Exercise apparatus including weight bar
View Patent ↗An apparatus is provided for use in resistance training. The apparatus may include a bar with pulley hubs on its ends. The apparatus may further include two slings, each including connectors and a rigid, straight or arc-shaped bar. The slings may be suspended from the pulley hubs and support an elastic band, which may provide resistance during exercise. A footplate may also be provided to hold part of the band to the floor during use.
1. An apparatus for use in resistance training, comprising:
an elongated bar;
a first pulley hub disposed near a first end of the bar;
a second pulley hub disposed near a second end of the bar, the second end being opposed to the first end;
two slings, each sling comprising an arm and two connectors extending from a respective end of the arm and terminating in a loop such that, for each sling, the two loops can be retained by one of the pulley hubs in a manner such that the sling is capable of supporting a resistance band during resistance exercise using the bar.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each pulley hub is affixed to the bar in a manner preventing movement of the pulley hub relative to the bar.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each pulley hub is secured to the bar in a manner substantially preventing the pulley hub from moving lengthwise relative to the bar while allowing free rotation of the hub around the bar.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each arm is a bar having two ends, each end having a hole passing through the bar in a transverse direction.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each arm is substantially straight.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each arm is in the shape of an arc.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each connector is a flexible cord.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each connector is a flexible cord having its ends knotted together forming a bight in the cord such that the bight can pass through one of the holes in one of the arms but the knot cannot.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising an elastic resistance band.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , comprising a footplate, the footplate having an upper side and a lower side opposed to the upper side, the lower side having one or more channels for retaining a resistance band.