Exercise device having variable resistance capability

Claim 2

A weight training exercise device comprising: a plurality of weights normally situated in a rest position and vertically secured to a lifting bar, means removable attached to said plurality of weights and operable by a user of the weight training exercise device for repeatedly moving a predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said rest position to an elevated exercise position, and for returning said predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said elevated exercise position to said rest position, and means responsive to the command signals inputted by said user from an input means for controlling said moving means to an initially predetermined number of said plurality of weights and to selectively reduce said predetermined number of said plurality of weights during an exercise set, wherein said controlling means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of said plurality of weights and means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators in response to said command signals, wherein each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from said respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is energized.

Claim 3

The weight training exercise device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said operating means includes a stepping switch for selectively energizing said solenoid driven pins.

Claim 4

The weight training exercise device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controlling means further includes an emergency user-engagable switching means for energizing all of said solenoid driven pins thereby returning said plurality of weights to the rest position.

Claim 5

A weight training exercise device comprising: a plurality of weights normally situated in a rest position and vertically secured to a lifting bar, means removable attached to said plurality of weights and operable by a user of the exercise device for repeatedly moving a predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said rest position to an elevated exercise position and for returning said predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said elevated exercise position to said rest position, wherein said moving means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of said plurality of weights, means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from said weight when said solenoid is energized, means for monitoring bodily functions of the user and for converting information concerning said monitored bodily functions into digital data, and microprocessor means for evaluating said digital data, and means responsive to the evaluated digital data for automatically controlling said mechanical actuators by comparing an initially input data by said user and said predetermined number of said plurality of weights and for selectively reducing said predetermined number of said plurality of weights during an exercise set without further user intervention.

Claim 6

A weight training exercise device comprising: a plurality of weights normally situated in a rest position and vertically secured to a lifting bar, means removable attached to said plurality of weights and operable by a user of the exercise device for repeatedly moving a predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said rest position to an elevated exercise position and for returning said predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said elevated exercise position to said rest position, wherein said moving means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of said plurality of weights, means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from said weight when said solenoid is energized, means for monitoring bodily functions of the user and for converting information concerning said monitored bodily functions into digital data, and microprocessor means for evaluating said digital data, and means responsive to the evaluated digital data for automatically controlling said mechanical actuators by comparing an initially input data by said user and said predetermined number of said plurality of weights and for selectively reducing said predetermined number of said plurality of weights during an exercise set without further user intervention.

Claim 7

The weight training exercise device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controlling means includes an emergency user-engagable switching means for energizing all of said solenoid driven pins thereby returning said plurality of weights to the rest position.

Claim 8

A weight shedding apparatus attachable to a weight training exercise device having moving means engagable with weights in a weight stack, said weight stack being vertically secured to a lifting bar and having a connecting cable, wherein said weight shedding apparatus comprising: means responsive to the command signals inputted by said user from an input means for controlling said moving means to an initially predetermined number of weights in the stack, and to selectively reduce said predetermined number of weights during an exercise set, wherein said controlling means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of the weights in the stack, and means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators in response to said command signals, wherein each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective associated weight in the stack when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from the associated weight when said solenoid is energized.

Claim 9

A weight shedding apparatus attachable to a weight training exercise device having moving means engagable with weights in a weight stack, said weight stack being vertically secured to a lifting bar and having a connecting cable, wherein said weight shedding apparatus comprising: means responsive to the command signals inputted by said user from an input means for controlling said moving means to an initially predetermined number of weights in the stack, and to selectively reduce said predetermined number of weights during an exercise set, wherein said controlling means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of the weights in the stack, and means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators in response to said command signals, wherein each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective associated weight in the stack when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from the associated weight when said solenoid is energized.

Claim 10

The weight shedding apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said operating means includes a stepping switch for selectively energizing said solenoid driven pins.

Claim 11

The weight shedding apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said controlling means further includes an emergency user-engagable switching means for energizing all of said solenoid driven pins thereby returning said weights to a rest position.

Claim 12

A weight shedding apparatus attachable to a weight training exercise device having moving means engagable with a plurality of weights in a weight stack, said weight stack being vertically secured to a lifting bar and having a connecting cable, wherein said weight shedding apparatus comprising: means removable attached to said plurality of weights and operable by a user of the exercise device for repeatedly moving a predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said rest position to an elevated exercise position and for returning said predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said elevated exercise position to said rest position, wherein said moving means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of said plurality of weights, means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from said weight when said solenoid is energized, means for monitoring bodily functions of the user and for converting information concerning said monitored bodily functions into digital data, and microprocessor means for evaluating said digital data, and means responsive to the evaluated digital data for automatically controlling said mechanical actuators by comparing an initially input data by said user and said predetermined number of said plurality of weights and for selectively reducing said predetermined number of said plurality of weights during an exercise set without further user intervention.

Claim 13

A weight shedding apparatus attachable to a weight training exercise device having moving means engagable with a plurality of weights in a weight stack, said weight stack being vertically secured to a lifting bar and having a connecting cable, wherein said weight shedding apparatus comprising: means removable attached to said plurality of weights and operable by a user of the exercise device for repeatedly moving a predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said rest position to an elevated exercise position and for returning said predetermined number of said plurality of weights from said elevated exercise position to said rest position, wherein said moving means including a plurality of mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators being associated with a respective one of said plurality of weights, means for individually operating each one of said mechanical actuators, each one of said mechanical actuators including a solenoid driven pin, said pin being inserted into the respective one of said plurality of weights when said solenoid is nonenergized and being withdrawn from said weight when said solenoid is energized, means for monitoring bodily functions of the user and for converting information concerning said monitored bodily functions into digital data, and microprocessor means for evaluating said digital data, and means responsive to the evaluated digital data for automatically controlling said mechanical actuators by comparing an initially input data by said user and said predetermined number of said plurality of weights and for selectively reducing said predetermined number of said plurality of weights during an exercise set without further user intervention.

Claim 14

The weight shedding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said controlling means further includes an emergency user-engagable switching means for energizing all of said solenoid driven pins thereby returning said plurality of weights to the rest position.