Exercise apparatus

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, more especially, this invention relates to apparatus that enables the bench press exercise and others to be performed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are many different types of known apparatus for bench press exercise, from large gym-based machines to the regular home bench with rack at one end to hold the barbell. This rack is behind and above the user's head. Without a training partner to lower the bar onto the user, it is a dangerous task to grab the barbell and weights from this rack.

The conventional way of performing the bench press is to use a flat bench and a barbell with weights on either side. The barbell is lowered to the user's chest, and they then straighten their arms and push it back upwards again-preferably with someone spotting the user in case they get into difficulty. The user can lose their strength or grip and drop the barbell onto themselves causing injury. The user may also not have sufficient strength to raise the barbell off of their chest, therefore trapping themselves between the barbell and the bench, risking crushing of the user and therefore inflicting bodily harm. Furthermore, trapped users have no option but to unsafely dismount the barbell by rolling the mass over their body, or tilting the barbell, risking further bodily injury.

Another issue with existing bench press equipment is its dimensions. Standard setups include a bench and a barbell to which weights can be attached. Traditional barbells, such as the men's Olympic version, have a considerable length of 2.2 meters. This restricts the areas where one can conveniently perform bench press exercises, both in terms of active use and storage.

The present invention seeks to provide an exercise apparatus which removes the risk of a crush injury of a user and additionally, provide and exercise apparatus which is usable in a confined space.

Statements of Invention

Exercise apparatus for inter alia bench press exercises, the apparatus comprising: a framework including a bench elevated off the ground by the framework and extending along the framework; an angled shaft secured to an upper section of the framework at the first end of the bench and extending to the base of the framework under the second end of the bench; a crossbar extending generally perpendicular to the bench at the base of the framework; a lifting bar located above the bench and orientated generally perpendicular to the bench; a first cable length extending from one end of the lifting bar to and through a first pulley located at one end of the crossbar; a second cable length extending from said first pulley to a second pulley located under the bench at said first end; a third cable length extending from one side of said second pulley, through a strap and back to second side of the second pulley; a fourth cable length extending from said second pulley to a third pulley located at the end of the crossbar distal to said first pulley; a fifth cable length extending from said third pulley to the other end of the lifting bar; wherein the strap extends from said third cable lengths to a carriage located on the shaft and slidable along the length of the shaft as a pulling force is imparted to the carriage through lifting of the lifting bar.

Preferably, the carriage includes means to receive at least one weight.

Preferably, the carriage includes a crossbar, one or both ends of which being designed to receive at least one weighted disc.

Preferably, the shaft includes a padded buffer plate.

Preferably, the strap is adjustable.

Preferably, the bench has a cushioned top surface.

Preferably, the first and third pulley systems are arranged to swivel with respect to the crossbar.

Preferably, the framework includes two parallel spaced base frames, then ends of which are curved to provide two upstanding legs to support the bench.

Preferably, the upstanding legs support cross beams on to which the bench is secured.

Preferably, the second pulley system is secured to one end of the cross beams.

Preferably, the framework further comprises a V-shaped bar.

Preferably, a standing plate is connectable to the framework.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus set up for the bench press exercise.

FIG. 2 is the same perspective view as FIG. 1 with a user in position to begin the bench press exercise.

FIG. 3 is the same perspective view as FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein a user is in the finished position in the bench press exercise.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an extension arm.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pulley.

FIG. 6 is an aerial view of the pulley shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an aerial view of a pulley system.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the pulley system illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an underside perspective view of a carriage.

FIG. 10 is a view of the carriage shown in FIG. 9 hosting weight disks.

FIG. 11 is a first perspective view of an adjustable strap.

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the adjustable strap illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a barbell.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an end of a barbell.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the height adjuster strap fitted to the barbell illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 illustrates a second embodiment of the apparatus in FIG. 1, configured for other exercises performed by using another positioned cross bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A bench press apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

The apparatus comprises a framework 2 consisting of two generally parallel, spaced, base frames 4 that rest on the ground, the ends of which are curved upwardly to provide upstanding legs 6 to support a bench 8. The bench 8 is supported by cross beams 10 and is held above the base frames 4 at a substantially horizontal orientation at a height suitable for a user to perform bench press exercises comfortably. The bench 8 has a padded top surface to provide comfort to a user lying on the bench 8 using the apparatus. A barbell 12 is supported above the bench 8 so to be orientated generally horizontal and above a user when the user is lying on the bench 8.

The framework 2 further includes a crossbar 14 which extends through the framework across the base frames 4 so to be orientated generally parallel to the barbell 12 and generally perpendicular to the bench 8.

A cable or rope 16 is attached to each end of the barbell 12. Each end of the cable 14 is formed as a loop which is held in place near to the respective end of the barbell 12 between two protruding rods 18. Alternative attachment mechanisms may be used for example, a Caribiner™ clip.

The cable 14 extends from a first end 12A of the barbell 12 through first, second and third pulley systems and finally to the other end 12B of the barbell 12.

Only the first and second pulley systems 18, 20, and one end 12A of the crossbar 12 are shown. The third pulley and its respective end of the crossbar 12 are located on the other side of the framework 2, obscured from view.

Using a single cable 16 ensures that a uniform force is applied along the length of the cable 16, from one end of the barbell 12A to the other, during use. For ease of understanding, the various sections of the cable 16 are described hereinafter as “lengths”.

A first length 16A of the cable 16 extends downwardly from the end 12A of the barbell 12 to the respective end 14A of the crossbar 14. The crossbar 14 is fixedly secured to the base frames 4 to provide a first anchor point for the cable 16, at or near the ground.

A second length 16B of the cable 16 extends upwardly from the first pulley system 18 to a second pulley system 20 secured to the cross beams 10 at one end of the framework 4 to provide a second anchor point at that end of the framework 4 below the end of the bench 8 which would ordinarily support the head of the user when using the apparatus.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, a third length 16C of cable 16 extends through one side of the pulley system 20 to be thread through a looped strap 22 and back through the other side of the pulley system 20.

A fourth length 16D of the cable 16 then extends downwardly to the third pulley system (not shown) which is attached to the respective end (also not shown) of the crossbar 14.

Finally, a fifth length 16E of cable 16 extends from the third pulley system to the respective end 12B of the barbell 12.

The assembly as described enables the cable 16 to travel through three triangulated anchor points on either side of the apparatus imparting a uniform force along the length of the cable 16 and ensuring an equal force is applied on either side of the barbell 12.

The strap 22 is adjustable to and connects to a carriage 24 that is slidably supported on an angled shaft 26 extending along the longitudinal length of the frame 4, underneath the bench 8. The strap 22 is connected to the carriage 24 via a handle 25.

During use, lifting of the barbell 12 by a user lying on the bench 8 imparts a pulling force on the strap 22 to pull the carriage 24 upwardly along the shaft 26.

The carriage 24 carries a bar 28 extending perpendicularly across the carriage body and beyond each side to allow weighted discs 30 (see FIG. 10) to be attached to increase the weight of the carriage 24 and, therefore, the pulling force required to pull the carriage 24 along the shaft 26, consequently increasing the upward pushing force required on the barbell 12.

The crossbar14 consists of a central tubular section 32 and end tubular sections 34. Each end tubular section 34 has a larger diameter than the central section 32 to allow the end sections to be located over respective ends of the central section 32. The sections are locked in place at the desired length by placing key pins into aligned apertures 36. The crossbar 14 may be telescopically extendible or retractable through other known mechanisms.

A V-shaped bar 38 is provided within the framework 4 under the bench 8 to enable a squat exercise to the be performed. The arms of the bar are connectable and extendible in the same way as the crossbar 14.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the apparatus in use. The barbell 12 starts on the user's chest. The cable 16 runs from the barbell down through the first and third pulleys 18 on each end of the crossbar 14, up through the second pulley system 20 and to the carriage 24 on the angled shaft 26.

A padded buffer plate 40 acts as a stop at the end of the shaft 26 to prevent the carriage 24 from hitting the bottom of the shaft 26 as the barbell 12 is lowered and the pulling force on the carriage 24 is removed. A spring or elasticated material aid may be incorporated to pull the carriage 24 down the shaft 26.

FIG. 4 is an isolated view of one end of the crossbar 12. The pulley 18, located at a first distal end of the crossbar 12 is secured in such a way that it can swivel about the crossbar 12 to enable the cable 16 to change direction.

By way of example, but not limited to, the pulleys 18, 20 can be of varying types such as a swivel block, plain bearing, sheaves or even just round hooks. Their purpose is to allow the cable 16 to run smoothly and change direction.

The carriage 24 is held in place by roller bearings 42 which run above and below the angled shaft 26. This enables stability and smooth running. Other methods like linear motion bearings and wheels can be used. The bar 28 is fixed across the top.

The adjustable strap 22 may be like a cam belt buckle. At one end of the circular strap 22 the cable 16 is attached, the other end of the strap 22 is attached to the carriage 24 via the handle 25. By lengthening or shortening the adjustable strap, the height of the barbell 12 can be changed. The adjustable strap 22 may be lengthened and secured by a clamp.

FIG. 13 illustrates an isolated view of the barbell 12 wherein, rods 18 hold the cable 16 in place. When a user wants to get up from the bench the user may rotate the barbell 12 around whereby, the rods 28 face downwards; the cable 16 can then therefore be slid off.

FIG. 15 illustrates a second configuration of the height adjuster strap 22 wherein, the adjustable strap 22 is fitted to the barbell 12. The adjustable strap 22 may also be used here between the barbell 12 and the cable 16 instead of underneath between the carriage 24 and the cable 16. Both positions will enable the height of the barbell 12 to be regulated.

FIG. 16 illustrates a view of how other exercises can be performed by using the positioned V-Shaped bar 38. By inserting the extension arms 44 to the bar 38, squat exercise can be performed. This particular extension arm 44 shows that the arms can be varying shapes. Extension arm 44 is curved. When configured for squat exercise the pulley 18 is located at the end of the bar 38.

Additional features such as a standing plate 46 can be added to ensure stability during this exercise. The standing plate 46 clips onto the base of the bench to prevent slippage of the standing plate 46 with respect to the bench press apparatus when in use. Crossbar 14 can be seen without the extension arm 34. The handle 38 can also be seen on the carriage 24 that the adjustable strap 22 attaches.

It will be appreciated that the forgoing is merely exemplary of wrap apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.