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Bench press apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight ResistanceBench press apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050277524, Bench press apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 20-2004-0014502 filed May 25, 2004, the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a bench press apparatus and, more particularly, to a bench press apparatus having a weight change means which allows the exerciser to achieve optimum weight training benefits without other person's help and a safety means for preventing an accidental falling of a barbell. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A bench press apparatus is an athletic equipment in which the exerciser lies on his back on a bench, holds a barbell resting on a barbell support with a proper separation between his arms and repeatedly raises and lowers a barbell over his chest in order to strengthen the muscles of his chest or arms. In the prior art bench press apparatus, the exerciser has been often injured by unexpected falling of the barbell onto his chin or chest due to his muscle fatigue after the repeated raising and lowering of the barbell for a long time. [0004] As a prior art bench press apparatus designed to prevent such accidents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,421 discloses a bench press apparatus having a protection guard formed above a portion of a bench near a neck or chest of the exerciser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,662 teaches a bench press apparatus having a barbell suspended by one end of a rope or a chain with the other end connected to a counterweight, and a clutch means mounted to act on a middle of the rope. The clutch means stops the movements of the rope or the chain in response to the manipulation of the exerciser. [0005] However, although the prior art bench press apparatuses described above may be helpful in preventing the accidents, it provides the exerciser with only a limited weight training benefits unless another person helps the exerciser. The reason is as follows: [0006] The bench press apparatus is known to help the muscle growth, to maintain the strength of the muscle and to increase the bone density of the exerciser. In order to maximize such weight training benefits, the exerciser has to repeat the muscle contract and the muscle stretch predetermined times or more. Especially, the optimal muscle growth can be obtained from an exercise of repeating the muscle contract and the muscle stretch in a situation where the weights are being changed. Normally, assistants are necessary for the exercise for the optimal muscle growth of the exerciser, who will change the weights to be held by the exerciser. [0007] However, since it is difficult for the exerciser to be helped by the assistant whenever he exercises by using the bench press apparatus, the prior art apparatuses are not proper for the exercise for the optimal muscle growth in which the weight change has to be performed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a bench press apparatus with a safety device, in which the exerciser can change a weight load exerted by a barbell by himself without any help by the assistant. [0009] Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied broadly described herein, a bench press apparatus is provided with a barbell having weights, a counterweight, a cable whose one end is connected to the barbell with the other end connected to the counterweight, the cable movably supported by a frame, a barbell stopper for stopping a downward movement of the barbell, and a weight load reduction unit for reducing a weight load applied to an exerciser by the weights in order for the exerciser to exercise with a reduced weight load. [0010] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0011] Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings: [0012] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bench press apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0013] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a clutch means shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0014] The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [0015] There is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the inventive bench press apparatus designated with a reference numeral 10. The bench press apparatus includes a base 12 and a frame 11. The base 12 supports upright supports and horizontally extending supports to which various components for the bench press apparatus 10, e.g., a bench 13 are connected. The frame 11 has a sheave 42 rotatably mounted on a frontal upper portion thereof, and a pair of sheaves 43 rotatably mounted on rear upper portions vertically separated from each other. [0016] A pair of lug supports 14, 15 is provided in the bench press apparatus 10, which support a barbell 16 having a bar and weights 17, 18 retained around ends of the bar. The barbell 16 is suspended by one end of a cable 30 whose other end is connected to a counterweight 50. [0017] In an exercise using the bench press apparatus, the exerciser firstly raises the barbell 16 with a plurality of weights 17, 18 from the lug support 14, 15 and repeats the raising and lowering of the barbell 16 predetermined times or until his muscle is exhausted. At the moment, the cable 30 reciprocally travels over the sheaves 42, 43. [0018] In order to prevent the accidental falling of the elevated barbell 16 onto the exerciser due to his muscle fatigue, the inventive bench press apparatus includes a cultch means 60 which functions to stop the movement of the counterweight 50 through an engagement with the counterweight 50 in response to a manipulation of a first pedal switch S1. The inventive bench press apparatus further includes a weight changer 70 for the optimal muscle strengthening of the exerciser. The weight changer 70, as mounted between the pair of sheaves 43, functions to change the weight load caused by the barbell 16 with the weights 17, 18 to a predetermined level during bench-pressing exercise. The weight changer 70 is controlled by a second pedal switch S2. Continue reading about Bench press apparatus... Full patent description for Bench press apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bench press apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Bench press apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Swimming simulation exercise apparatus Next Patent Application: Weight lifting device having selector device Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bench press apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.77018 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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