Exercise bar with adjustable angle handles

• US 7,837,598 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leroy J. Boozel Jr
• Original Assignee: Leroy J. Boozel Jr
• Inventors: Boozel, Leroy J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/561,332
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 482/139, 482/126, 482 91- 92, 482/148, 482/55, 482 37- 38, 482 93-103, 482/35, 482/51
• US Class Current: 482/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement

Abstract

An exercise bar includes a pair of handles having proximal ends with at least one fulcrum hole extending through the proximal end of each thereof. A center plate has a periphery and a pair of pivot holes therethrough. One of a pair of pivot pins is inserted through each of the fulcrum hole and a pivot hole to connect the handles to the center plate. Locating means extending through the center plate are spaced about the periphery thereof. Movable locking elements in the form of locking pins or clevis type pins are inserted into selected ones of the locating means to retain the handles at selected angular positions relative to the center plate.

Claims

1. An exercise bar comprising:

a pair of separate handles including a left handle and a right handle having proximal ends with at least one fulcrum hole extending through the proximal end of each thereof and a lock hole therethrough spaced away from the fulcrum hole;

a center plate having a center, a to end in the center with a coupling therein, a left side, a right side, a periphery, and a pair of pivot holes extending through the center plate with one of the pivot holes on the left side and one of the pivot holes on the right side of both the coupling and the center plate;

one of a pair of pivot pins inserted through each fulcrum hole and one of the pivot holes with each of said pivot pins pivotally securing one of said left handle and said right handle to said center plate on said left and right sides thereof respectively;

openings comprising holes, detents or notches formed extending through the center plate spaced about the periphery thereof on the left and the right sides of both the coupling and the center plate; and

movable locking pins for insertion through said lock holes through said left handle and through said right handle and into selected ones of the openings for retaining the left handle and the right handle at respective, separate selected angular positions on the left and right sides of both the coupling and the center plate;

whereby the angles of said left handle and said right handle with respect to said center and to each other are adjustable for different exercises with said exercise bar.

2. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein:

the center plate openings comprise detents or notches in the periphery thereof; and

each handle includes a spring biased locking pin housed therein for insertion into a selected one of the detents or notches.

3. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein:

the center plate openings comprise detents or notches in the periphery thereof;

each handle includes a spring biased locking pin housed therein for insertion into a selected one of the detents or notches; and

a coupling is connected to the center plate by a swing bearing formed therein and a shaft secured to the center plate.

4. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein each handle has a proximal end which includes a pair of prongs and a slot therebetween for insertion onto the center plate.

5. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein each handle has a proximal end which includes a pair of prongs and a slot therebetween for insertion onto the center plate.

6. The exercise bar of claim 3 wherein:

each handle has a proximal end which includes a pair of prongs and a slot therebetween for insertion onto the center plate; and

each handle has a longitudinal slot for housing a said locking pin with shoulders extending outside the handle for manual withdrawal of the locking pin into the handle from a locking position.

7. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein:

the center plate openings comprise lock holes extending through the center plate proximate to the periphery thereof; and

each handle includes a said locking pin extending through the lock hole therethrough.

8. The exercise bar of claim 1 wherein:

the center plate openings comprise lock holes extending therethrough proximate to the periphery thereof;

each handle includes a lock pin extending through the lock hole therethrough; and

a coupling formed on an upper portion of the center plate with a coupling hole therethrough.

9. The exercise bar of claim 7 wherein each handle has a proximal end which includes a pair of prongs and a slot therebetween for insertion onto the center plate.

10. The exercise bar of claim 7 wherein a coupling is connected to the center plate by a swing bearing formed therein and a swing shaft secured to a housing slot in the center plate at the top thereof by alignment slots formed in opposite ends of the swing shaft and welds of the swing shaft to the center plate.

11. An exercise bar comprising:

a center plate having a periphery and a pair of pivot holes therethrough;

a pair of handles each of which a has a proximal end including a pair of bilateral prongs separated by a transverse slot for insertion of the proximal end of the handle onto the center plate;

fulcrum holes extending through the bilateral prongs in the proximal end of each of the handles;

one of a pair of pivot pins inserted through each of the pivot holes and the fulcrum holes rotatably joining the handles to the center plate;

openings formed extending through the center plate spaced about the periphery thereof, the openings comprising detents or notches in the periphery of the center plate;

a pair of compression springs; and

an associated pair of movable locking pins for each handle;

each of the pair of handles includes a coaxial bore in the proximal end thereof for housing a said locking in and a said compression spring;

a said compression spring and a said movable locking pin inserted into each of the coaxial bores;

a coupling having a means for attachment formed therein; and

the coupling being connected to the center plate by a swing bearing formed therein housing a swing shaft secured to the center plate.

12. The exercise bar of claim 11 including:

a housing slot formed extending through the center plate at the top thereof with the housing slot having edges defined by the center plate;

a coupling connected to the center plate by a swing bearing and a swing shaft; and

the swing shaft being secured to the edges of the housing slot in the center plate.

13. The exercise bar of claim 11 wherein:

alignment slots are formed in opposite ends of the swing shaft which overlap the edges of the housing slot; and

welds are formed between the ends of the swing shaft and the center plate along the edges of the housing slot thereby securing the swing shaft to the center plate.

14. The exercise bar of claim 11 wherein the pivot pin comprises a hollow spring pin.

15. The exercise bar of claim 11 wherein each said locking pin is inserted into a selected one of the openings which retains the handle associated therewith at selected angular position relative to the center plate under mechanical bias exerted by the compression spring associated therewith.

16. The exercise bar of claim 15 wherein each said compression spring biased locking pin retains the handle associated therewith in a locked position relative to the periphery of the center plate by insertion thereof in a selected one of the openings comprising a said detent or a said notch.

17. The exercise bar of claim 11 wherein:

the pivot pin comprises a hollow spring pin; and

each of the locking pins is inserted into a selected one of the openings for retaining the handle associated therewith at selected angular position relative to the center under mechanical bias exerted by the compression spring associated therewith.

18. The exercise bar of claim 14 wherein each of the locking pins is inserted into a selected one of the openings for retaining the handle associated therewith at a selected angular position relative to the center plate under mechanical bias exerted by the compression spring associated therewith.

19. The exercise bar of claim 15 wherein each of the locking pins is inserted into a selected one of the openings for retaining the handle associated therewith at selected angular position relative to the center plate under mechanical bias exerted by the compression spring associated therewith.

20. A method of operating of an exercise bar comprising:

a pair of separate handles including a left handle and a right handle having proximal ends with at least one fulcrum hole extending through the proximal end of each thereof and a lock hole therethrough spaced away from the fulcrum hole, a center plate having a to end and a periphery, a coupling centered in the top end, and a pair of pivot holes extending through the center plate on opposite sides of both the coupling and the center plate with a pair of pivot pins inserted through each of the fulcrum hole and a pivot hole;

openings comprising holes, detents or notches formed extending through the center plate spaced about the periphery of the center plate; and

movable locking elements comprising spring biased locking pins or removable locking pins;

the method including the adjusting angles of the handles by the steps as follows;

releasing at least one of the locking elements for at least one of the handles which is in a first position;

adjusting angular position of the handle from the first position to a second position;

altering positions of the movable locking elements into selected ones of the openings for retaining the handles at separate, selected angular positions relative to the center plate.