Safety device for spotting a user of a barbell without a need for human intervention

• US 7,819,785 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Mingrino, Richard J. Maiaro
• Original Assignee: Eric Mingrino, Richard J. Maiaro
• Inventors: Mingrino, Eric, Maiaro, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYANE, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/214,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 482/3, 482/104, 482/107, 482/1, 482/4
• US Class Current: 482/104
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0626 with substantially vertical guiding means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis

Abstract

A safety device for spotting a user of a barbell without a need for human intervention. The device includes a frame, an interface ring assembly, and electrical/electronic apparatus. The frame rests on a level surface. The interface ring assembly is operatively connected to the frame, and interfaces with the barbell. The electrical/electronic apparatus is operatively connected to the interface ring assembly, and spots the user of the barbell without a need for the human intervention.

Claims

1. A safety device for spotting a user of a barbell without a need for human intervention, comprising:

a) a frame;

b) an interface ring assembly; and

c) electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said frame is for resting on a level surface;

wherein said interface ring assembly is operatively connected to said frame;

wherein said interface ring assembly is for interfacing with the barbell;

wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus is operatively connected to said interface ring assembly; and

wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus is for spotting the user of the barbell without the need for the human intervention;

wherein said frame comprises;

i) a base;

ii) a pair of uprights; and

iii) an overhead;

wherein said base of said frame is for resting on the level surface;

wherein said pair of uprights of said frame extend upwardly from said base of said frame; and

wherein said overhead of said frame extends forwardly from said pair of uprights of said frame;

wherein said base of said frame comprises three members;

wherein each member of said base of said frame is slender;

wherein each member of said base of said frame is elongated;

wherein each member of said base of said frame is straight;

wherein said three members of said base of said frame form an exaggerated H configuration; and

wherein said exaggerated H configuration of said three members of said base of said frame has a transverse portion connecting a pair of axial portions at a pair of intersection points;

wherein said frame comprises a bench;

wherein said bench of said frame is disposed between said pair of axial portions of said three members of said base of said frame;

wherein said bench of said frame is for resting on the level surface; and

wherein said bench of said frame is for supporting the user of the barbell;

wherein said bench of said frame comprises;

A) a spotter stand;

B) a foot stand;

C) a spine; and

D) a pad;

wherein said spotter stand of said bench of said frame is for supporting the barbell;

wherein said spine of said bench of said frame extends forwardly from said spotter stand of said bench of said frame to said foot stand of said bench of said frame;

wherein said spine of said bench of said frame supports said pad of said bench of said frame; and

wherein said spine of said bench of said frame is for supporting the user of the barbell in a lying position;

wherein said interface ring assembly comprises a pair of cables;

wherein said pair of cables of said interface ring assembly reeve on a winch of said interface ring assembly, and depend therefrom into lower ends; and

wherein said lower ends of said pair of cables of said interface ring assembly are for disposing in proximity to the barbell;

wherein said interface ring assembly comprises a pair of interface rings;

wherein said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly depend from said lower ends of said pair of cables of said interface ring assembly, respectively; and

wherein said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly are for receiving the barbell;

wherein each interface ring of said interface ring assembly is thin;

wherein each interface ring of said interface ring assembly is generally oval-shaped;

wherein each interface ring of said interface ring assembly has a primary through bore therethrough;

wherein each interface ring of said interface ring assembly has an upper end;

wherein each interface ring of said interface ring assembly has a lower end; and

wherein said primary through bore of each interface ring of said interface ring assembly is for noncapturingly receiving the barbell;

wherein said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly has a barbell-following sensor;

wherein said barbell-following sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly is disposed at said lower end of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly;

wherein said barbell-following sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly electrically communicates with said winch of said interface ring assembly; and

wherein said barbell-following sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly is for causing said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly to follow the barbell in said primary through bore of each interface ring of said interface ring assembly so as to keep said pair of cables of said interface ring assembly taut.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one interface ring of said interface ring assembly has a barbell-bottom-out sensor;

wherein said barbell-bottom-out sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly electrically communicates with said winch of said interface ring assembly;

wherein said barbell-bottom-out sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly is disposed at a lower extreme of said primary through bore of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly; and

wherein said barbell-bottom-out sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly is for shutting down said winch of said interface ring assembly when the barbell is dropped.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a controller housing;

and

wherein said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed on said frame.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a power source interface;

and

wherein said power source interface of said electrical/electronic apparatus is for interfacing with a power source to power said safety device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises an ON/OFF switch;

wherein said ON/OFF switch of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed on said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said ON/OFF switch of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said power source interface of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said ON/OFF switch of said electrical/electronic apparatus selectively turns said safety device ON and OFF.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a circuit breaker;

wherein said circuit breaker of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said circuit breaker of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said ON/OFF switch of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said circuit breaker of said electrical/electronic apparatus prevents overload of said safety device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a relay;

wherein said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said circuit breaker of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus operates heavy load needed for said safety device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a step-down transformer;

wherein said step-down transformer of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said step-down transformer of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said step-down transformer of said electrical/electronic apparatus is for stepping down the power source from 110V to 24V.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises an amplifier;

wherein said amplifier of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said amplifier of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said step-down transformer of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said amplifier of said electrical/electronic apparatus is for amplifying the 24V power.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a motor;

wherein said motor of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed with said winch of said interface ring assembly;

wherein said motor of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said amplifier of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said motor of said electrical/electronic apparatus operates said winch of said interface ring assembly up and down.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a CPU;

wherein said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said amplifier of said electrical/electronic apparatus via a first OR gate and a second OR gate.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said first OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

and

wherein said first OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus tells said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus to have said winch of said interface ring assembly raise said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said second OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

and

wherein said second OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus tells said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus to have said winch of said interface ring assembly lower said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly to start over after an incident has occurred.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein a third OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

and

wherein said third OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus tells said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus to have said winch of said interface ring assembly stay at rest.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein a fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus tells said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus to have said winch of said interface ring assembly immediately stop and raise said pair of interface rings of said interface ring assembly to a predetermined height; and

wherein said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is feed by a first emergency feed, a second emergency feed, a third emergency feed, and a fourth emergency feed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said first emergency feed of said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with an emergency foot pedal;

wherein said emergency foot pedal of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed on said foot stand of said bench of said frame; and

wherein said emergency foot pedal of said electrical/electronic apparatus, when activated, activates said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said second emergency feed of said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with an emergency voice-activated control;

wherein said emergency voice-activated control of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed on said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said emergency voice-activated control of said electrical/electronic apparatus, when activated, activates said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein said third emergency feed of said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with an emergency stop button;

wherein said emergency stop button of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed on said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said emergency stop button of said electrical/electronic apparatus, when activated, activates said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein said fourth emergency feed of said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said barbell-bottom-out sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly;

and

wherein said fourth emergency feed of said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus is activated when said barbell-bottom-out sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly is activated, thereby activating said fourth OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus.

20. The device of claim 7, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises a pair of limit switches;

wherein said pair of limit switches of said electrical/electronic apparatus are disposed on said overhead of said frame;

wherein said pair of limit switches of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicate with said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said pair of limit switches of said electrical/electronic apparatus are for disconnecting said relay of said electrical/electronic apparatus when the barbell goes all the way up to said overhead of said frame.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises an analog-to-digital converter;

wherein said analog-to-digital converter of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said analog-to-digital converter of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said first OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus, said second OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus, said third OR gate of said electrical/electronic apparatus, and said barbell-following sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly, to thereby allow use of only one barbell-following sensor of said one interface ring of said interface ring assembly while converting analog to digital for smoother operation of said safety device.

22. The device of claim 11, wherein said electrical/electronic apparatus comprises an encoder;

wherein said encoder of said electrical/electronic apparatus is disposed in said controller housing of said electrical/electronic apparatus;

wherein said encoder of said electrical/electronic apparatus electrically communicates with said motor of said electrical/electronic apparatus and said CPU of said electrical/electronic apparatus; and

wherein said encoder of said electrical/electronic apparatus feeds back to said CPU of said electrical/electronic position of said motor of said electrical/electronic apparatus.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein each upright of said frame is slender;

wherein each upright of said frame is elongated;

wherein each upright of said frame is straight;

wherein each upright of said frame has;

a) a lower end; and

b) an upper end;

wherein said lower end of each upright of said frame is connected to an associated intersection point of said three members of said base of said frame, and an associated upright of said frame extends upwardly therefrom to said upper end of said associated upright of said frame.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said overhead of said frame is flat;

wherein said overhead of said frame is sheet-like;

wherein said overhead of said frame is connected to said upper end of each upright of said frame; and

wherein said overhead of said frame extends cantileverly forwardly from said upper end of each upright of said frame.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said frame comprises a pair of lower gusset plates;

and

wherein said pair of lower gusset plates of said frame further connect said pair of axial portions of said three members of said base of said frame to said lower ends of said pair of uprights of said frame, respectively.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein said frame comprises a pair of upper gusset plates;

and

wherein said pair of upper gusset plates of said frame further connect said overhead of said frame to said upper ends of said pair of uprights of said frame, respectively.