Weightlifting machine

Abstract

A weightlifting machine includes a carriage support, a carriage moveably mounted on the carriage support and configured to move along the carriage support, and a locking mechanism that is moveable between a locking position, where the locking mechanism engages the carriage and supports the carriage at an elevated position above a lowermost position of the carriage, and a release position, where the locking mechanism does not engage the carriage, and the carriage is free to move below the elevated position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking mechanism for use with a weightlifting machine having a moveable weight assembly, the locking mechanism comprising:
 a pivot body comprising a base member extending over a horizontal length, a first vertical member connected to the base member and extending upward from the base member, and a second vertical member connected to the base member and extending upward from the base member, wherein the first vertical member is spaced from the second vertical member along the horizontal length of the base member;   a locking member comprising an arm connected to the base member and extending upward from the base member at a location between the first and second vertical members along the horizontal length of the base member, and an engagement part connected to the arm, wherein the engagement part is configured to engage a portion of the moveable weight assembly; and   a first pivot connection connected to the pivot body and configured for connection to the weightlifting machine to pivotably connect the pivot body to the weightlifting machine, wherein the pivot body and the locking member are configured to pivot together about the first pivot connection between a locking position, where the engagement part is configured to engage the portion of the moveable weight assembly to support the moveable weight assembly at an elevated position, and a release position, where the locking member is configured not to engage the moveable weight assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot connection defines a pivot axis that extends parallel to the base member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pivot connection connected to the pivot body and spaced from the first pivot connection along the horizontal length of the base member, the second pivot connection configured for connection to the weightlifting machine to pivotably connect the pivot body to the weightlifting machine, wherein the pivot body and the locking member are further configured to pivot together about the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the first pivot connection is connected to the first vertical member of the pivot body and the second pivot connection is connected to the second vertical member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second vertical members further extend downward from the base member, and wherein the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection are respectively connected to the first and second vertical members below the base member. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising a first pivot bracket and a second pivot bracket configured to be fixedly connected to the weightlifting machine at horizontally spaced positions, wherein the pivot body is connected to the first pivot bracket to form the first pivot connection, and the pivot body is connected to the second pivot bracket to form the second pivot connection, and wherein the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection define a pivot axis that extends parallel to the base member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement part extends outwardly from the arm. 
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement part is adjustably connected to the arm, such that the engagement part is configured to be mounted at a plurality of different positions along a vertical length of the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the locking member further comprises a bracket fixedly connected to the engagement part, the bracket having a cavity receiving the arm therein, and a pin configured to engage the bracket and the arm at the plurality of different positions along the vertical length of the arm to adjustably connect the bracket and the engagement part to the arm at any of the plurality of different positions. 
     
     
         10 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a first handle connected to the first vertical member of the pivot body and a second handle connected to the second vertical member of the pivot body, wherein the first and second handles are configured for engagement by a user to adjust the locking mechanism between the release position and the locking position. 
     
     
         11 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is biased toward the locking position, and user force input is necessary to move the locking mechanism to the release position. 
     
     
         12 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement part has a notch configured to receive a portion of the moveable weight assembly to support the moveable weight assembly at the elevated position, and wherein the notch is configured not to receive the portion of the moveable weight assembly in the release position. 
     
     
         13 . The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is spaced equal distances from the first and second vertical members along the horizontal length of the base member, and the arm extends upward from the base member parallel to the first and second vertical members. 
     
     
         14 . A weightlifting machine comprising:
 a support frame comprising a carriage support;   a carriage moveably mounted on the carriage support and configured to move vertically along the carriage support, wherein the carriage is configured for engaging a weight for resistance against vertical movement during an exercise on the weightlifting machine; and   a locking mechanism comprising:
 a pivot body comprising a base member extending over a horizontal length and a first vertical member and a second vertical member connected to the base member and extending upward from the base member, wherein the first vertical member is spaced from the second vertical member along the horizontal length of the base member; 
 a locking member comprising an arm connected to the base member and extending upward from the base member at a location between the first and second vertical members along the horizontal length of the base member, and an engagement part connected to the arm; and 
 a first pivot connection connected to the pivot body and the support frame to pivotably connect the pivot body to the support frame, wherein the pivot body and the locking member are configured to pivot together about the first pivot connection between a locking position, where the engagement part is configured to engage the carriage to support the carriage at an elevated position above a lowermost position of the carriage, and a release position, where the locking member is configured not to engage the carriage, and the carriage is free to move below the elevated position. 
   
     
     
         15 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , wherein the first pivot connection defines a pivot axis that extends parallel to the base member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         16 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , further comprising a second pivot connection connected to the pivot body and the support frame to pivotably connect the pivot body to the support frame, wherein the second pivot connection is spaced from the first pivot connection along the horizontal length of the base member, wherein the pivot body and the locking member are further configured to pivot together about the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection. 
     
     
         17 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 16 , wherein the first pivot connection is connected to the first vertical member of the pivot body and the second pivot connection is connected to the second vertical member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         18 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second vertical members further extend downward from the base member, and wherein the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection are respectively connected to the first and second vertical members below the base member. 
     
     
         19 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 16 , further comprising a first pivot bracket and a second pivot bracket connected to the support frame at horizontally spaced positions, wherein the pivot body is connected to the first pivot bracket to form the first pivot connection, and the pivot body is connected to the second pivot bracket to form the second pivot connection, and wherein the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection define a pivot axis that extends parallel to the base member of the pivot body. 
     
     
         20 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement part extends outwardly from the arm. 
     
     
         21 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , further comprising a first handle connected to the first vertical member of the pivot body and a second handle connected to the second vertical member of the pivot body, wherein the first and second handles are configured for engagement by a user to adjust the locking mechanism between the release position and the locking position. 
     
     
         22 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism is biased toward the locking position, and user force input is necessary to move the locking mechanism to the release position. 
     
     
         23 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement part has a notch configured to receive a portion of the carriage to support the moveable weight assembly at the elevated position when the locking mechanism is in the locking position, and wherein the notch is configured not to receive the portion of the carriage when the locking mechanism is in the release position. 
     
     
         24 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 23 , wherein the carriage comprises two side plates and an engagement member extending between the two side plates at a front of the carriage, and wherein the notch of the engagement part is configured to receive the engagement member of the carriage when the locking mechanism is in the locking position, and the notch of the engagement part is configured not to receive the engagement member of the carriage when the locking mechanism is in the release position.