Free weight barbell spotting and racking machine

Claim 1

A barbell exercise apparatus comprising: a stationary frame; a stationary rack for retaining a barbell thereon associated with said stationary frame; a reciprocating frame having a pair of parallel horizontally extending arms, the arms having a distal end remote from the stationary frame, the reciprocating frame mounted within or about the stationary frame for vertical reciprocal movement thereon; a pair of switches, one switch mounted on each arm between the ends thereof; a pair of sleeves, one sleeve pivotally mounted to the distal end of each of the pair of arms, each sleeve overlaying the respective distal portion of the arm and switch such that downward pivotal movement of the sleeve activates its respective switch; biasing means for normally biasing the sleeves upwardly away from the arms; and, an electrically powered hydraulic cylinder mounted on the stationary frame, the reciprocating frame mounted to the electrically powered hydraulic cylinder such that actuation of the electrically powered hydraulic cylinder causes upward vertical movement of the reciprocating frame, the switches operatively connected to the electrically powered hydraulic cylinder such that activation of the switch causes actuation of the electrically powered hydraulic cylinder and concurrent upward vertical movement of the reciprocating frame; whereby engagement of the barbell on the sleeves and horizontally extending arms causes downward pivoting of the sleeve thus activating the switch, which in turn actuates the electrically powered hydraulic cylinder, which in turn causes upward vertical movement of the reciprocating frame having horizontally extending arms, thus removing the barbell from the weight lifter.