Bench Press Assembly

Abstract

A safety apparatus for a bench press.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a vertical support selectively positionable adjacent a bench press, and a horizontal support;   (b) an elongate faceguard member having an upper horizontal segment attached to the vertical support and a dower vertical segment attached to the horizontal support; and   (c) a chestguard member slidably engaged with the faceguard member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a strut attached to the chestguard member for vertical adjustment of the chestguard member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the strut includes a plurality of vertically arranged apertures for alignment with a corresponding hole in a sleeve into which said strut may be selectively inserted. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  including an elongate brace member having opposed said sleeves at each respective end of the brace member, each sleeve sized to enclose a respective strut of opposed instances of said apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  where the brace member is shaped to extend beneath the bench of a bench press to which the apparatus is positioned adjacent. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the base member is hollow. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  where the base member includes a plurality of horizontally arranged apertures for alignment with a corresponding hole in a base support of a bench press, and about which the hollow base member may slide. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the chest guard includes a stop member at its distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the chestguard and the faceguard are arranged to prevent a dropped barbell from falling between the chestguard and the faceguard. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  where the faceguard has a cylindrical profile and the chest guard forms an aperture engaged around the cylindrical profile. 
     
     
         11 . In combination with a bench press having vertical supports to support a barbell at respective ends and a bench extending laterally away from the supports, a safety assembly comprising:
 (a) a faceguard proximate the vertical support arms, the faceguard comprising opposed elongate L-shaped members, together presenting a horizontal platform together capable of arresting the downward movement of a barbell; and   (b) a chestguard vertically slidable along the faceguard, the chestguard comprising opposed arms together capable of arresting the downward movement of the barbell at a position lower than the respective platforms of the faceguard.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  including respective struts attached to the arms of the chestguard member for vertical adjustment of the chestguard member. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  where each strut includes a plurality of vertically arranged apertures for alignment with a corresponding hole in a sleeve into which said strut may be selectively inserted. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  including an elongate brace member having opposed said sleeves at each respective end of the brace member, each sleeve sized to fit a respective strut. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  where the brace member is shaped to extend beneath the bench of the bench press. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 11  including respective hollow base members, each supporting a respective side of the faceguard and a respective side of the chestguard. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16  where the hollow base members each enclose a respective floor support of the bench press, and each respective base member includes a plurality of horizontally arranged apertures for alignment with any corresponding hole in the enclosed floor support. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11  where the chest guard includes a stop at its distal end. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 11  where the chestguard and the faceguard are arranged to prevent a dropped barbell from falling between the chestguard and the faceguard. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19  where the L-shaped members each have a cylindrical profile and the opposed arms of the chest guard each form an aperture engaged around the cylindrical profile of a respective L-shaped member.