Patent ID: 8784281

Claim:
A weight lifting free fall restraint device, comprising: a) a support frame; b) at least one free fall restraint element fixedly coupled to said support frame, said free fall restraint element including: i) a tether pay out element which retractably pays out a tether, said tether pay out element including: a spool rotatably secured in a restraint housing; a spring element coupled to said spool, wherein rotation of said spool in a first direction loads said spring element, said spring element unloads to rotate said spool in the opposite second direction, said tether having a tether first end coupled to said spool, whereby, upon rotation of said spoon in said first direction said tether retractably pays out from said restraint housing and upon rotation of said spool in said second direction said tether winds upon said spool to retract said tether into said restraint housing; ii) a tether restraint element which interrupts retractable pay out of said tether upon exceeding a predetermined pay out rate, said tether restraint element including: a toothed ratchet ring located axially adjacent a rim of said spool; a pawl pivotally coupled to said rim of said spool, said pawl travels in response to rotation of said spool to engage said toothed ratchet ring at said predetermined tether pay out rate to interrupt retractable pay out of said tether from said spool; and iii) a predetermined pay out rate adjustment element which allows selection of said predetermined pay out rate at which said tether restraint element interrupts retractable pay out of said tether, said pay out rate adjustment element including a pay out rate selector adjustable to increase or decrease resistance to travel of said pawl in response to rotation of said spool; and c) a securement element coupled to said tether, said securement element adapted to couple to a weight bar to suspend said weight bar by said tether at a height in relation to a support surface.