CORE TRAINING BAR INVENTOR: Nicholas Manolitsis

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[00001] The present application claims priority of US Provisional Application No.

62132484, dated March 19, 2015, filed by same applicant.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[00002] The present invention is directed to weighted exercise devices, namely weighted exercise bars that offer the user the ability to extend the exercise bar to a desired length and that also provides the user with the ability to easily, safely and efficiently alter the weights of the exercise bar.

BACKGROUND ART [00003] The invention relates to an exercise device used to train a user's core muscles, build core strength and provide a whole body training and conditioning workout. It is well known that a user may build or strengthen their core muscles using certain exercises targeted to work such regions of the body, such as: abdominal crunches, rotations and twists; lateral trunk bending; as well as trunk extensions. Core training exercises can be performed by users engaging certain segments of their body to work the muscles of the abdomen, back, and even hip flexors. To enhance and augment such exercises, one may use free weights or exercise bars to increase the difficulty of the exercises, forcing their core muscles to work harder. Such exercises may include isolation type exercises as well as compound type of exercises. [00004] Although many types of exercise bars currently exist, there is a need for a completely portable and compact exercise bar that allows a user to maximize each abdominal exercise whether at home, at work, or at the gym. Additionally, there exists a need for an exercise bar with an adjustable, built-in design conferring the ability to easily increase the difficulty of each exercise without sacrificing the ease of use or portability of the device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[00005] The present invention is comprised of an exercise bar that is capable of extending and collapsing in a telescoping fashion wherein one end of the bar has a handle or grip for the user and the opposite end possesses an interchangeable weight assembly or interchangeable weight(s). The extension bar of the present invention may be comprised of at least one inner tube or shaft that nests concentrically within at least one outer tube or shaft and wherein a locking mechanism allows the inner tube or shaft to slide along the length of and interiorly to the outer tube or shaft and be locked at a desired length along the length of the outer tube or shaft. The locking mechanism may be any standard locking mechanism including a cam locking mechanism, pins, clamps, screws, and any other conventional locking mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism is a cam locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism has a lever arm that when engaged the lever arm presses against the outer tube and inner tube assembly to allow the inner tube to be locked into place at a desired length. Such locking mechanism allows the extension bar to extend or collapse to the length desired by the user. The locking mechanism further provides a release mechanism that allows the lever arm to be disengaged and allow the inner tube to slide along the length of the outer tube. [00006] The present invention is also comprised of an interchangeable weight assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the interchangeable weight assembly is comprised of at least one weight that at least in part encircles the shaft of the inner tube at one end of the exercise bar and may nest one on top of another along the vertical axis of the exercise bar. The at least one weight may be secured to the one end of the exercise bar with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may be any standard locking mechanism including a cam locking mechanism, pins, clamps, screws, and any other conventional locking mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the interchangeable weight unit possesses a head unit. The head unit encircles the shaft of the inner tube and is able to slide along the vertical axis of the inner tube to secure the at least one weight at the one end of the exercise bar. In a preferred embodiment, the head unit further possesses a locking mechanism such as a cam locking mechanism. Such locking mechanism has a lever arm that when engaged the lever arm presses against the inner tube assembly to secure the head unit and at least one weight into place. The locking mechanism further provides a release mechanism that allows the lever arm to be disengaged and release the locking mechanism. The

interchangeable weight assembly further may possess a cradle at the end most distal to the grip to allow the at least one weight to nest into such cradle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00007] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exercise bar according to the present invention;

[00008] FIG.2a illustrates front views of the exercise bar according to the present invention showing the exercise bar at its full extension; [00009] FIG 2b illustrates front views of the exercise bar according to the present invention showing the exercise bar at a partial extension;

[00010] FIG. 2c illustrates front views of the exercise bar according to the present invention showing the exercise bar wherein the exercise bar is not extended;

[00011] FIG. 3 illustrates the locking mechanism of the exercise bar according to the present invention wherein the lever arm is engaged and the locking mechanism is actuated;

[00012] FIG.4 illustrates the locking mechanism of the exercise bar according to the present invention wherein the lever arm is disengaged and the locking mechanism is released;

[00013] FIG. 5 illustrates the interchangeable weight assembly of the present invention wherein one interchangeable weight has been placed in said assembly;

[00014] FIG. 6a illustrates the locking mechanism of the head unit of the exercise bar according to the present invention wherein the lever arm is engaged and the locking mechanism is actuated;

[00015] FIG 6b illustrates the locking mechanism of the head unit of the exercise bar according to the present invention wherein the lever arm is disengaged and the locking mechanism is released;

[00016] FIG 7 illustrates the at least two nesting interchangeable weights, the head unit of the exercise bar, and a weight bracket according to the present invention;

[00017] FIG. 8a illustrates the cross sectional view of the interchangeable weight assembly where the interchangeable weight lies concentrically exterior to the weight bracket;

[00018] FIG 8b illustrates the cross sectional view of the interchangeable weight assembly where the interchangeable weight lies concentrically exterior to the shaft of the inner tube;

[00019] FIG 8c illustrates the cross sectional view of the interchangeable weight; [00020] FIG 8d illustrates the interchangeable weight assembly of the present invention wherein one interchangeable weight has been placed in said assembly;

[00021] FIG 9 illustrates the front view of at least two interchangeable weights, the head unit, and nesting cradle of the present invention showing the interchangeable weights nesting in a vertical assembly;

[00022] FIG. 10 illustrates the interchangeable weight assembly and cradle according to the present invention showing the at least two interchangeable weights inserted into the head unit; and

[00023] FIG 11 illustrates the grip of the exercise bar according to the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[00024] As shown in FIG.1, the present invention is directed to an exercise bar capable of extending and collapsing in a telescoping fashion and providing an interchangeable weight assembly comprising at least one inner tube 3 that nests concentrically within at least one outer tube 1; a locking mechanism 2; and an interchangeable weight assembly 5 and associated locking mechanism for such interchangeable weight assembly 4. The at least one inner tube 3 of the present invention nests concentrically within the at least one outer tube 1 and freely slides along the vertical axis of the outer tube 1. The benefit of such telescoping feature of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 where the exercise bar can be extended to various lengths. FIG 2a shows the exercise bar at its full extension; Fig 2b illustrates the exercise bar at a partial extension; and FIG 3c illustrates the exercise bar at no extension. The present invention allows the user to extend the exercise bar to his or her desired length and thereby select the intensity level of the exercise. In a preferred embodiment, the exercise bar may be extended to provide an exercise bar with a total length in a range of three to seven feet. It can be appreciated, however, the present invention is not intended to be limited to such range. Alternative modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention will occur to persons skilled in the art, and accordingly the invention should be construed to include everything that falls within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[00025] The locking mechanism 2 allows the inner tube 3 to slide along the length of and interiorly to the outer tube 1 and be locked at a desired length along the length of the outer tube 1. The locking mechanism 2 may be any standard locking mechanism including a cam locking mechanism, pins, clamps, screws, and any other conventional locking mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGs 3 and 4, the locking mechanism 2 is a cam locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism has a lever arm 10 that when engaged the lever arm 10 presses against the outer tube 1 and inner tube 3 assembly to allow the inner tube 3 to be locked into place at a desired length. Such locking mechanism 2 allows the extension bar to extend or collapse to the length desired by the user. The locking mechanism 2 further provides a release mechanism 11 that allows the lever arm 10 to be disengaged and allow the inner tube 3 to slide along the length of the outer tube 1.

[00026] The exercise bar of the present invention is also comprised of an interchangeable weight assembly 5. The interchangeable weight assembly 5 of the exercise bar is to be at the opposite end and distal end of the exercise bar from the grip 6. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGs 5- 10, the interchangeable weight assembly is comprised of a head unit 12 having a locking mechanism 4, at least one weight 13 that at least in part encircles the shaft of the inner tube 3 at one end of the exercise bar, a weight bracket 14 that the at least one weight fits into, and a nesting cradle 20 upon which the at least one weight 13 may nest one on top of another along the vertical axis of the exercise bar and nest upon such cradle 20.

[00027] As shown in FIGs 5- 9, the at least one weight 13 may have slits so that the at least one weight 13 may slide onto the inner tube 3. The at least one weight 13 is designed to be able to nest one on top another in a vertical fashion as shown in FIG. 9. In order to achieve such nesting ability, the at least one weight 13 may have a bottom surface that is recessed, notched, grooved or any other conventional means of allowing two components to nest one on top another.

[00028] The interchangeable weight assembly 5 secures the at least one weight in place to the one end of the exercise bar with a locking mechanism 4. The locking mechanism may be any standard locking mechanism including a cam locking mechanism, pins, clamps, screws, and any other conventional locking mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the head unit 12 encircles the shaft of the inner tube 3 and is able to slide along the vertical axis of the inner tube 3 to secure the at least one weight 13 at the one end of the exercise bar. In a preferred embodiment, the head unit 12 further possesses a locking mechanism 4 such as a cam locking mechanism. Such locking mechanism 4 has a lever arm 10 that when engaged the lever arm 10 presses against the inner tube 3 assembly to secure the head unit 12 and at least one weight 13 into place. The locking mechanism further provides a release mechanism 11 that allows the lever arm to be disengaged and release the locking mechanism 4.

[00029] The interchangeable weight assembly further possesses a cradle at the end most distal to the grip 6 to allow the at least one weight to nest into such cradle.

[00030] The handle or grip 6 of the present invention as shown in FIG. 11 may be comprised of rubberized or leather gripping segments on the one end of the exercise bar to allow the user to better handle the exercise bar. In one embodiment the handle or grip 6 may have finger grooves or recesses to further allow the user to fully grip the handle of the exercise bar.

[00031] In another embodiment, the exercise bar is not rigid, but rather is variably flexible at its distal end possessing the interchangeable weight assembly 5 enabling the exercise bar to accommodate up to 30 degrees of sway or bend from the center line of the exercise bar. It can be appreciated, however, the present invention is not intended to be limited to such range of sway. Alternative modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention will occur to persons skilled in the art, and accordingly the invention should be construed to include everything that falls within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[00032] Flexibility in the distal end of the exercise bar may be the result of the material and or materials used to construct the exercise bar; as well as the nesting concentric telescoping tubes that comprise the extending component of the exercise bar.

[00033] The inner 3 and outer tube 1 assembly may be constructed of fiberglass, aluminum carbon fiber, titanium or any other material that provides both the strength and flexibility to withstand the use of the device with an interchangeable weight assembly 5 at the full extension of the exercise bar. [00034] The head unit 12 of the present invention may be constructed of a plastic or plastic like material to withstand the wear and tear of repeated use by the user.

[00035] The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[00036] The industrial applicability of the present invention is directed to providing an exercise device used to train a user's core muscles, build core strength and provide a whole body training and conditioning workout.