BARBELL SAFETY DEVICE AND METHODS

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a barbell safety device. The device mounts in pairs over the spaced stop collars of a barbell. The device is generally ‘T’ shaped and is used in an inverted ‘T’ orientation. The device comprises a stop collar receiver configured to house a portion of a loadable sleeve of a barbell as well as the stop collar of the barbell. A central support assembly extends from the stop collar receiver to an elongate base support. The central support assembly in preferred forms is telescoping and can be fixed by pins or other means at a variety of lengths to accommodate to the needs of the user. When the barbell is lowered during exercise, the base support will engage the ground and prevent further lowering of the barbell thereby protecting the user from injury.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: aligning a central axis of the barbell with the central axis of the stop collar receiver of the second barbell safety device; and sliding the second barbell safety device medially until the stop collar of the barbell is housed within the stop collar cavity of the opposing stop collar receiver.

5. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the step of: adjusting the desired length of at least one of said first barbell safety device and said second barbell safety device.

6. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the step of: aligning a weight plate with the central axis of said barbell; and sliding said weight plate over said loadable sleeve until said weight plate is adjacent to the barbell safety device.

7. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the step of: locking said weight plate in position said loadable sleeve using a lock collar.

8. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the step of: the user laying supine on a support surface of said weight bench; and lifting the barbell and the barbell safety devices off said saddle grips to perform a bench press lifting exercise.

9. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 8 further comprising the step of: lowering the barbell towards the user’s chest until the base supports of the barbell safety devices engage the floor thereby supporting the barbell above the user’s body.

10. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: positioning the barbell and the barbell safety devices back on said saddle grips; and removing the lock collars and weight plates from the barbell.

11. The method of using a barbell safety device of claim 1 further comprising the step of: sliding the barbell safety devices laterally along the central axis of the barbell to remove them from the barbell.

12. A barbell safety device comprising: a stop collar receiver operable for housing the stop collar of a barbell; said stop collar comprising a retaining wall encircling a central axis of said stop collar; said retaining wall comprising a sleeve surface; said retaining wall comprising a collar surface; said sleeve surface defining a sleeve cavity extending from one end of said stop collar; said collar surface defining a stop collar cavity extending from an opposing end of said stop collar; said sleeve cavity operable to house a portion of a loadable sleeve of said of said barbell; said stop collar cavity operable to house at least a portion of a stop collar of said barbell; an upper support; said upper support extending from said stop collar receiver; said upper support comprising an upper support cavity along it’s central axis; a lower support; said lower support at least partially housed in said upper support cavity; a base support; wherein said base support is fixed perpendicular at one end of said lower support.

13. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a stop surface; said stop surface extending between said sleeve surface and said collar surface of said stop collar receiver and operable to abut a stop collar on a barbell in an operable configuration.

14. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: at least one support gusset fixed between said lower support and said base support.

15. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a lower support outer face; a plurality of lower lock holes extending through said lower support outer face for housing one or more lock pins.

16. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a lock pin operable for locking said upper support relative to said lower support along a central axis for adjusting the length of said barbell safety device.

17. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a support plate operable to limit overlap of said upper support with said lower support.

18. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: lower lock holes; said lower lock holes extending through said lower support; upper lock holes; said upper lock holes extending through said upper support; and whereas said upper lock holes and said lower lock holes are aligned at various telescoping positions of said upper support and said lower support.

19. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: an outer surface on said stop collar receiver; wherein said outer surface is substantially cylindrical.

20. The barbell safety device of claim 12 whereby said barbell safety device is slidable over a loadable sleeve of a barbell.

21. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a retainer member for securing a lock pin in said upper lock holes and said lower lock holes.

22. The barbell safety device of claim 12 further comprising: a base ring; whereby said base ring encircles said lower support to provide additional support between said lower support and said base support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein each drawing is according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein, and wherein:

[0053] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a user performing a bench press exercise as noted in the prior art;

[0054] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of one type of Olympic barbell as noted in the prior art;

[0055] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a user being injured by a barbell as noted in the prior art;

[0056] FIG. 4 depicts a front view of a spotter assisting an individual on a bench press as noted in the prior art;

[0057] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a weight bench with integrated stop arms as noted from the prior art;

[0058] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of a weight bench and Olympic barbell with an embodiment of the barbell safety device mounted thereon;

[0059] FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of a common barbell;

[0060] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device in an extended configuration;

[0061] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device in a storage configuration;

[0062] FIG. 9 depicts a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device;

[0063] FIG. 9A depicts a central cross-sectional view of the stop collar receiver of FIG. 9.

[0064] FIG. 9B depicts a perspective view of the upper support of FIG. 9.

[0065] FIG. 9C depicts a perspective view of the base ring of FIG. 9.

[0066] FIG. 9D depicts a perspective view of the support plate of FIG. 9.

[0067] FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of a flow diagram of a method of using a barbell safety device as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0068] Select embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. Like numerals indicate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views and wherein various embodiments are separated by letters (i.e. 100, 100B, 100C). The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive way, simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include several novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the invention described herein.

[0069] Disclosed herein are barbell safety devices that attach directly to the barbell for use during weight lifting exercises such as bench press exercises and squatting exercises.

[0070] As depicted in FIG. 6, a barbell safety device 100 is illustrated as coupled with a barbell 102 as would be used on a weight bench 101. The barbell safety device is used in pairs on a barbell 102 and therefore can be described as a first barbell safety device and a second barbell safety device. The barbell safety device is coupled to a barbell 102 that is resting on a weight bench 101. As noted in more detail later, each stop collar on the barbell is housed within cavities within the stop collar receiver of the barbell safety device.

[0071] As noted in FIGS. 7-9, the barbell safety device 100 is generally ‘T’ shaped and is used in an ‘inverted T’ orientation when used in an operable configuration. Located at the superior end of the barbell safety device 100 is a stop collar receiver 110. The stop collar receiver in most embodiments is at least partially cylindrical internally along a generally horizontal axis C. The stop collar receiver can assume other profiles beside cylindrical externally. As noted in FIG. 9A, the stop collar receiver 110 comprises a retainer wall 112 having a sleeve surface 113 defining an internal sleeve cavity 118 configured to house a portion of a loadable sleeve (see FIG. 2) of a barbell. In this embodiment, the sleeve cavity is generally cylindrical. The stop collar receiver’s 110 retainer wall 112 also comprises a collar surface 114 defining an internal stop collar cavity 117 configured to house a stop collar (see FIG. 2) of a barbell. As noted in FIG. 9A, the stop collar cavity 117 and sleeve cavity 118 are in open communication. The stop collar receiver 110 also comprises an outer surface 116 which in this embodiment is rounded.

[0072] The stop collar receiver 110 also comprises a vertically orientated stop surface 115 positioned between the stop collar cavity 117 and the sleeve cavity 118 and is configured for abutting against the stop collar (see FIG. 2) of a barbell to assure proper positioning.

[0073] Further to the Figures, barbell safety device 100 comprises a central support assembly 122. In this embodiment, the central support assembly comprises an upper support 124 and a lower support 132 and telescoping and fixable at a variety of lengths. This adjustment provides variation for distance ‘G’ discussed earlier to compensate for user’s having varying trunk thicknesses and limiting how low the barbell can go with respect to the bench in a bench press exercise. In this embodiment the barbell safety device is manufactured substantially of metal and with components welded together where fixation is required. Here, stop collar receiver 110 is fixed to the upper support 124 by welds or other means known in the art between joiner surface 129 and outer surface 116. The upper support 124 as illustrated is tubular (I.e. round, square, rectangular) and comprises an upper support wall 125 with an internal upper support face 126 defining an upper support cavity 127 configured to receive a lower support 132 therein. The applicant recognizes that this telescoping arrangement between the upper and lower support could be reversed, but here the upper support 124 is tubular and houses the lower support 132 in its inner cavity for telescoping adjustment along an axis B. In alternative embodiments, the upper support is housed within the lower support in its inner cavity for telescoping adjustment along an axis B. Upper support 124 further comprises a joiner surface 129 for fixation to outer surface 116 of stop collar receiver 110. In this embodiment, the joiner surface is rounded. In addition, the upper support 124 comprises a plurality of upper lock holes 130 extending generally perpendicular to axis B and operable to seat a lock pin therein.

[0074] The lower support 132 in this embodiment is also tubular and comprises a lower support wall 133 with a lower support outer face 134 thereon. The lower support 132 comprises a plurality of lower lock holes 136 operable to seat a lock pin therein. The upper and lower lock holes are aligned such that a lock pin can be inserted to span the lock holes on both supports thereby fixing the central support assembly at desired lengths. A retainer member 166 such as in the form of a chain and/or cable and/or clip is utilized to hold the lock pin in position. In alternative embodiments, telescoping is achieved by supports that may not have a common central axis such as coupled by tongue and groove.

[0075] The lower support 132 is fixedly coupled to a base support 140. Here, the base support 140 comprises a base support wall 141 and is in the form of a tube which in this embodiment is generally square. Again, other profiles can be used such as round, rectangular, and even plate forms. The base support 140 comprises a floor face 144 for facing the floor when in an operational configuration. Extending from the floor face can be one or more levelers or pads such as felt or polymer pads. The base support 140 also comprises a superior face 146 facing superiorly when in an operational configuration. As depicted here, the lower support is fixed to the base support at a perpendicular angle using welds or fasteners or other means known in the art.

[0076] One or more support gussets 160 can be positioned between the lower support 124 and the base support 140 for additional support and safety of the device given the substantial forces imparted on the system.

[0077] FIG. 8 depicts the central support assembly 122 locked in a storage configuration whereby the supports are retracted within each other. FIG. 7, depicts the central support assembly locked in an extended configuration whereby it can be used as a safety device during lifting activities such as bench press and in some cases squatting exercises.

[0078] As noted, one or more end caps 168 can be utilized to close off open tube ends such as noted on base support 140. A base ring 150 can be fixed between support gussets 160 for additional support to the central support assembly 122. In addition, an inferior ring surface 152 of the base ring 150 is fixed to superior face 146 of base support 140. A base ring cavity 151 within the base ring is configured to house a portion of the lower support 132 therein. Welds 170 can be used for fixation at multiple locations. Some of these are depicted in the drawings.

[0079] A support plate 156, generally in the form of a square, rectangle, or circle comprises a central support plate cavity 158 extending therethrough. Here, the support plate 156 is fixed to the superior ring surface of the base ring 150. The lower support 132 is fixed within the central support plate cavity 158 and the base ring cavity 151 by the use of welds in this embodiment. The base support 140 includes foot pods 145 extending from floor face 144.

[0080] In some embodiments, the lock collar and loadable sleeve of a barbell rotate freely during use and are self-biased towards the floor by gravity.

[0081] In one embodiment, a method for using a barbell safety device such as those described herein comprise a variety of steps as illustrated in FIG. 10. Obtain a weight bench having a pair of spaced uprights with saddle grips for supporting a barbell (200). Obtain a barbell (202). Center the barbell on the weight bench with the saddle grips supporting the barbell (204). Obtain a pair of barbell safety devices as described herein (206). Align the central axis of the barbell with the central axis of the stop collar receiver of the first barbell safety device (208). Orientate the stop collar cavity medially. Slide the first barbell safety device medially until the stop collar of the barbell is housed within the stop collar cavity of the stop collar receiver (210). Repeat the previous step by sliding the second barbell safety device medially on the opposing side of the barbell until the stop collar of the barbell is housed within the stop collar cavity of the stop collar receiver (212). Adjust the desired length of each barbell safety device (214) by removing the first and second lock pins, adjusting to the desired telescoping length, then repinning at the new length (two pins are provided for safety, but only one is required). Proceed to align the weight plates with the central axis of the barbell and slide the weight plates over the loadable sleeve until it is adjacent with the barbell safety device, then repeat on the other side (216). Lock the weight plates in position using a lock collar (218). The user then lays supine on the weight bench support surface and lifts the barbell off the saddle grips to safely perform a bench press lifting exercise (220). When the floor face 144 abuts the floor, the barbell will maintain a safe distance from the bench support surface.

[0082] It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” and “generally” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

[0083] The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention.