Weightlifting aid

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a method of a weightlifting aid including: a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of a user; a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user's chest; in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbell supporting board elements used to form the stack.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A weightlifting aid including:
 a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of a user;   a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and   a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user's chest;   in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbell supporting board elements used to form the stack, wherein the stack height when all of the board elements are interconnected is greater than 5 cm.   
     
     
         13 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the barbell supporting board elements include at least one projection and/or at least one recess which is sized to accept a projection of another barbell supporting board element, wherein barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnected by securing the projection of one board element in the recess of an adjacent board element. 
     
     
         14 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the barbell supporting board elements include a fabric fastener material in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of adjacent board elements interlock to provide a releasable interconnection. 
     
     
         15 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which a first barbell supporting board element and the base region each include a fabric fastener material, in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of the first board element and the base region interlock to provide a releasable connection. 
     
     
         16 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which each board element is at least 5 cm thick. 
     
     
         17 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  including at least four board elements. 
     
     
         18 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the board elements are formed from foam. 
     
     
         19 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the chest contacting arrangement is a harness. 
     
     
         20 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 19  in which the harness is a chest strap. 
     
     
         21 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the chest contacting arrangement is an item of clothing for the upper body. 
     
     
         22 . A method of weightlifting by a person including the steps of:
 i) providing a weightlifting aid according to  claim 12 ;   ii) attaching the weightlifting aid to the chest area of the person;   iii) forming a stack of a desired number of board elements on the weightlifting aid;   iv) assuming a recumbent weightlifting position;   v) performing a weightlifting exercise with a barbell; and optionally,   vi) adjusting the number of board elements in the stack and repeating step v).   
     
     
         23 . A weightlifting aid according to  claim 12  in which the stack height when all of the board elements are interconnected is greater than 10 cm. 
     
     
         24 . A weightlifting aid including:
 a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of the user;   a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and   a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user's chest, in which the barbell supporting board elements include at least one projection and/or at least recess which is sized to accept a projection of another barbell supporting board element;   in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable by securing the projection of one board element in the recess of an adjacent board element so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbells supporting board elements used to form the stack.   
     
     
         25 . A method of weightlifting by a person including the steps of:
 i) providing a weightlifting aid according to  claim 24 ;   ii) attaching the weightlifting aid to the chest area of the person;   iii) forming a stack of a desired number of board elements on the weightlifting aid;   iv) assuming a recumbent weightlifting position;   v) performing a weightlifting exercise with a barbell; and optionally,   vi) adjusting the number of board elements in the stack and repeating step v).