Sliding weight rack

A sliding weight rack for removably holding free weights provided on a weight lifting bench. The rack is movable, via linear bearings, horizontally relative to the weight lifting bench so that a weight lifter can pull the rack and the weights above the weight lifter's chest. The gas strut provided on the rack will automatically retract the rack to its original rearward position once the weights have been removed from the rack. In its rearward position, the rack is out of the way of the weight lifter but is still easily accessible when the weight lifter is ready to replace the weights onto the rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a movable rack for holding weight lifting 
equipment. More specifically, the present invention is a sliding weight 
rack that is provided on a weight lifting bench and is designed to hold 
free weights. The rack is movable horizontally relative to the weight 
lifting bench so that a weight lifter can pull the rack toward the weight 
lifter until it is vertically aligned above the weight lifter. From this 
position, the weights are directly above the weight lifter and properly 
aligned so that they can be lifted off of the rack. The rack will 
automatically retract itself to its original position once the weights 
have been removed from it so that the rack is out of the way of the weight 
lifter. The rack retracts to the original position so that it is easily 
accessible when the weight lifter is ready to replace the weights onto the 
rack. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Working out with weights has become quite popular with the public. With the 
numerous athletic clubs and health facilities that are available to the 
public today, it is important that weight lifting equipment be as safe as 
possible to prevent injury to the many casual users that may be using the 
equipment. 
One of the problems with weight lifting that causes frequent injury is when 
the weights are not properly positioned relative to the weight lifter when 
the weights are engaged and when the weights are released. If the weights 
and the weight lifter are improperly aligned as the weights are engaged, 
the weight lifter may strain his muscles when he makes the initial lift of 
the weights. The ideal position for the weights relative to the weight 
lifter on the initial engagement and lift is with the weights directly 
above the arms of the weight lifter. However, if a rack is placed above 
the weight lifter so that the weights are directly above him, once the 
weights are lifted, the rack is in the way and prevents him from raising 
the weights directly above his chest since to do so would cause the 
weights to bump into the rack. 
Others have attempted to address this problem by providing racks that swing 
laterally away from the weight lifter when the weights are initially 
lifted. Although this type of rack configuration does move the racks out 
of the way of the weight lifter, the racks move into a position that makes 
replacing the weights onto the rack awkward, either because the weight 
lifter must twist his arms in an awkward way while holding the weights or 
because the weight lifter must use his legs to reposition the rack 
vertically above him. Either of these movements could cause the weight 
lifter to strain himself. 
The present invention is designed to solve this problem. The present 
invention is a slidable rack that is attached to a weight lifting bench. 
The rack is located above the bench and is movable longitudinal relative 
to the bench. The rack is normally biased in a fully extended rearward 
position. The rack can be easily pulled, either by grasping the rack or by 
grasping weights that are resting on the rack, so that the rack and any 
weights supported thereon, move horizontally. By pulling on the rack or 
the weights supported thereon, the rack and weights are slid horizontally 
so that the weights are directly above the bench. When the pulling force 
is removed, such as when the weights are lifted off the rack, the rack 
immediately returns to its original, fully extended rearward position. In 
this position, the weight lifter can easily return the weights to the rack 
by holding the weights with his arms fully extended and then allowing the 
weights to move behind the weight lifter's head until the weights come to 
rest on the horizontal arms of the rack. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is slidable rack that is attached to a weight lifting 
bench by means of a pair of linear bearings that are provided below the 
bench. The linear bearings are secured to the bench, and the rack is 
secured to the linear bearing housing. The rack moves horizontally 
relative to the bench in conjunction with the linear bearing housing. The 
rack consists of two upright members that extend vertically upward from 
the linear bearings and each upright member is provided with a pair of 
horizontal arms. Each pair of horizontal arms is located above the bench 
and extends in the direction of the bench. Free weights are removably 
supported on the horizontal arms. The horizontal arms and the rack are 
movable, via the linear bearings, longitudinally relative to the bench. 
The rack is normally biased in a fully extended rearward position by means 
of a gas strut provided under the bench and secured to both the rack and 
the bench. The rack can be easily pulled, either by grasping the rack or 
by grasping weights that are resting on the rack, so that the rack and any 
weights supported thereon, slide horizontally. 
A support bar is provided on the rack so that a spotter may push on the 
support bar to slide the rack and weights horizontally so that the weights 
are located vertically above the weight lifter. Alternately, if a spotter 
is not employed, the weight lifter may move the rack and weights 
horizontally so that the weights are directly above the bench by pulling 
forward on the rack or by pulling forward on the weights supported 
thereon. When the pushing or pulling force is removed from the rack, such 
as when the weights are lifted off the rack, the gas strut immediately 
returns the rack to its original, fully extended rearward position. In 
this position, the weight lifter can easily return the weights to the rack 
unaided. By holding the weights with his arms fully extended and then 
allowing the weights to move behind his head, the weight lifter moves the 
weights rearward until they again come to rest on the horizontal arms of 
the rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is 
illustrated a slidable weight rack 10 constructed in accordance with a 
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The slidable rack 10 is 
attached to a horizontal weight lifting bench 12 by means of a pair of 
horizontally oriented linear bearings 14A and 14B that are provided below 
the bench 12. One bearing 14A or 14B is provided on either side of the 
bench 12. 
A linear bearing shaft 16A or 16B of each of the linear bearings 14A and 
14B is secured to the bench 12 via a horizontal brace 18 that extends 
between the supporting front leg 20 and rear supporting legs 22 of the 
bench 12. The rack 10 is secured to linear bearing housings 24A and 24B 
that are movably provided on their respective linear bearings 14A and 14B. 
The linear bearing housings 24A and 24B move longitudinally relative to 
their associated linear bearings 14A and 14B, and the rack 10 moves 
horizontally relative to the bench 12 in conjunction with the linear 
bearing housings 24A and 24B. 
Referring also to FIG. 4, the rack 10 consists of two upright members 26 
and 28 that extend vertically upward from the linear bearings 14A and 14B, 
and each upright member 26 and 28 is provided with a pair of horizontal 
arms 30 and 32 so that the horizontal arms 30 and 32 are somewhat below 
the upper ends 27 and 29 of the upright members 26 and 28. Each pair of 
horizontal arms 30 and 32 is provided with upwardly concave receiving 
rests 34 to cradle and hold therein a pair of free weights (not 
illustrated). Each pair of horizontal arms 30 and 32 is located above the 
bench 12 and extends forward in the direction of the bench 12. Free 
weights (not illustrated) are removably supported in the receiving rests 
34 by the horizontal arms 30 and 32. The horizontal arms 30 and 32 and the 
rack 10 are movable, via the linear bearings 14A and 14B, longitudinally 
relative to the bench 12. 
The rack 10 is normally biased in a fully extended rearward position, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, by means of a gas strut 36 provided under the bench 
12. The gas strut 36 is capable of exerting a biasing force of 
approximately ten pounds in order to slide the rack 10 rearward. Although 
the device is described employing a single gas strut 36, it is obvious 
that more than one gas strut may be employed, or alternately, any other 
suitable means for biasing the rack 10 rearward may be employed. The gas 
strut 36 is secured to both the rack 10 and the bench 12. The rack 10 can 
be easily pulled, either by grasping the rack 10 or by grasping weights 
(not illustrated) that are resting on the rack 10, so that the rack 10 and 
any weights supported thereon, slide horizontally. 
Referring also to FIG. 3, a support bar 38 is provided on the rack 10 and 
extends between the two upright members 26 and 28. The support bar 38 is 
provided to stabilize the upright members 26 and 28 and to provide a 
handle by which a spotter (not illustrated) can grab the rack 10. A 
spotter (not illustrated) can grab the support bar 38 and can push on it 
to slide the rack 10 and weights (not illustrated) horizontally, as 
illustrated by Arrow A in FIG. 2, so that the weights (not illustrated) 
are located vertically above the bench 12. In this position, the weights 
(not illustrated) are above the weight lifter (not illustrated) who is 
lying, with his back down, on the bench 12, and the weight lifter (not 
illustrated) can grasp the weights (not illustrated) and lift them off the 
rack 10. 
Alternately, if a spotter (not illustrated) is not employed, a weight 
lifter (not illustrated) may pull forward on weights (not illustrated) 
that are resting on the rack 10, thus moving them horizontally so that the 
weights (not illustrated) and the rack 10 are positioned directly above 
the bench 12. This forward position of the rack 10 is illustrated in FIG. 
2 by the broken outline of the rack 10. Again, when the rack 10 is in this 
forward position, the weight lifter (not illustrated) can easily lift the 
weights (not illustrated) off the rack 10. 
When either a pushing or pulling force is removed from the rack 10, such as 
when the weights (not illustrated) are lifted off the rack 10 by a weight 
lifter (not illustrated), the gas strut 36 immediately slides the rack 10, 
as illustrated by Arrow B in FIG. 2, along its linear bearings 14A and 14B 
to its original, fully extended rearward position. In this rearward 
position, the weight lifter (not illustrated) can easily return the 
weights (not illustrated) to the rack 10 unaided. By holding the weights 
(not illustrated) with his arms fully extended, the weight lifter (not 
illustrated) moves the weights (not illustrated) rearward until the 
weights (not illustrated) engage the upright members 26 and 28, then 
lowers the weights (not illustrated) until they again come to rest on the 
receiving rests 34 of the horizontal arms 30 and 32 of the rack 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment rack 10' is shown in 
association with a rearwardly elevated, inclined bench 12'. The rearwardly 
elevated, inclined bench 12' is provided with a back portion 40 on which a 
weight lifter (not illustrated) places his back and a seat portion 42 on 
which the same weight lifter (not illustrated) sits. In this embodiment, 
the back portion 40 of the bench 12' attaches directly to an inclined 
front leg 20' of the bench 12', and the inclined front leg 20' secures on 
its upper end 41 to an upper end of rear legs 22' of the bench 12'. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment rack 10" is shown in 
association with a forwardly elevated, declined bench 12". The forwardly 
elevated, declined bench 12" is provided with a bench portion 44 on which 
a weight lifter (not illustrated) lays, a leg portion 46 against which the 
calves of the same weight lifter's legs (not illustrated) rest, and a foot 
pad 48 under which the weight lifter's feet hook. In this third embodiment 
rack 10", the foot pad 48 attaches to the leg portion 46, and the leg 
portion 46 attaches to the bench portion 44. Also, a front leg 20" of the 
bench 12" is longer than rear legs 22" of the bench 12" so that the bench 
12" is elevated by the front leg 20". The gas strut 36 is not visible in 
FIG. 6 since it is hidden by the bench 12". 
Referring now to FIG. 7, a fourth embodiment rack 10"' is shown in 
association with an upright bench 12"'. The upright bench 12"' is provided 
with a seat portion 50 and a back portion 52. The seat portion 50, on 
which a weight lifter (not illustrated) sits, attaches to a front leg 20"' 
of the bench 12"' and the back portion 52, against which the same weigh 
lifter's back rests, attaches to a horizontal brace 18"' and to rear legs 
22"' of the bench 12"'. 
Except for the modifications to the benches 12', 12", and 12"' described 
above, the second, third and fourth embodiment racks 10', 10", and 10"' 
are each the same as described previously for the rack 10. 
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details 
of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from 
the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the 
invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the 
purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the 
attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which 
each element thereof is entitled.