ERGONOMIC COUNTERBALANCED BARBELL

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/740,957, entitled ERGONOMIC COUNTERBALANCED BARBELL, filed Dec. 31, 2024 the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The embodiments herein relate to the field of weightlifting equipment and, more particularly, to an ergonomic, counterbalanced barbell.

BACKGROUND

Exercise and fitness is currently experiencing unprecedented growth in both the US and many countries throughout the world. Those involved in fitness typically exercise using free weights (e.g. barbells and dumbbells) or resistance type machines. The resistance is typically provided in the form of free weights, selectorized cable based weights, weighted leverage type systems, elastic bands, or the like.

Many of those who train with free weights desire to become stronger and increase muscle size and/or tone for overall fitness and health, fitness competitions, and both professional and non-professional sports.

Weightlifting barbells (sometimes simply referred to as bars) and dumbbells both have advantages and disadvantages relative to each other. For instance barbells allow you to use more weight, and typically allow for the weight on the barbell to be changed quickly by adding weighted plates to the ends of the barbell. They are also easier to balance. On the other hand, dumbbells allow you to hold them in more positions, and at more angles relative to your body because you hold each of two dumbbells in a separate hand, as opposed to holding a barbell with both hands at once while using it.

Most barbells are straight, and Olympic style barbells in particular, allow you to add weight plates on each end, and to secure the plates on each end with clips or collars, if so desired. These type of barbells are well known in the art, and available at most commercial gyms (FIG. 1A, Prior Art). There is also a category of barbells known as “specialty bars” which come in may shapes and sizes, and have specific properties that allow them to be used in a manner that typical straight barbells often cannot. All barbells, including specialty bars are manufactured with different dimensions, shapes, tolerances, and materials, depending on the specific functionality desired. Choice of materials used for a specific barbell, e.g. stainless steel, cast iron, etc., and basic dimensions, e.g. bar length, marking or ring placements, knurling placement, bar diameter, and other manufacturing considerations are all well known in the art.

For instance, some bars are cambered (FIG. 1B, Prior Art), i.e. they have a curved or bent section which allows a greater range of motion on many exercises that cannot be accomplished with a straight barbell. As an example, you can bench press with a cambered bar, and get a greater range of motion because the cambered bar allows your hands which are on positioned on the opposite sides of the cambered section, to go lower than your chest, similar to using dumbbells to bench press. With a straight bar, the barbell will stop when it hits your chest but with a cambered bar your hands can go past your chest with the cambered section allowing extra room for you chest to go into.

Also, you can do bent over rows wit a cambered bar, and also get a greater range of motion, similar to using dumbbells, because the cambered section allows you again to go past your chest during the rowing motion, and allows your elbows to go on the sides of your body past your chest.

Another possible exercise that could be done with a cambered bar is a shoulder press. This can be done seated or standing, and is sometimes referred to as a military press, strict press, push-press, depending on small variations in the form of the exercise. The benefit of doing a should press with a cambered bar is that it allows a user to keep their elbows at the sides of their head, and keep there back in a straighter, more upright position. This typically makes the bar easier to balance, and may the exercise easier the joints of the shoulders, elbows, and on the back. The back is put in a more advantageous position because the bar can be pushed overhead without having to over-arch the back which often happens when using a straight bar which is typically lowered to the chest, or at least lowered in line with the chest in order to balance the bar.

Unfortunately, many users chose not to use a cambered bar to do shoulder presses because the cambered portion is hard to keep in a position where it does not fall forward toward the front of the body because of the weight of the cambered section.

In order to solve the limitations of existing barbells as described above, as well as other limitations well known in the art, what is needed is an ergonomic, counterbalanced barbell.

The above information is presented as background information only to help the reader to understand the present invention. Applicants have made no determination and make no assertion as to whether any of the above might be applicable as Prior Art with regard to the present application.

SUMMARY

The embodiments herein describe a Ergonomic Counterbalanced Barbell. In one embodiment, a barbell includes a cambered section. The cambered section or portion is positioned substantially in the middle or center section of the barbell. The barbell is substantially straight on opposing sides of the cambered section. A user will typically position their hands somewhere along the straight portions of the barbell. The ends of the two straight portions may be sized to allow weight plates to be loaded on the bar on each end. The ends may be sized to allow 1 inch diameter weight plates, or 2 inch diameter plates, e.g. for Olympic style weight plates. Other diameter sizes may be provided for non-standard plates. In some embodiments, the ends may be fixed or may rotate. Bearings or other friction reducing methods may be used to allow the barbell ends to more freely rotate. The bar may be smooth, or be provided with grooves, cross-hatching, etc., also known as knurling, to provide a better hand gripping surface, and to reduce or prevent a user's hand from slipping when using the barbell.

A weighted portion opposite the cambered section maybe provided to offset, or counterbalance the weight of the cambered section such that the barbell will balance itself out, i.e. the cambered section will maintain a relatively fixed position depending on the amount of counterbalance weight provided. In some embodiments, at least two counterbalance weights are positioned on the inside portion of the barbell opposite the cambered section. In some embodiments, the counterbalance weight will approximately equal the weight of the cambered section so that the cambered section will remain substantially horizontal relative to a ground surface when the barbell is in use. In other embodiments, the counterbalance weight values may be set to allow the cambered section of the barbell to remain in a relatively fixed position above for below horizontal to a ground surface during use. For instance, if the total weight of the counterbalance weight is more than the weight of the cambered section, the cambered section will tend to point up, i.e. not horizontally level, but instead, above horizontal. If the total weight of the counterbalance weight is less than the weight of the cambered section, then the cambered section will tend to point down, i.e. lower than horizontal to a user surface. A user surface as described herein, will typically be a floor, the ground, an exercise box, a block of some sort, e.g. one or more wooden, rubber, or metal blocks for standing, a grass field of section, a platform, or any other surface typically used when using a barbell.

In some embodiments the counterbalance weight is permanently attached to the barbell. In other embodiments, the counterbalance weight is removably attachable to the barbell, thereby allowing different counterbalance weight values to be attached.

In some embodiments, the counterbalance weights are offset a distance from the center line of the barbell in order to provide leverage for the counterbalance to allow the cambered portion of the barbell to remain in a desired position during use, e.g. relatively horizontal, above horizontal, or below horizontal relative to a ground or user surface.

In some embodiments, the counterbalance two or more attachments ends positioned opposite the cambered section to allow fixed, or removably attachable weights. The counterbalance weights may extend straight out from the barbell, i.e. relatively parallel to the cambered section, or they may be positioned to hang down, i.e. lower than the straight portions of the barbell. In some embodiments, the portion behind the cambered section, and between the counterbalance weights is left open to allow the barbell to go around the body of a user.

One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many different bar variations, i.e. dimensions, shapes, sizes, that could be implemented without deviating from the spirit of an ergonomic, counterbalanced barbell. For instance, a Swiss style bar (which has multiple parallel grips, and a sleeve on each end for receiving weight plates, could be shaped with a curve or cambered center section, and an opposing side counterweight, to enable a user to hold the palms of their hands facing each other while using the bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations of a straight barbell, and a cambered barbell, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of an Ergonomic Counterbalanced Barbell, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are illustrations of embodiments of counterbalance weights, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B, are illustrations of embodiments of an Ergonomic Counterbalance Barbell in use, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is noted that as used herein, the term “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect, detail, function, implementation, and/or embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects and/or embodiments.

Example Embodiments

FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations of barbells 100, as known in the prior art. FIG. 1A shows a straight barbell 110, and FIG. 1B shows a cambered bar 140 both with sleeves 120 on each end for loading weight plates (not shown). Standard weight plates typically come with 1 inch and 2 inch diameter holes in the middle for loading onto sleeves 120. Many weight values are typically available, as an example typical weights may be 45 lb plates, 35, lb plates, 25 lb plates, 10 lb plates, 5 lb plates, 2.5 lb plates, or any other value plates. Weight plates may also come in kg values. Sleeves 120 are usually configured for allowing only one size plate to fit securely or fairly snugly, e.g. made to fit 1 inch diameter opening plates, or 2 inch diameter openings. The diameter of sleeves 120 are slightly smaller than the middle openings of the weight plates to allow the weight plates to easily slide on, but are made to keep the weight plates from moving too much when loaded so they are not much smaller than the diameter of the plate centers, although this can vary. Collars, clips, or clamps (not shown) designed to fit on sleeves 120 may also be used to keep the plates from moving, if so desired. Barbells 110 and 140 may include cross hatching (known as knurling) 130 to help secure a users grip, i.e. help prevent a user's hands from slipping. The sleeves 120 may be bigger, smaller, or the same size as the rest of the barbells 110 and 140. The sleeves 120 may be part of the barbells 110 and 140, i.e. they may remain stationary relative to barbells 110 and 140, or they may rotate. If they rotate, they may include a friction reducing rotation element such as bearings, or other well known friction reducing elements. Cambered bar 140 may be other shapes than shown, e.g. curved, square, or any other shape.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of an Ergonomic Counterbalanced Barbell 200, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. A cambered section 210 is substantially symmetrically shaped around an apex of the cambered section 210. This apex may also me considered an approximate center of barbell or bar 200. Opposing ends of cambered section 210 are each attached to straight sections 215 which are longitudinally aligned. Two sleeves 220 are provided, and may be sized to allow weight plates (not shown) of various diameter centers to easily slide on, but at the same size reduce the amount of play or extra space between the weight plates and sleeves 220, thus helping the plates to fit more securely. For example, weight plates of 1 inch diameter or 2 inch diameter center may be used, with the diameter of sleeves 220 being smaller than 1 inch or 2 inches, respectively. Cross hatchings or grooves, also known as knurling 230 may be provided in various locations on barbell 200 to help prevent slippage of a users hands when the bar is in use. End caps 250 may be provided on the sleeves 220 to prevent weight plates from moving past a certain desired point on the barbell 200, and help the bar to remain balanced when similar weight plates (plates) are loaded on both sleeves 220. The sleeves 220 with end caps 250 may be permanently affixed to straight sections 215. In other embodiments, end caps 250 may be affixed to sleeves 220, and both may be free to rotate bidrectionally around straight sections 215. Bearings or other friction reducing elements 260 may be provided to allow sleeves 220 to rotate around straight sections 215. Counterbalance elements 240 are provided to offset the weight of cambered section 210. Counterbalance elements 240 may themselves be weighted, or they may be configured to hold permanent, or removably attachable weights, or weight plates (see FIGS. 3A-D). In one embodiment, two counterbalance elements 240 are provided, each one approximately equal in length, diameter, and shape to the other.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are illustrations of embodiments of counterbalance elements 300. In FIG. 3A, counterbalance elements 330 are attached at the ends of cambered section 310, and adjacent to straight sections 215. Counterbalance elements 330 are themselves weighted, or the combination of their sizes, dimensions, and materials provide a total weight value to offset the weight of cambered section 310 to prevent cambered section 310 from tending to fall forward when the barbell 200 is being used.

FIG. 3B shows an embodiment with counterbalance elements 330 being externally threaded 340 to allow opposingly threaded weights or weight plates (not shown) to be screwed on to counterbalance elements 330 to offset the weight of cambered section 310.

FIG. 3C shows an embodiment with weight sleeves 350 with end caps 360 for allowing weight plates to be loaded onto sleeves 350 to provide counterbalance weight.

FIG. 3D shows counterbalance elements 330 with internal threads 370 configured to receive screw on type weights or weight plates 380 via opposing external threads 390.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of embodiments of an Ergonomic Counterbalance Barbell 400 in use. In FIG. 4A, a user 430 is positioned facing the rear gripping the at knurling 440. Weight plates 410 are loaded on the ends of the bar, and collars 420 are being used to lock the weights into place on the bar. End caps 415 may be provided to prevent weight plates from moving past a certain desired point on the barbell 200. Cambered section 450 maintains angle relative to a user during use due to the weight of counterbalance elements 460. Typically, a user will position the cambered section 450 towards the front of their body when using the bar 400, although other variations may be used, if so desired. As previously mentioned, there are numerous ways to provide the counterbalance weight as discussed above in relation to FIGS. 3A-D. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that in addition to those already discussed, other configurations for providing weight to counterbalance elements 460 to offset the weight of cambered section 450 could be provided. The offsetting weight provided may be approximately equal to, more than, or less than the weight of cambered section 450 depending on if you wanted to cambered section to remain relatively parallel, angled down, or angled up relative user's exercising/lifting surface.

FIG. 4B provides a side view of a user 430 using ergonomic counterbalanced barbell 400 for a shoulder press (also known as a military press). The cambered section 450 allows a user 430 to position their hands on the sides of their head during this exercise, similar to using a pair of dumbbells for the same exercise. A typical straight bar would require the user 430 to keep their hands in front of their body, and arch their back more to maintain an upright position.