Weight spotter

Abstract

Described herein are examples of a device which includes a weight spotter configured to hold a free weight on a lower portion, and be attached to a structure, such as cross bar of exercise equipment or a shaft of a barbell. The weight spotter configured to allow a user to easily lift and replace the free weight from the structure while providing support and ease of use for the user.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a weight spotter comprising:
 a first vertical shaft frame and a second vertical shaft frame, wherein the first and second vertical shaft frames extend parallel and vertically from a hook to a weight cradle; wherein
 the hook is configured to:
 be affixed to a structure; 
 extend vertically upwards and horizontally distal from the first and second vertical shaft frames; 
 extend from the first vertical shaft frame horizontally to the second vertical shaft frame; 
 
 the hook further comprises a horizontal hook frame extending horizontally from a first vertical hook edge to a second vertical hook edge; and 
 the hook is in a semi-circular configuration; 
 
 the weight cradle comprising weight cradle recess walls configured to receive a shaft of a free weight, wherein
 a first weight cradle recess wall extend vertically downwards and horizontally distal from first vertical shaft frame, and 
 a second weight cradle recess wall extends extend vertically downwards and horizontally distal from the second vertical shaft frame, 
 the weight cradle is configured in a semi-circular configuration; and 
 
 a gripper support disposed horizontally between the first and second vertical shaft frames, and a weight gripper disposed on first and second vertical shaft frames, wherein the weight gripper further comprises:
 two weight gripper apertures configured to receive the first and second vertical shaft frames, 
 weight gripper vertical frame configured to receive the first and second vertical shaft frames, 
 weight gripper shaft mounts configured to affix to the shaft of the free weight, and 
 a resistance component configured to provide resistance between the gripper support and the weight gripper; 
 
   wherein
 the hook extends horizontally distal from the vertical shaft frames, and 
 the weight cradle extends horizontally distal from the vertical shaft frames in an opposite horizontal direction from the hook. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the weight gripper further comprise a weight gripper handle disposed between the weight gripper apertures; and   the weight gripper handle and the gripper support are configured with finger and palm indents to assist with gripping of the weight gripper handle and the gripper support.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hook comprises:
 a hook arc that is defined by a radius from 20 mm to 30 mm, and 
 the hook arc is configured to receive a rounded shaft of a barbell or a rounded crossbar of exercise equipment. 
   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the weight cradle comprises a weight cradle arc that is defined by a radius from 10 mm to 25 mm, and   the weight cradle arc is configured to receive a rounded shaft of a free weight, and   the weight cradle further comprises a vertical weight cradle edge that is configured to match a height of the shaft of a free weight.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the hook and the weight cradle further comprise a protective coating configured to reduce friction from attaching hook to the structure and placing free weights in the weight cradle; and   the protective coating is selected from plastic, acrylic, paint, rubber, epoxy.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the hook extends distally from the first and second vertical shaft frames a distance greater than the distance the weight cradle extends distally from the first and second vertical shaft frames.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein
 the distance the hook extends distally from the first and second vertical shaft frames is defined as a hook length,   a hook height is measured vertically from a hook apex to vertical hook edge, and   the hook length can be between 20 and 40 mm, and   the hook height can be between 20 and 40 mm.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the weight cradle further comprises a weight cradle recess,   a length of the weight cradle recess is defined by a horizontal distance between the vertical shaft frame and a vertical weight cradle edge, and   the length of the weight cradle recess is between 20 and 40 mm.   
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 placing a free weight in a weight cradle of a weight spotter, wherein
 the weight cradle is configured in a semi-circular configuration to receive a shaft of the free weight; 
   attaching a hook of the weight spotter to a structure,
 wherein the hook is configured in a semi-circular configuration to allow the hook to attach to a structure; 
   gripping the shaft of the free weight and the weight cradle in a hand of a user and pressing the shaft of the free weight against the weight cradle;   lifting the weight spotter away from the structure to allow the user to perform exercises;   replacing the weight spotter on the structure via attaching the hook to the structure; and   releasing the grip on the shaft of the free weight and the weight cradle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 placing a second free weight on a second weight spotter;   attaching a hook of the second weight spotter to a structure;   gripping the shaft of the first and second free weights and the first and second weight cradles in the hands of a user and pressing the shafts of the free weights against the weight cradles;   lifting the weight spotters away from the structure to allow the user to perform exercises;   replacing the weight spotters on the structure via attaching the hooks to the structure; and   releasing the grip on the shafts of the free weights and the weight cradles.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 prior to placing the free weight in the weight cradle of the weight spotter:
 grasping a weight gripper and a gripper support in the hands of a user; 
 compressing a resistance component and retracting the weight gripper vertically upwards towards the gripper support; and 
 releasing the weight gripper allowing the resistance component to lock the weight gripper onto the shaft of the free weight. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the weight gripper comprises a resistance component that is a spring disposed between the gripper support and the weight gripper, and   the weight gripper further comprises weight gripper shaft mounts configured to surround and lock the shaft of the free weight in the weight cradle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 attaching a hook of a second weight spotter to a structure;   placing the shaft of a barbell across the weight cradle of the first weight spotter and the second weight spotter;   gripping the shaft of barbell and the first and second weight cradles in the hands of a user and pressing the shaft of the barbell against the weight cradles;   lifting the weight spotters away from the structure to allow the user to perform exercises;   replacing the weight spotters on the structure via attaching the hooks to the structure; and   releasing the grip on the shaft of the barbell and the weight cradles.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising twisting an arm of the user when replacing the weight spotters on the structure to assist with attaching the hook to the structure. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a weight spotter comprising:
 a first vertical shaft frame and a second vertical shaft frame, wherein
 the first and second vertical shaft frames extend parallel and vertically from a hook to a weight cradle, 
 
 the hook is configured:
 to be affixed to a structure, 
 to extend vertically upwards and horizontally distal from the first and second vertical shaft frames, 
 to extend from the first vertical shaft frame horizontally to the second vertical shaft frame, 
 in a semi-circular configuration 
 
 wherein the hook further comprises a horizontal hook frame extending horizontally from a first vertical hook edge to a second vertical hook edge, 
 the weight cradle comprising weight cradle recess walls configured to receive a shaft of a free weight, wherein
 a first weight cradle recess wall extend vertically downwards and horizontally distal from first vertical shaft frame, and 
 a second weight cradle recess wall extends extend vertically downwards and horizontally distal from the second vertical shaft frame, 
 the weight cradle is configured in a semi-circular configuration; 
 
 wherein
 the hook extends horizontally distal from the vertical shaft frames, and 
 the weight cradle extends horizontally distal from the vertical shaft frames in an opposite horizontal direction from the hook. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein
 the weight cradle further comprises:
 a weight cradle body disposed between the first weight cradle recess wall and the second weight cradle recess wall, and 
 a bottom portion of the weight cradle body is configured to be gripped by a hand, and 
 an upper portion of the weight cradle body is configured to receive the shaft of a free weight. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the hook, the horizontal hook frame, the first vertical shaft frame, the second vertical shaft frame, the first weight cradle recess wall, and the second weight cradle recess wall are prepared as a continuous rounded frame. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a gripper support disposed horizontally between the first and second vertical shaft frames, and a weight gripper disposed on first and second vertical shaft frames, wherein the weight gripper further comprises:
 two weight gripper apertures configured to receive the first and second vertical shaft frames, and   a resistance component configured to provide resistance between the gripper support and the weight gripper.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein
 the weight gripper further comprises:
 weight gripper shaft mounts configured to affix to the shaft of the free weight, and 
 the weight gripper shaft mounts are rounded to match a rounded shaft of a free weight. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein
 the weight gripper further comprise:
 a weight gripper handle disposed between the weight gripper apertures, and 
 the weight gripper handle is configured with finger indents to assist with gripping of the weight gripper and the gripper support.