Patent ID: 7553262

Claim:
In exercise equipment comprising, in combination: (a) a frame structure; (b) at least one handle coupled to the frame structure and adapted for movement by a user in a first direction and in an opposite second direction; (c) a weight stack comprising a plurality of individual weights that may be added and removed to adjust the gravitational force applied to the handle, said weight stack having two face sides; (d) a device for removably holding at least one weight of said weight stack, said weight holding device being moveably arranged on at least one guide attached to the frame structure and being coupled to the handle, for applying a gravitational force to the handle in said second direction contrary to movement in said first direction, wherein said weight holding device is lifted upwards along said at least one guide when the handle is moved by a user in said first direction; and (e) at least one spring having two ends, said spring being coupled to one side of said weight holding device at one end and to the frame structure below the weight stack at the opposite end, for applying a downwardly acting spring force to the weight holding device in addition to the gravitational force applied thereto by said weight stack; the improvement wherein said at least one spring includes friction reducing means, for minimizing friction between said weight holding device and said at least one guide when said weight holding device is moved with respect to said at least one guide, said friction reducing means including a first and a second spring of substantially equal spring tension, each spring disposed on an opposite side of said weight holding device and an opposite face side of the weight stack to balance the forces applied to said weight holding device, to thereby reduce the friction between said weight holding device and said at least one guide.