Monolift rack assembly

Abstract

A monolift assembly includes a carriage assembly configured to be releasably secured to a post of a rack for weightlifting equipment. A pivoting piece is pivotally connected to the carriage assembly and has a hook at a first end thereof and includes a central plate, a first exterior plate abutting a first side of the central plate and a second exterior plate abutting a second side of the central plate. The assembly may further include a key for selectively locking the pivoting piece against rotation with respect to the carriage assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly configured to be releasably secured to a post of a weight rack; and   a pivoting piece pivotally connected to the carriage assembly and having a hook at a first end thereof, the pivoting piece comprising:
 a central piece formed of a polymer material and having a first recessed surface on a first side and a second recessed surface on a second side opposite the first side, the central piece further comprising a first flange extending along a periphery of the central piece on the first side and extending outwardly from the first recessed surface, such that the first recessed surface is recessed with respect to the first flange, and a second flange extending along the periphery of the central piece on the second side and extending outwardly from the second recessed surface, such that the second recessed surface is recessed with respect to the second flange; 
 a first exterior plate connected to the first side of the central piece such that an inner surface of the first exterior plate confronts the first recessed surface, and the first flange extends along a first outer periphery of the first exterior plate; and 
 a second exterior plate connected to the second side of the central piece such that an inner surface of the second exterior plate confronts the second recessed surface, and the second flange extends along a second outer periphery of the second exterior plate, 
 wherein the first and second exterior plates are metallic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the first exterior plate is flush with or recessed from an outer end of the first flange, and an exterior surface of the second exterior plate is flush with or recessed from an outer end of the second flange. 
     
     
         3 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange extends around a portion of the periphery of the central piece on the first side, and the second flange extends around a portion of the periphery of the central piece on the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the central piece is formed as a single piece of the polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the central piece, the first exterior plate, and the second exterior plate all form portions of the hook. 
     
     
         6 . The monolift assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the hook comprises a leg extending forward from a central portion of the pivoting piece and a protrusion extending upward from the leg to define a notch configured to receive a weightlifting article, and wherein the central piece, the first exterior plate, and the second exterior plate all form portions of the central portion of the pivoting piece, the leg, and the protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the central piece passing through the first recessed surface, the second recessed surface, the first flange, and the second flange, is substantially I-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting piece comprises a central portion extending between the first end and a second end opposite the first end, with the hook connected to the central portion at the first end, and a protruding portion extending forward from the central portion at the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The monolift assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first exterior plate and the second exterior plate both form portions of the protruding portion. 
     
     
         10 . The monolift assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion extends from the central portion at an angle of 100° to 130° to the central portion. 
     
     
         11 . The monolift assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion forms a counterweight. 
     
     
         12 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hook of the pivoting piece defines a notch configured to receive a weightlifting article, the monolift assembly further comprising:
 a roller rotatably mounted on the pivoting piece, wherein the roller is positioned within the notch, and the notch is configured to receive the weightlifting article such that the weightlifting article rests on the roller.   
     
     
         13 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting piece is pivotally connected to the carriage assembly with a pivot pin extending through the first exterior plate and the second exterior plate. 
     
     
         14 . The monolift assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a key removably engaging the carriage assembly and extending through a slot in the pivoting piece to prevent rotation of the pivoting piece with respect to the carriage assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The monolift assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pivoting piece includes an internal magnet adjacent the slot and configured to retain the key within the slot by magnetic force. 
     
     
         16 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly including a first carriage plate and a second carriage plate spaced from the first carriage plate, the carriage assembly configured to be releasably secured to a post of a rack for weightlifting equipment, the first carriage plate having a first key slot and a first storage slot spaced from the first key slot;   a pivoting piece positioned between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and pivotally connected to the carriage assembly with a pivot pin extending through the first carriage plate, the pivoting piece, and the second carriage plate, the pivoting piece comprising a central portion extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a hook at the first end of the central portion, and a protruding portion extending forward from the central portion at the second end; and   a key configured to be removably engaged with the carriage assembly in a locked position, where the key is received in the first key slot and engages the pivoting piece to prevent rotation of the pivoting piece with respect to the carriage assembly, and an unlocked position, where the key is received in the first storage slot and does not engage the pivoting piece.   
     
     
         17 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pivoting piece has a slot receiving the key in the locked position, and an internal magnet adjacent to the slot and configured to retain the key within the slot by magnetic force. 
     
     
         18 . The monolift assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second carriage plate has a second key slot and a second storage slot spaced from the second key slot, and wherein when the key is in the locked position, the key extends through the first key slot and is received in the second key slot, and when the key is in the unlocked position, the key extends through the first storage slot and is received in the second storage slot. 
     
     
         19 . The monolift assembly of  claim 18 , wherein when the key is in the locked position, the key further extends through a slot in the pivoting piece between the first key slot and the second key slot. 
     
     
         20 . A monolift assembly comprising:
 a carriage assembly including a first carriage plate and a second carriage plate spaced from the first carriage plate, the carriage assembly configured to be releasably secured to a post of a rack for weightlifting equipment, the first carriage plate having a first key slot and a first storage slot spaced from the first key slot;   a pivoting piece positioned between the first carriage plate and the second carriage plate and pivotally connected to the carriage assembly with a pivot pin extending through the first carriage plate, the pivoting piece, and the second carriage plate, the pivoting piece having a central portion extending between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a hook at the first end of the central portion, and a protruding portion extending forward from the central portion at the second end, the pivoting piece comprising:
 a central piece having a first recessed surface on a first side and a second recessed surface on a second side opposite the first side, the central piece further comprising a first flange extending along a periphery of the central piece on the first side and extending outwardly from the first recessed surface, such that the first recessed surface is recessed with respect to the first flange, and a second flange extending along the periphery of the central piece on the second side and extending outwardly from the second recessed surface, such that the second recessed surface is recessed with respect to the second flange; 
 a first exterior plate connected to the first side of the central piece such that an inner surface of the first exterior plate confronts the first recessed surface, and the first flange extends along a first outer periphery of the first exterior plate, the first exterior plate having a first slot; and 
 a second exterior plate connected to the second side of the central piece such that an inner surface of the second exterior plate confronts the second recessed surface, and the second flange extends along a second outer periphery of the second exterior plate, 
 wherein the pivot pin extends through the first and second exterior plates; and 
   a key configured to be removably engaged with the carriage assembly in a locked position, where the key extends through the first key slot and is received in the first slot to engage the pivoting piece to prevent rotation of the pivoting piece with respect to the carriage assembly, and an unlocked position, where the key is received in the first storage slot and does not engage the pivoting piece.