Adjustable Carriage Assembly for Weight Rack

Abstract

An adjustable carriage assembly is configured to be mounted on a frame member of a weight rack and includes a locking structure for locking the carriage assembly in place on the frame member. The carriage assembly may include a moveable carriage with a plurality of rollers that engage the frame member, as well as one or more handles for gripping to adjust the position of the carriage assembly and a connection structure for connection of an implement or accessory. Various implements and accessories can be connected to or used in connection with the carriage assembly, including various weightlifting implements and accessories that are pivotably connected to the carriage assembly.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An adjustable carriage assembly comprising:
 a carriage defining a passage configured to receive a frame member therethrough such that the carriage is moveable along the frame member, wherein the carriage comprises a first side plate and a second side plate laterally spaced from the first side plate, wherein the passage is defined between the first and second side plates, wherein the carriage further comprises a rear plate extending between the first and second side plates at a rear of the carriage;   a plurality of rollers rotatably connected to the first and second side plates and extending between the first and second side plates, the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller located on a front side of the passage, a second roller located below the first roller on the front side of the passage, a third roller spaced rearwardly from the first roller and located on a rear side of the passage, and a fourth roller spaced rearwardly from the second roller and located below the third roller on the rear side of the passage, such that the first and second rollers are configured to engage a front side of the frame member and the third and fourth rollers are configured to engage a rear side of the frame member;   a connection structure connected to the first and second side plates of the carriage, wherein the connection structure is configured for pivotable connection to an articulating implement; and   a releasable pin mounted on the carriage and comprising an end piece having a first grip and a second grip extending outward in opposite directions from the end piece and a distal end distal from the end piece, wherein the releasable pin is moveable by axial translation between a locked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin extends into the passage and is configured to be received in a hole in the frame member to lock the carriage in position, and an unlocked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin is retracted with respect to the locked position and is configured to withdraw from the hole in the frame member to allow movement of the carriage with respect to the frame member, and wherein the first and second grips are configured for engagement by a user to move the releasable pin from the locked position to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the connection structure comprises a first opening in the first side plate, a second opening in the second side plate, and a pivot pin received in the first opening and the second opening and configured for engaging the articulating implement between the first and second side plates to form the pivotable connection to the articulating implement. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage, and a biasing member within the housing, wherein the releasable pin extends within the housing, and the biasing member operably engages the releasable pin and biases the releasable pin toward the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the carriage further comprises a first pin hole in the first side plate and a second pin hole in the second side plate that are aligned on opposite sides of the passage, and the adjustable carriage assembly further comprises a removable pin configured to be removably received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole, and wherein the removable pin is configured to engage the frame member to prevent movement of the carriage when the removable pin is received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a handle assembly comprising a first upper handle mount portion engaged with the carriage proximate to a top of the carriage and extending outward at a first side of the carriage, a first lower handle mount portion engaged with the carriage proximate to a bottom of the carriage and extending outward at the first side of the carriage, wherein the first lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the first upper handle mount portion, and a first handle connected to the first upper handle mount portion and the first lower handle mount portion and extending vertically between the first upper handle mount portion and the first lower handle mount portion.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the end piece of the releasable pin is located at a vertical height that is between the top and the bottom of the carriage and positioned adjacent to the first handle, such that the end piece is configured to be engaged by the user while gripping the first handle. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a second upper handle mount portion engaged with the carriage proximate to the top of the carriage and extending outward at a second side of the carriage opposite to the first side, a second lower handle mount portion engaged with the carriage proximate to the bottom of the carriage and extending outward at the second side of the carriage, wherein the second lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the second upper handle mount portion, and a second handle connected to the second upper handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion and extending vertically between the second upper handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first upper handle mount portion and the second upper handle mount portion are formed as part of a single upper handle mount plate, and/or the first lower handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion are formed as part of a single lower handle mount plate. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of rollers comprises:
 a first enlarged end section and a second enlarged end section opposite the first enlarged end section;   a first intermediate section and a second intermediate section extending inwardly from the first and second enlarged end sections, the first and second intermediate sections having gradually decreasing diameters; and   a central cylindrical section located between the first and second intermediate sections and forming a center portion of the roller, wherein the central cylindrical section has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of the first and second enlarged end sections.   
     
     
         11 . An adjustable carriage assembly comprising:
 a carriage defining a passage configured to receive a frame member therethrough such that the carriage is moveable along the frame member, wherein the carriage comprises a first side plate and a second side plate laterally spaced from the first side plate, wherein the passage is defined between the first and second side plates, wherein the carriage further comprises a rear plate extending between the first and second side plates at a rear of the carriage;   a plurality of rollers rotatably connected to the first and second side plates and extending between the first and second side plates on front and rear sides of the passage, such that the rollers are configured to engage front and rear sides of the frame member within the passage;   a connection structure connected to the first and second side plates of the carriage, wherein the connection structure is configured for pivotable connection to an articulating implement;   a first upper handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on a first side of the carriage;   a first lower handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on the first side of the carriage, wherein the first lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the first upper handle mount portion;   a first handle connected to and supported by the first upper handle mount portion and the first lower handle mount portion and extending from the first upper handle mount portion to the first lower handle mount portion, and wherein the first upper and lower handle mount portions extend between the first handle and the carriage to mount the first handle on the carriage at a first location spaced from the carriage such that a first space is defined between the first handle and the carriage to receive a portion of a first hand of a user;   a second upper handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on a second side of the carriage;   a second lower handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on the second side of the carriage, wherein the second lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the second upper handle mount portion;   a second handle connected to and supported by the second upper handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion and extending from the second upper handle mount portion to the second lower handle mount portion, and wherein the second upper and lower handle mount portions extend between the second handle and the carriage to mount the second handle on the carriage at a second location spaced from the carriage such that a second space is defined between the second handle and the carriage to receive a portion of a second hand of a user; and   a releasable pin mounted on the carriage and comprising an end piece and a distal end distal from the end piece, wherein the releasable pin is moveable by axial translation between a locked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin extends into the passage and is configured to be received in a hole in the frame member to lock the carriage in position, and an unlocked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin is retracted with respect to the locked position and is configured to withdraw from the hole in the frame member to allow movement of the carriage with respect to the frame member, and wherein the end piece is configured for engagement by a user to move the releasable pin from the locked position to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the connection structure comprises a first opening in the first side plate, a second opening in the second side plate, and a pivot pin received in the first opening and the second opening and configured for engaging the articulating implement between the first and second side plates to form the pivotable connection to the articulating implement. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a housing connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage, and a biasing member within the housing, wherein the releasable pin extends within the housing, and the biasing member operably engages the releasable pin and biases the releasable pin toward the locked position. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the carriage further comprises a first pin hole in the first side plate and a second pin hole in the second side plate that are aligned on opposite sides of the passage, and the adjustable carriage assembly further comprises a removable pin configured to be removably received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole, and wherein the removable pin is configured to engage the frame member to prevent movement of the carriage when the removable pin is received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the end piece of the releasable pin is located at a vertical height that is between a top and a bottom of the carriage and positioned adjacent to the first handle, such that the end piece is configured to be engaged by the user while gripping the first handle. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first upper handle mount portion and the second upper handle mount portion are formed as part of a single upper handle mount plate, and/or the first lower handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion are formed as part of a single lower handle mount plate. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of rollers comprises:
 a first enlarged end section and a second enlarged end section opposite the first enlarged end section;   a first intermediate section and a second intermediate section extending inwardly from the first and second enlarged end sections, the first and second intermediate sections having gradually decreasing diameters; and   a central cylindrical section located between the first and second intermediate sections and forming a center portion of the roller, wherein the central cylindrical section has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of the first and second enlarged end sections.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the end piece of the releasable pin has a first grip and a second grip extending outward in opposite directions from the end piece, and wherein the first and second grips are configured for engagement by a user to move the releasable pin from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     
     
         19 . An adjustable carriage assembly comprising:
 a carriage defining a passage configured to receive a frame member therethrough such that the carriage is moveable along the frame member, wherein the carriage comprises a first side plate and a second side plate laterally spaced from the first side plate, wherein the passage is defined between the first and second side plates, wherein the carriage further comprises a rear plate extending between the first and second side plates at a rear of the carriage;   a plurality of rollers rotatably connected to the first and second side plates and extending between the first and second side plates, the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller located on a front side of the passage, a second roller located below the first roller on the front side of the passage, a third roller spaced rearwardly from the first roller and located on a rear side of the passage, and a fourth roller spaced rearwardly from the second roller and located below the third roller on the rear side of the passage, such that the first and second rollers are configured to engage a front side of the frame member and the third and fourth rollers are configured to engage a rear side of the frame member, wherein each of the plurality of rollers comprises:
 a first enlarged end section and a second enlarged end section opposite the first enlarged end section; 
 a first intermediate section and a second intermediate section extending inwardly from the first and second enlarged end sections, the first and second intermediate sections having gradually decreasing diameters; and 
 a central cylindrical section located between the first and second intermediate sections and forming a center portion of the roller, wherein the central cylindrical section has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of the first and second enlarged end sections; 
   a connection structure comprising a first opening in the first side plate, a second opening in the second side plate, and a pivot pin received in the first opening and the second opening and configured for engaging an articulating implement between the first and second side plates to form a pivotable connection to the articulating implement;   a first upper handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on a first side of the carriage;   a first lower handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on the first side of the carriage, wherein the first lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the first upper handle mount portion;   a first handle connected to and supported by the first upper handle mount portion and the first lower handle mount portion and extending from the first upper handle mount portion to the first lower handle mount portion, and wherein the first upper and lower handle mount portions extend between the first handle and the carriage to mount the first handle on the carriage at a first location spaced from the carriage such that a first space is defined between the first handle and the carriage to receive a portion of a first hand of a user;   a second upper handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on a second side of the carriage;   a second lower handle mount portion connected to the carriage and extending outward from the carriage on the second side of the carriage, wherein the second lower handle mount portion is located below and vertically spaced from the second upper handle mount portion;   a second handle connected to and supported by the second upper handle mount portion and the second lower handle mount portion and extending from the second upper handle mount portion to the second lower handle mount portion, and wherein the second upper and lower handle mount portions extend between the second handle and the carriage to mount the second handle on the carriage at a second location spaced from the carriage such that a second space is defined between the second handle and the carriage to receive a portion of a second hand of a user; and   a releasable pin mounted on the carriage and comprising an end piece having a first grip and a second grip extending outward in opposite directions from the end piece and a distal end distal from the end piece, wherein the releasable pin is moveable by axial translation between a locked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin extends into the passage and is configured to be received in a hole in the frame member to lock the carriage in position, and an unlocked position, where the distal end of the releasable pin is retracted with respect to the locked position and is configured to withdraw from the hole in the frame member to allow movement of the carriage with respect to the frame member, and wherein the first and second grips are configured for engagement by a user to move the releasable pin from the locked position to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the carriage further comprises a first pin hole in the first side plate and a second pin hole in the second side plate that are aligned on opposite sides of the passage, and the adjustable carriage assembly further comprises a removable pin configured to be removably received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole, and wherein the removable pin is configured to engage the frame member to prevent movement of the carriage when the removable pin is received through the first pin hole and the second pin hole. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable carriage assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the end piece of the releasable pin is located at a vertical height that is between a top and a bottom of the carriage and positioned adjacent to the first handle, such that the end piece is configured to be engaged by the user while gripping the first handle.