Open barbell with stand

Abstract

A barbell includes first and second bar ends being substantially straight and extending along a first longitudinal axis. A central bar is connected to the bar ends in an angle, and with a mid-portion protruding a first distance from the first longitudinal axis. First and second handles, are connected to at least the central bar and protrudes in an open area between the bar ends. First and second counterweights, protruding a second distance from the first longitudinal axis, substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar. The first and second counterweights and the second distance are selected so as to weight-balance the central bar.

Claims

1. A barbell comprising: a first bar end and a second bar end each arranged for carrying one or more weights, the first bar end and the second bar end being substantially straight and extending along a first longitudinal axis, a central bar arranged between the first and the second bar ends, which central bar is fixedly connected to the first bar end and the second bar end, wherein the central bar is connected to the respective bar ends at respective angles relative the first longitudinal axis such that at least a mid-portion of the central bar is displaced from the longitudinal axis and protrudes a first distance from the first longitudinal axis, a first handle, fixedly connected to at least one of the first bar end or the central bar, which first handle is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the first bar end and facing the second bar end, a second handle, fixedly connected to at least one of the second bar end or the central bar, which second handle is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the second bar end and facing the first bar end, a first counterweight, fixedly connected to at least one of the first bar end or the central bar and protruding a second distance from the first longitudinal axis, substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar, a second counterweight, fixedly connected to at least one of the second bar end or the central bar and protruding the second distance from the first longitudinal axis, substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar, wherein the first and second counterweights and the second distance are selected so as to weight-balance the central bar, wherein the barbell is open along the first longitudinal axis opposite the portion of the central bar that is displaced from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the first counterweight comprises a first foot member which protrudes a third distance from the first longitudinal axis, and the second counter weight comprises a second foot member which protrudes the third distance from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the third distance is chosen so as to exceed a standard radius of a standard weight, wherein the first bar end, the second bar end and the central bar are disposed in a plane through which the first longitudinal axis extends and, in a using position of the barbell with the plane parallel to a surface and edges of the weights resting on the surface, respective distal ends of the feet members are located below the plane and are spaced from the plane by a fourth distance that is less than the standard radius of the standard weight to allow rotation of the barbell about the first longitudinal axis in the using position, and wherein the third and fourth distances are set so that i) rotation of the barbell about the first longitudinal axis brings the distal ends of the feet members into contact with the surface, and ii) with the feet members in contact with the surface, the barbell is pivotable about locations of contact of the feet members with the surface to a position where the plane is perpendicular to the surface and the barbell is in a loading position with the edges of the weights displaced from the surface.

2. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein each foot member comprises: as a first foot portion, the respective distal end below the plane in the using position and a first elongate portion connecting the distal end below the plane to the respective counterweight; and as a second foot portion, a distal end above the plane in the using position and a second elongate portion connecting the distal end above the plane to the respective counterweight.

3. The barbell according to claim 2, wherein the feet members are symmetric about the plane.

4. The barbell according to claim 3, the feet members are curved between the distal ends of the feet members and the plane.

5. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the mid-portion of the central bar is a straight bar, arranged parallel to the first longitudinal axis and at the first distance from the first longitudinal axis.

6. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the central bar and the first and second counterweights are comprised from one piece of bar material.

7. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the central bar and the first and second counterweights are hollow tubes.

8. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the first and second foot member are hollow tubes.

9. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first counterweight or the first foot member comprises at least one first insert member, and at least one of the second counterweight or the second foot member comprises at least one second insert member.

10. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than 225 mm.

11. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the third distance is between 10-30 mm greater than the standard radius of the standard weight.

12. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the first foot member and the second foot member are substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the first longitudinal axis.

13. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein no part of the barbell contacts the surface in the using position.

14. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein the feet members are curved between the distal ends of the feet members and the plane.

15. The barbell according to claim 1, wherein feet members are configured so that the barbell freely stands on the feet members in the loading position.

16. A barbell comprising: a first bar end and a second bar end each arranged for carrying one or more weights, the first bar end and the second bar end being substantially straight and extending along a first longitudinal axis, a central bar arranged between the first and the second bar ends, which central bar is fixedly connected to the first bar end and the second bar end, wherein the central bar is connected to the respective bar ends at respective angles relative the first longitudinal axis such that at least a mid-portion of the central bar is displaced from the longitudinal axis and protrudes a first distance from the first longitudinal axis, a first handle, fixedly connected to at least one of the first bar end or the central bar, which first handle is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the first bar end and facing the second bar end, a second handle, fixedly connected to at least one of the second bar end or the central bar, which second handle is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the second bar end and facing the first bar end, a first counterweight, fixedly connected to at least one of the first bar end or the central bar and protruding a second distance from the first longitudinal axis, substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar, a second counterweight, fixedly connected to at least one of the second bar end or the central bar and protruding the second distance from the first longitudinal axis, substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar, wherein the first and second counterweights and the second distance are selected so as to weight-balance the central bar, wherein the barbell is open along the first longitudinal axis opposite the portion of the central bar that is displaced from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the first counterweight comprises a first foot member which protrudes a third distance from the first longitudinal axis, and the second counter weight comprises a second foot member which protrudes the third distance from the first longitudinal axis, wherein the third distance is chosen so as to exceed a standard radius of a standard weight, wherein the first bar end, the second bar end and the central bar are disposed in a plane through which the first longitudinal axis extends and, in a using position of the barbell with the plane parallel to a surface and edges of the weights resting on the surface, respective distal ends of the feet members are located below the plane and are spaced from the plane by a fourth distance that is less than the standard radius of the standard weight to allow rotation of the barbell about the first longitudinal axis in the using position; and wherein no part of the barbell contacts the surface in the using position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a barbell according to the invention in a using position.

(3) FIG. 1B is a top view of the barbell of FIG. 1A in the using position.

(4) FIG. 1C is front view of the barbell of FIG. 1A in the using position.

(5) FIG. 1D is a side view of the barbell of FIG. 1A in the using position.

(6) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the barbell according to the invention in a standing/loading position, allowing a change of weights.

(7) FIG. 2B is a top view of the barbell of FIG. 2A in the loading position.

(8) FIG. 2C is a front view of the barbell of FIG. 2A in the loading position.

(9) FIG. 2D is side view of the barbell of FIG. 2A in the loading position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Briefly described, an open or curved barbell with an easy entrance is provided, which allows a flexible and ergonomic use of the barbell. Further, a built-in stand is also provided as a part of counter-weights balancing the curved design.

(11) FIGS. 1A-1D shows different views of a barbell 1 according to the invention, in a using position for weight-lifting. The barbell 1 has a main extension along a first longitudinal axis X-X, which axis is the same as a center of gravity. In the using position, the user may enter from behind and stand inside the barbell 1 due to the open design, in an open area 60. The front direction normally is with the barbell 1 in front of the user. The barbell 1 comprises a first bar end 10 (left side in the figures) and a second bar end 11 (right side in the figures), where each bar end 10, 11 is arranged for carrying one or more weights 50. The first bar end 10 and the second bar end 11 is substantially straight and extending along the first longitudinal axis X-X. A central bar 20 is arranged between the first and the second bar ends 10, 11, which central bar 20 is fixedly connected to the first bar end 10 and the second bar end 11. And according to the preferred embodiment the central bar 20 is one piece of hollow tube connected to the respective bar end 10, 11 in an angle relative the first longitudinal axis X-X. The design of the central bar 20 is such as at least an elongate mid-portion 25 of the central bar 20 has a second longitudinal axis C-C, which is displaced a first distance a from the longitudinal axis X-X.

(12) To balance the central bar, by means of weight and distance (i.e. its center of gravity) a first counterweight 40 is fixedly connected to at least one of the first bar end 10 or the central bar 20 and protrudes a second distance b from the first longitudinal axis X-X, and substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar 20. Also a second counterweight 41 is fixedly connected to at least one of the second bar end 11 or the central bar 20 and protrudes the second distance b from the first longitudinal axis X-X, and also substantially in an opposite direction relative the central bar 20. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second counterweights 40, 41 and the central bar 20 with its mid portion 25 is one piece of hollow tube, attached in an angle (more or less perpendicular) to the respective first and second bar ends 10, 11.

(13) Further, a first handle 30 is fixedly connected to the central bar 20 near the connection between the first bar end 10 and the central bar 20, preferably in line with the first longitudinal axis X-X. The first handle 30 is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the first bar end 10 and facing the second bar end 11. A second handle 31 is in the same way fixedly connected to the central bar 20, near the connection between the second bar end 11 and the central bar 20, preferably in line with the first longitudinal axis X-X. The second handle 31 is substantially perpendicularly arranged relative the second bar end 11 and facing the first bar end 10. The handles 30, 31 may also have other angles relative the bar ends 10, 11 is wanted.

(14) The first counterweight 40 comprises a first foot member 40a, which protrudes a third distance c from the first longitudinal axis X-X, and the second counter weight 41 comprises a second foot member 41a, which protrudes the third distance c from the first longitudinal axis X-X. The third distance c is chosen so as to exceed a standard radius of a standard weight 50. The outer diameter of a standard weight (Olympic weight) is 450 mm, which means that the third distance c must exceed 225 mm to act as a stand. Of course, the third distance is adapted to allow a proper stand, allow the change of weights but also not be too high, because of the easiness of tilting a heavy loaded barbell from using position to loading/stand position. Also the first and second foot members 40a, 41a are hollow tubes and comprises insert members (not visible), which according to the preferred embodiment actually is a total of four insert members, two insert members per foot member 40a, 41a. Each insert member is inserted from respective ends of each foot member and the half-round end part visible in the figures are screwed into the respective insert member as a nice ending as well as a form enabling an easy tilting of the barbell 1.

(15) The first and second counterweights 40, 41 including the foot members 40a, 41a with their inserts together with the second distance b are selected so as to weight-balance the central bar 20, with its weight and the first distance a, which distances can be seen in FIG. 1B. The third distance c is as told earlier chosen to exceed the radius of the weights 50, which can be seen in FIG. 1D as well as in FIG. 2C. In FIG. 1B the open area 60 is visible and which area is mainly defined by the central bar 20 with its mid-portion 25 and the protruding counterweights 40, 41, but also the first and second handles 30, 31 limits the open area 60 a bit.

(16) In FIG. 1C the barbell 1 can be seen in the using position from the front, where the foot members 40a, 41a protrudes perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis X-X and the level of the first and second bar ends 10, 11 and the central bar 20 with its mid-portion 25.

(17) In FIG. 1D it becomes obvious why the invention enables a comfortable and easy tilting of the barbell from its using position, visible in the figure, to the stand position, since the foot members 40a, 41a only lifts the barbell 1 a short distance, but enough for a standing/loading position.

(18) FIGS. 2A-2D shows different views of the barbell 1 according to the invention, in the loading position or stand position, where the weights 50 may be changed. Everything about the design of the barbell is more or less explained in relation to FIGS. 1A-1D, why this is not repeated in relation to FIGS. 2A-2D, but some comments are as follows.

(19) FIG. 2C is a front view of the barbell 1 in the loading and FIG. 2D is a side view of the barbell 1 in the loading position. In these figures, the function of the first and second counterweights 40, 41 including the foot members 41a, 41a as a stand, enabling a shift of weights 50, is understood. It is also easy to realize the easiness to tilt the barbell 1 back to the using position, for example by pushing the mid-portion 25 of the central bar a bit forward or backward.

(20) Although the description above contains a plurality of specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the concept described herein but as merely providing illustrations of some exemplifying embodiments of the described concept. It will be appreciated that the scope of the presently described concept fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presently described concept is accordingly not to be limited. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein and are intended to be encompassed hereby.