Strength training system and method of using same

Abstract

An exercise system having a pair of stationary support members, each having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion being at an acute angle relative to the lower portion. Some embodiments have a pair of rotatable support members configured to rotate between a first position wherein the first rotatable support member is generally adjacent to the upper portion of the stationary support members and a second position wherein the first rotatable support member is generally adjacent to the lower portion of the stationary support members. Some embodiments have a first and a second carriage member translatable along at least a portion of the rotatable support members and a barbell coupled with the first and second carriage members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise system comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a base portion; 
 a first shaft member coupled with the base portion; 
 a second shaft member coupled with the base portion; 
 a first rotatable support member configured to rotate about the first shaft member between at least a locked position and a free position; and 
 a second rotatable support member configured to rotate about a second shaft member between at least a locked position and a free position; 
   a barbell configured to support one or more weights, the barbell being movable along at least a portion of a length of the first and second rotatable support members when the first and second rotatable support members are each in the free position;   a locking element configured to prevent the barbell from moving relative to the first and second rotatable support members when the first and second rotatable support members are in the locked position;   wherein:
 when the first and second rotatable support members are in the locked position, the exercise system is configured such that rotating the first and second rotatable support members away from the locked position to the free position disengages the locking element so that the barbell is movable along at least a portion of the length of the first and second rotatable support members. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotatable support members are coupled together so that the first and second rotatable support members rotate simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , comprising a bracket extending from the first rotatable support member to the second rotatable support member and coupling a portion of the first and second rotatable support members together. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first stationary support member coupled with the base having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion of the first stationary support member being at an angle relative to the lower portion of the first stationary support member; and   a second stationary support member coupled with the base having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion of the second stationary support member being at an angle relative to the lower portion of the second stationary support member;   wherein, when the first and second rotatable support members are positioned in contact with the upper portions of the first and second stationary support members when the first and second rotatable support members are in the locked position.   
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second stationary support members have a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots being configured to receive a portion of the locking element when the first and second rotatable support members are in the locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second rotatable support members are made from tubing;   the exercise system comprises a first carriage member that is positioned in an inside area inside the tubing of the first rotatable support member and is movable along the length of the first rotatable support member; and   the exercise system comprises a second carriage member that is positioned in an inside area inside the tubing of the second rotatable support member and is movable along the length of the second rotatable support member.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second carriage members each comprise a plurality of wheels configured to contact an inside surface of the first and second rotatable support members, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second carriage members each comprise sixteen wheels. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking element comprises a first latching element coupled with the first carriage member and configured to engage with one of a plurality of slots formed in a first stationary support member when the first rotatable support member is in the locked position; and   the locking element comprises a second latching element coupled with the second carriage member and configured to engage with one of a plurality of slots formed in a second stationary support member when the second rotatable support member is in the locked position.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , comprising first and second hand grips supported by the barbell, the first and second hand grips being rotatable and translatable relative to the barbell. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 10 , comprising a selectively clampable limiting element supportable by the barbell. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise system comprising:
 a base support frame;   a first rotatable member configured to rotate about a first shaft between a first position and a second position;   a second rotatable member configured to rotate about a second shaft between a first position and a second position;   a rigid connecting member extending from the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member configured to rigidly couple a portion of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member so that the first and second rotatable members rotate simultaneously;   a first carriage member translatable along at least a portion of an inside surface of the first rotatable member;   a second carriage member translatable along at least a portion of an inside surface of the second rotatable member; and   a barbell coupled with the first and second carriage members such that, as the first and second carriage members translate relative to the first and second rotatable members, the barbell is configured to translate relative to the first and second rotatable members;   wherein:
 the first carriage member has a plurality of outwardly facing wheels that are each configured to roll against the inside surface of the first rotatable member; 
 the second carriage member has a plurality of outwardly facing wheels that are each configured to roll against the inside surface of the second rotatable member; and 
 the barbell is configured to support a plurality of weights. 
   
     
     
         13 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second shafts are supported by the base support frame. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second carriage members each comprise four planar surfaces, a wheel extends beyond each of the four planar surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second carriage members each comprise sixteen wheels configured to contact an inside surface of the first and second rotatable support members, respectively.