Patent Publication Number: US-10773116-B2

Title: Trap bar with adjustable handles

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of exercise devices and more particularly to a weightlifting bar that includes adjustable handles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Weightlifting as a sport, and form of exercise, has been regaining popularity. Men and women of all ages are taking up weight training. Often the interest begins as a form of exercise, but users may then move to participating in competitions. 
     A competition includes many types of events, including a variety of lifts, each set up in the form of a station. 
     The required equipment for each station stays at the station, with a competitor approaching the station, performing the exercise, and then moving on to the next station. 
     The competitors may be male or female, young or old, and large or small. The differences in gender, age, and size create equipment sizing issues. For example, a large man and a small woman have different widths and preferred hand positions, often requiring compromise. Compromise may result in the competitor experiencing a handicap with respect to a larger or smaller participant, or an increased potential for injury. 
     This problem is highlighted in the area of deadlifts, specifically for the trap bar, or hex bar. 
     What is needed is a weightlifting bar with adjustable handles to accommodate users who prefer different handle distances. 
     SUMMARY 
     The trap bar with adjustable handles includes a pair of handles. The position of each handle is adjustable in an inward and outward direction, thus varying the distance between the handles. Thus, a user may adjust the handle spacing to accommodate her size. 
     A trap bar is used to perform deadlifts and shrugs. A trap bar preferably includes a pair of handles, the handles parallel to each other and parallel to the ground. The parallel positions of the handles support a neutral hand grip and an application of weight in-line with the user&#39;s body. 
     Users of any size may wish to use a trap bar, but different user sizes create different ideal hand position requirements. Wider users want a hand grip position that is correspondingly wider to avoid contact between the handles and the user&#39;s legs. Correspondingly, smaller users prefer a narrow handle position to avoid reaching too far away from the body to grip the handles. With a hand grip that is too far from the body, the arms move from being straight up-down to angled outward, which increases the difficulty of the lift for a given weight. 
     A hand grip that can be moved toward and away from the user allows for adjustment prior to the lift, thus making the bar adaptable for many users. This adjustment is ideally performed simply and quickly to avoid any delay in adjustment in a competition type-setting. 
     The handle assembly of the adjustable hex bar is formed from multiple components. A grip is placed at the end of one or more arms. The arm connects to a rotating or pivoting member, which rotatably interfaces with a fixed sleeve, the fixed sleeve attached to the frame of the hex bar. 
     In order to prevent undesired rotation, a locking mechanism bridges the grip and the fixed sleeve. Thus, when locked, the grip cannot move, and thus maintains position. 
     The preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism uses a locking member, or rod, that slides within a channel of the arm. The locking member interfaces with a fixed receiver that attaches to the fixed sleeve or to the frame. The locking member moves through a slot, locking into notches formed between two or more tabs. 
     To operate the locking mechanism, the user lifts the locking member to move the locking member out of the notch and into the slot, allowing the handle to rotate or pivot about the fixed sleeve, and thus move toward and away from the user. 
     In the preferred embodiment, to lock the handle in position, an elastic member pulls the locking member down and into a notch. Then, to unlock the user squeezes her hand, raising the locking member toward the grip and thereby permitting rotation of the grip. 
     With one end of the elastic member affixed to the moving locking member, the other end of the elastic member is fixed in place. Thus, it is attached to a protrusion, hooked into a hole, looped around screw or other fastener, or affixed by other means. 
     The elastic member is any material that is deformable but that seeks to return to its original shape. For example, a coil spring, leaf spring, rubber band, elastic band, or similar. 
     Note that locking member need not be part of the handle. In alternative embodiments the locking member is located outside the arm of the handle. As an additional alternative, the entire handle may serve as the locking mechanism, whereby moving the handle up and down acts to engage and disengage the locking mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of the trap bar with adjustable handles. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the trap bar with adjustable handles. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-section of the handle assembly of the trap bar with adjustable handles. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B , illustrate a front view showing the trap bar with adjustable handles in use. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view with the handles in an inner position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front view with the handles in a middle position. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front view with the handles in an outer position. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the trap bar with adjustable handles. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an end-on view of the trap bar with adjustable handles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the trap bar with adjustable handles is shown. 
     The trap bar with adjustable handles  1  is formed from a frame  10 , optionally separated into a front half  12  and a back half  14 . 
     The front half  12  and back half  14  meeting at a pair of collars  16 , each collar  16  connecting to a bar  18  using paired fasteners  20 . The use of paired fasteners  20  prevents rotation of the bars  18  with respect to the frame  10 . 
     The frame  10  optionally includes feet  22 , preferably formed from a rubber-type material. 
     Located at the position of a user&#39;s hands are two handle assemblies  30 , attached to the frame  10  using fasteners  40 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the trap bar with adjustable handles is shown. 
     The trap bar with adjustable handles  1  is again shown with two handle assemblies  30 , attached to the frame  10  using fasteners  40 . The collars  16  are each shown affixed to a bar  18 , which during use is loaded with the user&#39;s desired set of weights. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-section of the handle of the trap bar with adjustable handles is shown. 
     Each handle assembly  30  is formed from a grip  32 , connected to one or more arms  34  that are in turn connected to a rotating member  36 . The rotating member  36  preferably rotates inside of a fixed sleeve  38  that is connected to the frame  10 . 
     In order to hold the rotational position of the grip  32  at the user&#39;s desired setting, a combination of elements act to fix the angular position of the grip  32  in place. 
     A locking member  42 , shown as a rod, moves within a channel  44  cut out from the arm  34 . An elastic member  46  sits within a groove  48  of the locking member  42 , pulling the locking member  42  toward a catch  50 . 
     The locking member  42  extends through the channel  44 , interfacing with the fixed receiver  60 , which is shown mounted to the fixed sleeve  38 . 
     When in a raised position, the locking member  42  moves through a slot  66 . When in a lowered position, pulled down by the elastic member  46 , the locking member  42  sits within a notch  64  created by one or more tabs  62 . 
     By bridging the arm  34 , which may rotate, and the fixed receiver, which may not, locking member  42  holds the grip  32  in a position chosen by the user. 
     Note that the preferred embodiment includes two arms  34 , each with a channel  44 , and each with an adjacent fixed receiver  60 . The single locking member  42  moves within the channels  44 , locking and unlocking within the fixed receivers  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A  and B, a front view showing the of the trap bar with adjustable handles in use is shown. 
     The trap bar with adjustable handles  1  is shown held by a user  100 . 
     In  FIG. 4A , the user  100  has the grips  32  set to the widest position. Note the distance between the user  100  and the grips  32 . 
     In  FIG. 4B , the user  100  has the grips  32  set in an innermost position, but a position that is still wider than the user&#39;s hips, and thus a position that does not interfere with the user&#39;s body. By moving the grips  32  inward, the user  100  can achieve a more effective lifting position. 
     Each grip  32  defines an axis, which is in-and-out of the page as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Theses axes remain parallel as the grips  32  are moved toward and away from the use. Additionally, the axes are parallel to the ground, i.e. horizontal, during use. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , front views with the handles in an inner position, middle position, and outer positions are shown. 
     By adjusting the position of the grips  32 , a user can choose a grip width  80  from a first position  82 , second position  84 , or third position  86  depending on the user&#39;s preferred grip width  80 . Note that two grip positions, or four or more grip positions, are anticipated depending on the chosen design of the locking mechanism. 
     The arms  34  are shown with an optional curved shape. This shape moves the grip  32  further toward the center of the frame  10 , thereby expanding the optional range of grip widths  80 . Thus, even when the grips  32  are set to a middle position, or second position  84 , the user&#39;s leg will not contact the fixed receiver  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a bottom view of the trap bar with adjustable handles is shown. 
     The trap bar with adjustable handles  1  is again shown with two handle assemblies  30 , attached to the frame  10  using fasteners  40 . The collars  16  are each shown affixed to a bar  18 , which during use is loaded with the user&#39;s desired set of weights. 
     Multiple feet  22  separate the frame  10  from an underlying surface, and are preferably formed from a high-friction material to prevent sliding. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an end-on view of the trap bar with adjustable handles is shown. 
     The grip  32  and arms  34  of a handle assembly  30  are shown, with the locking member  42  interfacing with the fixed receiver  60 . 
     A collar  16  and bar  18  are shown for the addition of weights. 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.