Variable resistance exercise devices

Abstract

A variable resistance exercise device is provided that comprises a pair of arm bands and a handle tube that has a longitudinal interior bore. The tube has first and second ends and includes a solid metal center shaft fitted through the interior bore thereby exposing respective first and second end portions of the shaft at the respective first and second ends of the tube. The first and second band arm of the pair of bands arms are respectively fitted onto the first and second ends of the shaft. In some instances, the device is part of a kit that includes a base having a bottom face, where the bottom face includes a groove, and one or more elastic bands, each such band configured to removably couple the base to the exercise bar by fitting the into the groove of the base and through the first and second arm bands.

1 . An exercise bar comprising:
 a handle tube comprising a longitudinal interior bore;   a solid metal center shaft, wherein the solid metal center shaft is fitted through the longitudinal interior bore, and wherein the solid metal center shaft longitudinally rotates independent of the handle tube;   a first band arm comprising a first end received by a first notch at a first end portion of the solid metal center shaft and a hook region that removably receives a first portion of an elastic band; and   a second band arm comprising a first end received by a second notch at a second end portion of the solid metal center shaft and a hook region that removably receives a second portion of the elastic band.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise bar of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the first cylindrical handle end cap having a first end face, a second end face, and a cylindrical exterior face, with a first bore hole along a central axis of the first cylindrical handle end cap between the first and second end faces of the first handle end cap,   the second cylindrical handle end cap having a first end face, a second end face, and a cylindrical exterior face, with a first bore hole along a central axis of the second cylindrical handle end cap between the first and second end faces of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft is fitted through the first bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft is fitted through the first bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the first band arm is fitted onto the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft through attachment to the first cylindrical handle end cap, and   the second band arm is fitted onto the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft through attachment to the second cylindrical handle end cap.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise bar of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first handle bearing comprising a first hollowed cylindrical piece having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface; and   a second handle bearing comprising a second hollowed cylindrical piece having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, wherein   the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft is fitted through the first handle bearing with the solid metal center shaft contacting the inner circumferential surface of the first handle bearing,   the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft is fitted through the second handle bearing with the solid metal center shaft contacting the inner circumferential surface of the second handle bearing, and   the longitudinal interior bore of the handle tube encapsulates and makes frictional contact with the outer circumferential surface of both the first and second handle bearings.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise bar of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first outer washer fitted onto the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft; and   a second outer washer fitted onto the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft, wherein   a first face of the first outer washer is juxtaposed against an end face of the first hollowed cylindrical piece of the first handle bearing,   a second face of the first outer washer, which opposes the first face of the first outer washer, is juxtaposed against the first end face of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   a first face of the second outer washer is juxtaposed against the first end face of the second hollowed cylindrical piece of the second handle bearing, and   a second face of the second outer washer, which opposes the first face of the second outer washer, is juxtaposed against the first end face of the second cylindrical handle end cap.   
     
     
         5 . The exercise bar of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first cylindrical handle end cap has a second bore hole, orthogonal to the first bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   the second bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap runs between the cylindrical exterior face and the central axis of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   the second cylindrical handle end cap has a second bore hole, orthogonal to the first bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the second bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap runs between the cylindrical exterior face and the central axis of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the first band arm is attached to the first cylindrical handle end cap by slotting the first end of the first band arm through the second bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap, and   the second band arm is attached to the second cylindrical handle end cap by slotting the first end of the second band arm through the second bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap.   
     
     
         6 . The exercise bar of  claim 5 , further comprising a first locking pin and a second locking pin, wherein
 the first cylindrical handle end cap further comprises a third bore hole running between the first and second end faces of the first cylindrical handle end cap, parallel to the first bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap, and passing through the second bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   the second cylindrical handle end cap further comprises a third bore hole running between the first and second end faces of the second cylindrical handle end cap, parallel to the first bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap, and passing through the second bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the first end of the first band arm includes a bore hole,   the first end of the second band arm includes a bore hole,   the first locking pin locks the first end of the first band arm to the first cylindrical handle end cap by insertion through both the third bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap and the bore hole of the first end of the first band arm, and   the second locking pin locks the first end of the second band arm to the second cylindrical handle end cap by insertion through both the third bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap and the bore hole of the first end of the second band arm.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise bar of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft includes a first notch that receives the first end of the first band arm, and   the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft includes a second notch that receives the first end of the second band arm.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise bar of  claim 7 , further comprising a first locking pin and a second locking pin, wherein:
 the first cylindrical handle end cap further comprises a third bore hole running between the first and second end faces of the first cylindrical handle end cap, parallel to the first bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap, and passing through the second bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap,   the second cylindrical handle end cap further comprises a third bore hole running between the first and second end faces of the second cylindrical handle end cap, parallel to the first bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap, and passing through the second bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap,   the first end of the first band arm includes a bore hole,   the first end of the second band arm includes a bore hole,   the first locking pin locks the first end of the first band arm to the first cylindrical handle end cap by insertion through both the third bore hole of the first cylindrical handle end cap and the bore hole of the first end of the first band arm, and   the second locking pin locks the first end of the second band arm to the second cylindrical handle end cap by insertion through both the third bore hole of the second cylindrical handle end cap and the bore hole of the first end of the second band arm.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the handle tube includes a first circumferential grip region and a second circumferential grip region on an exterior circumferential surface of the handle tube. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise bar of  claim 9 , wherein
 the first circumferential grip region is a level surface, and   the second circumferential grip region is characterized by a pattern of straight, angled, crossed lines, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise bar of  claim 10 , wherein
 the second circumferential grip region is disposed at both the first end and the second end of the handle tube, and   the first circumferential grip region is disposed between the first and second end of the handle tube.   
     
     
         12 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first band arm is made of metal, and   the second band arm is made of metal.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the solid metal center shaft is made of a metal or metal alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein the solid metal center shaft or the handle tube is made of austenite steel, martensitic steel, ferritic steel, a nickel alloy, or a high-strength low-alloy steel. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise bar of  claim 14 , wherein the solid metal center shaft is made of a different metal material than that of the handle tube. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise bar of  claim 12 , wherein a third portion of the elastic band is received by a portion of a base, thereby coupling the exercise bar to the base through the elastic band. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein
 the handle tube is between 40 centimeters and 80 centimeters in length, and   the handle tube has a diameter of between 3 centimeters and 5 centimeters.   
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The exercise bar of  claim 1 , wherein a first end portion of the solid metal center shaft is exposed at a first end of the handle tube and a second end portion of the solid metal center shaft is exposed at a second end of the handle tube. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise bar of  claim 21 , further comprising
 a first cylindrical handle end cap connected to the first end portion of the solid metal center shaft; and   a second cylindrical handle end cap connected to the second end portion of the solid metal center shaft.   
     
     
         23 . The exercise bar of  claim 22 , wherein
 the first band arm is locked with the first cylindrical handle end cap, and   the second band arm is locked with the second cylindrical handle end cap.