Patent ID: 12208299

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a belt squat attachment and methods of using same. The belt squat attachment is configured to be attached to a support rack or other multipurpose exercise structure, such that multiple exercises can be performed using the same space. The belt squat attachment folds out of the exercising region of a support rack so that it can be stowed while remaining attached. This capability uniquely allows a user to continue to efficiently use the exercise space when the belt squat attachment is not being utilized and provides for easy, safe and timely convertibility in that, for example, a user can be back squatting and decide to belt squat and potentially even go back and forth between the two exercises simply by removing load from the belt squat attachment and folding it up and out of the way. Additionally, the belt squat attachment allows for multiple pickup heights so that any user can easily use the belt squat attachment for belt squat exercises.

FIG.1depicts the belt squat attachment100of the present disclosure, where it is shown unattached to a support rack110or another support structure. Belt squat attachment100is made mainly from metal components, such as painted carbon steel, chromium-plated carbon steel, cast iron, aluminum, and stainless steel. However, other metal materials or alloys are compatible with the present disclosure. Regions of belt squat attachment100for resting on surfaces optionally include other materials, such as polymers, foam polymers, rubber, plastic, or other cushioning materials. In some instances, belt squat attachment100is prepared from components that are attached using fasteners, brackets, welding, or other fastening means.

Belt squat attachment100includes an attachment bar112for attachment of belt squat attachment100to support rack100. Attachment bar112is formed from a metal rod, tubing, pipe, or bar and includes at least one attachment clip hole114for attachment to support rack100with at least one attachment clip116. The dimensions of attachment bar112are such that it is configured to fit between vertical supports of a standard support rack100, which are typically about four feet apart. The dimensions of attachment clip holes114are such that they accommodate at least one attachment clip116, which is also sized to fit within rack attachment holes118of support rack110. In some instances, rack attachment holes118are ⅝ inch holes with one inch spacing, one inch holes with two inches spacing, one inch holes with three inches spacing, or any other diameter hole and spacing available on commercially available support racks. At least one attachment clip116is in some instances commercially available, and in other instances is customized in dimensions to accommodate both rack attachment holes118and attachment clip holes114. Attachment clip116is in some instances pinned and locked through each of rack attachment holes118and attachment clip holes114for attachment of attachment bar112. However, in other instances, attachment clip116is bolted within rack attachment holes118and attachment clip holes114for attachment. The location of attachment clip holes114are shown as one attachment clip hole114on each end of attachment bar112, though other locations and number of attachment clip holes114are possible such that attachment bar112is configured to be clipped into rack attachment holes118of support rack110. Attachment bar112rotates about a pivot point of each attachment clip116when attached to support rack110, allowing a user120to perform exercises, load weights or other loads122, remove weights or other loads122, and place belt squat attachment100into a storage position. In some instances, rotation of belt squat attachment100is limited by the shape of ends of attachment bar112, while in other cases 360 degree rotation is possible. Attachment bar112adds stability to belt squat attachment100, as it is attached at two points to support rack110. As such, belt squat attachment100uniquely resists, precludes or prevents tipping, tilting, or overturning as load122is added and removed and weight distribution is at least temporarily uneven. This differs from jammer arm-reliant systems, as these previous systems only have one point of attachment to a rack and risk destabilization as weights are added and removed.

FIG.1shows belt squat attachment100with at least one weight horn124attached to a T-bar126for including additional load122on belt squat attachment100. Attachment of weight horns124includes fastening of the weight horns124to at least one weight horn hole128through T-bar126, as shown inFIG.2with weight horns124removed. Fasteners are any fastening means known in the art such that fasteners and weight horn holes128are compatible. For instance, fasteners include bolts, screws, and other fastening means. Weight horn holes128are positioned such that weight horns124, when attached, are located at a midpoint of T-bar126. In such a position, it is easy to determine the “felt load”, which is half of the weight loaded on weight horns124. Belt squat attachment100differs from other individual components that may be assembled to perform belt squat exercises, in that these individual components are capable of assembly in different configurations that change the fulcrum, and thus impact the felt load. Belt squat attachment100is designed for belt squat exercises as one system, and thus has a known weight horn location and method for determining the felt load. Therefore, user120can easily determine the amount lifted using belt squat attachment. In embodiments not depicted, weight horn holes128are located in different locations about T-bar126, which change the determination of felt load when weight horns124are not located at a midpoint of belt squat attachment.

Referring back toFIG.1, T-bar126is attached to attachment bar112at its midpoint, such that loads122placed on weight horns124on either side of T-bar126are evenly distributed. T-bar126is attached to attachment bar112using fastening means known in the art. In some instances, T-bar has a length of approximately four feet, though other lengths are possible. In some instances, the combined length of two weight horns124attached to T-bar126is approximately 3 feet, though other combined lengths are possible such that weight horns124have equal lengths and are capable of holding loads122. In some instances, each weight horn124is 1.5 feet in length. T-bar126approximately bisects attachment bar112and is located perpendicular to attachment bar112. Similarly, weight horns124approximately bisect T-bar126and are approximately perpendicular to T-bar126and parallel to attachment bar112. However, weight horns124are attached to T-bar126at different angles in embodiments not depicted.

Belt squat attachment100further includes a support leg130for supporting belt squat attachment100when it rests on a surface, such as the ground. Support leg130varies in length depending on application, and is shorter than T-bar126. Support leg130extends below T-bar126at an angle from a location between a belt ring132at the end of T-bar126and weight horn holes128. In some instances, the location is a midpoint between belt ring132and weight horn holes128, while in other instances the location is closer to or farther from belt ring132. A cushioning material, such as rubber, plastic, foam, polymer, or other flexible material coats or is attached to the ground-contacting end of support leg130in some cases.

At the end of T-bar126opposite that attached to attachment bar112is located belt ring132for attaching a belt134. Belt ring132is in some cases a circular ring that is looped through at least one pair of aligned holes at the end of T-bar126. In other cases, belt ring132is D-shaped, ovular, a rounded triangle, or any other shape capable of looping through holes in T-bar126and accepting at attachment component of belt134. Belt ring132is depicted as being at least partially rounded, though in some instances it is not rounded. The size of belt ring132is such that it is compatible with the attachment means of belt134when inserted in T-bar126. While a ring is portrayed in the depicted embodiment, belt ring132is substituted with another fastening reception means in other embodiments, where other fastening reception means include a clip, hook, a hole, a slot, and a tab. Belt ring132is formed from metal, though other materials are possible such that belt ring132maintains a connection between belt squat attachment100, with or without added load122, and belt134, when belt squat attachment100is in a resting or raised position.

InFIG.3, belt squat attachment100is shown attached to support rack110in a resting position, with support leg130resting on a surface, such as the ground. In the resting position, T-bar126is shown sloping downward from attachment bar112to belt ring132. However, the slope is at least partially determined by the height of the points of attachment to support rack110, where higher points of attachment allow for greater downward slope and lower points of attachment allow for less downward slope. In some cases, no slope occurs when belt squat attachment100is attached to support rack110. In cases where the point of attachment to support rack110is lower than the height of support leg130, T-bar126slopes downward from belt ring132to attachment bar112. For ideal weight loading and exercise performance, it is preferable that T-bar126slopes downward toward belt ring132, however. Variations in attachment height are possible based on the desired form of exercise, height of user120, and size of load122, among other considerations. Resting position is configured for ease of weight loading for users of various sizes and lifting abilities. For attachment, at least one attachment clip116is used to connect attachment bar112to rack attachment holes118of support rack110. Rack attachment holes118are selected at a height according to the desires of user120, and rack attachment holes118on each vertical portion of support rack110are typically selected to be of the same height so that attachment bar112, when attached, remains parallel to the ground and even. Belt squat attachment100is removable from support rack110by detachment of attachment clips116, or may be stored on support rack110as described below in detail.

InFIG.4, belt squat attachment100is shown attached to support rack110in a raised configuration. Load122is also added to weight horns124. Load122is depicted as round weights, though other shapes and sizes of weights are possible. Weights for adding load to belt squat attachment100are commercially available in a variety of weights and sizes. Weight horns124are capable of holding at least one weight to add load, and typically accommodate at least three weights. Weight horns124are compatible with commercially available weight clips for securing loaded weights. User120or another individual adds load122to weight horns124when belt squat attachment100is in the resting position and performs a belt squat exercise to move belt squat attachment100to the raised position. Though no user is shown inFIG.4, user130is capable of lifting belt squat attachment100into the position shown inFIG.4. The upward movement from the resting position requires load122and belt squat attachment100to be rotated at the points of attachment to support rack110. Rotation, when unlimited by attachment bar112, depends on the height of user120, the exercise performed, the height of the points of attachment of attachment bar112to support rack110, and the strength of user120. In the raised position, support leg130is elevated above the ground.

FIG.5shows user120using belt squat attachment100as it is attached to support rack110in a resting position. User120, depending on height, bends to add or remove load122and to attach or remove belt134to or from belt ring132. Belt143is in some cases directly attached to belt ring132, while in other cases it is attached indirectly, as through a connection means such as a chain, strap, clip, or other component capable of attaching belt134to belt ring132and maintaining such a connection throughout exercise. Belt134is a commercially available weightlifting belt, and is typically formed from leather, nylon, or another durable and strong material. User120wears belt134as directed by the commercial manufacturer or as is known in the art for the performance of weight lifting activities, such as the belt squat exercise. Before beginning the exercise, user120optionally adds, removes, or otherwise adjusts load122and attaches belt134to belt squat attachment100. User120optionally grips belt squat attachment100, such as at weight horns124, in performing a belt squat exercise. However, in other cases user120does not grip belt squat attachment100.

InFIG.6, user120is shown performing a belt squat exercise with belt squat attachment100lifted into the raised position. User120is clipped to belt squat attachment100with belt134, which is attached specifically to belt ring132. This attachment allows user120to lift belt squat attachment100when performing the belt squat exercise. As user120straightens legs, belt squat attachment100raises from the ground. User120additionally lifts with arms gripping belt squat attachment100, if desired. To end the exercise, user120lowers belt squat attachment100to the resting position and either unclips or otherwise removes belt134, detaching user120from belt squat attachment.

InFIG.7, a front view of belt squat attachment100is shown in a resting position. Belt ring132is located at a midpoint of the width of belt squat attachment100, so that weight is configured to be evenly distributed when user120lifts belt squat attachment100. Load122is shown to be evenly placed on each of weight horns124, which is preferred. However, uneven loads are possible. Belt134is clipped into belt ring132, and user120attaches belt134around the waist for use. In some instances, user120wears belt134prior to attaching to belt ring132, while in other cases user120attaches belt134to belt ring132prior to wearing belt134.

InFIG.8, a front view of belt squat attachment100in a raised position is depicted. Belt squat attachment100rotates about the pivot points at attachment clips116, which also serve to lock attachment bar112into rack attachment holes118. Thus, belt squat attachment100does not tilt or slide during rotation.

Referring now toFIG.9, a second embodiment of the belt squat attachment200is shown, where adjustments are made so that belt squat attachment200is configured to be at least partially elevated for weight loading and unloading. In this embodiment, support leg230is reduced in length by approximately half to allow for elevation by a strap234, as described below. Attachment bar212remains attached to support rack110using attachment clips216as described above. Additionally, load122is configured to be loaded onto weight horns224, which are positioned on T-bar226as described above for the first embodiment of belt squat attachment100. T-bar226includes a strap ring238located on an upper surface of T-bar226between weight horns224and a belt clip receptor232. In the depicted embodiment, strap ring238is closer to weight horns224than belt clip receptor232, though other locations are possible such that strap ring238is capable of receiving a strap clip236and belt squat attachment200is elevated when strap234is connected to strap ring238. The shape of strap ring238is in some cases a circular ring, while in other cases it is D-shaped, ovular, a rounded triangle, or any other shape capable of accepting at attachment component of strap234. Strap ring238is depicted as being at least partially rounded, though in some instances it is not rounded. The size of strap ring238is such that it is compatible with the attachment means of strap238. While a ring is portrayed in the depicted embodiment, strap ring238is substituted with another fastening reception means in other embodiments, where other fastening reception means include a clip, a hole, a slot, a hook, and a tab. Strap ring238is formed from metal, though other materials are possible such that strap ring238maintains a connection between belt squat attachment200, with or without added load122, and strap234, when belt squat attachment200is in a resting or raised position.

For attachment of strap234to strap ring238of belt squat attachment200, strap clip236is used. Strap clip236is depicted as a clip, though any attachment means compatible with strap ring238is possible. Strap clip236is attached to strap234and configured to attach and detach from strap ring238. When attached, strap clip236connects strap234to strap ring238such that strap234is configured to elevate belt squat attachment200above the ground. Strap234is formed from any durable material, such as leather or nylon, and is capable of lifting and elevating belt squat attachment200and any load122placed on weight horns224. Strap234is tied, looped around, or otherwise attached to support rack110at the end opposite that connected to strap clip236. Thus, strap234hoists belt squat attachment200above the ground from an upper region of support rack110. The elevation of belt squat attachment200is variable depending on the length of strap234and the portion of strap234between support rack110and strap clip236. For example, use of strap234can elevate attachment200so that the attachment extends parallel or substantially parallel to the ground or such that a bottom end of leg support230or belt clip receptor232is between about 1 inch to about 4 feet, between 6 inches to about 3 feet, or about 1 foot to about 2 feet above the ground. In some cases, user120adjusts the effective length of strap234by altering the point at which strap234is attached to support rack110. Adjustments to strap234change the elevation of belt squat attachment200so that weights are configured to be added or removed from belt squat attachment200comfortably and safely. In addition to weight loading and unloading, a belt squat exercise is also possible from the strap-elevated position. In such a case, user120connects belt134to belt squat attachment200and further elevates belt squat attachment200when performing the exercise. Strap234, strap clip236and strap ring238allow for loading of attachment200while attachment200is a safe elevated position which minimizes the initial load on a user. This is akin to removing a bar from the upper uprights prior to performing back squats. After attachment200is loaded with the desired weight, strap clip236is detached from strap ring238so that belt squats of other exercises can be performed. Upon completion of the belt squats or other exercises, strap clip236is reattached to strap ring238.

Another adaptation to belt squat attachment100shown in belt squat attachment200inFIG.9is belt clip receptor232, which serves the same purpose of belt ring132in allowing a connection to belt134. Belt clip receptor232is located at the end of T-bar226that is opposite the end attached to attachment bar212. Belt clip receptor232is depicted as at least one aligned hole for reception of a clip, though other receptors are possible, such as a hook, slot, tab, or ring. A clip attached to belt134is inserted through and secured about belt clip receptor232for attachment of belt134. For removal, the clip of belt134is unfastened and removed from belt clip receptor232.

Now referring toFIG.10, belt squat attachment100is shown in a stowed position on support rack110. The storage is advantageous because it saves time for removal and reattachment of belt squat attachment100. Storage also reduces damage to belt squat attachment100that can be incurred during attachment or reattachment or risk to the user from improper reattachment. When belt squat attachment100is not needed for performing exercises, it is rotated from the resting position on the ground to a storage position against a vertical structure, such as a wall behind support rack110. While shown stored without load122, belt squat attachment100is configured to be stored with load122when desired. The storage position allows other exercises to be performed in the space within support rack110that belt squat attachment100previously occupied. Additionally, support rack110is available for attachment of other workout attachments while belt squat attachment100is still attached, allowing support rack110to maintain its utility as a multi-purpose exercise support structure.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention which is set forth in the following claims.