Patent ID: 7112162

Claim:
A self-spotting mechanism for free weights in conjunction with a weightlifting machine, comprising: a free weight engager for engaging a free weight, said free weight engager including a bracket, said bracket capable of engaging a handle of a free weight; a joint coupling said free weight engager, said joint allowing said free weight engager to pivot; a rod coupled to said free weight engager; an articulating member coupled to said rod, said articulating member enabling said rod to articulate with respect to said articulating member; said free weight engager articulatable with respect to said articulating member in forward, rearward, upward, downward, right, and left directions to provide a free range of motion; an abutment stop, said abutment stop engaging said free weight engager to prevent downward travel of said free weight engager; a rearwardly-extending member coupled at one end to said articulating member and at another end to said horizontal stop, said rearwardly-extending member coupling said articulating member to said horizontal stop; an upstanding post; and a sleeve slidably engaging and selectably coupleable to the upstanding member, said sleeve coupled to said horizontal stop so that a height of said horizontal stop may be adjusted by adjustment of said sleeve with respect to said upstanding member.