Exercise machine with adjustable rack hooks and adjustable counterweight safety deck

Abstract

A fitness machine having an adjustable safety rack and a hanger-type hook system, comprising: (a) a safety rack attached to and movable along each of a pair of upwardly extending guide rods, wherein the safety rack is rotatable to a locked position such that the safety rack latches onto an upwardly extending support member, or rotated to an unlocked position; (b) a counterweight attached to each safety rack; and (c) a hanger-type hook attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods, wherein the hanger-type hook is rotatable to a locked position such that the hanger-type hook latches onto the upwardly extending support member, or rotated to an unlocked position.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 452,308, filed on March 15, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This system generally relates to fitness machines, and more particularly to adjustable safety shelves and hanging hooks for use on semi-frame fitness machines. Background Technology

[0004] There are currently half-rack and full-rack (also known as "powered rack") fitness machines used for squat exercises. In a squat exercise, the user stands under a barbell that is already suspended from a pair of hanger hooks, with the barbell positioned across his / her shoulders. With the barbell across his / her shoulders, the user then performs a squat. At the end of the exercise, the standing user returns the barbell to the pair of hanger hooks.

[0005] As is understood, the height of the hanging hooks must be adjusted for users of different heights. Therefore, it is important that this height adjustment is easy and quick, and that the likelihood of the user dropping the hook itself during the adjustment process is minimized.

[0006] Secondly, both half-rack and full-rack fitness machines are equipped with safety racks. Safety racks are positioned below the hanging hooks and are used to catch the barbell if it is accidentally dropped or tripped by the user. In short, safety racks prevent the user from getting trapped under a falling barbell. As you may know, different users typically set their safety racks to different heights. Safety racks must be sturdy and durable. As a result, these safety racks are often quite heavy. The danger of adjusting the height of a standard heavy-duty safety rack is that the user may accidentally fall. In fact, the weight of common safety racks completely prevents some users from even adjusting them. Furthermore, the most common safety rack designs require users to completely remove them from the machine, so the next user must replace them for safe use.

[0007] Therefore, both half-frame and full-frame fitness machines require hanger-style hooks and safety shelves that are easy and quick to adjust and unlikely to be accidentally dropped by the user. As will be demonstrated, this system solves these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In a preferred aspect, the system provides a fitness machine with an easily adjustable hanger-type hook and an easily adjustable counterweight safety rack. In another preferred aspect, the system provides a fitness machine with both an adjustable safety rack system and an adjustable hanger-type hook system. Preferably, the system includes a hanger-type hook and a safety rack that travel along a guide rod positioned adjacent to the system's front support member. The hanger-type hook and safety rack can each rotate from a position latched onto the front support member to a position unlocked, and can then be moved to different heights (and then reattached to the front support member). Preferably, the hanger-type hook and safety rack can be slidably... The bushing is attached to the guide rod.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the system includes: a frame having a pair of upwardly extending support members and a pair of upwardly extending guide rods, wherein one of the guide rods is positioned adjacent to each of the upwardly extending support members; a safety shelf attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods, wherein the safety shelf is rotatable to a locked position such that the safety shelf is latched onto the upwardly extending support member, or rotated to an unlocked position such that the safety shelf is disconnected from the upwardly extending support member and from the counterweight connected to each safety shelf. Hanger-type hooks attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods are also included, wherein each hanger-type hook is rotatable to a locked position such that the hanger-type hook is latched onto the upwardly extending support member, or rotated to an unlocked position such that the hanger-type hook is disconnected from the upwardly extending support member.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the safety shelf and hanger hook only need to be rotated approximately 20 degrees about the upwardly extending guide rod from their locked position to the unlocked position. The safety shelf and hanger hook can be moved from their locked position to their unlocked position by simply lifting them and rotating them inward. Preferably, the upwardly extending support member has a series of grooves, and the hanger hook and safety shelf have protrusions that are received into the grooves when the safety shelf and hanger hook are in their locked position.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the counterweights of the support shelves move up and down within the upwardly extending support members, thereby protecting the user from contact with them.

[0012] Also in a preferred embodiment, the fitness machine frame further includes: a base support member connected to the bottom end of the upwardly extending support member; an upwardly extending rear support member; a top support member connected to the top end of the upwardly extending support member; and optionally a pair of lifting handles mounted to the top support member. It should be understood that this system can be used with both half-frame fitness machines (as described) and full-frame or powered frame fitness machines.

[0013] One advantage of this system is that users do not need to remove safety racks or hanging hooks from the machine's frame to adjust their height. Specifically, neither the hanging hooks nor the safety racks are removed from the guide rod; they simply move up and down along the guide rod. This minimizes the risk of users falling from the hanging hooks or (heavier) safety racks.

[0014] Another advantage of this system is that the counterweight is attached to the safety shelf, significantly reducing the weight the user must lift when adjusting the height of the safety shelf. This allows for quick and easy adjustments while minimizing the risk of accidentally falling off the safety shelf. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is the front elevation view of the system.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a side elevation view of the system.

[0017] Figure 3 This is the rear elevation view of the system.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a top-down plan view of the system.

[0019] Figure 5 This is the front perspective view of this system.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a close-up front perspective view of the safety shelves and hanging hooks of this system.

[0021] Figure 7 It corresponds to Figure 6 The cross-sectional side elevation view shows the operation of the counterweight used to move the safety shelf.

[0022] Figure 8 Corresponding to Figure 7 However, the hanging hooks were removed.

[0023] Figure 9 It is a side elevation view showing the safety shelf and hanging hooks in the locked position.

[0024] Figure 10AThis is a top cross-sectional view of the safety shelf in the locked position.

[0025] Figure 10B This is a top cross-sectional view of the safety shelf in the unlocked position.

[0026] Figure 11A This is a perspective view of one type of hanging hook.

[0027] Figure 11B This is a perspective view of one of the safety shelves.

[0028] Figure 12A This is a rear perspective view of one of the hanging hooks, which shows the preferred wear-resistant plate.

[0029] Figure 12B This is a rear perspective view of one of the safety shelves, which shows the preferred wear-resistant board. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figures 1 to 5 Various views of the exercise machine 10 are shown, which provides an adjustable safety rack and hanger-type hook system, as described below. The exercise machine 10 includes a frame 20 having a pair of upwardly extending support members 22 and a pair of upwardly extending guide rods 24. As can be seen, one of the guide rods 24 is positioned adjacent to each of the upwardly extending support members 22. A safety rack 30 attached to (and slidable along) each of the upwardly extending guide rods 24 is also included. As will be fully illustrated herein, each safety rack 30 can be rotated to a locked position such that the safety rack latches onto the upwardly extending support member 22, or rotated to an unlocked position such that the safety rack 30 is disengaged from the upwardly extending support member 22. Additionally, a counterweight 35 is connected to each safety rack 30 via a cable. Hanger-type hooks 40 attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods 24 are also included.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, frame 10 further includes a horizontal base support 50 connectable to the bottom end of the upwardly extending support member 22. Frame 10 may also include a top support 52 connected to the top end of the upwardly extending support member 22. In an optional embodiment, the top support 52 may further include a pair of lifting handles 54 and / or grip pads or supports attached thereto. Frame 10 may also include a pair of upwardly extending rear supports 56 connected to both the bottom support 50 and the top support 52. As illustrated, this fitness machine system can be used with a half-frame fitness machine. However, it should be understood that this fitness system can also be used with a full-frame or powered frame fitness machine, all of which are within the scope of this invention.

[0032] As will be explained in this article, the hanger hook 40 can be rotated to the locked position. Figure 10A This causes the hanger-type hook latch to lock onto the upwardly extending support member, or rotates to the unlocked position. Figure 10B This causes the hanger hook to disconnect from the upward-extending support component.

[0033] Figures 6 to 12B Further details regarding the preferred locking and unlocking operations of the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 are described below. Preferably, the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 are slidable... A bushing is attached to the upwardly extending guide rod 24. This allows the safety shelf 30 and the hanger-type hook 40 to slide easily up and down on the guide rod 25. Furthermore, each of the safety shelf 30 and the hanger-type hook 40 rotates about the upwardly extending guide rod 24 from its locked position to its unlocked position. This rotation... Figures 10A to 10B as well as Figure 11A and 11B The clearest view is in the middle. Figure 11A and 11B In the middle, the safety shelf 30 has a curved portion 31 received around the guide rod 24, and the hanging hook 40 similarly has a curved portion 41 also received around the guide rod 24. As can be seen, when in its locked position and its unlocked position ( Figure 10A and 10B When moving between the two shelves, the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 can each rotate by about 20 degrees.

[0034] like Figure 6 and 9 Most clearly, by lifting the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 and rotating them inward (i.e., toward the center of the fitness machine), the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 move from their locked position to their unlocked position. As can be seen, preferably, each of the upwardly extending support members 22 has a series of grooves 23, and (as...) Figure 12A and 12B As can be seen in the image, the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 also have protrusions 33 and 43, which are received into the groove 23 when the safety shelf 30 and the hanging hook 40 are in their locked positions. (It should be understood that...) Figure 12A and 12B The protrusions 33 and 43 illustrated in the figure may extend to have a widened base portion that is securely locked behind the groove 23. Preferably, as illustrated, a series of grooves 23 are positioned on the forward-facing side of the upwardly extending support 22, wherein the guide rod 24 is positioned behind the upwardly extending support. Additionally, preferably, the safety shelf 30 and the hanger hook 40 further include abrasion plates 34 and 44, which are positioned against the upwardly extending support 22 when the safety shelf 30 and the hanger hook 40 are in their locked position.

[0035] Finally, as Figure 7 , 8 As can be seen in Figure 9, when the safety shelf 30 rises or falls, the cable-connected counterweight 35 moves up and down within the upwardly extending support member 22. This is highly advantageous because safety shelves typically weigh up to 45 pounds. For example, using a 30-pound counterweight 35 would thus reduce the amount of weight the user has to lift it down to just 10 pounds.

Claims

1. A fitness machine with an adjustable safety shelf and a hanging hook system, comprising: The framework includes: A pair of upwardly extending support members, and A pair of upwardly extending guide rods, wherein one of the guide rods is positioned adjacent to each of the upwardly extending support members; A safety shelf, which is attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods, wherein the safety shelf is configured to rotate to a locked position such that the safety shelf latches onto a corresponding one of the upwardly extending support members, or to rotate to an unlocked position such that the safety shelf is disconnected from the corresponding upwardly extending support member. Counterweights, which are connected to each safety shelf via cables; and A hanger-type hook, attached to and movable along each of the upwardly extending guide rods, wherein the hanger-type hook is configured to rotate to a locked position such that the hanger-type hook latches onto a corresponding one of the upwardly extending support members, or to rotate to an unlocked position such that the hanger-type hook disengages from the corresponding upwardly extending support member, and The safety shelf and the hanging hook each rotate about the upwardly extending guide rod from their locked position to their unlocked position.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a base support member connected to the bottom end of the upwardly extending support member.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the frame further comprises a top support member connected to the top end of the upwardly extending support member.

4. The machine of claim 3, further comprising a pair of lifting handles on the top support.

5. The machine of claim 3, further comprising a pair of upwardly extending rear supports connected to the base support and the top support.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein each of the upwardly extending support members has a series of grooves, and the safety shelf and the hanger hook have protrusions that are received into the grooves when the safety shelf and the hanger hook are in their locked position.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein the safety shelf and the hanger hook further include a wear-resistant plate, wherein the wear-resistant plate is positioned against the corresponding upwardly extending support member when the safety shelf and the hanger hook are in their locked position.

8. The machine of claim 6, wherein the series of grooves are located in front of the upwardly extending support member, and the guide rod is positioned behind the upwardly extending support member.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the safety shelf and the hanger hook are attached to the upwardly extending guide rod via a slidable bushing.

10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the safety shelf and the hanging hook are each rotated approximately 20 degrees between their locked position and their unlocked position.

11. The machine of claim 1, wherein the safety shelf and the hanging hook are moved from their locked position to their unlocked position by lifting them and rotating them inward.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein each counterweight moves up and down within a respective one of the upwardly extending support members.

13. The machine of claim 1, wherein each safety shelf and counterweight are connected by a cable that travels within the respective upwardly extending support member.

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