Barbell and dumbbell safety spotting apparatus

• US 6,379,287 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prospot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Prospot Incorporated
• Inventors: Olsson, Mikka, Slawinski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/201,434
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/5-7, 482/9, 482/93, 482/104, 482/106
• US Class Current: 482/104
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0783 Safety features for bar-bells, e.g. drop limiting means

Abstract

A barbell and dumbbell safety spotting apparatus [30] comprises a frame [32], two booms [54] pivotally mounted to and supported by the frame, two cables [72] extending from the booms, two reciprocating drives [96] operably connected to the cables and a clutch [116] operably connected to the reciprocating drives to provide independent reciprocating movement of the cables. The cables are connectable to a barbell assembly [22] or dumbbell assembly [26] to provide reciprocating vertical movement of the weight assembly in a free-weight fashion.

Claims

1. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a cable releasably securable to the weight assembly;

support means for supporting a portion of the cable at a point above the weight assembly so that the cable normally extends upwardly from the weight assembly to the support means;

retracting means actuatable for selectively retracting the cable;

clutch means operably connected to the retracting means actuatable for selectively disconnecting the cable from the retracting means; and

reciprocating means operably connected to the clutch means for retracting and extending the cable as the weight assembly is reciprocatably vertically moved in free-weight fashion;

the clutch comprising a weight responsive engagement assembly so that lifting of the weight assembly is required for disengagement of the cable from the retracting means.

2. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising brake means operably connected to the retracting means for securing the cable from movement.

3. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising switch means for actuating the clutch means, whereby the cable is freely movable.

4. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a frame;

two spaced-apart cables movably extending from the frame and securable to the weight assembly;

two spaced-apart reciprocating drives mounted to the frame and respectively connected to the cables for providing reciprocating movement to the cables;

an actuatable motor operably connected to the reciprocating drives for selectively retracting the cables; and

an actuatable rotary pawl clutch operably disposed between the motor and the reciprocating drives for selectively disconnecting the reciprocating drives from the motor, whereby each cable is reciprocatably moveable independent of the other to allow the weight assembly to be reciprocatably moved in free-weight fashion.

5. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a motor brake operably connected to the motor for securing the cables from movement.

6. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a hand switch operably connected to the rotary pawl clutch for selectively actuating the clutch to release the reciprocating drives.

7. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an override switch operably connected to the rotary pawl clutch for operably disconnecting the hand switch and the motor for actuating the motor and retracting the cables.

8. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the motor has a drive shaft rotatable upon actuation of the motor and the rotary pawl clutch comprises:

at least one pawl base mounted to the drive shaft;

at least two ratchet-sprocket gears rotatably mounted to the drive shaft and having a ratchet wheel portion and a sprocket portion; and

at least two spaced-apart actuatable pawls pivotally mounted to the at least one pawl base, each pawl removably engaging the respective ratchet wheel portion for securing the ratchet-sprocket gear from rotational movement about the drive shaft, and the sprocket portion engaging the respective reciprocating drive, whereby actuation of the pawls releases the ratchet-sprocket gears to provide independent movement of the respective reciprocating drives.

9. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least two solenoids mounted to the pawl base and respectively operably connected to the at least two pawls for actuating the pawls.

10. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reciprocating drive comprises:

a sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame; and

a chain movably coupling the sprocket to the rotary pawl clutch.

11. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising biasing means for maintaining tension on the cables.

12. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a counterweight mounted to the chain to maintain tension on the cable.

13. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising two booms pivotally mounted to the frame and movably suspending a portion of the respective cables so that the cable normally extends upwardly from the weight assembly, whereby distance between the suspended portions of the cables is variable.

14. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weight assembly is a pair of dumbbells and the apparatus further comprises dumbbell clamps securable to the cables for releasably engaging the dumbbells, each dumbbell clamp comprising:

two spaced-apart substantially identical plates having a notch for receiving a grip of the dumbbell and an elongated slot intersecting the notch;

a locking bar slidably disposed within each slot; and

biasing means for biasing the locking bar toward the slot, whereby the locking bars removably engage and secure the grip within the notch.

15. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a switch operably connected to the rotary pawl clutch for selectively actuating the clutch to release the reciprocating drives.

16. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a frame;

at least one cable movably extending from the frame and securable to the weight assembly;

at least one reciprocating drive mounted to the frame and connected to the at least one cable for providing reciprocating movement to the at least one cable;

an actuatable motor operably connected to the at least one reciprocating drive for selectively retracting the at least one cable;

a ratchet portion operably connected to the at least one reciprocating drive for securing the cable from movement and

an actuatable rotary pawl clutch operably disposed between the motor and the at least one reciprocating drive for selectively disconnecting the at least one reciprocating drive from the motor, whereby the at least one cable is reciprocatably movable to allow the weight assembly to be reciprocatably moved in free-weight fashion.

17. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a motor brake operably connected to the motor for securing the at least one cable from movement.

18. The safety spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a switch operably connected to the rotary pawl clutch for selectively actuating the clutch to release the at least one reciprocating drive.

19. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a cable movably extending from the frame and securable to the weight assembly;

a reciprocating drive connected to the cable for providing reciprocating movement to the cable;

an actuatable motor operably connected to the reciprocating drive for selectively retracting the cable; and

an actuatable clutch for the reciprocating drive operably disposed between the motor and the reciprocating drive for selectively disconnecting the reciprocating drive from the motor, whereby the cable is reciprocatably moveable to allow the weight assembly to be reciprocatably moved in free-weight fashion.

20. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a boom pivotally mounted to the frame;

a cable movably extending from the boom and securable to the weight assembly;

a reciprocating drive connected to the cable for providing reciprocating movement to the cable;

an actuatable clutch for the reciprocating drive operably disposed between the motor and the reciprocating drive for selectively disconnecting the reciprocating drive from the motor, whereby the cable is reciprocatably moveable to allow the weight assembly to be reciprocatably moved in free-weight fashion.

21. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a free-weight assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a frame comprising a support unit fixed to the frame;

a first flexible cable disposed on the frame to support the free-weight assembly against gravity, the first cable comprising a first end releasably attachable to the free-weight assembly and a second end operably connected to the support unit by a first weight-responsive engagement assembly;

a second flexible cable disposed on the frame to support the free-weight assembly, the second cable comprising a first end releasably attachable to the free-weight assembly and

a second end operably connected to the support unit by a second weight-responsive engagement assembly;

whereby lifting of the free-weight assembly against gravity disengages at least one of said first weight-responsive engagement assembly and said second weight-responsive engagement assembly from said support unit to allow independent downward motion of said first end of said first cable and said first end of said second cable.

22. The safety spotting apparatus of claim 21 wherein the support unit comprises a first ratchet wheel and a second ratchet wheel and the first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a first pawl normally biased to engage the first ratchet wheel, and the second weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a second pawl normally biased to engage the second ratchet wheel.

23. The safety spotting apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a release-bias element connected to the first pawl, the release-bias element actuated by an actuator on the free-weight assembly.

24. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a free-weight assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a frame comprising a first support assembly and a second support assembly;

a first flexible cable disposed on the frame to support the free-weight assembly, the first cable comprising a first end releasably attachable to the free-weight assembly and a second end operably connected to the first support assembly by a first weight-responsive engagement assembly;

a second flexible cable disposed on the frame to support the free-weight assembly, the second cable comprising a first end releasably attachable to the free-weight assembly and

a second end operably connected to the second support assembly by a second weight-responsive engagement assembly;

whereby lifting of the free-weight assembly against gravity disengages at least one of said first weight-responsive engagement assembly and said second weight-responsive engagement assembly from a respective said first support assembly and said second support assembly to allow independent downward motion of said first end of said first cable and said first end of said second cable.

25. The safety spotting apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first support assembly comprises a first ratchet wheel and the first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a first pawl biased to normally engage the first ratchet wheel.

26. The safety spotting apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a release-bias solenoid connected to the first pawl, the release-bias solenoid actuated by an actuator on the free-weight assembly.

27. A safety spotting apparatus for use in connection with a weight assembly, comprising:

a frame;

at least one cable movably extending from the frame and securable to the weight assembly;

a boom pivotally mounted to the frame and movably supporting the at least one cable;

at least one reciprocating drive mounted to the frame and connected to the at least one cable for providing reciprocating movement to the at least one cable;

an actuatable motor operably connected to the at least one reciprocating drive for selectively retracting the at least one cable;

an actuatable rotary pawl clutch operably disposed between the motor and the at least one reciprocating drive for selectively disconnecting the at least one reciprocating drive from the motor, whereby the at least one cable is reciprocatably movable to allow the weight assembly to be reciprocatably moved in free-weight fashion.