William E Shields, Age 53Jacksonville, FL

4982957, Jan 8, 1991

Sep 5, 1989

7/402865

William D. Shields - Jacksonville FL

A63B 21075

272123

Apparatus for improved alignment of the components of a freeweight barbell system include a weight tray employing spacing members for lateral support of the weights when stored upright thereon. The bar includes sleeves having shoulders to further align the weights when mounted on the bar. Guide channels include rearward downwardly disposed ramps to minimize contact of the weights with the tray surface until the bar has been moved to the rearward position. Interior weight support channels minimize bending of a weighted bar to ease movement and prevent lateral misalignment of the weights. Two alternate retaining clips are provided to improve the securing of the weights which themselves have been reformed to also improve support, guidance and alignment of the weights whether stored or secured to the bar.

4953855, Sep 4, 1990

May 18, 1989

7/353784

William D. Shields - Jacksonville FL

A63B 21062

272118

A split phase cam-controlled weight lifting exercise machine employs two independently selectable weight stacks connected by cable and pulley assemblies to a respective phase of the cam. Exercise arms are pivotally mounted for pivotal movement of the cams to which are connected the cables in a manner to provide for a different moment arm for one loaded weight than for the other during a part of the exercise. The weight loading is selected by a pin that fits through the weights and a guide rod mounted so as to not contact the weights and cause friction that degrades the benefits of the split cam operation. The guide rod is mounted on bearings that limit movement to the vertical direction. The weights include integral interlocks to align them vertically in a stack.

5284463, Feb 8, 1994

Apr 30, 1993

8/056562

William D. Shields - Jacksonville FL

A63B 21072

482107

The apparatus is configured as a dumbbell having an elongated hollow lifting bar with a pivotable handle for activating a wedge-shaped cam element mounted to the bar. The cam element longitudinally forces two rods carried in a passageway of the bar to move pin operator elements of each weight. Opposed sides of a weight respectively include a depression or cavity and a laterally extending boss with a boss of one weight fitting within a depression of an adjacent weight. Each boss carries a pair of diametrically opposed inwardly biased pins that are moved outwardly by the element to engage a grooved surface in the depression on an adjacent weight to secure the weights together. Oversized bar alignment rings with essentially identical grooved surfaces are engaged by the pins of a first weight in a series. A support base having a pair of convergent channels to accommodate the alignment rings guides the dumbbell into its resting place. The weights are maintained in movable weight carriers by a spring-loaded weight positioning element to prevent movement of selected adjacent weight carriers when the weights are being secured together.

4822034, Apr 18, 1989

Jun 17, 1988

7/208173

William D. Shields - Jacksonville FL

A63B 1300

272123

A barbell weight lifting apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced weights stored on spaced apart support trays and arranged in two horizontal rows on a frame, the weights each having an identically positioned horizontal slot therein and a vertically disposed pin mounted in therein for securing the weights to a lifting bar. The lifting bar has a rotatable collar on each end with spaced circumferential grooves cut therein in positions to be in line with the pins in the weights when the lifting bar is positioned in the slots. The lifting bar has round wheels attached to the ends thereof which rest in a guide channel on each end of the frame and cooperate with a pair of spaced alignment bar mounted on the frame for control of the motion of the lifting bar to maintain the lifting bar in proper alignment with the frame and the weights during weight loading and unloading procedures. Weights not selected for attachment to the lifting bar are prevented from movement off the frame by a horizontal safety bar. Two alternate embodiments of the weights used and the associated securing mechanism are provided.

5123885, Jun 23, 1992

Sep 10, 1990

7/580093

William D. Shields - Jacksonville FL

Selex Sport/Health Industries, Inc. - Jacksonville FL

A63B 1300

482106

An improved freeweight locking mechanism employs a spring-biased lever having a locking end which blocks movement of the freeweight securing member from a first position whereby a weight is secured to a lifting bar and an operating end, which when contacted by the support frame for the weights, will cause the locking end to move a sufficient distance to allow movement of the weight-securing member to the release position. The member has a rib which defines two surfaces or shoulders to allow the member to be locked in either the weight-securing or weight-releasing positions. The movement of a weight away from the support frame allows spring bias to force the locking end of the lever into the locked position and this blocks accidental movement of the member from its weight-securing position.