Free weight storage accessory

Abstract

A support assembly and exercise system provides safe and unconstrained movement of free weights within a movement zone encompassing normal travel of the free weights during exercise. The system allows safe user engagement and disengagement with the free weights while continually tethered against uncontrolled and possibly harmful movement. The support assembly is defined by a generally free-standing frame with rigid uprights for supporting takeoff and landing zones for the free weights, as well as tether attachments for movably supporting the free weights through the movement zone. A support member has a pivotal attachment to the upright frame for suspending the free weights against an uncontrolled release or fall. Launch and landing platforms attach to the upright frame for ideal positioning of the free weights prior to and following a usage session (workout).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In an exercise support frame defined by a plurality of upright members extending vertically, a single-handed deployable usage and support apparatus for a free weight, comprising:
 an elongated, rigid crossmember adapted to extend between a first upright member and a second upright member of the plurality of upright members, the crossmember having a pair of opposed ends; and   a receptacle at each opposed end of the pair of opposed ends, the receptacle adapted to engage a protrusion disposed on each of at least two of the upright members at a common height on the respective upright member, at least one of the receptacles having a downward facing opening and adapted to engage the protrusion via travel in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle at each opposed end comprises a first receptacle at a first opposed end of the pair of opposed ends, and a second receptacle at a second opposed end of the pair of opposed ends,
 the first receptacle having a horizontally facing opening and adapted to engage the respective protrusion based on travel in a horizontal direction; and 
 the second receptacle having the downward facing opening for engagement of the respective protrusion from travel in a vertical direction. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the crossmember has a horizontal surface with a horizontally oriented area, the horizontally oriented area defining a surface for accommodating the free weight. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the horizontally oriented area is defined by a plurality of discontinuous planar regions, each planar region of the discontinuous planar region disposed for alignment with a respective weight on the free weight. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the discontinuous planar regions have a spacing based on a handle region of the free weight, the handle region separating respective weights concentrically disposed on a cylindrical bar defining the handle region. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the upright members define an upright frame, the upright frame adapted for freestanding deployment on a floor surface, the upright frame defining an exercise region. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the upright members extend from a rectangular base disposed on the floor surface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the exercise support frame has a plurality of upright members joined by a transverse member at an upper portion. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the protrusions are formed from a peg inserted though an aperture in the upright. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each of the protrusions extends horizontally and is vertically aligned with the others of the protrusions. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each receptacle is defined by a slot having parallel sides formed in a rigid planar material, each of the parallel sides converging to a semicircular union forming a continuous edge between the parallel sides. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crossmember defines a launch platform removably engaging the upright members, the launch platform engaged in an interference fit with horizontal protrusions extending from the engaged upright members, the launch platform adapted to support the free weight. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crossmember further comprises a side platform adapted to engage the exercise support frame, the side platform defined by a longitudinal surface and opposed ends adapted to extend between upright members of the exercise support frame, the longitudinal surface having a detachable engagement with a respective upright member at at least one opposed end. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the side platform further comprises a wrap around attachment, the wrap around attachment extending from one end of the opposed ends for defining an interference fit with a surface of the respective support member, the other opposed end engaged with a respective upright member for vertical support. 
     
     
         15 . In an exercise support frame defined by a plurality of upright members extending vertically, a single-handed deployable usage and support apparatus for a free weight, comprising:
 a pair of elongated supports extending in parallel from a respective upright member;   an elongated, rigid crossmember adapted to extend between the pair of elongated supports, the crossmember having a pair of opposed ends; and   a receptacle at each opposed end of the pair of opposed ends, the receptacle adapted to engage a respective elongated support, at least one of the receptacles having a downward facing opening and adapted to engage the protrusion via travel in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the receptacle at each opposed end comprises:
 a first receptacle at a first opposed end of the pair of opposed ends, and a second receptacle at a second opposed end of the pair of opposed ends, 
 the first receptacle having a horizontally facing opening and adapted to engage the respective elongated support based on travel in a horizontal direction; and 
 
       the second receptacle having the downward facing opening for engagement of the elongated support from travel in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crossmember has a surface with a horizontally oriented area and a curved area, the horizontally oriented area defining a surface for accommodating the free weight and the curved area adjacent the horizontal area, the curved area extending upward thereby impeding a rolling motion of the free weight disposed thereon.