Gripping apparatus for an exercise bar

Abstract

A gripping apparatus for an exercise bar grip surface. The apparatus including an elongate flexible strap and a tubular member. The strap including a retention member for removeably securing to a wrist of a user. The strap including an extension portion, where the extension portion extends away from the retention member. The tubular member mounts on the exercise bar grip surface. The tubular member having a longitudinal length, wherein the tubular member is open at opposed ends of the longitudinal length. The tubular member having an inner passage defined by at least one wall. The tubular member including a cut passing through the wall and extending across the longitudinal length. A portion of the strap is secured to the tubular member, whereby an amount of the extension portion between the retention member and the tubular member is selectively adjustable.

1  A gripping apparatus for an exercise bar grip surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a tubular member including a thickness and a longitudinal length, the thickness defined by the distance between an outer surface of the tubular member and an inner surface of the tubular member, the inner surface having an inner tubular width suitable for substantially surrounding the exercise bar grip surface, wherein a cut extends across the entire longitudinal length for removeably securing the member to the exercise bar grip surface, wherein the cut includes opposed inner walls extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein the distance between the opposed walls is substantially less than the inner tubular width, wherein the tubular member is formed of an elastic material such that the cut can be forced apart from a closed position to an open position by a user in order to removeably secure the tubular member on the exercise bar, the material being biased to return the cut to the closed position when no longer forced apart, wherein at least one strap aperture extends into the thickness, the at least one strap aperture being disposed remote from the cut.   
   
   
       2 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member has a generally circular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal length. 
   
   
       3 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member has a non-circular shape perpendicular to the longitudinal length. 
   
   
       4 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes more than one tubular layer, wherein upon installation on the exercise bar an inner surface of a first layer engages the exercise bar, wherein at least one second layer is removeably secured to and substantially surrounds the first layer. 
   
   
       5 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elongate flexible strap, the strap extending into the strap aperture.   
   
   
       6 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the strap includes a retention member for securing to a wrist of the user. 
   
   
       7 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a size of the retention member is adjustable for customizing to a user. 
   
   
       8 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the strap position is adjustable relative to the tubular member, wherein a distance between the tubular member and the retention member is selectively adjustable. 
   
   
       9 . A gripping apparatus for an exercise bar grip surface, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate flexible strap, the strap including a retention member for removeably securing to a wrist of a user, the strap including an extension portion, the extension portion extending away from the retention member; and   a tubular member for mounting on the exercise bar grip surface, the tubular member having a longitudinal length, wherein the tubular member is open at opposed ends of the longitudinal length, the tubular member having an inner passage defined by at least one wall, the tubular member including a cut passing through the wall and extending across the longitudinal length, wherein a portion of the strap is secured to the tubular member, whereby an amount of the extension portion between the retention member and the tubular member is selectively adjustable.   
   
   
       10 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the retention member includes a loop for receiving the wrist. 
   
   
       11 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein retention member includes an adjustable wrist band for snuggly securing to the wrist. 
   
   
       12 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member includes a strap aperture, wherein at least a portion of the strap extension portion passes through the strap aperture. 
   
   
       13 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the cut forms a gap in the tubular member, wherein opposed inner walls of the tubular member form the gap, the opposed inner walls being spaced apart from one another. 
   
   
       14 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the tubular member inner passage includes a width sized for mounting on the exercise bar, the distance between opposed walls being substantially smaller than the inner passage width. 
   
   
       15 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member has a generally circular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal length. 
   
   
       16 . The gripping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member includes an outer surface forming a first cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal length, the tubular member including an inner surface having a second cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal length, wherein the first and second cross-sectional shapes are substantially different shapes. 
   
   
       17 . A method of performing exercise using a gripping apparatus on an exercise bar grip surface, the method comprising:
 placing a first end of an elongate strap on a wrist, the strap extending from the first end to an opposed second end, the strap adjustably secured to a tubular member disposed between the first and second ends, the tubular member having a longitudinal length, wherein the tubular member is open at opposed ends of the longitudinal length, the tubular member having an inner passage defined by at least one wall, the tubular member including a cut passing through the wall and extending across the longitudinal length, wherein the strap passes through an aperture in the at least one wall;   applying the tubular member to the exercise bar by passing a portion of the exercise bar through the cut, thereby placing the exercise bar portion substantially inside the tubular member inner passage;   wrapping a first extension portion of the strap around an outer portion of the tubular member; and   gripping the wrapped first extension portion while moving the exercise bar.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 adjusting the position of the tubular member with respect to the strap by sliding the strap through the tubular member aperture.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 securing a second extension portion of the strap to a wrist band, the wrist band fixedly secured to the strap first end, the second extension portion being disposed along the strap length closer to the second end.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 securing the strap second end to a central portion of the wrist disposed between the first end and the tubular member.