Dual action weightlifting machine

• US 7,909,743 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Original Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Inventors: Webber, Randall T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US12/727,581
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 482/92, 482/93, 482/94, 482/98, 482/104, 211/85.7, 211/60.1, 211/13.1
• US Class Current: 482/104
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0624 by moving the guiding means
• 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

Abstract

A dual action weightlifting machine has a stationary frame including a racking portion and spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on opposite sides of the frame for horizontal movement relative to the frame. A horizontally extending exercise bar assembly has spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the vertical guides, a user engaging portion for gripping by a user, at least one rack engaging portion having a smooth cylindrical surface which directly engages a selected support portion of the rack assembly in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly, and opposite first and second end portions for receiving one or more selected weights. The user engaging portion is located between the opposite sides of the frame and has a central longitudinal axis which is aligned and coaxial with the cylindrical surface of the rack engaging portion.

Claims

1. A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising:

a stationary frame having opposite first and second sides and opposite ends;

first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on the first and second sides, respectively, of the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame;

a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the respective first and second vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame, and an exercise bar having a user engaging portion for gripping by a user when performing weightlifting exercises, opposite first and second end portions of a first diameter extending outwardly from the respective first and second sides of the frame for receiving one or more selected weights, a protective sleeve mounted on each end portion, a first annular stop of greater diameter than the first end portion located between the first end portion and the first vertical slide, a second annular stop of greater diameter than the second end portion located between the second end portion and the second vertical slide, the user engaging portion, annular stops and end portions having a common central longitudinal axis, and at least a first rack engaging portion between the user engaging portion and the first annular stop, the rack engaging portion having a cylindrical surface of diameter substantially equal to the first diameter which has a central axis coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the user engaging portion and weight receiving end portions;

the stationary frame including a rack assembly which has at least one support portion which directly engages the cylindrical surface of the first rack engaging portion at a position spaced transversely outward from the first vertical slide at the first side of the frame and inward from the first annular stop in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly; and

the user engaging portion of the exercise bar assembly being rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides and rack engaging portions and freely rotatable through 360 degrees.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise bar extends perpendicular to the vertical guides and has a second rack engaging portion between the user engaging portion and the second annular stop, the first and second weight receiving end portions projecting in a generally outward direction from the first and second annular stops, respectively.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second vertical slides comprise first and second sleeves slidably engaged over the respective first and second vertical guides.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise bar assembly further comprises first and second mounting portions projecting inwardly relative to the opposite first and second sides of the frame, and the user engaging portion has opposite ends rotatably engaged with the first and second mounting portions, respectively.

5. A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising:

a stationary frame including a racking assembly having a plurality of support portions;

first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame;

a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having a user engaging portion for gripping by a user when performing weightlifting exercises, first and second rack engaging portions at opposite ends of the user engaging portion, opposite first and second end portions extending outwardly from the first and second rack engaging portions, respectively, for receiving one or more selected weights, each rack engaging portion having a cylindrical surface of a first diameter configured for direct engagement with a respective support portion of the racking assembly in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly, and spaced first and second vertical slides secured to the exercise bar assembly at positions spaced inward from the first and second rack engaging portion, respectively, and slidably mounted on the first and second vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame;

the user engaging portion of the exercise bar assembly which is gripped by a user having a second diameter different from the first diameter, the user engaging portion being rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides and freely rotatable through 360 degrees, the user engaging portion comprising the only portion of the exercise bar assembly which rotates, whereby the user'"'"'s hands may be rotated relative to the vertical slides during a weight lifting exercise; and

the user engaging portion, rack engaging portions, and end portions of the exercise bar assembly being coaxially aligned and having a common central longitudinal axis which extends transverse to the vertical slides.

6. The machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame has opposite ends and first and second spaced upright struts at least at one end of the frame, the upright struts having a plurality of spaced support portions, the support portions of the first upright strut facing the first rack engaging portion and the support portions of the second upright strut facing the second rack engaging portion, the exercise bar assembly being movable between exercise positions spaced from the upright struts and at least one racking position, the cylindrical surface of the first rack engaging portion directly engaging a selected support portion on the first upright strut and the cylindrical surface of the second rack engaging portion directly engaging an aligned support portion on the second upright strut in the racking position.

7. The machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support portions of the upright struts extend towards the exercise bar assembly and are oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the user engaging portion of the exercise bar assembly.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support portions on the upright struts comprise upwardly facing hooks.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user engaging portion and weight receiving end portions of the exercise bar assembly arc coaxial with the central axes of the upwardly facing hooks in which the cylindrical surfaces of first and second rack engaging portions are engaged in the racking position.

10. A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising:

a stationary frame including a racking assembly having a plurality of support portions, the frame having opposite sides defining an exercise area between the opposite sides of the frame;

first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on opposite sides of the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame, each vertical guide having a central vertical axis;

a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame, a user engaging portion in the exercise area for gripping by a user when performing weightlifting exercises, at least one rack engaging portion having a cylindrical surface which directly engages a selected support portion of the racking assembly in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly, and opposite first and second end portions for receiving one or more selected weights;

the user engaging portion having a smaller diameter than the rack engaging portion and end portions, and being located between the vertical slides and not extending outwardly beyond the vertical slides, and having a central longitudinal axis which is aligned and coaxial with the cylindrical surface of said rack engaging portion and perpendicular to the vertical axis of each vertical guide; and

the user engaging portion being rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides and rack engaging portions of the exercise bar assembly, and being freely rotatable through 360 degrees, whereby the user'"'"'s hands may be rotated relative to the vertical slides during a weight lifting exercise.

11. The machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cylindrical surface of said rack engaging portion is spaced outward from the user engaging portion in a direction along said central longitudinal axis.

12. The machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cylindrical surfaces of the rack engaging portions have a first diameter and the user engaging portion has a second diameter which is different from the first diameter.

13. A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising:

a stationary frame including a racking assembly having a plurality of support portions;

first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame, each vertical guide having a central vertical axis;

a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame, a user engaging portion for gripping by a user when performing weightlifting exercises, at least one rack engaging portion which directly engages a selected support portion of the rack assembly in a racked position of the exercise bar assembly, and opposite first and second end portions for receiving one or more selected weights;

the user engaging portion located between the vertical slides and not extending outwardly beyond the vertical slides, and having a central longitudinal axis which is coplanar with the vertical axis of each vertical guide; and

the user engaging portion being rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides and freely rotatable through 360 degrees, whereby the user'"'"'s hands may be rotated relative to the vertical slides during a weight lifting exercise.

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the first and second vertical slides comprise first and second sleeves slidably engaged over the respective first and second vertical guides.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein each sleeve has a mounting portion projecting radially inwardly from the sleeve in alignment with the mounting portion on the other sleeve, and the user engaging portion is rotatably mounted on the mounting portions.

16. The machine of claim 13, wherein the exercise bar assembly further comprises a bar extending transversely between the sleeves and the user engaging portion comprises at least one hand grip sleeve rotatably mounted on the bar.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the user engaging portion comprises a pair of hand grip sleeves rotatably mounted on the bar.

18. The machine of claim 13, wherein the first weight engaging end portion projects outward from the first sleeve and the second weight engaging end portion projects outward from the second sleeve.

19. A dual action weightlifting machine, comprising:

a stationary frame having opposite first and second ends and opposite first and second sides, first and second spaced upright struts at the first end of the frame, each upright strut having a plurality of vertically spaced, upwardly directed support portions, the support portions of the upright struts defining a plurality of spaced racking positions;

first and second spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on opposite sides of the stationary frame for horizontal sliding movement relative to the frame;

the first vertical guide being spaced inwardly from the support portions on the first upright strut, and the second vertical guide being spaced inwardly from the support portions on the second upright strut;

a horizontally extending exercise bar assembly having spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the vertical guides for vertical sliding movement relative to the frame, a user engaging portion rotatably mounted relative to the vertical slides, opposite first and second end portions for receiving one or more selected weights, each end portion having an outer sleeve, first and second annular stops of larger diameter than the first and second end portions, the first annular stop located between the first end portion and first vertical slide and the second annular stop located between the second end portion and second vertical slide, and spaced first and second rack engaging portions each having a cylindrical surface of substantially the same diameter as the first and second end portions which directly engages the support portions in a respective upright strut in the racking positions, the first rack engaging portion located between the first annular stop and the first vertical slide and the second rack engaging portion located between the second annular stop and the second vertical slide;

the user engaging portion of the exercise bar assembly having a central longitudinal axis which extends transverse to the vertical slides, and the end portions and cylindrical rack engaging surfaces of the rack engaging portions having central axes which are coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the user engaging portion;

the exercise bar assembly being movable between exercise positions spaced from the upright struts and racking positions in which the cylindrical surfaces of the first and second rack engaging portions directly engage the support portions of the respective upright struts to support the exercise bar assembly on the struts; and

the user engaging portion being freely rotatable through 360 degrees in the exercise position and the racking positions, whereby the user'"'"'s hands may be freely rotated relative to the vertical slides.