Weight plate lifting exercise apparatus

Abstract

A weight plate lifting exercise apparatus to enable any number of weight plates to be lifted off a stack of weight plates during an exercise. The weight plates are stacked in face-to-face alignment one above the other. A weight plate connector is affixed to the first weight plate atop the stack. The apparatus includes a frame and a pair of guide bars that are pivotally connected between a side of the frame and the weight plate connector. A cable communicates with the first weight plate atop the stack by way of the weight plate connector. A pulling force applied to the cable causes the first weight plate and any other weight plates that are detachably interconnected to the first weight plate to be displaced in a linear (i.e., vertical) lifting path. At the same time, the pair of guide bars will rotate relative to the frame through a circular path. The guide bars will at all times remain in spaced, parallel alignment with one another throughout their rotation to ensure that the weight plates are lifted smoothly and continuously from the stack.

1 . Weight lifting exercise apparatus and a stack of weight to be lifted including at least first and second weights laying face-to-face one above the other, said weight lifting exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   at least one guide bar having a first end pivotally coupled to said frame and an opposite end pivotally coupled to said first weight;   an attachment by which said first weight is connected to said second weight from said stack of weights; and   lifting force generating means communicating with said first weight such that a pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means is transferred to said first weight to simultaneously cause said first weight and said second weight connected to said first weight to be lifted together in a linear path and said guide bar to rotate at said opposite end thereof relative to said frame through a circular path.   
     
     
         2 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second weights is a weight plate. 
     
     
         3 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lifting force generating means is a cable. 
     
     
         4 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a top, a bottom, and a side extending between said top and said bottom, said at least one guide bar pivotally coupled at said opposite end thereof to the side of said frame so as to rotate relative to said side through said circular path in response to the pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means. 
     
     
         5 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said weight lifting exercise apparatus also comprises a pulley mounted on the top of said frame and an opening formed through said top, said lifting force generating means extending from the first weight of the stack, through the opening in said top, and over the pulley mounted on said top. 
     
     
         6 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said weight lifting exercise apparatus also comprises a connector affixed to said first weight from said stack, said lifting force generating means communicating with said first weight by way of said connector. 
     
     
         7 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said connector includes a post projecting therefrom and lying above said first weight and a sleeve surrounding said post, the first end of said at least one guide bar being connected to said sleeve and causing said sleeve to rotate around said post when said guide bar rotates at said opposite end thereof through said circular path in response to the pulling force applied to said force generating means. 
     
     
         8 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said connector also includes a leg lying against at least one side of the first weight, said weight lifting exercise apparatus further comprising an additional guide bar having a first end pivotally coupled to the side of said frame and an opposite end pivotally coupled to the leg of said connector, said additional guide bar rotating at said opposite end thereof relative to the side of said frame through a circular path in response to the pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means. 
     
     
         9 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said first and additional guide bars are at all times arranged in spaced parallel alignment with one another when said guide bars rotate relative to the side of said frame in response to the pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means. 
     
     
         10 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first weight is located at the top of the stack of weights to be lifted. 
     
     
         11 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second weights has a bore hole formed therethrough, said attachment including a first insert located within the bore hole of said first weight and a second insert located within the bore hole of said second weight, a portion of said first insert extending from said first weight for receipt by the second insert at the bore hole of said second weight by which said first weight is connected to said second weight. 
     
     
         12 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of said first and second weights has a locking cavity formed therewithin, said attachment also including a first locking cartridge located in the locking cavity of said first weight and a second locking cartridge located in the locking cavity of said second weight, each of said first and second locking cartridges having a respective locking pin that is slidable therethrough between unlocked and locked positions, the locking pin of said second locking cartridge sliding to the locked position so as to engage the second insert located within the bore hole of said second weight and the portion of said first insert extending from said first weight that is received by said second insert, whereby said first weight is connected to said second weight. 
     
     
         13 . The weight lifting exercise apparatus and stack of weights as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second weights having said bore holes for receipt therewithin of respective ones of said first and second inserts are devoid of any other bore holes formed therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The combination, comprising:
 weight lifting exercise apparatus; and   a stack of weights to be lifted by said weight lifting exercise apparatus, said stack including at least first and second weights adapted to be detachably connected in face-to-face alignment one above the other,   said weight lifting exercise apparatus including:   a frame;   first and second guide bars pivotally coupled at respective first ends thereof to said frame and pivotally coupled at respective opposite ends to said first weight; and   means for generating a lifting force communicating with said first weight such that a pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means is transferred to said first weight to simultaneously cause said first weight and said second weight detachably connected to said first weight to be lifted together in a linear path and said first and second guide bars to rotate at the respective opposite ends thereof relative to said frame through respective circular paths,   said first and second guide bars at all times being positioned in spaced parallel alignment with one another when said guide bars rotate relative to said frame in response to the pulling force applied to said lifting force generating means.