Bar with sliding handgrips for resistance exercise devices

Abstract

An elongate bar having sliding handgrips concentrically mounted thereon adapted for use with various types of resistance-type exercise devices. In a preferred embodiment, the handgrips, which are constrained to move only in an axial direction with respect to the bar, are interconnected on an inner bar-facing portion of the handgrips by linking means such as belts, in such a manner that the handgrips and bar retain a low profile, and the handgrips remain equidistant from the center of the bar throughout their axial range of motion. In the preferred embodiment, the linking means are belts that are supported by pulleys housed within recesses in the bar and rotatably attached thereto. Embodiments of the bar for performing various exercises are disclosed which include resistive force attachment means affixed to the bar operable for attaching weights, lever arms, springs, cable(s), belts(s), elastic bands or the like thereto or by using an exerciser's own body weight to provide a resistive force for exercising a variety of muscles.

1 . A resistance exercise device comprising: (a) an elongate, nonbifurcated, substantially cylindrical bar having first and second ends and a center plane therebetween, said center plane intersecting said bar at a center of gravity thereof; (b) first and second handgrips slidably mounted on said bar such that an inner portion of said first and second handgrips abuts said substantially cylindrical bar, said first and second handgrips being disposed equidistant from said center plane wherein said handgrips have a longitudinal axis and can be slidingly moved on said bar in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handgrips; and (c) coupling means connecting said inner portion of said first handgrip to said inner portion of said second handgrip, said coupling means being operable for maintaining said first and second handgrips equidistant from said center plane when said first and second handgrips are moved in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handgrips.  
   
   
       2 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising resistive force attachment means affixed thereto, said resistive force attachment means being operable for removably attaching a resistive force to said bar.  
   
   
       3 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising locking means operable for locking at least one of said handgrips in a locked position with respect to said bar.  
   
   
       4 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising braking means operable for applying friction to said coupling means.  
   
   
       5 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 2  further comprising a resistive force attached to said resistive force attachment means.  
   
   
       6 . A method for an exerciser to perform an exercise comprising the steps of: 
 (a) presenting a resistance exercise device in accordance with  claim 3;  then    (b) positioning the exerciser's body with respect to said bar of said resistance exercise device and grasping said first and second handgrips with the exerciser's respective hands; then    (c) applying a force to said first and second handgrips with said hands in opposition to said resistive force.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said exercise is selected from the group consisting of bench press, shoulder press, bicep curl, triceps press-downs, triceps extensions, rows (upright seated, bent-over, or lying), shoulder shrug, wrist curls, raises, pullovers, pull-downs, or deadlifts and latissimus contractions.  
   
   
       8 . A resistance exercise device comprising: (a) an elongate, platform having first and second ends and a center plane therebetween, said center plane intersecting said platform at a midpoint thereof; (b) first and second footgrips slidably mounted on said platform such that an inner portion of said first and second footgrips abuts said platform, said first and second footgrips being disposed equidistant from said center plane wherein said footgrips have a longitudinal axis and can be slidingly moved on said bar in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said footgrips; and (c) coupling means connecting said inner portion of said first footgrip to said inner portion of said second footgrip, said coupling means being operable for maintaining said first and second footgrips equidistant from said center plane when said first and second footgrips are moved in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said footgrips.  
   
   
       9 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 8  further comprising resistive force attachment means affixed thereto, said resistive force attachment means being operable for removably attaching a resistive force to said platform.  
   
   
       10 . The resistance exercise device of  claim 9  further comprising a resistive force attached to said resistive force attachment means.  
   
   
       11 . A method for an exerciser to perform an exercise comprising the steps of: 
 (a) presenting a resistance exercise device in accordance with  claim 8;  then    (b) positioning the exerciser's body with respect to said platform of said resistance exercise device and placing feet against said first and second footgrips with the exerciser's respective feet; then    (c) applying a force to said first and second footgrips with said feet in opposition to said resistive force.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said exercise is selected from the group consisting of leg presses and leg curls.