US 6,632,159 B1Granted

Process and system for assisting weight lifters in performing weight lifting exercises

OwnerJ. Patrick Slatteryinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An electromechanical device that provides a spot to a weightlifter performing a weightlifting exercise. The device has a metal frame that supports two arms, called spotter arms. The two spotter arms extend out so as to be able to support a barbell. The arms raise and lower on the frame, remaining parallel with the floor and perpendicular to the frame and are powered by a motor driven lead screw. The operation of the motor is controlled by a computer control system. The input to the control system is provided by a load-cell mounted in one of the two spotter arms. When the control system is operating in the spot mode, the load-cell measures the amount of force that is placed on the spotter arm by the barbell held by the weightlifter. The control system then moves the spotter arms in accordance with the amount of force on the load-cell in order to provide a safe spot thereby increasing the effectiveness of the exercise. The load-cell is mounted within a hollow interior of one of the spotter arms. A mechanical assembly that transfers the force of the barbell supported by the arms to the load-cell is also contained within the hollow interior of the spotter arm.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A device for assisting weightlifters in performing weightlifting exercises with barbells, comprised of:

a frame;
a spotter arm, said spotter arm being moveably mounted to said frame;
a force transferring structure, said force transferring structure being mounted to said spotter arm;
a load cell, said load cell being mounted to said spotter arm, said load cell mechanically engaged to said force transferring structure, whereby the weight of said barbell placed on said spotter arm is transferred by said force transferring structure to said load cell;
a controller, said controller electrically engaged to said load cell;
a motor mounted to said frame, said motor raises and lowers said spotter arms, said controller controls the operation of said motor in response to an input from said load cell;
a pair of smooth shafts, said frame fixedly holding said smooth shafts vertically and in parallel;
a pair of bushings, said bushings in sliding engagement along said smooth shafts;
a spotter arm connecting plate, each of said spotter arms attached to said connecting plate and said connecting plate attached to said bushings;
a nut having an internal thread of known profile, said nut attached to said connecting plate;
and
a lead screw, said lead screw having an external thread profile matching the profile of the internal thread of said nut, said lead screw passing through said nut, such that said nut and said lead screw are in mating rotational contact, whereby as said motor rotates said lead screw, said spotter arm are raised or lowered along said smooth shafts.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.