Weight Changing Systems And Methods, and Fitness Equipment Incorporating Same

Abstract

Weight changing systems and methods as well as fitness equipment incorporating weight changing systems are provided. One weight changing system includes a frame, weights individually movable relative to the frame, a weight carriage movable relative to the frame, and a control system. Each weight has a receiving member bordered by an opening. The weight carriage has latch assemblies, biasing members, and actuators. Each latch assembly has a pivotally-reciprocating member with opposed hook and trigger portions. Each hook portion is configured to extend around and engage a receiving member. The control system is configured to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage, and to activate at least one of the actuators to impart force on at least one of the trigger portions to cause at least one of the hook portions to extend around and engage at least one of the receiving members.

1 . A weight changing system, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of weights individually movable relative to the frame, each of the weights having a receiving member bordered by an opening;   a weight carriage movable relative to the frame; the weight carriage having a plurality of latch assemblies, biasing members, and actuators; each latch assembly having a pivotally-reciprocating member with opposed hook and trigger portions; each hook portion being configured to extend around and engage a respective receiving member; and   a control system configured to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage, and to activate at least one of the actuators to impart force on at least one of the trigger portions to cause at least one of the hook portions to extend around and engage at least one of the receiving members.   
     
     
         2 . The weight changing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the receiving member of one of the weights is a bar oriented generally horizontally; and   the bar extends in open space such that the entire perimeter of the bar at a cross section formed by an imaginary vertical plane does not touch any other portion of the weight.   
     
     
         3 . The weight changing system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuators are solenoids. 
     
     
         4 . The weight changing system of  claim 1 , wherein the weight carriage includes a plurality of biasing members. 
     
     
         5 . The weight changing system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a processor in data communication with a position sensor, a user input device, and a user output device. 
     
     
         6 . The weight changing system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor includes programming to cause the user output device to indicate when at least one of the weights has been fully lifted and when at least one of the weights has been fully lowered. 
     
     
         7 . The weight changing system of  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor includes an encoder that interacts with an encoder track to determine position of the weight carriage. 
     
     
         8 . The weight changing system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the actuators are solenoids;   the weight carriage includes a plurality of biasing members;   the receiving member of one of the weights is a bar oriented generally horizontally; and   the bar extends in open space such that the entire perimeter of the bar at a cross section formed by an imaginary vertical plane does not touch any other portion of the weight.   
     
     
         9 . A weight changing system, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of weights individually movable relative to the frame, each of the weights having a receiving member bordered by an opening;   a weight carriage movable relative to the frame; the weight carriage having a plurality of latch assemblies, biasing members, and actuators; each latch assembly having a pivotally-reciprocating member with opposed hook and trigger portions; each hook portion being configured to extend around and engage a respective receiving member; and   a control system configured to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage, and to activate at least one of the actuators while the weight carriage moves toward the weights;   wherein activating at least one of the actuators while the weight carriage moves toward the weights causes sequentially:
 (a) at least one of the actuators to impart force on at least one of the trigger portions, overcoming force imparted by at least one of the biasing members; 
 (b) at least one of the hook portions to interfere with at least one of the receiving members; and 
 (c) at least one of the hook portions to extend around and engage at least one of the receiving members. 
   
     
     
         10 . The weight changing system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system includes a processor in data communication with a position sensor, a user input device, and a user output device. 
     
     
         11 . The weight changing system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor includes programming to cause the user output device to indicate when at least one of the weights has been fully lifted and when at least one of the weights has been fully lowered. 
     
     
         12 . The weight changing system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor includes programming to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage based on input from the user input device. 
     
     
         13 . The weight changing system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor includes programming to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage based on input from the position sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The weight changing system of  claim 13 , wherein the weight carriage includes an attachment point where the weight carriage is coupled to a force-transfer element for moving the weight carriage upwardly. 
     
     
         15 . The weight changing system of  claim 14 , wherein the frame includes a base, a pair of guideposts extending generally upwardly from opposite ends of the base, and at least one secondary guidepost extending generally upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         16 . A weight changing system, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of weights individually movable relative to the frame, each of the weights having a receiving member;   a weight carriage movable relative to the frame; the weight carriage extending generally horizontally and being movable generally vertically; the weight carriage having a plurality of latch assemblies, biasing members, and actuators; each latch assembly having a pivotally-reciprocating member with opposed hook and trigger portions; each hook portion being configured to extend around and engage a respective receiving member; and   a control system configured to select a respective weight for coupling to the weight carriage, and to activate a respective actuator while the weight carriage moves toward the weights; the control system including a processor in data communication with a position sensor, a user input device, and a user output device;   wherein activating the actuator while the weight carriage moves toward the weights causes sequentially:
 (a) the respective actuator to impart force on a respective trigger portion, overcoming force imparted by a respective biasing member; 
 (b) a respective hook portion to interfere with a respective receiving member; and 
 (c) the respective hook portion to extend around and engage the respective receiving member. 
   
     
     
         17 . The weight changing system of  claim 16 , wherein the user input device and the user output device are collectively a touchscreen. 
     
     
         18 . The weight changing system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor includes programming to cause the user output device to indicate when at least one of the weights has been fully lifted and when at least one of the weights has been fully lowered. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . Fitness equipment, comprising:
 a weight changing system comprising:
 a frame; 
 a plurality of weights individually movable relative to the frame, each of the weights having a receiving member bordered by an opening; 
 a weight carriage movable relative to the frame; the weight carriage having a plurality of latch assemblies, biasing members, and actuators; each latch assembly having a pivotally-reciprocating member with opposed hook and trigger portions; each hook portion being configured to extend around and engage a respective receiving member; and 
 a control system configured to select at least one of the weights for coupling to the weight carriage, and to activate at least one of the actuators to impart force on at least one of the trigger portions to cause at least one of the hook portions to extend around and engage at least one of the receiving members; and 
   a force-transfer element coupled to the weight carriage for moving the weight carriage upwardly.   
     
     
         21 . The fitness equipment of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of: (a) a bench press bar coupled to the force-transfer element; and (b) a leg press plate coupled to the force-transfer element.