U.S. patent application number 11/235971 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for weight lifting spotting device.
Invention is credited to Wasim Andrews.
Application Number | 20070072750 11/235971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37894845 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070072750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andrews; Wasim |
March 29, 2007 |
Weight lifting spotting device
Abstract
A portable self spotting weight lifting safety apparatus
comprising uprights positioned on either side of a weight lifting
bench. Barbell support arms extending from the uprights and into
the pathway of barbells. Rotating screws located in the uprights
raise and lower the support arms. When assistance is necessary, the
exerciser presses a foot actuated switch which in turn operates a
motor to rotate the screws to raise the support arms.
Inventors: |
Andrews; Wasim; (West Palm
Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCHALE & SLAVIN, P.A.
2855 PGA BLVD
PALM BEACH GARDENS
FL
33410
US
|
Family ID: |
37894845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/235971 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/104 ;
482/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0783 20151001;
A63B 21/078 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/104 ;
482/094 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06; A63B 21/078 20060101 A63B021/078 |
Claims
1. An self-spotting apparatus for supporting a barbell above a
weight lifting bench comprising: first and second uprights
positionable on opposite sides of a weight lifting bench; each of
said uprights having a vertically adjustable barbell support, said
barbell supports having a raised position and a lowered position;
means to move said barbell supports in between said raised and
lowered position; said means to move said barbell supports
comprising a screw positioned within said uprights; a motor
constructed and arranged to rotate said screws upon activation of
said motor; said means to move said barbell supports is actuatable
by a user.
2. The self-spotting apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are
provided for translating rotary motion of one of said screws to the
other said screw.
3. The self-spotting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for
translating rotary motion comprises a shaft and bevel gears
connecting said shaft and said screws.
4. The self-spotting device of claim 2 wherein said means for
translating rotary motion comprises sprockets positioned on said
screws and a chain connecting said sprockets.
5. The self-spotting device of claim 1 wherein base members are
connected to the lowermost portions of said uprights.
6. The self-spotting device of claim 5 wherein said base members
have wheels mounted thereon to support said device.
7. The self-spotting device of claim 6 wherein said wheel are
retractable up and into said base members.
8. An self-spotting apparatus for supporting a barbell above a
weight lifting bench comprising: first and second uprights
positionable on opposite sides of a weight lifting bench; each of
said uprights having a vertically adjustable barbell support, said
barbell supports having a raised position and a lowered position;
means to move said barbell supports in between said raised and
lowered position; said means to move said barbell supports
comprising a screw positioned within said uprights; a motor
constructed and arranged to rotate said screws upon activation of
said motor; said means to move said barbell supports is actuatable
by means positioned on said barbell supports.
9. The self-supporting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means
positioned on said barbell supports comprises pressure sensor
switches.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
exercise and weight lifting equipment. More particularly, this
invention relates to devices for assisting individuals during the
performance of weight lifting exercises which will prevent injury
and increase the benefit of the exercise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A significant and common problem for free weight lifters is
that without a spotter it is difficult to obtain the maximum
benefits from these exercises. In order to obtain the maximum
benefits the exercises should be performed to the point of fatigue.
At this point the lifter may not have the ability to return the
weights to their support racks. A person lifting alone must
therefore stop the exercise when any doubt enters their mind
whether they can complete the next repetition or not.
[0003] The greatest danger exists when the lifter is performing
bench presses. The lifter is lying on a bench underneath the free
weights. Should he or she be unable to perform the next repetition
or improperly perform the exercise, the barbell will drop on the
lifter seriously injuring them. Even in exercises such as the curl,
if the exercise isn't properly performed the danger exists that a
muscle could be overly extended and injured.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0004] Devices used in place of spotters for weight lifters are
known in the art. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,379 to Brawner
discloses a self spotting bench press composed of an adjustable
bench and uprights located on either side of the bench. Lifting
arms extend from the uprights into the barbells pathway and have
the ability to slide up and down to contact the barbell and
decrease the weight exerted on the lifter. Hydraulic cylinders
provide force to each lifting arm, which is depressed below the
barbells path before use. When assistance is needed, the lifter
releases a hydraulic restrictor valve causing the lifting arms to
ascend removing a user-determined amount of weight from the barbell
while permitting the user to continue performing repetitions. A
second restrictor valve can allow only upward movement should the
lifter fail to complete a repetition. A third flow restrictor valve
adjusts the rate of lifting arm travel. Hydraulic systems are
susceptible to premature seal failure if the hydraulic ram is not
clean and if too much weight is rapidly applied. Failure of the
hydraulic system presents a grave risk to the lifter since nothing
will prevent the barbell from coming down and injuring the lifter.
This device also cannot be used with existing weight benches.
[0005] Another automatic spotting device is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,558,299 to Slattery. This consists of a frame having a
vertically movable center section that supports two horizontal
spotter arms which spot the barbells. The movable center section is
mechanically engaged to an electric motor by a lead screw. A
computerized drive controller regulates the operation of the
electric motor thereby moving the spotter arms between upper and
lower spot positions preselected by the user. As a result, the
position of the spotting arms does not have to be changed by the
user after each exercise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates to a safety device for
supporting a barbell above a weightlifting bench. The device
comprises first and second spaced uprights positioned on opposite
sides of the head end of a weightlifting bench. Each of the
uprights includes a lead screw onto which is mounted a barbell
support. An electric motor is mounted on one of the uprights and
drives the lead screw in that upright. Means connecting the lead
screws in each upright convey the rotary motion of the driven lead
screw to the other lead screw. The barbell supports are positioned
just below the lowermost position of the barbell during the
exercise. If the lifter cannot lift the barbell by themselves the
motor is activated and the barbell supports will engage the
barbell, lifting it to a safe position.
[0007] Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the instant
invention to provide a safety device which can be used with
conventional weightlifting benches and other equipment.
[0008] It is a further objective of the instant invention to
provide a safety device which is operable by the weight lifter
alone. Thus eliminating the need of another person to act as a
spotter.
[0009] It is yet another objective of the instant invention to
provide a device which can be adjusted quickly and easily to
different positions for different exercises.
[0010] It is a still further objective of the invention to provide
a device which upon activation will not permit any downward
movement of the barbells.
[0011] Other objects and advantages of this invention will become
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of
illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this
specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present
invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the device.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along lines
2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken through
the uprights and transverse member of FIG. 1 of an alternative
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front elevated perspective view of the motor
control.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the device with an
alternative activation means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 there
is illustrated a preferred albeit non-limiting embodiment. A weight
lifting spotting device 10 is shown which comprises a pair of
uprights 12a and 12b connected by a transverse member 14. The
uprights have horizontally extending base members 16a and 16b
located at their lowermost portions. The base members provide
support to maintain the uprights in their vertical position. They
can also be provided with wheels 18a and 18b located on the bottom
portion of the base members. The wheels may be fixedly mounted, as
shown, or retractable. The wheels enable the spotting device to be
easily moved to different pieces of weight lifting equipment.
Handles 15a and 15b located on the upper portion of the uprights
are used to help move the device. The uprights have screws 20a and
20b mounted inside. Attached to the screws are barbell supports
22a, 22b. Slots are provided in the front faces of uprights 12a and
12b. These slots allow the barbell supports to travel vertically up
and down the uprights. A nut is attached to an end portion of the
barbell supports 22a and 22b and is threaded onto the screw. The
slots prevent the barbell supports and nuts from rotating so when
the screw is rotated the nut and attached support move vertically
up or down. The internal threads of the nut and the external
threads of the screw are identical in pitch and thread profile, to
allow these two members to be in mating rotational contact. As the
screws rotate the nut and barbell support is driven either up or
down. The screws can have threads with profiles including square
threads, modified square threads, Acme threads, stub Acme threads,
60-degree threads, or national buttress threads. Both the nut and
screw should have the same direction of thread, either right-handed
or left-handed. Thus, it is critical that the nut and the screw
have both the same pitch, the same thread profile, and the same
right or left handedness of the thread.
[0018] Only one of the screws is directly driven by motor 28. In
FIG. 1 it is the screw on the left side. The rotary motion of the
screw 20a is translated to screw 20b. One method of accomplishing
this is with the use of bevel gears as shown in FIG. 2. Bevel gears
30a and 30b are located on screws 20a and 20b respectively. Shaft
34 extends between the screws, through transverse member 14, and
has bevel gears 32a and 32b attached to either end thereof. With
the gears arranged as shown in FIG. 2, both screws 20a and 20b will
rotate in the same direction. An alternative method of translating
the motion from one screw to the other is shown in FIG. 3. Sprocket
26a is attached to screw 20a and sprocket 36b is attached to screw
20b. Chain 38 extends around both sprockets and through transverse
member 14. As screw 20a is driven, sprocket 36a turns, driving
chain 38 which in turn drives sprocket 36b and screw 20b. In
addition, other well known alternative methods of translating
rotary motion from one element to another could also be employed.
For example, bevel gear 30b could be located above bevel gear 32b.
In this case screw 20b would rotate in the opposite direction as
screw 20a and therefore would have to have a left hand thread to
operate properly.
[0019] The barbell supports are also provided with forward vertical
protrusions 24a, 24b and rearward vertical protrusions 26a, 26b.
The forward vertical protrusions 24a, 24b prevent the barbell from
rolling off of the support. The rearward vertical protrusions 26a,
26b prevent the barbell from hitting the rests which hold the
barbell on a conventional weight lifting bench.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 4 a motor and controls are located in
a housing 28 which is mounted on a lowermost portion of an upright.
The motor and controls could be mounted on either of the screws 20a
or 20b. The motor rotatable drives the screw either clockwise or
counterclockwise. The motor control 40 has three positions "up",
"down" and "activate". In the "up" position the screws are rotated
so that the barbell supports are raised to a desired height. In the
"down" position the screws are rotated so that the barbell supports
are lowered to a desired height. In the "active" position the
barbell supports will raise the barbell to a preset position if the
lifter fails to complete the exercise and steps on the emergency
pedal 42. There are also two lights on the motor housing. Light 44
is green which indicates that everything is operative. Light 46 is
red which indicates that there is a problem and the device should
not be operated.
[0021] In FIG. 5 an alternative system for activating the motor is
shown. Barbell supports 22a and 22b are provided with pressure
sensor switches 40a and 40b between the forward vertical
protrusions 24a, 24b and the rearward vertical protrusions 26a,
26b. If the lifter fails to complete the exercise and the barbell
falls onto the barbell supports, the pressure sensor switches 40a,
40b will activate the motor and raise the barbell to a preset
position.
[0022] All patents and publications mentioned in this specification
are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which
the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual
publication was specifically and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference.
[0023] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the
invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific
form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention
is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in
the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
[0024] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the
present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and
obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent
therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques
described herein are presently representative of the preferred
embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as
limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur
to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit
of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended
claims. Although the invention has been described in connection
with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that
the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such
specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the
described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to
those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the
following claims.
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