Total Body Exercise Device

Abstract

An exercise device having a bar adapted for being grasped intermediate opposed ends thereof, where a portion intermediate the opposed ends defines a longitudinal axis. An elastic member attached to the opposed ends exerts a force thereto during an exercise use of the bar, which force causes the bar to flex by an amount in the range of 2 degrees to 16 degrees. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, during non-use of the bar, the longitudinal axis of the end segments subtends the longitudinal axes of the intermediate portion by an acute angle of about 2 degrees to 8 degrees.

1 . An exercise bar comprising five symmetrically disposed and substantially equal length segments; 
 a center segment;    angled intermediate segments positioned at opposed ends of the center segment, which angled intermediate segments have a longitudinal axis that deviate from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle within a range of about 26 to 46 degrees;    end segments positioned at opposed ends of the angled intermediate segments, which end segments have a longitudinal axis that are approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis of the center segment;    an elastic member adapted to be secured to the one or both of the end segments; at least two weight members, at least one of each weight member being adapted to be selective positioned at a respective one of the end segments; and    a retaining member for selectively retaining the weight member on the end segments.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , where the retaining member comprises a spring clip forming a circular clamp, and adapted to be selectively secured about a distal end of the end segments, so as to retain a weight member on the end segment of said bar.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , where the end segments have a longitudinal axis that subtends the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acute angle within a range of about 0 degrees to plus or minus 8 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise bar of  claim 3 , where the end segments have a longitudinal axis that subtends the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acute angle within a range of about minus 2 degrees to minus 4 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the angled segments deviates from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle in a range of about 32 degrees to 40 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The exercise bar of  claim 5 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the angled segments deviate from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle of about 36 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein each the five segments are between 5 and 12 inches long.  
     
     
         8 . The exercise bar of  claim 7 , wherein each the five segments is about 8 inches long.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , further including flexible length coupling rings connected to the end segments for securing the elastic members to the end segments.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling rings are formed of a resilient material and have a thickness so as to flex in response to force exerted thereon by the elastic members.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the segments are formed of a given material adapted to flex as a result of force applied to the end segments during normal use of the exercise bar by a user, said flex being in the range of about 2 degrees to about 16 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise bar of  claim 11 , wherein the segments comprise a flexible hollow aluminum tube member, having about a one-inch outer diameter and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         13 . The exercise bar of  claim 11 , wherein the segments comprise a flexible hollow steel tube member, having about a one-inch outer diameter and a wall thickness of about 0.065 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The exercise bar of  claim 11 , wherein the given material comprises a plastic or other semi-flexible material.  
     
     
         15 . An exercise bar comprising five symmetrically disposed and substantially equal length segments; 
 a center segment;    angled intermediate segments positioned at opposed ends of the center segment, which angled intermediate segments have a longitudinal axis that deviate from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle within a range of about 26 to 46 degrees;    end segments positioned at opposed ends of the angled intermediate segments, which end segments have a longitudinal axis that intersects the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acute angle between the range of 0 and about 8 degrees; and    an elastic member adapted to be secured to the end segments so as to provide a force thereto during use of the exercise bar, said force causing the end segments of said bar to flex during normal use of the exercise bar by a user, said flex being in the range of about 2 degrees to about 16 degrees.    
     
     
         16 . The exercise bar of  claim 15 , where the end segments have a longitudinal axis that intersect the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acute angle within a range of about 2 degrees to 4 degrees, said acute angle being opposite in direction to the angular direction of the flex of said end segments when in use.  
     
     
         17 . The exercise bar of  claim 15 , wherein each the five segments are between 5 and 12 inches long.  
     
     
         18 . The exercise bar of  claim 17 , wherein each the five segments is about 8 inches long.  
     
     
         19 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the angled segments deviates from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle in a range of about 26 degrees to 36 degrees.  
     
     
         20 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , further including at least two weight members, at least one of each weight member being adapted to be selective positioned at a respective one of the end segments; and 
 a retaining member for selectively retaining the weight member on the end segments.