Abstract:
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, being adjustable and customizable for allowing a weight lifter to work out on their own without a separate spotter. The device can have a multi-step spotters platform, a detachable bench assembly with a backside support frame positioned at 45 degree angle with variable adjustable inclination. The device can have a vertical support post fixed to a lateral ground support and dumbbell support frame having one horizontal beam. The device can have dumbbell cradles having enlarged surface areas that safely support and hold the weights, reinforced angled support braces with two feet members and adjustable seat with pin-locking fasteners. Also, a separate spotter can be used that sits on one of the steps and straddles the backrest to help the lifter raise and lower the free weights when needed.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to free weights, in particular to devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having a multi-step spotters platform, a detachable bench assembly with a backside support frame with variable adjustable inclination, with a vertical support post fixed to a lateral angled ground support braces and dumbbell support frame having one horizontal beam with dumbbell cradles that safely support and hold the weights, and adjustable seat with pin-locking fasteners, for allowing a weight lifter to work out by themselves. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    The use of free weights is popular for weight lifters for performing exercises such as incline dumbbell chest presses, while the lifter is sitting or lying down on a bench or seat. However, there are numerous problems with current techniques if the lifter wants to exercise alone. 
         [0003]    A weight lifter acting alone has to first go and grab the dumbbells off the rack usually one at a time and go and throw them on the floor next to the bench that is used for performing the exercises. The lifter will sit down on the bench after adjusting the angle of the bench. Next, the lifter usually has to lean over to one side while sitting on the bench and struggle to pick up one of the dumbbells from the floor with one hand and place it on their knee. The lifter will then do the same lean, and struggle to pick up another dumbbell from the floor with their other hand. Afterwards, the lifter will have to struggle to throw(in a jerking action) the dumbbells upward using their knees and back in order to get the dumbbells into a proper position to be able to begin the exercise. These leans, stretches, and struggles greatly increase the risk of injury to the lifter&#39;s back, shoulders and elbows, and knees due to the rapid jerking action when trying to get the dumbbells into proper position to begin the exercises. 
         [0004]    In view of these types of problems, it would be more convenient and safer for the lifter to have a dumbbell press that is capable of holding dumbbells in a safe and effective starting position, so that the lifter does not have to risk injury to their back, shoulders and elbows. It would also be more convenient and safer to have the lifter no longer have to struggle to throw up(jerk upward) the dumbbells using their knees and their back to get into a proper position to begin their exercises. 
         [0005]    Various types of devices have been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,397 to Ammoscato et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,038 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,460 to Marsh; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 415,223 to Gay; U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,898 to Schoolfield; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,547 to Pater. However, these devices fail to overcome all the problems with the prior art described above. 
         [0006]    Schoolfield &#39;898 shows and describes a sliding weight track with a fixed horizontal weight bench,  FIG. 1 , or a fixed inclined bench,  FIG. 5 . The weight supports can only be moved in a horizontal direction. This device does not have any raised steps for a spotter to stand behind to adequately raise free weights up, which means a spotter could injure their back by having to bend their arms and/or their back. Also, the inclined bench has a fixed height and can&#39;t be adjusted which restricts the lifter to one position so that small or tall lifters may have difficulty and possible injuries by having to adjust to the fixed height. This inclined bench has not foot supports, and instead requires the lifter to rest their feet on the ground. This can be both uncomfortable and difficult since the lifter&#39;s feet and/or knees would need to bend and may cause further injuries to the lifter. Ammoscato &#39;397 has similar problems and limitations. 
         [0007]    Marsh &#39;460 describes an “adjustable weight lifter&#39;s bench”, title, that has only a horizontally slidable inclined bench with foot rests. While the seat has adjustable tilting angles, it cannot be raised or lowered by one end which means that tall or short lifters can be both uncomfortable and have possible injuries by restricting to the one seat height position over the floor. Additionally, the supports for the weights are not attached to one another which can cause an unstability problem since the weights can vibrate and rock when being supported. The weight supports are a pair of C-clamps which require both the spotter and lifter to have to carefully mount the free weights or risk the weights being dropped. Also, the frame has no cross support members directly underneath the free weights which further adds to the instability of the frame. Also, there is only a single spotter step which restricts the height the spotter can raise and lower the weights for the lifter, which also be both uncomfortable and can cause potential injuries to the spotter. 
         [0008]    Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, with an inclined bench that can be raised and lowered to adjust the inclination angle of the bench allowing for greater versatility and customization for different sized users. 
         [0010]    A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having a seat that can be raised and lowered relative the inclined bench allowing greater versatility and customization for different sized users. 
         [0011]    A third objective of the present invention is to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having a footers that can be extended and retracted relative to raiseable inclined bench and raisable seat allowing greater versatility and customization for different sized users. 
         [0012]    A fourth objective of the present invention is to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having a single horizontal beam end supported by two vertical support posts, allowing for greater stability and safer supports of the free weights. 
         [0013]    A fifth objective of the present invention is to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having cradles with solid backings and enlarged support surfaces, allowing for greater stability and safer holds for the free weights. 
         [0014]    A sixth objective of the present invention is to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having a frame with plural cross support members directly underneath the free weights allowing for greater stability and safer support of the free weights by the cross-beam supported frame. 
         [0015]    A seventh objective of the present invention is to devices, apparatus, systems and methods for using an inclined weight bench for supporting free weights, having plural steps allowing for the lifter to more easily place the free weights onto the cradle supports which can be more comfortable and reduce injuries to the lifter. 
         [0016]    An embodiment of the inclined exercise bench apparatus for free weights, can include a frame having an inclined bench having an upper end and a lower end, a seat substantially perpendicular to the bench being adjustable to raise and lower the seat relative to the bench, the seat adapted for supporting a seated weight lifter, a footer substantially perpendicular to the bench being adjustable to horizontally extend and retract relative to the lower end of the bench, the footer adapted for supporting feet of the lifter, a left weight cradle for supporting a left hand free weight, a right weight cradle for supporting a right hand free weight, a horizontal support beam attached to the frame for fixably supporting both the left weight cradle and the right weight cradle, and plural steps attached to the frame behind both the horizontal support beam and the upper end of the bench, adapted for allowing the lifter to place the free weights in the cradles prior to doing the exercises and/or for allowing a spotter to assist the lifter at the elbows while sitting on a step and straddling the backrest. 
         [0017]    The frame can include a left vertical post having an upper end attached to the horizontal support beam under the left weight cradle, and a bottom end, a left angled support brace attached to the bottom end of the left vertical post, a right vertical post having an upper end attached to the horizontal support beam under the right weight cradle, and a bottom end, and a right angled support brace attached to the bottom end of the right vertical post. 
         [0018]    The seat can include telescoping members which allow the seat to be adjustably raised and lowered relative to the bench, and a spring loaded plunger for locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0019]    The bench can include telescoping members which allow the inclined bench to be adjustably raised and lowered to different inclination angles relative to the frame, and a spring loaded plunger for locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0020]    The footer can include telescoping members which allow the footer to be adjustably extended and retracted relative to the lower end of the bench, and a spring loaded plunger for locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0021]    Both the left weight cradle and the right weight cradle can each include a solid elongated rear wall having a contiguous solid surface for supporting a side of each of the free weights, an elongated solid floor having a single cutout for allowing each hand of the user to pass therethrough, and raised elongated front lip edges on both sides of the single cutout for supporting each of the free weights. 
         [0022]    The spotter step can include two steps each at different heights for allowing the spotter to easily position the free weights onto the cradles without having to lean or bend over. Also, the spotter can sit on one of the steps and straddle the backrest in order to assist the lifter with the free weights. 
         [0023]    A method for using an inclined bench to support free weights of a user with a spotter can include the steps of attaching an inclined bench having an upper end and a lower end, to a frame, raising and lowering a seat relative to the bench, the seat adapted for supporting a seated weight lifter, extending and retracting a footer relative to the lower end of the bench, the footer adapted for supporting feet of the lifter, attaching a right weight cradle and a left weight cradle to a single horizontal support beam, that is at a fixed height, supporting a left hand free weight on the fixed height left weight cradle, supporting a right hand free weight on the fixed height right hand cradle. 
         [0024]    The spotter climbs the steps to move the free weights onto the cradles without having to lean or bend over. Also, the spotter can sit on one of the steps and straddle the backrest in order to assist the lifter with the free weights. 
         [0025]    The inclined bench can be raised and lowered to different inclination angles relative to the frame. 
         [0026]    The bench can be raised and lowered by telescopingly moving members attached to the bench and the frame relative to one another, and locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0027]    The seat can be raised and lowered by telescopingly moving members attached to the seat and the bench relative to one another, and locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0028]    The footer can be extended and retracted by telescopingly moving members attached to the footer and the frame relative to one another, and locking the telescoping members at different positions to one another. 
         [0029]    The frame can be strengthened and made more sturdy and stable by attaching angled braces to the frame beneath both the right weight cradle and the left weight cradle. 
         [0030]    A spotter and lifter can be one and the same, where the person first moves the free weights to the cradles by climbing the steps, and later sits on the seat and lies against the inclined bench as a weight lifter. 
         [0031]    Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a front right perspective view of the free weight and inclined bench apparatus. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a front left perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a rear left perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a rear right perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the footer, seat and inclined bench of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0037]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B &amp;  5 C show the adjustable spring loaded plungers at different lock positions. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the footer, seat and inclined bench of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the footer, seat and inclined bench of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the footer, seat and inclined bench of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a left side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 14  is a right side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with backrest at 45 degrees. 
           [0047]      FIGS. 15-16  shows the bench of  FIG. 1  being raised to different inclination angles. 
           [0048]      FIG. 17  is another view of  FIG. 3  with the backrest set at 45 degrees. 
           [0049]      FIG. 17A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 18  is another view of  FIG. 3  with the backrest set at 35 degrees. 
           [0051]      FIG. 18A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0052]      FIG. 19  is another view of  FIG. 3  with the backrest set at 25 degrees. 
           [0053]      FIG. 19A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0054]      FIG. 20  is a partial exploded view of the footer and seat of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 21  is another view of footer and seat of  FIG. 20  at different positions. 
           [0056]      FIG. 22  is a right side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 14  with spotter walking the steps with a free weight. 
           [0057]      FIG. 23  is another view of  FIG. 22  with spotter on top step loading a free weight on a cradle. 
           [0058]      FIG. 24  is another view of  FIG. 23  with the free weight loaded on the cradle. 
           [0059]      FIG. 25  is a right view of the apparatus of  FIG. 14  with a weight lifter on the inclined bench. 
           [0060]      FIG. 26  is another view of  FIG. 25  with lifter beginning to grasp the free weights from the cradles. 
           [0061]      FIG. 27  is another view of  FIG. 26  with the lifter pushing off of footplate to raise his body closer to free weight location to make it easier to lift the free weights off the cradles. 
           [0062]      FIG. 28  is another view of  FIG. 27  with the lifter pushing off of footplate lifting the free weights off the cradles. 
           [0063]      FIG. 29  is another view of  FIG. 28  with the lifter who has lifted the free weights relaxing back to the seat. 
           [0064]      FIG. 30  is another view of  FIG. 29  with the lifter pushing off the footplate raised from the seat with the free weights lifted in order to return the free weights to the cradles. 
           [0065]      FIG. 31  is another view of  FIG. 30  with the lifter pushing off the footplate returning the free weights to the cradles. 
           [0066]      FIG. 32  is another view of  FIG. 31  with the free weights returned to the cradles and lifter relaxed onto seat. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0067]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
         [0068]    The invention allows the lifter to:
   1. Ability to lift much more heavier free weights without risking injury to their back, shoulders, knees, and the like, by:   2. Allow for the lifter to exercise by themselves without the need for a separate spotter.   3. Allow for a separate spotter to sit on steps behind the backrest to assist the lifter by supporting the lifter&#39;s elbows when the lifter gets fatigued; and   4. Allow the lifter a safe procedure to dispose of the free weights when the lifter has completed their exercises, they no longer have to drop the dumbbells on the floor, since the lifter can conveniently re-rack the free weights on the cradles.   
 
         [0073]    A listing of the components will now be described. 
         [0074]      10 . Inclined bench apparatus 
         [0075]      20 . Loading steps. 
         [0076]      22 . lower step 
         [0077]      24 . upper step 
         [0078]      30 . Free weight cradle(s) 
         [0079]      32 . solid generally rectangular back walls 
         [0080]      34 . angled inner edge  34   
         [0081]      36 ,  38  pair of protruding plates 
         [0082]      37 ,  39  upper raised lips 
         [0083]      40 . Adjustable backrest. 
         [0084]      42 . rear support beam 
         [0085]      43 . lower facing tabs 
         [0086]      44 . lower end of support beam 
         [0087]      45 . bench surface 
         [0088]      46 . angled extension beam 
         [0089]      50 . Adjustable seat. 
         [0090]      60 . Adjustable footplate. 
         [0091]      66 . support rod 
         [0092]      70 . Backrest adjust spring plunger. 
         [0093]      80 . Seat adjust spring plunger. 
         [0094]      90 . Footplate adjust spring plunger. 
         [0095]      92 . receptacle 
         [0096]      95 . Spring plunger return spring. 
         [0097]      100 . Hand cutout. 
         [0098]      110 . Adjustment rail bushings. 
         [0099]      120 . Footplate adjustment rail. 
         [0100]      130 . Seat adjustment rail. 
         [0101]      140 . Backrest adjustment rail. 
         [0102]      145 . Upwardly facing tabs 
         [0103]      150 . Spring pin lock hole. 
         [0104]      160 . Backrest pivot brace. 
         [0105]      162 . plunger receptacle 
         [0106]      170 . Backrest brace pivot bolt. 
         [0107]      180 . Backrest adjustment rail pivot bolt. 
         [0108]      190 . Seat post. 
         [0109]      200 . Person(spotter/lifter) 
         [0110]      210 . Dumbbell. 
         [0111]      300 . Main frame 
         [0112]      310 . left vertical post 
         [0113]      315 . left angled floor brace 
         [0114]      320 . right vertical post 
         [0115]      325 . right angled floor brace 
         [0116]      330 . upper horizontal support beam 
         [0117]      340 . lower horizontal support beam 
         [0118]      350 . perpendicular floor support for inclined bench 
         [0119]      360 . rear post(bench) 
         [0120]      365 . upwardly facing tabs 
         [0121]      FIG. 1  is a front right perspective view of the free weight and inclined bench apparatus  10 .  FIG. 2  is a front left perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a rear left perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a rear right perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0122]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the apparatus  10  can include a pair of loading steps  20  having two steps  22 ,  24  each at different heights relative to a floor surface. The steps  20  can be attached to a rear part of the main frame  300 . The main frame  300  can include a left vertical post  310  and right vertical post  320  each having angled braces  315 ,  325  at the lower ends of the posts  310 ,  320 . The upper ends of the posts  310 ,  320  can be attached to one another by an upper horizontal support beam  330 . The lower ends of the posts  310 ,  320  can be attached to one another by a lower horizontal support beam  340 . The components of the frame can be attached by welding, and/or other types of fasteners such as but not limited to bolts, screws, and the like, for enhanced stability and sturdiness. 
         [0123]    Fixably attached to the upper horizontal support beam  330  can be a pair of free weight cradles  30 , each one positioned generally above the respective support posts  310 ,  320 . Each of the free weight cradles  30  can include solid generally rectangular back walls  32  an angled inner edge  34  and a pair of protruding plates  36 ,  38 , each with upper raised lips  37 ,  39  for safely supporting free weights thereon. A hand cut-out  100  can be located between each of the protruding plates  36 ,  38  to allow the hands of the lifter to grip, raise and lower the free weights from each cradle  30 . 
         [0124]    Upper end portion of adjustable backrest(inclined bench)  40  is attached to the frame  300  by a rear post  360  by having a lower end fixably attached to the perpendicular floor support  350  that is attached to a midportion of the lower horizontal beam  340 . The upper end of rear post  360  can have a pair of upwardly facing tabs  365  that are pivotally attached to an upper end portion of the rear support beam  42  for the backrest  40 . A bench surface  45  such as a flat board(or padded board) can be attached to the rear support beam. Midportion or front portion of adjustable backrest  40  is also attached to perpendicular floor support  350  by a backrest adjustment rail  140 , adjustment rail bushings  110 , and backrest pivot brace  160  that is attached to floor support  350 . 
         [0125]    Attached to a bottom end  44  of backrest  40  can be an angled extension beam  46  having a hollow outer end for allowing a support rod  66  attached to an extendable/retractable foot plate  60  to telescopingly slide in and out therefrom. A raisable and lowerable adjustable seat  50  is attached to the angled extension beam  46 . 
         [0126]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the footer  60 , seat  50  and inclined bench  40  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C show the adjustable spring loaded plungers  70 ,  80 ,  90  at different lock positions.  FIG. 6  is another exploded view of the footer  60 , seat  50  and inclined bench  40  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is another exploded view of the footer  60 , seat  50  and inclined bench  40  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 8  is another exploded view of the footer  60 , seat  50  and inclined bench  40  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0127]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-8 , a backrest pivot brace  160  can have a bottom end pivotally attached by a pair of tabs to a portion of perpendicular floor support  350 , by a backrest brace pivot bolt  170 . The upper end of the backrest pivot brace  160  can be attached to a backrest adjustment rail  140  by a backrest adjust spring plunger  70  that passes through a plunger receptacle  162  and through side openings in a pair of adjustment rail bushings  110  that are wrapped about the backrest adjustment rail  140 . The upper end of the backrest pivot brace  160  can be pivotally attached to lower facing tabs  43  on rear support beam  42  of adjustable backrest  40  by a backrest brace pivot bolt  180  and related washers and nuts. The pivotally attached backrest adjustment rail  14  which is telescopingly attached to the backrest pivot brace  160  allows for the backrest  40  to have an adjustable incline as later described. 
         [0128]    Footer  60  can extend and retract to different lengths relative to the backrest  40  by an angled extension beam  46 . Footplate adjustment rail  120  is sandwiched by a pair adjustment rail bushings  110  that are telescopingly attached to extension beam  46  by footplate adjust spring plunger  90  that passes into receptacle  92 , and into spring pin lock hole(s)  150 . 
         [0129]    Adjustable seat  50  can be raised and lowered relative to the seat post  190  that is attached to angled extension beam  46 . A seat adjustment rail  130  underneath the seat  50  has a series of through-holes  150 , and can be sandwiched by a pair of adjustment rail bushings  110 , which together are telescopingly inserted into the upper open end of seat post  190 . A seat adjust spring plunger  80  can be inserted into a receptacle  82  and pass into of the through-holes  150  to lock the seat  50  at a selected height for the user. 
         [0130]      FIG. 9  is a left side view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  with backrest  40  in a 45 degree orientation and seat  50  slightly raised by telescopic members  130 ,  190 , and extended footer  60  which is extended by telescopic members  120 ,  46 .  FIG. 10  is a front view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 11  is a rear view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 12  is a top view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0131]      FIG. 14  is a right side view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  with the backrest  40  at a 45 degree orientation with the footer  60  at an inclination angle of approximately 45 degrees from ground level 
         [0132]      FIG. 15  shows the plunger  70  adjusted with the through-hole  150  and backrest pivot brace  160  for the backrest  40  to have an angle of inclination of 35 degrees with the footer  60  an angle of approximately 35 degrees from ground level. 
         [0133]      FIG. 16  shows the plunger  70  adjusted with the through-hole  150  and backrest pivot brace  160  for the backrest  40  to have an angle of inclination of 25 degrees with the footer  60  an angle of approximately 25 degrees from ground level. 
         [0134]      FIG. 17  is another view of  FIGS. 3 and 14  with the backrest set at 45 degrees.  FIG. 17A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members and backrest adjust spring plunger  70  of  FIG. 17 . 
         [0135]      FIG. 18  is another view of  FIGS. 3 and 15  with the backrest set at 35 degrees.  FIG. 18A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members backrest adjust spring plunger  70  of  FIG. 18 . 
         [0136]      FIG. 19  is another view of  FIGS. 3 and 16  with the backrest set at 25 degrees.  FIG. 19A  is an enlarged view of the telescoping members and backrest adjust spring plunger  70  of  FIG. 19 . 
         [0137]      FIG. 20  is a partial exploded view of the extendable/retractable footer  60  and raiseable/lowerable seat  50  of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 21  is another view of footer  60  and seat  50  of  FIG. 20  at different positions. 
         [0138]      FIG. 22  is a right side view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 14  with spotter  200  on lower step  22  moving to upper step  24  holding a free weight  210 .  FIG. 23  is another view of  FIG. 22  with the spotter  200  on top step  24  loading a free weight  210  on a cradle  30 .  FIG. 24  is another view of  FIG. 23  with the free weight  210  loaded on the cradle  30  spotter  200 . The heights of the steps  22 ,  24  allow the spotter  200  to lower the free weight  30  without having to bend over and hurt their back when lowering the free weight  30  onto the cradle  30 . Also the variable height steps  22 ,  24  allow for the spotter  200  to not have to reach and stretch to position the free weight  30  onto cradle  30 . 
         [0139]    Since the apparatus  10  can include steps  20 , the weight lifter  200  and the spotter  200  can be one and the same. Thus, after the spotter has moved the free weights  210  into position on the cradle(s)  30 , the spotter can move into the position of the lifter shown in  FIGS. 25-32 . 
         [0140]      FIG. 25  is a right view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 14  with a weight lifter  200  on the inclined bench  40 .  FIG. 26  is another view of  FIG. 25  with the lifter  200  beginning to grasp the free weights  210  from the cradles  30 . Each hand of the lifter  200  can pass through the hand cutout  100  located on the front of each cradle  30 (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0141]      FIG. 27  is another view of  FIG. 26  with the lifter  200  pushing off of footplate  60  with their feet to raise their body closer to the location of the free weights  210  to make it easier to lift the free weights  210  off the cradle(s)  30  while maintaining their back to lay against the inclined backrest  40 . 
         [0142]      FIG. 28  is another view of  FIG. 27  with the lifter  200  pushing off of footplate  60  lifting the free weights  210  off the cradles  30 . 
         [0143]      FIG. 29  is another view of  FIG. 28  with the lifter  200  who has lifted the free weights  210  relaxing back to the seat  50  while lying on inclined backrest  40 . 
         [0144]      FIG. 30  is another view of  FIG. 29  with the lifter  200  pushing off the footplate  60  raised from the seat  50  with the free weights  210  lifted in order to return the free weights  210  to the cradles  30 . 
         [0145]      FIG. 31  is another view of  FIG. 30  with the lifter  200  pushing off the footplate  60  with their feet returning the free weights  210  to the cradles  30  while maintaining their back to lay against the inclined backrest  40 . 
         [0146]      FIG. 32  is another view of  FIG. 31  with the free weights  210  returned to the cradles  30  and lifter  200  relaxed onto seat  50  while maintaining their back to lay against the inclined backrest  40 . 
         [0147]    The invention can assist the lifter by holding free weights up in a correct starting position so that the lifter will be able to start a dumbbell pressing exercise at 45, 35 or 25 degree inclined angles that targets the upper chest muscles, and other muscles. As a result, the invention greatly reduces the risk of injury because the lifter does not have to struggle to throw(jerk) the dumbbells upward using their knees and their back to get into a proper starting position. 
         [0148]    The adjustable seat on the apparatus allows for different sized lifters to use the invention. The adjustable foot plate allows the lifter to use their legs for leverage to push their self up higher off the seat into a better position to lift off the dumbbells from the cradles, and then lower their self back down to the seat and perform the exercise. 
         [0149]    The novel dumbbell cradles can hold up to two  150  pound steel weights. The steps can allow the lifter to carry the dumbbells up so that the they can be safely and easily placed on the cradles. 
         [0150]    Although the descriptions above refer to having the lifter and the spotter being one and the same, the invention can be practiced by having a different spotter than the lifter for extra safety for the lifter. 
         [0151]    With the invention, a separate spotter can sit on the step(s)  20  and straddle the backrest  40 . The spotter can assist the lifter by using the spotter&#39;s hands to lift and guide the elbows of the lifter in order to help the lifter safely raise and lower the free weights. After the lifter becomes fatigued(or at the end of the exercise), the spotter can help the lifter get the free weights back onto the cradles  30 . 
         [0152]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.