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Curling bar with dynamically rotating grips

Curling bar with dynamically rotating grips description/claims

The present invention pertains generally to devices used in the field of physical fitness. The present invention is more particularly, though not exclusively, useful as an exercise device, and more specifically, a barbell having rotating grips for use in weight training.

Strengthening the human upper body has long been a popular activity. Long ago, the activity was practiced using a dumbbell which consisted of a short bar equipped with a weight on each end, and formed with a grip portion in the middle of the bar. The weightlifter could grasp the grip portion and focus training on specific muscle groups. For instance, by standing with the dumbbell at his waist, and bending his elbow to “curl” or raise the wrist and forearm upwards, the biceps are strengthened. Also, by standing with the dumbbell being behind the weightlifter's shoulder with his elbow bent, pushing the dumbbell upwards strengthens the triceps. Also, by lying on his back and holding the dumbbell directly above his chest, pushing up towards the sky in what is called a “press” strengthens the triceps, pectoral, and other major muscle groups. Other strengthening exercises are well known in the art which may utilize one dumbbell or a pair of dumbbells—one in each hand.

In addition to the dumbbells which have been used for many years, so too has the barbell. A barbell consists of an elongated bar formed with a pair of grip portions in roughly the middle portion for grasping with the weightlifter's two hands, and equipped with a weight receiver on each end of the bar. By placing weights of different sizes on the weight receivers, a barbell of different weights could be constructed.

In use, a weightlifter grasps the barbell at two sides of the middle portion, and lifts the barbell. Similar exercises to those completed with the dumbbells discussed above are also performed with a barbell. For instance, by standing up with the barbell at the weightlifter's waist and bending his elbows to raise the barbells upwards, a “curl” is performed strengthening the forearms and biceps. Similarly, with the weightlifter lying down and pushing the barbell upwards from his chest, a “press” or “bench press” is performed thereby strengthening the triceps and pectorals.

Because the weights placed on a barbell can be very heavy, it is important to have a proper grip on the grip portion of the barbell. During exercise routines, it is also important that the weightlifter's grip be consistent with the exercise being performed. For instance, the grip in a curl exercise may be very different from an exercise in a press exercise.

However, the grip portion of the barbell is fixed as part of a rigid steel bar, and often perfectly linear. As a result, even though the grip portion may be in a proper position for a weightlifter at the start of the exercise, it is likely that the fixed grip portion of the barbell will be in a non-optimal position during at least a portion of the exercise. For instance, when performing a curl exercise with a barbell having a linear bar and fixed grip portion, the weight lifter's hands are in an acceptable position at the start of the exercise. However, as the barbell is raised upwards, the wrist has a tendency to rotate as the elbow bends upwards. Because the grip portion of the barbell is fixed, there is a significant amount of strain placed on the weightlifter's wrist and forearm.

When lifting weights using a typical straight-bar barbell, there is a noticeable inability to adjust position of the grips for wrist rotation. This shortcoming results in injury caused by excessive torsion on the wrist and forearm, including pulled muscles, strained ligaments, and other injuries requiring orthopedic treatment.

There have been several attempts to overcome the shortcomings of a straight-bar barbell. One such attempt was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,8676,444 which issued to Castillo for a “Crip Apparatus For Weightlifting Bar.” This device included a pair of conical grip elements sized to be positioned over the barbell grip. As the weight lifter raised the barbell, the conical grip elements would rotate about the barbell grip to minimize strain on the weightlifter's wrists and forearms. The Castillo device, however, did nothing to address the torsion strains placed on the weightlifter's wrists during the exercise, but rather focused only on the bone alignment instead of the musculature strains.

Another device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,113 which issued to Roepke for a “Multi-Position Grip System for Barbells.” This device included a pair of circular rings, rotatably intercoupled by a bar and axially coupled with a pair of weight-supporting bars fitted with weights, with each ring being concentrically and rotatably coupled with a par of arcuate members to provide multiple axes of rotation of a handgrip. While the Roepke product addresses the need for providing a multi-positional grip, it is cumbersome and difficult to control during weight lifting exercises because of its complicated linkage. Specifically, the intercoupled circular rings can result in the pinching of the weightlifter's wrists by the grips themselves, and is very difficult to control the position of the weights. Moreover, the metal-on-metal design of this device will result in a high level of friction being created. This is particularly so in cases where the work-out equipment is used outdoors where moisture may increase the formation of rust on metal components.

A significant problem associated with increased friction and rust includes the inability to operate the weight bars correctly. The rust will cause the hand grip to “freeze” or “stick” in place, and could present a significant risk of injury to the weight lifter.

In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a barbell having a grip that can adjust to accommodate the weightlifter's grip style and physiological positioning to minimize the strain placed on the weightlifter's forearms and wrists. It would also be advantageous to provide a dynamically positioned grip which adjusts throughout a weight lifting exercise to minimize strain placed on the weightlifter's wrists and forearms. It would further be advantageous to provide a barbell having a grip which, though moveable, still provides a high degree of control of the barbell. It would also be advantageous to provide a barbell having a resistance to moisture damage and a high degree of reliability to avoid the risks of injury to the weightlifter.

The curling bar with dynamically rotating grips includes a curling bar having a pair of grip assemblies that are positioned evenly between two spaced apart weight receivers. Each grip assembly includes a circular grip receiver sized to receive a grip insert having a grip. The grip insert is equipped with a series of slide bearings, preferably made of delrin material, which allows the grip insert to rotate within the circular grip receiver.

The rotational position of the grip insert within the grip receiver can vary depending on the rotational force exerted by the weightlifter's wrists and forearms. More particularly, the grip insert, and associated grip, will rotate to minimize any stress placed upon the weightlifter's wrists.

In use, a weightlifter can grasp the grip within each grip insert and rotate the grip to a position most comfortable for the exercise being performed. As the weightlifter proceeds through the exercise and his wrist and forearm rotate, the grip and associated grip insert rotate within the grip receiver to maintain a proper rotational orientation corresponding to the wrist and forearm position thereby minimizing the stresses placed on the weightlifter's arms.

The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the curling bar with dynamically rotating grips of the present invention showing a curling bar formed with a pair of grip receivers each having a grip insert formed with a grip;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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