Automated weightlifting spotting machine

Abstract

A weight training assistance apparatus which requires a user to overcome the force exerted by one or more weights comprising: one or more sensors for monitoring a user's activity by monitoring the position of an item indicative of the position of the weights during a weight training exercise; a processor in communication with said sensors; the processor enabled to dynamically compare the user's activity of the item during the exercise with a predetermined activity profile to determine a dynamic level of fatigue for the user; the processor further enabled to determine a response at a given moment based on the exercise undertaken, the current user activity and the determined dynamic level of fatigue; a load bearing device that is controllable by the processor, the load bearing device enabled to dynamically vary the magnitude of the net force exerted by the weight as determined by the response, the processor further enabled to maintain the magnitude of the force when the user's activity is within a predetermined limit of the predetermined activity profile.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to an automated spotting machine for weightlifting that applies to both free-weights and stacked weight machines. The device is enabled to provide assistance to a weightlifter when required and to bear the load of weight such as a barbell if a user has reached muscle failure or the exercise has potentially become dangerous.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]In weight training it is known for the weightlifter to ask for a spotter to monitor the exercise and to provide assistance to the weightlifter when required. The assistance provided may involve taking the whole weight to avert a dangerous situation when using free weights or to assist with a lift using free weights or stacked weight machines, allowing the weightlifter to continue with an exercise so that they may complete more repetitions than they would normally do without assistance (forced repetitions). The assistance of a spotter also allows the weightlifter to perform negative repetit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The invention seeks to avoid or at least mitigate these and other problems in the prior art, the present invention provides an apparatus for a weight lifting machine, which is able to provide assistance to a user as well as acting as a safety mechanism.

[0008]The spotting device is an electro-mechanical system, which can replicate the role of a human ‘spotter’ in a free weights environment. This entails being able to take the full weight of the bar if the lifter is unable to hold it (hence acting as a safety feature) and slightly easing the weight when the lifter is on the limit of their strength.

[0012]According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a weight training assistance apparatus which requires a user to overcome the force exerted by one or more weights comprising: one or more sensors for monitoring a user's activity by monitoring the position of an item indicative of the position of the weights during a weight training exercise; a processor in communication with said sensors; the processor enabled to dynamically compare the user's activity of the item during the exercise with a predetermined activity profile to determine a dynamic level of fatigue for the user; the processor further enabled to determine a response at a given moment based on the exercise undertaken, the current user activity and the determined dynamic level of fatigue; a load bearing device that is controllable by the processor, the load bearing device enabled to dynamically vary the magnitude of the net force exerted by the weight as determined by the response, the processor further enabled to maintain the magnitude of the force when the user's activity is within a predetermined limit of the predetermined activity profile.

Problems solved by technology

This limit will vary during the session since the lifter will progressively fatigue muscle, becoming weaker and more tired as the session progresses.

A disadvantage of free weight training is that a spotter is not always available and subsequently the user may not partake in free weights or does so without a spotter, which is potentially dangerous.

For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,921 requires the user to engage a foot pedal to initiate the spotter and is subsequently complex to use.

Another disadvantage of many of the self spotting weightlifting machines is that they only act as a safety device, and are unable to provide assistance to the weightlifter to help them complete a repetition as is required for human spotters.

Images