WEIGHT RACK ACCESSORY COUPLING

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to weight racks and accessories for use with weight racks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a coupling for releasably securing an accessory to a weight rack.

Background of the Related Art

Weight racks are used by weightlifters to support and secure a wide variety of accessories used in exercising with weights and for resistance training. A conventional weight rack typically includes four or more upright rails, each of which is connected to another upright rail by a lateral brace. However, squat racks are also conventional weight racks and can have as few as two upright rails. Each upright rail generally includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes to facilitate the securing of accessories to the weight rack. Accessories that can be secured to a weight rack and used for exercise include, but are not limited to, J-cups, J-cups with rollers, lat pull down seats, safety spotter arms and dip handles.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention comprises a first wall member having a top end, a bottom end spaced apart from the top end, a proximal edge intermediate the top end and the bottom end, a distal edge intermediate the top end and the bottom end and spaced apart from the proximal edge, an interior side intermediate the proximal edge and the distal edge, an exterior side intermediate the proximal edge and the distal edge and opposite the interior side, and a pin portion proximal to the top end of the first wall and intermediate the proximal edge and the distal edge. In one embodiment, the pin portion extends from the top edge of the first wall upwardly and away from the bottom edge of the first wall. The embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention further comprises a second wall member also having a top end, a bottom end spaced apart from the top end, a proximal edge intermediate the top end and the bottom end, a distal edge intermediate the top end and the bottom end and spaced apart from the proximal edge, an interior side intermediate the proximal edge and the distal edge, and an exterior side intermediate the proximal edge and the distal edge and opposite the interior side. The second wall member does not include a pin portion extending upwardly from the top edge as does the first wall member. The embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention further comprises an intermediate wall member also having a top end, a bottom end spaced apart from the top end, a first edge connected to the distal edge of the first wall member, a second edge connected to the distal edge of the second wall member, an interior side and an exterior side to which an accessory for use with a weight rack can be secured. The weight rack accessories that can be secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall member include, but are not limited to, dip handles, a J-cup for supporting a barbell, a J-cup with roller(s) for supporting a barbell, a lat pull down seat with thigh rollers for retaining the user in the seat and safety spotter arms for supporting a barbell.

In one embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention, the interior side of the first wall, the interior side of the second wall and the interior side of the intermediate wall together form an open channel disposed intermediate the interior side of the first wall and the interior side of the second wall, and also intermediate the proximal edges of the first and second walls and the intermediate wall member, the open channel having an opening intermediate the proximal edges of the first wall and the second wall and sized to receive an upright rail of a conventional weight rack having a plurality of regularly spaced apertures therethrough. The embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling further includes a pivot pin connected to the pin portion of the first wall, the pivot pin having a proximal end connected to the pin portion of the first wall and an intermediate portion terminating at a second end of the pivot pin. The pivot pin extends orthogonally from the interior side of the first wall and is sized to be received within the regularly spaced apertures of the upright rail of the weight rack. In one embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention, the proximal end of the pivot pin is welded to the pin portion extending upwardly from the first wall. In another embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention, the proximal end of the pivot pin is press fit into an aperture in the pin portion of the first wall. The pivot pin is sized for being received into the apertures that are regularly spaced along the upright rail of a conventional weight rack and to extend through an aperture on the entry face of the upright rail, through the upright rail and to emerge through an aperture in the face opposite the entry face. An embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention can then be pivoted about the pivot pin to receive the upright rail into the open channel of the coupling

One embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling further comprises a releasable pin having a proximal end and a distal end, the releasable pin connected to the coupling by a tether member. In this embodiment, the first wall includes a first wall aperture proximal to the bottom end of the first wall and sized to receive the releasable pin upon insertion therein. This embodiment further includes a second wall aperture proximal to the bottom end of the first all, aligned with and spaced apart from the first wall aperture, the second wall aperture sized to receive the distal end of the releasable pin upon insertion through the first wall aperture and to and through the second wall aperture. The first wall aperture and the second wall aperture are disposed in positions proximal to the bottom end of the first wall and proximal to the bottom end of the second wall, respectively. The first wall aperture and the second wall aperture are aligned with apertures in each lateral face of an upright rail of a conventional weight rack by pivoting the weight rack accessory coupling about the inserted pivot pin to receive the upright rail into the open channel of the coupling.

The pivot pin of the weight rack accessory coupling is connected to the first wall and protrudes into a channel formed intermediate the first wall and the second wall. This enables the use of pivot pins that include a head. A pivot pin with a head may be inserted into a pivot pin aperture and welded in place without presenting an obstruction on the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling that might interfere or obstruct movement of barbells landing in or being lifted from the accessory that is secured to the upright rail by the weight rack accessory coupling.

The tether member that secures the releasable pin to the weight rack accessory coupling is preferably a flexible member having a first end connected to the releasable pin and a second end connected to one of the first wall, the second wall and the intermediate wall. The tether member may be, for example, but not by way of limitation, a chain, a cable or a wire. The tether member is for convenience to keep the releasable pin from being lost or misplaced.

Further benefits and aspects of embodiments of the weight rack accessory coupling of the present invention will become evident upon review of the detailed description of an embodiment that follows and of the drawings of an embodiment appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a weight rack accessory coupling for securing an accessory (not shown) to an upright rail of a conventional weight rack.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIG. 1 rotated and positioned to engage an adjacent upright rail of a conventional weight rack.

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of FIG. 3 after the pivot pin is inserted through aligned apertures in the interior face and exterior face of the upright rail of a conventional weight rack.

FIG. 4 is the perspective view of FIG. 3 after the weight rack accessory coupling is rotated ninety degrees about the pivot pin to introduce a section of the upright rail into the open channel of the weight rack accessory coupling.

FIG. 5 is the perspective view of FIG. 4 after the releasable pin is inserted through the first wall aperture of the weight rack accessory coupling, through a second pair of aligned apertures in the opposing faces of the upright rail of the conventional weight rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIGS. 1-5 after a J-cup for supporting a barbell is secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIGS. 1-5 after a J-cup with a roller for supporting a barbell is secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIGS. 1-5 after a lat pull down seat with thigh rollers for supporting a user while performing exercises is secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIGS. 1-5 after a pair of dip handles for supporting a user while performing exercises is secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling of FIGS. 1-5 after a safety spotter arm for intercepting and supporting a barbell is secured to the exterior side of the intermediate wall of the weight rack accessory coupling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a weight rack accessory coupling 10 for securing an accessory (not shown) to an upright rail (not shown) of a conventional weight rack. The weight rack accessory coupling (hereinafter referred to as “coupling”) 10 includes a first wall 20 having an interior side 22, an exterior side 24 (not shown in FIG. 1), a top end 26, a bottom end 28, a proximal edge 21, a distal edge 23, an upwardly extending pin portion 25 and a releasable pin aperture 29 therein. The weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIG. 1 further includes a second wall 60 having an interior side 62 (not shown in FIG. 1), an exterior side 64, a top end 66, a bottom end 68, a proximal edge 61, a distal edge 63 and a releasable pin aperture 69 therein that is aligned with the releasable pin aperture 29 of the first wall 20. The weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIG. 1 further includes an intermediate wall 40 having an interior side 42, an exterior side 44 (not shown in FIG. 1), a top end 46, a bottom end 48, a first edge 41 connected to the distal edge 23 of the first wall 20, a second edge 43 (not shown in FIG. 1) connected to the distal edge 63 of the second wall 60, and a downwardly extending portion 49. The weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIG. 1 further includes a pivot pin 80 extending orthogonally to the interior face 22 of the first wall 20 and towards the second wall 60, the pivot pin 80 having a proximal end 82 connected to a pin portion 25 of the first wall 20 and a distal end 84 spaced apart from the proximal end 82. The first wall 20, the second wall 60 and the intermediate wall 40 together form an open channel 77 in the weight rack accessory coupling 10. At least a portion of the open channel 77 includes a square or rectangular cross-section intermediate the first wall 20 and the second wall 60, and adjacent to the intermediate wall 40, to receive the upright rail of the weight rack.

The weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIG. 1 further includes a releasable pin 90 having a proximal end 92 and a distal end 94. The diameter of the releasable pin 90 is less than the diameter of the releasable pin aperture 29 of the first wall and less than the diameter of the releasable pin aperture 69 of the second wall 60. The diameter of the releasable pin 90 is also less than the diameter of the regularly spaced apertures of the upright rail of the weight rack to which the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of the present invention is releasably securable.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIG. 1 rotated and positioned to engage an adjacent upright rail 50 of a conventional weight rack The upright rail 50 includes an interior face 51, a frontal face 52 and an exterior face 53 (not shown in FIG. 2). The interior face 51, the frontal face 52 and the exterior face 53 of the upright rail 50 have regularly spaced apertures 55 and 56 that are larger in diameter than the pivot pin 80 and the releasable pin 90 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. The apertures 55 in the interior face 51 and the apertures 56 in the exterior face 53 are horizontally aligned to provide regularly spaced pairs of apertures 55 and 56.

FIG. 2 shows the weight rack accessory coupling 10 after it is rotated to position the open channel 77 to be downwardly disposed and the exterior side 43 to be upwardly disposed and the pivot pin 80 is aligned for insertion into a selected aperture 55A in the interior face 51 of the upright rail 50, and from there further through the selected pair of apertures 55 and 56 until the distal end 94 emerges from the selected aperture 56 of the selected pair of apertures 55 and 56. FIG. 2 shows that the upwardly extended pin portion 25 of the first wall 20 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 extends above and beyond the top end 44 of the intermediate wall 40 and the top end 64 of the coupling 10 to facilitate insertion of the pivot pin 80 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 reveals the exterior side 43, the top end 44 and the bottom end 48 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. As will be illustrated in connection with the discussion of the appended drawings, a variety of weight rack accessories can be connected or coupled to the exterior side 43 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 to enable those accessories to be firmly secured to the weight rack upright rail 50 by use of the coupling 10.

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of FIG. 3 after the pivot pin 80 is inserted through the selected pair of aligned apertures 55 and 56 in the interior face 51 and the exterior face 53 the upright rail 50 of a conventional weight rack. This movement positions the open channel 77 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 into alignment with the upright rail 50 of the weight rack to enable installation of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 onto the weight rack upright rail 50 by rotation of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 about the inserted pivot pin 80 as indicated by the arrow 77A.

FIG. 4 is the perspective view of FIG. 3 after the weight rack accessory coupling 10 is rotated ninety degrees about the pivot pin 80 to introduce (a section of) the upright rail 50 into the open channel 77 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. In this position, the first wall aperture 29 and the aligned second wall aperture 69 (not shown in FIG. 4) are aligned with the selected pair of apertures 55 and 56 in the upright rail 50. FIG. 4 further shows the releasable pin 90 positioned in alignment with the first wall aperture 29 and, therefore, in alignment with the second wall aperture 69 and the selected pair of apertures 55 and 56 of the upright rail 50.

FIG. 5 is the perspective view of FIG. 4 after the releasable pin 90 is inserted through the first wall aperture 29 (not shown in FIG. 5) of the weight rack accessory coupling 10, through the second pair of aligned apertures 55 and 56 (not shown in FIG. 5) in the opposing faces 51 and 53 of the upright rail 50 of the conventional weight rack and through the third wall aperture 69 (not shown in FIG. 5). In this position, any load applied to the weight rack accessory coupling 10 is now supported by the pivot pin 80 and the releasable pin 90 which are, in turn, supported in the secured position by the first pair of apertures 55 and 56 and second pair of apertures 55 and 56 in which the pivot pin 80 and the releasable pin 90, respectively, reside.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-5 after a J-cup 70 for supporting a barbell (not shown) is secured to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-5 after a J-cup 71 with a roller 72 for rollably supporting a barbell (not shown) is secured to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-5 after a lat pull down seat 73 with thigh rollers 74 for supporting a user while performing exercises is secured to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. The angled square tubular support 75 may be, in one embodiment, welded to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-5 after a dip handle assembly 75 including a pair of dip handles 75A and 75B for supporting a user while performing exercises is secured to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-5 after a safety spotter arm 76 for intercepting and supporting a barbell (not shown) is secured to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10.

The preceding paragraphs discuss weight rack accessories that can be secured to an upright rail of a weight rack by securing the accessory to the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. It will be understood that accessories may also be secured to the exterior side 24 of the first wall 20, to the exterior side 64 of the second wall 60, or to two or more of the exterior side 24 of the first wall 20, the exterior side 64 of the second wall 60 and the exterior side 44 of the intermediate wall 40 of the weight rack accessory coupling 10. In the embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of FIGS. 1-10, the exterior side 24 of the first wall 20 and the exterior side 64 of the second wall 60 have open surface area intermediate the first wall aperture 29 and the pivot pin 80 and intermediate the second wall aperture 69 and the top end 66 of the second wall 60, respectively. Accessories may be connected to the coupling 10 on the exterior side 44 and/or in one or both of these open surface areas.

In one embodiment of the weight rack accessory coupling 10 of the present invention, the first wall 20 and/or the second wall 60 may be bifurcated into a top portion and a bottom portion. For the first wall 20, the top portion may include the pin portion 25 and the bottom portion may include the first wall aperture 29. For the second wall 60, the top portion may be near the top end 66 of the second wall 60 and the bottom portion may include the second wall aperture 69.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.