Thoracic weightlifting bench

Abstract

A weightlifting bench for performing the bench press exercise comprising a substantially longitudinally arcuate curve for conforming to the thoracic region of a weightlifter's back. The arcuate curve has a chord with a length of 8.5 inches defined by the end points of the arcuate curve. The arcuate curve begins to ascend and increases to 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 7/16 and 17/32, inches respectively, measured from points on the arcuate curve to evenly spaced points on the chord. When the arcuate curve passes its midpoint, the distance from the curve to the chord decreases to 1/2, 7/16, 3/16, 1/8 inches, respectively, measured at evenly spaced points along the chord.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A weightlifting bench for performing a bench press exercise by a user comprising: 
     
        second body support sections..]. 10. The weightlifting bench of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13.Iaddend., in which.Iadd., relative to a horizontal plane, .Iaddend.said .[.first body support section.]. .Iadd.lower thoracic portion .Iaddend.is inclined from an end contiguous to said .[.second body support section.]. .Iadd.upper thoracic portion .Iaddend.upwards to an end that coincides with an end of said elongated bench .[.means.]. that .[.supports.]. .Iadd.is adapted to support .Iaddend.the .[.user's.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.exerciser's .Iaddend.lower body. 11. The weightlifting bench of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13.Iaddend., in which.Iadd., relative to a horizontal plane, .Iaddend.said .[.third body support section.]. .Iadd.head portion .Iaddend.is inclined from an end contiguous to said .[.second body support section.]. .Iadd.upper thoracic portion .Iaddend.upwards to an end that coincides with an end of said elongated bench .[.means.]. that .[.supports.]. .Iadd.is adapted to support .Iaddend.the .[.user's.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.exerciser's .Iaddend.head. 12. The weightlifting bench of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13.Iaddend., in which.Iadd.relative to a horizontal plane, .Iaddend.said .[.first body support section.]. .Iadd.lower thoracic portion .Iaddend.is inclined from an end contiguous to said .[.second body support section.]. .Iadd.upper thoracic portion .Iaddend.upwards to an end that coincides with an end of said elongated bench .[.means.]. that .[.supports.]. .Iadd.is adapted to support .Iaddend.the .[.user's.]. .Iadd.exerciser's .Iaddend.lower body and said .[.third body support section.]. .Iadd.head portion .Iaddend.is inclined from an end contiguous to said .[.second body support section.]. .Iadd.upper thoracic portion .Iaddend.upwards to an end that coincides with an end of said elongated bench .[.means.]. that .[.supports.]. .Iadd.is adapted to support .Iaddend.the .[.user's.]. .Iadd.exerciser's .Iaddend.head. .Iadd.13. A weightlifting bench comprising: an elongated padded bench having first and second longitudinal sides, the bench including:   a generally planar lower thoracic portion for supporting the lower thoracic region of an exerciser, the lower thoracic portion defining a base plane;   a generally planar head portion for supporting the head of the exerciser, the head portion being at a higher elevation than the lower thoracic portion as measured along a line normal to the base plane, the head portion being offset from the lower thoracic portion so that a projection of the head portion along a line normal to it does not intersect the lower thoracic portion;   an upper thoracic portion intersecting a first reference plane only along a first line and a second line, the first and second lines being parallel and defining the first reference plane, each line being continuous from the first side of the bench to the second side, and the first reference plane being slanted with respect to the vertical so as to have an upper side and a lower side, the upper thoracic portion comprising first and second sections for supporting the upper thoracic region of the exerciser, the first and second sections including the first and second lines, respectively, and a third section between the first and second sections, the first and second sections being located symmetrically with respect to each other about a second reference plane parallel to and midway between the first and second lines and perpendicular to the first reference plane, the third section being below the first reference plane and located asymmetrically with respect to the second reference plane;   the upper thoracic portion intersecting the lower thoracic portion along the first line and intersecting the head portion along the second line, the distance between the first and second lines being roughly 8.5 inches as measured in the first reference plane; and   the lower thoracic portion, upper thoracic portion, and the head portion being flat in cross section perpendicular to the long axis of the bench. .Iaddend.