Exercise device

Abstract

A device or jack for lifting and holding a weight plate, the device comprising a top surface 15 having a weight plate receiving portion therein, a bottom surface 20, side walls 30, and end portions 40

Description

The present invention relates to an exercise device, specifically a device for use with loading and unloading of weight plates onto a bar. Weightlifting is a popular activity for people wishing to keep fit and build up their muscles. Having the correct posture when lifting weights is essential to prevent injury, as well as to perform the exercise correctly. A common form of weightlifting is using free weights, for example barbell weights. This style of weights has a bar for a user to hold, with weights at the ends of the bar. Usually, these weights are in the form of a weight plate and multiple plates can be increasingly added to each end of the bar until the required weight has been reached. Weight plates are usually slidably moved along the bar when altering the overall weight of the free weight, before being locked in place. In many circumstances, the user is required to partially lift the bar in order to facilitate the addition or removal of weight plates, for example, when the weight plates are of the same diameter, in order to provide clearance to allow the weight to slide onto, or from, the bar. Because a user is required to both lift one end of the bar and a slide a weight plate onto the bar at the same time, it is not always possible for a user to maintain correct posture when lifting the bar for this purpose, meaning they risk injuring themselves. A user may be able to enlist the help of another person in the vicinity, but this is not always possible, particularly when working out alone. Previous solutions to this problem have included weight jacks; however, these cumbersome devices are not always available in gyms, and are difficult to transport. Even with the help of weight jacks, a significant amount of effort is required to lift the weight onto the jack, which is undesirable, especially if the weight is too heavy for the user, and is being lightened accordingly. The present invention aims to provide an exercise device for loading and unloading weight plates onto a bar, wherein at least some of the aforementioned problems are addressed. Statements of Invention The present invention is defined in the accompanying independent claims to which reference is made. Preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a device for lifting and holding a weight plate on a weight bar, the device comprising; a top surface having a weight plate receiving portion therein; a bottom surface; side walls; and end portions between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the distance between respective ends of the top surface is greater than the distance between respective ends of the bottom surface. The device can support a weight plate to facilitate alteration of the weight on a weight bar, with only minimal effort from a user. Thus, when the device of the present invention is employed with a barbell, the weight plate can be raised from the ground, thereby creating a gap between adjacent weight plates and the ground. Once the gap has been created, it becomes easier for the user to add and / or remove further weight plates from the bar. Preferably, the weight plate receiving portion is substantially concave. The weight receiving portion may be substantially semi-circular in profile or another shape that creates a recess or concave section in which the weight can be received when the device is used. This allows for the weight receiving portion to support most weight plates, which are typically circular in profile, but can have other shapes such as dodecagon. Thus, the weight receiving portion is also capable of supporting non-circular weight plates. It is advantageous that at least one of the side walls comprises at least one recess. These recesses may be used as handles, while also reducing the amount of material required to make each device. The end portions may comprise a gripping surface and, preferably, the gripping surface comprises teeth, protrusions, debossed sections or a roughen surface. Having a gripping surface provides a more secure grip on the floor when in use, especially when loaded with a weight plate. This is beneficial to keep the device in place when the end portions contact the floor when in use. The device may comprise a polymer. Preferably, the polymer is a thermoplastic, and, more preferably, the plastics material may comprise a polyester. Even more preferably, the polyester may comprise polylactic acid, which may be produced from corn starch. Preferably, the device comprises at least one magnet. The magnet may be situated such that two devices can be magnetically attracted and held together. Alternatively, or in addition, the device may be magnetically attracted to metal items such as a squat rack, thereby allowing the device to be stored off the ground and so reducing the risk of the device becoming a trip hazard. Furthermore, the magnet of one device may be attracted to the magnet of a second device, allowing the devices to be held together. This keeps two devices together which helps with both storage and use, as the device may be used in pairs. Two devices being held together has the further advantage of being easier to transport as only one of the pair of magnetically attracted devices needs to be grasped by a user. The device may comprise labels indicating the respective north and south poles of the magnets within the device. This will aid pairing up multiple devices. The device may be between 190mm and 230mm in length, measured between the respective ends of the top surface. Preferably, the device may be between 195mm and 225mm in length. Even more preferably, the device may be between 200mm and 220 mm in length. The device may be between 25mm and 50mm in width. More preferably, the device may be between 30mm and 45 mm in width and it may be between 35 mm and 40 mm. The device may be between 25 mm and 50 mm in height, and it may be preferably that device is between 30mm and 45 mm in height or between 35 mm and 40 mm in height. The device is compact and so is easily transportable, as well as fitting inside the average gym bag. Additionally, such a height provides sufficient clearance underneath a supported weight plate to allow further weight plates to be readily added and / or removed. The device may be at least in part produced by additive manufacturing. As such, the device may be three-dimensionally printed, allowing for the device to be formed from one major part which improves the strength of the device. This method of manufacture advantageously reduces waste. . Alternatively, the device may be at least in part produced by injection moulding or by extrusion. Beneficially, the device can also be used as a stand for a free weight, particularly if the device is made wider. A kit may be provided comprising at least two devices as described herein. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of lifting and holding a weight plate on a weight bar, the method comprising the steps of; engaging the weight plate with the weight plate receiving portion of the device such that at least part of one end portion of the device is in contact with the ground; rotating the weight plate and weight bar until the bottom surface of the device is in contact with the ground, thereby lifting the weight plate from the ground. The method of the present invention makes it easier to remove a weight plate from a barbell, thereby reducing the strain on a user. Having a first weight plate of one end raised from the ground puts the bar on an angle, thus lifting the subsequent weight plates on the same end from the ground. Once the clearance has been established, the user can more easily slide a weight plate from that end of the barbell without having to lift the bar at the same time. The method may also include the further step of rotating the weight plate and weight bar until an end portion of the device is in contact with the ground, such that the weight plate can be rolled off and away from the device. List of Figures ..............................................................................................w—'1......................................... Figure lisa perspective view of the exercise device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the exercise device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the exercise device of Figures 1 and 2; and Figures 4a to 4d are schematic diagrams showing the exercise device of Figures 1 to 3 in use according to one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the exercise device 100 has a top surface 10 comprising a weight receiving portion 15, a bottom surface 20, opposing the top surface 10, side walls, or faces, 30, and two end portions 40. The end portions 40 connect the respective ends of the top surface 10 and of the bottom surface 20. The weight receiving portion 15 is substantially concave and extends from the top surface to a position, at its lowest point, approximately halfway down the height of the device. The distance between the end portions 40 at the top surface 10 (A-B), is greater than the distance between end portions at the bottom surface (A’-B’). Due to this difference in length, end portions 40 are substantially angled to create a shape that is generally an isosceles trapezium, with the shorted edge being the bottom surface 20. The angled surfaces of the end portions 40 comprise gripping teeth 45. A magnet 50 is provided within the device, with part of the magnet 50 being adjacent the central part of the concave weight receiving section 15. The magnet 50 extends to a position adjacent the bottom surface 20. The side walls 30 are provided with recesses 35 therein. The recesses reduce the weight of the device and provides a grippable section that can be used as a handle. Figures 4a to 4d show a schematic of steps taken when using the exercise device. In use, weight bar WB holding a first weight plate WP1 is aligned with the device 100 such that the weight plate is in substantially the same plane as the weight receiving portion 15, as shown by line L of Figure 4a. The weight bar WB and first weight plate WP1 are rotated together in the direction of the device, shown by arrow X. When the first weight plate WP1 contacts the device 100, the device tilts, due to its shape, such that a first end portion 40 contacts the floor, and the weight receiving portion 15 contacts the first weight plate WP1. Thus, the device is a position where a first end portion is adjacent the ground and the other end portion is raised away from the ground. Gripping teeth 45 of the end portion 30 contact the ground and these teeth assist with keeping the first end portion 40a in place on the floor, whilst in this raised position.. Further rotation of the weight bar WB and first weight plate WP1 in the same direction, as shown by arrow X of Figure 4b causes the device 100 to tilt backwards, such that bottom surface 20 contacts the floor once more, and the first weight plate WP1 is received within the weight receiving portion 15, as shown in Figure 4c. At this point, the weight bar WB and first weight plate WP1 are lifted off the floor as a result of the device being positioned between the weight plate WP1 and the floor. With the clearance or gap introduced between the floor and the weight plate WP1, a second weight plate WP2 may then be added, as shown in Figure 4c. Once the weight bar WB holds the desired number of weight plates, the weight bar WB and weight plates WP1, WP2 are further rotated in the same direction as before , such that a second end portion 40b of the device contacts the floor, with the first end portion 40a being raised from the floor. This allows the weight plates WP1, WP2 to be rolled off the device 100 and back onto the floor. It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the weight bar WB and weight plates WP1, WP2 may be rotated in the opposite direction - towards the first end portion 40b - so that the first end portion 40a is again in contact with the floor, to allow the weight to be rolled off the device 100. Where the weight plate is a ferromagnetic metal, such as cast iron, the magnet 50 can be used to hold the device more securely around the weight plate when the weight plate is received within the weigh receiving portion 15. Additionally, one device can be attracted to a magnet of a further device, to allow the two devices to be temporarily connected to one another. Alternatively, or in addition, the magnet 50 of the device allows the device to be held on other magnetic surfaces or apparatus, such as the framework of gym equipment. The method of the present invention causes the highest part of the device to lower, such that rotational movement of the weight plate, for example rolling, causes the weight plate to contact the weight receiving portion, and be lifted, or raised, from the ground, thereby creating clearance between the weight plate and the floor in order to readily remove the weight plate from the bar. In this way, the user does not need to lift the end of the barbell from the ground whilst adding or removing further weights. It will be appreciated that other shapes may be employed in the present invention, such as a trapezium or a parallelogram. 5 Similarly, the magnet, if present, may be provided on the side of the device or on at least one end portion. As an alternative to a single magnet being present in the device two or more magnets may be provided. Whilst the device of the present invention can be used at one end of a barbell to raise adjacent 10 plates from the floor, it will be understood that one might wish to support both ends of a barbell on devices of the present invention at the same time. By employing two of the devices at the same time, the barbell is less likely to move. 05 03 24

Claims

1. A device for lifting and holding a weight plate on a weight bar, the device comprising;a concavely curved top surface having a weight plate receiving and supporting5 portion therein;a bottom surface;side walls; andend portions between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the distancebetween respective ends of the top surface is greater than the distance between10 respective ends of the bottom surface, and wherein the end portions comprise agripping surface.

2. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the side walls comprises at least one recess.

153. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device comprises polylactic acid.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises at least one20 magnet.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is at least in part produced by additive manufacturing.25 6. A kit comprising at least two devices according to any preceding claim.

7. A method of lifting and holding a weight plate on a weight bar using the device according to any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of;engaging the weight plate with the weight plate receiving portion of the device30 such that the end portion of the device is in contact with the ground;rotating the weight plate until the bottom surface of the device is in contact with the ground, thereby lifting the weight plate from the ground.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein, once the weight plate is raised from the ground, an adjacent weight plate is added to the bar or removed from the bar.xt CMLO

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