Weightlifting Machine

Abstract

A counterweight mechanism for use with a weightlifting machine including first and second input cables. The mechanism includes a peanut pulley having a top wheel configured to engage the first input cable, two bottom wheels, a counterweight pulley positioned below the peanut pulley and having a counterweight pulley frame and a counterweight pulley wheel mounted therein, where the counterweight pulley wheel engages the second input cable, and a counterweight positioned below the counterweight pulley, such that the counterweight pulley is positioned between the counterweight and the peanut pulley. Two counterweight cables each have ends fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and to the counterweight, and the counterweight cables are engaged with the bottom wheels of the peanut pulley. A weight rack assembly including the counterweight mechanism may also include a removable low row assembly and/or a removable box squat assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A counterweight mechanism for use with a weightlifting machine including a first input cable operably connected to a weight source and a second input cable, comprising:
 a peanut pulley having a top wheel configured to engage the first input cable, a first bottom wheel, and a second bottom wheel;   a counterweight pulley positioned below the peanut pulley and comprising a counterweight pulley frame and a counterweight pulley wheel mounted in the counterweight pulley frame, wherein the counterweight pulley wheel is configured to engage the second input cable;   a counterweight positioned below the counterweight pulley, such that the counterweight pulley is positioned between the counterweight and the peanut pulley;   a first counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the first counterweight cable is engaged with the first bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends; and   a second counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the second counterweight cable is engaged with the second bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends.   
     
     
         2 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight has a slot configured for permitting the second input cable to pass by the counterweight by passing through the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight and the counterweight pulley frame each have a plurality of rollers configured to engage inner surfaces of a rail in which the counterweight and the counterweight pulley frame are configured to be positioned. 
     
     
         4 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is configured to remove slack introduced into the first input cable. 
     
     
         5 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is configured such that when the slack is introduced into the first input cable, the peanut pulley is configured to move downward, thereby causing the counterweight to drop relative to the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         6 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is configured to be moveable over a range of travel, wherein at a first end of the range of travel, the peanut pulley engages the counterweight pulley, and at a second end of the range of travel, the counterweight engages the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         7 . The counterweight mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the peanut pulley further has a second top wheel configured to engage the first input cable. 
     
     
         8 . A weightlifting machine configured to be mounted on a weight rack, comprising:
 a weight source configured to be moveable and to provide resistance during a weightlifting exercise;   a first input cable having a first input point configured to receive user input, wherein the first input cable is engaged with the weight source;   a second input cable having a second input point configured to receive user input; and   a counterweight mechanism configured to remove slack in the first input cable when the weight source is placed in an elevated position, comprising:
 a peanut pulley having a first top wheel engaging the first input cable, a first bottom wheel, and a second bottom wheel; 
 a counterweight pulley positioned below the peanut pulley and comprising a counterweight pulley frame and a counterweight pulley wheel mounted in the counterweight pulley frame, wherein the counterweight pulley wheel engages the second input cable; 
 a counterweight positioned below the counterweight pulley, such that the counterweight pulley is positioned between the counterweight and the peanut pulley; 
 a first counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the first counterweight cable is engaged with the first bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends; and 
 a second counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the second counterweight cable is engaged with the second bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends, 
   wherein the weightlifting machine is configured such that force exerted by a user at the first input point is configured to lift the weight source via the first input cable, and the weightlifting machine is further configured such that force exerted by a user at the second input point is configured to lift the weight source via the second input cable exerting downward force on the counterweight pulley, the counterweight pulley exerting downward force on the peanut pulley via the first counterweight cable and the second counterweight cable, and the peanut pulley exerting force on the first input cable.   
     
     
         9 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , wherein the counterweight has a slot, permitting the second input cable to pass by the counterweight by passing through the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , the counterweight mechanism is configured such that when the slack is introduced into the first input cable, the peanut pulley is configured to move downward, thereby causing the counterweight to drop relative to the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         11 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 10 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is configured to be moveable over a range of travel, wherein at a first end of the range of travel, the peanut pulley engages the counterweight pulley, and at a second end of the range of travel, the counterweight engages the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         12 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , wherein the peanut pulley further has a second top wheel engaging the first input cable, such that the first input cable engages the weight source between engaging the first top wheel and the second top wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 12 , wherein the weight source comprises a weight source pulley, and the first input cable engages the weight source pulley between engaging the first top wheel and the second top wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , wherein the weight source comprises a carriage moveably mounted on a vertical rail, such that the carriage is configured to travel along the vertical rail to provide the resistance during the weightlifting exercise. 
     
     
         15 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is received within the vertical rail, such that the peanut pulley, the counterweight pulley, the counterweight, the first counterweight cable, and the second counterweight cable are all moveable within the vertical rail. 
     
     
         16 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 15 , wherein the counterweight and the counterweight pulley frame each have a plurality of rollers configured to engage inner surfaces of the vertical rail. 
     
     
         17 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , wherein the weightlifting machine further comprises a first adjustable pulley assembly and a second adjustable pulley assembly configured to be mounted on the weight rack in a position-adjustable configuration, wherein the first input cable is engaged with the first adjustable pulley assembly at the first input point, such that the first input point is a first adjustable input point, and the first input cable is further engaged with the second adjustable pulley assembly to form a second adjustable input point configured to receive user input. 
     
     
         18 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 8 , wherein the second input point is a lat pull input point configured to receive user input in a lat pull exercise, and the second input cable further has a belt squat input point configured to receive user input in a belt squat exercise. 
     
     
         19 . A weightlifting rack assembly comprising:
 a weight rack comprising a plurality of frame members including vertical frame members and horizontal frame members joined together, and a platform supported by the frame members, the platform having a slot and configured for supporting a user during a belt squat exercise; and   a weightlifting machine mounted on the weight rack, comprising:
 a weight source mounted on the weight rack and configured to provide resistance during a weightlifting exercise; 
 a first input cable having a first input point configured to receive user input, wherein the first input cable is engaged with the weight source; 
 a second input cable having a second input point configured to receive user input; and 
 a counterweight mechanism configured to remove slack in the first input cable when the weight source is placed in an elevated position, comprising:
 a peanut pulley having a first top wheel engaging the first input cable, a first bottom wheel, and a second bottom wheel; 
 a counterweight pulley positioned below the peanut pulley and comprising a counterweight pulley frame and a counterweight pulley wheel mounted in the counterweight pulley frame, wherein the counterweight pulley wheel engages the second input cable; 
 a counterweight positioned below the counterweight pulley, such that the counterweight pulley is positioned between the counterweight and the peanut pulley; 
 a first counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the first counterweight cable is engaged with the first bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends; and 
 a second counterweight cable having a first end fixed to the counterweight pulley frame and a second end fixed to the counterweight, wherein the second counterweight cable is engaged with the second bottom wheel of the peanut pulley between the first and second ends, 
 
   wherein the weightlifting machine is configured such that force exerted by a user at the first input point is configured to lift the weight source via the first input cable, and the weightlifting machine is further configured such that force exerted by a user at the second input point is configured to lift the weight source via the second input cable exerting downward force on the counterweight pulley, the counterweight pulley exerting downward force on the peanut pulley via the first counterweight cable and the second counterweight cable, and the peanut pulley exerting force on the first input cable.   
     
     
         20 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the counterweight has a counterweight slot, permitting the second input cable to pass by the counterweight by passing through the counterweight slot. 
     
     
         21 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , the counterweight mechanism is configured such that when the slack is introduced into the first input cable, the peanut pulley is configured to move downward, thereby causing the counterweight to drop relative to the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         22 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is configured to be moveable over a range of travel, wherein at a first end of the range of travel, the peanut pulley engages the counterweight pulley, and at a second end of the range of travel, the counterweight engages the counterweight pulley. 
     
     
         23 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the peanut pulley further has a second top wheel engaging the first input cable, such that the first input cable engages the weight source between engaging the first top wheel and the second top wheel. 
     
     
         24 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the weight source comprises a weight source pulley, and the first input cable engages the weight source pulley between engaging the first top wheel and the second top wheel. 
     
     
         25 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the weight source comprises a carriage moveably mounted on a vertical rail coupled to the weight rack, such that the carriage is configured to travel along the vertical rail to provide the resistance during the weightlifting exercise. 
     
     
         26 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the counterweight mechanism is received within the vertical rail, such that the peanut pulley, the counterweight pulley, the counterweight, the first counterweight cable, and the second counterweight cable are all moveable within the vertical rail. 
     
     
         27 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the counterweight and the counterweight pulley frame each have a plurality of rollers configured to engage inner surfaces of the vertical rail. 
     
     
         28 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the weightlifting machine further comprises a first adjustable pulley assembly and a second adjustable pulley assembly mounted on the weight rack in a position-adjustable configuration, wherein the first input cable is engaged with the first adjustable pulley assembly at the first input point, such that the first input point is a first adjustable input point, and the first input cable is further engaged with the second adjustable pulley assembly to form a second adjustable input point configured to receive user input. 
     
     
         29 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second input point is a lat pull input point configured to receive user input in a lat pull exercise, and the second input cable extends through the slot in the platform to form a belt squat input point configured to receive the user input during the belt squat exercise. 
     
     
         30 . The weightlifting rack assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second input cable extends through the slot in the platform, such that the second input point is a belt squat input point configured to receive the user input during the belt squat exercise.