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US 10,881,894 B2Granted
Barbell spotting apparatus
OwnerBradley Davisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein are embodiments of a barbell spotting apparatus having all the benefits of a free-floating, unconstrained barbell in both the horizontal and vertical axes with the safety of a dedicated spotting mechanism, while addressing safety, noise, and space concerns raised by typical barbell apparatus. The embodiments herein permit a loaded barbell to be positioned in line with the axis of motion of the lift to be performed at both the beginning and end of the lift.
Claims32
A barbell spotting apparatus for exercise with unconstrained movement of a barbell, the barbell spotting apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- an elongated trolley support frame;
- a first trolley resting on the trolley support frame so as to be movable along a longitudinal axis of the trolley support frame, wherein the first trolley includes a first sled supported thereby such that the first sled is movable along the first trolley in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trolley support frame,
- a first cable guide located on the first sled, the first cable guide being movable in multiple axes relative to the frame;
- a second cable guide movable in multiple axes relative to the frame;
- a first cable connected to a first end of the barbell, the first cable being suspended from the first cable guide such that the first cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the first end of the barbell;
- a second cable connected to a second end of the barbell, the second cable being suspended from the second cable guide such that the second cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the second end of the barbell;
- a first brake associated with the first cable, the first brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the first cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the first cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- a second brake associated with the second cable, the second brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the second cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the second cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- and,
- at least one detector configured to detect a qualifying condition during use requiring downward movement of the barbell to be restricted, wherein, upon detection of a qualifying condition, the at least one detector transmits an actuation signal to at least one of the first brake and the second brake,
- wherein, the first and second brakes are independently actuatable.
9 more elements
A barbell spotting apparatus for exercise with unconstrained movement of a barbell, the barbell spotting apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a second cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a first cable connected to a first end of the barbell, the first cable being suspended from the first cable guide such that the first cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the first end of the barbell;
- a second cable connected to a second end of the barbell, the second cable being suspended from the second cable guide such that the second cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the second end of the barbell;
- a first brake associated with the first cable, the first brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the first cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the first cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- a second brake associated with the second cable, the second brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the second cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the second cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- and,
- at least one detector configured to detect a qualifying condition during use requiring downward movement of the barbell to be restricted, wherein, upon detection of a qualifying condition, the at least one detector transmits an actuation signal to at least one of the first brake and the second brake,
- wherein, the first and second brakes are independently actuatable,
- wherein, the first brake is a caliper brake,
- wherein, the frame includes a first column, wherein, with the first brake in the rest state, the first brake is movable along the first column in response to movement of the first cable, and,
- wherein, with the first brake in the braking state, the first brake brakingly engages the first column to restrict movement of the first cable.
10 more elements
A barbell spotting apparatus for exercise with unconstrained movement of a barbell, the barbell spotting apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a second cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a first cable connected to a first end of the barbell, the first cable being suspended from the first cable guide such that the first cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the first end of the barbell;
- a second cable connected to a second end of the barbell, the second cable being suspended from the second cable guide such that the second cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the second end of the barbell;
- a first brake associated with the first cable, the first brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the first cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the first cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- a second brake associated with the second cable, the second brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the second cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the second cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- and,
- at least one detector configured to detect a qualifying condition during use requiring downward movement of the barbell to be restricted, wherein, upon detection of a qualifying condition, the at least one detector transmits an actuation signal to at least one of the first brake and the second brake,
- wherein, the first and second brakes are independently actuatable,
- wherein, the first brake is configured to act on a first cable winder,
- wherein, a first rotatable braking disc is attached to the first cable winder,
- wherein, with the first brake in the rest state, the first cable winder is rotatable, and,
- wherein, with the first brake in the braking state, the first brake brakingly engages the first rotatable braking disc to restrict movement of the first cable winder, thereby restricting extension of the first cable.
11 more elements
A barbell spotting apparatus for exercise with unconstrained movement of a barbell, the barbell spotting apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a second cable guide supported by the frame to be movable in multiple axes relative thereto;
- a first cable connected to a first end of the barbell, the first cable being suspended from the first cable guide such that the first cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the first end of the barbell;
- a second cable connected to a second end of the barbell, the second cable being suspended from the second cable guide such that the second cable is movable in multiple axes in response to movement of the second end of the barbell;
- a first brake associated with the first cable, the first brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the first cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the first cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- a second brake associated with the second cable, the second brake being actuatable from a rest state to a braking state, wherein, in the rest state, the second cable is extendible to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, in the braking state, the second cable is not extendible to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- and,
- at least one detector configured to detect a qualifying condition during use requiring downward movement of the barbell to be restricted, wherein, upon detection of a qualifying condition, the at least one detector transmits an actuation signal to at least one of the first brake and the second brake;
- a rotatable first dual drum winch having first and second drums connected so as to rotate together, the first drum having a different diameter from the second drum, wherein the first cable is connected to the first drum;
- and,
- a rotatable second dual drum winch having secondary first and second drums connected so as to rotate together, the secondary first drum having a different diameter from the secondary second drum, wherein the second cable is connected to the secondary first drum;
- wherein, the first brake is connected to the second drum of the first dual drum winch by a third cable, wherein, with the first brake in the rest state, the third cable is free to move to allow the first dual drum winch to pay out, to extend, the first cable to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, with the first brake in the braking state, the third cable is not free to move restricting the first dual drum winch from paying out the first cable to restrict downward movement of the barbell;
- and,
- wherein, the second brake is connected to the secondary second drum of the second dual drum winch by a fourth cable, wherein, with the second brake in the rest state, the fourth cable is free to move to allow the second dual drum winch to pay out, to extend, the second cable to allow downward movement of the barbell, and, wherein, with the second brake in the braking state, the fourth cable is not free to move restricting the second dual drum winch from paying out the second cable to restrict downward movement of the barbell,
- wherein, the first and second brakes are independently actuatable.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.