Hold-up assist device for vertically actuated exercise equipment

Abstract

A hold-up-assist device allows users to ingress and egress a vertically-actuated exercise apparatus such as a squat machine without the awkward, and perhaps physically daunting, requirement of lifting the upper frame portion. Instead, the support arm with its V-shaped channel on a top contacting surface is swung up to brace the upper frame as the last user completes his squat repetitions. The next user is then able to enter, comfortably raise the upper frame with the shoulders, back and leg muscles, and then swing the assist device to the side by grasping a curved handle that extends toward the user. Thereafter, exercise repetitions proceed.

1 . A device for holding up a vertically actuated exercise apparatus having a lower frame and pivotally attached upper frame, the device comprising: 
 a lower frame attachment engageable to the lower frame;    a support arm pivotally attached to the lower frame attachment and longitudinally sized to hold up the upper frame in at least a partially actuated position;    a contact surface upwardly presented on the support arm;    a proximally extending actuator attached to the support arm for a user to position the contact surface under the upper frame.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vertically actuated exercise device includes a resistance generating member extending between the lower and upper frames, the device positioned distally to the resistance member, proximally extending the actuator laterally extending around the resistance generating member.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the lower attachment and the support arm include a pivot operatively configured to rotate to an acute angle with the vertical axis of the support arm positioned laterally toward the side to which the proximally extending actuator extends.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame attachment comprises a top bracket, a lower bracket, and fasteners attachable between the brackets, for providing a retrofit capability to the device for a vertically actuated exercise apparatus.  
   
   
       5 . An upwardly actuated exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a platform;    a lower frame attached to the platform;    an upper frame pivotally attached to the lower frame;    a resistance member connected across the upper and lower frame; and    a hold-up assist device, comprising: 
 a lower frame attachment engageable to the lower frame,  
 a support arm pivotally attached to the lower frame attachment and longitudinally sized to hold up the upper frame in at least a partially actuated position,  
 a contact surface upwardly presented on the support arm, and  
 a proximally extending actuator attached to the support arm for a user to position the contact surface under the upper frame.  
   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance generating member extends proximal to the hold-up assist device, the proximally extending actuator laterally extending around the resistance member.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the lower attachment and the support arm include a pivot operatively configured to rotate to an acute angle with the vertical axis of the support arm positioned laterally toward the side to which the proximally extending actuator extends.  
   
   
       8 . An upwardly actuated exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a platform;    a lower frame attached to the platform;    an upper frame pivotally attached to the lower frame;    a hydraulic resistance member connected across the upper and lower frame, the hydraulic resistance member comprising an outer sleeve portion and an inner sleeve portion encompassing respectively a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir coupled by an orifice;    wherein the orifice is operably configured to have a user adjustable flow rate including a shut off position holding the upper frame at a current position.