Exercise apparatus with rotational grips

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a weightlifting apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a weightlifting barbell with rotational grips.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Weightlifting is an increasingly popular form of exercise. In weightlifting, barbells are used to lift and pull various weights. Barbells typically include various types of bars having a bent structure to accommodate a variety of grasping orientations, as disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. D287,526.

[0005] Weight training exercises can also be performed using dumbbells. Since one dumbbell is held in each hand, a user can freely rotate the wrist and hand throughout the full range of motion as an exercise is performed. For example, in performing a shoulder press with dumbbells, a user holds a dumbbell in each hand directly beside the shoulders, with the palms facing toward each other. Then the dumbbells are raised over the head, and the palms are rotated to face forward. Finally, the palms are rotated back to the starting position as the weights are lowered.

[0006] The same exercise cannot be performed with a conventional barbell because the hands and wrists are in a fixed position. Thus, it is not possible to use a conventional barbell to exercise the groups of muscles involved in pronation and supination as with dumbbells. Moreover, maintaining such a fixed position during exercises with the barbell increases strain on the wrists and elbows.

[0007] Prior art devices have attempted to impart some grip rotation to the conventional barbell. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,384,370, 4,618,183, 4,629,184, 5,334,113, 6,022,300, 4,585,229, 7,094,186, 4,690,400, 5,211,616, Re. 33,218, and U.S. Pat. App. Publication No. 20080176723 all discuss barbell arrangements having handgrips that are rotatably supported so that their angle relative to the bar may be adjusted.

[0008] While these devices address the need for a rotational grip barbell, the designs of these devices create a high level of friction and instability. Particularly, the configuration of these devices results in metal-on-metal contact or the bearings do not address sidewall loads on the grip housings. The friction and instability causes the grips to freeze or stick in place, presenting a significant risk of injury.

[0009] Moreover, the prior art does not address the need for a rotational grip barbell that is adapted to utilize cable exercise equipment.

[0010] However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art how the limitations of the art could be overcome.

[0011] The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved exercise apparatus having rotational grips is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention.

[0012] The novel barbell includes a pair of rotational grips that do not freeze or stick in place under load and which can be used in conjunction with cable exercise equipment.

[0013] The novel barbell includes a center bar with two grip housings of annular configuration located at opposite ends of said center bar. Handgrips are located within the annular grip housings. Two sets of bearings are diametrically opposed at the opposite ends of each handgrip. The first set of bearings (the radial wall bearings) is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the handgrip, and the second set of bearings (the sidewall bearings) is parallel to the rotational axis of the handgrip. Each grip housing has an interior circumferential groove, with the radial and sidewall bearings operatively secured within the groove. Each hand grip is spring-loaded so that a constant force is applied perpendicular to the rotational axis of the handgrips.

[0014] The novel barbell further includes a connector at the midpoint of the center bar, allowing the user to attach the free end of a cable extending from an exercise machine to said connector.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 4, it will there be seen that the reference numeral 10 indicates an illustrative embodiment of the invention as a whole.

[0026] Barbell 10 includes rotational grips at its opposite ends. The rotational grips allow the user to exercise the groups of muscles involved in pronation and supination, and reduces strain on the wrists and elbows. The bearing configuration and a constant spring pressure eliminates the risk of the handgrips freezing or sticking in place under load. The barbell is preferably used in conjunction with cable exercise equipment.

[0027] Center bar 12 has ends 12a and 12b. Grip housings 13a and 13b are attached to center bar 12 at ends 12a and 12b, respectively. Handgrips 11a and 11b are secured within grip housings 13a and 13b, respectively.

[0028] As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, each grip housing 13a and 13b has an interior circumferential groove 16. Each handgrip 11a and 11b has diametrically opposed radial bearings 15a and 15b that are located within interior circumferential groove 16. Radial bearings 15a and 15b are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of handgrips 11a and 11b. Radial bearings 15a and 15b are in contact with and support loads along the radial wall of grip interior circumferential groove 16. Similarly, each handgrip 11a and 11b has diametrically opposed sidewall bearings 14a and 14b that are located within interior circumferential groove 16. Sidewall bearings 14a and 14b are parallel to the axis of rotation of handgrips 11a and 11b. Sidewall bearings 14a and 14b are in contact with and support loads along the sidewalls of interior circumferential groove 16.

[0029] Radial bearings 15a and 15b and sidewall bearings 14a and 14b allows handgrips 11a and 11b to rotate within grip housings 13a and 13b. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, radial bearings 15a and 15b and sidewall bearings 14a and 14b rotate within interior circumferential groove 16. The combination of radial bearings 15a and 15b and sidewall bearings 14a and 14b allows the user to move barbell 10 in multiple directions under multiple loads without handgrips 11a and 11b freezing or sticking in place within grip housings 13a and 13b.

[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, handgrips 11a and 11b are spring loaded. Springs 17a and 17b exert a constant radial pressure on radial bearings 15a and 15b. This radial pressure adds stability by keeping radial bearings 15a and 15b in constant contact with the radial wall of interior circumferential groove 16.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4-7, connector 19 is secured at the midpoint of center bar 12. Connector 19 allows the user to attach barbell 10 to the free end of a cable extending from an exercise machine. Once connected to the cable, the user can perform a variety of exercises, such as a row or pull down. Connector 19 is rigidly affixed to center bar 12 or, in an alternate embodiment, connector 19 is affixed to center bar 12 such that connector 19 is rotatable around the longitudinal axis of center bar 12.

[0032] In an alternate embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, barbell 10 includes outer bars 21a and 21b which share an axis with center bar 12 and extend outward from grip housings 13a and 13b. Outer bars 21a and 21b are adapted to receive weights 20a and 20b and have collars 22a and 22b to prevent weights 20a and 20b from sliding into grip housings 13a and 13b. This embodiment allows the user to use free weights when exercising.

[0033] It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.