Mechanical weightlifting machine
A mechanical weightlifting machine in which the machine has a support structure with an elevated pivot having a pivot axis and an articulating mechanism engaging the pivot. The articulating mechanism having at least one articulating structure with a lever arm that has a depending link connected to the weight being used by the weightlifter. The articulating structure having an adjustment mechanism with a displaceable connection device connected to a counterweight. The adjustment mechanism having means for moving the displaceable connection device relative to the pivot axis and actuation means for actuating the means for moving, in order to vary the effective weight removed from or applied to the weight being used by the weightlifter.
This patent application hereby incorporates by reference the following U.S. patent applications and issued U.S. patents:
application Ser. No. 09/945,779;
application Ser. No. 09/277,806—now U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,898;
application Ser. No. 09/128,167; and
application Ser. No. 08/905,461—now U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,616,
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a machine used in weightlifting exercises.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA weightlifter can benefit from the active involvement of a second person, commonly known as a spotter, during a weightlifting routine. This spotter serves two basic functions. The first is to prevent injury to the weightlifter. The second is to prolong the weightlifting exercise by providing aid to the weightlifter during the weightlifting repetitions. The second function allows the weightlifter to complete additional repetitions after his or her muscles have begun to fatigue. Completing repetitions with slightly fatigued muscles can help the weightlifter improve muscle stamina and increase muscle mass.
Many weightlifters face the drawback of not having skilled spotters to help them on a consistent basis. As a result, these weightlifters sometimes do not achieve the results they seek and grow disheartened with the sport. In response, weightlifting facilities staff trainers to whom all weightlifters have equal access. Unfortunately, it is impossible for only a few trainers to provide the services of a spotter to all these weightlifters at any one time.
In response to this drawback, inventors have designed user-controlled and microprocessor-controlled machines to serve both basic functions of a spotter. Most of these machines rely either on an electric motor to lift the weight or on a pneumatic device to vary the assistance to the exerciser, both in response to some form of an input from the exerciser.
A shortcoming of these machines is that they usually use cables. Unless the cables are continuously taut throughout the exercise, they can move suddenly, interfering with the exerciser's motion and causing discomfort.
Several of these machines also are not versatile enough to perform all the functions of a spotter. In particular, a machine that uses a motor to pull up a weight can not perform several functions of a spotter. A spotter can provide different amounts of assistance at different points in the exercise by applying different forces to the weight, while the exerciser applies the remainder of the force needed to counter gravity. Not until the very end of the exercise, if ever, does a spotter lift the weight out of the exerciser's hands. In theory, a motor can apply different forces as long as the voltage drop or the current across it can be varied. But in application, activating a motor turns a rotor, in turn (possibly through a transmission) lifting the weight on its own.
Machines with pneumatic devices unfortunately may require several seconds to vary the amount of assistance given to the exerciser, whereas a human spotter is able to provide the assistance immediately.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can perform functions of a spotter with comfort, precision, and consistency. Therefore, a first objective is to be able to function without using cables. A second objective is to be able to apply various different forces to the exerciser's weight throughout a single routine, possibly including a force great enough to raise the weight without assistance from the exerciser. A third objective is to be able to vary this assistance quickly. A fourth objective is to be able to function without restricting the exerciser's range of motion. A fifth objective is to function in a manner that safe and visible.
The mechanical weightlifting machine of the invention comprises a support structure with an elevated pivot having a pivot axis. An articulating mechanism engaging the pivot has at least one articulating structure, and the articulating structure has at least one lever arm. Each lever arm has a distal end on one side of the pivot with a connection device from which a depending link member is suspended. The depending link member has and end with means for engaging the bar of a weight. The articulating structure has an adjustment mechanism with a displaceable connection device with a counterweight that has an effective connection point locatable on the opposite side of the pivot. The adjustment mechanism has means for moving the displaceable connection device and thus the effective connection point relative to the axis of the pivot, wherein the leverage of the counterweight directed to the lever arm is adjusted. Actuation means can actuate the means for moving the displaceable connection device. A control device remote from the adjustment mechanism has control means for controlling the actuation means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a complete understanding of the above and other features of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The mechanical weightlifting machine of this invention, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, functions as a mechanical spotter. The mechanical weightlifting machine 10, hereinafter the spotter, is used in many routines with a conventional bench 12 shown in phantom in
The spotter 10 is constructed with a support frame 18 having a base 20 formed by interconnected box tube members 22 and wing-like stabilizer members 24. The support frame 18 has a vertical support structure 25 formed of substantially vertical box tube members 26 having a generally rectangular or pyramidal structure with an apex cross beam 28. Box tube members 30 located approximately midway on the vertical support 24 provide the necessary bracing to impart rigidity to the support frame for the range of uses and weights for which the apparatus was contemplated. The box tube members are joined by welding or bolting and are customarily powder coated for appearance and protection.
The cross beam 28 supports a pivot shaft 30 to which an articulating structure 34 is attached for pivotal movement. The articulating mechanism 32 preferably has two independently articulating structures 34 to allow the mechanical spotter 10 to be used either with a barbell or with dumbbells while only minimally restricting the exerciser's range of motion. Each articulating structure 34 has a projecting lever arm 36 as well as an adjustment mechanism 46. Each articulating structure 34 can be used alone without the operation of the other structure. Therefore, a spotter whose articulating mechanism 32 consists of a single articulating structure 34 may be suitable for a weightlifter who exercises either with a barbell or with one dumbbell at a time. However, it is preferred that the articulating mechanism 32 have two independently articulating structures 34 for use either with a barbell or with two dumbbells simultaneously.
Each articulating structure 34 has a cantilever arm 36 with a distal end 38. As shown in
From the distal ends 38 are suspended rods 40 with ends 42 that have means for engaging a bar (for example, a bar of a barbell or dumbbell). Each rod 40 is suspended from a distal end 38 by way of a connection device, such as a universal joint. Each rod 40 may also be suspended from a distal end 38 by way of the apparatus 151 shown in
The means for engaging a bar at the rod ends 42 may comprise hooks, clasps, grooves, and/or collars. Preferably, the means for engaging do not restrict the natural range of motion of the weight as experienced by the exerciser, or any restriction that results is only slight. Alternately, the means for engaging may include the more elaborate structure shown in
The apparatus has at least one end 224, although the one shown in
Connected to a side 230 or a vertex of each of the preferably two polygonal shapes 228 is an upside-down U-shaped member 234 designed to connect the shapes 228 to each other while simultaneously not interfering with a weightlifter's hands. This member 234 has two sides 236 and a cross-support 238. The length of the cross-support 238 is adjustable, here by threaded rods 240, to provide a better fit for each user's hands. Each side 236 can incorporate a wheel 242 for rolling along the inside of a dumbbell endplate in order to hold the dumbbell more securely on the apparatus 220.
As shown in
As shown in
The rods 40 are adjustable in length to allow a weightlifter to use a flat bench, an inclining or declining bench, a seat, or to stand while using the spotter. If the lengths of the rods 40 are adjusted properly, the cantilever arms 36 should rise approximately 30° from the horizontal and lower approximately 30° from the horizontal during exercise repetitions. This provides roughly a 30 inch displacement at the distal ends 38 of the arms 36. Two possible embodiments of the adjustable rods are shown in
In
In
The arms 36 extend a short distance beyond the pivot shaft 30 and are connected to counter weights 44. The size of each counter weight 44 makes the user experience no additional force upon the exercise weights aside from the force of the weights themselves, until the user so desires.
The arms 36 of the articulating structures 34 are fixed to the shaft 30 so that rotation of the shaft by the arms 36 also rotates a connected adjustment mechanism 46 with a lever arm 48 having an adjustable effective length. The spotter can be reset before a weightlifting routine to make the effective length of this lever arm 48 equal to zero. Then, a rise in the effective length would create an upward force at the rods 40, effectively varying the weight removed from the weight being used by the exerciser.
Each lever arm 48 is connected by an elongated vertical link 50 to another lever arm 52 with a distal end 54 equipped with a weight spindle 56 for the optional addition of weight plates 16. The weight spindle 56 provides for placement of one or more weights 16 to increase the rate of weight adjustment as the effective length of the lever arm 48 changes, and to increase the maximum assistance provided when the effective length of the lever arm 48 is at its maximum. It is also possible to provide an adjustment at the intersection of the vertical link 50 and the lever arm 52 that allows this point of intersection to vary along the length of the lever arm 52. This adjustment would affect the leverage of the lever arm 52 and of any additional weight plates 16 upon the vertical link 50, and in turn upon the lever arm 48.
A foot control 58 is electronically connected to a pair of drive motors 60 either by a cord or by a cordless signal. The motors 60 have control means that comprise an electronic controller circuitry associated with the electric motors 60 for controlling the motors in response to control signals from the foot control 58. The control means have displacement means for displacing the motors by specified amounts in response to control signals. Once the motors are displaced, the control means are able to prevent the motors from turning unless a control signal triggers another displacement. For example, the controls means may include devices such as a limit switch and an electronic brake; alternately, the drive motors 60 may be servomotors. Activating the motors results in changing the effective length of the lever arms 48 within the adjustment mechanisms 46. It is possible to build the adjustment mechanism without motors, so that the mechanical force from pressing on a pedal is translated into a rotational force upon the ball screw. However, the spotter should be more user-friendly with electric control means than otherwise with mechanical control means.
The foot control 58 has a toe strap 67 to permit bi-directional control of the motor. For example, a lift action by the user's foot might shorten the effective length of the lever arm 48 while a down pressure might increase it. The foot control 58 might also come equipped with a reset that returns the effective length of each lever arm 48 to zero.
The foot control 58 may be replaced by a head control (not shown) or by a hand control. The hand control may be designed for the weightlifter to activate (not shown) or may be designed for use by a trainer or someone else overseeing the weightlifter's regimen. The latter is particularly suited for a physical therapy facility where a trainer wishes to have precise control over the resistance of the weight. As shown in
As shown in
The spotter can also effectively add weight to the weight being used by the exerciser. If the adjustment mechanism 46 is extended past the pivot shaft 30 in the direction of the distal end 38 of the cantilever arm 36, then positioning the effective connection point on this side of the pivot shaft 30 has the effect of translating the generally downward force from the weights 16 into a generally downward force at the rods 40.
To limit the downward swing of the arms 36, the support frame 18 is equipped with stops 72 that can prevent a downward angle exceeding, for example, 45°. Similarly, other stops (not shown) can be fastened to the apex cross beam 28 to limit the upward travel of the arms 36.
The support frame 18 includes a pair of weight rests 74 mounted to the vertical members 26 on the side of the support structure from which the arms 36 extend. The rests 74 are shown in greater detail in the enlarged view of
To provide additional safety for barbell users, the weight supports 82 of the weight rests 74 might be designed to extend even farther out away from the vertical members 26 of the frame 18. For example, the supports 82 might extend all the way out to the exerciser's shoulders. This design would permit an exerciser to place the barbell onto the weight rests 74 more easily in the event that this exerciser could not lift the weight, even with the full assistance from the spotter.
An alternate design of a weight rest suited specifically for dumbbells is shown in
The arrangement of the adjustment mechanism 46 to the cantilever arm 36 in each articulating structure 34 is shown in the top view of the spotter in
Alternately, the cantilever arm 36 and the adjustment mechanism 46 can be combined into a single articulating unit as shown in the alternate embodiment of
An alternate embodiment of the articulating unit 100 is shown schematically in
Although only foot, hand, and head controls have been mentioned for activating the adjustment mechanisms, it is possible to use other means instead. One possibility is to make the adjustment mechanisms displace the effective pivotal connections after the weightlifter has completed a preprogrammed number of repetitions by incorporating switches into the cantilever arms for counting the number of repetitions. Another possibility is to make the adjustment mechanisms displace the effective pivotal connections once the user has been stationary for a preset length of time, since this is most likely when the user needs assistance.
For safety, the spotter can have an alarm that sounds when the effective pivotal connection is at the distal end of the adjustment mechanism and the maximum assistance is being provided. This noise would alert the weightlifter not to initiate any additional repetitions but instead to place the weight back onto its rests.
Because the spotter is designed to connect to a bar of weight, it is suited for use with traditional free weights, including primarily barbells and dumbbells. However, the spotter is also suited for use with other weightlifting machines that use similar bars, such as the “Smith” machines on which a bar is connected to vertical tracks.
While, in the foregoing, specific embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purpose of making a complete disclosure. of the invention, it may be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes can be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.
Changes may similarly be made to the following embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As shown in
In contrast with the earlier embodiments of the invention, the upper arm structure includes a C-shaped front section 530 pivotally connected to the adjustment mechanism 532 in a manner shown by the arrow 500. This pivotal connection advantageously permits the barbell 516 (or dumbbells) to have a full and unfettered range of motion, in a manner similar to that of the earlier embodiments. Specifically, the C-shaped section 530 may turn with respect to the adjustment mechanism 532 about the longitudinal axis of the adjustment mechanism. In addition, only a single rear elongated link 50 and single lower lever arm 534 are therefore required. The lower lever arm preferably includes weight spindles 536 extending in both directions to carry additional weight plates, or alternately a single circular bar extending symmetrically through the lower lever arm. The lower lever arm is preferably pivotally connected to the front of the three central uprights 504, e.g., by means of housed bearing, flanged bearings, journal bearings, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the effective point of the pivotal connection 500, the pivot shaft 30, the effective connection point between the carriage and the rear elongated link 540, and the effective connection points between the front links 541 and the C-shaped section 530 are all coplanar.
The pivot shaft preferably comprises two separate shafts mounted to housed ball bearing units 552 attached to each respective side of the adjustment mechanism. A gap 556 between the adjustment mechanism and either supporting upright section, provided by the s-shaped braces 512, provides sufficient spacing for the housed ball bearing units.
The frame and the C-shaped section are each preferably modular and may be bolted together for increased strength and convenience of assembly, disassembly, shipping, and manufacture. While the effective length of the cantilever arm, i.e. the effective distance between the pivot shaft 30 and the connection points between the front links 541 and the C-shaped section 530 is preferably approximately 42 inches, this distance may range substantially (e.g., between 20 inches and 70 inches or even between lower, lower limits and higher, higher limits). The upper arm structure preferably remains in the angular range between 30 degrees below the horizontal and 30 degrees above the horizontal during use. The displaceable carriage 558 of the actuator preferably, although not necessarily, is capable of being displaced by approximately 20 inches rearward from the pivot shaft. Front hooks 560 are preferably designed to prevent the barbell from falling of the rack when a forward force is applied to the barbell, without the simultaneous application of a net upward force to the barbell. For example, the hooks may turn upwardly in front of the barbell to prevent the barbell from falling. Electronic equipment such as the drive, controller, power supply, etc. may be safely and conveniently positioned in the space provided at the base 502 of the machine within the three central upright members 504. Any of a variety of footswitches, such as the 2-way switch 570 shown, may be easily connected to the controller, and the wire 572 from the footswitch may be safely positioned inside the tubular sections. Similarly, the leads (ground, hot, etc.) from the controller to the motor may be positioned inside the upright tubular sections.
An alternate embodiment of the linear slide is shown in
All tubular sections of the upper arm structure are preferably aluminum in order to reduce the swing weight (inertia) if the structure in use. However, it is contemplated that the actuator housing may be composed instead of stainless steel or carbon steel in order to provide additional strength as well as weight in order to balance the upper arm structure when the machine is in its neutral position (effectively eliminating the need for counterweights 44 in
Additional advantages resulting from the single upper arm structure include:
No longer a risk that both motors are not perfectly synchronous, that one will malfunction, or that one will wear faster and thus run more slowly than the other. Instead, both sides of the barbell will always feel the same amount of assistance. In addition, there is no longer a risk that the mechanical components of one stage will wear 2Z faster than those of the other. Fewer parts to replace.
The central upright members may be provided with integral weight trees for convenience, where the spindles are pointed outwardly. The upright tubes of the rack may also be provided with weight trees with the spindles pointed out.
If weight plates are removed from one side of the barbell at a time, there is a lower likelihood that the entire barbell will fly up from the rack if the machine is not in its neutral position.
If a user inadvertently places more counterweight on one side of the machine than on the other, there is no resulting asymmetry in assistance.
Provides a visual indication to the exerciser if the barbell is tilted during an exercise set.
Claims
1. A mechanical weightlifting machine, comprising:
- (i) a support structure having an elevated pivot with a pivot axis;
- (ii) an articulating mechanism engaging the pivot, the articulating mechanism having at least one articulating structure, the articulating structure having an upper arm structure having front and rear ends, wherein the upper arm structure includes a front section rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the upper arm structure, the front section having first and second distal ends on the front side of said pivot axis from which first and second depending link members are suspended, each depending link member having an end with means for engaging a bar, the articulating structure having an adjustment mechanism with a displaceable connection device with an effective connection point locatable on the opposite side of the pivot, the displaceable connection device having a counterweight;
- (iii) means for moving the displaceable connection device relative to the axis of the pivot wherein the leverage of said counterweight directed to said upper arm structure is adjusted;
- (iv) actuation means for actuating said means for moving; and
- (v) a control device remote from the adjustment mechanism with control means for controlling said actuation means.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 7, 2004
Publication Date: May 4, 2006
Inventor: Richard Polidi (Cary, NC)
Application Number: 11/184,017
International Classification: A63B 21/06 (20060101); A63B 21/08 (20060101);