U.S. patent application number 10/184368 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for magnetically anchored, quick release pin.
Invention is credited to David, Varner.
Application Number | 20030060344 10/184368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26880074 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030060344 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
David, Varner |
March 27, 2003 |
Magnetically anchored, quick release pin
Abstract
A magnetically anchored quick release pin is provided for
quickly and accurately preventing movement between two objects
and/or quickly changing the relative position between two objects.
One such use is in a weight lifting machine providing for variable
resistance, which can be adjusted manually during a workout
routine. The weight lifting machine includes one or more guides and
a stack of weights which are slidably mounted on the guides and
movable along the guides from a rest position to an elevated
position. The weight lifting machine also includes a selector
member and a lift member. Each of the weights includes an opening
to receive a selector pin. The openings are aligned to define a
passage through the stack of weights to allow the selector pin to
couple each of the weights in the stack to the selector member. The
selector pin has a magnetic means affixed thereto to enable one to
couple and decouple from respective weights of the stack of weights
without having to release a locking mechanism on the selector pin.
The lift member is adapted to permit a user of the weight lifting
machine to, for example, pull and thereby raise the weights coupled
to the selector member from their respective rest positions to
their respective elevated positions.
Inventors: |
David, Varner; (Marietta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL, LLP
SUITE 3100, PROMENADE II
1230 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E.
ATLANTA
GA
30309-3592
US
|
Family ID: |
26880074 |
Appl. No.: |
10/184368 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60316778 |
Aug 31, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/08 20130101;
A63B 21/063 20151001; A63B 21/0628 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/98 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/062 |
Claims
In the claims:
1. A releasable article comprising: a rod shaped for insertion
through a first member and into an opening in a second member such
that said rod magnetically attaches to the exposed side of the
first member and substantially prevents movement between said first
member and said second member.
2. The releasable article of claim 1 wherein at least one of said
first member and said second member contains iron or a ferrous
component.
3. The releasable article according to claim 1 wherein the rod has
a grip attached thereto.
4. The releasable article according to claim 3 wherein said grip is
attached to the rod by being pinned to, glued to, pressed to, or
crimped to the grip.
5. The releasable article according to claim 3 wherein said rod and
grip are molded or cast as a single unit.
6. The releasable article according to claim 3 wherein the grip
retains the magnetic means by pressure against a shoulder of the
rod, by encasing the magnetic means, or by being cast or molded at
least partially encasing the magnetic means.
7. The releasable article accordingly to claim 6 wherein the
magnetic means is positioned between the grip and the rod with the
magnetic means being completely exposed, partially encased, or
completely encased.
8. A weight lifting machine comprising: a stack of weights, each of
said weights having an opening, said openings being aligned to
define a passage through said stack of weights; at least one guide,
each of said weights being slidably mounted on said at least one
guide and being movable along said guide from a rest position to an
elevated position; a selector member, said selector member having a
downwardly depending member, said downwardly depending member
having a passage therethrough, said selector member including a rod
or pin having magnetic means, said rod or pin shaped for insertion
through a weight in the stack of weights and into the passage of
the downwardly depending member such that said magnetic means
attaches to the exposed side of a respective weight in said stack
of weights; and a lift means coupled to said selector member, said
lift means being adapted to permit a user of said weight lifting
machine to raise said weights attached to said selector member from
its respective rest position to its respective elevated
position.
9. A weight lifting machine according to claim 8, wherein said lift
means is coupled to a handle, ankle pad assembly, or a shoulder
pad.
10. A weight lifting machine according to claim 9, further
comprising a frame, said lift means being supported by said
frame.
11. A weight lifting machine according to claim 10, wherein said
lift means includes a lift cable supported on said frame by at
least one pulley.
12. A weight lifting machine according to claim 11, further
comprising a seat positioned below said handle, said seat being
supported by said frame.
13. A weight lifting machine according to claim 7, wherein said
selector member further includes a carriage, said downwardly
depending member extending downwardly from said carriage, and said
at least one guide extending through said carriage.
14. A weight lifting machine comprising: a frame; a stack of
weights, each of said weights having an opening therein or between
adjacent weights, said openings being aligned to define a passage
through said stack of weights; a least one guide supported by said
frame, said weights being slidably supported on said guide and
being movable along said guide from a rest position to an elevated
position; a selector member extending through said passage, said
selector member having a plurality of cavities formed therein and a
selector pin having a magnetic means, which pin is insertable
through the selector member and weight stack whereby said magnetic
attraction of said selector pin affixes said pin to a respective
weight in said stack of weights; and a lift member supported by
said frame, said lift member being coupled to said selector member
and being adapted to permit a user of said weight lifting machine
to raise said weights coupled to said selector member by said
selector pin from said rest position to said elevated position.
15. A weight lifting machine according to claim 14, wherein said
lift member includes a lift cable.
16. A weight lifting machine according to claim 15, wherein said
lift cable is supported by a pair of pulleys attached to said
frame.
17. A weight lifting machine according to claim 14, wherein said at
least one guide extends through said weights.
18. A weight lifting machine according to claim 14, wherein said at
least one guide includes springs, said springs being at least
partially compressed when said weights are in their respective rest
positions.
19. A weight lifting machine according to claim 16, wherein said
guide includes at least one guide rod.
20. A weight selector assembly in combination with a plurality of
aligned weight plates, comprising: a base member; and a selector
rod mounted on said base member, wherein said selector rod includes
a shaft extending through the weight plates and having a
longitudinal axis, and a weight plate engagement member, wherein
said engagement member has a magnetized portion whereby it may be
affixed to said shaft at discrete axial locations, and said
engagement member being extendable through or under a weight plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional
application Serial No. 60/316,778, filed Aug. 31, 2001, which is
relied on and incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to use of a magnetically
anchored pin anywhere a releasable or a quick release pin is
presently used, including, but not limited to, exercise equipment
and more particularly, to the selection of a desired number of
aligned weights for resistance to exercise movement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Releasable or quick release pins have many uses for
maintaining relative positions of various articles, preventing
movement of various articles relative to each other and the like.
One such well-known use of quick release pins is in exercise
equipment. Exercise weight stacks are well known in the art and
prevalent in the exercise equipment industry. Generally speaking, a
plurality of weights or plates are arranged in a stack and
maintained in alignment by rods or other guide members. A desired
amount of weight is engaged by selectively connecting a selector
rod to the appropriate weight in the stack. The selector rod and/or
the uppermost weight in the stack are/is connected to at least one
force receiving member by means of a connector. The engaged weight
is lifted up from the stack in response to movement of the force
receiving member.
[0004] Some examples of conventional weight stacks, their
applications, and/or features are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,912,261 to Lambert, Sr. (shows an exercise machine which provides
weight stack resistance to a single exercise motion); U.S. Pat. No.
5,263,915 to Habing (shows an exercise machine which uses a single
weight stack to provide resistance to several different exercise
motions); U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,018 to Ish III, et al. (shows an
exercise machine which provides weight stack resistance to a
variety of exercise motions); U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,663 to Luquette
(shows an exercise machine which has rigid linkage members
interconnected between a weight stack and a force receiving
member); U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,466 to Lais (shows bushings which are
attached to weight stack plates to facilitate movement along
conventional guide rods); U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,229 to Sencil (shows
an alternative to conventional guide rods); U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,662
to Chem (shows a selector rod arrangement for clamping the selected
weights together into a collective mass); U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,973
to Johns (shows telescoping safety shields which allow insertion of
a selector pin but otherwise enclose the weight stack); U.S. Pat.
No. 5,000,446 to Samo (shows discrete selector pin configurations
intended for use on discrete machines); U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,971 to
Raasoch (shows levers operable to remotely select a desired number
of weights in a stack); U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,089 to Spagnuolo et al.
(shows a controller operable to automatically adjust weight stack
resistance); U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,424 to Barnett (shows a
dual-pronged pin which engages opposite sides of a selector rod);
U.S. Pat. No. 1,053,109 to Reach (shows a stack of weight plates,
each having a slide which moves into and out of engagement with the
weight plate or top plate above it); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,221 to
Itaru (shows a stack of weight plates, each having a lever which
pivots into and out of engagement with a selector rod. Despite
these advances and others in the weight stack lifting equipment
industry, room for improvement and ongoing innovation continues to
exist.
[0005] More recently, exercise devices have incorporated variable
resistance capabilities which allow the user of the exercise
machine to maximize his or her benefits from the machine. For
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,089 to Spagnuolo weights are
selected by mechanical actuators which are controlled by the user
of the exercise machine. The mechanical actuator includes a
solenoid and a pin, which is held in place by a spring. When the
solenoid is energized, the pin is withdrawn from the weight which
reduces the resistance for the user of apparatus. The solenoids are
controlled by a module which includes a microprocessor which
permits the user of the equipment to increase or decrease the
weight as desired. The decoupling and coupling is not instantaneous
and there may be increased potential for jams, which result from
misalignment of the pins with the select bar. Because these type of
jams can not be manually fixed, there is a great potential for
interruption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a selector
pin having a magnetic engagement means for affixing to aligned
weight plates. The magnetic engagement means may be affixed to the
selector pin along the longitudinal axis of the selector pin.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the more detailed
description that follows.
[0007] The present invention relates to the use of a magnetically
anchored releasable pin to prevent or lessen relative movement
between two articles and is applicable anywhere a releasable pin or
a quick release pin is presently used. One such use is in a weight
lifting machine and, more particularly, to a weight lifting machine
which permits the user to select a sequence in which the weight is
increase or decreased at various intervals during the workout
routine or permits the user to adjust the weight during the workout
routine. Conventional weight lifting machines comprise a frame
which includes a pair of spaced apart generally vertical tracks
with a plurality of weights and a carriage movably mounted on the
tracks. The carriage typically includes a selection rod, post or
bar which extends through the central portions of the weights and
is manually coupled to one or more of the weights to increase or
decrease the weight coupled to the carriage. Typically, the weights
are coupled to the selection rod by a removable pin which extends
through the weight and through a corresponding aperture in the
selection rod. The carriage also is connected to a cable on the
distal end of which is connect a handle bar, with the cable being
supported on the frame by a pair of pulleys. Therefore, when the
user of the machine pulls on the handle bar the carriage moves up
the tracks, with the resistance being a function of the number of
weights that are coupled to the carriage. In order to vary the
weight on the carriage, and therefore the resistance for the user
of the machine, the user of the machine must return the carriage to
the starting position and relocate the pin either to reduce the
number of weights attached to the selection rod or increase the
number of weights attached to the select bar.
[0008] Accordingly the present invention provides a weight lifting
machine which includes at least one guide and a stack of weights
which are slidably mounted on the guide and movable along the guide
from a rest position to an elevated position. The weightlifting
machine also includes a selector rod, a lift cable, and optionally
a lift bar. Each of the weights includes an opening therein or
between the adjacent weight to receive a selector pin. The openings
are aligned to define a passage through the stack of weights to
allow the selector pin to contact each of the weights in the stack.
The selector pin includes a magnetic means which is adapted to
couple to and decouple from respective weights in the stack of
weights. The lift cable, which is thereby coupled to the selector
rod by the selector pin, is adapted to permit a user of the weight
lifting machine to pull the lift cable or move a lift bar and
thereby raise the weights coupled to the selector rod from their
respective rest positions to their respective elevated
positions.
[0009] In other forms, the lift cable, or lift bar, is coupled to a
handle, which the user can grasp to move a selected weight or
weights from the rest position to the elevated position. The
machine preferably includes a frame, which supports the lift cable,
or lift bar, and the guide. For example, the lift cable may be
supported on the frame by at least one pulley. Furthermore, the
frame may include a seat on which the user may sit when using the
machine.
[0010] As will be understood from the foregoing, the weight lifting
machine of the present invention provides for ease of changes in
resistance.
[0011] These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features
of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the
following description taken in conjunction of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a weight lifting machine
incorporating the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the weight lifting machine of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the selection pin with the magnet
housing and grip mounted thereto.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front view of the magnet.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the magnet.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the rod having cavities to receive
the selection pin.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a weight lifting or exercise machine 10
is shown which includes a frame 12 that supports a pair of
generally vertically oriented guide rods or rails 14 and 16 on
which a stack of weights 18 and a carriage 22 are moveably mounted.
As will be described in more detail below, the individual weights
20 of stack 18 are selectively coupled and decoupled from carriage
22 to increase or decrease the resistance for the user of machine
10.
[0019] Carriage 22 comprises a base member 23 which may include a
pair of spaced apart bushings or bearings 23a and 23b, for example
linear bearings. Bushings 23a and 23b define transverse passages
through base 23 and guide carriage 22 on guide rods 14 and 16.
Mounted to base 23 of carriage 22 is a lift member or lift cable
24. Lift cable 24 is secured at one end 24a to carriage 22 by a
coupler 24b, including for example a threaded coupler, and secured
to a handle 25 at a second end 24b. Lift cable 24 extends from
carriage 22 upwardly through frame 12 and over a pair of spaced
apart cable pulleys 26 and 28 which position handle 25 over a
workout bench or seat 30. In this manner when handle 25 is pulled
downwardly, carriage 22 and any weights 20 which are coupled to
carriage 22 move up guide rods 14 and 16, with the resistance on
the handle being a function of the number of weights coupled to the
carriage 22.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, frame structure 12 includes a
pair of horizontally spaced front and back base members 34 and 36
which are interconnected by opposed side base members 38 and 40.
Frame structure 12 further includes front and back upper members 42
and 44 which are similarly interconnected by opposed side upper
members 46 and 48 and which are further interconnected to base
members 32, 34, 36, and 38 by a plurality of column members 50, 52,
54, and 56, which form a rigid frame and support guide rods 14 and
16. Guide rods 14 and 16 are mounted to upper members 46 and 48 by
a transverse cross member 58 which extends between upper members 46
and 48 on one end and are similarly mounted to base members 38 and
40 by a lower transverse member 60 which extends between lower base
members 38 and 40. Pulleys 26 and 28 are respectfully rotatably
supported on frame 12 by a cantilever support member 62 which is
mounted to upper members 42 and 44. Pulleys 26 and 28 are rotatably
mounted on member 62 by pins 26a and 28a, respectively, which
extend through transverse holes 62a provided in member 62. It can
be appreciated, in this manner at least the location of pulley 26
can be adjusted to accommodate different weight lifting
configurations.
[0021] As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, seat 30 is positioned
forwardly of frame 12 and is supported from a vertical intermediate
frame member 64 which is secured to front base member 34. Seat 30
is preferably supported from vertical member 64 by a braced
cantilever member 66. In addition to seat 30, exercise machine 10
may include a leg restraint 33. Leg restraint 33 is positioned
forward of seat 30 so that the user can restrain himself or herself
from lifting off seat 30 when working out with a weight that
exceeds his or her own body weight. Restraint 33 includes a pair of
cylindrical padded members 33a and 33b which are rotatably mounted
on a tubular member 35 which is similarly mounted to vertical
support or member 64 by a cantilever member 68. Preferably, both
seat 30 and restraint 33 are adjustably mounted to vertical support
64 to accommodate users of different height and proportions. In
this manner, when a user is seated on seat 30, the user may
position his or her legs under restraint 33 and pull on handle 25
which in turn pulls on carriage 22 by way of lift cable 24. As
described previously, the amount of resistance depends on the
number of individual weights 20 that are coupled to carriage 22. As
seen in FIG. 6, carriage 22 includes downwardly depending selection
rod or member 65. In preferred form, selection rod 65 includes a
plurality of cavities 71, which can be milled, cast or formed from
welded components forming selection rod 65. Referring to FIGS. 1
and 2, selection rod 65 extends through central openings provided
in weights 20 and includes respective cavity 71 for each individual
weight 20 in stack 18 so that each weight can be individually and
selectively coupled to selection rod 65.
[0022] In order to reduce the impact on frame 12 when weights 20
are lowered to their respective starting positions, rails 14 and 16
preferably include springs 120 interposed between the lowermost
weight 20' and transverse member 60.
[0023] As seen in FIG. 3 selector pin 300 includes shaft 301 and
grip or pull means 302. Magnetic means 303 is shown in the
preferred position adjacent to grip 302 and substantially
surrounding shaft 301. Optional magnet housing 304 protects the
magnet from damage due to repeated contact with the weights,
dropping, misuse, and the like. Preferably housing 304 is a plastic
or polymer material. Magnetic means 303 may be alternatively
positioned at any distance along shaft 301 as long as it is near
enough to a weight 20 to become magnetically attracted thereto
sufficiently to retain selector pin 300 in place when inserted
through, above or below a weight 20 and into a cavity 71 of rod 65,
thereby selectively coupling weight 20 to rod 65. Advantageously,
at least a portion of magnet 303 is niobium.
[0024] Grip 302 may be attached in known ways such as with pin 301
being threaded and threadable into grip 302, pin 301 being pinned,
glued, pressed, crimped, or the like to grip 302, or pin 301 and
grip 302 molded or cast as a single unit or the like. Grip 302 may
be applied to hold magnet 303 in place, to encase magnet 303, or
cast or molded at least partly around magnet 303 in order to retain
it in place. Magnet 303 may be exposed, partly encased, or
completely encased.
[0025] The present inventive magnetically anchored, quick release
pin is usable in any ferrous-related application which currently
employs or is capable of employing a quick release or releasable
pin. Known releasable pins are of the plunger-button style or the
ball detent style, both of which have performance and reliability
deficiencies which are overcome by the present inventive
magnetically anchored quick release pin.
[0026] Furthermore, while various forms of the invention have been
shown and described, other forms are being apparent to those skill
in the art. It should be understood that the general concept of a
stack a weights with a selection member with magnetic rod or pin
means can also be used in other weight lifting configurations.
Therefore, the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
* * * * *