WO2018147889A1

WO2018147889A1 - Center weight barbell

Info

Publication number: WO2018147889A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/033518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renea Preston
Original assignee: Renea Preston
Priority date: 2017-02-10
Filing date: 2017-05-19
Publication date: 2018-08-16

Abstract

A barbell having a center frame with interior weight placement sleeves that allows the placement of weights in the center of the barbell. There are also weight placement sleeves on the ends of the barbell, as in conventional barbells. This allows the placement of weight on the barbell in both the center of the barbell and the ends of the barbell.

Description

CENTER WEIGHT BARBELL CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S provisional application Serial No. 62/457,800 filed on February 10, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a bar, commonly known as a barbell, for use in weight lifting. More specifically the invention relates to a bar having a center frame that allows weights to be positioned both in the center portion of the barbell and at the ends of the barbell. Description of the Related Art

[0003] The use of barbells for strength training is well known. The barbell is simply an elongated bar with mounting mechanisms, called collars, on each end, which allow weights to be added to the ends of the bar. This allows the user, commonly referred to as a weight lifter, or lifter, to add different amount of weight for different exercises, and also to add weight as their strength increases. Barbells are used for a wide variety of exercises, and strength training with the standard barbell is well known. [0004] One common barbell exercise is the bench press, where the lifter lays on a bench (either flat or inclined slightly) and presses the weighted barbell straight upward. This primarily works the muscles of the pectorals, or muscles of the chest, but also works the triceps, or muscles on the back of the arm. One of the problems of the standard bench press with a standard barbell with the weights on the ends of the bar, is that the lifter has to stabilize the bar, or keep it from shifting to one side or the other during the lift, and this puts stress on the deltoid muscles of the shoulder, particularly the front deltoid. There is a need, therefore, for a barbell that limits or eliminates the stress on the deltoids during a bench press.

[0005] In recent years sports physiologists have discovered that there are a number of benefits to the use of offset loading, or asymmetric loading, in strength training. Offset loading is the use of different weights on either side of the body. This is typically achieved by using small hand-held dumbbells of different weights. For example the lifter can do dumbbell curls with 20 pounds (10 kg) on one side and 30 pounds (15 kg) on the other side, or can do a dumbbell bench press with dumbbells of different weights, for example 45 pounds on the right side and 30 pounds on the left side. There are a number of benefits to weight training with an offset load. The first is that it strengthens the "core," or muscles of the "trunk" or stomach and lower back. Because there are different weights on each side of the body, the core muscles are automatically engaged to keep the person stable. The second benefit is that it decreases the left to right muscular imbalance. Most people have stronger muscles on one side of the body simply because they have a dominant hand, which means that the arm of the dominant hand does far more work than the other arm. Most people do most activities, from picking up a milk jug to hitting a tennis ball, with their dominant hand. The body automatically compensates for the weaker side, and this creates an imbalance in the muscles of the body. The use of an offset load in lifting forces the weaker side to fully engage during the full motion of the exercise.

[0006] Studies in sports physiology have shown that the use of offset load weight training can result in a breakthrough of a weight or exercise "plateau." It is very common for an lifter to reach a weight level for a certain exercise, and then be unable to do the same exercise with additional weight. This is known as a "strength plateau." So, for example, a lifter may be able to bench press 250 pounds, but not be able to bench press 260 pounds. Offset load training can help the athlete break through the "plateau," and move up to additional weight, and hence improve their strength. This is because the use of offset load training improves core strength and muscle symmetry as noted above, and this improves overall strength. For most offset load exercises the user uses hand held dumbbells. There is a need, therefore, for a barbell that can be used for offset load weight training on multiple positions on the barbell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention is a modified barbell with a special center attachment mechanism that allows weights to be added to the center of the bar. The center attachment mechanism is a center frame located in the middle of the bar. The center weight barbell consists of two elongated extended bars that are attached to the center frame, and extend outwardly therefrom. The center frame is a rectangular frame made from two bars of the same material as the rest of the barbell. The two bars are bent at 90 degrees about six inches from each end to create a U-shaped brace, and are attached to the two elongated extended bars. The two elongated extended bars are coaxial. There are two interior sections of the bar that extend inwardly inside the center frame. The interior bars are coaxial with the two extending bars. There is a gap between the ends of the interior bars so that weights can be added inside the center frame. There are mounted collars on the ends of the extended bars so that weights can be added onto the ends of the extended bars. The weight inside and outside are temporarily secured in place by temporary collars. This allows the lifter to be able to mount weight in multiple positions on the center weight barbell for offset loading. The addition of center weight on the barbell also reduces the stress on the lifter's deltoids during the bench press because the weight is largely between the lifter's hands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG 1 is a top plan view of the center weight barbell.

[0009] FIG 2 is a perspective view of the center weight barbell.

[0010] FIG 3 is a top plan view of the center weight barbell with weights on the ends and in the center frame.

[0011] FIG 4 is a perspective view of the invention with weights on the ends and in the center frame.

[0012] FIG 5 is a perspective view of the center weight barbell with weights attached, and in place on a weight bench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, and that there may be a variety of other alternate embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components.

Therefore, specified structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the varying embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG 1 is a plan view and FIG 2 is a perspective view showing the components of the center weight barbell 10. The center weight bar bell 10 is constructed from two extended bars, a first extended bar 30 and a second extended bar 40. Both extended bars are identical metal rods, made from either steel or iron of the type commonly used for standard barbells. The extended bars are roughly half the length of a standard bar bell, or roughly 3 feet (100 cm) in length, so that overall length of the center weight bar bell 10 is roughly the same as the length of the standard barbell. The actual length can vary.

[0015] The first extended bar 30 and second extended bar 40 are attached by a center frame 20. In the preferred embodiment the first extended bar 30 and the second extended bar 40 are made from one and one sixteenth inch (1 1/16" or 2.7 cm) steel rods. This is the standard size for barbells. The center frame 20 is made from two "U" shaped brace members, a top U-brace 21 and a bottom U-brace 22. The top and bottom U-braces 21 and 22, are made from the same material as the extended bars 30 and 40. In one embodiment the U-braces 21 and 22 are 32 ½ inch (82.5 cm) lengths of the metal rod and are bent at each end at a 90 degree angle to create the U-shaped member. The rods are bent approximately six inches (15.2 cm) from the ends of the bars, with the ends welded to the extended bars 30 and 40 approximately six inches (15.2 cm) from the inner ends 33 and 43 of the extended bars 30 and 40. This creates a first inward portion, or interior sleeve 32 and a second inward portion or interior sleeve 42. The U-braces 21 and 22 are attached to the extended bars 30 and 40 so that the extended bars 30 and 40 are aligned and have the same central axis. The extended bars 30 and 40 extend approximately six inches into the center frame 20 to create a first interior sleeve 32 and a second interior sleeve 42, with a center gap 23 of 1 ½ inches (3.8 cm) between the inner end 33 of the first extended bar 30 and the inner end 43 of the second extended bar 40. The center gap 33 is wide enough so that the user can add weights W to the first interior sleeve 32 and second interior sleeve 42. The interior sleeves 32 and 42 allow the user to mount free plate weights near the center of the center weight bar ball 10.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment the two U-braces 21 and 22 are welded to the extended bars 30 and 40. The extended bars are placed so that the inner ends 33 and 43 are approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) apart, which provides enough room for weights W and temporary collars 52 can be easily place over the sleeves 32 and 32 on the inner ends 33 and 43 of the bars 30 and 40. The two U-braces 21 and 22 are then placed so that the inner sleeves 32 and 42 are approximately six inches (15.2 cm) long, which provides enough space to add at least five weights W, and the temporary collars 52 to hold the weights W in place. In the preferred embodiment the U-braces 21 and 22 are welded to the extended bards 30 and 40, but it is possible, and within the conception of the invention, to attach the U-braces 21 and 22 in any conventional manner, including with the use of nuts, bolts, and brackets. It is even possible that the entire assembly could be molded from a single piece of metal, and even possible that the entire assembly could be forge hardened. The only requirement is that the material of the extended bars 30 and 40 and the U-braces 21 and 22 be strong enough to hold the weights W, and that the attachment points between the U-braces 21 and 22 and the extended bars 30 and 40 be strong enough to hold the weights W under the dynamic forces present during weightlifting.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment the extended bars 30 and 40 are 32.5 inches (82.5 cm) long. The length of the extended bars 30 and 40 can vary, typically between 30 inches (76.2 cm) and 36 inches (91.4 cm). The longer extended bars 30 and 40 create a longer overall center weight barbell 10. In the preferred embodiment the two U-braces 21 and 22 that form the center frame 20 are made from the same 32.5 inch (82.5 cm) length metal rod. This is for convenience since it allows construction with four identical steel rods. But it is to be understood that it is possible to construct the center weight barbell 10 with steel rods of different lengths. The two steel rods are bent at 90 degrees six inches (15.2 cm) from the end. This means that when attached to the extended bars 30 and 40 the center frame 20 has an inside length of 20 inches (50.8 cm) and an inside width of 12 inches (30.4 cm), which is wide enough to allow a 20 pound (10 kg) weight W to be placed on the inner sleeves 32 and 42. It is possible, and within the conception of the invention for the steel bars used to form the U-braces 21 and 22 to be longer to create a larger center frame 20, which would allow larger weights W, or more weight W plates, to be mounted on the inner sleeves 32 and 42.

[0018] The weights W used on barbells are commonly referred to as weight plates or simply plates, and are typically flat and round. They are typically about 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick. The overall weight of the weight plate W is dependant upon the diameter of the plate, with the larger diameter plates having heavier weight. FIG 3 and FIG 4 show the center weight barbell 10 with the weights W attached. In the preferred embodiment the center frame 20 is sized so that a standard 20 pound (10 kg) weight plate W can fit within the frame 20. The inner sleeves 32 and 42 are approximately 6 inches in length, which is long enough to accommodate at least five standard weight plates W, and be held in place by the movable collar 52. There are a variety of commonly used collars that hold the weights W in place on the bars. Because of the placement of the U-braces 21 and 22, there is no need for a back semi-permanent collar 51, as on the ends of the bars 31 and 41. The weights W can be held in place by temporary collars 52. There are a variety of known temporary collars 52. Some are held in place by a bolt, and others are springs that enlarge when the end handles are squeezed making them slightly larger than the outside diameter of the bars 31 and 41, which allow them to be temporarily place on the bars to hold the weights W in place. [0019] There is a semi-permanent collar 51 near the ends of the two bars 31 and 41 to create the outer sleeves 34 and 44. In the preferred embodiment the outer sleeves 34 and 44 are six inches (15.2 cm) long. The semi-permanent collars 51 can be standard bolt on collars, which are well known in the art. In one embodiment the collars 51 are permanent, and either welded to the extended bars 30 and 40, or molded as part of the bars 30 and 40. In use, the weights W are slid onto the outer sleeves 34 and 44 and held in place by the temporary collars 52. Weights of any size can be added to the outer sleeves 34 and 44.

[0020] The center weight barbell 10 is primarily designed for use in a modified bench press. The placement of weight in the center frame 20 of the barbell removes strain from the deltoid muscles of the shoulder because the weight is between the lifter's hands, which means that the lifter does not have to stabilize the weights on the far ends of the barbell during the lift. With the standard barbell the front deltoids are engaged to balance and prevent rotation of the bar, and this can cause pain for many users, and can cause injury for some users. With the center weight barbell 10, with all or the majority of the weight in the center of the barbell and between the lifter's arms and shoulders, means that the pectoral muscles of the chest are fully engaged. This allows the user to focus strength and energy on moving the weight of the barbell, which increases the effectiveness of the bench press.

[0021] While primarily designed for the bench press, the center weight barbell 10 can also be used for a wide variety of barbell related strength training exercises, including, but not limited to, bench presses, shoulder presses, squats, bent row, and bar curl. In use the center weight barbell 10 can be placed on a weight bench B having a holding frame, as shown in FIG 5, in the same manner as a standard barbell. Weights can be added to the outer sleeves 34 and 44, as well as the inner sleeves 32 and 42. In typical offset loading on a barbell, different weights are added to each end of the barbell. Typically the light load is no less then about a third of the heavy load. With the center weight barbell 10 the lifter can have uneven loads on either side, as with the standard barbell. So, for example, a lifter doing a bench press can load 80 pounds (36 kg) on one side and 60 pounds (27 kg) on the other. But with the center weight barbell 10, the lifter can also have uneven loads on each side, by placing different weights on the inside sleeve and on the outside sleeve. So, for example, there may be a total weight of 80 pounds on each side, but the load will be distributed so that there is 60 pounds on the left inside sleeve 32 and 20 pounds on the left outside sleeve 34, and 20 pounds on the right inside sleeve 42 and 60 pounds on the right outside sleeve 44. This uneven distribution of weight forces the body to use a variety of different muscles to stabilize the bar during the movement of the exercise, which works different muscles to improve strength and conditioning.

[0022] The present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain both the ends and the advantages mentioned, as well as other benefits inherent therein. While the present invention has been depicted, described, and is defined by reference to particular embodiments of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation to the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The depicted and described embodiments of the invention are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the present invention is intended to be limited only be the spirit and scope of the claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.

Claims

CLAIMS I claim:

1. A center weight barbell comprising

a center frame having two outwardly extending bars extending outwardly therefrom and two inwardly extending bars extending inwardly therefrom, said two outwardly extending bars and two inwardly extending bars are coaxial and configured to hold weights;

wherein there is a gap between said two inwardly extending bars, said gap sized to allow the placement of weights on said inwardly extending bars, thereby allowing the placement of weights inside the center frame.

2. The center weight barbell of claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending bars have an end and wherein a collar is mounted on each of said outwardly extending bar near said end to allow the placement of weights on said ends of said outwardly extending bars, and wherein further a temporary collar is mounted on each of said outwardly extending bars after the weights are added to hold the weights in place.

3. The center weight barbell of claim 1 wherein weights are added to each of said inwardly extending bars and wherein further two temporary collars are mounted, one on each of said inwardly extending bars, to secure said weights in place.

4. The center weight barbell of claim 1 wherein the two outwardly extending bars consist of a first outwardly extending bar and a second outwardly extending bar, and wherein said two inwardly extending bars consist of a first inwardly extending bar and a second inwardly extending bar;

and wherein further said first outwardly extending bar and said first inwardly extending bar are a first single bar, and said second outwardly extending bar and said second inwardly extending bar are a second single bar.

5. The center weight barbell of claim 4 wherein the first single bar and the second single bar are made of metal rods, and wherein said center frame is made from the same metal rods.

6. The center weight barbell of claim 5 wherein said center frame consists of a first U- shaped brace and a second U-shaped brace, wherein said first U-shaped brace and said second U- shaped brace are constructed of metal rods which are bent to form said U-shaped braces, and wherein said first U-shaped brace and said second U-shaped brace are attached to said first single bar and said second single bar to create said center frame having a two outwardly extending bars and two inwardly extending bars.

7. A barbell for reducing the strain on a lifter's deltoids, said barbell consisting of:

a first extended bar and a second extended bar;

a center frame constructed of a first U-shaped brace and a second U-shaped brace;

wherein said first U-shaped brace and said second U-shaped brace are attached to said first extended bar and said second extended bar to create said frame such that said first extended bar and said second extended bar are coaxial, and such that a first inward portion of said first extended bar extends inwardly into said frame and that that a second inward portion of said second extended bar extends inwardly into said frame, wherein there is a gap between said first inward portion and said second inward portion, and wherein a first outward portion of said first extended bar extends outwardly from said frame and a second outward portion of said second extended bar extends outwardly from said frame; whereby a lifter user places a multiplicity of plate weights onto said first inward portion and said second inward portion to place the weight near a center of the barbell, thereby reducing the strain on the lifter's deltoids during a bench press.

8. The barbell of claim 7 wherein said first outward portion has an end and said second outward portion has an end wherein a collar is mounted on each of said outward portions near said end to allow the placement of weights on said first and second outward portions, and wherein further a temporary collar is mounted on each of said outward portions after the weights are added to hold the weights in place.