U.S. patent application number 11/279428 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for exercise machine having safety feature on the weight selection pin.
Invention is credited to Guofang Cao.
Application Number | 20070243976 11/279428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38605495 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070243976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cao; Guofang |
October 18, 2007 |
Exercise Machine Having Safety Feature On The Weight Selection
Pin
Abstract
Safety selection pin for weight stack selection system wherein
the mid portion of the selection pin is machined down in diameter,
forming a shoulder on the edge of the cut out portion. The length
of the cut is slightly longer than the diameter of the central
stem, or longer than the engaging portion of a link-connector in a
"stemless" system, preventing the selection pin from being pulled
out during the loaded state of a weight stack exercise machine,
thus helping to avoid accidental injuries to users and nearby
people.
Inventors: |
Cao; Guofang; (Diamond Bar,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF J.F. LEE
17800 CASTLETON STREET
SUITE 383
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91748
US
|
Family ID: |
38605495 |
Appl. No.: |
11/279428 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/94 ;
482/99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0054 20130101;
A63B 21/063 20151001; A63B 21/0628 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/094 ;
482/099 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06; A63B 21/062 20060101 A63B021/062 |
Claims
1. Exercise machine having safety feature in the selection pin,
comprising: a. A central stem; a. A plurality of weight plates
stacked vertically each having a central hole to slidably receive
said central stem; and, c. A safety selection pin that can be
slidably fitted through a side hole of each weight plate wherein
the a length of the mid portion of the safety selection pin is
machined down in diameter, so that the length of the reduced
diameter portion is slightly longer than the diameter of said
central stem, forming a shoulder on the safety selection pin to
prevent being pulled out during loaded state of the exercise
machine.
2. Exercise machine having safety feature in the selection pin,
comprising: a. A central stem; b. A plurality of weight plates
where each weight plate further having a built-in push-in/switch
for engaging the selection pin into the central stem; and, c. A
safety selection pin on each of the weight plate wherein the a
length of the mid portion of the safety selection pin is machined
down in diameter, so that the length of the reduced diameter
portion is slightly longer than the diameter of said central stem,
forming a shoulder on the safety pin to prevent being pulled out
during loaded state of the exercise machine.
3. Exercise machine having safety feature in the selection pin,
comprising: a. A plurality of weight plates where each weight plate
further having a corresponding link-connector and a corresponding
hole on the link-connector and plate for engaging a safety
selection pin to select desired weight; and, b. A safety selection
pin on each of the weight plate wherein the a length of the mid
portion of the safety selection pin is machined down in diameter,
so that the length of the reduced diameter portion is slightly
longer than the diameter of engaged portion of the link-connector,
forming a shoulder on the safety selection pin to prevent being
pulled out during loaded state of the exercise machine.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an improved
design and construction of fitness training equipment wherein the
selection pin has a safety feature to prevent said selection pin
from being accidentally pulled out during loaded state, thus
avoiding injuries to the users and potential nearby people.
[0002] Selectable amount of weight is commonly found on many
fitness training equipment. A popular method is by using a central
stem going down the center holes of a stack of weight plates,
wherein a selection pin can be inserted through a hole on the side
of each weight plate and through the central stem, forming the
point of pick-up when users are engaging in exercise or training,
as shown in FIG. 1. All the weight plates above the point of
inserted selection pin will be the desired total weight (including
the plated having the inserted pin). When users pull the cable, the
training equipment is then in a loaded state, all the plates below
the point of insertion pin will NOT be selected.
[0003] Another weight selection mechanism contains built-in
push-in-switch cartridge system on the weight plate, as shown in
FIG. 2, wherein the push-in pin will cause the pin to insert
through a corresponding hole in the central stem, so that the
weight plates above the point of insertion will be the desired
total weight.
[0004] During the fitness equipment's relaxed state, users insert a
selection pin, as in FIG. 1, or push the selection push-in-switch
pin, as in FIG. 2, to engage in the desired weight for training
purpose. In normal usage, the cable will be pulled tight, as users
gradually apply force to the cable/stem and pull up the selected
weights, causing the fitness equipment to be in a loaded state.
[0005] During the fitness equipment's loaded state, however, the
selection pin, being of metallic construction and having low
surface friction, can be pulled out, causing the fitness equipment
to change from loaded state to relaxed state instantly. This
instant change from loaded state to relaxed state will result in
the free-fall of the selected weight plates, dropping down to the
bottom of the stack, likely causing injuries to users or people
nearby, especially if the selection pin is pulled out accidentally,
or for unknown reasons.
[0006] Present invention discloses and claims a safety feature for
the selection pin to prevent the pulling out of selection pin from
happening when the fitness equipment is in the loaded state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the preferred
embodiments of the invention and together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0008] A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art weight selection system
currently used by the industry, wherein a central stem is inserted
through the holes of the weight plates and an insertion pin is used
to insert through the hole on the side of a weight plate and a
corresponding hole on the central stem and achieving desired weight
selection.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows another prior art weight selection system
wherein the weight plates contain built-in push-in-switch to insert
the selection pin through the corresponding hole on the central
stem.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a profile view of a selection pin of present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a cut-out view of a safety selection pin of
present invention inside the weight stacks.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a cut-out view of a safety selection pin of
present invention inside the weight stacks, with the central stem
being pulled up, resulting in the fitness equipment in a loaded
stated.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a cut-out view of a safety selection pin of
present invention inside weight stacks having built-in selecting
cartridge system.
[0015] FIG. 7 shows the length of the cut on the safety selection
pin is slightly longer than the diameter of the central stem.
[0016] FIG. 8 shows the cut-out view of a safety selection pin of
present invention inside weight stacks of a "stemless" fashion,
using a link-connector mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the problem with accidental pullout of the
selection pin can happen, as there is little friction to stop the
lateral/horizontal travel of the selection pin, even when the
fitness equipment is in loaded state.
[0018] In FIG. 3, the central portion of the selection pin is
machined down a little bit, resulting in the length L of the pin to
have reduced diameter and the length of the reduced portion
slightly longer than the diameter D of the central stem, so that
the selection pin cannot be pulled out during loaded state, due to
a shoulder 11 formed on the edge of the cut will be tightly wedged
against the central stem.
[0019] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 shows the safety selection pin of present
invention used in a weight stack system in, respectively, the
relaxed state and loaded stated. Specifically, in FIG. 5, when the
desired weight is pulled up, the central stem is engaged into the L
segment of the pin, thus preventing from the pin being pulled out
laterally/horizontally, because the shoulder 11 would be wedged
against the central stem.
[0020] For weight stacks having built-in selection push-in-switch,
present invention works equally well, by having a length of the
selection pin machined down in its diameter, as shown in FIG. 7.
The length of the cut is still slightly longer than the diameter of
the central stem, so that the shoulder formed on the edge of the
cut will stop the accidental movement of the pin.
[0021] For the "stemless system", as in FIG. 8, present invention
works equally well by having a length of the selection pin machined
down in its diameter, so that the length of the cut is slightly
longer than the diameter of the link-connector portion being
engaged.
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