Flexible resistance bands are common exercise equipment in which a user performs exercises by pulling against the resistance of the bands. Typical accessories for use with such resistance bands usually only work with a certain type or brand of resistance band.
It is an object of the current disclosure to provide an exercise bar for use with resistance bands that allows for use with many different types of such resistance bands, may provide a smooth range of motion during the various exercises, may be easy and safe to use with multiple types of resistance bands and/or may be less prone to damage.
In an aspect, an exercise-bar is provided for use with flexible resistance bands (or other similar forms of exercise bands). The exercise-bar includes a rigid elongated bar having first and second opposing axial ends; and a pair of rotating resistance band sheaves respectively installed at the first and second opposing axial ends. Each band sheave includes: (a) a rotor secured for free rotation to an axial end of the rigid elongated bar, the rotor including a band-support portion extending axially out from the axial end of the rigid elongated bar; (b) a band-collar carried on the band-support portion of the rotor and having an axial width to accommodate at least a width of a flexible resistance band thereabout; and (c) a slotted cover shell carried on the rotor. The slotted cover shell includes an open axial end, a semi-circumferential cover portion covering a corresponding semi-circumferential portion of the band-collar and an axial slot extending into an axial end of the semi-circumferential cover portion and extending along at least the axial width of the band-collar. The slotted cover shell's semi-circumferential cover portion is radially spaced from the band-collar by a radial distance to accommodate at least the thickness of the flexible resistance band therebetween, and the slotted cover shell's axial slot has a circumferential width to accommodate at least twice the thickness of the flexible resistance band therebetween.
In a more detailed embodiment, the band-collar of each rotating resistance band sheave includes a band-retention flange extending radially outward from an axial outer end thereof. In a further detailed embodiment, the slotted cover shell of each rotating resistance band sheave includes a bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion approximate the open axial end. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion of each rotating resistance band sheave is formed from a rubber or a rubber-like material.
Alternatively, or in addition, the slotted cover shell of each rotating resistance band sheave is bell-shaped, such that a crown of the bell-shaped slotted cover shell is positioned approximate the axial end of the rigid elongated bar and a mouth of the bell-shaped slotted cover shell is positioned distal from the axial end of the rigid elongated bar and provides the open axial end of the slotted cover shell.
Alternatively, or in addition, the rigid elongated bar is a hollow aluminum rod, where the rotor of each band sheave includes a shaft secured for free rotation to an axial end of the hollow aluminum rod by a linear shaft bearing.
Alternatively, or in addition, the slotted cover shell of each rotating resistance band sheave includes a rubber or a rubberized bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion approximate the open axial end.
In another aspect of the current disclosure, a resistance band sheave for attachment to an exercise accessory (such as, but not limited to, an exercise bar) is provided that includes: a rotor adapted to be secured for rotation to an exercise accessory, the rotor including an axially extending band-support portion; a band-collar carried on the band-support portion of the rotor and having an axial width to accommodate at least a width of a flexible resistance band thereabout; and a slotted cover shell carried on the rotor, including an open axial end and a semi-circumferential cover portion covering a corresponding semi-circumferential portion of the band-collar and an axial slot extending into an axial end of the semi-circumferential cover portion and extending along at least the axial width of the band-collar. The slotted cover shell semi-circumferential cover portion is radially spaced from the band-collar by a radial distance to accommodate at least the thickness of the flexible resistance band therebetween; and the slotted cover shell axial slot having a circumferential width to accommodate at least twice the thickness of the flexible resistance band therebetween.
In a detailed embodiment, the band-collar includes a band-retention flange extending radially outward from an axial outer end thereof. In a further detailed embodiment, the slotted cover shell includes a bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion approximate the open axial end. In yet further detailed embodiment, the bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion is formed from a rubber or a rubber-like material.
Alternatively, or in addition, the slotted cover shell is bell-shaped, where a crown of the bell-shaped slotted cover shell is adapted to be positioned approximate the exercise accessory; and a mouth of the bell-shaped slotted cover shell is positioned distal from the exercise accessory and provides the open axial end of the slotted cover shell.
Alternatively, or in addition, the rotor of each band sheave includes a shaft adapted to be secured for free rotation to the exercise accessory by a linear shaft bearing.
Alternatively, or in addition, the slotted cover shell is a rubber or a rubberized bumper flange extending radially outwardly from the semi-circumferential cover portion approximate the open axial end.
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In an embodiment the rotor shaft 26, collar 34 and cover portion 46 are formed from steel or some other sufficiently rigid and rugged material or combination of materials. The bumper flange 50 may be molded to or bonded to (or attached in some other fashion to) the outer circumferential surface of the cover portion 46.
The exemplary exercise-bar 10 is designed to work with commonly available resistance bands and does not require the user to purchase any specific or specialized resistance bands. To install, as shown in
When a pair of resistance bands 12 are installed as shown in
The exemplary rotating resistance band sheaves 16 are not limited for use with exercise bars. For example, such resistance band sheaves 16 may be adapted for use with other types of exercise apparatuses, systems and equipment, such as singular handles, foot-press structures, and so forth.
Having described the invention with reference to a primary exemplary embodiment of the exercise-bar 10 and associated resistance band sheaves 16, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to this primary embodiment, as modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Likewise, the claims are drafted with the intention of not being limited to the embodiment(s) disclosed herein. It is also intended that the appended claims define the scope of the invention using (as much as possible) plain and customary terminology, and that specific structures or other limitations are not intended to be read from the specification into the meaning of any of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any of the stated objects or advantages discussed herein to fall within the scope of any appended claims, as such stated objects and advantages are exemplary in nature and others may exist that have not been expressly disclosed.
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TRX Bandit, 222.trxtraining.com/products/bandit, downloaded Mar. 24, 2023. |