GB2580965A

GB2580965A - Storage apparatus for exercise equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2580965A
Application number: GB1901429.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Palacio Luis; Lock Mark
Original assignee: Escape Fitness Ltd
Current assignee: Escape Fitness Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-01
Filing date: 2019-02-01
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Also published as: GB201901429D0

Abstract

Storage apparatus comprising a support structure 12 that holds exercise equipment, for example via hooks or racks 16 for storing dumbbells, and a bench 14 having first and second widths w1, w2 on top of the support structure. The second narrower width w2, which may be a gap in the bench, aligns with the area that retains the exercise equipment. This provides easy access to the stored weights while on the bench. The bench or portions of may be movable via a lifting mechanism (18, 20, 22, figure 2) between flat and angled positions. The bench may comprise two or more panels having at least five sides, such as hexagonal or octagonal portions, or may be a single rectangular or oblong panel.

Description

STORAGE APPARATUS FOR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

FIELD

The present invention relates to storage apparatus for exercise equipment. BACKGROUND An ever increasing range of exercise equipment is available to gym owners for use by gym users in fitness and strength training. Examples include dumbbells, medicine balls, kettle bells, resistance bands, for example. A wide range of exercise equipment enables a gym to provide a wide range of training facilities and to cater for a range of customers. The advantages to a gym and its users of the provision of a wide range of exercise equipment are clear. However, when specifying exercise equipment for a gym it is necessary to take certain practical considerations into account including how such exercise equipment will be stored when not in use. It is important to store exercise equipment in an accessible manner so that it is freely yet safely available to gym users. The amount of exercise equipment a gym may provide is limited to the floor space available and any racking or other storage that is implemented.

Different types and even different brands of exercise equipment can have very different shapes and configurations. It is thus common for gym storage to be tailored for specific exercise equipment and in some cases for exercise equipment from a specific manufacturer. Storage racks take up valuable floor space and serve no purpose other than providing an area where exercise equipment can be stored when not in use. Storage racks thus do not represent an effective use of floor space.

Functional storage apparatus exists that combines the functionality of a weight bench with the storage capacity of racking. Such a combination has certain design requirements. The bench needs to be of a width that is wider than the distance exercise equipment might protrude from the racking to avoid the user hitting their legs on stored exercise apparatus but narrow enough that a user can straddle the bench. Meeting these design requirements dictates that the bench overlaps any exercise equipment stored in the racking. It can be difficult for a user to access exercise equipment that is stored in racking at an elevation that is close to the bench as the bench in prior art bench/storage combinations would obstruct such access.

It is against this background that aspects of the invention have arisen. SUMMARY An aspect of the invention provides storage apparatus for exercise equipment comprising: a support structure comprising a first end, a second end, two sides, a top and a bottom and one or more areas along at least one of the two sides configured to receive exercise equipment; and a bench located on the top of the support structure, wherein the bench has a first width and a second width, wherein the second width is at least at one location along the length of the bench between the first end and the second end, the second width being narrower than the first width, and wherein the second width is aligned with at least one of the areas configured to receive exercise equipment.

The applicant has mitigated the problem described above by providing a bench that has a reduced width portion at least at one location along the length of the bench. This reduced width portion is aligned with an area of the support structure that is configured to receive exercise equipment. A user of the exercise apparatus is thus able to reach downwards in the vicinity of the reduced width portion to access stored exercise equipment without being obstructed by the bench. This is advantageous for a number of reasons. Firstly, the user is able to safely remove and replace exercise equipment from racking integrated into the bench. Secondly, the user is more likely to replace exercise equipment that he/she has used if replacement is without difficulty.

In one embodiment, the bench is movable between a closed configuration in which the bench is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top of the support structure and an open configuration in which at least a portion of the bench is angled relative to the top of the support structure. bench comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein when the bench is in the closed configuration both the first portion and second portion of the bench are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top of the support surface and when the bench is in the open configuration the first portion remains oriented substantially perpendicular to the top of the support structure and the second portion is angled relative to the top of the support structure.

In one embodiment, the bench comprises a single panel having a generally rectangular or oblong profile. The second width of the bench may define a lateral cut out in the bench.

In another embodiment, the first portion and/or second portion of the bench is/are defined by two or more panels having at least five sides, and wherein a side of each panel is aligned with at least one of the two sides of the support structure. In one embodiment, the second width is defined by adjacent panels of the two or more panels being orientated such that a side of one panel is angled relative to an adjacent side of the other panel such that an acute angle is defined therebetween. In another embodiment, the second width of the bench is defined by a gap between the first portion of the bench and the second portion of the bench. The two or more panels may comprise three panels arranged adjacent to one another longitudinally relative to the support structure. The two or more panels may comprise a hexagonal or octagonal profile.

In one embodiment, the storage apparatus further comprises a lifting mechanism for moving the bench from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the lifting mechanism comprising an elongate beam extending along at least a portion of the bench, the elongate beam comprising a plurality of locking positions, a connecting member configured to engage with one of the plurality of locking positions at a first end thereof and a locking device forming part of the support structure and configured to engage with a second end of the connecting member when the bench is in the open configuration and with a portion of the connecting member between the first end and second end thereof when the bench is in the closed configuration.

In one embodiment the storage apparatus further comprises one or more hooks projecting longitudinally from the first end and/or second end of the support structure and positioned adjacent to the bottom of the support structure.

In one embodiment, the one or more areas configured to receive exercise equipment comprise a pair of projections longitudinally spaced apart and arranged at the same elevation relative to the bottom of the support structure. The pair of projections may each define a hook configured to receive the shaft of an item of exercise equipment.

DRAWINGS

Aspects and embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of storage apparatus for exercise equipment shown in a closed configuration.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the storage apparatus of figure 1 shown in an open configuration.

DESCRIPTION

The same references are used for similar features throughout the drawings. The features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and the size and/or arrangements depicted are not limiting. The drawings include optional features which are not essential to the invention. Furthermore, not all of the features are depicted in each drawing and the drawings may only show some of the features relevant for describing a particular configuration or embodiment.

As shown in the figures, storage apparatus 10 comprises a support structure 12. The support structure 12 is defined by a top 12a, bottom 12b, first end 12c, second end 12d and two sides 12e, 12f. A bench 14 is positioned on the top 12a of the support structure 12. The bench can take any form in accordance with the scope of the invention but for explanation purposes only is illustrated in the figures as a series of panels 14a, 14b, 14c. The bench could be rectangular, oblong or elliptical, for example, in shape without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the bench 14 may be formed as a series of panels 14a, 14b, 14c as shown in the figures or a single elongate panel.

The sides 12e, 12f of the support structure 12 define one or more storage areas 16 for receiving exercise equipment. As shown in the figures, the exercise equipment may be dumbbells. In the case of dumbbells, the one or more storage areas 16 each comprise a pair of projections spaced apart such that each projection receives a part of a dumbbell shaft.

Each projection is shown as forming an integral part of a projecting rib 18 such that the projecting rib can provide more than one projection. The projecting rib is orientated vertically and extends substantially between the top 12a and bottom 12b surfaces of the support structure 12. Each projection of the projecting rib 18 is at a different elevation to permit multiple dumbbells to be stored relative to the storage apparatus 10.

The bench 14 is configured such that its width w is reduced at locations that are aligned with the one or more storage areas 16. The bench thus has a width w/ and a width w2. In its most simple form, the bench 14 may be a rectangular, elongate panel that extends between the first end 12c and second end 12d of the support structure. In such an embodiment, a cut-out would be provided in the regions that the bench overlays the storage areas 16. In the figures, the bench is shown as being formed from three hexagonal panels 14a, 14b, 14c. The panels 14a, 14b and 14c are aligned such that an edge of each panel 14a, 14b and 14c is aligned with each side 12e, a2f and the first end 12c and second end 12d of the support structure. Such a configuration results in the width of each panel 14a, 14b, 14c transitioning from w/ to w2 in the longitudinal direction of the storage apparatus.

In other embodiments, w2 is provided by a gap between adjacent bench panels such that w2 is zero.

The bench 14 is moveable between a closed configuration (as shown in figure 1), wherein the bench 14 lies flat on the support structure 12 and an open configuration (as shown in figure2), wherein the bench 14 is angled upwardly relative to the top 12a of the support structure 12. The bench is split into two parts. The first part is retained in a permanent position parallel with the top 12a of the support structure. The second part is permitted to be angled relative to the first part.

The second part of the bench 14 comprises an elongate beam 18 extending along the underside of the second part of the bench 14. The elongate beam 18 comprises a plurality of holes. A curved member 20 connects between the elongate beam 18 and the support structure 12 by way of a quick release fastener 22 at either end. The curved member 20 can be connected to the elongate beam by way of the holes in the elongate beam 18 according to how a user wishes to angle the bench 14. The elongate beam provides a rigid mounting structure for the bench 14, particularly where the second pad of the bench 14 comprises more than one panel.

A set of wheels 24 is provided at one end of the support structure 12. The wheels enable the storage apparatus to be moved around a gymnasium. At least one hook 26 is provided at an end 12c, 12d of the storage apparatus 12 for attachment of resistance bands and tubes. As shown in the figures, the hooks 24 in an embodiment are adjacent to the wheels 26.

Each of the first end 12c and second end 12d of the support structure 12 is provided with storage areas in the form of shelves, racks, or equivalent for storing additional exercise equipment.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment comprising: a support structure comprising a first end, a second end, two sides, a top and a bottom and one or more areas along at least one of the two sides configured to receive exercise equipment; and a bench located on the top of the support structure, wherein the bench has a first width and a second width, wherein the second width is at least at one location along the length of the bench between the first end and the second end, the second width being narrower than the first width, and wherein the second width is aligned with at least one of the areas configured to receive exercise equipment.
2. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 1, wherein the bench is movable between a closed configuration in which the bench is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top of the support structure and an open configuration in which at least a portion of the bench is angled relative to the top of the support structure.
3. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 2, wherein bench comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein when the bench is in the closed configuration both the first portion and second portion of the bench are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top of the support surface and when the bench is in the open configuration the first portion remains oriented substantially perpendicular to the top of the support structure and the second portion is angled relative to the top of the support structure.
4. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second width of the bench defines a lateral cut out in the bench.5. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 3, wherein the first portion and/or second portion of the bench is/are defined by two or more panels having at least five sides, and wherein a side of each panel is configured to extend at least partially between the first end and second end of the support structure.
5. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 5, wherein the second width of the bench is defined at least partially by a gap between the first portion of the bench and the second portion of the bench.
6. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 5, wherein the second width is defined by adjacent panels of the two or more panels being orientated such that a side of one panel is angled relative to an adjacent side of the other panel such that an acute angle is defined therebetween.
7. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 6, wherein the two or more panels comprise three panels arranged adjacent to one another longitudinally relative to the support structure.
8. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 7. wherein each panel has a hexagonal profile.
9. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 7; wherein each panel has an octagonal profile.
10. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 4, wherein the bench comprises a single panel having a generally rectangular or oblong profile.
11. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 2 further comprising a lifting mechanism for moving the bench from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the lifting mechanism comprising an elongate beam extending along at least a portion of the bench, the elongate beam comprising a plurality of locking positions, a connecting member configured to engage with one of the plurality of locking positions at a first end thereof and a locking device forming part of the support structure and configured to engage with a second end of the connecting member when the bench is in the open configuration and with a portion of the connecting member between the first end and second end thereof when the bench is in the closed configuration.
12. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to any preceding claim and further comprising one or more hooks projecting longitudinally from the first end and/or second end of the support structure and positioned adjacent to the bottom of the support structure.
13. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more areas configured to receive exercise equipment comprise a pair of projections longitudinally spaced apart and arranged at the same elevation relative to the bottom of the support structure.
14. Storage apparatus for exercise equipment according to claim 13, wherein the pair of projections each define a hook configured to receive the shaft of an item of exercise equipment.