Patent ID: 7963886

Claim:
A free weight assistance and training system comprising: a weight support structure; free weight support arms movably mounted to the support structure and configured to support a free weight bar; a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the free weight support arms and configured to move the free weight support arms along the weight support structure; at least one non-contact detector attached to the free weight support arms and configured to detect the position of a free weight bar relative to the free weight support arms without contacting the free weight bar; and a controller configured to receive free weight bar position data from the at least one non-contact detector, process the data and initiate the drive mechanism to move the free weight support arms along the support structure in response to the data, wherein the controller is configured to provide contact between the free weight bar and the free weight support arms by way of the drive mechanism only while providing an assist, between sets, and between routines; wherein the free weight assistance and training system is configured such that there is no contact or support between the free weight support arms and the free weight bar during a lift unless the controller determines assistance is necessary; and wherein the free weight assistance and training system permits the free weight bar freedom of movement unless the controller determines assistance is necessary.