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An apparatus for reducing body stress on an exerciserRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Handheld Bar With Weight At Each End (e.g., Barbell, Dumbbell, Etc.) Or Component ThereofAn apparatus for reducing body stress on an exerciser description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060105890, An apparatus for reducing body stress on an exerciser. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the field of exercise devices, more particularly, a weight lifting apparatus utilizing weight resistance and a hand held bar with weight at each end, and specifically, an apparatus for reducing body stress on an exerciser during weight lifting exercises using a barbell. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART [0002] Over the past 20 years, the popularity of weight training has exploded. More than 45 million Americans train with weights regularly. Fortunately, serious injuries are relatively rare. However, minor and potentially debilitating injuries are common. In 1986, weight training injuries accounted for an estimated 43,400 emergency department visits out of a total of 5.6 million visits for all sports. In 1995, the last year for which statistics are available, emergency room visits for weight training injuries totaled 56,400, out of more than 5.4 million visits for all sports. [0003] Exercising with free weights, as opposed to an exercise machine by Universal.RTM. or Nautilus.RTM., is well known. One common exercise apparatus comprises a barbell with metallic disc-weights removably fixed to either side of the barbell. This type of exercise equipment is commonly used to increase the strength and tone of muscles in the upper body, particularly the arms. There are a wide variety of exercises that can be used with this type of exercise equipment such as curls, and presses. Similarly, there is wide variety of equipment sold to accomplish these types of exercises. [0004] Body building exercises fall into various categories such as eccentric contractions or "negatives," forced repetitions to muscle failure, supersets (rapidly paired exercises of different muscle groups in the same anatomic region), and compound sets (rapidly matched exercises of the same muscle group). Due to the repetitive nature of weight lifting and the use of progressively heavier weights, there are a number of sports-related injuries to muscles and ligaments can occur as a result. [0005] The body parts most at risk from performing weight lifting exercises using a barbell, such as bicep curls in a standing position, are the back and the wrists. Lifting a heavy weight during a bicep curl causes more movement about all segments of the body due to other muscles trying to compensate for the increase in weight and the dynamic center of gravity of the combined weights and barbell during the exercise. For a heavy weight, there is a greater range of motion of the trunk segment, a greater range of motion about the hip joint, and greater linear displacement of the hip. This type of collateral movement does not serve to strengthen the target muscle group but does increase the risk of injury to the lower back by hyperextension. Furthermore, a bicep curl requires that the heavy weights hang from the wrists causing extension of the soft tissues and a significant bending moment about the wrist thereby straining related bones, muscles and ligaments. [0006] There are a large number of patented exercise devices designed to improve the exercise of the biceps and triceps. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,300 "Rotating Grip Barbell" issued to Charles Hightower on Feb. 8, 2000 teaches a multi-positional grip barbell adapted to produce greater muscle toning and muscle building results. The Hightower device overcomes problems associated with standard barbells by permitting the exercise of muscle groups involved in pronation and supination. However, the Hightower device does not overcome the collateral movements associated with bicep curls that can result in back injury. [0007] Relatively few patented exercise devices are specifically designed to reduce stress on the body during bicep strength development exercises. Once such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,650 "Exercise Bar" issued to Roy D. Wedge Jr. on Oct. 10, 2000. The Wedge device is designed specifically as a rehabilitation tool for stroke victims or hemiplegic patients in order to reduce muscle tension and spasms. It is not adapted to the type of strengthening exercises contemplated by my invention. Canadian Patent 1,166,280 "Bicep Exercising Curling Bar" issued to William F. Brennan of the United States on Apr. 24, 1984 describes a device that relies upon a thin, rigid and padded rectangular plate behind the supine wrist in order to displace the centre of gravity of the barbell from the plain of the hand grip bar and distribute weight across the distal portion of the forearm thereby reducing stress on the wrist. However, the Brennan device does nothing to reduce stress on the back. [0008] Therefore, there is still a requirement in the field of free weight lifting exercises using a barbell for an apparatus that reduces stresses on both the wrists and the lower back of an exerciser caused by collateral movements of the exerciser's body and thereby reduces the risk of debilitating injury to the exerciser. Objects [0009] In light of the disadvantages noted above, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can be used during weight lifting exercises using a barbell with the result of strengthening the target muscle group while reducing the stress on the body of the exerciser, specifically, the wrists and lower back of the exerciser caused by collateral movements of the exerciser's body and thereby reducing debilitating injuries to the exerciser. [0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can be easily adapted to existing barbells. [0011] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is easy to manufacture and inexpensive to purchase. [0012] Still further objects and advantages to our invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. SUMMARY [0013] The present invention is directed to an apparatus that overcomes the above-noted deficiencies of the prior art and satisfies the objects listed previously. An apparatus having the features of the present invention comprises an apparatus for reducing exerciser stress during weight lifting exercises using a barbell having non-rotating end sleeves. The apparatus comprises two identical assemblies. Each assembly comprises a first horizontal tubular member having a sidewall defining an annulus through the first horizontal tubular member. The annulus closely but slidably receives and passes one of the opposite end sleeve of the barbell through the first horizontal tubular member. The barbell end sleeve is free to rotate within the annulus. The assembly further comprises a vertical extension member fixed perpendicular to and depending down from the first horizontal tubular member. The assembly further comprises a second horizontal member, parallel to the first horizontal tubular member fixed to and suspended from the vertical extension member. The second horizontal member adapted for carrying weights and thereby lowers the combined center of gravity of the apparatus and weights with respect to the center of gravity of the exerciser. [0014] In the practice of my invention, one advantage of the apparatus becomes apparent, namely, once each assembly is placed over the end sleeves of the barbell and loaded with weights, the weights are suspended below the barbell when lifted. During, for example, the bicep curl, the stress on the wrist is reduced because the weights are able to move below and behind the wrist thereby reducing the torque on the wrist. Another advantage of the apparatus is that, during the bicep curl, the centre of gravity of the combined weights and apparatus is maintained close to the centre of gravity of the body of the exerciser. This has the effect of reducing the amount of collateral movement of the exerciser's body required to compensate for movement of the weight during the curl. Hence the risk of injury to both the wrist and the back are reduced. A further advantage of my invention is that, since the weights are is closer to the body of the exerciser, there is less static inertia to overcome at the commencement of the lift and less dynamic inertia to overcome at the top of the lift. Yet another advantage of my invention is that the velocity of the lift (upward movement) and recovery (downward movement) are constant thereby reducing the collateral movement of the body that is caused by varying acceleration and deceleration of the weights at the commencement of the lift and the recovery. [0015] In the invention, the first horizontal tubular member has a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface. The vertical extension member has a first end and a second end such that the first end of the vertical extension member is fixed to the bottom surface of the first horizontal tubular member midway between its first end and the second end thereby forming a "T" shape. The second horizontal member has a first end and a free second end. The first end of the horizontal member is fixed to the second end of the vertical extension member thereby forming a right angle "L" shape. [0016] In one embodiment of the invention the second horizontal member is tubular as is the vertical extension member. The vertical extension distance between the first horizontal tubular member and the second horizontal member is defined by the length of the vertical extension member. The length of the vertical extension member is sufficient to accommodate a range of weights (hence weight diameters) loaded onto the free second end of the second horizontal member. [0017] The assemblies are locked onto the opposite end sleeves of the barbell using one of a clamp collar, a regular collar or a spin lock collar. These devices are also used to lock the weights onto the second horizontal member. The assemblies are fabricated from welded steel tubular members sufficiently strong to carry suspended weights. In another embodiment of the invention, the second horizontal member and the vertical extension member may be solid steel members. [0018] In another embodiment of the invention the second horizontal member includes co-axial rotating end sleeves adapted to carry the weights and permitting them to rotate. [0019] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises an apparatus for suspending weights below opposite ends of a barbell where the barbell has rotating end sleeves. In this embodiment each of the two identical assemblies of the apparatus comprises a first horizontal tubular member having a sidewall defining an annulus. The annulus receives closely but slidably one of said opposite rotating end sleeves of the barbell and passes it through the first horizontal tubular member. The invention also comprises a vertical extension member fixed perpendicular to and depending down from the first horizontal tubular member and a second horizontal member, parallel to the first horizontal tubular member fixed to and suspended from the vertical extension member. The second horizontal member is adapted for carrying the weights. Since the end sleeves upon which the assemblies are mounted rotate, there is required means for fixing the assemblies to the rotating end sleeves of the barbell. Such means comprise a threaded aperture located in the centre of the top surface of the first horizontal tubular member and a key having a threaded shaft adapted for threaded engagement with the threaded aperture. The shaft has a first end, a free second end and a head fixed to the first end of the shaft. The head is configured to permit hand turning of the key. In operation, once the barbell is inserted into the annulus of the first horizontal tubular member, the shaft of the key is threaded into the threaded aperture until the shaft free second end is firmly abutted against the barbell rotating end sleeve thereby preventing the rotational movement between the end sleeve and the sidewall of the first horizontal tubular member while still permitting rotational movement of the end sleeve about the axis of the barbell. [0020] The invention is also concerned with a combination of a barbell with non-rotating end sleeves and my invention, namely, a pair of identical assemblies for suspending weights below opposite end sleeves of the barbell. In this embodiment of the invention, there is provided two identical assemblies each comprising a first horizontal tubular member having a sidewall defining an annulus for closely but slidably receiving and passing one of the opposite non-rotating end sleeves of the barbell. The barbell end sleeve is free to rotate within the annulus. This combination also comprises a vertical extension member fixed perpendicular to and depending down from the first horizontal tubular member and a second horizontal member, parallel to the first horizontal tubular member fixed to and suspended from the vertical extension member. The second horizontal member adapted for carrying said weights. Continue reading about An apparatus for reducing body stress on an exerciser... 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