Patent Publication Number: US-2022212054-A1

Title: Free weight training protection device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to weight training equipment, particularly free weight training protection device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Weight training is one of the exercises that can effectively improve muscle strength, and improve the athletic performance of different aspects for young people and the body posture and cardiopulmonary function for middle-aged and elderly, and it can also solve a variety of soreness problems and delay aging. With the emergence of scientific verification and documentation, the weight training methods have become more scientific and specific, and weight training has gradually been accepted by people. 
     The weight training requires the operation of equipment with a certain weight (such as dumbbells, barbells, etc.), and it is very dangerous to operate these types of equipment without taking classes and training. For example, accidents happen from time to time, when one carries out heavy weight training without evaluating one&#39;s capability. Especially for special athletes, they may lose their sports carrier once they are injured accidentally. 
     Therefore, when professional athletes are trained, they are usually escorted by trainers and instructors to provide guidance and protection to avoid danger. However, it is very expensive to hire trainers or instructions for the general public. At present, a common fitness machine called “Smith machine” is available, and this machine controls the trajectory of the barbell by vertical tracks and hooks to provide protection to a certain extent, but such machine also limits the space of training. 
     Therefore, how to solve the aforementioned problem is worth consideration for the manufacturers of the related industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a free weight training protection device connected to a barbell through a rack, two ropes, four pulleys, four chains, eight sprockets and two motors. When a controller executes a fitness program, the controller operates the motor, so that the rope maintains a basic tension which is a very small tension and will not affect the hand feel of heavy training. If the barbell has an abnormal position or displacement, the controller will start a protection program to prevent the barbell from falling and move the barbell upward, so as to provide protections to users. 
     The free weight training protection device comprises a rack, two transmission modules and a control module. The rack comprises at least one lower link bar, at least one upper link bar, two pedestals, two center posts, two upper arms and two barbell brackets. The pedestals are configured to be laterally symmetrical. The center posts are configured to be laterally symmetrical and disposed on the pedestals respectively. The upper arms are configured to be laterally symmetrical and disposed on the center posts respectively. The barbell brackets are configured to be laterally symmetrical and mounted onto the center posts respectively. The lower link bars are coupled to the two pedestals respectively, and the upper link bar is coupled to the two upper arms to form a stable rack. 
     The two transmission modules are installed on the rack, configured to be laterally symmetrical to each other, and disposed on the left side and right side of the rack respectively, and each transmission module comprises a motor, a transmission mechanism, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a first chain, a first pulley, a second pulley, a rope, a linker and a plate-collar. The motor is installed on the pedestal, and the first sprocket is installed on the pedestal. The transmission mechanism is installed at the pedestal and capable of linking the motor and the first sprocket with power. The linker further comprises a tension sensor for providing a tension signal. 
     The first pulley is installed to the front side of the upper arm, and the second pulley is installed to the rear side of the upper arm, and the rope is leaned and set on the first pulley and the second pulley, and the rope is coupled to linker. The plate-collar is disposed onto the barbell, coupled to the rope, and configured for carrying the barbell. In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism comprises a small sprocket, a large sprocket and a second chain, wherein the small sprocket and the motor are coaxially installed, and the large sprocket and the first sprocket are coaxially installed, and the second chain is mounted on the small sprocket and the large sprocket. 
     The control module comprises a controller, two first proximity sensors and two second proximity sensors. The first proximity sensor is installed to the left and right barbell brackets separately and configured for issuing a first trigger signal. The second proximity sensor is installed to the left and right upper arms separately and configured for issuing a second trigger signal. The controller is installed onto the rack and electrically coupled to the first proximity sensor, the second proximity sensor, the tension sensor in the linker and the motor. 
     The controller includes a standby program, a fitness program, a calibration program and a protection program. The controller further comprises two independent rope basic tension control program and two independent barbell position calculation programs, and they are a left rope basic tension control program, a right rope basic tension control program, a left barbell position calculation program, a right barbell position calculation program respectively. 
     When the barbell is placed on the barbell bracket, the barbell-bar triggers the first barbell detector to issue a first trigger signal, and after the controller receives the first trigger signal, the controller starts the standby program. In the standby program, several setup instructions can be inputted into the controller. When the barbell leaves the barbell bracket, the first trigger signal is removed, and the controller starts the fitness program. In addition, if the controller executes the fitness program and the barbell position data and the displacement data are abnormal, the controller will immediately start the protection program to prevent the barbell from falling and to moving the barbell upwardly to a ready position. 
     When the controller executes the standby program or fitness program, the barbell-brackets or user bears the weight of the barbell. The controller must execute the left rope basic tension control program to drive the left motor for keeping the basic tension on the left rope, and the controller must execute the right rope basic tension control program to drive the right motor for keeping the basic tension on the right rope. In this embodiment, the rope basic tension control program is operated as follows: Step 1: The controller sets the motor to a torque mode; Step 2: The controller receives the tension signal from the tension sensor; Step 3: The tension signal is subtracted from the basic tension setup value, and then a proportional integration operation is processed to generate a torque command, so that the motor will be operated according to the torque command, and the tension of the rope will be set to be equal to the basic tension set value. 
     After the free weight training protection device is powered on, the controller must start the calibration program. In this embodiment, the calibration program is operated as follow: Step 1: When the power is off, the barbell-bar is placed on the pedestal; Step 2: After the power is turned on and confirm to execute the calibration program in human-machine interface, the calibration program runs; Step 3: The controller starts the rope basic tension control program to tighten the loose rope, then the controller starts the barbell position calculation program; Step 4: The controller clears the record value of the left counter, the record value of the right counter, the left position calibration value and the right position calibration value; Step 5: The controller sets the motor to a speed mode, and instructs the motor to rotate at a low speed in a forward direction, and the left side and right side of barbell-bar are lifted at the same speed; Step 6: After the barbell-bar triggers the second proximity sensor, a second trigger signal is generated, and after the controller receives the second trigger signal, the motor is operated at a zero speed in order to fix the barbell-bar to the highest position of the center post, and save the record value of the left counter as a left position calibration value, and save the record value of the right counter as a right position calibration value; Step 7: The controller instructs the motor to rotate in the backward direction. The barbell bar moves downwardly to the pedestal; Step 8: The user operates the human-machine interface to confirm the completion of the calibration procedure, and after the controller receives the confirmed instruction, the controller restarts the rope basic tension control program, and ends the calibration program. 
     If the controller executes the fitness program and the barbell position data and the displacement data are abnormal, the controller will immediately start the protection program. In this embodiment, the protection program is operated as follows: Step 1: After the protection program starts, the controller sets the motor to a speed mode, and the motor is operated at zero speed to prevent the barbell from falling; Step 2: The plate-collar at a lower horizontal position is ascended to the horizontal position of the other plate-collar, and the plate-collar at a higher horizontal position remains still; Step 3: After the two plate-collars are in the same position, the two plate-collars will be moved upwardly to the ready position with the same speed synchronously. Then the motor is operated at zero speed to fix the barbell in the ready position; Step 4: After the user moves to a safe area and operates the human-machine interface to descend the barbell onto the pedestal, and then removes the barbell plate; Step 5: The user operates the human-machine interface to confirm the completion of the protection procedure, and after the controller receives the confirmed instruction, the controller restarts the rope basic tension control program, and ends the protection program. 
     Wherein, when the barbell displacement data indicates a downward movement and the speed is greater than a safety value, the controller immediately starts the protection program. Wherein, if the barbell position data is lower than the ready position and the barbell position data has not changed within a certain time, the controller will immediately start the protection program. Wherein, when the barbell displacement data indicates a upward movement, if the barbell position has not reached the ready position and reverse downturn, the controller will immediately start the protection program. Wherein, if the barbell position data is lower than the lowest position, the controller will immediately start the protection program. Wherein, if the difference between the left side and right side barbell position data exceeds an allowable value, the controller will immediately start the protection program. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a schematic view of a free weight training protection device. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a schematic view of a rack of the free weight training protection device. 
         FIG. 2  shows the flow chart of operating the free weight training protection device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     The objectives, technical characteristics and effects of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments accompanied with the illustration of related drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     The present invention discloses a free weight training protection device capable of maintaining a mild tension of a rope, detecting the position and movement of a barbell by calculation, determining a user&#39;s status, and pulling up the barbell by a motor to prevent injuries before the occurrence of possible danger. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  for the schematic view of a free weight training protection device and the schematic view of a rack of the free weight training protection device in accordance with the present invention respectively, the free weight training protection device  1  comprises a rack, two transmission modules and a control module. 
     Wherein, the rack comprises at least one lower link bar  100 , at least one upper link bar  110 , two pedestals  120 , two center posts  130 , two upper arms  140  and two barbell brackets  150 . All of the pedestals  120 , the center posts  130 , the upper arms  140  and the barbell brackets  150  are configured to be laterally symmetrical. The center posts  130  are disposed on the pedestals  120  respectively, and the barbell brackets  150  are mounted onto the center posts  130  respectively, and the upper arms  140  are disposed on the center posts  130  respectively, and the lower link bars  100  are coupled to the two pedestals respectively, and the upper link bar  110  is coupled to the two upper arms  140  to form a stable rack. 
     The two transmission modules are installed on the rack, configured to be laterally symmetrical to each other, and disposed on the left side and right side of the rack respectively, and each transmission module comprise a motor  200 , a transmission mechanism, a first sprocket  230 , a second sprocket  240 , a first chain  260 , a first pulley  270 , a second pulley  280 , a rope  290  and a linker  300 . The motor  200  is installed on the pedestal  120 , and the first sprocket  230  is installed on the pedestal  120 . The transmission mechanism is installed at the pedestal  120  and capable of linking the motor  200  and the first sprocket  230  with power. The second sprocket  240  is hung from the bottom of the upper arm  140 , and the first chain  260  is mounted onto the first sprocket  230  and the second sprocket  240 , wherein, the first chain  260  has an end coupled to the upper end of the linker  300  and the other end coupled to a lower end of the linker  300 . The first pulley  270  is installed to the front side of the upper arm  140 , and the second pulley  280  is installed to the rear side of the upper arm  140 , and the rope  290  is leaned and set on the first pulley  270  and the second pulley  280 , and the front end of the rope  290  is coupled to a plate-collar  310 , and an end of the rope  290  is coupled to an upper end of the linker  300 . In addition, the rope  290  at an upper end of the linker  300  and the first chain  260  at the lower end of the linker  300  are situated in the same straight line. In an embodiment, the linker  300  further comprises a tension sensor for providing a tension signal. 
     In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism comprises a small sprocket  210 , a large sprocket  220  and a second chain  250 , wherein the small sprocket  210  and the motor  200  are coaxially installed, and the large sprocket  220  and the first sprocket  230  are coaxially installed, and the second chain  250  is mounted on the small sprocket  210  and the large sprocket  220 . In addition, the numbers of teeth of the small sprocket  210 , the large sprocket  220 , the first sprocket  230  and the second sprocket  240  are 15, 60, 15 and 15 respectively, and the rope  290  is an inelastic rope. 
     When the motor  200  rotates the small sprocket  210  in the forward direction, the small sprocket  210  rotates the large sprocket  220  by the second chain  250 , and the large sprocket  220  directly rotates the first sprocket  230 , and the first sprocket  230  rotates the second sprocket  240  by the first chain  260 , so as to drive the linker  300  to move downward, and the linker  300  drives the plate-collar  310  to move upward by the rope  290 . On the contrary, when the plate-collar  310  moves downward, the linker  300  is driven to move upward by the rope  290  to further drive the motor  200  to rotate in a reverse direction. 
     The control module comprises a controller, two first proximity sensors  410  and two second proximity sensors  420 . The first proximity sensor  410  is installed to the left and right barbell brackets  150  separately, and the second proximity sensor  420  is installed to the left and right upper arms  140  separately. The controller (not shown in the figure) is a main component for controlling the free weight training protection device  1  and it is electrically coupled to tension sensors of the two linkers  300 , the two first proximity sensors  410 , the two second proximity sensors  420  and the two motors  200 . In this embodiment, the first proximity sensor  410  and the second proximity sensor  420  are ferrous-metal detectors. When a barbell-bar is close to the first proximity sensor  410  or the second proximity sensor  420 , a first trigger signal or a second trigger signal will be generated. 
     The controller includes a standby program, a fitness program, a calibration program and a protection program. The controller further comprises two independent rope basic tension control program and two independent barbell position calculation programs, and they are a left rope basic tension control program, a right rope basic tension control program, a left barbell position calculation program, a right barbell position calculation program respectively. 
     When the barbell  320  is placed on the barbell bracket  150 , the barbell-bar triggers the first proximity sensor  410  to issue a first trigger signal, and after the controller receives the first trigger signal, the controller starts the standby program. In the standby program, several setup instructions can be inputted into the controller, and users can adjust the quantity of barbell plates. When the barbell  320  leaves the barbell bracket  150 , the first trigger signal is removed, and the controller starts the fitness program, so that the users can perform professional weight training. In addition, if the controller executes the fitness program and the barbell position data and the displacement data are abnormal, the controller will immediately start the protection program to prevent the barbell  320  from falling and to move the barbell  320  upwardly to a ready position. 
     If the controller executes the fitness program or standby program, the user&#39;s force or barbell-brackets can offset the weight of the barbell  320 . Without proper actions, the rope  290  will become loose, and the motor  200  will be unable to immediately transmit the tension to the barbell  320 . Therefore, when the controller executes the fitness program and standby program, the controller must execute the left rope basic tension control program to drive the left motor for keeping the basic tension on the left rope, and the controller must execute the right rope basic tension control program to drive the right motor for keeping the basic tension on the right rope 
     In this embodiment, the rope basic tension control program is operated as follows: Step 1: The controller sets the motor  200  to a torque mode; Step 2: The controller receives the tension signal from the tension sensor; Step 3: The tension signal is subtracted from the basic tension setup value, and then a proportional integration operation is processed to generate a torque command, so that the motor  200  will be operated according to the torque command, and the tension of the rope  290  will be set to be equal to the basic tension set value. 
     After the free weight training protection device  1  is powered on, the controller must execute the calibration program. In the calibration program, the controller starts the left barbell position calculation program and the right barbell position calculation program, and the barbell position calculation program is executed permanently and there is no condition to end the program. In this embodiment, the controller comprises a left counter and a right counter, and the left motor  200  further comprises a left rotary encoder, and the right motor  200  further comprises a right rotary encoder, and the barbell position calculation program is operated as follows: Step 1: The controller receives a pulse signal from the rotary encoder of the motor and the left counter and the right counter are used to record the quantity of pulse signals (when the motor  200  rotates in a forward direction, the counter counts up the number of pulses, and when the motor  200  rotates in a reverse direction, the counter counts down the number of pulses, which is the record value); Step 2: The length of the center post  130  is divided by a position calibration value, and then multiplied by the record value of the counter to obtain the height position of the barbell  320 . 
     In addition, the controller can use the length of each clock loop (dt) to read a variation of the record value of the counter, calculate a change of position of the barbell  320 , and further calculates the movement of the barbell  320 . Specifically, the “present position” minus the “last position” to obtain the variation of the position, wherein a negative variation indicates that the barbell  320  is descending; a positive variation indicates that the barbell  320  is ascending; a variation fluctuating at a zero value indicates that the barbell  320  is still. The larger the variation, the faster the moving speed. The smaller the variation, the slower the moving speed. These constitute the barbell displacement data. 
     After the free weight training protection device  1  is powered on, the controller must start the calibration program. In this embodiment, the calibration program is operated as follow: Step 1: When the power is off, the barbell-bar is placed on the pedestal  120 ; Step 2: After the power is turned on and confirm to execute the calibration program in human-machine interface, then the calibration program runs; Step 3: The controller starts the rope basic tension control program to tighten the loose rope, then the controller starts the barbell position calculation program; Step 4: The controller clears the record value of the left counter, the record value of the right counter, the left position calibration value and the right position calibration value; Step 5: The controller sets the motor  200  to a speed mode, and instructs the motor  200  to rotate at a low speed in a forward direction, and the left side and right side of barbell-bar are lifted at the same speed; Step 6: After the barbell-bar triggers the second proximity sensor  420 , a second trigger signal is generated, and after the controller receives the second trigger signal, the motor  200  is operated at a zero speed in order to fix the barbell-bar to the highest position of the center post  130 , and save the record value of the left counter as a left position calibration value, and save the record value of the right counter as a right position calibration value; Step 7: The controller instructs the motor  200  to rotate in the backward direction. The barbell bar moves downwardly to the pedestal; Step 8: The user operates the human-machine interface to confirm the completion of the calibration procedure, and after the controller receives the confirmed instruction, the controller restarts the rope basic tension control program, and ends the calibration program. 
     In this embodiment, the protection program is operated as follows: Step 1: After the protection program starts, the controller sets the motor  200  to a speed mode, and the motor  200  is operated at zero speed to prevent the barbell  320  from falling; Step 2: The plate-collar  310  at a lower horizontal position is ascended to the horizontal position of the other plate-collar  310 , and the plate-collar  310  at a higher horizontal position remains still; Step 3: After the two plate-collars are in the same position, the two plate-collars will be moved upwardly to the ready position with the same speed synchronously. Then the motor is operated at zero speed to fix the barbell in the ready position; Step 4: After the user moves to a safe area and operates the human-machine interface to descend the barbell  320  onto the pedestal  120 , and then removes the barbell plate; Step 5: The user operates the human-machine interface to confirm the completion of the protection procedure, and after the controller receives the confirmed instruction, the controller restarts the rope basic tension control program, and ends the protection program. 
     Wherein, when the barbell displacement data indicates a downward movement and the speed is greater than a safety value, the controller immediately starts the protection program. For example, if a user suddenly releases the barbell  320  during exercise, and the barbell  320  falls quickly, then the protection program will immediately stop the barbell  320  from falling and then lift the barbell  320  to protect the user. 
     Wherein, if the barbell position data is lower than the ready position and the barbell position data has not changed within a certain time, the controller will immediately start the protection program. For example, when a user squats with the barbell  320  and fails to lift the barbell  320  after the squat, the user sticks to the same position, the protection program will stop and prevent the barbell  320  from descending, and then lift the barbell  320  to protect the user. 
     Wherein, when the barbell displacement data indicates an upward movement, if the barbell position has not reached the ready position and reverse downturn, the controller will immediately start the protection program. For example, if the user is lifting the barbell  320  and unable to continue pushing up the barbell  320  to ready position, so that the barbell  320  has not reached the ready position, the barbell  320  will descend. Now, the protection program stops and prevents the barbell  320  from descending, and then lifts the barbell  320  to protect the user. 
     Wherein, if the barbell position data is lower than the lowest position, the controller will immediately start the protection program. For example, when the user is pressed by the heavy weight of the barbell  320 , the protection program stops the barbell  320  from descending, and then lifts the barbell  320  to protect the user. 
     Wherein, if the difference between the left and right barbell position data exceeds an allowable value, the controller will immediately start the protection program. For example, when the user&#39;s strength is insufficient, so that the barbell  320  is tilted sideway. Now, the protection program stops the barbell  320  from descending and then lifts the barbell  320  to protect the user. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  for the flow chart of operating the free weight training protection device, the free weight training protection device  1  is turned on (S 01 ), and calibrated (S 02 ). Whether or not the barbell  320  is situated at the barbell bracket  150  is determined by the occurrence of the trigger of the first proximity sensor  410  (S 03 ). If the first proximity sensor  410  has not been triggered, then the fitness program will be run (S 04 ), and users can perform training under the fitness program. If the fitness program is triggered by the required protection conditions, then the protection program will be run (S 05 ). If the first proximity sensor  410  is triggered, then the standby mode will be entered (S 06 ), and parameters can be set in the standby mode (S 07 ). 
     In summation, the free weight training protection device  1  of the present invention can monitor the position and displacement status of the barbell  320  while the users are using the barbell  320  for training. Once if the position of the barbell  320  is incorrect, or the displacement of the barbell  320  is abnormal, the controller will drive the motor  200  to stop the barbell  320  from descending and lift the barbell  320  to protect the user from being injured. Under normal conditions, the controller will also drive the motor  200  to maintain a basic tension of the rope  290 , so as to ensure that the motor  200  can immediately drive the barbell  320  to stop and provide immediate protections. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.