Multipurpose workout and storage bench

• US 10,960,256 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2017
• Issued: 03/30/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FitBench
• Original Assignee: FitBench
• Inventors: Donnelly, John Robert, Danen, Tyler Steven William, Rutledge, David Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Garrett K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, Zachary T
• Application Number:
  US16/341,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20190240528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/682 for beverages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0204 and joined together by interconnecting formations forming part of the container, e.g. dove-tail, snap connections, hook elements

Abstract

A workout bench is disclosed that has rectanguloid front and rear containers each connected with two opposing rectanguloid side containers therebetween. The front and rear containers are least partially open. Each side container is open at an outward, lateral side thereof. The containers are each flush at their top, bottom, and lateral sides. The containers each define an internal storage volume therein, with the front and rear containers accessible from their partially open top sides. The workout bench also has a benchtop pivotally fixed with the front container, with a selectively movable brace for holding the benchtop at one of a plurality of predefined angular positions with respect to the top sides of the containers. A plurality of feet project away from the bottom sides of at least two of the containers.

Claims

1. A workout bench for use by a person on a support surface and for holding a plurality of exercise items including at least exercise weights, the workout bench comprising:

a front container and a rear container each connected with two opposing side containers therebetween, the side containers each comprising at least a back wall extending along an inward, lateral side of the side container, the front container at least partially open at a front side thereof, the rear container at least partially open at a rear side thereof, each side container open at an outward, lateral side thereof, the containers each flush at top sides thereof, bottom sides thereof, and lateral sides thereof, each container defining an internal storage volume therein, each side container separated from the other side container, by way of at least the back wall, such that the internal storage volume of each side container is inaccessible from within the internal storage volume of the other side container; and

a benchtop fixed with the front container;

whereby the exercise items are placed into the containers and the person is supported by the benchtop while performing exercises;

wherein each side container further includes a plurality of weight supports fixed with the back wall thereof, whereby the weight supports are configured to support one or more of the exercise weights and the side containers are each configured for removing of or returning of the exercise weights through the open lateral side thereof.

2. The workout bench of claim 1 further including a plurality of feet projecting away from the bottom sides of at least two of the containers and adapted for high-friction engagement with the support surface.

3. The workout bench of claim 2 further including a pair of wheels fixed with the front container proximate the bottom and front sides thereof, and further including a handle fixed with the rear container proximate the bottom and rear sides thereof;

whereby the wheels do not make contact with the support surface when the workout bench is supported by the feet on the support surface, but when the workout bench is lifted by the handle the wheels make contact with the support surface, the feet being lifted away from the support surface, the workout bench thereby being rollable on the support surface.

4. The workout bench of claim 1 wherein the benchtop is pivotally fixed with the front container and includes a selectively movable brace for holding the benchtop at one of a plurality of predefined angular positions with respect to the top sides of the containers, the top sides of the front and rear containers being at least partially open, whereby when the benchtop is lifted upwardly away from the front and rear containers, the internal storage volumes of the front and rear containers become accessible from the top sides thereof.

5. The workout bench of claim 4 wherein the front container includes a rear compartment isolated from the open front side of the front container by a dividing wall, the at least partially open front side of the front container including a plurality of container baskets, the rear compartment accessible through the open top side of the front container.

6. The workout bench of claim 4 wherein a trough is defined between the side containers and flush with the top sides thereof, the trough containing a raised beam having a plurality of transverse notches formed in a top side thereof, the movable brace of the benchtop including a cross bar adapted to fit within any of the notches, whereby each of the predefined angular positions of the benchtop correspond with the cross bar being engaged with one of the notches of the trough, the rearmost notch corresponding with the benchtop lying flat on the containers and with the brace fully contained within the trough.

7. The workout bench of claim 1 wherein the front container further includes a first side door in at least one of the lateral sides thereof, the first side door being positionable between an open position for accessing the internal storage volume, and a closed position.

8. The workout bench of claim 7 wherein the front container includes a rear compartment isolated from the open front side of the front container by a dividing wall, the at least partially open front side of the front container including a plurality of container baskets, the rear compartment accessible when the first side door is in the open position.

9. The workout bench of claim 1 wherein at least one of the containers is adapted to hold resistance band-type exercise items, the workout bench further including a plurality of eye hooks fixed with at least one of the containers, whereby one of the resistance band-type exercise items is removed from its container and fixed with one of the eye hooks so that the person can perform resistance band-type exercises, the workout bench firmly weighted down by the remaining exercise items and immobile on the support surface.

10. The workout bench of claim 1 further including at least one bottle holder fixed with at least one of the containers.

11. The workout bench of claim 1 wherein the rear side of the rear container includes a scoop arrangement projecting away from the rear side thereof, the scoop arrangement adapted for urging large exercise items into the rear container.

12. The workout bench of claim 1 further including:

a pair of wheels fixed with the front container proximate the bottom and front sides thereof, and a pivotal castor fixed with the rear container proximate the bottom and rear sides thereof;

a plurality of feet projecting away from the bottom sides of at least two of the containers and adapted for high-friction engagement with the support surface, each foot including a foot extension mechanism configured to be selectively extendable beyond the pivotal castor to fix the workout bench to the support surface by friction of the feet, the foot extension mechanism configured to be selectively retractable so that the workout bench is supported by the wheels and pivotal castor, the workout bench thereby being rollable on the support surface.

13. The workout bench of claim 1 wherein the benchtop is pivotally fixed with the front container and includes a selectively movable brace for holding the benchtop at one of a plurality of predefined angular positions with respect to the top sides of the containers.

14. A workout bench for use by a person on a support surface and for holding a plurality of exercise items including at least kettle-bell type weights, the workout bench comprising:

a front container and a rear container each connected with two opposing back walls to define a pair of opposing side containers between the front container and the rear container, the front container at least partially open at a front side thereof, each side container open at both lateral sides thereof, the containers each flush at top sides thereof, bottom sides thereof, and lateral sides thereof, each container defining an internal storage volume therein; and

a benchtop fixed with the front container;

whereby the exercise items are placed into the containers and the person is supported by the benchtop while performing exercises;

wherein each side container further includes a kettle-bell tray pivotally fixed with the front container and rear container, whereby each kettle-bell tray is configured to support one or more of the kettle-bell type weights and the side containers are each configured for removing of or returning of the kettle-bell type weights through the open lateral side thereof.

15. A workout bench for use by a person on a support surface and for holding at least exercise weights, the workout bench comprising:

a front portion including at least a front container defining an internal storage volume therein, the front container being at least partially open at a front side thereof;

a rear portion disposed opposite the front portion;

two opposing side containers disposed between the front and rear portions, the side containers each including at least a back wall extending along an inward, lateral side of the side container, each side container further being open along an outward, lateral side thereof, each side container defining an internal storage volume therein, each side container being separated from the other side container, by way of at least the back wall, such that the internal storage volume of each side container is inaccessible from within the internal storage volume of the other side container; and

a benchtop fixed with at least the front portion;

whereby the person is supported by the benchtop while performing exercises;

wherein at least one of the side containers further includes a plurality of weight supports fixed with the back wall thereof, whereby the weight supports are configured to support one or more of the exercise weights and the side containers are each configured for removing of or returning of the exercise weights through the open lateral side thereof.