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Self spotting barbell pressRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Including Stationary Support For Weight, Barbell SupportSelf spotting barbell press description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070203003, Self spotting barbell press. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] (1) Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to free weight exercise equipment, and in particular to an improved self-spotting bench press. [0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art [0004] The use of barbells, i.e., free weights, for conditioning and enhancement of the body's musculature is widely practiced by a variety of people. Often, these people prefer to weight lift in the privacy of their home, and when they feel like weight lifting. [0005] Most often weight training is executed with a spotter, i.e., someone who can assist the lifter when they become fatigued or are having difficulty or are about to drop the weight. Style, communication, consistency and reaction time are all factors that vary when being spotted. These factors are major deterrents to using a human spotter. However, to weight lift without a spotter may be dangerous to the weight lifter. There is a significant danger of serious injury due to fatigue or improper technique unless a spotter is present to grab the barbell to prevent the barbell from dropping on the weight lifter. This danger exists in situations from private to professional weight lifting. [0006] The danger of crushing ones chest performing the bench press exercise is a great concern. U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,379 to Brawner (2004) shows a device that lifts the weight from the lifters chest using multiple hydraulic cylinders. While this device removes the weight it does so at considerable cost since multiple cylinders and the hydraulic components to support them are required. U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,164 to Kullman et al (1999) shows a device that lifts the weight from the lifter's chest. While this device removes the weight from the lifter's chest, it utilizes cables attached to the lifting weight that increase setup time and can cause increased or decreased resistance due to contact with the barbell. U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,648 to Capizzo (2005) shows a device that also lifts the weight from the lifter's chest using a motor. This device lacks the ability to adjust the amount of assist, and rate of lift to each lifter's preference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,159 to Slattery (2003) describes a spotting machine that requires power to operate an electric motor that limits the machine to an area supplied with a power source. All the machines heretofore known suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: [0007] a. Using multiple hydraulic cylinders. The lifting functionality of U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,379 to Brawner (2004) can be achieved without the use of multiple cylinders. [0008] b. When using multiple hydraulic cylinders connected to the same pressure supply the cylinders don't always ascend at the same rate. [0009] c. Exercisers regularly lean weight plates against the uprights of the exercise bench. Prior art using upright mounted hydraulic cylinders risk cylinder damage and hydraulic leaks due to this tendency. [0010] d. Require lifting mechanism adjustment such that the lifting range of the mechanism is consistent with the lifting range of the exerciser. [0011] e. Not being adjustable to suit each individual lifter's spotting preference, such as whether the spotting mechanism should assist the lifter by removing a fraction of the weight, remove all the weight, or not be used at all, and rate at which the spotting mechanism lifts the weight. [0012] f. Not enabling the lifter to continue repetitions while being assisted by the spotting device and still having the ability to lock the spotting device preventing the weight from falling on or crushing the lifter. [0013] g. Requiring electrical power. [0014] h. Using barbell attachments such as cables that impede motion. [0015] i. Using a greater quantity of material and being significantly larger and therefore heavier than traditional bench presses. This is more costly and discourages their use in private homes. [0016] j. Not enabling the lifter to use the device with a human spotter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017] The present invention relates to a safety device for supporting a weight bar (barbell) above an exerciser, and to an apparatus comprised of the safety device in combination with free-weight exercise equipment (such as, but not limited to a bench press or squat rack). [0018] Generally, the apparatus is comprised of first and second placed elongated uprights positionable on opposite sides of the head or upper end of the weightlifting bench, or of the squatting area. Note that the weightlifting bench position within the plane of the uprights is the position from which the squat exercise is performed should the apparatus not be fitted with a bench. Each of the uprights includes a slotted, elongated outer housing, an elongated slide bar that is longitudinally aligned within the housing, and a sleeve slideable on the slide bar between raised and lowered positions. The slideable sleeve and slide bar can be replaced by a shuttle type slide that does not require a slide bar/ball bushing slide. Such a shuttle type slide would have wheels and traverse up and down the upright using the upright as a track. Affixed to the slideable assembly of each upright is a cable of sufficient strength and flexibility to convey hydraulic cylinder force to the slide assembly. In other words, a first cable is included for the first upright and a second cable is included for the second upright. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term cable includes straps, cords and wires. [0019] Conventional pulley wheels located at each end of the uprights are for directing the cables in a plane parallel with the uprights and then in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder push-rod. This pulley and cable arrangement allows the conversion and relocation of linear push-rod movement into linear slide assembly movement in each upright. A horizontal barbell support arm is attached to the sleeve and extends outwardly from the housing through the first slot in the direction of the bench or perpendicular to the vertical plane that passes through the barbell. The support arms are parallel and lie in a horizontal plane above the bench or squatting position, with the arm intersecting the path of the barbell when it is lifted. [0020] A single hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the first and second uprights. The hydraulic cylinder is of conventional design and is comprised of a tubular section with a hydraulic fluid inlet at one end. At the other end a push-rod having inner and outer ends projects outwardly from the cylinder. The inner end of the push-rod is connected to a piston within the cylinder. When hydraulic fluid enters the interior of the tubular section, the push-rod extends outwardly from the cylinder. The outer end of the push-rod includes a pulley wheel with axle of sufficient strength and size to accommodate the cables having their first ends attached to the slideable assembly. The second ends of the cables are attached to the distal end of the cylinder. However, the cable second ends could be fastened to other locations and achieve the same result of providing an anchor point for each cable. An idler pulley is mounted to the distal end of the cylinder. The idler pulley is free to rotate within a plane parallel to the extendable push-rod such that the cable originating from the upright in the direction that the cylinder push-rod extends can be redirected. From their anchor point on the distal side of the cylinder, each cable will extend in the direction of, and around the pulley wheel on the extendable push-rod, then extend back in the direction of, and parallel to the cylinder. At this point, the first cable will round the pulley wheel on the distal end of the cylinder and be directed toward the pulley wheel at the lower end of the first upright in the direction that the cylinder push-rod extends. The second cable will extend past the cylinder and be directed toward the pulley wheel at the lower end of the second upright. Preferably, the tubular section of the hydraulic cylinder is attached at each end to a cross member adjoining the first and second uprights. Thus, as the push-rod is extended under pressure of hydraulic fluid, the slideable sleeves and attached support arms are urged to move in an upward direction. [0021] The combination of cables and pulleys with the single hydraulic cylinder and push-rod provides a unique mechanical advantage over the prior art. For example, the number and arrangement of pulleys can be selected to provide a fixed ratio of travel between the barbell supports and the stroke length of the push-rod. The preferred embodiment uses a cable and pulley arrangement that yields a two-inch travel for every inch of push-rod stroke. This allows for a shorter and less expensive hydraulic cylinder to be used as the system's actuator. Other travel ratios such as 3:1 could be selected. In fact, dependent upon the number and arrangement of pulleys used as well as their diameter, a practical travel ratio of push-rod travel to barbell support travel can be implemented from about 1:10 to 10:1. Continue reading about Self spotting barbell press... 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