Abstract:
A weightlifting rack includes a tower with a pair of arms terminating in catches to support a weighted bar. An actuator powered by an electric motor is connected to the arms to adjust the vertical position of the arms to accommodate different height weightlifters. After the bar is lifted from the catches, the catches can be pivoted rearwardly out of the way while the weightlifter performs exercises.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/807,405 filed Apr. 2, 2013, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Weightlifting racks are well known for use with weightlifting bars and weight plates, particularly for squat and similar exercises. Many athletes and weightlifters use substantial weight for squats, which may be several 100 pounds or more. The squat exercise starts with the weighted bar being supported by the rack at a height slightly below the weight lifter&#39;s shoulders when the lifter is standing under the bar, so that the lifter can lift the bar and weights off the rack for squat movements. With conventional racks, a pair of spaced apart bar catches or hooks are attached, one on each side of the rack, and these hooks must be separately raised and lowered for different height lifters. Such change in the catch height requires the weight plates to be removed from the bar, the bar removed from the catches, the catches moved up or down independently, the bar replaced on the catches, and the weight plates replaced on the bar. Such changing of the catches is time consuming, and creates risk of injury since the heavy weight plates are being moved to and from the bar. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved rack assembly which minimizes the time and risk associated with changing the height of the bar catches. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a motorized weightlifting rack which allows quick and easy adjustment of the bar height. 
         [0005]    Another objective of the present invention is a provision of a weightlifting rack with an electrically adjustable bar support. 
         [0006]    A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an electric tower assembly which can be quickly and easily coupled to a conventional weight lifting rack for quickly, easily, and safely changing the height of the bar catches and weight lifting bar. 
         [0007]    Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved weightlifting rack which can raise and lower the bar catches without removing the weighted bar. 
         [0008]    Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a tower assembly with spaced apart hooks for holding a weightlifting bar, wherein the tower can be coupled with a conventional weightlifting rack for use in weightlifting squat exercises. 
         [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack wherein the bar catches can be simultaneously raised and lowered to accommodate different height users. 
         [0010]    Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an automated weightlifting rack wherein the bar catches can be moved in unison while supporting a weighted bar. 
         [0011]    Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack with motorized bar catches which can be vertically adjusted for different weight lifters. 
         [0012]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack with a bar catches which can be extended to a use position and retracted to a non-use position. 
         [0013]    Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a weightlifting rack which is safe and durable in use. 
         [0014]    These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The weight lifting rack of the present invention includes a tower with a linear actuator powered by an electric motor. The tower includes a pair of spaced apart arms extending forwardly with a bar catch on the end of each arm to support a weightlifting bar loaded with weight plates. The height of the catches can be quickly and easily adjusted by actuating the motor to raise or lower the catches, while the weighted bar is on the catches, to accommodate weightlifters having different heights. The actuator includes a track to guide movement of the arms, and a suspension system to absorb shock when a weighted bar is set upon the catches. The bar catches can also be pivoted forwardly to a use position for supporting the weight bar and pivoted rearwardly out of the way of a weightlifter who has removed the bar from the catches to do exercises. 
         [0016]    The present invention includes a method of adjusting the height of a weightlifting bar, including the steps of setting the bar upon a pair of spaced apart catches or hooks, and then actuating a powered assist unit to move the arm vertically upwardly or downwardly to a selected height, depending upon the height of the weightlifter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the motorized weightlifting rack, according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the rack, according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the rack, according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the rack, with the back panel removed from the tower assembly to show the linear actuator. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view taken in the circle line A of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional rack and the electric tower assembly of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the electric tower assembly with the bar catches in an extended position for supporting a weight bar. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the electric tower assembly with the bar catches in a retracted position for a user to do squats or other exercises. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the electric tower assembly. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows the motorized weightlifting rack assembly  10  of the present invention. The assembly  10  includes a conventional weightlifting rack  12  and an electric tower system  14 . The assembly  10  can be used for various weightlifting exercises using a free weightlifting bar  16  and weight plates  18  which are selectively mounted and secured on the bar  16 . 
         [0028]    The rack  12  includes a base  20 , with primary and secondary uprights  22 ,  24 , respectively. The primary uprights  22  include a plurality of notches  26  to selectively receive adjustable safety arms  27  at a desired height along the uprights  22  which can be used to support the bar  16  in the event a lifter can&#39;t stand up after a squat. The secondary uprights  24  include a plurality of pegs  28  to hold weight plates  18  when the plates are not in use on the bar  16 . The rack  12  may have various conventional forms, such as the Power Lift ® rack manufactured and sold by applicant, Conner Athletic Products, Inc. 
         [0029]    The tower assembly  14  includes opposite sides  32 , a front panel  34  and a rear panel  36 . The tower assembly  14  is secured to the rack  12  in any convenient means, preferably in several locations, such as near the bottom and the top of the tower  14 . In  FIG. 4 , the rear panel  36  is removed to show the interior of the tower assembly  14 . A linear actuator  38  with an extendable and retractable arm  40  is mounted in a vertical orientation within the tower assembly  14 . A suspension system  42  with springs  44  is provided at the top of the arm  40 . 
         [0030]    The tower assembly  14  also includes a pair of horizontal arms  46  which extend forwardly beyond the front panel  34  and are bolted or otherwise secured to a pair of carriage members  48 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , each carriage members  48  includes a wheel or roller  50  rollably received within a vertical track  52  extending along each side  32  of the tower assembly  14 . The carriage members  48  are operatively connected to the arm  40  of the actuator  38  via the suspension system  42 , as also seen in  FIG. 5 . A bar catch or hook  54  extends downwardly from the forward or outer ends of each horizontal arm  46 . The bar catches  54  supports the weight bar  16 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0031]    An electric motor  56  controls the actuator  38  and the position of the arm  40 , and thus the height of the horizontal arms  46  and bar catches  54 . The motor  56  is actuated by a control box  58  having a rocker switch  60  and an emergency stop button  62 . Pushing the switch  60  upwardly actuates the motor  56  so as to rotate the screw actuator  38  and extend the arm  40 , so as to simultaneously raise the bar catches  54 . Pushing the rocker switch  60  downwardly reverses the motor  56  so as to retract the arm  40  and lower the bar catches  54  in unison. Thus, the height of the bar catches  54  and the weight bar  16  can be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate the height of the lifter, without removing the bar  16  from the catches  54 . 
         [0032]    The upper ends of the bar catches  54  are mounted on a rod or axle  64  for movement between a lift starting position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a retracted position during the squat exercises. The catches  54  can be pivoted rearwardly from the start position shown in  FIG. 7A  to a retracted position shown in  FIG. 7B , by a second person or spotter via a handle  66  operatively connected to the axle  64 . A toggle clamp  67  and arms  68 ,  69 ,  70  between the handle  66  and the axle  64  transfer movement of the handle  66  to the bar catch axle  64 . Thus, moving the handle  66  rearwardly after a weightlifter has lifted the weight bar from the bar catches  54  pivots the axle  64  and bar catches  54  rearwardly, as seen in  FIG. 7B . Moving the handle  66  forwardly pivots the axle  64  and catches  54  forwardly, as seen in  FIG. 7A , so the weightlifter can set the bar back onto the catches  54 . The clamps  67  and linkages  68 - 70  may be covered with a housing or plate (not shown). The toggle clamp  67  has an over-center locking function, so as to lock the handle  66  in the forward position and precluding movement of the handle  66  due to jarring action on the catches  54 , such as when a weight bar is set onto the catches. When the handle is moved to the rearward position, the spring  72  pulls the linkage arm  69  down so that the handle will stay without a person holding the handle. As seen in  FIG. 7A , there is a slot in the forward end of arm  69  to slidably receive the pin in the rear end of arm  70 . The suspension system  42  absorbs shock when a weight lifter places the bar  16  back on the hooks  54  after completing an exercise. 
         [0033]    With the tower system  14  of the present invention, the weight bar  16  fully loaded with weight plates  18  can remain on the bar catches  54  while the motor  56  and actuator  38  raise and lower the bar  16 . Thus, the tower system  14  saves time and minimizes risk when changing the height of the bar  16 , as compared to the prior art lifting racks. 
         [0034]    The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.