US-12623113-B2 - Locking collar for exercise bar with dynamically rotating hand grips

US12623113B2US 12623113 B2US12623113 B2US 12623113B2US-12623113-B2

Abstract

An exercise bar assembly includes a pair of hand grip assemblies, each with a corresponding plate bar assembly to support a weight. The hand grip assemblies are connected to each other by a center bar assembly that allows the user to select a particular length of center bar assembly for a particular spacing of the hand grip assemblies. The center bar assembly is engageable to each hand grip assembly and locked in place using a rotatable retaining washer that is rotatable between one position in which the center bar assembly can be connected to a hand grip assembly, and a second position in which the center bar assembly cannot be removed from the hand grip assembly. A locking mechanism arrangement is provided that prevents rotation of the retaining washer away from the second position.

Inventors

Joseph G. Kinney

Assignees

Resistance in Rotation Corporation

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240710

Claims (10)

1 . An exercise bar assembly comprising: a pair of hand grip assemblies, each including a planar frame rotatably supporting a hand grip to be manually engaged by a user; a pair of plate bar assemblies, one each engaged to one side of said frame of a corresponding one of said pair of hand grip assemblies, each of said plate bar assemblies configured to support a weight; and a center bar assembly having opposite ends, each of said opposite ends removably engaged to a corresponding one of said pair of plate bar assemblies on an opposite side of said frame opposite a corresponding one of said pair of hand grip assemblies, said center bar assembly including; an elongated center bar including a tubular portion at each end thereof, each tubular portion defining an interior cavity open at a corresponding one of said opposite ends of said center bar assembly, and at each end of said elongated center bar; a cylindrical collar engaged to said tubular portion; an elongated sleeve having an annular end wall and an opposite end engaged to said collar and defining an interior between said end wall and said opposite end; and a retaining washer disposed within said interior of said elongated sleeve, said retaining washer including an annular ring defining at the inner circumference at least one radial recess and at least one radial projection circumferentially adjacent said recess; and a mounting element fastened to said opposite side of said frame, said mounting element including; a flange fastened to said frame; an orientation stud projecting from said flange and including; an end configured to be received within the interior cavity of said center bar; and at least one shoulder projecting radially outward from said orientation stud, said at least one shoulder sized for passage through said retaining washer only when said at least one recess is circumferentially aligned with said at least one shoulder, said at least one shoulder axially offset from said flange to define a corresponding circumferential channel between said at least one shoulder and said flange sized to receive said retaining washer therein, wherein said washer is rotatable relative to said orientation stud to selectively align said at least one recess with said at least one shoulder and is axially movable along said orientation stud so that said washer can be moved toward said flange and then rotated into the circumferential channel corresponding to said at least one shoulder.
2 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein a spring is disposed within said interior of said elongated sleeve between said retaining washer and said cylindrical collar to bias said retaining washer against said end wall of said elongated sleeve so that said retaining washer rotates with said elongated sleeve when the sleeve is rotated.
3 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein: said orientation stud defines an axial channel extending from said flange and adjacent one shoulder of said at least one shoulder; and said mounting element further includes a locking pin aligned with said axial channel and supported by said flange of said mounting element for radial movement relative to said orientation stud so that said locking pin can be selectively disposed within said axial channel.
4 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 3 , wherein said flange defines a radial bore intersecting said axial channel, said locking pin includes a perpendicular post disposed within said radial bore, said post slidable within said radial bore to move said locking pin into and out of said axial channel.
5 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a spring disposed within said radial bore and arranged to bias said post radially outward from said flange.
6 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded engagement between said collar and tubular portion.
7 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded engagement between said elongated sleeve and said collar.
8 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein said interior cavity and said end of orientation stud are trilobal.
9 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retaining washer includes three radial recesses and projections spaced at 120° intervals; and said orientation stud includes three shoulders corresponding to said three radial recesses.
10 . The exercise bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein: said frame of each of said pair of hand grip assemblies defines a threaded bore on said opposite side; and said flange of said mounting element includes a threaded post fastened to said frame extending axially opposite said orientation stud, said threaded post configured to threadedly engage said threaded bore of said frame, wherein said exercise bar assembly further includes a Belleville spring received within said threaded bore between said frame and said threaded post.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM This application is a utility filing from and claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/512,717, filed on Jul. 10, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND U.S. Pat. No. 11,504,572, which issued on Nov. 22, 2022, discloses an exercise bar assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 that includes a pair of plate bar assemblies 11 that can be weighted and/or configure to receive conventional weight plates. The length of the plate bar assemblies 11 depends on the intended use of the bar assembly, and in particular the amount of weight expected to be carried by the bar assembly. Each plate bar assembly is fastened to a rotating mount assembly 24, and in particular to a rigid generally planar frame 26 of the mount. The frames of the two rotating mount assemblies 26 are connected to each other by a center bar assembly 15. The combination of the plate bar assemblies 11, center bar assembly 15 and the frames 26 form the barbell. Thus, the assembly of these components must be strong enough to support the weight carried by the plate bar assemblies 11 during use of the exercise bar assembly 10. The center bar assembly 15 has a length that is sized to locate the rotating mount assemblies at an ideal location for the person to comfortably lift the bar assembly during a workout. Nominally, the person will grasp a conventional barbell with the hands roughly shoulder-width apart. Some weight-lifting exercises require the grip positions to be moved inboard or outboard. As described herein, the present disclosure contemplates that the center bar assembly can be provided in different lengths to provide different grip positions. The rotating mount assemblies 24 support hand grips 22 for rotation in the plane of the frames 26. The hand grips 22 are conventionally sized to be comfortably grasped by the user. As described in more detail herein, a bearing assembly supports each of hand grips within its corresponding frame and permits smooth rotation of the grips relative to the frame. Each rotating mount assembly 24 includes a plurality of bearing posts 28a-28f projecting from one side of the mount, as shown in FIG. 1. In one feature of the bar assembly 10, an elastic band 30 includes a mounting collar 32 on each end that is adapted to be mounted on a bearing post on the two rotating mount assemblies 24. The elastic band spans between the two rotating grip assemblies 20 over the center bar assembly 15. The band passes through a gap formed between two fixed bearing posts 35 that are fixed to the frame 26 of each hand grip assembly 20. As can be readily appreciated, the elastic band 30 provides elastic resistance to rotation of the hand grips 22 relative to the corresponding frames 26. In general terms, the elastic band successively engages the bearing posts 28a-28f as the hand grips are rotated, thereby providing continuous tension. More details of the use and operation of the bar assembly 10 can be found in the co-pending '412 application. Further features of the exercise bar assembly 10 include a plurality of support posts 40 projecting from the top side of the frame 26 of each assembly, and a like plurality of posts 41 projecting from the bottom side of the frames. The support posts are sufficiently tall for the bar assembly to be supported on a surface, such as the floor, with clearance for the plate bar assemblies 11 and the bearing posts 22. The support posts 40, 41 allow a user to perform push-ups with the exercise bar assembly 10 sitting on the floor. In this respect, the bar assembly 10 works like a push-up disc known in the art. However, the elastic band 30 between rotating mount assemblies adds a feature not found in the conventional push-up discs. In one embodiment, the exercise bar assembly 10 allows the rotating grip assemblies 20 to be separated by different distances to provide different grip locations and to accommodate the different anatomies of the users. In addition, different exercises require different grip locations, inside and outside shoulder-width, to work different muscle groups. Thus, in one aspect of the present disclosure, the center bar assembly 15 spanning the space between the two rotating handle assemblies 20 is modifiable. In particular, the center bar assembly 15 includes a center bar 45 (FIG. 2) that can be provided in different lengths. The user can select from among several center bars of different lengths to find a suitable grip width. In order to maintain the versatility of the exercise bar assembly 10, a quick and simple means for replacing the center bar 45 is desirable. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercise bar assembly comprises a pair of hand grip assemblies, each including a planar frame rotatably supporting a hand grip to be manually engaged by a user, and a pair of plate bar assemblies, one each engaged to one side of the frame each hand grip assembly, in which each of the plate bar assemblies is configured to support a weight.