Bar-bell design with rotatable hand grips

Abstract

A weight lifting apparatus is provided and includes a pair of weight supports, a pair of handle assemblies coupled to the pair of weight supports, and a central bar interposed between each handle assembly of the pair of handle assemblies. The central bar is coupled to each handle assembly. Each handle assembly includes a handle housing, a grip that is rotatably supported within the handle housing, and a ratchet pawl. The ratchet pawl is selectively manipulatable from a first position that inhibits rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing to a second position that permits rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle assembly for use with a weight lifting apparatus, comprising:
 a handle housing defining a pair of housing half-sections, each of the pair of housing half-sections defining an arcuate first surface and a planar second surface disposed opposite to the arcuate first surface;   a grip rotatably supported within the handle housing; and   a ratchet pawl slidably disposed within a portion of the grip, the ratchet pawl selectively manipulatable from a first position that inhibits rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing to a second position that permits rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing.   
     
     
         2 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the planar second surface defines a counterbore therein, an inner surface of the counterbore defining a plurality of bosses extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The handle assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each boss of the plurality of bosses is spaced apart from one another to form a corresponding plurality of channels therebetween, wherein when in the first position, the ratchet pawl is configured to be received within a channel of the corresponding plurality of channels to inhibit rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing. 
     
     
         4 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the grip defines a slot therein that is configured to slidably receive the ratchet pawl therein. 
     
     
         5 . The handle assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein each boss of the plurality of bosses is spaced apart from one another to form a corresponding plurality of channels therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The handle assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising a ratchet pawl biasing element interposed between the ratchet pawl and a surface of the slot of the grip, the ratchet pawl biasing element configured to bias the ratchet pawl into engagement with a channel of the corresponding plurality of channels of the handle housing half-sections. 
     
     
         7 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet pawl is slidably disposed within a portion of a center bar of the weight lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The handle assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the grip defines a pair of half-sections, each half-section of the pair of half-sections defining an arcuate first surface and a planar second surface disposed opposite to the arcuate first surface. 
     
     
         9 . The handle assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the planar second surface defines a plurality of slots therein extending through the arcuate first surface and arranged circumferentially thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The handle assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is spaced apart from one another, each slot of the plurality of slots configured to receive a portion of the ratchet pawl therein to inhibit rotation of the grip relative to the handle housing. 
     
     
         11 . The handle assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the arcuate first surface of each of the handle housing half-sections defines a pair of diametrically opposed legs extending radially outward therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The handle assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a leg of the pair of diametrically opposed legs defines an arcuate first surface and a planar second surface disposed opposite thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The handle assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the planar second surface of the leg of the pair of diametrically opposed legs defines a cavity therein, an inner surface of the cavity defining a longitudinal tab thereon configured to be received within a portion of the ratchet pawl such that the ratchet pawl is permitted to translate thereon but impeded from rotating relative thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The handle assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the cavity defines a protrusion thereon having a relief defined therein, the relief configured to receive a portion of a ratchet pawl biasing element thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The handle assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the ratchet pawl biasing element is interposed between the relief and the ratchet pawl to bias the ratchet pawl into engagement with a plurality of slots of the grip. 
     
     
         16 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is couplable to a weight support of the weight lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is couplable to a weight support of the weight lifting apparatus on a first end portion and to a bar on a second, opposite end portion. 
     
     
         18 . The handle assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly includes a pair of handle assemblies. 
     
     
         19 . The handle assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein a central bar of the weight lifting apparatus is configured to be interposed between each handle assembly of the pair of handle assemblies and coupled thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The handle assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the pawl includes a counterbore defined therein, the counterbore configured to receive a portion of the ratchet pawl biasing element therein.