Weighted glute bridge apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for use in performing a weighted glute bridge exercise. A back support contacts a user's back and a foot support contacts at least one of the user's feet, with each supporting a portion of the user's weight. A rigid elongate arm is mounted adjacent the back support at a pivot point. A hip bar is connected to the elongate arm and is configured to contact a user's hip region throughout the exercise. When the user moves from a hip flexed position to a hip extended position, the elongate arm moves from a first pivotal position to a second pivotal position. A resistance loading area connected to the elongate arm applies a resistance force directly onto the user's hip region that opposes the motion. Reversing the motion moves the elongate arm from the second pivotal position back to the first pivotal position and completes the repetition.

1 . An apparatus for use in performing a weighted glute bridge exercise where a user alternates between a hip flexed position and a hip extended position, the apparatus comprising:
 a back support configured to contact a user's back and to support a portion of the user's weight;   a foot support configured to contact at least one of the user's feet and to support a portion of the user's weight when the user's back is supported by the back support;   a rigid elongate arm pivotally mounted adjacent a left side or a right side of the back support at a pivot point;   a hip bar connected to the elongate arm at a hip bar connection and configured to contact the user's hip region throughout the exercise such that (i) when the user moves from the hip flexed position to the hip extended position, the elongate arm pivots about the pivot point from a first pivotal position to a second pivotal position in a first direction and (ii) when the user moves from the hip extended position to the hip flexed position, the elongate arm pivots about the pivot point from the second pivotal position to the first pivotal position in a second direction; and   a resistance loading area for applying a resistance force to the elongate arm that resists pivotal movement of the elongate arm in the first direction, wherein the resistance loading area is disposed on the elongate arm in line with and vertically above the user's hip region such that the resistance force is applied substantially directly downwards at the user's hip region throughout the entire weighted glute bridge exercise.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rigid elongate arm comprises a rigid elongate arm pivotally mounted adjacent both sides of the back support and the hip bar is connected between the elongate arms. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2  further wherein each of the elongate arms has a first portion located on one side of the pivot point and a second portion located on an opposite side of the pivot point that is closer to the foot support than the first portion of the elongate arm, wherein the hip bar is connected between the second portions of the elongate arms and is configured to be selectively disconnected from at least one of the elongate arms. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a rigid connection member connects the first portions of the elongate arms together such that the elongate arms pivot simultaneously with one another during the exercise. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a hinged side of the hip bar is hinge mounted to one of the elongate arms such that the hip bar may swing between an open position and a closed position and wherein, when the hip bar is in the closed position, a locking side of the hip bar is configured to be removably connected to the other elongate arm via a lock that moves between an unlocked position, where the hip bar is configured to be pivoted about the hinge to the open position, and a locked position, where the hip bar is prevented from being pivoted about the hinge to the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a first tube disposed on the elongate arm the is located proximate the locking side of the hip bar; 
 a second tube disposed on the back support that aligns with the first tube when the hip bar is in the closed position; and 
 a sliding bolt that is configured to slide through the first and second tubes, 
 wherein, when the lock is in the locked position, a portion of the sliding bolt is located in each of the first and second tubes, and 
 wherein, when the lock is in the unlocked position, the sliding bolt is located in only one of the first and second tubes. 
 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the resistance loading area is an elongate post extending laterally outwards from the elongate arm that is configured to receive weight plates. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising:
 rigid elongate arms are pivotally mounted adjacent both sides of the back support; 
 a resistance loading area for applying a separate resistance force to each the elongate arm, wherein each resistance loading area is an elongate post extending laterally outwards from the elongate arm that is configured to receive weight plates, 
 wherein each of the elongate arms has a first portion located on one side of the pivot point and a second portion located on an opposite side of the pivot point that is closer to the foot support than the first portion of the elongate arm, wherein the hip bar is connected between the second portions of the elongate arms and wherein elongate posts are concentrically aligned with the hip bar. 
 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the back support and the foot support remain fixed in place throughout the exercise. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the foot support includes a first end and a hinged second end such that the first end of the foot support is configured to be raised and lowered about the hinged second end and fixed in at least two positions. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pivot-limiting leg having a first end mounted to the elongate arm and a second end that is configured to contact a bearing surface once the elongate arm has pivoted sufficiently far enough about the pivot point in the second direction and, through that contact, to automatically prevent further pivot of the elongate arm about the pivot point in the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a catch that (i) when engaged, statically holds the elongate arm in a pivotal position that is between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal position and (ii) when disengaged, allows the elongate arm to freely pivot between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal position. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the catch comprises:
 an arm that is pivotally mounted at one end between the back support and the foot support and that pivots about the one end between an engaged position and a disengaged position; 
 a cradle formed at an opposite end of the arm, 
 wherein the catch is engaged by moving the arm to the engaged position and placing the elongate arm into the cradle such that the elongate arm is statically held between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal position, and 
 wherein the catch is disengaged by pivoting the elongate arm in the first direction to remove the elongate arm from the cradle and moving the arm to the disengaged position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 rigid elongate arms that are pivotally mounted adjacent both sides of the back support; 
 a catch located on each side of the back support adjacent an elongate arm that (i) when engaged, statically holds the elongate arm in a pivotal position that is between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal position and (ii) when disengaged, allows the elongate arm to freely pivot between the first pivotal position and the second pivotal position; and 
 a linkage connecting the two catches together, such that engaging or disengaging one catch automatically engages or disengages the opposite catch, respectively. 
 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for use in performing a weighted glute bridge exercise where a user alternates between a hip flexed position and a hip extended position, the apparatus comprising:
 a back support having left and right sides, a front and a back and configured to be contacted by the user's back and to support a portion of the user's weight;   a foot support configured to be contacted by at least one of the user's feet and to support a portion of the user's weight when the user's back is supported by the back support;   a pivoting enclosure surrounding the left and right sides and the front of the back support, the pivoting enclosure formed by:
 elongate arms that are pivotally mounted adjacent the left and right sides of the back support; 
 a hip bar connected between the elongate arms separating the back support and foot support; and 
   a resistance loading area for applying a resistance force to the pivoting enclosure that resists pivotal movement of the pivoting enclosure in at least one direction,   wherein the hip bar is aligned with the hip region of the user when the user's back is supported by the back support and the user's at least one foot is supported by the foot support,   wherein the pivoting enclosure pivots in a first pivotal direction and the hip bar moves away from the foot support when the hip bar is in contact with the user's hip region and the user moves to the hip extended position.   wherein the pivoting enclosure pivots in a second pivotal direction and the hip bar moves towards the foot support when the hip bar is in contact with the user's hip region and the user moves to the hip flexed position.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the resistance loading area includes a post extending laterally outwards from at least one of said elongate arms that is configured to receive weight plates. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein a post that is configured to receive weight plates extends laterally outwards from each of said elongate arms and wherein the posts and the hip bar are collinear with each other. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein one end of the hip bar is configured to selectively disconnect and swing away from one of the elongate arms to provide an opening for the user to enter the pivoting enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the elongate arms include a first portion that extend rearward behind the back of the back support and a second portion that extends forwards in front of the back support, and wherein a rigid connecting member is located behind the back of the back support and rigidly connects the elongate arms together such that the elongate arms pivot simultaneously with one another. 
     
     
         20 . A method for performing a weighted glute bridge exercise comprising the steps of:
 A. providing a glute bridge apparatus comprising:
 a. a back support having left and right sides, a front and a back; 
 b. a foot support; 
 c. a pivoting enclosure surrounding the left and right sides and the front of the back support, the pivoting enclosure formed by:
 i. elongate arms that are pivotally mounted adjacent the left and right sides of the back support; 
 ii. a hip bar connected between the elongate arms separating the back support and foot support that is configured to be contacted by a user's hip region and to pivot the pivoting enclosure in a first pivotal direction when the user's hips are moved in a first direction and to pivot the pivoting enclosure in a second pivotal direction when the user's hips are moved in a second direction; and 
 
 d. a resistance loading area for applying a resistance force that resists pivotal movement of the pivoting enclosure in at least one pivotal direction, 
   B. placing the user into the glute bridge apparatus such that the user's back contacts the back support and a portion of the user's weight is supported by the back support, at least one of the user's feet contacts the foot support and a portion of the user's weight is supported by the foot support, and the hip bar is in contact with the user's hip region;   C. with the hip bar contacting the user's hip region, the user moving to the hip extended position such that the pivoting enclosure pivots in the first pivotal direction and the hip bar moves away from the foot support; and   D. with the hip bar contacting the user's hip region, the user moving to the hip flexed position such that the pivoting enclosure pivots in the second pivotal direction and the hip bar moves towards the foot support.