Bench Press Assembly

Abstract

A safety apparatus for a bench press.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus that facilitates the safety of a person lifting weights on a bench press assembly.[0003]Exercise is responsible for vast numbers of injuries annually. The bench press for example, which involves a person lifting weight on a barbell while lying prone on a bench, is an exercise notorious for its potential to cause serious and even fatal injuries. A conventional bench press includes a bench and a set of upright supports that hold a weighted barbell in an upright position. A user lies down on the bench, lifts the barbell off the supports, lowers the barbell to touch the chest, then pushes it back up until the arms are straight, and repeats the process for the duration of the exercise routine. At the end of the repetitions, the user puts the barbell back on the racks. If, at any time during this exercise, the barbell slips from the person's ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Exercise is responsible for vast numbers of injuries annually.

The bench press for example, which involves a person lifting weight on a barbell while lying prone on a bench, is an exercise notorious for its potential to cause serious and even fatal injuries.

If, at any time during this exercise, the barbell slips from the person's grasp or the user otherwise loses control of the barbell, it may fall on the user's face, neck, chest, or abdomen, resulting in serious bodily injuries including even asphyxiation and death.

Injury may result even when a person maintains a grip on the barbell but can no longer raise the weight from the person's chest.

Thus, inevitably, regular bench pressing will result in episodes when a person is stuck with a barbell on their chest because an attempt to increase performance failed.

However, a spotter is not always available to the many people who, for one reason or another, bench press alone at home or at a time when a spotter is not immediately available.

Moreover, bench pressing entails significant risks even using spotters, who may not be paying sufficient attention or who may simply not be able to react quickly enough if a barbell is dropped.

This is plainly hazardous, especially when attempting one repetition with maximum weight.

This device, however, still presents safety risks as the barbell may drop on the lifter's abdomen or ribs if the lifter misses the support hooks.

While this device removes the weight from the lifter's chest, it utilizes cables that increase setup time and can cause increased or decreased resistance due to contact with the barbell.

This device, however, is of little use in the event that the lifter inadvertently drops the barbell on the lifter's face, neck, etc.

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