Linear bearings and alignment method for weight lifting apparatus

Abstract

A weight system having at least one weight stack moveable in a vertical direction on a lift rod, and a bearing block for housing a linear bearing. The invention further includes a method and apparatus for aligning the linear bearing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustment system for aligning a weight stack in a weight training system, the adjustment system comprising:
 a weight stack adjuster having a collar, a ball member partially housed within the collar, and a threaded stem portion extending from the collar;   a bearing block having a bore configured to receive the collar and the threaded stem portion of the weight stack adjuster;   the bore having a threaded portion configured to engage with the threaded stem portion of the weight stack adjuster;   a weight place having an indentation configured to receive the ball member of the weight stack adjuster; and   whereby the weight stack adjuster is adjustable into and out of the bore of the bearing block through the threaded engagement.   
     
     
         2 . A method for aligning a stack of weights in a weight training system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a weight stack adjuster having a collar, a ball member partially housed within the collar, and a threaded stem portion extending from the collar;   providing a bearing block having a bore within which the weight stack adjuster is received, the bore having a threaded portion;   engaging the threaded stem portion of the weight stack adjuster with the threaded portion of the bore;   providing a weight plate with an indentation configured to receive the ball member of the weight stack adjuster; and   moving the weight stack adjuster into or out of the bore by rotating the weight stack adjuster relative to the bearing block.   
     
     
         3 . A system for use in a weight machine having a stack of weight plates selectively moveable up and down through connection with a lift rod, the system comprising:
 a jack plate positioned on the lift rod and below the stack of weight plates and having an underside;   a kick block provided at the underside of the jack plate and having a pad extending over a portion of the kick block;   the lift rod movable between a resting position and a contacting position;   the lift rod including a plurality of spaced apart holes, the plurality of spaced apart holes located above and below the jack plate when the lift rod is in the resting position;   a pin having a sleeve extending over a portion of the pin, wherein the pin is configured for at least partial insertion into a selected one of the plurality of pin holes in the lift rod below the jack plate, wherein the sleeve is configured to restrict the distance the pin can be placed through a selected one of the plurality of pin holes; and   whereby at the contacting position, the sleeve is in contact with the kick block and a portion of the pin extending through a selected one of the plurality of holes is in contact with the pad.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pad and the sleeve each comprise a dampening material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the dampening material is rubber. 
     
     
         6 . A method for aligning a weight system comprising the steps of:
 providing a bearing block with a first surface, at least one bearing block threaded through-hole, and a bearing block center aperture;   providing a jack plate having a jack plate center aperture;   providing an alignment tool having a throughbore;   providing an alignment rod;   mounting the alignment tool to the first surface of the bearing block;   inserting the alignment rod through the throughbore of the alignment tool, the bearing block center aperture, and the jack plate center aperture;   providing an adjustment mechanism;   inserting the adjustment mechanism through the at least one bearing block threaded through-hole to make contact with the jack plate; and   aligning the bearing block with the jack plate by adjusting the bearing block relative to the jack plate by tightening or loosening the adjustment mechanism until the alignment rod is centered in the alignment tool.   
     
     
         7 . The method of aligning a weight system according to  claim 6  further comprising the steps of:
 providing the bearing block with at least one bearing block through-hole; 
 providing the jack plate with at least one jack plate threaded hole, wherein the at least one jack plate threaded hole is alignable with the at least one bearing block through-hole; 
 providing a tightening mechanism; 
 inserting the tightening mechanism through the at least one bearing block through-hole and into the at least one jack plate threaded hole; and 
 tightening the tightening mechanism. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further including the steps of:
 providing an upper bearing block with a first surface, at least one upper bearing block threaded through-hole, and an upper bearing block center aperture;   providing an upper jack plate having an upper jack plate center aperture;   providing an upper alignment tool with a throughbore;   providing a second alignment rod;   attaching the upper alignment tool to the first surface of the upper bearing block;   removing the alignment rod;   inserting the second alignment rod through the throughbore of the alignment tool, the bearing block center aperture, the jack plate center aperture, the upper jack plate center aperture, the upper bearing block center aperture, and the throughbore of the upper adjustment tool;   providing a second adjustment mechanism;   inserting the second adjustment mechanism through the at least one threaded through-hole of the upper bearing block to make contact with the upper jack plate; and   aligning the upper bearing block with the upper jack plate by adjusting the upper bearing block relative to the upper jack plate by tightening or loosening the second adjustment mechanism until the alignment rod is centered in the alignment tool.   
     
     
         9 . The method of aligning a weight system according to  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 providing the upper bearing block with at least one upper bearing block through-hole, 
 providing the upper jack plate with at least one upper jack plate threaded hole, wherein the at least one upper jack plate threaded hole is alignable with the at least one upper bearing block through hole; 
 providing a tightening mechanism; 
 inserting the tightening mechanism through the at least one upper bearing block, through-hole and into the at least one upper jack plate threaded hole; and 
 tightening the tightening mechanism. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method for aligning a weight system comprising the steps of:
 providing a laser;   providing an alignment tool having two linearly spaced apart alignment apertures;   providing a bearing block with a first surface, at least one bearing block threaded through-hole, and a bearing block center aperture;   providing a jack plate having a jack plate center aperture;   mounting the laser to the first surface of the bearing block such that the laser is centered with the bearing block center aperture;   mounting the alignment tool to the jack plate such that the two linearly spaced apart apertures are centered with the jack plate center aperture;   providing an adjustment mechanism;   emitting a laser beam from the laser in the direction of the bearing block center aperture, the jack plate center aperture, and the two linearly spaced apart alignment apertures;   inserting the adjustment mechanism, through the at least one bearing block threaded through-hole to make contact with the jack plate; and   aligning the bearing block with the jack plate by adjusting the bearing block relative to the jack plate by tightening or loosening the adjustment mechanism until the laser beam is centered within the linearly spaced apart alignment apertures.   
     
     
         11 . The method of aligning a weight system according to  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 providing the bearing block with at least one bearing block through-hole; 
 providing the jack plate with at least one jack plate threaded hole, wherein the at least one jack plate threaded hole is alignable with the at least one bearing block through-hole; 
 providing a tightening mechanism; 
 inserting the tightening mechanism through the at least one bearing block through-hole and into the at least one jack plate threaded hole; and 
 tightening the tightening mechanism. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of aligning a weight system according to  claim 10  further including the steps of:
 providing an upper bearing block with a first surface, at least one upper bearing block threaded through-hole, and an upper bearing block center aperture; 
 providing an upper jack plate having an upper jack plate center aperture; 
 mounting the alignment tool to the first surface of the upper bearing block with the two linearly spaced apart apertures centered with the upper bearing block center aperture; 
 emitting the laser beam in the direction of the upper jack plate center aperture, the upper bearing block center aperture, and the two linearly spaced apart alignment apertures; 
 providing a second adjustment mechanism; 
 inserting the second adjustment mechanism through the at least one upper bearing block threaded through hole to make contact with the upper jack plate; and 
 aligning the upper bearing block with the upper jack plate by adjusting the upper bearing block relative to the upper jack plate by tightening or loosening the second adjustment mechanism until the laser is centered within the spaced apart alignment apertures. 
   13 . The method of aligning a weight system according to  claim 12  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing the upper bearing block with at least one upper bearing block through-hole, 
 providing the upper jack plate with at least one upper jack plate threaded hole, wherein the at least one upper jack plate threaded hole is alignable with the at least one upper bearing block through hole; 
 providing a tightening mechanism; 
 inserting the tightening mechanism through the at least one upper bearing block through hole and into the at least one upper jack plate threaded hole; and 
 tightening the tightening mechanism.