Deadlift bar apparatus and method

Abstract

A deadlift device includes a cylindrical shaft attached to a base with a selectable weight. Horizontal channels in the shaft have a main horizontal through hole with a downwardly extending keyhole slot extension with beveled edges, so that portions of one or more resistance bands may be routed through the keyhole slots and used with minimal wear. A removable dual handle with right and left hand grip portions may be attached at any of the channels. An alternative removable short horizontal bar may be inserted at at any of the channels to permit kettlebell swing exercises. The device may be used effectively with a range of lift and walking exercises using the deadlift device with added weights and/or one or more resistance bands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deadlift device comprising
 a first base,   a vertically-oriented shaft comprising
 a bottom end portion connected to the base, 
 a top end portion comprising a top edge, and 
 a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, and 
 a first horizontal slot configured to retain a portion of a resistance band; and 
   a removable lift handle assembly comprising
 a locking element, and 
 a lift handle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The deadlift device of  claim 1  wherein the lift handle further comprises
 a sleeve configured to slide over the vertically-oriented shaft, the sleeve having
 a first hole, and 
 a second hole, diametrically-opposed to the first hole, such that the locking pin or bolt is partially insertable through the first hole, through any one of the plurality of horizontal channels, and through the second hole in order to secure the sleeve to the vertically-oriented shaft, and 
 
 a left side handle attached to the sleeve, and 
 a right side handle attached to the sleeve. 
 
     
     
         3 . The deadlift device of  claim 2  wherein the left side handle further comprises a grip portion. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The deadlift device of  claim 2  wherein the locking element further comprises a sleeve locking pin. 
     
     
         6 . The deadlift device of  claim 1  wherein
 each horizontal channel comprises a beveled edge. 
 
     
     
         7 . The deadlift device of  claim 1  further comprising
 an elongated lift bar having a length of about 10 inches and a circular cross section such that the elongated lift bar is configured to be inserted through any of the horizontally channels. 
 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The deadlift device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of detachable bases of different weights, each of the plurality of detachable bases configured to be attached to the vertically-oriented shaft. 
     
     
         11 . A deadlift system comprising
 a deadlift device comprising
 a base, 
 a vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft comprising
 a bottom end portion connected to the base, 
 a top end portion comprising a top edge, 
 an external diameter, and 
 a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, 
 a first horizontal slot configured to retain a portion of a resistance band; and 
 
 a removable lift bar assembly comprising
 a locking element, and 
 a lift handle; and 
 
 a first resistance band. 
   
     
     
         9 . The deadlift device of  claim 11  wherein the lift handle further comprises
 a sleeve configured to slide over the vertically-oriented shaft, the sleeve having
 a first hole, and 
 a second hole, diametrically-opposed to the first hole, such that the locking pin or bolt is partially insertable through the first hole, through any one of the plurality of horizontal channels, and through the second hole in order to secure the sleeve to the vertically-oriented shaft, and 
 
 a left side handle attached to the sleeve, and 
 a right side handle attached to the sleeve. 
 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The deadlift system of  claim 11  further comprising a set of resistance bands having a range of resistance. 
     
     
         15 . A method of performing deadlift exercises with resistance,
 the method comprising providing a deadlift device comprising
 a base, 
 a vertically-oriented cylindrical shaft comprising
 a bottom end portion connected to the base, 
 a top end portion comprising a top edge, 
 an external diameter, and 
 a plurality of horizontal channels located between the top end and the bottom end, 
 a first horizontal slot configured to retain a portion of a resistance band; and 
 
 a removable lift bar assembly comprising
 a locking element, and 
 a lift handle; 
 
   selecting a resistance; and   performing one or more exercises with the handle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising
 providing a removable elongated lift bar for the deadlift device, the lift bar comprising a spring pin; 
 inserting the elongated lift bar into a channel until the spring pin engages a spring pin groove provided in the channel; and 
 performing one or more exercises with the lift bar. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein selecting a resistance further comprises
 providing a plurality of detachable bases of different weights; 
 selecting one of the plurality of detachable bases; and 
 attaching the selected one of the plurality of detachable bases to the vertically-oriented shaft. 
 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein selecting a resistance further comprises
 routing a first resistance band through first horizontal slot. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising
 teaching proper deadlift exercise techniques by using the deadlift device with a resistance band rather than added weight. 
 
     
     
         21 . The deadlift device of  claim 1  wherein the first base further comprises
 an adjustable weight stack base; and 
 a weight selection element. 
 
     
     
         22 . The deadlift system of  claim 11  further comprising
 an elongated lift bar having a length of about 10 inches and a circular cross section with a diameter matched to the main horizontally-oriented cylindrical through hole diameters; such that the elongated lift bar is configured to be inserted through any of the horizontally-oriented cylindrical through holes. 
 
     
     
         23 . The deadlift system of  claim 11  wherein the base further comprises
 an adjustable weight stack base; and 
 a weight selection element.