Attachment apparatuses for squat exercises and methods of using same

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for attachment to an exercise rack or upright, comprising: a lever arm attached at a first end to the exercise rack or upright; at least one mounting prong connected to the lever arm, wherein the at least one mounting prong is vertical; and, an attachment point located at a second end of the lever arm, opposite the first end, configured to connect the apparatus to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus for attachment to an exercise rack or upright, comprising:
 a lever arm attached at a first end to the exercise rack or upright;   at least one mounting prong connected to the lever arm, wherein the at least one mounting prong is vertical; and,   an attachment point located at a second end of the lever arm, opposite the first end, configured to connect the apparatus to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment point comprises at least one of a hole, an angled bar, a straight bar, and two different parts extending towards each other which have a small gap between them. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting prong is vertical. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connector including a pin disposed at the first end of the lever arm for attaching the lever arm to the exercise rack or upright and defining an axis of rotation of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stand comprising a pivot point, wherein the pivot point defines a pivot axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the arm. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the stand is configured in a first, vertical configuration when the apparatus is at rest and a second, largely horizontal configuration when the apparatus is in motion. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the stand is rotatable with respect to the arm about the pivot axis to transition the stand from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the stand includes a handle. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the stand is counterbalanced to provide automatic rotation about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the stand further comprises protective pads located at the bottom of the stand and wherein the protective pads optionally are weighted to influence the pivoting performance of the stand. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a main body sized and shaped to mount on the arm and wherein at least one of the mounting prong and the stand are connected to or forms a part of the main body. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the main body has at least one aperture sized and shaped for insertion of a locking pin therethrough, to reversibly secure the main body to the arm. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting prong is sized and configured for the placement of weight plates thereon. 
     
     
         14 . A method of exercising using an exercise attachment attached to an exercise rack or upright, comprising:
 attaching, to the exercise rack or upright, the exercise apparatus, comprising
 a lever arm attached at a first end to the exercise rack or upright, 
 at least one mounting prong connected to the lever arm, wherein the at least one mounting prong is vertical, and, 
 an attachment point located at a second end of the lever arm, opposite the first end, configured to connect the apparatus to a user; 
   placing at least one weight on the at least one mounting prong;   connecting the exercise apparatus to the user using the attachment point.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising lifting the exercise apparatus from the second end around an axis of rotation of the first end to commence exercise. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the attaching is accomplished by inserting a pin through a connector disposed at the first end of the lever arm and the exercise rack or upright, the pin defining an axis of rotation of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the attachment point comprises at least one of a hole, an angled bar, a straight bar, and two different parts extending towards each other which have a small gap between them, for connecting the user to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein exercise further comprises returning the exercise apparatus to an original starting position and repeating the lifting and the returning.