Combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus

Abstract

A combined free and stack-weight fitness apparatus utilizes a combination of free-weights and stack-weight assemblies to provide multi-mode fitness training. The total training resistance is a combination of free-weights attached to a barbell and stack-weight resistance transmitted to the barbell by cables. A pair of overhead cables attached to the barbell provide vertical support until a substantial portion of the weight on the barbell is borne by the operator.

1 . A combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus for providing resistance-training comprising: 
 a frame:    a free-weight assembly comprising a free-weight attachment element releasably attaching a selected quantity of free-weights to said free-weight assembly;    an overhead cable assembly connecting said free-weight assembly to a support assembly attached to said frame;    a stack-weight assembly comprising a plurality of vertically stacked weights disposed in said frame; and    a stack-weight cable assembly connecting a selected quantity of stack-weights from said plurality of vertically stacked weights to said free-weight assembly;    wherein a total resistance force to a user of said apparatus results by a combination of a first force provided by said selected quantity of free-weights attached to said free-weight assembly and a second force provided by said selected quantity of stack-weights connected to said free-weight assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said support assembly is a support column attached to said frame.  
   
   
       3 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said overhead cable assembly connects said free-weight assembly to said support column by a weight-responsive engagement assembly engageable with said support column.  
   
   
       4 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a pawl engageable with said support column to provide hold support to said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a disengagement bias element operably connected to said pawl, said disengagement bias element actuated by a disengagement actuator disposed on said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said free-weight assembly comprises a free-weight bar having a first end and a second end and said free-weight bar comprises a first free-weight attachment element on said first end releasably attaching a first selected quantity of free-weights to said free-weight assembly and a second free-weight attachment element on said second end releasably attaching a second selected quantity of free-weights to said free-weight assembly wherein said total resistance force to a user of said apparatus results by a combination of a first force provided by said first selected quantity of free-weights and said second selected quantity of free-weights attached to said free-weight assembly and a second force provided by said selected quantity of stack-weights connected to said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said support assembly comprises a first support column and a second support column attached to said frame and wherein said first end of said free-weight bar is operatively attached to said first support column by a first overhead cable assembly and said second end of said free-weight bar is operatively attached to said second support column by a second overhead cable assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said stack-weight assembly comprises a first stack-weight assembly comprising a first plurality of vertically stacked weights disposed in said frame and a first stack-weight engagement element connecting a first selected quantity of stack-weights to said first end of said free-weight assembly by a first stack-weight cable assembly, and a second stack-weight assembly comprising a second plurality of vertically stacked weights disposed in said frame and a second stack-weight engagement element connecting a second selected quantity of stack-weights to said second end of said free-weight assembly by a second stack-weight cable assembly so that said total resistance force to a user of said apparatus results by a combination of said first force provided by said first selected quantity of free-weights and said second selected quantity of free-weights attached to said free-weight assembly and a second force provided by said first selected quantity of stack-weights and said second selected quantity of stack-weights connected to said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said first overhead cable assembly connects said free-weight assembly to said first support column by a first weight-responsive engagement assembly engageable with said first support column and said second overhead cable assembly connects said free-weight assembly to said second support column by a second weight-responsive engagement assembly engageable with said second support column.  
   
   
       10 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a first pawl engageable with said first support column and said second weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a second pawl engageable with said second support column to provide hold support to said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said first weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a first disengagement bias element operably connected to said first pawl, said first disengagement bias element actuated by a first disengagement actuator disposed on said free-weight assembly and said second weight-responsive engagement assembly comprises a second disengagement bias element operably connected to said second pawl, said second disengagement bias element actuated by a second disengagement actuator disposed on said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said first disengagement actuator and said second disengagement actuator are connected in series whereby actuation of both first and second disengagement actuators are required to release support of said free-weight assembly from said first support column and said second support column.  
   
   
       13 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a pulley disposed below said free-weight assembly routing said stack-weight cable assembly to provide a downward force on said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 1  comprising an adjustable pulley assembly engageable with said frame routing said stack-weight cable assembly above or below said free-weight assembly to provide either a downward force on said free-weight assembly or an upward force on said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said stack-weight cable assembly comprises a quick-release fastener for attaching a D-ring to said first stack-weight cable.  
   
   
       16 . A combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus for providing resistance-training comprising: 
 a frame:    a free-weight assembly operatively connected to a support assembly of said frame by an overhead cable, said free-weight assembly comprising a free-weight attachment element releasably attaching a selected quantity of free-weights to said free-weight assembly;    a stack-weight portion comprising a plurality of vertically stacked weights disposed in said frame and comprising a stack-weight engagement element releasably engaging a selected quantity of stack-weights to said free-weight assembly by a stack-weight cable;    wherein a total resistance force to a user of said apparatus is a combination of a first force provided by said selected quantity of free-weights attached to said free-weight assembly and a second force provided by a said selected quantity of stack-weights engaged to said free-weight assembly.    
   
   
       17 . The combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said support assembly comprises a first support column and a second support column and said free-weight assembly comprises a free-weight bar having a first end portion connected to said first support column by a first overhead cable and a second end portion of said free-weight bar connected to said second support column by a second overhead cable.  
   
   
       18 . The combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said stack-weight portion comprises a first stack-weight assembly comprising a first plurality of stack-weights and a second stack-weight assembly comprising a second plurality of stack-weights and said first end portion of said free-weight assembly is connected to said first stack-weight assembly by a first stack-weight cable and said second end portion of said free-weight assembly is connected to said second stack-weight assembly by a second stack-weight cable.  
   
   
       19 . The combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said first stack-weight assembly comprises a first stack-weight engagement element releasably engaging a first selected quantity of stack-weights to said free-weight assembly by said first stack-weight cable and said second stack-weight assembly comprises a second stack-weight engagement element releasably engaging a second selected quantity of stack-weights to said free-weight assembly by said second stack-weight cable so that said total resistance force to a user of said apparatus is a combination of a first force provided by said selected quantity of free-weights attached to said free-weight assembly and a second force provided by said first selected quantity of stack-weights and said second selected quantity of stack-weights engaged to said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The combination free and stack-weight fitness apparatus of  claim 16  comprising a pulley assembly positionable on said frame and defining a first position routing said stack-weight cable to said free-weight assembly from below said free-weight assembly and a second position routing said stack-weight cable to said free-weight assembly from above said free-weight assembly.  
   
   
       21 . The combination free and stack-weight apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said stack-weight cable comprises a quick-release fastener for attaching a D-ring to said stack-weight cable.