 having a bar notch 25. The dumbbell support assembly 23 comprises an inner dumbbell support bar 26 welded to the cross member 22 and forming a fixed rest, and an outer dumbbell support bar 27. The outer dumbbell support bar 27 is mounted via mounting tubes 30 welded to the inner barbell support bar 26 and the interconnecting cross member, adjustable engagement with the outer bar 27 being via respective spigot portions 31 fabricated to the outer support bar 27. The mounting tubes 30 each extend through to form a support for the dumbbell weight changing rests 24.

The relative positions of the inner 26 and outer 27 dumbbell support bars is maintained by pins engaging corresponding holes 33 provided through the mounting tubes 30 and the spigots 31.

In apparatus in accordance with the abovedescribed embodiment, the dumbbells are placed resting between the middle and front bars of the elongate support means at shoulder width spacing. The party lying/seated on the bench reaches slightly behind them and over the front bar to grasp the dumbbells. The dumbbells are then rolled over the front bar to the exercise position. On completion of the exercise the dumbbells are placed on the elongate support means in the commencing position by reversing the procedure. The holders to the rear of the rack enable adjustable dumbbells to have the weights varied without lifting and replacing the dumbbells to or from the floor.

The adjustable support means which enables the width between the bars on which the dumbbells rest to be altered from 50 mm to 125 mm in 25 mm increments enables selection of a comfortable and safe support regime with adaptation for different weight diameters.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is provided an integral bench and bell weight support apparatus comprising a base frame portion 40 supporting a bench assembly 41, a spotting step/bench extension assembly 42 and a bell weight support assembly 43. The spotting step/bench extension assembly 42 is padded such that it may be used with the user reversed in position for triceps extensions. The base frame portion 40 is provided with wheels 44 which are clear of the floor in use and adapted to engage the floor for rolling the apparatus when lifted by a handle/footrest 45 provided on the outer end of the bench assembly 41. The bell weight support assembly 43 comprises a pair of front 46 and back 47 bell weight support bars in parallel relation of fixed spacing. The spacing of the bell weight support bars 46, 47 is determined by the relative spacing of mounting holes 50 therefor provided in respective end brackets 51 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The end brackets 51 are mounted to the base frame assembly 40 by bolting through mounting holes 52 to the upper end of riser portions 53 locating the bell weight support assembly 43 relative to the base assembly 40. A stop bar 54 is disposed in substantially parallel relation to and behind the support bars 46, 47. The stop bar 54 is provided with respective threaded ends adapted to receive locking screws 55 adapted to clamp the respective ends of the stop bar to the end brackets 51 through multiposition slots 56. The multiposition slots 56 are provided with a forward position 57 for use with smaller diameter bells, a back position 60 for use with larger bells, and a disengaged position 61 where the stop bar 54 may be positioned when not required.

The apparatus in accordance with this embodiment, is used substantially as per the previous embodiment. However, in order^' to accommodate differing bell weights the stop position is adjustable by the trainer or the user.

In both described embodiments, the apparatus reduces the likelihood of injury through avoiding a requirement to lift or swing heavy dumbbells from or to the floor to complete an exercise. The apparatus conserves energy, thus enabling the user to maximise energy spent in completing the exercise.

The apparatus improves spotting in that training partners can assist in exercise movement without problem of dumbbell removal on completion of exercise. The use of the apparatus reduces equipment wear and tear since dumbbells are not damaged through being dropped to the floor on exercise completion. This is particularly important for fixed weight dumbbells.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as claimed in the following claims.

Claims

ΓÇö CLAIMS ΓÇö

1. Bell weight support apparatus for supporting a bell weight comprising a weight portion and a bar, said bell weight support apparatus including:- a base assembly, and elongate support means on said base assembly adapted to receive said weight portion at one of a plurality of positions therealong and supporting said bell weight with said bar thereof clear of said elongate support means.

2. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and including adjustment means for adjustment or selection of the height of said elongate support means.

3. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said elongate support means includes an elongate gutter of part circular or elliptical cross section.

4. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said elongate support means includes a pair of spaced bars or rollers.

5. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said spaced bars or rollers include an offset in height between the front and rear bars or rollers to provide a slight fall to front of the elongate support means for ease of removal and replacement of the bell weight.

6. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to claim 5, wherein said elongate support means engages a lower portion of each bell portion weight to an operative depth in the elongate support means such that the bell weight will not readily roll transversely off the elongate support means .

7. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim -6, wherein said operative depth is between 3%% and 25% of the diameter of the bell portions.

8. Bell^' weight support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and including back stop means to ensure the bell weight could not be rolled or pushed off the back of the elongate support means.

9. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said back stop means is adjustable in its position relative to said elongate support means whereby differing bell weight diameters may be accommodated thereby.

10. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, and including common end members configured to provide for co-location of said elongate support means and back stop means.

11. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the adjustment for said back stop means includes an adjustment position whereby said back stop means is operatively inactivated.

12. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in any one the preceding claims, wherein said elongate support means includes guides to constrain said bell weights to within the ends said elongate support means.

13. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said elongate support means comprises two separated support portions.

14. Bell weight support apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and integrated into a multi use style commercial or home gym centre.

15. Bell weight support apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the drawings.