Self spotting barbell press

Abstract

A self-spotting safety bench press is composed of an adjustable bench and uprights located on either side of the bench adjacent the lifters upper body. Lifting arms extend from the uprights into the barbell's pathway and have the ability to slide up and down to contact the barbell and decrease the weight exerted on the exerciser. A single hydraulic cylinder in conjunction with a pulley system provides force to each lifting arm, which is depressed below the barbell's path before use. When assistance is needed, the exerciser releases a hydraulic restrictor valve causing the arms to ascend removing a user-determined amount of weight from the barbell. If the total amount of weight is not chosen to be removed the user can continue performing repetitions with machine assistance. A second restrictor valve allows only upward movement should the exerciser fail. A third flow restrictor valve adjusts the rate of arm travel. An air charged hydraulic accumulator provides the hydraulic pressure to the cylinder.

1 . An apparatus for safely supporting a barbell comprising: 
 a) first and second spaced uprights, each of said uprights including a barbell support having a raised position and a lowered position, said uprights each having a top end with a pulley wheel;    b) a single hydraulic cylinder having a push-rod with extended and retracted positions;    c) first and second cables, each cable extending around a pulley from an anchored end to an opposed end in communication with a barbell support, whereby movement of said push-rod between its extended and retracted positions raises and lowers each barbell support;    d) at least one pre-charged accumulator tank having a pressure housing for storing hydraulic fluid under pressure; and    e) at least one actuator for controlling the flow of fluid between said at least one pre-charged accumulator tank and said hydraulic cylinder, whereby flow of fluid into said hydraulic cylinder urges said supports toward their raised positions.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said uprights includes a slotted outer housing, a slide bar longitudinally aligned within said housing, and a sleeve slidable on said slide bar, said barbell support being attached to said sleeve and extending outwardly from said upright through said slot.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the range of push-rod travel, and the range of either barbell support travel is from about 10:1 to 1:10.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a horizontal attachment member joining said uprights.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one actuator is positioned for access by a user's hand when the user is in a squat exercise position.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one actuator is positioned for access by a user's foot.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said uprights include barbell weight rests attached to said uprights at selected vertical positions.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for safely supporting a barbell during weight lifting comprising: 
 a) a weight bench having a head end and a lower end;    b) first and second spaced, elongated uprights positioned on opposite sides of said bench head end, each of said uprights including a barbell support having a raised position and a lowered position, said uprights each having a top end with a pulley wheel;    c) a single hydraulic cylinder having a push-rod with extended and retracted positions;    d) first and second cables, each cable extending around a pulley from an anchored end to an opposed end in communication with a barbell support, whereby movement of said push-rod between its extended and retracted positions raises and lowers each barbell support;    e) at least one pre-charged accumulator tank having a pressure housing for storing hydraulic fluid under pressure; and    f) at least one actuator for controlling the flow of fluid between said at least one pre-charged accumulator tank and said hydraulic cylinder, whereby flow of fluid into said cylinder urges said supports toward their raised positions.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio between the range of push-rod travel, and the range of either barbell support travel is from about 10:1 to 1:10.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one actuator is positioned adjacent the lower end of said bench.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a bench support extending between said uprights, the head end of said bench being supported on said bench support.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of said uprights includes a slotted outer housing, a slide bar longitudinally aligned within said housing, and a sleeve slidable on said slide bar, said barbell support being attached to said sleeve and extending outwardly from said upright through said slot, said at least one hydraulic cylinder first end being in communication with said sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said uprights are tilted rearwardly.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a horizontal attachment member joining said uprights.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for safely supporting a barbell during weight lifting comprising: 
 a) a tiltable weight bench for supporting a user's head and torso, said bench having a head end and a lower end;    b) first and second spaced, elongated uprights positioned on opposite sides of said bench head end, each of said uprights including a slotted outer housing, a slide bar longitudinally aligned within said housing, a sleeve slidable on said slide bar between a raised position and a lowered position, and a horizontal barbell support attached to said sleeve and extending outwardly from said housing through said slot;    c) a single hydraulic cylinder having a push-rod with extended and retracted positions;    d) first and second cables, each cable extending around a pulley from an anchored end to an opposed end attached to a slidable sleeve, whereby movement of said push-rod between its extended and retracted positions raises and lowers each slidable sleeve and barbell support;    e) at least one pre-charged accumulator tank having a pressure housing for storing hydraulic fluid under pressure; and    f) at least one actuator for controlling the flow of fluid between said at least one pre-charged accumulator tank and said at least one hydraulic cylinder, whereby flow of fluid into said cylinder urges said supports toward their raised positions, said at least one actuator including a valve and a valve controller operable by said user when said user is positioned on said bench.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said valve controller is positioned for access by a user's hand when the user is in a squat exercise position.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the ratio between the range of travel of each barbell support and the range of push-rod travel is from about 10:1 to 1:10.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a horizontal attachment member joining said uprights.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a vertically adjustable, horizontal bench support extending between said uprights, the head end of said bench being supported on said bench support.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said valve controller is positioned for access by a user's foot when the user is on said bench.