Weight Stack Assembly for Exercise Machine
A weight stack for an exercise machine includes a plurality of weights arranged in a vertical stack. Each of the weights has a body portion with substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces and includes at least one open-ended, forwardly facing recess in the lower surface. Each of the recesses has a height and a width, with an aspect ratio of height divided by width being between about 0.06 and 0.375.
1 . A weight stack for an exercise machine, comprising:
a plurality of weights arranged in a vertical stack, each of the weights having a body portion with substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces and including at least one open-ended, forwardly facing recess in the lower surface, each of the recesses having a height and a width, and wherein an aspect ratio of height divided by width is between about 0.06 and 0.375.
2 . The weight stack defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the weights includes an aperture connected with its recess, the aperture configured to receive a center post.
3 . The weight stack defined in claim 2 , wherein the recess extends rearwardly beyond the aperture.
4 . The weight stack defined in claim 3 , wherein the aperture of each weight is located generally in the center of the weight.
5 . The weight stack defined in claim 1 , wherein the weights are between about ¼ and ¾ inch in thickness.
6 . The weight stack defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is two recesses.
7 . The weight stack defined in claim 6 , wherein each of the weights includes an aperture connected with its recess, the aperture configured to receive a center post.
8 . The weight stack defined in claim 7 , wherein the recess extends rearwardly beyond the aperture.
9 . A weight stack assembly for an exercise machine, comprising:
a plurality of weights arranged in a vertical stack, each of the weights having a body portion with substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces and including at least one open-ended, forwardly facing recess in the lower surface;
a post extending through the plurality of weights, the post configured to connect with a movement arm of an exercise machine, the post including a column of oblong apertures that align with the recesses of the weights; and
a selector unit with upper and lower prongs, the lower prong configured to be inserted into one of the recesses and one of the apertures of a first weight, and the upper prong configured to be inserted into one of the recesses and one of the apertures of a second weight, the second weight being disposed above the first weight in the weight stack, insertion of the prongs selecting a portion of the weights to provide resistance for exercise.
10 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 9 , wherein the selector unit includes a single upper prong and a single lower prong.
11 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 10 , wherein the selector unit further comprises an indicator that designates the weight immediately above the lower prong.
12 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 10 , wherein the at least one recess is generally centered between side edges of the weight.
13 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least one recess of each weight is two recesses, and wherein the selector unit includes a pair of upper prongs and a pair of lower prongs.
14 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 12 , wherein the selector unit further comprises an indicator that designates the weight immediately above the lower prong.
15 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 13 , wherein each of the recesses is slightly offset from center between side edges of the weight.
16 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 9 , wherein the apertures of the center post are closed-ended apertures.
17 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 9 , wherein the apertures of the center post are open ended apertures located on the side edges of the center post.
18 . The weight stack assembly defined in claim 9 , wherein the weights are between about ¼ and ¾ inch in thickness.
19 . A weight for an exercise machine, comprising:
a body portion with parallel upper and lower surfaces, opposed side edges, and opposed front and rear edges;
a pair of open-ended slots extending from the front edge of the body portion; and
an aperture located generally in the center of the body portion;
wherein the slots are connected with the aperture; and
wherein the slots are off-center relative to the side edges of the body portion.
20 . The weight defined in claim 19 , wherein the aperture is generally rectangular.
21 . The weight defined in claim 19 having a thickness of between about ¼ and ¼ inch.