Abstract:
A gym system is described. The gym system includes multiple vertical support members, each support member comprising a set of locking receptacles, and a moveable bar catch having a tubular body adapted to slide along at least one vertical support member, and a pivoting locking feature comprising a protuberance adapted to engage a particular locking receptacle from among the set of locking receptacles. A bar catch including a tubular body adapted to be able to be positioned along a support member of a weightlifting support apparatus is also described. The bar catch includes a solid hook adapted to support a weightlifting bar and to pivot at one end, allowing the solid hook to be placed in a moveable first position and a locked second position, a safety support adapted to provide support to the solid hook and the weightlifting bar, and a handle coupled to the tubular body.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Home gyms are ubiquitous in society. Many users of such gyms may want to perform various different types of exercises using equipment that does not take up a significant amount of floor space. In addition, commercial establishments may also wish to include compact multi-purpose systems. Users may thus want to be able to quickly manipulate various features of the equipment to facilitate various exercises or routines. 
     In addition, many users may use significant weights that require substantial support (e.g., some systems may allow a user to “self-spot”, requiring bar catches to support a significant load in order to protect a user from injury). 
     Thus there is a need for a solution that allows users to quickly and easily move from one position to another using moveable bar catches while also providing significant structural support. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a gym system that includes multiple vertical support members, each support member having a set of locking receptacles, and a moveable bar catch that includes a tubular body adapted to slide along at least one vertical support member, and a pivoting locking feature comprising a protuberance adapted to engage a particular locking receptacle from among the set of locking receptacles. 
     An alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a bar catch for a weightlifting support apparatus. The bar catch includes a tubular body adapted to be able to be positioned along a support member of the weightlifting support apparatus, a solid hook adapted to support a weightlifting bar, the solid hook further adapted to pivot at one end, allowing the solid hook to be placed in a first position which allows the tubular body to move along the support member and a second position that prevents the tubular body from moving along the support member, a safety support adapted to provide support to the solid hook and the weightlifting bar, and a handle coupled to the tubular body. 
     Another alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a method of positioning a weightlifting bar catch. The method includes providing a moveable support feature, providing a pivot locking feature associated with the moveable support, allowing the moveable support to be positioned along a vertical support member if the pivot locking feature is placed in a first position, and securing the moveable support along the vertical member if the pivot locking feature is placed in a second position. 
     The preceding Summary is intended to serve as a brief introduction to some embodiments of the invention. It is not meant to be an introduction or overview of all inventive subject matter disclosed in this document. The Detailed Description that follows and the Drawings (or “Figures” or “FIGs.”) that are referred to in the Detailed Description will further describe the embodiments described in the Summary as well as other embodiments. Accordingly, to understand all the embodiments described by this document, a full review of the Summary, Detailed Description and the Drawings is needed. Moreover, the claimed subject matter is not to be limited by the illustrative details in the Summary, Detailed Description and the Drawings, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims, because the claimed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exercise system according to an exemplary embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative perspective view of the exercise system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the system of  FIG. 1  in use; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of system, highlighting the moveable bar catches of some embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a bar catch provided by some embodiments of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the bar catch of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the bar catch of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of the bar catch of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart of a conceptual process provided by some embodiments to position a bar catch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are set forth and described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention may be practiced without some of the specific details and examples discussed. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exercise system  100  according to an exemplary embodiment the invention. Specifically, this illustration shows various support components that may be included in the system. As shown, the system includes a support structure that includes one or more vertical members  110 , a first type of bar catch  120 , a second type of bar catch  130 , and a third type of bar catch  140 . 
     Each vertical member  110  may be appropriately sized and shaped for each particular system  100 . In this example, the vertical members  110  are square members formed from rigid metal (and/or other appropriate materials). Different embodiments may include differently shaped (e.g., round, square, rectangular, oval, etc.) vertical members. Such members may be sized differently (and/or different thicknesses of and/or types of materials may be chosen) based on the loads expected to be supported by the members (and/or other components of the system). 
     The first type of bar catch  120  may be positioned along a vertical member at various locations. The bar catch may include various elements that may be used during different exercise routines (and/or when positioning the bar catch). The first type of bar catch may allow a user to place a weightlifting bar onto a pair of bar catches such that the weightlifting bar is supported by the bar catches (e.g., at the beginning or end of a set of exercises). The first type bar catch will be described in more detail in reference to  FIGS. 3-8  below. 
     The second type of bar catch  130  may include an extended horizontal support element. Such a bar catch may allow a user to self-spot, whereby the second type of bar catch is placed at a location that allows the user to release a weightlifting bar such that the bar will be supported by the horizontal support elements and the user will not be injured by the bar (and weights attached to the bar). Such a bar catch may be positioned along the vertical members  110  as described below in reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     The third type of bar catch  140  may include a horizontal support member that extends between a pair of attachment elements. Each attachment element may be positioned along the vertical members  110  as described below in reference to  FIG. 8 . Such a bar catch  140  may provide significant support, such as when a user is manipulating significant amounts of weight. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative perspective view of the exercise system  100 . 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that system  100  may be implemented in various different ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, although the system is shown as having particular components (and numbers of each component), different systems may include different types (and/or numbers) of components. As another example, although the various supports are shown as attaching to vertical members, some embodiments may include moveable elements that attach to horizontal support members, as appropriate. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a portion  300  of system  100  in use. As shown, a pair of bar catches  120  is being used to support a bar  310 . In addition, a pair of horizontal support catches  130  are positioned below the bar catches  120 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a portion  400  of system  100 , highlighting the moveable bar catches of some embodiments. As shown, the first type of bar catch  120  may include a moveable support hook  410  that may be positioned in such a way as to allow the body of the catch  120  to slide along a vertical support member  110 . Likewise, the second type of bar catch  130  may include a moveable element  420  that may be positioned so as to allow the body of the catch  130  to slide along a vertical support member  110 . The third type of bar catch  140  may include a similar moveable element (not shown) to allow the bar catch to slide along each of a pair of vertical support members. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a bar catch  120  provided by some embodiments of system  100 . As shown, the bar catch  120  may include a tubular body  510  that is sized to allow the body (and thus the bar catch) to slide along a vertical member  110 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of bar catch  120 . As shown, the bar catch may include a moving hook  410 , a handle  610  that may be used when positioning the catch, and a support element  620  that may serve as protection in case the moving hook  410  is unable to support a load placed on the bar catch  120 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of bar catch  120 , highlighting the pivoting motion of the moving hook  410 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of bar catch  120 . Bar catches  130 - 140  may be implemented in similar ways. As shown, the bar catch  120  may include a top cap  810 , a bottom cap  820 , a pivot bolt  830 , a pivot nut  840 , at least one pivot bolt support  850 , a pivot bolt receptacle  860 , a locking protuberance  870 , and a through hole  880 . In addition, as shown, the vertical member  110  may include a set of spaced through holes  890 . 
     The top cap  810  may fit onto the body  510  of the bar catch  120  and may allow the catch to slide freely along a vertical member  110 . The bottom cap  820  may similarly fit onto the body  510  of the bar catch  120  and may allow the catch to slide freely along a vertical member  110 . Such caps may be made of various appropriate materials (e.g., plastic, metal, etc.) that may allow the bar catch to move along a support member. 
     The pivot bolt  830  may be an appropriately-sized tubular element that may allow rotation about an axis. The pivot bolt may be made of various appropriate materials (e.g., metal) and may be sized in various appropriate ways. For example, the radius of the cylindrical portion of the bolt may be sized differently depending on the expected range of loads to be supported. The pivot nut  840  may attach to the pivot bolt in order to lock the bolt  830  in place. The pivot nut  840  may be made of various appropriate materials (e.g., metal) and may be sized and threaded to fit the pivot bolt  830 . 
     Each pivot bolt support  850  may be coupled to the body  510  of the bar catch  120  (e.g., by welding, forging the support as part of the catch, etc.). Such supports  850  may be sized and/or shaped appropriately for the pivot bolt  830 , pivoting hook  410 , weight to be supported, etc. 
     The pivot bolt receptacle  860  may be a through hole that is sized to accept the cylindrical portion of the bolt  830 . Thus, the pivoting hook  410  may be able to pivot about an axis defined by the centerline running along the length of bolt  830 . 
     The locking protuberance  870  may be adapted to fit through the through hole  880  and one of the through holes  890 . Thus, during operation, the pivoting hook  410  may be moved away from the body  510  of the catch  120 , disengaging the protuberance  870  from the through holes  880 - 890 . The body  510  of the catch  120  may then be moved along the vertical member  110  to an alternative position, at which point the protuberance  870  may be engaged with the through holes  880 - 890  to lock the bar catch  120  in place. Each through hole  880 - 890  may be of various appropriate shapes and sizes (e.g., square) and may be adapted to fit a locking feature of a bar catch. 
     Although various features of a bar catch of some embodiments have been described above with reference to a particular type of bar catch (e.g., bar catch  120 ), one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such features may be used with other types of bar catches, as appropriate (e.g., bar catches  130 - 140 ). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a flow chart of a conceptual process  900  provided by some embodiments to position a bar catch (e.g., bar catches  120 - 140  described above). Such a process may begin, for instance, when an exercise system is provided to a user. 
     As shown, the process may provide (at  910 ) a moveable support. Such a moveable support may be similar to the catches  120 - 140  described above. Next, the process may provide (at  920 ) a pivot locking feature on the support. Such a pivot locking feature may be similar to the pivoting hook  410  described above. 
     The process may then allow (at  930 ) the moveable support to be positioned along a vertical member of an exercise system if the pivot locking feature is in a first position. For instance, the support may be able to be moved along the vertical member (e.g., member  110 ) when the pivot locking feature  410  is moved away from the body  510  of the bar catch  120  such that the protuberance  870  is disengaged from through holes  880 - 890 . 
     Next, the process may allow (at  940 ) a moveable support to be secured along a vertical member if the locking feature is in a second position. For instance, the support may be secured along the vertical member (e.g., member  110 ) when the pivot locking feature  410  is moved toward the body  510  of the bar catch  120  such that the protuberance  870  is engaged with through holes  880 - 890 , thus preventing the bar catch  120  from moving along the member  110 . During engagement, the shape of the protuberance  870  may lock the catch  120  in place, as gravity (as applied to the catch and/or any weight supported by the catch) forces an angled edge of the protuberance  870  to secure the body  510  of the catch  120  to the vertical member  110 . 
     Although process  900  was described with reference to various specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the process may be implemented in various different ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, several embodiments were described above by reference to particular features and/or components. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other embodiments might be implemented with other types of features and components. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.