# US 12,179,054 B2 · Automatic spotter lift force calculator and display device and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,054 B2 - Document ID: US12179054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/448,122 - Filed: 2021-09-20 - Published: 2023-03-23 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-20 - Applicants: Russell Breaux - Inventors: Russell Breaux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179054B2 ## CPC - A63B 21/00181: {comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising} - A63B 21/0724: {Bar-bells; Hand bars} - A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance} - A63B 71/0619: {Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills} - G01G 23/36: Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells - A63B 71/06: Indicating or scoring devices for games or players {, or for other sports activities} - A63B 2220/51: Force - A63B 2220/52: Weight, e.g. weight distribution - A63B 2244/09: Weight-lifting - G01G 3/1402: {Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports} - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract A system for measuring actual weight lifted by a user when a spotting force is applied and calculating a spotting force. The system is comprised of a display device and sensors having strain gauges attached to a weight lifting bar. The system will determine and display the actual weight lifted by a user with or without a spotting force, and a spotting force applied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; and a sensor set, positioned on the weight lifting bar, operatively connected to the processor of the display device; the processor configured to: receive a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receive a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; determine a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force; display, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force; and display, on the display screen, a second value related one of the first exerted force and the second exerted force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the first sensor signal further comprises a first right sensor signal and a first left sensor signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to: sum the first right sensor signal and the first left sensor signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein: the second sensor signal further comprises a second right sensor signal and a second left sensor signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to: sum the second right sensor signal and the second left sensor signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the spotter force further comprises a left spotter force and a right spotter force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor set comprises a first strain gauge and a second strain gauge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the first exerted force is a sum of a first signal from the first strain gauge and a second signal from the second strain gauge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the display device further comprising a communication interface, operatively connected to the processor, configured to: transmit the first exerted force, the second exerted force, and the spotter force to an external device, wherein the external device is configured to display one of the first exerted force, the second exerted force, and the spotter force. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the display device is removably connected to the weight lifting bar at an off center position. ### Claim 9 A system for a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; a sensor set, positioned on the weight lifting bar, operatively connected to the processor of the display device; the processor configured to: receive a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receive a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; calculate a difference between the first exerted force and the second exerted force to determine a spotter force; and display, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force determined. ### Claim 10 A system for a weight lifting bar, the weight lifting bar connected to a cable, the cable connected to a spotter machine, the system comprising: a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen operatively connected to the processor; a sensor set, positioned on the weight lifting bar, operatively connected to the processor of the display device; and the processor configured to: receive a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receive a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar via the cable; determine a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force, and display, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force. ### Claim 11 A system for a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; a sensor set, positioned on the weight lifting bar, operatively connected to the processor of the display device; the processor configured to: receive a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receive a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; determine a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force; and display, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force; wherein the first sensor signal-further comprises a first right sensor signal and a first left sensor signal, and the second sensor signal comprises a second right sensor signal and a second left sensor signal, the first right sensor signal being about equal to the first left sensor signal; and wherein the processor is further configured to: sum the first right sensor signal and the first left sensor signal; and sum the second right sensor signal and the second left sensor signal. ### Claim 12 A system for a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; a sensor set, positioned on the weight lifting bar, operatively connected to the processor of the display device; the processor configured to: receive a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receive a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determine a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; determine a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force; and display, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force; wherein the first sensor signal comprises a first right sensor signal and a first left sensor signal, and the second sensor signal comprises a second right sensor signal and a second left sensor signal, the right sensor signal being about equal to the left sensor signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to: sum the first right sensor signal and the first left sensor signal; and sum the second right sensor signal and the second left sensor signal. ### Claim 13 A method of determining forces exerted on a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: providing a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; positioning a sensor set, on the weight lifting bar, the sensor set being operatively connected to the processor of the display device; and receiving, by the processor, a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determining, by the processor, a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receiving, by the processor, a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determining, by the processor, a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; determining, by the processor, a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force; displaying, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force; and displaying, on the display screen, a second value related to one of the first exerted force and the second exerted force. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the sensor set comprises a first strain gauge and a second strain gauge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining, by the processor, the first exerted force comprises summing a first signal from the first strain gauge and a second signal from the second strain gauge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13: wherein receiving, by the processor, the first sensor signal further comprises receiving, by the processor, a first right sensor signal and a first left sensor signal; and wherein the method further comprises: summing, by the processor, the first right sensor signal and the first left sensor signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein receiving, by the processor, the second sensor signal further comprises receiving a second right sensor signal and a second left sensor signal; and wherein the method further comprises: summing, by the processor, the second right sensor signal and the second left sensor signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the display device further comprises a communication interface, operatively connected to the processor, and wherein the method further comprises: transmitting, by the communication interface, the first exerted force, the second exerted force, and the spotter force to an external device; and displaying, at the external device, the first exerted force, the second exerted force, and the spotter force. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the spotter machine comprises a cable, connected to the weight lifting bar, and the spotter machine applies a force on the weight lifting bar via the cable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising connecting the display device to the weight lifting bar at an off-center position. ### Claim 21 A method of determining forces exerted on a weight lifting bar connected to a spotter machine, comprising: providing a display device comprising: a processor, operatively connected to a memory; and a display screen, operatively connected to the processor; positioning a sensor set, on the weight lifting bar, the sensor set being operatively connected to the processor of the display device; receiving, by the processor, a first sensor signal from the sensor set; determining, by the processor, a first exerted force, in a first direction, based on the first sensor signal, the first exerted force comprising a force exerted by a user on the weight lifting bar before a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; receiving, by the processor, a second sensor signal from the sensor set; determining, by the processor, a second exerted force, in a second direction, based on the second sensor signal, the second exerted force comprising a force exerted by the user on the weight lifting bar after a force is applied by the spotter machine on the weight lifting bar; determining, by the processor, a spotter force based on the first exerted force and the second exerted force; and displaying, on the display screen, a first value related to the spotter force; wherein the step of determining the spotter force further comprises calculating a difference between the first exerted force and the second exerted force.