Additional weight system for a fitness machine

Abstract

An additional weight selection system for a fitness machine, the system having an additional weight panel configured to be lifted with a selected number of stacked weight plates, and an additional weight selection mechanism for moving the additional weight panel between an engaged position such that the additional weight panel is engaged with the weight plates to be lifted and is lifted with the selected weight plates, and a disengaged position such that the additional weight panel is disengaged from the weight plates to be lifted and is not lifted with the selected weight plates.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 445,930, filed on February 15, 2023, with the same title, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This weight selection system generally relates to fitness equipment with stacked weight plates, and more specifically to a mechanism for selecting the precise weight a user wishes to lift. Background Technology

[0004] A common question for users of weight stacking equipment is that they may want to add intermediate weights (i.e., weights smaller than the weight on each plate of the weight stack) to the total weight they are lifting. This is a common question when users want to increase the weight in smaller increments during their daily workout. For example, each plate in the weight stack might weigh 10 pounds, and the user might alternatively want to increase their daily workout in 5-pound increments.

[0005] Solutions to this problem do exist in the form of smaller amounts of counterweight, which can be selectively added to a stack of counterweight plates as needed. Unfortunately, many of these solutions tend to be bulky or counterintuitive to use. Therefore, instead, an easy-to-use system is needed for adding intermediate counterweights to a selected counterweight plate stack. Ideally, this system would be easy to use and allow the user to add additional (i.e., intermediate) counterweight to the stack with a simple toggle switch. Also ideally, this system would preferably require minimal space to house and operate. As will be shown, this system provides this solution. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In a preferred aspect, the system provides an easy-to-use system for adding incremental counterweights to a raised plate in a counterweight stack.

[0007] In one aspect, the system provides an additional weight selection system for fitness equipment, comprising:

[0008] (a) A counterweight stack comprising multiple stacked counterweight plates;

[0009] (b) A counterweight selector for selecting the number of the plurality of stacked counterweight plates to be lifted;

[0010] (c) An additional counterweight panel, configured to be lifted together with a number of selected stacked counterweights; and

[0011] (d) An additional counterweight selection mechanism for moving the additional counterweight panel between the following positions:

[0012] The engagement position allows the additional counterweight panel to engage with the counterweight plate to be lifted and be lifted together with the selected counterweight plate.

[0013] The detached position allows the additional counterweight panel to disengage from the counterweight plate to be lifted and not be lifted together with the selected counterweight plate.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the additional counterweight selection mechanism includes a vertical rod with a plurality of attached rollers. The rollers are positioned to travel along the vertical rod as the additional counterweight panel is raised and lowered. In operation, the additional counterweight selection mechanism causes the additional counterweight panel to rotate about a vertical axis (preferably through the vertical rod) between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The counterweight stack preferably includes a protrusion extending from a counterweight plate at the top of the stack, and the additional counterweight panel has a notch sized to receive the protrusion therein. Thus, when the additional counterweight panel rotates to its engaged position, the protrusion at the top of the counterweight stack moves into the notch in the panel, essentially hooking the panel onto the protrusion, such that when the counterweight stack is raised, the additional panel is raised along with it.

[0015] In a preferred aspect, the mechanism for moving the additional counterweight panel about the vertical axis includes a handle connected to the vertical rod, and the handle is optionally biased to the engaged position or the disengaged position.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the additional counterweight panel is thin and positioned to hang behind the counterweight stack, occupying very little space when it moves up and down with the counterweights in the stack during engagement.

[0017] One advantage of this system is its ease of use. The user simply flips a switch near the top of the vertical bar, and additional incremental weight is added to the weight stack for lifting. Preferably, the weight added by flipping the switch is less than the weight of each plate in the weight stack. For example, if each plate weighs 10 pounds, the additional weight added by this system could be 5 pounds. Therefore, the user can add weight in increments of 5 pounds (instead of 10 pounds) using this system. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is the front view of this system.

[0019] Figure 2 This is the left-side front view of this system.

[0020] Figure 3 This is the right-side front view of this system.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a top-down plan view of the system.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a bottom-view plan of the system.

[0023] Figure 6A This is a perspective view of the additional counterweight selection mechanism.

[0024] Figure 6B This is a front view of the additional counterweight selection mechanism.

[0025] Figure 6C It is along Figure 6B The cross-sectional view taken from line BB in the diagram.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the rear bottom of the counterweight stack, with the additional counterweight panel in the detached position.

[0027] Figure 8 It corresponds to Figure 7 The top view shows the additional counterweight panel in the detached position.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the rear bottom of the counterweight stack, with the additional counterweight panel in the engagement position.

[0029] Figure 10 It corresponds to Figure 9 The top view shows the additional counterweight panel in the engagement position.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a rear perspective view of the additional counterweight panel that is engaged with and lifted together with the counterweight stack.

[0031] Figure 12A This is a front perspective view of the counterweight stack, with the counterweight panels in the engagement position.

[0032] Figure 12B It corresponds to Figure 12A The rear perspective view. Detailed Implementation

[0033] As shown in the attached figures, this system provides an additional weight system 10 for cable fitness equipment. The additional weight system 10 preferably includes:

[0034] (a) A counterweight stack 20, which includes a plurality of stacked counterweight plates 22;

[0035] (b) A counterweight selector 25, which is used to select the number of the plurality of stacked counterweight plates 22 to be lifted;

[0036] (c) An additional counterweight panel 30, configured to be lifted together with a number of selected stacked counterweight panels 22; and

[0037] (d) An additional counterweight selection mechanism 40 for moving the additional counterweight panel 30 between the following positions:

[0038] Joint position (e.g.) Figure 9 (as seen in the image), so that the additional counterweight panel 30 engages with the counterweight plate 22 to be lifted and is lifted together with the selected counterweight plate (as shown in the image). Figure 11 (as seen in the text), and

[0039] Disengagement position (e.g.) Figure 7 (as seen in the image), so that the additional counterweight panel 30 is detached from the counterweight plate 22 to be lifted, and is not lifted together with the selected counterweight plate.

[0040] As in Figure 9 and 11 As best seen, the counterweight stack 20 preferably includes a protrusion 21 extending from the counterweight plate at the top of the counterweight stack, and the additional counterweight panel 30 has a recess 31, the size of which is designed to receive the protrusion 21 therein.

[0041] During operation, the additional counterweight selection mechanism 40 causes the additional counterweight panel 30 to be in an engaged position around the vertical axis (e.g., Figure 9 (as seen in the image) and the location of separation (e.g.) Figure 7 Rotation between (as seen in the image). Most preferably, the additional counterweight selection mechanism 40 includes:

[0042] Vertical rod 42, and

[0043] Multiple rollers 44 are connected to an additional counterweight panel 30. The rollers 44 are positioned to travel along a vertical rod 42 as the additional counterweight panel 30 is raised and lowered.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, a handle 46 connected to the vertical rod 42 is used to move the additional counterweight panel 30 about a vertical axis passing through the vertical rod 42. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the handle 46 is biased into an engaged or disengaged position. This can be accomplished using a spring-loaded follower 47.

[0045] like Figure 7 and 11 Ideally, the additional counterweight panel 30 can be a long, thin object, preferably conveniently positioned behind the counterweight stack 20 without obstructing access. In an alternative embodiment, the height of the additional counterweight panel 30 can be approximately equal to the height of the counterweight stack 20, such as... Figure 7 The best display in China.

[0046] Preferably, the weight of the additional weight panel 30 is less than that of any one of the weights 22 in the weight stack 20. Most preferably, the weight of the additional weight panel 30 is half the weight of each weight 20 in the weight stack. For example, if each weight 22 in the weight stack 20 weighs 10 pounds, then the additional weight panel 30 can weigh 5 pounds. Therefore, if the user wishes to lift 30 pounds, he / she will use pin 25 to select all three weights 22. However, if he / she instead wishes to lift 35 pounds, he / she will use pin 25 to select all three weights 22 and also use handle 46 to rotate the additional weight panel 30 to its engaged position so that it (weighing 5 pounds) is lifted together with the three weights (each weighing 10 pounds), thus lifting a total of 35 pounds. It can be seen that the weight selector 25 can simply be a pin, and each weight 22 in the weight stack 20 has a hole for receiving the pin 25 therein.

Claims

1. An additional weight selection system for fitness equipment, comprising: (a) A counterweight stack comprising multiple stacked counterweight plates; (b) A counterweight selector for selecting the number of the plurality of stacked counterweight plates to be lifted; (c) An additional counterweight panel, configured to be lifted together with a number of the selected plurality of stacked counterweight panels; and (d) An additional counterweight selection mechanism for moving the additional counterweight panel between the following positions: The engagement position allows the additional counterweight panel to engage with the counterweight plate to be lifted and be lifted together with the selected counterweight plate. The disengaged position causes the additional counterweight panel to detach from the counterweight plate to be lifted and not to be lifted together with the selected counterweight plate. The additional counterweight selection mechanism includes a vertical rod and a rotatable handle connected to the vertical rod. The rotatable handle is configured to be located near the top of the vertical rod and to rotate about a vertical axis passing through the vertical rod with the additional counterweight panel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional counterweight selection mechanism for moving the additional counterweight panel causes the additional counterweight panel to rotate about a vertical axis between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the additional counterweight selection mechanism comprises: Multiple rollers are connected to the additional counterweight panel, wherein the rollers are positioned to travel along the vertical bar as the additional counterweight panel is raised and lowered.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the additional counterweight selection mechanism causes the additional counterweight panel to rotate about the vertical rod from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the handle is biased to the engaged position or the disengaged position.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the weight of the additional counterweight panel is less than any of the counterweights in the counterweight stack.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the weight of the additional counterweight panel is half the weight of each of the counterweights in the counterweight stack.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the counterweight stack includes a protrusion extending from a counterweight plate at the top of the counterweight stack, and wherein the additional counterweight panel has a recess sized to receive the protrusion therein.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional counterweight panel is positioned behind the counterweight stack.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the height of the additional counterweight panel is approximately equal to the height of the counterweight stack.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the counterweight selector is a pin, and each of the counterweights in the counterweight stack has a hole for receiving the pin therein.

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