Selectorized smith machine with movable carriage and rack

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first vertical guide and a second vertical guide; a first selectorized weight stack and a second selectorized weight stack coupled to the frame; a first carriage assembly and a second carriage assembly coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks, respectively, each of the first and second carriage assemblies comprising a rack having a number of openings; and an exercise bar movably coupled to the frame, the exercise bar having a first end comprising a first latching hook and a second end having a second latching hook, the first latching hook or the second latching hook configured to engage or disengage with an opening of the number of openings in the rack to adjust a resistance of the exercise bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first vertical guide and a second vertical guide;   a first selectorized weight stack and a second selectorized weight stack coupled to the frame;   a first carriage assembly and a second carriage assembly coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks, respectively, each of the first and second carriage assemblies comprising a rack having a number of openings; and   an exercise bar movably coupled to the frame, the exercise bar having a first end comprising a first latching hook and a second end having a second latching hook, the first latching hook or the second latching hook configured to engage or disengage with an opening of the number of openings in the rack.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second carriage assemblies are coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks by a cable and pulley system. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rack is vertically aligned with the first and second vertical guides such that the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the first and second vertical guides. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein when the first or second latching hook engages with the opening, the exercise bar is coupled to the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stacks to increase a resistance of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stacks move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second carriages assemblies further comprise a roller element fixedly coupled to the rack and configured to translate along at least one of the first or second vertical guides. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame further comprises a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a rotation of the exercise bar causes the first latching hook or the second latching hook to engage or disengage with the opening in the rack. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first bearing assembly coupled to the first end of the exercise bar and a second bearing assembly coupled to the second end of the exercise bar, the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the first and second vertical guides and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the first and second vertical guides. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a counterbalance weight coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the exercise bar is coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame having at least one vertical guide;   a carriage assembly coupled to the at least one vertical guide, the carriage assembly comprising a roller element and a rack operable to translate along the at least one vertical guide;   a selectorized weight stack coupled to the carriage assembly by a cable and pulley system; and   a counterbalanced exercise bar coupled to the at least one vertical guide and having at least one latching hook configured to engage or disengage with the rack.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the rack comprises a number of openings vertically aligned with the at least one vertical guide, and the at least one latching hook engages with an opening of the number of openings to increase a resistance of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13  wherein when the latching hook engages with an opening, the carriage assembly and the selectorized weight stack move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the at least one vertical guide. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a rotation of the exercise bar causes the latching hook to engage or disengage with the rack. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the frame further comprises a second carriage assembly having a roller element and a rack coupled to a second vertical guide, a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a bearing assembly coupled to an end of the exercise bar and the bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the at least one vertical guide and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the vertical guide. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a counterbalance weight coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the exercise bar is coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system.