Weightlifting Machine Attachment

Abstract

A weightlifting machine attachment configured to provide support a weight carriage that moves on a carriage support. The weightlifting machine attachment may include a mounting bracket that attaches to a weightlifting machine that comprises a weight carriage and a carriage support. The attachment also includes an arm, where the arm has a rear wall and two arm side walls extending forward from the rear wall forming an interior cavity. A supporting insert may be mounted to the arm and received in the interior cavity, where the supporting insert comprises a supporting surface configured to engage the carriage to support the carriage in a resting position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weightlifting machine attachment comprising:
 a mounting bracket configured for attachment to a weightlifting machine, wherein the weightlifting machine comprises a carriage and a carriage support, wherein the carriage is movably connected to the carriage support and comprises a plurality of rollers engaging the carriage support, the plurality of rollers including a first roller having a diameter;   an arm, wherein the arm has a rear wall and two arm side walls extending forward from the rear wall forming an interior cavity, wherein the two arm side walls connect to the mounting bracket creating a gap configured to be at least as wide as the diameter of the first roller; and   a supporting insert mounted to the arm and received within the interior cavity, wherein the supporting insert defines a supporting surface configured to engage the carriage to support the carriage in a resting position.   
     
     
         2 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage support includes a track that extends vertically upward from a support frame such that the track guides movement of the carriage, and wherein the track includes a plurality of stops to prevent downward movement of the carriage when the carriage contacts one of the plurality of stops; and
 wherein the mounting bracket further includes a first tab configured to contact a first stop of the plurality of stops.   
     
     
         3 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the first tab includes a forward tab surface; and
 wherein the forward tab surface is configured to engage a side surface of the first stop.   
     
     
         4 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting surface is configured to be positioned directly beneath a beam of the carriage configured to support a weight, and wherein the supporting surface is configured to engage the beam to support the carriage, such that the beam is located between an outer surface of the carriage support and the rear wall of the arm. 
     
     
         5 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting surface of the supporting insert includes a rounded recess that is configured to receive a beam of the carriage that is configured to support a weight. 
     
     
         6 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 5 , wherein the supporting surface of the supporting insert further includes a raised planar lip that is nearer to the rear wall than the rounded recess and a sloped surface that extends between the raised planar lip and the rounded recess. 
     
     
         7 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 6 , wherein the rounded recess of the supporting surface has a distal end nearest the raised planar lip and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and wherein the distal end is positioned above the proximal end. 
     
     
         8 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of a first arm side wall of the two arm side walls includes a rounded recess. 
     
     
         9 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting surface is positioned above an upper surface of the rear wall and an upper surface of a first arm side wall of the two arm side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting insert is formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting insert is releasably mounted to the arm. 
     
     
         12 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the interior cavity of the arm that receives the supporting insert is substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A weightlifting machine attachment comprising:
 a mounting bracket configured for attachment to a weightlifting machine, wherein the weightlifting machine comprises a carriage and a carriage support, wherein the carriage is movably connected to the carriage support and comprises a plurality of rollers engaging the carriage support, the plurality of rollers;   an arm comprising a rear wall and two arm side walls extending forward from the rear wall, wherein the two arm side walls connect to the mounting bracket; and   a supporting insert mounted to the arm, wherein the supporting insert includes a supporting surface configured to engage the carriage to support the carriage in a resting position, wherein the supporting surface is positioned above an upper surface of the rear wall and the two arm side walls.   
     
     
         14 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the supporting surface is positioned above an upper surface of the rear wall and the two arm side walls. 
     
     
         15 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the supporting surface is configured to be positioned below a beam of the carriage, wherein the beam of the carriage helps define a mount configured to support a weight and wherein the beam is located between an outer surface of a track of the carriage support and the rear wall of the arm. 
     
     
         16 . The weightlifting machine attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the supporting surface of the supporting insert includes a rounded recess that is configured to receive the beam of the carriage. 
     
     
         17 . A weightlifting machine comprising:
 a carriage support comprising a track that extends vertically upward from a support frame;   a carriage movably connected to the carriage support and comprising a plurality of rollers configured to engage the carriage support;   an attachment comprising:
 a mounting bracket connected to the carriage support; 
 an arm comprising a rear wall and two arm side walls extending forward from the rear wall, wherein the two arm side walls connect to the mounting bracket; and 
 a supporting insert mounted to the arm, wherein the supporting insert includes a supporting surface configured to engage the carriage to support the carriage in a resting position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 17 , wherein the carriage has a horizontal beam extending outwardly from opposite sides of the carriage, and wherein the supporting surface is positioned beneath the beam of the carriage such that the beam contacts the supporting surface when the carriage is in the resting position; and
 wherein the beam of the carriage is configured to support a weight.   
     
     
         19 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 18 , wherein the supporting surface of the supporting insert includes a rounded recess that is configured to receive a portion of the beam of the carriage in the resting position. 
     
     
         20 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 18 , wherein the carriage support is configured for connection to a weight rack on a front side thereof, wherein the beam is positioned on a rear side of the carriage, and the arm extends rearward and upward from the carriage support to engage the beam of the carriage in the resting position. 
     
     
         21 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 17 , wherein the supporting surface is positioned above an upper surface of the rear wall. 
     
     
         22 . The weightlifting machine of  claim 17 , wherein the two arm side walls extend forward from the rear wall forming an interior cavity, and wherein the supporting insert is received within the interior cavity of the arm.