Portable spotting assistance machine

A portable spotting apparatus comprising:

• a support assembly movable between a collapsed position and a use position and configured to be arranged in the use position with a second support assembly to define a spotting area for a user, the support assembly comprising:
• a cross member having an elongated body with an engagement element at an end portion thereof, wherein the cross member is configured to extend across the spotting area adjacent to a corresponding cross member of the second support assembly and couple with an intermediate portion of the corresponding cross member via the engagement element to form a double beam that prevents the support assemblies from moving relative to each other in the use position;
• an upright member having a bottom portion pivotally coupled with the cross member, wherein the spotting area is further defined between the upright member and a corresponding upright member of the second support assembly pivoted to generally perpendicular orientation relative to the double beam;
• a pair of legs each having an upper end pivotally coupled with the upright member and a lower end configured to rest on a support surface on opposing lateral sides of the upright member in the use position;
• a pulley assembly coupled with a top portion of the upright member and having a plurality of pulleys rotatable about a common horizontal axis;
• and
• a plurality of cords extending over the pulley assembly, each cord engaging a single dedicated groove of the plurality of pulleys, and configured to selectively couple with a harness worn by the user.

A support assembly for a portable spotting apparatus, comprising:

• a cross member having an engagement element at a distal end thereof and configured to extend across a spotting area and attach to a parallel and adjacent cross member of a second support assembly via the engagement element to prevent the support assemblies from moving relative to each other in a use position;
• an upright member having a top portion coupled with a pulley assembly and a bottom portion pivotally coupled with the cross member;
• a pair of legs each having (i) a top member with an upper end pivotally coupled with an intermediate portion of the upright member and (ii) a bottom member pivotally coupled with the upright member below the upper end of the top member, wherein the pair of legs are pivotal between a deployed position with a lower end of the top member supported by a floor surface on opposing lateral sides of the upright member and a folded position with the pair of legs adjacent to the upright member, and wherein the bottom member is configured support the top member angled away from the upright member in the deployed position;
• a plurality of cords operably engaging the pulley assembly, wherein the at least one cord of the plurality of cords is configured to couple with a harness for spotting a user by providing a tension on the harness;
• and
• a wheel rotatably coupled with the cross member proximate the bottom portion of the upright member for transporting of the support assembly in a collapsed position, having the upright member in generally parallel alignment with the horizontal member and the pair of legs in the folded position.