Patent Application
20070155594
The present invention relates to weightlifting equipment, and more particularly to a support hook assembly for resting a weight bar.
Weightlifters perform various exercises for the purpose of developing particular muscles throughout the body. These exercises can be performed through the use of free weights, such as barbells, or with machines. Many weightlifters prefer free weights because free weights permit the lifter to perform the exercises in a natural motion while utilizing pure body leverage in performing the exercise. This facilitates isolation of particular muscle groups and simulates actual athletic sports motions. The support assembly also often operates to spot the lifter and prevent the free weight from being dropped past a particular point.
Between “sets” free weights are rested upon a support assembly which mounts to a weight bar frame rack. The support assembly is also adjustable relative to the frame rack to locate the weight at a height desired for a particular lifter. Conventional support assemblies are typically posts or hooks which engage the frame rack at one of a multitude of locations.
Although effective, conventional support assemblies typically provide a tradeoff between sturdiness, security when locked along and ease of positioning the frame rack.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a weight support assembly which will support a significant amount of weight, be securely lockable to the frame rack yet be readily repositioned.
A weightlifting system according to the present invention includes a weight bar frame rack and weight support assembly for attachment thereto. The weight support assembly supports a weight bar or the like. The frame rack includes a multitude of openings along an upright which receive the weight support assembly such that the support assembly may be located at various positions along the frame rack.
The openings are arranged in horizontally opposed pairs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the upright. A lock opening is located through the front face between each vertically separated pair of openings.
The support assembly includes support plates which extend generally perpendicularly from a central support plate to form a generally U-shape. A multitude of studs extend from an inner surface of the support plates to engage the openings and provide a robust support for a significant quantity of weight.
A pair of generally parallel hook plates extend perpendicularly from the central support plate. The hook plates define an angled intersection to receive a weight bar or the like therein. A non-metallic bumper bridges an edge surface of the hook plates to cushion impacts with the weight bar. A wear pin is mounted at the angled intersection to facilitate positioning of the weight bar thereon.
A lock trigger is pivotally mounted between the hook plates at a pivot pin. The lock trigger is biased such that a latch member extends through a latch aperture within the central support plate. The lock trigger is accessed through a trigger guard aperture formed within the hook plates.
In use, the weight support assembly is selectively attached to a desired position along the weight bar frame rack by locating the studs adjacent to openings at a desired height. The weight support assembly is pushed toward the frame member such that that studs engage and are guided by the openings. Concurrent therewith, the lock trigger is driven away from the central support plate by interaction of the latch member with the front face of the frame member such that the bias of a spring is overcome and the latch member is retracted into the lock opening. As the studs slide toward the bottom of the openings, the latch member encounters the lock opening and the latch member engages therewith. The weight support assembly is thereby securely locked into place.
To remove the weight support assembly, the lock trigger is retracted by locating one or more fingers in the trigger guard aperture and squeezing to overcome the bias of the spring. This is readily achieved by grasping the hook plates. The weight support assembly is then lifted up and out of the openings. As the openings include corners with significant radii, the studs are readily guided thereby. Advantageously, the entire locking and unlocking of the weight support assembly is readily performed with one hand.
The present invention therefore provides a weight support assembly which will support a significant amount of weight, is securely lockable, yet is readily repositioned along the frame rack.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
The frame rack 10 includes a multitude of openings 14 along an upright frame member 16 which receive the weight support assembly 12 such that the support assembly 12 may be located at various positions along the frame rack 10. Each opening 14 is separated from the next by approximately four inches to provide significant incremental adjustment, however, any separation will be usable with the present invention.
Referring to
The openings 14 are arranged in horizontally opposed pairs of openings 14a, 14b perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. That is, each pair of openings 14 includes a first opening 14a located through the front face 18 and the first side face 20 and a second opening 14b located through the front face 18 and the second side face 22 such that the openings 14a, 14b are aligned when viewed from one of the side faces 20, 22.
A lock opening 24 is located through the front face 18 between each vertically separated pair of openings 14a, 14b. Each lock opening 24 is displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis A and is generally square in shape. It should be understood that other shapes will also be readily usable with the present invention. Preferably, the lock opening 24 is longitudinally staggered above each pair of openings 14a, 14b.
Referring to
A first hook plate 32 and a second hook plate 34 are generally parallel and extend perpendicularly from said central support plate 30 (also illustrated in
The hook plates 32, 34 define an angled intersection 36 to receive a weight bar or the like therein. A non-metallic bumper 38, 40 bridges an edge surface of the first hook plate 32 and the second hook plate 34 to cushion impacts with a weight bar and provide a smooth gripping surface. The non-metallic bumpers 38, 40 preferably do not extend into the angled intersection as continued contact with a metal weight bar would rapidly deteriorate the non-metallic material.
Preferably, a wear pin 42 is mounted at the angled intersection 36 for rotation about a rotational axis W generally parallel to the first and second hook plates 32, 34. A pin support plate 44 (also illustrated in
The pin support plate 44 is attached between the hook plates 32, 34 through welding or the like. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a fastener 46 extends through the hook plates 32, 34 and the pin support plate 44 to further mount the pin support plate 44 therein. The pin support plate 44 receives the wear pin 42 within a recess 47 (
As the non-metallic bumpers 38, 40 at least partially overlap the wear pin 42, the wear pin 42 is retained thereby. The non-metallic bumpers 38, 40 need only prevent the wear pin 42 from falling out. Notably, the wear pin 42 is supported by the pin support plate 44 such that the significant weight of the weight bar may be supported thereon. Furthermore, as the wear pin 42 is only placed within the recess 47, the wear pin 42 may rotate about axis W to facilitate poisoning of the weight bar thereon. In other words, the wear pin 42 provides a rotational surface rather than a flat surface such that the weight bar is more readily longitudinally positioned than what has heretofore been conventionally available.
Referring to
Referring to
In use, the weight support assembly 12 is selectively attached to a desired position along the weight bar frame rack 10 by locating the studs 50a-50d adjacent to openings 14 at a desired height. The weight support assembly 12 is pushed toward the upright frame member 16 such that the studs 50a-50d are located into the first opening portions 14′ (
To remove the weight support assembly 12, the lock trigger 52 is retracted by grasping the hook plates 32, 34 and inserting one or more fingers into the trigger guard aperture 60. The lock trigger 52 is squeezed to overcome the bias of the spring 55 and retract the latch member 56 from the lock opening 24. The weight support assembly 12 is then lifted up and out of the openings 14. As the openings 14 include corners with significantly large radii, the studs 50a-50d are readily guided thereby. Advantageously, the entire locking and unlocking of the weight support assembly 12 is readily performed with one hand.
It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude and should not be considered otherwise limiting.
The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
