Free weight support apparatus and method

Abstract

A weight lifting free-weight support method and apparatus comprising a support frame connected to at least one retractor assembly comprising a first and second reel having a locked and unlocked condition and an elongated strap with a first end and second end, the second end attached to a weight lifting free-weight, the first end having first and second spooling portions diverging from each other, the first spooling portion connected to the first reel and the second spooling portion connected to the second reel such that when the reels are in the unlocked condition the elongated strap is allowed to travel freely along a user-defined path relative to the support frame, and when at least one of the reels is in the locked condition, the spooling portions are prevented from unspooling from the reels, the locked condition triggered by unspooling the spooling portions at a rate greater than a predetermined rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of supporting a weight lifting free-weight, comprising:
 connecting at least one retractor assembly to a support frame, the retractor assembly comprising:
 a first reel having a locked condition and an unlocked condition; 
 a second reel having a locked condition and an unlocked condition; 
 an elongated strap having a main portion with a first end and a second end, the first end having a first spooling portion and a second spooling portion diverging from each other, the first spooling portion connected to the first reel and the second spooling portion connected to the second reel in a way that when the first and second reels are in the unlocked condition the elongated strap is allowed to travel freely along a user-defined path relative to the support frame, and when at least one of the first and second reels are in the locked condition the first spooling portion and the second spooling portion are prevented from unspooling from the first reel and the second reel, the locked condition being triggered by unspooling the first and second spooling portions at a rate greater than a predetermined rate; and 
   attaching the second end of the main portion of the elongated strap to a weight lifting free-weight.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first reel and the second reel are in a back-to-back relationship. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first reel has a spooling strap receiving slot, wherein the second reel has a spooling strap receiving slot, and wherein the first reel and the second reel are arranged so that the spooling strap receiving slots of the first reel and the second reel are in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractor assembly further comprises:
 an end fitting having a first end and a second end, the first end having a connector connecting the first reel and the second reel; and   a support strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support strap connected to the second end of the end fitting;   wherein the step of connecting the retractor assembly to the support frame further comprises connecting the second end of the support strap to the support frame.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the support strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the first end and the second end, and a connector positioned at the second end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a support frame receiving loop is formed by the support strap about a portion of the support frame. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated strap further comprises:
 a rigid support member connected to the second end of the main portion of the elongated strap;   a first weight-connecting strap having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the rigid support member; and   a second weight-connecting strap having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the rigid support member in a way that the distal ends of the first weight-connecting strap and the second weight-connecting strap are connected to the weight lifting free-weight in a spaced apart relationship.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid support member has a U shape with a first leg portion and a second leg portion extending from an intermedial portion, and wherein the second end of the main portion is connected to the intermedial portion, the proximal end of the first weight-connecting strap is connected to the first leg portion, and the proximal end of the second weight-connecting strap is connected to the second leg portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first weight-connecting strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and a connector positioned at the distal end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a first free-weight receiving loop is formed by the first weight-connecting strap about a first portion of the free-weight, and wherein the second weight-connecting strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and a connector positioned at the distal end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a second free-weight receiving loop is formed by the second weight-connecting strap about a second portion of the free-weight. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the elongated strap is made of a webbed material. 
     
     
         10 . A weight lifting free-weight support apparatus comprising:
 a weight lifting free-weight;   a support frame; and   at least one retractor assembly connected to the support frame, the retractor assembly comprising:
 a first reel having a locked condition and an unlocked condition; 
 a second reel having a locked condition and an unlocked condition; and 
 an elongated strap having a main portion with a first end and a second end, the second end attached to the weight lifting free-weight, the first end having a first spooling portion and a second spooling portion diverging from each other, the first spooling portion connected to the first reel and the second spooling portion connected to the second reel in a way that when the first and second reels are in the unlocked condition the elongated strap is allowed to travel freely along a user-defined path relative to the support frame, and when at least one of the first and second reels are in the locked condition, the first spooling portion and the second spooling portion are prevented from unspooling from the first reel and the second reel, the locked condition being triggered by unspooling the first and second spooling portions at a rate greater than a predetermined rate. 
   
     
     
         11 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first reel and the second reel are in a back-to-back relationship. 
     
     
         12 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first reel has a spooling strap receiving slot, wherein the second reel has a spooling strap receiving slot, and wherein the first reel and the second reel are arranged so that the spooling strap receiving slots of the first reel and the second reel are in a spaced apart, parallel relationship relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the retractor assembly further comprises:
 an end fitting having a first end and a second end, the first end having a connector connecting the first reel and the second reel; and   a support strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support strap connected to the second end of the end fitting and the second end of the support strap connected to the support frame.   
     
     
         14 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the support strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the first end and the second end, and a connector positioned at the second end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a support frame receiving loop is formed by the support strap about a portion of the support frame. 
     
     
         15 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated strap further comprises:
 a rigid support member connected to the second end of the main portion of the elongated strap;   a first weight-connecting strap having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the rigid support member; and   a second weight-connecting strap having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the rigid support member in a way that the distal ends of the first weight-connecting strap and the second weight-connecting strap are connected to the weight lifting free-weight in a spaced apart relationship.   
     
     
         16 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the rigid support member is substantially U shaped with a first leg portion and a second leg portion extending from an intermedial portion, and wherein the second end of the main portion is connected to the intermedial portion, the proximal end of the first weight-connecting strap is connected to the first leg portion, and the proximal end of the second weight-connecting strap is connected to the second leg portion. 
     
     
         17 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first weight-connecting strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and a connector positioned at the distal end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a first free-weight receiving loop is formed by the first weight-connecting strap about a first portion of the free-weight, and wherein the second weight-connecting strap has a receiving fitting positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and a connector positioned at the distal end such that when the connector is connected to the receiving fitting a second free-weight receiving loop is formed by the second weight-connecting strap about a second portion of the free-weight. 
     
     
         18 . The weight lifting free-weight support apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated strap is made of a webbed material.