Weight assist device

Abstract

A weight assist device may be used with vertically stacked plates of an adjustable weight stack. The weight assist device can be used to add weight plates to increase the weight beyond what is provided by the vertically stacked plates.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A weight assist device for use with:
 1) an associated adjustable weight stack that includes a plurality of vertically stacked plates, wherein at least one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates has a hole; and   2) at least one associated weight plate that: (a) is not one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and (b) has an opening;   the weight assist device comprising:   1) a first portion sized to be received in the hole;   2) a second portion, distinct from the first portion, sized to be received in the opening; and   3) at least one magnet;   wherein the weight assist device is selectively manually operable to:   1) insert the first portion of the weight assist device into the hole;   2) position the at least one weight plate onto the second portion of the weight assist device by inserting the opening over the second portion; and   3) magnetically engage the at least one magnet with the plurality of vertically stacked plates to hold the weight assist device and the at least one weight plate to the plurality of vertically stacked plates.   
     
     
         2 . The weight assist device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the hole is designed to receive an associated pin to set the applied weight of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and 
 the opening is designed to be received on an associated barbell. 
 
     
     
         3 . The weight assist device of  claim 2 :
 further comprising a collar that is a spring collar designed to hold the at least one associated weight plate to the associated barbell; and   wherein the weight assist device is selectively manually operable to position the collar onto the second portion of the weight assist device to hold the at least one associated weight plates on the second portion of the weight assist device.   
     
     
         4 . The weight assist device of  claim 3  wherein:
 the at least one weight plate includes first and second weight plates; and 
 the first and second weight plates stack horizontally onto the second portion of the weight assist device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The weight assist device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the first portion of the weight assist device is cylindrically shaped having a circular cross-section with a diameter D1; 
 the second portion of the weight assist device is cylindrically shaped having a circular cross-section with a diameter D2; and 
 D2 is greater than D1. 
 
     
     
         6 . The weight assist device of  claim 5  wherein:
 the first and second portions of the weight assist device extend along a common longitudinal axis; 
 the second portion of the weight assist device has a first end surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
 the at least one magnet is positioned on the first end surface of the second portion. 
 
     
     
         7 . The weight assist device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the at least one vertically stacked plate having a hole is defined to be a first plate; 
 the first plate has a first side and a second side; 
 the hole extends through the first plate from the first side to the second side; and 
 when the first portion of the weight assist device is inserted into the hole and the at least one magnet magnetically engages the plurality of vertically stacked plates, the first portion of the weight assist device extends through the hole from the first side of the stacked plate to the second side of the stacked plate to outside of the second side of the first stacked plate. 
 
     
     
         8 . A weight assist method for use with:
 1) an associated adjustable weight stack that includes a plurality of vertically stacked plates, wherein at least one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates has a hole; and   2) at least one associated weight plate that: (a) is not one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and (b) has an opening;   the weight assist method comprising the steps of:   A) providing a weight assist device comprising:   1) a first portion sized to be received in the hole;   2) a second portion, distinct from the first portion, sized to be received in the opening; and   3) at least one magnet; and   B) providing the weight assist device to be selectively manually operable to:   1) insert the first portion of the weight assist device into the hole;   2) position the at least one weight plate onto the second portion of the weight assist device by inserting the opening over the second portion; and   3) magnetically engage the at least one magnet with the plurality of vertically stacked plates to hold the weight assist device and the at least one weight plate to the plurality of vertically stacked plates.   
     
     
         9 . The weight assist method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the hole is designed to receive an associated pin to set the applied weight of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; 
 the opening is designed to be received on an associated barbell; 
 the method further includes the step of: providing a collar that is a spring collar designed to hold the at least one associated weight plate to the associated barbell; and 
 step B comprises the step of: providing the collar to be manually operable to be positioned onto the second portion of the weight assist device to hold the at least one associated weight plate on the second portion of the weight assist device. 
 
     
     
         10 . The weight assist method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the at least one weight plate includes first and second weight plates; and 
 step B comprises the step of: providing first and second weight plates to be manually operable to be stacked horizontally onto the second portion of the weight assist device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The weight assist method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the at least one vertically stacked plate having a hole is defined to be a first plate; 
 the first plate has a first side and a second side; 
 the hole extends through the first plate from the first side to the second side; and 
 step B1 comprises the step of: extending the first portion of the weight assist device through the hole from the first side of the stacked plate to the second side of the stacked plate to outside of the second side of the first stacked plate. 
 
     
     
         12 . The weight assist method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the weight assist device is defined to be a first weight assist device; 
 the method further comprises the step of: providing a second weight assist device having:
 1) a first portion sized to be received in the hole; 
 2) a second portion, distinct from the first portion, sized to be received in the opening; and 
 3) at least one magnet; and 
 
 the method further comprises the step of: providing the second portion of the first weight assist device to be sized to receive more weight plates than the second portion of the second weight assist device; and
 the method further comprises the step of: providing the second weight assist device to be selectively manually operable, in substitute for the first weight assist device, to: 
 1) insert the first portion of the second weight assist device into the hole; 
 2) position at least one weight plate onto the second portion of the second weight assist device by inserting the opening over the second portion; and 
 3) magnetically engage the at least one magnet with the plurality of vertically stacked plates to hold the second weight assist device and the at least one weight plate to the plurality of vertically stacked plates. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . A weight assist assembly for use with:
 1) an associated adjustable weight stack that includes a plurality of vertically stacked plates, wherein at least one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates has a hole; and   2) a plurality of associated weight plates, wherein each associated weight plate: (a) is not one of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and (b) has an opening;   the weight assist assembly comprising:   1) a first weight assist device including:
 a) a first portion sized to be received in the hole; 
 b) a second portion, distinct from the first portion, sized to be received in the openings; and 
 c) at least one magnet; 
   2) a second weight assist device including:
 a) a first portion sized to be received in the hole; 
 b) a second portion, distinct from the first portion, sized to be received in the openings; and 
 c) at least one magnet; and 
   3) a collar;   wherein the second portion of the first weight assist device is sized to receive more weight plates than the second portion of the second weight assist device;   wherein the first weight assist device is selectively manually operable to:   1) insert the first portion of the first weight assist device into the hole;   2) position at least two weight plates onto the second portion of the first weight assist device by inserting the opening of the at least two weight plates over the second portion;   3) magnetically engage the at least one magnet with the plurality of vertically stacked plates to hold the first weight assist device and the at least two weight plates to the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and   4) position the collar onto the second portion of the first weight assist device to hold the least two weight plates on the second portion of the first weight assist device;   wherein the second weight assist device is selectively manually operable, in substitute for the first weight assist device, to:   1) insert the first portion of the second weight assist device into the hole;   2) position at least one weight plate onto the second portion of the second weight assist device by inserting the opening of the at least one weight plate over the second portion;   3) magnetically engage the at least one magnet with the plurality of vertically stacked plates to hold the second weight assist device and the at least one weight plate to the plurality of vertically stacked plates; and   4) position the collar onto the second portion of the second weight assist device to hold the at least one weight plate on the second portion of the second weight assist device.   
     
     
         14 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first and second portions of the first weight assist device extend along a common longitudinal axis defined as LA1; 
 the first and second portions of the second weight assist device extend along a common longitudinal axis defined as LA2; 
 the second portion of the first weight assist device has a length along LA1 defined as L1; 
 the second portion of the second weight assist device has a length along LA2 defined as L2; and 
 L1 is greater than L2. 
 
     
     
         15 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the ratio L1/L2 is at least 1.5. 
 
     
     
         16 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the hole is designed to receive an associated pin to set the applied weight of the plurality of vertically stacked plates; 
 the openings are designed to be received on an associated barbell; and 
 the collar is designed to hold the associated weight plates to the associated barbell. 
 
     
     
         17 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the at least two weight plates stack horizontally onto the second portion of the first weight assist device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first and second portions of the first weight assist device extend along a common longitudinal axis defined as LA1; 
 the first and second portions of the second weight assist device extend along a common longitudinal axis defined as LA2; 
 the at least one magnet of the first weight assist device comprises at least three distinct magnets positioned equidistant from LA1; and 
 the at least one magnet of the second weight assist device comprises at least three distinct magnets positioned equidistant from LA2. 
 
     
     
         19 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first and second portions of the first weight assist device are cylindrically shaped having a circular cross-section with the second portion have a greater diameter than the first portion; and 
 the first and second portions of the second weight assist device are cylindrically shaped having a circular cross-section with the second portion have a greater diameter than the first portion. 
 
     
     
         20 . The weight assist assembly of  claim 13  wherein:
 the at least one vertically stacked plate having a hole is defined to be a first plate; 
 the first plate has a first side and a second side; 
 the hole extends through the first plate from the first side to the second side; 
 when the first portion of the first weight assist device is inserted into the hole and the at least one magnet magnetically engages the plurality of vertically stacked plates, the first portion of the first weight assist device extends through the hole from the first side of the stacked plate to the second side of the stacked plate to outside of the second side of the first stacked plate; and 
 when the first portion of the second weight assist device is inserted into the hole and the at least one magnet magnetically engages the plurality of vertically stacked plates, the first portion of the second weight assist device extends through the hole from the first side of the stacked plate to the second side of the stacked plate to outside of the second side of the first stacked plate.