Exercise bar having sliding hand grips

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes an elongate bar having a medial portion and opposed ends disposed outwardly of the medial portion with a pair of hand grips mounted on the bar in spaced-apart relation and configured to slide along the length of the bar against a resistance force from a first exercise position to a second exercise position. A resistance member fixed to the bar and movably attached to at least one of the hand grips increases the resistance force as the hand grip slides along the bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. The resistance member includes inner and outer band attachment mounts spaced-apart along the length of the bar and an elastic band attached to and disposed between the band attachment mounts. A user performs push-up exercises from a prone position and barbell exercises from a supine position or a standing position.

1 . An exercise apparatus for performing anaerobic exercises comprising:
 an elongate bar having a medial portion and opposed ends disposed outwardly of the medial portion; and   a pair of hand grips mounted on the bar in spaced-apart relation, each of the hand grips being slidably mounted on the bar and configured to slide along the length of the bar against a resistance force from a first exercise position to a second exercise position.   
     
     
         2 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the hand grips is configured to slide inwardly along the length of bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. 
     
     
         3 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the hand grips is configured to slide outwardly along the length of bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. 
     
     
         4 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of hand grips is biased in a predetermined direction along the length of the bar. 
     
     
         5 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the pair of hand grips is biased outwardly along the length of the bar. 
     
     
         6 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a resistance member fixed to the bar and movably attached to at least one of the pair of hand grips for increasing the resistance force as the hand grip slides along the length of the bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the pair of hand grips is configured to slide inwardly along the length of bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. 
     
     
         8 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the pair of hand grips is configured to slide outwardly along the length of bar from the first exercise position to the second exercise position. 
     
     
         9 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the resistance member comprises an inner band attachment mount and an outer band attachment mount spaced-apart along the length of the bar and at least one elastic band attached to and disposed between the inner band attachment mount and the outer band attachment mount. 
     
     
         10 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the outer band attachment mount is fixedly attached to the bar and the inner and attachment mount is attached to the at least one of the hand grips such that inner band attachment mount slides with the hand grip along the length of the bar. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of cradles for receiving the opposed ends of the bar to thereby support the bar on a generally horizontal surface for performing a push-up exercise. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of cradles defines a trough for receiving one of the opposed ends of the bar and wherein at least one of the opposed ends of the bar is secured within the corresponding trough to thereby prevent rotation and slipping of the bar. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of stops disposed on the opposed ends of the bar outwardly of the pair of hand grips, the stops being fixedly attached to the bar to thereby prevent outward movement of each of the hand grips on the bar beyond the respective one of the stops. 
     
     
         14 . A method of performing a push-up exercise from a prone position comprising:
 positioning an exercise bar on a generally horizontal surface, the exercise bar comprising an elongate bar supported above the horizontal surface and a pair of hand grips mounted on the bar for sliding movement against a resistance force along the length of the bar;   gripping at least one of the hand grips;   sliding the at least one of the hand grips against the resistance force along the length of the bar from a first exercise position to a second exercise position; and   sliding the at least one of the hand grips along the length of the bar from the second exercise position back to the first exercise position.   
     
     
         15 . A method of performing a barbell exercise from a supine position or from a standing position comprising:
 holding an exercise bar above a generally horizontal surface, the exercise bar comprising an elongate bar and a pair of hand grips mounted on the bar for sliding movement against a resistance force along the length of the bar;   gripping at least one of the hand grips;   sliding the at least one of the hand grips against the resistance force along the length of the bar from a first exercise position to a second exercise position; and   sliding the at least one of the hand grips along the length of the bar from the second exercise position back to the first exercise position.