Magnetically anchored, quick release pin

Abstract

A magnetically anchored quick release pin is provided for quickly and accurately preventing movement between two objects and/or quickly changing the relative position between two objects. One such use is in a weight lifting machine providing for variable resistance, which can be adjusted manually during a workout routine. The weight lifting machine includes one or more guides and a stack of weights which are slidably mounted on the guides and movable along the guides from a rest position to an elevated position. The weight lifting machine also includes a selector member and a lift member. Each of the weights includes an opening to receive a selector pin. The openings are aligned to define a passage through the stack of weights to allow the selector pin to couple each of the weights in the stack to the selector member. The selector pin has a magnetic means affixed thereto to enable one to couple and decouple from respective weights of the stack of weights without having to release a locking mechanism on the selector pin. The lift member is adapted to permit a user of the weight lifting machine to, for example, pull and thereby raise the weights coupled to the selector member from their respective rest positions to their respective elevated positions.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . A releasable article comprising: 
 a rod shaped for insertion through a first member and into an opening in a second member such that said rod magnetically attaches to the exposed side of the first member and substantially prevents movement between said first member and said second member.    
     
     
         2 . The releasable article of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first member and said second member contains iron or a ferrous component.  
     
     
         3 . The releasable article according to  claim 1  wherein the rod has a grip attached thereto.  
     
     
         4 . The releasable article according to  claim 3  wherein said grip is attached to the rod by being pinned to, glued to, pressed to, or crimped to the grip.  
     
     
         5 . The releasable article according to  claim 3  wherein said rod and grip are molded or cast as a single unit.  
     
     
         6 . The releasable article according to  claim 3  wherein the grip retains the magnetic means by pressure against a shoulder of the rod, by encasing the magnetic means, or by being cast or molded at least partially encasing the magnetic means.  
     
     
         7 . The releasable article accordingly to  claim 6  wherein the magnetic means is positioned between the grip and the rod with the magnetic means being completely exposed, partially encased, or completely encased.  
     
     
         8 . A weight lifting machine comprising: 
 a stack of weights, each of said weights having an opening, said openings being aligned to define a passage through said stack of weights;    at least one guide, each of said weights being slidably mounted on said at least one guide and being movable along said guide from a rest position to an elevated position;    a selector member, said selector member having a downwardly depending member, said downwardly depending member having a passage therethrough, said selector member including a rod or pin having magnetic means, said rod or pin shaped for insertion through a weight in the stack of weights and into the passage of the downwardly depending member such that said magnetic means attaches to the exposed side of a respective weight in said stack of weights; and    a lift means coupled to said selector member, said lift means being adapted to permit a user of said weight lifting machine to raise said weights attached to said selector member from its respective rest position to its respective elevated position.    
     
     
         9 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said lift means is coupled to a handle, ankle pad assembly, or a shoulder pad.  
     
     
         10 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 9 , further comprising a frame, said lift means being supported by said frame.  
     
     
         11 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 10 , wherein said lift means includes a lift cable supported on said frame by at least one pulley.  
     
     
         12 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising a seat positioned below said handle, said seat being supported by said frame.  
     
     
         13 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said selector member further includes a carriage, said downwardly depending member extending downwardly from said carriage, and said at least one guide extending through said carriage.  
     
     
         14 . A weight lifting machine comprising: 
 a frame;    a stack of weights, each of said weights having an opening therein or between adjacent weights, said openings being aligned to define a passage through said stack of weights;    a least one guide supported by said frame, said weights being slidably supported on said guide and being movable along said guide from a rest position to an elevated position;    a selector member extending through said passage, said selector member having a plurality of cavities formed therein and a selector pin having a magnetic means, which pin is insertable through the selector member and weight stack whereby said magnetic attraction of said selector pin affixes said pin to a respective weight in said stack of weights; and    a lift member supported by said frame, said lift member being coupled to said selector member and being adapted to permit a user of said weight lifting machine to raise said weights coupled to said selector member by said selector pin from said rest position to said elevated position.    
     
     
         15 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said lift member includes a lift cable.  
     
     
         16 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 15 , wherein said lift cable is supported by a pair of pulleys attached to said frame.  
     
     
         17 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one guide extends through said weights.  
     
     
         18 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one guide includes springs, said springs being at least partially compressed when said weights are in their respective rest positions.  
     
     
         19 . A weight lifting machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said guide includes at least one guide rod.  
     
     
         20 . A weight selector assembly in combination with a plurality of aligned weight plates, comprising: 
 a base member; and    a selector rod mounted on said base member, wherein said selector rod includes a shaft extending through the weight plates and having a longitudinal axis, and a weight plate engagement member, wherein said engagement member has a magnetized portion whereby it may be affixed to said shaft at discrete axial locations, and said engagement member being extendable through or under a weight plate.