Resistance Selector for Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a frame, a guide member coupled with a portion of the frame, a weight stack including a plurality of weight plates associated with the guide member and a lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism has a first end attached to a pull handle and a second end being attached to a weight attachment mechanism. Further, a resistance selector has a pin coupled to the weight attachment mechanism and is displaceable between a first position and a second position relative to the weight attachment mechanism. When the pin is in the first position the weight attachment mechanism is interlocked with a plate of the weight stack and when the pin is in the second position the weight attachment mechanism is freed from the weight plate and the pin has an engagement structure that is shaped to interlock with a profile of an edge of the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one guide member coupled with a portion of the frame;   a weight stack including a plurality of weight plates associated with the at least one guide member;   a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism having a first end attached to a pull handle and a second end being attached to an weight attachment mechanism; and   a resistance selector having a pin coupled to the weight attachment mechanism and configured to be displaced between at least a first position and a second position relative to the weight attachment mechanism,   wherein when the pin is in the first position the weight attachment mechanism is interlocked with at least one plate of the weight stack and when the pin is in the second position the weight attachment mechanism is freed from the weight plates and wherein the pin comprises an engagement structure that is shaped to interlock with a profile of an edge of the at least one plate.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the profile of the edge has a cutout complementary to a shape of the engagement structure. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement structure is shaped to connect with an angled face of the edge. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement structure is shaped to connect with an overhang of the edge. 
     
     
         5 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one guide member coupled with a portion of the frame;   a weight stack including a plurality of weight plates associated with the at least one guide member;   a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism having a first end attached to a pull handle and a second end being attached to an weight attachment mechanism; and   a resistance selector having a pin coupled to the weight attachment mechanism and configured to be displaced between at least a first position and a second position relative to the weight attachment mechanism,   wherein when the pin is in the first position the weight attachment mechanism is interlocked with at least one plate of the weight stack and when the pin is in the second position the weight attachment mechanism is freed from the weight plates and wherein an engagement structure connected to the pin is configured to be rotated within the opening of the at least one plate to interlock with the at least one plate.   
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement structure is positioned to be lowered and raised through the opening formed through the weight stack. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement structure is configured to be rotated about an axis that is aligned with a length of the pin. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement structure is configured to be rotated about an axis that is transverse with a length of the pin. 
     
     
         9 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one guide member coupled with the frame;   a weight stack including a plurality of weight plates associated with the at least one guide member;   a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism having a first end attached to a pull handle and a second end being attached to an weight attachment mechanism; and   a resistance selector having a pin coupled to the weight attachment mechanism and configured to be displaced between at least a first position and a second position relative to the weight attachment mechanism;   the pin being rigidly secured to at least a portion of a rail;   wherein when the pin and the rail move collectively into the first position the weight attachment mechanism is interlocked with at least one plate of the weight stack and when the pin and the rail collectively move into the second position the weight attachment mechanism is freed from the weight plates.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rail is shaped to interlock with a second plate of the weight stack when the pin is interlocked with the at least one plate. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second plate is a top plate of the weight stack. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least the portion of the rail is configured to telescopically extend and retract. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one feature of the rail and the pin are positioned to interlock with plates of the weight stack simultaneously. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pin comprises an engagement structure that is shaped to interlock with a profile of an edge of the at least one plate. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the profile of the edge has a cutout complementary to a shape of the engagement structure. 
     
     
         16 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one guide member coupled with a portion of the frame;   a weight stack including a plurality of weight plates associated with the at least one guide member;   a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism having a first end attached to a pull handle and a second end being attached to an weight attachment mechanism;   a resistance selector having a pin coupled to the weight attachment mechanism and configured to be displaced between at least a first position and a second position relative to the weight attachment mechanism; and   a handle connected to the pin, the handle comprising a hinge joint and cam surface;   wherein when the pin is in the first position the weight attachment mechanism is interlocked with at least one plate of the weight stack and when the pin is in the second position the weight attachment mechanism is freed from the weight plates.   
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein when the pin is in the first position the handle is in a substantially vertical position and when the pin is in the second position the handle is in a substantially horizontal position. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the pin comprises an engagement structure that is shaped to interlock with a profile of an edge of the at least one plate. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the profile of the edge has a cutout complementary to a shape of the engagement structure. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement structure is shaped to connect with an angled face of the edge.