Patent Publication Number: US-7594881-B2

Title: Compact weight bench

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention pertains generally to exercise and fitness equipment and, more particularly, to a compact weight bench for use in doing upper body and arm exercises as well as leg exercises. 
   2. Related Art 
   Exercise machines of the type commonly known as weight benches have been heretofore been provided for exercising the upper body and arms and/or the legs. Such machines tend to be somewhat complex and bulky because they generally have separate bars and weights for the upper body and arms and for the legs. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a new and improved weight bench. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a weight bench of the above character which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art. 
   These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a weight bench having a horizontally extending seat, an upstanding post at one end of the seat, a swinging arm pivotally connected to the upper portion of the post for movement between raised and lowered positions, a pair of leg rests extending laterally from the upper portion of the post, a weight bar extending laterally from a free end of the swinging arm, a plurality of weights interchangeably mounted on the weight bar, pads on the weight bar for engagement by the legs of a person doing leg exercises, and a handle attached to the swinging arm for engagement by the hands of a person sitting on the seat for doing upper body and arm exercises. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a weight bench incorporating the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with the dumbbells removed. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one of the dumbbell holders in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the machine has a horizontally extending seat  11  which is supported at one end by an upstanding post  12  and at the other by a rearwardly inclined leg  13 . The post and leg have laterally extending, generally rectangular foot plates  14 ,  16  which rest upon the floor. 
   A back rest  17  is hingedly connected at the rear of the seat, with a support arm or brace  18  extending between the back rest and rear leg  13  for holding the back rest at different angles relative to the seat. The upper end of the brace is pivotally connected to the back rest, and the lower end rests on flanges  19  on the upper side of the leg. 
   The post extends higher than the seat, and a pair of cushioned leg rests  21  extend laterally from the upper portion of the post. A weight support arm  22  is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the post for swinging movement between raised and lowered positions on the front side of the post. In the embodiment illustrated, the pivot is formed by a pin or bolt  23  which extends between a pair of flanges  24  on the post end passes through the arm. 
   A weight bar  26  extends laterally from the free end of the arm, with weights  27  mounted on the outer ends of the bar. In the embodiment illustrated, the weights consist of dumbbells having a plurality of interchangeable weight plates  28  mounted on bars  29  which are received in weight holders  31  on the ends of the bars. The weight holders are in the form of semicylindrical cups, and the bars are retained in the cups by pins  32 . The cups face in an upward direction, and hold the bars of the dumbbells at an angle of about 45° relative to the swing arm. 
   Leg pads  33  in the form of cushions or rollers are mounted on the weight bar between arm  22  and the weight holders for engagement by the legs of a person sitting on seat  11  or standing on foot plate  14 . 
   A handle  36  is attached to weight arm  22  so that the weights mounted on the arm can be lifted by the upper body and arms of a person sitting on the seat as well as by his legs. The handle is T-shaped, with a stem  37  that is attached to the weight arm and a crossbar  38  with grips  39  that can be grasped by the hands of the exerciser. The handle is pivotally attached to the arm for movement between an operative position in which the stem extends from the arm at an angle of about 90° and a storage position in which the stem is next to the arm. The handle is connected to the arm by a clevis  41  at the base of the stem and a bolt or pin  42  which passes through the clevis and the arm, with a pin  43  for securing the handle in its two positions. 
   For upper body and arm exercises, a person sits on the bench facing the post, gripping the handle with his hands. When the arm and weights are in the down position, the handle extends in a generally horizontal direction, and the person lifts the weights by pulling the handle toward himself. If he wants, he can lift the weights through almost 180° of handle motion because the weights will travel in an upward direction until the handle reaches the back rest in its horizontal position. 
   For leg extensions, the handle is locked in its down position, and the person sits on the bench with his legs extending over leg rests  21  and behind the leg pads  33  on the weight bar. He then works his legs by lifting them against the force of the weights. 
   For leg curls, the person stands on foot plate  14 , facing the bench, with the handle in its down position, and the backs of his calves against the leg pads on the weight bar. He then works his legs by bending them at the knee to lift the weights. 
   The invention has a number of important features and advantages. It uses the same weights for upper body and arm exercises as well as leg exercises, and it is therefore relatively inexpensive and compact. The weights are mounted in a manner which makes them easy to change, and the dumbbells which are used as weights can be removed and used as free weights, if desired. 
   It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved weight bench has been provided. While only one presently preferred embodiment has been described in detail, as will be apparent to those familiar with the art, certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.