CA2194624A1 - Self-locking quick release bracket - Google Patents

Self-locking quick release bracket

Info

Publication number
CA2194624A1
CA2194624A1 CA002194624A CA2194624A CA2194624A1 CA 2194624 A1 CA2194624 A1 CA 2194624A1 CA 002194624 A CA002194624 A CA 002194624A CA 2194624 A CA2194624 A CA 2194624A CA 2194624 A1 CA2194624 A1 CA 2194624A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
rod
bracket
projection
cavity
cavities
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002194624A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James P. Angeles
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LifeGear Inc
Original Assignee
LifeGear Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LifeGear Inc filed Critical LifeGear Inc
Publication of CA2194624A1 publication Critical patent/CA2194624A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47BTABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B57/00Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions
    • A47B57/30Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports
    • A47B57/48Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports consisting of tongues, pins or similar projecting means coacting with openings
    • A47B57/482Tongues
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B21/00Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
    • A63B21/06User-manipulated weights
    • A63B21/078Devices for bench press exercises, e.g. supports, guiding means

Abstract

A self-locking quick release bracket having a body which surrounds a support rod having a line of cavities.
The body includes an internal projection adapted to be placed into a selected one of the cavities at a desired elevation along the rod. The body is so formed that it can be tilted relative to the rod to remove the projection from a cavity and allow the bracket to be moved longitudinally along the rod in order to change the location of the bracket on the rod.

Description

~1 q4624 SELF-LOCKING ~UICK RELEASE BRACKET

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a load supporting bracket for use with a vertically oriented support rod and, more particularly, to such a bracket which is self-locking to the rod at a desired position and is also quickly releaseable for movement along the rod without the use of any tools.
The present invention finds particular utility in the environment of exercise equipment, especially weight benches. Modern weight benches typically have a floor supported base structure and, in addition to supports for the bench itself, also have upright support rods to which are mounted brackets utilized for holding weighted bar-bells. When different people utilize the weight bench, and also when a particular person proceeds through a regimen of different exercises, the height of the brackets on the rods is typically required to be changed.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide such a bracket which can be quickly released from an existing position, moved to a new position, and locked into place without requiring the use of any tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and additional objects are attained in 21 9462~

accordance with the principles of this invention by providing a self-locking quick release bracket for use with a substantially vertical rod having cavities extending into the rod from a substantially vertical outer surface of the rod. The cavities are within a defined region of the rod, with the rod having a substantially uniform cross section within the defined region. The inventive bracket comprises a hollow tubular body having an internal cross section configured and sized relative to the cross section of the rod within the defined region so that the body is free to move along the rod within the defined region. The body has an upper portion encompassing a first part of the outer circumference of the rod including the cavities, a lower portion encompassing a second part of the outer circumference of the rod across the rod from the first part, and a central portion connecting the upper and lower portions. An inwardly directed projection is secured to the inner surface of the upper portion of the body, the projection being sized to fit within each of the cavities. When the projection is within a selected cavity, the bracket is prevented from being moved along the rod. The upper and lower portions of the body are spaced apart vertically a sufficient distance to allow the body to be tilted relative to the rod in a first angular direction so as to remove the projection from a cavity so that the tilted body can be moved along the rod.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention the bracket further includes a support member secured to the exterior surface of the lower portion of the body. The support member is adapted for supporting a load thereon so that when the projection is within a selected cavity and a load is supported by the support member the body is tilted in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction to insure that the projection remains ~1 94624 within the cavity.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention the body, the projection and the support member of the bracket are unitarily formed as an integral piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof are identified by the same reference numeral and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative weight bench utilizing a bracket constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of an inventive bracket;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing an inventive bracket locked in place on a support rod; and FIG. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the inventive bracket released from the locked condition of Figure 3 so that it is movable to a new position along the support rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a weight bench, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, in which a bracket according to the present invention may be employed. The weight bench 10 includes floor supported base structure 12, bench support structure 14 for supporting a bench 16, and a pair of substantially vertical support rods 18, 20. Although shown as being generally oval in cross section, the rods 18, 20 can have any desired cross sectional configuration, such as circular or rectangular. The rods 18, 20 are illustratively hollow tubes and are each formed with a plurality of substantially identical 2f 94624 cavities 22 (Figures 3 and 4) which are spaced longitudinally along each rod. Preferably, the cavities 22 are positioned along a straight line, at the rear of each of the rods 18, 20, as viewed in Figure 1.
To support a weighted barbell during exercising, barbell holders 24, 26, 28 and 30 are provided. Each of the holders 24, 26, 28, 30 includes a bracket 32 (Figure 2) according to the present invention, to which is secured a respective load holder, as will be described in full detail hereinafter. Thus, the two lower holders Z8, 30 are typically referred to as spotter bars and the upper holders 24, 26 are typically referred to as holder bars.
As shown in Figure 2, the inventive bracket 32 is preferably of unitary construction. In one embodiment, the bracket 32 is made from cast aluminum.
Alternatively, the bracket 32 may be molded from a plastic material, or any other suitable material. As shown, the bracket 32 is a hollow tubular body. The cavities 22 in the rod 18 are all within a defined region of the rod 18, with this defined region having a substantially uniform cross section. The internal cross section of the bracket 32 is configured and sized relative to the cross section of the rod 18 within the defined region so that the body of the bracket 32 has slight clearance around the rod 18. Thus, as illustrated, the rod 18 has a generally oval shape and therefore the interior of the bracket body is also preferably oval in shape.
The bracket 32 has an upper portion 34, a lower portion 36 and a central portion 38, 40 connecting the upper portion 34 and the lower portion 36. The upper portion 34 encompasses a first part of the outer circumference of the rod 18, the line of cavities 22 being within that first circumferential part. (Although shown with an oval cross section, the rod 18 could have - 219~624 . .

a rectangular cross section. In that case, the cavities 22 would all be on a flat side of the rod and the upper and lower portions 34, 36 of the bracket 32 would be flat.) A projection 42 is secured to the inner surface of the upper portion 34 and is sized to fit within each of the cavities 22. As illustrated, the cavities 22 are elongated, so that the projection 42 is generally rectangular. However, both the cavities 22 and the projection 42 can have any other desired shape, such as circular. The lower portion 36 encompasses a second part of the outer circumference of the rod 18 across the rod 18 from the first circumferential part. The upper portion 34 has a lower extremity 44 and the lower portion 36 has an upper extremity 46 which are spaced apart longitudinally a sufficient distance to allow the bracket 32 to be tilted relative to the rod 18 in a first angular direction (clockwise as viewed in Figures 3 and 4). This tilting removes the projection 42 from whichever of the cavities 22 it was in, thereby allowing the bracket 32 to be moved along the rod 18, as best shown in Figure 4.
When the tilted bracket 32 is moved to a desired elevation along the rod 18, it is then tilted in a second angular direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 3 and 4) to place the projection 42 within a selected one of the cavities 22, as shown in Figure 3.
A support member 48 is secured to the exterior of the lower portion 36 of the bracket 32. The support member 48 is formed as an outwardly extending projection having a pair of apertures 50 which are utilized for mounting a selected load holder to the bracket 32. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the upper holders 24, 26 have relatively short load holders 52 mounted to their respective brackets 32, whereas the lower holders 28, 30 have relatively long load holders 54 mounted to their respective brackets 32.
As shown in Figure 3, the weight of the support ~1 94624 .

member 48, especially when a selected load holder 52, 54 is mounted thereto, causes the bracket 32 to be tilted in a counterclockwise direction. This insures that the projection 42 is maintained within a selected cavity 22 and also causes the lower edge of the lower portion 36 of the bracket 32 to dig into the front of the rod 18, thereby securely holding the bracket 32 in place.
Accordingly, there has been disclosed an improved self-locking quick release bracket. While an illustrative embodiment has been disclosed herein, it is understood that other embodiments and modifications may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. Thus, while the bracket has been described in the environment of a weight bench, it is readily apparent that it possesses utility in other environments as well, for example, as a support bracket in a shelving system wherein it is desired to be able to quickly and easily adjust the shelf heights.

Claims (5)

1. A self-locking quick release bracket for use with a substantially vertical rod having at least one cavity extending into said rod from a substantially vertical outer surface of said rod, said at least one cavity being within a defined region of said rod, said rod having a substantially uniform cross section within said defined region, the bracket comprising:
a hollow tubular body having an internal cross section configured and sized relative to the cross section of said rod within said defined region so that said body is free to move along said rod within said defined region, said body having an upper portion encompassing a first part of the outer circumference of said rod including said at least one cavity, said body having a lower portion encompassing a second part of the outer circumference of said rod across said rod from said first part, and said body having a central portion connecting said upper and lower portions; and an inwardly directed projection secured to the inner surface of the upper portion of said body, said projection being sized to fit within each of said at least one cavity;
wherein when said projection is within a selected one of said at least one cavity, said bracket is prevented from being moved along said rod; and wherein said upper and lower portions of said body are spaced apart vertically a sufficient distance to allow said body to be tilted relative to said rod in a first angular direction so as to remove said projection from said at least one cavity so that said tilted body can be moved along said rod.
2. The bracket according to Claim 1 further including a support member secured to the exterior surface of the lower portion of said body, said support member being adapted for supporting a load thereon so that when said projection is within a selected one of said at least one cavity and a load is supported by said support member the body is tilted in a second angular direction opposite said first angular direction.
3. The bracket according to Claim 2 wherein said body, said projection and said support member are unitarily formed as an integral piece.
4. The bracket according to Claim 2 wherein said support member includes means for removably mounting thereon a selected one of a plurality of load holders.
5. In combination with a substantially vertically oriented rod having a plurality of substantially identical cavities spaced longitudinally along the rod, a load supporting bracket comprising:
an upper plate member having a lower extremity and encompassing a first partial circumferential region of the rod, wherein each of said cavities is within said first region at its longitudinal position on the rod;
a projection secured to said upper plate member and sized to fit within each of said cavities;
a lower plate member having an upper extremity and encompassing a second partial circumferential region of the rod across the rod from said first region; and means for fixedly connecting said upper plate member to said lower plate member so that the transverse distance between said upper and lower plate members across said rod is maintained slightly greater than the transverse dimension of said rod and the longitudinal distance between said lower extremity of said upper plate member and said upper extremity of said lower plate member is sufficient to allow said bracket to be tilted to remove said projection from said plurality of cavities and allow said bracket to be moved longitudinally along said rod.
CA002194624A 1996-03-22 1997-01-08 Self-locking quick release bracket Abandoned CA2194624A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/621,292 US5727764A (en) 1996-03-22 1996-03-22 Self-locking quick release bracket
US08/621,292 1996-03-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2194624A1 true CA2194624A1 (en) 1997-09-23

Family

ID=24489570

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002194624A Abandoned CA2194624A1 (en) 1996-03-22 1997-01-08 Self-locking quick release bracket

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US5727764A (en)
CA (1) CA2194624A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1304009B1 (en) * 1998-06-16 2001-03-02 Technogym Srl FRAME FOR GINNIC MACHINES.
US6264586B1 (en) * 1999-08-03 2001-07-24 Randall T. Webber Foldable exercise bench
USD427652S (en) * 1999-08-03 2000-07-04 Webber Randall T Exercise bench
KR20020090283A (en) * 2001-05-26 2002-12-02 최윤석 Power rack for home use
GB0114056D0 (en) * 2001-06-08 2001-08-01 Bean David W An exercise machine
US7338416B2 (en) * 2004-08-16 2008-03-04 Nautilus, Inc. Bar supports for a weight bench
US20060035772A1 (en) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-16 Nautilus, Inc. Attachment and mounting assembly for an exercise bench
US7699756B2 (en) * 2006-05-23 2010-04-20 Bvp Holding, Inc. Arrangement for attaching an exercise device to a ladder-like frame of an exercise machine
US7988107B2 (en) * 2007-09-10 2011-08-02 Whirlpool Corporation Stemware holder for an automatic dishwasher
US9597539B2 (en) 2013-01-16 2017-03-21 Tuffstuff Fitness Equipment, Inc. Moveable bar catch with support
US9694233B2 (en) 2015-01-23 2017-07-04 Cheng I Chou Weight bar locking mechanism
SE540021C2 (en) * 2015-12-07 2018-02-27 Connector for weight lifting apparatus and weight lifting apparatus comprising the same
ITUB20160821A1 (en) * 2016-02-17 2017-08-17 Maing Srl Locking device
USD818547S1 (en) * 2016-10-13 2018-05-22 Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc. Safety tier for exercise rack
US11311770B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2022-04-26 Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. Adjustable fitness bench
US11918843B2 (en) * 2020-05-01 2024-03-05 Albert Sorin Offset J-hook apparatuses and methods of use
US11686425B2 (en) * 2021-05-07 2023-06-27 Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. Mechanical lifts and related methods of lifting medical fluid containers

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4412678A (en) * 1979-06-18 1983-11-01 Turco Manufacturing Co. Saddle for bar and bar-type weight
DE3423837A1 (en) * 1984-06-28 1986-01-09 Heinz Kettler Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh & Co, 4763 Ense Exercise bench
DE3813356A1 (en) * 1988-04-21 1989-11-02 Hermann Josef Becker Power sports training apparatus
US4989821A (en) * 1989-06-05 1991-02-05 Wong William P W Support devices for producing variable height barriers
US5281193A (en) * 1992-04-17 1994-01-25 Colbo Jr Kenneth G Bench-press weight workout station with safety features
US5346448A (en) * 1993-05-04 1994-09-13 Sollo Robert E Free weight lifting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5727764A (en) 1998-03-17

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued