Patent Application
20240269503
The present weight selection system relates in general to exercise machines having stacked weight plates, and more particularly to mechanisms for selecting the exact amount of weight that the user wishes to lift.
A common problem with users of weight stack exercise machines is that the user may want to add an intermediate weight (i.e.: a weight less than the weight of each of the plates in the weight stack) to add to the total weight that they are lifting. This is a common problem when users want to add weight in smaller increments to their exercise routines. For example, each plate in a weight stack may weigh 10 lbs and the user may instead wish to increase their exercise routines in 5 lb increments.
Solutions do exist to this problem in the form of smaller amounts of weight that can be selectively added to the plates of the weight stack as desired. Unfortunately, many of these solutions tend to be either bulky or counterintuitive to use. What is therefore instead desired is an easy to use system for adding an intermediate weight to a selected stack of weight plates. Ideally, such a system would be easy to use and permit the user to add the additional (i.e.: intermediate) weight to the stack with the simple flip of a switch. Ideally as well, such a system would preferably require minimal space to house and operate. As will be shown, the present system provides such a solution.
In preferred aspects, the present system provides an easy to use system for adding an incremental weight to the plates being lifted in a weight stack.
In one aspect, the present system provides an add-on weight selection system for an exercise machine, comprising:
In preferred aspects, the add-on weight selection mechanism comprises a vertical pole with a plurality of attached rollers. The rollers are positioned to travel along the vertical pole as the add-on weight panel is raised and lowered. In operation, the add-on weight selection mechanism rotates the add-on weight panel about a vertical axis (preferably passing through the vertical pole) between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The weight stack preferably includes a projection extending from a weight plate at the top of the weight stack, and the add-on weight panel has a notch dimensioned to receive the projection therein. As such, when the add-on weight panel is rotated into its engaged position, then the projection at the top of the weight stack moves into the notch in the panel, essentially hooking the panel onto the projection such that when the weight stack is lifted, the add-on panel will be lifted together with it.
In preferred aspects, the mechanism for moving the add-on weight panel about the vertical axis comprises a hand lever connected to the vertical pole, and the hand lever is optionally biased into the engaged position or the disengaged position.
In preferred aspects, the add-on weight panel is thin and positioned to hang behind the weight stack taking up little room as it moves up and down together with the weights in the weight stack when engaged.
One advantage of the present system is that it is very easy for a user to operate. The user merely has to flip the switch near the top of the vertical pole and the additional incremental weight is added to the weight stack for lifting. Preferably, the weight being added by the user's flip of the switch is less than the weight of each of the plates in the weight stack. For example, if each plate weighs 10 lbs, the additional weight being added by the present system can be 5 lbs. As such, the user can add weight in 5 lb increments (rather than 10 lb increments) by using the present system.
As seen in the attached Figures, the present system provides an add-on weight system 10 for a cable exercise machine. Add-on weight system 10 preferably comprises:
As best seen in
In operation, the add-on weight selection mechanism 40 rotates the add-on weight panel 30 about a vertical axis between the engaged position (as seen in
Also in preferred aspects, a hand lever 46 connected to the vertical pole 42 is used for moving the add-on weight panel 30 about the vertical axis passing through the vertical pole 42. In optional preferred aspects, hand lever 46 is biased into the engaged position or the disengaged position. This may be done by using a spring-loaded follower 47.
As best seen in
Preferably, the add-on weight panel 30 weighs less than any one of the weights 22 in weight stack 20. Most preferably, the add-on weight panel 30 weight is ½ of the weight of each of the weights 20 in the weight stack. For example, if each weight 22 in weight stack 20 weighs 10 lbs, then add-on weight panel 30 could weigh 5 lbs. As such, should a user wish to lift 30 lbs, (s)he would use pin 25 to select three weight panels 22. However, should (s)he instead wish to lift 35 lbs, (s)he would use pin 25 to select three weight panels 22 and also use lever arm 46 to rotate add-on weight panel 30 into its engaged position such that it (weighing 5 lbs) is lifted together with the three weight panels (each weighing 10 lbs), thereby lifting a total of 35 lbs. As can be seen, weight selector 25 may simply be a pin and each of the weights 22 in weight stack 20 have a hole to receive pin 25 therein.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/445,930, of same title, filed Feb. 15, 2023, the entire disclosure of which in incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63445930 | Feb 2023 | US |
