Apparatus and method for facilitating the safe lifting of free weights

A free-weight exercise device comprising:

• a frame;
• a pair of elongated, spaced apart arms supported by said frame and oriented to permit said weight bar to move along the length thereof;
• a bar-sensing apparatus including a plurality of sensors located along at least a portion of the length of at least one of said arms, said apparatus operable to determine at least one parameter related to the velocity of the bar as the bar moves along the length of the arms;
• and
• a pair of fluid-actuated piston and cylinder assemblies, each assembly associated with said respective arm, and each assembly including a shiftable, bar-supporting element,
• said assemblies operably coupled with said bar-sensing apparatus in order to shift said elements to a bar-supporting position in the event that said at least one parameter is outside of a predetermined parameter range.

A method of safe weight lifting comprising the steps of:

• providing a weight to be lifted;
• allowing a user to repetitively raise and lower said weight;
• monitoring said weight during said raising and lowering thereof;
• determining at least one parameter related to the velocity of the weight during said monitoring;
• and
• moving a weight-supporting element into engagement with said weight in the event that said at least one parameter is outside of a predetermined parameter range, in order to at least partially support said weight apart from said user.