Exercise equipment with dock-and-lock and spotter platform

• US 7,753,830 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Steffee, Clay J., Marsh, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roland; Daniel F
• Application Number:
  US12/127,094
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92-104, 482135-137, 482/142, 482/145, 482/908, 248/129, 248/297.21, 248/297.31, 248/297.51, 16/33, 16/34
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

Exercise equipment includes a stationary dock and a user support frame engaging the dock in docking relation, including application as a weight training rack and bench including a weight rack frame and a bench frame releasably lockable to the weight rack frame at a plurality of selectable locking locations therealong. A pair of collapsible spotter platforms are mounted to respective upstanding support posts.

Claims

1. Exercise equipment comprising a stationary dock, a user support frame engaging said dock in docking relation and releasably lockable thereto at a plurality of selectable locking locations therealong, a locking member releasably locking said user support frame to said dock, said locking member being actuatable between a first locking position locking said user support frame to said dock at a selected one of said locking locations, and a second release position releasing said user support frame from said dock, a user-operated handle operable to a first condition which actuates said locking member to said locking position at a selected one of said locking locations, and a second condition which both:

a) actuates said locking member to said release position to release said user support frame from said dock; and

b) enables movement of said user support frame to a different one of said locking locations; and

wherein the exercise equipment is further comprising a roller mounted to said user support frame and movable relative to said user support frame between a first raised position and a second lowered position, said roller in said lowered position engaging a floor which supports said dock, wherein moving said roller into said lowered position raises said user support frame above said floor and actuates said locking member to said release position and out of engagement with said dock, wherein moving said roller into said raised position lowers said user support frame and actuates said locking member to said locking position and enables re-engagement of said locking member with said dock.

2. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 wherein said roller in said lowered position rolls along said floor to enable re-positioning of said user support frame to a selected one of said locking locations along said dock.

3. The exercise equipment according to claim 2 wherein said handle is coupled to said roller by pivoted linkage connected to said user support frame.

4. The exercise equipment according to claim 3 wherein said linkage comprises a multi-link multi-pivot linkage comprising:

a first link having a first pivot connected to said user support frame, a second pivot, and a handle-connection portion connected to said handle;

a second link having a third pivot connected to said user support frame, a fourth pivot journaling said roller, and a fifth pivot;

a third link pivotally connected between said second pivot and said fifth pivot.

5. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 wherein:

said user support frame is movable along a longitudinal direction relative to said dock to longitudinally spaced said locking locations;

said roller is movable relative to said user support frame between said raised and lowered positions transversely of said longitudinal direction.

6. The exercise equipment according to claim 5 wherein said roller comprises a first set of one or more rollers, and comprising a second set of one or more rollers journaled to said user support frame and longitudinally spaced from said first set of rollers, said user support frame rolling along said floor on said first and second sets of rollers when said first set of rollers is in said lowered position.

7. The exercise equipment according to claim 6 wherein said first and second sets of rollers are longitudinally spaced along said user support frame at longitudinally distally opposite first and second ends thereof, respectively, and comprising a third set of one or more rollers journaled to said user support frame at said first longitudinal end thereof and rolling along said floor when said first set of rollers is in said raised position and said second longitudinal end of said user support frame is manually raised by the user to enable wheelbarrow movement of said user support frame on said third set of rollers at said first longitudinal end of said user support frame.

8. The exercise equipment according to claim 7 wherein said third set of rollers comprises a pair of outrigger rollers laterally spaced outwardly of said first set of rollers therebetween.

9. The exercise equipment according to claim 5 wherein said dock comprises an anchor portion having a locking tongue extending longitudinally therefrom and providing said plurality of locking locations longitudinally spaced along said tongue.

10. The exercise equipment according to claim 9 wherein said tongue has a plurality of detents longitudinally spaced therealong and providing said locking locations.

11. The exercise equipment according to claim 10 wherein said detents comprise slots longitudinally spaced along said tongue, said locking member comprises a locking pin mounted to said user support frame and lowered into a respective said slot upon said lowering of said user support frame in response to said raising of said roller.

12. The exercise equipment according to claim 11 wherein said locking member comprises a spring biased said locking pin mounted to said user support frame and biased toward a respective said slot by a spring providing lost motion when said locking pin is not aligned with a respective said slot.

13. The exercise equipment according to claim 9 wherein said roller comprises a pair of laterally spaced rollers straddling said tongue extending longitudinally therebetween.

14. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 wherein:

said roller is mounted to said user support frame by a bracket having first, second, and third pivots;

said first pivot is connected to said user support frame;

said second pivot journals said roller;

said third pivot is coupled to said handle through handle linkage.

15. A weight training rack and bench comprising a weight rack frame for supporting one or more training weights, a bench frame for supporting a user bench, said bench frame engaging said weight rack frame in docking relation and releasably lockable thereto at a plurality of selectable locking locations therealong, a locking member releasably locking said bench frame to said weight rack frame, said locking member being actuatable between a first locking position locking said bench frame to said weight rack frame at a selected one of said locking locations, and a second release position releasing said bench frame from said weight rack frame, a user-operated handle operable to a first condition which actuates said locking member to said locking position at a selected one of said locking locations, and a second condition which both:

a) actuates said locking member to said release position to release said bench frame from said weight rack frame; and

b) enables movement of said bench frame to a different one of said locking locations; and

wherein the weight training rack and back is further comprising a roller mounted to said bench frame and movable relative to said bench frame between a first raised position and a second lowered position, said roller in said lowered position engaging a floor which supports said weight rack frame, wherein moving said roller into said lowered position raises said bench frame above said floor and actuates said locking member to said release position and out of engagement with said weight rack frame, wherein moving said roller into said raised position lowers said bench frame and actuates said locking member to said locking position and enables re-engagement of said locking member with said weight rack frame.

16. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 15 wherein said roller in said lowered position is rolls along said floor to enable re-positioning of said bench frame to a selected one of said locking locations along said weigh rack frame.

17. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 16 wherein said handle is coupled to said roller by pivoted linkage connected to said bench frame.

18. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 17 wherein said linkage comprises a multi-link multi-pivot linkage comprising:

a first link having a first pivot connected to said bench frame, a second pivot, and a handle-connection portion connected to said handle;

a second link having a third pivot connected to said bench frame, a fourth pivot journaling said roller, and a fifth pivot;

a third link pivotally connected between said second pivot and said fifth pivot.

19. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 15 wherein:

said bench frame is movable along a longitudinal direction relative to said weight rack frame to longitudinally spaced said locking locations;

said roller is movable relative to said bench frame between said raised and lowered positions transversely of said longitudinal direction.

20. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 19 wherein said roller comprises a first set of one or more rollers, and comprising a second set of one or more rollers journaled to said bench frame and longitudinally spaced from said first set of rollers, said bench frame rolling along said floor on said first and second sets of rollers when said first set of rollers is in said lowered position.

21. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 20 wherein said first and second sets of rollers are longitudinally spaced along said bench frame at longitudinally distally opposite first and second ends thereof, respectively, and comprising a third set of one or more rollers journaled to said bench frame at said first longitudinal end thereof and rolling along said floor when said first set of rollers is in said raised position and said second longitudinal end of said bench frame is manually raised by the user to enable wheelbarrow movement of said bench frame on said third set of rollers at said first longitudinal end of said bench frame.

22. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 21 wherein said third set of rollers comprises a pair of outrigger rollers laterally spaced outwardly of said first set of rollers therebetween.

23. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 19 wherein said weight rack frame comprises an anchor portion having a locking tongue extending longitudinally therefrom and providing said plurality of locking locations longitudinally spaced along said tongue.

24. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 23 wherein said tongue has a plurality of detents longitudinally spaced therealong and providing said locking locations.

25. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 24 wherein said detents comprise slots longitudinally spaced along said tongue, said locking member comprises a locking pin mounted to said bench frame and lowered into a respective said slot upon said lowering of said bench frame in response to said raising of said roller.

26. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 25 wherein said locking member comprises a spring biased said locking pin mounted to said bench frame and biased toward a respective said slot by a spring providing lost motion when said locking pin is not aligned with a respective said slot.

27. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 23 wherein said roller comprises a pair of laterally spaced rollers straddling said tongue extending longitudinally therebetween.

28. The weight training rack and bench according to claim 15 wherein:

said roller is mounted to said bench frame by a bracket having first, second, and third pivots;

said first pivot is connected to said bench frame;

said second pivot journals said roller;

said third pivot is coupled to said handle through handle linkage.