Patent Publication Number: US-2023149766-A1

Title: Barbell safety device and methods

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 63/360,966 filed Nov. 12, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention. The invention relates generally to weightlifting equipment, and more particularly to safety equipment used when using a standard or Olympic barbell to perform a bench press or squatting exercise. 
     As illustrated in the prior art  FIGS.  1 - 5   , bench press devices of the prior art include the weight bench configured to support a user’s trunk in a supine position. The weight bench is typically joined a pair of uprights having saddle grips along or at a superior end of the uprights to securely hold a weight bar also known as a barbell. The uprights and/or saddle grips may be adjustable in height. Weightlifting enthusiasts tend to use an ‘Olympic’ barbell that has generally standard dimensions of 86 inches in length but are sometimes other lengths such as 60 inches. The center part of the barbell is typically partially knurled and has a diameter well suited for gipping with a user’s hand such as 1.2 inches for example. On opposed ends of the Olympic weight bar are loadable sleeves having an outer diameter (generally 2 inches) suited to support one or more Olympic weight plates. At the medial end of the loadable sleeves are stop collars, typically about 3 inches in diameter and about 1.25 inches wide. When a user loads the weight plates on the loadable sleeves, the stop collars provide a hard stop for the weight plates to assure the weight plates are evenly balanced on each side of the weight bar. The loadable sleeves are fixed to the weight bar, but are preferably free to spin about the central axis of the weight bar in order to minimize any torsional forces that may occur during lifting. Once one or more weight plates are loaded on the loadable sleeves, the weight plates can be held in place by a lock collar which often is in the form of a spring clip as noted in  FIG.  2   . 
     There are obvious dangers in performing a bench press exercise. As noted in  FIG.  3   , the user is situated under the weight bar during the exercise and may become trapped underneath the weighted bar if they become too fatigued to control the weight bar and weights during the exercise. In this situation, the weight bar can become stuck across the user’s neck or chest thereby limiting their ability to breath and/or restricting blood flow to their brain or other parts of their body. Musculo-skeletal injuries may also result. 
     The prior art has typically addressed this problem by suggesting that a spotter ( FIG.  4   ) always be available to assist the user during the bench press exercise. This typically involves a spotter standing behind the user’s head and assisting with additional control of the weight bar as needed. A spotter is not always available however, and often lifters are uncomfortable as to the positioning of the spotter near the lifter’s head. These issues often lead to the risky behavior of the lifter using the bench press without a spotter. Another common way the prior art has addressed this safety issue is by integrating into the lifting bench a pair of stop arms as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . In this case, upon fatigue of the lifter, the pair of stop arms provide a resting surface to place the weight bar in an emergency without crushing against the user’s body. The rest surface can often be adjusted a distance ‘G’ from the bench support surface to accommodate to users having trunks of varying thickness. 
     There are however, tens if not hundreds of thousands of Olympic bench press weight benches throughout the world that are being used without the benefit of stop arms. Users of this equipment are at risk of injury. What is needed are devices that can be adapted to existing bar bell bench press configurations that provide safety to the user resulting from the loss of control of the barbell during exercise. What is needed are safety devices that can be used to start the bench press in the down position without touching or minimal pressure on the user’s chest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein are barbell safety devices that attach directly to the barbell for use during weightlifting exercises. 
     In one form, a barbell safety device couples with a barbell used on a weight bench. 
     In one form, the barbell safety device is used in pairs on a barbell. 
     In one form, the barbell safety device is used on a barbell that is resting on a weight bench. 
     In one form, the barbell safety device is generally ‘T’ shaped. 
     In one form, the barbell safety device is used in an ‘inverted T’ orientation when used in an operable configuration. 
     In one form, at the superior end of the barbell safety device is a stop collar receiver. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver is at least partially cylindrical along a generally horizontal axis C. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver comprises a retainer wall having an internal sleeve surface defining a sleeve cavity configured to house a loadable sleeve of a barbell. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver comprises a retainer wall having an internal collar surface defining a stop collar cavity configured to house a stop collar of a barbell. 
     In one form, the stop collar cavity and sleeve cavity are in open communication. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver comprises an outer surface. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver comprises a stop surface positioned between the stop collar cavity and the sleeve cavity configured for abutting against the stop collar of a barbell. 
     In one form, a barbell safety device comprises a central support assembly. 
     In one form, the central support assembly comprises an upper support and a lower support. 
     In one form, the central support assembly is telescoping and fixable at a variety of lengths. 
     In one form, the stop collar receiver is fixed to the upper support by welds or other means known in the art. 
     In one form, the upper support is tubular and comprises an upper support wall with an internal upper support face defining an upper support cavity configured to receive a lower support therein in sliding relationship. 
     In one form, the upper support is tubular and houses the lower support 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. 
     In one form, the upper support comprises a joiner surface for fixation to outer surface of stop collar receiver. 
     In one form, the joiner surface is rounded. 
     In one form, the upper support comprises a plurality of upper lock holes operable to seat a lock pin therein. 
     In one form, lower support is tubular and comprises a lower support wall with a lower support outer face thereon. 
     In one form, the lower support comprises a plurality of lower lock holes operable to seat a lock pin therein. 
     In one form, the upper and lower lock holes are aligned such that a lock pin can be inserted to span the lock holes thereby fixing the central support assembly at a predetermined length. 
     In one form, a retainer member such as in the form of a chain or cable is utilized to hold the lock pin in position. 
     In one form, the telescoping feature of the barbell safety device utilizes alternative forms of locking such as friction style lever locking, a threaded rod such as used in a scissors jack, or a bayonet type locking wherein rotating one member 90 degrees, translating, and relocking is performed. 
     In one form, the lower support is fixedly coupled to a base support. 
     In one form, the base support comprises a base support wall. 
     In one form, the base support is in the form of a tube. 
     In one form, the base support comprises a floor face for facing the floor when in an operational configuration. 
     In one form, the base support comprises a superior face facing superiorly when in an operational configuration. 
     In one form, the lower support is fixed to the base support at a perpendicular angle. 
     In one form, one or more support gussets are positioned between the lower support and the base support for additional support and safety of the device. 
     In one form, the central support assembly is locked in a storage configuration whereby the supports are retracted within each other. 
     In one form, the central support assembly is locked in an extended configuration whereby it can be used as a safety device. 
     In one form, one or more end caps are utilized to close off open tube ends such as the base support. 
     In one form, a base ring is fixed between support gussets for additional support to the central support assembly. 
     In one form, an inferior ring surface of the base ring is fixed to superior face of base support. 
     In one form, a base ring cavity is configured to house a portion of the lower support therein. 
     In one form, a support plate is generally in the form of a square, rectangle, or circle comprises a central support plate cavity extending therethrough. 
     In one form, the support plate is fixed to the superior ring surface of the base ring. 
     In one form, the lower support is fixed within the central support plate cavity and the base ring cavity. 
     In one form, the base support includes foot pods extending from floor face. 
     In one form, a method for using a barbell safety device such as those devices described herein comprise a variety of steps as illustrated in  FIG.  8   . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a perspective view of a user performing a bench press exercise as noted in the prior art; 
         FIG.  2    depicts a perspective view of one type of Olympic barbell as noted in the prior art; 
         FIG.  3    depicts a perspective view of a user being injured by a barbell as noted in the prior art; 
         FIG.  4    depicts a front view of a spotter assisting an individual on a bench press as noted in the prior art; 
         FIG.  5    depicts a perspective view of a weight bench with integrated stop arms as noted from the prior art; 
         FIG.  6    depicts a perspective view of a weight bench and Olympic barbell with an embodiment of the barbell safety device mounted thereon; 
         FIG.  6 A  depicts a perspective view of a common barbell; 
         FIG.  7    depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device in an extended configuration; 
         FIG.  8    depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device in a storage configuration; 
         FIG.  9    depicts a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the barbell safety device; 
         FIG.  9 A  depicts a central cross-sectional view of the stop collar receiver of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  9 B  depicts a perspective view of the upper support of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  9 C  depicts a perspective view of the base ring of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  9 D  depicts a perspective view of the support plate of  FIG.  9   . 
         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 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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.  9 A , 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.  9 A , 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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
       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. 
     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. 
     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 . 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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.