Monolift Assembly

Abstract

A monolift assembly includes a carriage assembly configured to be releasably and/or moveably secured to a post of a rack for weightlifting equipment, with a pivoting piece being pivotally connected to the carriage assembly with an engagement part at an end thereof, configured as a hook in some configurations. The pivoting piece is pivotable between a supporting position, where the engagement part is extended and is configured to engage and support a weighted article, and a rest position, in which the engagement part does not project as far into the weightlifting area. The monolift assembly uses a pressurized cylinder assembly to exert a rotational force on the pivoting piece, such that when the weight support is not significantly loaded, the pivoting piece rotates to the rest position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting to a post and a supporting leg connected to the mounting portion and extending outward from the mounting portion;   a pivoting piece comprising a main body portion pivotably connected to the supporting leg of the carriage assembly at a pivot connection and an engagement part connected to the main body portion, wherein the pivoting piece is pivotable between a rest position, where the engagement part is retracted, and a supporting position, where the engagement part is extended, such that the engagement part is configured for engaging and supporting a weighted article in the supporting position; and   a pressurized cylinder assembly having a first end engaged with the carriage assembly and a second end engaged with the pivoting piece at a location spaced from the pivot connection, the pressurized cylinder assembly comprising a pressurized cylinder configured to exert a torque on the pivoting piece by fluid pressure within the pressurized cylinder to induce rotation of the pivoting piece about the pivot connection and bias the pivoting piece toward the rest position, such that the rest position is an equilibrium position of the pivoting piece.   
     
     
         2 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized cylinder is a gas cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a nose extending forward from the main body portion beyond the pivot connection, and the engagement part is connected to the main body portion on an opposite side of the pivot connection from the nose, and wherein the second end of the pressurized cylinder assembly is engaged with the nose of the pivoting piece. 
     
     
         4 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a nose extending forward from the main body portion beyond the pivot connection, and the engagement part is connected to the main body portion on an opposite side of the pivot connection from the nose, and wherein the second end of the pressurized cylinder assembly is engaged with the main body portion of the pivoting piece below the pivot connection. 
     
     
         5 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized cylinder assembly is configured to exert the torque on the pivoting piece by exerting a pushing force on the pivoting piece. 
     
     
         6 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized cylinder assembly is configured to exert the torque on the pivoting piece by exerting a pulling force on the pivoting piece. 
     
     
         7 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a first carriage plate and a second carriage plate spaced from each other, the first and second carriage plates each having a leg portion forming at least a portion of the supporting leg, wherein the pivoting piece is positioned such that the main body portion extends between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and is pivotably connected to the leg portions of the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate. 
     
     
         8 . The monolift assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a connecting plate extending horizontally between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and defining at least a portion of a top surface of the carriage assembly, wherein the first end of the pressurized cylinder assembly is connected to connecting plate at the top surface of the carriage assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The monolift assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate each further include an arm portion forming part of the mounting portion of the carriage assembly, and wherein the mounting portion comprises a channel configured to receive the post, and the arm portions of the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate define sides of the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement part further comprises a notch configured for receiving the weighted article when the pivoting piece is in the supporting position, wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a roller rotatably connected to the engagement part within the notch, and wherein the roller is configured and positioned to support the weighted article when the weighted article is received in the notch, such that the weighted article rests on the roller. 
     
     
         11 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting to a post and a supporting leg connected to the mounting portion and extending outward from the mounting portion; and   a pivoting piece comprising a main body portion pivotably connected to the supporting leg of the carriage assembly at a pivot connection, a nose extending forward from the main body portion beyond the pivot connection, and an engagement part connected to the main body portion on an opposite side of the pivot connection from the nose, the engagement part comprising a leg extending forward from the main body portion and a protrusion extending upward from the leg to define a notch, and wherein the pivoting piece is pivotable between a rest position, where the engagement part is retracted, and a supporting position, where the engagement part is extended, such that the engagement part is configured for engaging and supporting a weighted article in the supporting position by receiving the weighted article within the notch, wherein the pivoting piece further comprises:
 a frame formed of a polymer material and defining portions of the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, wherein the frame has a first recess and a second recess on opposite sides of the frame, a first lip extending outwardly around at least a portion of a periphery of the first recess, and a second lip extending outwardly around at least a portion of a periphery of the second recess; 
 a first side plate formed of a metallic material, the first side plate received in the first recess and extending into the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, such that the first lip extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the first side plate; and 
 a second side plate formed of the metallic material, the second side plate received in the second recess and extending into the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, such that the second lip extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the second side plate, and the frame separates the first side plate from the second side plate. 
   
     
     
         12 . The monolift assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressurized cylinder assembly engaged with the carriage assembly and engaged with the pivoting piece at a location spaced from the pivot connection, the pressurized cylinder assembly comprising a pressurized cylinder configured to exert a torque on the pivoting piece by fluid pressure within the pressurized cylinder to induce rotation of the pivoting piece about the pivot connection and bias the pivoting piece toward the rest position. 
     
     
         13 . The monolift assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a roller rotatably connected to the engagement part within the notch, and wherein the roller is configured and positioned to support the weighted article when the weighted article is received in the notch, such that the weighted article rests on the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The monolift assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a first carriage plate and a second carriage plate spaced from each other, the first and second carriage plates each having a leg portion forming at least a portion of the supporting leg, wherein the pivoting piece is positioned such that the main body portion extends between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and is pivotably connected to the leg portions of the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate. 
     
     
         15 . The monolift assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a hooked plate connected to the frame and positioned between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate, wherein the hooked plate is a metallic plate extending from the main body portion through the leg and into the protrusion of the engagement part, around the notch. 
     
     
         16 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly comprising a mounting portion configured for mounting to a post and a supporting leg connected to the mounting portion and extending outward from the mounting portion, wherein the carriage assembly further comprises a first carriage plate and a second carriage plate spaced from each other, the first and second carriage plates each having a leg portion forming at least a portion of the supporting leg and an arm portion forming part of the mounting portion of the carriage assembly, and wherein the mounting portion comprises a channel configured to receive the post, and the arm portions of the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate define sides of the channel;   a pivoting piece comprising a main body portion pivotably connected to the supporting leg of the carriage assembly at a pivot connection, wherein the pivoting piece is positioned such that the main body portion extends between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and is pivotably connected to the leg portions of the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate, a nose extending forward from the main body portion beyond the pivot connection, and an engagement part connected to the main body portion on an opposite side of the pivot connection from the nose, the engagement part comprising a leg extending forward from the main body portion and a protrusion extending upward from the leg to define a notch, wherein the pivoting piece is pivotable between a rest position, where the engagement part is retracted, and a supporting position, where the engagement part is extended, such that the engagement part is configured for engaging and supporting a weighted article in the supporting position by receiving the weighted article within the notch; and   a pressurized cylinder assembly having a first end engaged with the carriage assembly and a second end engaged with the pivoting piece at a location spaced from the pivot connection, the pressurized cylinder assembly comprising a pressurized cylinder configured to exert a torque on the pivoting piece by fluid pressure within the pressurized cylinder to induce rotation of the pivoting piece about the pivot connection and bias the pivoting piece toward the rest position, such that the rest position is an equilibrium position of the pivoting piece.   
     
     
         17 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the pressurized cylinder assembly is engaged with the nose of the pivoting piece, and wherein the pressurized cylinder assembly is configured to exert the torque on the pivoting piece by exerting a pushing force on the nose of the pivoting piece. 
     
     
         18 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the pressurized cylinder assembly is engaged with the main body portion of the pivoting piece below the pivot connection, and wherein the pressurized cylinder assembly is configured to exert the torque on the pivoting piece by exerting a pulling force on the main body portion of the pivoting piece. 
     
     
         19 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises a roller rotatably connected to the engagement part within the notch, and wherein the roller is configured and positioned to support the weighted article when the weighted article is received in the notch, such that the weighted article rests on the roller. 
     
     
         20 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pivoting piece further comprises:
 a frame formed of a polymer material and defining portions of the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, wherein the frame has a first recess and a second recess on opposite sides of the frame, a first lip extending outwardly around at least a portion of a periphery of the first recess, and a second lip extending outwardly around at least a portion of a periphery of the second recess;   a first side plate formed of a metallic material, the first side plate received in the first recess and extending into the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, such that the first lip extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the first side plate; and   a second side plate formed of the metallic material, the second side plate received in the second recess and extending into the main body portion, the nose, and the engagement part, including the leg and the protrusion, such that the second lip extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the second side plate, and the frame separates the first side plate from the second side plate.