Abstract:
An exercise device including at least one attachment structure configured to be mounted to a support assembly. A first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to the at least one attachment structure. At least one bracket pivotably connecting an end of the first arm with an end of the second arm. At least one of catch member pivotably connected to at least one of the first arm, the second arm, and the at least one bracket. The at least one catch member is configured for accepting a weight bar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/640,899 which was filed on May 1, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to weightlifting equipment and, more particularly, to an adjustable support for resting a weight bar. 
         [0003]    Weightlifters perform various exercises for the purpose of developing particular muscles throughout the body. These exercises can be performed through the use of free weights, such as barbells, or with machines. Many weightlifters prefer free weights because free weights permit the lifter to perform the exercises in a natural motion while utilizing pure body leverage in performing the exercise. This facilitates isolation of particular muscle groups and simulates actual athletic sports motions. The support assembly also often operates to spot the lifter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An exercise device including at least one attachment structure configured to be mounted to a support assembly. A first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to the at least one attachment structure. At least one bracket pivotably connecting an end of the first arm with an end of the second arm. At least one of catch member pivotably connected to at least one of the first arm, the second arm, and the at least one bracket. The at least one catch member is configured for accepting a weight bar. 
         [0005]    An exercise assembly including a support frame and an exercise device attached to the support frame. The exercise device including at least one attachment structure configured to be mounted to a support assembly. A first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to the at least one attachment structure. At least one bracket pivotably connecting an end of the first arm with an end of the second arm. At least one of catch member pivotably connected to at least one of the first arm, the second arm, and the at least one bracket. The at least one catch member is configured for accepting a weight bar. 
         [0006]    A method of adjusting a height of an exercise device including selecting a first course height of the exercise device along an attachment structure and selecting a second fine height of the exercise device by engaging an extension member. 
         [0007]    These and other features of the disclosed examples can be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a general perspective view of an example exercise system according to an example embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an expanded view of a weight lifting system upright frame member. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an opening in a weight lifting system upright frame member illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of an example adjustable support. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the example adjustable support of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the example adjustable support of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the example adjustable support of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a general perspective view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 4  with another example catch member and example pair of brackets. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a general perspective view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a general perspective view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the example adjustable support of  FIG. 8  attached to a front pair of upright frame members. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a general perspective view of the adjustable support of  FIG. 8  in a bench press position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example exercise system  10  including an example frame rack  12  and an example adjustable support  14 . The frame rack  12  holds the adjustable support  14 . It should be understood that although a particular frame rack  12  is illustrated in the example embodiment, other types of frame racks  12  could be used to hold the adjustable support  14 . The adjustable support  14  is considered a monolift assembly in some examples. 
         [0023]    The frame rack  12  includes multiple openings  16  that extend along upright frame members  18  to receive the adjustable support  14 . The adjustable support  14  is received in selected openings so that the adjustable support  14  may be located at various vertical positions along the upright frame members  18 . By allowing for multiple vertical positions, a user can utilize the adjustable support  14  for performing squats or bench presses with a bench  78  ( FIG. 14 ) or other types of exercises. Each opening  16  is vertically separated from the next opening  16  by approximately four inches to provide significant incremental adjustment, however, any separation will be usable with the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , each upright frame member  18  defines a longitudinal axis A extending vertically relative to the ground. The example upright frame member  18  is generally rectilinear in shape and is manufactured of tubing that is rectangular in cross-section. The upright frame member  18  has a front face  20 , a first side face  22 , and second side face  24 . The upright frame member  18  includes multiple opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  along the longitudinal axis A. Each of the opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  includes a first opening  16   a  and a second opening  16   b.    
         [0025]    Each opening  16  is generally L-shaped and spans the intersection of the front face  20  and one of the side faces  22  and  24 . In this non-limiting embodiment, the first opening  16   a  spans the front face  20  and the side face  22  and the second opening  16   b  spans the front face  20  and the side face  24 . In other words, each opening  16   a ,  16   a  cuts through the corner of the upright frame member  18 . 
         [0026]    Each opening  16  includes a first opening portion  16 ′ in the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along a transverse opening axis T and a second opening portion  16 ″ through the respective side face  22  and  24  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along a parallel opening axis P. In this non-limiting embodiment, the first opening  16   a  defines a first opening portion  16   a ′ through the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along the transverse opening axis T and a second first opening portion  16   a ″ through the first side face  22  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along the parallel axis P while the second opening  16   b  defines a first second opening portion  16   b ′ through the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along the transverse opening axis T and a second opening portion  16   b ″ through the second side face  24  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along the parallel axis P. That is, the portions  16   a ′,  16   b ′ and  16   a ″,  16   b ″ are generally perpendicular and portions  16   a ′ and  16   b ′ are generally parallel if laid flat ( FIG. 3 ). Preferably, each opening  16   a ,  16   b  includes relatively large corner radiuses. 
         [0027]    The openings  16  are arranged in horizontally opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. That is, each pair of openings  16  includes a first opening  16   a  located through the front face  20  and the first side face  22  and a second opening  16   b  located through the front face  20  and the second side face  24  such that the openings  16   a ,  16   b  are aligned when viewed from one of the side faces  22 ,  24 . 
         [0028]    A lock opening  26  is located through the front face  20  between each vertically separated pair of openings  16 . Each lock opening  26  is displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis A and is generally square in shape. It should be understood that other shapes will also be readily usable with the example embodiment. The example lock opening  26  is longitudinally staggered above each pair of openings  16   a ,  16   b.    
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the adjustable support  14  includes a pair of attachment structures  30  each having a first attachment plate  32  opposed to and generally parallel with a second attachment plate  34 . The first and second attachment plates  32  and  34  extend generally perpendicularly from a central support plate  36 . The first and second attachment plates  32  and  34  and the central support plate  36  have a general U-shaped cross section. The adjustable support  14  is vertically adjustable between multiple vertical heights along the upright frame members  18 . 
         [0030]    A pair of upper arms  38  and a pair of lower arms  40  extend from, and are pivotably attached to, the pair of attachment structures  30 . A pair of brackets  42  extend between, and are pivotably attached to, the distal ends of the pair of upper arms  38  and the pair of lower arms  40 . The pair of attachment structures  30 , the pair of upper arms  38 , the pair of lower arms  40 , and the pair of brackets  42  form a pair of four-bar linkages. The pair of four-bar linkages are coupled together by an upper arm connecting member  44  attached to each of the upper arms  38  and a support arm connecting member  46  attached to each of the attachment structures  30 . The four-bar linkages are parallelogram linkages, which allows the pair of attachment structures  30  to remain parallel with the pair of brackets  42  and the pair of upper arms  38  to remain parallel with the pair of lower arms  40  during movement of the upper arms  38 , lower arms  40 , and brackets  42 . 
         [0031]    A jack  48 , such as a screw jack or a hydraulic jack, varies the position of the pair of upper arms  38 , the pair of lower arms  40 , and the pair of brackets  42  relative to the attachment structures  30 , which are attachable to the upright frame members  18 . The jack  48  includes a body portion  49 , which is pivotably attached to the support arm connecting member  46  by a first pivot bracket  50 , and a rod member  56  having a distal end pivotably attached to a second pivot bracket  52  on the upper arm connecting member  44 . The jack  48  includes a rotatable handle  54  that extends the rod member  56  to raise the upper and lower arms  38  and  40  and the pair of brackets  42  when rotated in a first direction and retracts to lower the upper and lower arms  38  and  40  and the pair of brackets  42  when rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction. The jack  48  allows for relatively fine adjustment of the adjustable support  14  to multiple lift positions, such as a squat position. 
         [0032]    A catch member  58  is pivotably attached at each of the pivot points between the pair of upper arms  38  and the pair of brackets  42 . Each catch member  58  includes an elongated arcuate slot  66  spaced from the pivot axis. Each slot  66  accepts a stopper  68 , such as a rubber bushing, that is rigidly attached to each of the pair of brackets  42  for limiting the range of motion of the catch members  58  relative to the pair of brackets  42 . A catch member connecting arm  62  extends between and is rigidly connected to each of the catch members  58  so that the catch members  58  move together in unison. Since the attachment structures  30 , the upper and lower arms  38 ,  40 , and the pair of brackets  42  form a parallelogram four-bar linkage, the catch members  58  will maintain essentially the same alignment relative to the pair of brackets  42  when the adjustable support  14  is being adjusted by the jack  48 . 
         [0033]    The distal end of the catch members  58  includes a hook portion  70  for engaging a weight bar  72  ( FIG. 1 ). The hook portion  70  includes a first half  70   a  and a second half  70   b  that sandwiches a grip member  71 , such as a rubber or a plastic member, to increase the hook portion&#39;s  70  ability to grip the weight bar  72 . A plurality of fasteners  74  secure the first half  70   a  to the second half  70   b  and secure the hook portion  70  to the remaining portion of the catch member  58 . 
         [0034]    A spring loaded member  60  is located adjacent the pivot axis of the catch members  58  for biasing the catch members  58  toward a retracted position where the stopper  68  engages a first end  66   a  of the slot  66 . The biasing force of the spring loaded members  60  is overcome when the weight bar  72  is placed on the hook portions so that the catch members  58  move to a generally vertical position where the stopper  68  engages a second end  66   b  of the slot  66  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0035]    An elongated handle  76  is attached to each of the catch members  58  for facilitating movement of the catch members  58  toward a vertical position to accept the weight bar  72  when spotting a lifter. The handles  76  are located on both of the catch members  58  to allow a spotter to move the catch members  58  from either side of the lifter during lifting. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a first, second, third, and fourth stud  33   a - 33   d  extend from an inner surface of the first and second attachment plates  32 ,  34  to engage the openings  16  ( FIG. 2 ). The first stud  33   a  extends from the first attachment plate  32  and is directly opposed to the second stud  33   b  which extends from an inner surface of the second attachment plate  34 . The third stud  33   c  extends from the first attachment plate  32  and is directly opposed to the fourth stud  33   d  which extends from an inner surface of the second attachment plate  34 . The first and second studs  33   a ,  33   b  are located on a common axis S 1  and the third and fourth studs  33   c ,  33   d  are located along a common axis S 2 . The studs  33   a - 33   d  are relatively significant solid members which mount through the first and second attachment plates  32 ,  34  with fasteners  35  or the like. A safety pin  31  extends through the first and second attachment plates  32 ,  34  to secure the adjustable support  14  to the upright frame members  18  by extending through the openings  16 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 8-14  illustrate another example adjustable support  14 ′ including another example pair of brackets  42 ′, another example catch member  58 ′, and another example catch member connecting arm  62 ′. A spring loaded member  60 ′ is located adjacent the pivot axis of the catch members  58 ′ and the lower pair of arms  40  for biasing the catch members  58 ′ toward a retracted position where the stopper  68 ′ engages a first end  66   a ′ of the slot  66 ′ ( FIG. 9 ). The biasing force of the spring loaded members  60 ′ is overcome when the weight bar  72  is placed on the hook portions  70 ′ or when elongated handles  76 ′ are biased outward so that the catch members  58 ′ move to a generally vertical position where the stopper  68 ′ engages a second end  66   b ′ of the slot  66 ′ ( FIG. 9 ). 
         [0038]    The example adjustable support  14 ′ can be moved to different vertical positions as desired for squats, bench presses, etc. as the adjustable support  14 . 
         [0039]    Although an example embodiment of this disclosure has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.