Bracket assembly for an exercise apparatus and the like

A bracket assembly for supporting a barbell on an exercise device having racks spaced apart, each rack having a plurality of rack openings, said bracket assembly comprising:

• a first plate;
• a second plate positioned in parallel to said first plate;
• an extension plate connecting said first plate and said second plate, wherein said extension plate connects perpendicular to said first plate and said second plate, wherein said first plate, said second plate and said extension plate form a U-shaped structure, wherein each of first plate, said second plate and said extension plate comprises an inner side and an outer side, wherein said inner sides of said first plate, said second plate and said extension plate define a U-shaped chamber;
• an extending member extending from said outer side of said first plate;
• an encasing member extending perpendicularly from said extending member and positioning parallel and facing said outer side of said first plate, and wherein said extending member, said encasing member, and said outer side of said first plate define a rack receiving opening wherein a plane extending perpendicular to the inner side of the second plate and vertically above the encasing member intersects at least a portion of the second plate and the first plate;
• and
• a pin having a shank, wherein said shank extends from said outer side of said first plate,
• wherein the rack receiving opening receives a rack of the racks,
• wherein said shank inserts into an aperture of a plurality of rack openings formed in said rack, and
• wherein said U-shaped chamber receives and secures the barbell in a vertical lifting motion.

A method of providing a bracket assembly for an exercise apparatus, comprising:

• providing a first plate;
• providing a second plate parallel to said first plate;
• providing an extension plate connecting said first plate and said second plate, said extension plate connecting perpendicular to said first plate and said second plate, said first plate, said second plate and said extension plate forming a U-shaped structure, each of first plate, said second plate and extension plate comprising an inner side and an outer side, said inner sides of said first plate, said second plate and said extension plate defining a U-shaped chamber;
• providing an extending member extending from said outer side of said first plate;
• providing an encasing member extending perpendicularly from said extending member, and positioning parallel and facing said outer side of said first plate, said extending member, said encasing member, and said outer side of said first plate defining a rack receiving opening wherein a plane extending perpendicular to the inner side of the second plate and vertically above the encasing member intersects at least a portion of the second plate and the first plate;
• providing a pin having a shank, said shank extending from said outer side of said first plate;
• receiving a rack of said exercise apparatus in said rack receiving opening;
• inserting said shank into an aperture of a plurality of rack openings formed in said rack;
• receiving and securing a barbell in said U-shaped chamber.