Thoracic Weightlifting Bench

This invention relates generally to exercise devices and more particularly to a weightlifting bench for performing a bench press exercise.

Exercise devices that tone and develop muscles are known heretofore. In particular, there exist devices that may be used to perform exercises to develop the pectoral muscles of the body namely, exercise devices which are adapted for use on performing the exercise known as the bench press. Such devices generally consist of a foam padded board that is approximately 3.5-4.5 feet in length and about 1 foot wide. The board is supported by four legs and at one end, has a weight support structure for releasably holding a conventional barbell.

When performing the bench press, the weightlifter lies flat on the board with the feet overhanging the end opposite to the weight support structure. The weightlifter grasps the barbell and removes it from the weight support structure, permits the barbell to slowly fall to his chest, and then pushes it upward until his arms are fully extended. This motion is called a repetition and the weightlifter usually performs many repetitions in a set.

A common problem in bench pressing is the tendency for the weightlifter to injure the lower back by putting pressure on the lumbar spine when the back is arched during a repetition. Another common problem in bench pressing is the tendency for the weightlifter to injure the cervical area of the back by raising the head when executing a repetition. The relatively flat surface of the weight lifting benches known heretofore, moreover, is pressed against the primary curve of the back when a bench press maneuver is being performed. This pressure on the primary curve tends adversely to affect the cervical and lumbar curves to the detriment of the weight lifter.

Attempts have been made heretofore to solve such problems. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,370 and 4,621,809 illustrate various exercise devices adapted to alleviate potential injury to persons performing the bench press exercise. As indicated above, however, there remain certain problems with respect to bench pressing which the art has not yet addressed. For example, none of the weight lifting benches known heretofore has been shaped so as to protect the primary curve during the bench press maneuver. Moreover, when a weightlifter grasps and removes the weight from the weight support structure and executes a repetition, his middle to upper back, i.e. The thoracic region, has a tendency to shift out of position. When this occurs, the weightlifter looses balance and control of the barbell which causes him to lose his form. Because the weightlifter's form during a repetition is more important than the quantity of weight being pressed, the weightlifter is unable to build his pectoral muscles to their maximum potential. In addition improper form during a repetition increases the likelihood that the weightlifter will sustain injuries from the exercise.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a weightlifting bench having a body supporting region which comprises a curved portion adapted to engage and protect the primary curve of the back of the lifter during a bench pressing maneuver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weightlifting bench that eliminates the above-noted defects by preventing the thoracic region of the back from being shifted out of position and therefore assisting the weightlifter in maintaining the proper form for maximal pectoral development.

According to one form of the present invention a bench press apparatus is provided for a weightlifting bench for performing a bench press exercise by a user comprising an elongated bench means for supporting the user's body having a first body support section for supporting an area below the lower thoracic region of the user's spine, a substantially longitudinally arcuate portion attached to said first body support section and extending from about the middle thoracic region to the cervical region of the user's body so that said elongated bench means conforms to the upper thoracic curvature of the user's spine, and a second body support section attached to said arcuate portion for supporting the user's head, means attached to said elongated bench means for supporting a barbell, and means for supporting said weight support means and said elongated bench means.

For a further understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thoracic weightlifting bench according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a thoracic weightlifting bench according to the present invention being used by a weightlifter;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view showing, in exaggerated condition, the thoracic curvature and measurements thereof for the weightlifting bench according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the thoracic weightlifting bench of the present invention taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 1.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a weightlifting bench 1 adapted to enable a user to perform the bench press exercise. The bench consists of a substantially planar support portion 2 which at one end curves upwardly to define a thoracic curved portion 4 adapted to conform to the upper thoracic curvature of a user's spine. The curved portion 4 of the bench will be described in greater detail below. The planar support portion 2 and the curved portion 4 thereof may consist of a firm board and a flexible foam material about 1-6 inches thick which covers the board for comfort and to accommodate any differences in spinal contours. The planar support portion 2 is typically about 1 foot wide and about 4 feet long.

Near one end of the support portion 2 are two adjustable barbell support arms 8 that can support heavy weight and can accommodate many different arm extension lengths. The bench also consists of four support legs 10 which support the planar support portion 2. Typically, the support legs 10 are about 1.5 feet long. The support arms 8 are located at the end of the bench which contains the thoracic curved portion 4. Their particular point of attachment to the bench relative to the curved portion may vary, as desired, but they preferably straddle the curved portion 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a user employing the weightlifting bench of the present invention. In particular, the thoracic curved portion 4 conforms to the upper thoracic curvature of the user's spine during the bench press exercise.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an enlarged side view of the thoracic curved portion 4 of the bench of the present invention, including actual measurements thereof. The bench may be considered to consist of three discrete sections. The first section defines the planar support 2 which starts at one end of the cushion (the end opposite to the barbell support arms) and ends at approximately the point A (FIG. 3). The second section is the thoracic curved portion 4 which extends from point A to point B. The thoracic curve 4 is substantially arcuate and has a chord defined by points (A) and (B). In the preferred embodiment, the length of the chord (AB) is 8.5 inches, a length sufficient to define a thoracic curve capable of fitting most people. Custom made curvatures may also be utilized as desired. Starting from point (A), the thoracic curvature 4 begins to ascend and the distances measured from points on the curve to points evenly spaced on the chord increase. The first four measurements are 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, and 7/16 inches, respectively. The fifth measurement is located at a point spaced substantially (AB) increase and is 17/32 inches long. Through that point, the thoracic curvature 4 continues to ascend but thereafter, the distance from the thoracic curvature 4 to the chord (AB) begins to decrease to 1/2, 7/16, 3/16, and 1/8 inches, respectively, until the chord and the arcuate curvature 4 intersect at point (B).

The third section of the planar support cushion 2 is a rectangular head support 6. In the preferred embodiment, the head support section is flat, parallel to the first section and extends from point (B) to point (C) the end of the bench.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross sectional view of the thoracic curvature 4 of the bench taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1. It can be seen that the thoracic curvature 4 is not curved in the lateral direction but only longitudinally.

As described above, the present invention is most commonly used with weightlifting benches that have a flat surface. The present invention, however, can be used on many different types of weightlifting benches such as the incline bench where the upper portion of the board can be elevated or lowered to build and tone other muscles in the pectoral region.

While one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that many modifications and variations could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel concept of the invention, which should be determined by the appended claims.