Spotter for use with dumbbell weights

Abstract

A spotter assembly is disclosed where multiple vertical uprights, cross bars and individual spotters are possible. The cross bars are vertically movable relative to the uprights and the spotters are movable relative to the crossbars.

1 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly for supporting dumbbells for weight lifting exercises, said assembly comprising: 
 a pair of vertical supports;    a rack supported by said pair of vertical supports;    a first dumbbell holder positioned at a first end of said rack and a second dumbbell holder positioned at a second end of said rack; and    a vertical back wall portion against which the dumbbell may stop when the dumbbell is dropped on the rack in either of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions are defined by a cutout for allowing a user to see and reach dumbbells placed on said rack in a plurality of angular orientations.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said leading edge of said rack includes a take-off plate which temporarily positions the dumbbell at the leading edge for moving the dumbbell to the exercise position.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said take-off plate is defined by a plate having a peripheral rim around the plate, the plate and the rim being positioned adjacent to the leading edge of the rack.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plate and peripheral rim are profiled to receive and retain the weights of the dumbbell therein.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said rack is adjustably fastened between said pair of vertical supports for supporting said rack horizontally allowing for adjusting the height of said rack.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions defines a front lip portion for limiting a dumbbell from sliding.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second dumbbell holder positions are adjustably fastened to said rack, whereby the distance between said first dumbbell holder and said second dumbbell holder is adjustable.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said vertical supports define two legs and a base.  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said rack and said legs have complementary locking mechanism for adjustably fastening said rack to said legs.  
   
   
       11 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly for supporting dumbbells for weight lifting exercises, said assembly comprising: 
 a pair of vertical supports;    a rack supported by said pair of vertical supports;    a first dumbbell holder positioned at a first end of said rack and a second dumbbell holder positioned at a second end of said rack; and    wherein each of said first and second dumbbell holder positions are defined by a cutout for allowing a user to see and reach dumbbells placed on said rack in a plurality of angular orientations.    
   
   
       12 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a vertical back wall portion against which the dumbbell may stop when the dumbbell is dropped on the rack in either of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second holder positions define an angle relative to said rack of up to forty-five degrees.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said rack defines a concave portion.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said rack defines a backstop.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of weight holders located at a height proximate that of said first and second dumbbell holder positions.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said rack is adjustably fastened between said pair of vertical supports for supporting said rack horizontally allowing for adjusting the height of said rack.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions defines a front lip portion for limiting a dumbbell from sliding.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first and said second dumbbell holder positions are adjustably fastened to said rack, whereby the distance between said first dumbbell holder and said second dumbbell holder is adjustable.  
   
   
       20 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 19 , further including a fastener associated with each of said first and second holder positions capable of attaching said first and second holder positions to said rack wherein each of said first and said second dumbbell holders defines an elongated slot for receiving each of said fasteners.  
   
   
       21 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 19 , further including a fastener associated with each of said first and second holder positions capable of attaching said first and second holder positions to said rack wherein each of said first and said second dumbbell holders defines a plurality of holes for receiving one of holder fasteners.  
   
   
       22 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 19 , further including a fastener associated with each of said first and second holder positions capable of attaching said first and second holder positions to said rack wherein said rack defines a plurality of holes for receiving fasteners for fastening said first and said second dumbbell holders to said rack.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said vertical supports define two legs and a base.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said rack and said legs have complimentary locking mechanism for adjustably fastening said rack to said legs.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second holder positions define an angle relative to said rack of up to forty-five degrees.  
   
   
       26 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said rack defines a concave portion.  
   
   
       27 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said rack defines a backstop.  
   
   
       28 . The adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of weight holders located at a height proximate that of said first and second dumbbell holder positions.  
   
   
       29 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly for supporting dumbbells for weight lifting exercises, said assembly comprising: 
 a pair of vertical supports;    a rack supported by said pair of vertical supports, said rack being substantially comprised of a generally rigid flat plate portion, and a generally vertical backstop portion;    a first dumbbell holder position at a first end of said rack;    a second dumbbell holder position at a second end of said rack, each of said first and said second dumbbell holder positions defining a cutout for allowing a user to see and reach dumbbells placed on said rack.    
   
   
       30 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein a depth of said flat plate portion is greater than a width of a barbell to be placed on said rack.  
   
   
       31 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said rack and said first and second dumbbell holder positions are all integrated into a unitary construction.  
   
   
       32 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said first and second dumbbell holder positions are integrated into discrete first and second racks.  
   
   
       33 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said rack includes a lip portion surrounding a portion of said cutouts, to provide a placement mechanism for dumbbells.  
   
   
       34 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said cutouts are defined for allowing a user to see and reach dumbbells placed on said rack in a plurality of angular orientations.  
   
   
       35 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said rack further comprises an adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering said rack relative to said vertical supports.  
   
   
       36 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly for supporting dumbbells for weight lifting exercises, said assembly comprising: 
 a pair of vertical supports;    a rack assembly for supporting dumbbells, said rack comprising collars attached at opposite ends thereof, and being vertically movable relative to said vertical supports; and    latch members for holding said collars to said vertical supports;    whereby said rack assembly is held in a vertical position along said vertical supports.    
   
   
       37 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said rack is provided with a first dumbbell holder positioned at a first end of said rack and a second dumbbell holder positioned at a second end of said rack; and wherein each of said first and second dumbbell holder positions are defined by a cutout for allowing a user to see and reach dumbbells placed on said rack in a plurality of angular orientations.  
   
   
       38 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said latch members are in the form of popper pins provided in said collars, which can be pulled in order to vertically move said collars and said rack.  
   
   
       39 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 37 , wherein said rack assembly comprises a cross bar attached to said collars, and said first and second dumbbell holders are positioned on said cross bar.  
   
   
       40 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 39 , wherein said first and second dumbbell holders are laterally movable on said cross bar.  
   
   
       41 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 40 , wherein said cross bar is comprised of a rectangular bar.  
   
   
       42 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 41 , wherein said first and second dumbbell holders are laterally movable on said rectangular bar.  
   
   
       43 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 42 , wherein said first and second dumbbell holders are mounted to collars which are slidably mounted to said rectangular bar.  
   
   
       44 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 40 , wherein said dumbbell holders are comprised of horizontal plate portions, movably attached to said cross bar.  
   
   
       45 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 44 , further comprising a backstop portion.  
   
   
       46 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 45 , wherein said backstop portion spans the width of the uprights, and is attached to said vertically movable collars, and moves upwardly and downwardly with said cross bar.  
   
   
       47 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 45 , wherein said backstop portion is attached to said horizontal plate portions and is movable therewith.  
   
   
       48 . An adjustable dumbbell rack assembly of  claim 36 , wherein rack is a one piece unit, which spans the width of the uprights, and is attached to said vertically movable collars.  
   
   
       49 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 a dumbbell support system, for supporting dumbbells at a first vertical height;    a bench; and    individual dumbbell supports for flanking the bench and receiving a dumbbell on opposite side of said bench, at a second vertical height.    
   
   
       50 . The exercise system of  claim 49 , wherein said second vertical height is lower than said first vertical height.  
   
   
       51 . The exercise system of  claim 50 , wherein said bench has at least a substantially horizontal position, at a third vertical height.  
   
   
       52 . The exercise system of  claim 51 , wherein said first vertical height has a range at least between 40-44″.  
   
   
       53 . The exercise system of  claim 51 , wherein said second vertical height has a range at least between 16-20″.  
   
   
       54 . The exercise system of  claim 51 , wherein said third vertical height has a range at least between 20-22″.