US20240198163A1

US20240198163A1 - Selectorized smith machine with movable carriage and rack

Info

Publication number: US20240198163A1
Application number: US18/545,017
Authority: US
Inventors: Thao Doan; Jeff Laborde; Theodore Habing; Ronald Gibson; Frank Kilby
Original assignee: Health In Motion LLC
Current assignee: Health In Motion LLC
Priority date: 2022-12-20
Filing date: 2023-12-19
Publication date: 2024-06-20

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first vertical guide and a second vertical guide; a first selectorized weight stack and a second selectorized weight stack coupled to the frame; a first carriage assembly and a second carriage assembly coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks, respectively, each of the first and second carriage assemblies comprising a rack having a number of openings; and an exercise bar movably coupled to the frame, the exercise bar having a first end comprising a first latching hook and a second end having a second latching hook, the first latching hook or the second latching hook configured to engage or disengage with an opening of the number of openings in the rack to adjust a resistance of the exercise bar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/434,005, filed Dec. 20, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This application relates generally to an exercise machine, for example a smith machine, with movable carriage and rack for selecting a desired resistance. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

BACKGROUND

Weight machines are commonly used for weight training. One such weight machine is a Smith machine, which includes a barbell within a steel rail that allows for only vertical movements of the barbell. A desired number of weight plates (e.g., Olympic weight plates) are then placed on the ends of the barbell by the user to achieve the desired exercise resistance. The user manually adjusts the resistance by placing the barbell in a resting position, then adding or removing weight plates from the barbell. The machine can be used for a wide variety of exercises by moving the barbell (with weight plates attached) up and down along the rail. Representatively, the user can perform squats, lunges, deadlifts, shoulder press, etc.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments in general relate to a variation of a Smith machine and more specifically to a smith machine with moveable carriage and rack for providing a counterbalance barbell shaft with hooks that the user can latch on the moveable rack with multiple openings. This rack is connected to a selectorized weight stack. When the hooks are latched into one of the openings of the rack on the left and right side of the frame, the user can start doing the exercise by moving the barbell shaft to lift up the weight stack from the bottom of the exercise machine. The exercise machine with moveable carriage and rack generally includes a frame with at least a selectorized weight stack; a pair of vertically positioned cylindrical guide rods; a counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft with latching hooks sliding attached to said cylindrical rods; a pair of tube frames; a pair of carriage block assemblies with roller elements and a pair of racks with multiple openings attached to it.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a smith machine which includes a frame with at least a selectorized weight stack; a pair of vertical positioned cylindrical guide rods; a counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft with latching hooks sliding attached to said cylindrical rods; a pair of tube frames; a pair of carriage block assemblies with roller elements and a pair of racks with multiple openings attached to it. There may also be additional features of the selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack in detail, it is to be understood that the selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Various applications of the invention are intended to be covered herein. Representatively, a selectorized Smith machine with moveable carriage and rack for providing a counterbalance barbell shaft with hooks that the user can latch on the moveable rack with multiple openings. This rack is connected to the weight stack. When the hooks are latched into one of the openings of the rack on the left and right side of the frame, the user can start doing the exercise by moving the barbell shaft to lift up the weight stack from the bottom of the selectorized smith machine. Another application is to provide a selectorized Smith machine with moveable carriage and rack that eliminates the need to use an adjustable safety stop. Another object is to provide a selectorized Smith machine with moveable carriage and rack that connects the moveable rack directly to the selectorized weight stack to increase or decrease the resistance via the weight stack selector pin. A still further object is to provide a selectorized Smith machine with moveable carriage and rack that uses the counterbalance weight barbell shaft for a lighter starting weight.
Representatively, in another aspect, the disclosure is directed to an exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first vertical guide and a second vertical guide; a first selectorized weight stack and a second selectorized weight stack coupled to the frame; a first carriage assembly and a second carriage assembly coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks, respectively, each of the first and second carriage assemblies comprising a rack having a number of openings; and an exercise bar movably coupled to the frame, the exercise bar having a first end comprising a first latching hook and a second end having a second latching hook, the first latching hook or the second latching hook configured to engage or disengage with an opening of the number of openings in the rack to adjust a resistance of the exercise bar. In some aspects, the first and second carriage assemblies are coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks by a cable and pulley system. In other aspects, the rack is vertically aligned with the first and second vertical guides such that the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the first and second vertical guides. In still further aspects, the first or second latching hook engages with the opening, the exercise bar is coupled to the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stacks to increase the resistance of the exercise bar. In some aspects, the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stack move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation. In another aspect, each of the first and second carriages assemblies further comprise a roller element fixedly coupled to the rack and configured to translate along at least one of the first or second vertical guides. The frame may further include a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide. In some aspects, a rotation of the exercise bar causes the first latching hook or the second latching hook to engage or disengage with the opening in the rack. In some aspects, a first bearing assembly is coupled to the first end of the exercise bar and a second bearing assembly coupled to the second end of the exercise bar, the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the first and second vertical guides and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the first and second vertical guides. A counterbalance weight may further be coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar. The exercise bar may be coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system.
In another aspect, an exercise apparatus includes a frame having at least one vertical guide; a carriage assembly coupled to the at least one vertical guide, the carriage assembly comprising a roller element and a rack operable to translate along the at least one vertical guide; a selectorized weight stack coupled to the carriage assembly by a cable and pulley system; and a counterbalanced exercise bar coupled to the at least one vertical guide and having at least one latching hook configured to engage or disengage with the rack to adjust a resistance of the exercise bar. In some aspects, the rack includes a number of openings vertically aligned with the at least one vertical guide, and the at least one latching hook engages with an opening of the number of openings to increase the resistance of the exercise bar. When the latching hook engages with an opening, the carriage assembly and the selectorized weight stack move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation. In some aspects, the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the at least one vertical guide. In some aspects, a rotation of the exercise bar causes the latching hook to engage or disengage with the rack. The frame may further include a second carriage assembly having a roller element and a rack coupled to a second vertical guide, a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide. In still further aspects, a bearing assembly is coupled to an end of the exercise bar and the bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the at least one vertical guide and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the vertical guide. A counterbalance weight may be coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar. The exercise bar may be coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” aspect in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same aspect, and they mean at least one.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7B is a magnified perspective view of an aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8B is a magnified perspective view of an aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another aspect of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this section we shall explain several preferred aspects of this disclosure with reference to the appended drawings. Whenever the shapes, relative positions and other aspects of the parts described are not clearly defined, the scope of the disclosure is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some aspects of the disclosure may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
Turning now to FIG. 1 , FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one representative exercise assembly. Exercise assembly 100 includes a frame 30 having a pair of vertical guides rods 50 for supporting various aspects of the exercise apparatus. A selectorized weight stack 40 may further be coupled to the frame 30 by a cable and pulley system 70. A counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft 10 is further coupled to frame 30 and a counterbalance weight assembly 60 by a cable and pulley system. For example, in some aspects, barbell shaft 10 is attached to, and moves vertically along, the pair of vertical guide rods 30 coupled to frame 30. In addition, a pair of carriage assemblies 20 are attached to, and move vertically along, frame 30. Carriage assemblies 20 may be coupled to selectorized weight stack 40 by the cable and pulley system 70. The barbell shaft 10 may include latching hooks that can selectively engage with carriage assemblies 20 to connect the barbell shaft 10 to the carriage assemblies 20 and weight stack 40. When the barbell shaft 10 is attached to carriage assemblies 20, the user can start doing the exercise by moving the barbell shaft to lift up the weight stack 40 from the bottom of the exercise machine. Each of these components are coupled to, or otherwise supported by, frame 30, which will now be described in more detail in reference to FIG. 2 .
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of frame 30 of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 . From this view, it can be more clearly seen that frame 30 is a rigid structure including a base portion formed by cross bottom bar 35 connected at its ends to right bottom bar 33 and left bottom bar 34. The cross-bottom bar 35 and bottom bars 33, 34 form a U-shaped base portion that supports a number of vertically oriented frame members. Representatively, vertically oriented left and right upper welded tubes 31L, 31R extend from opposing ends of cross bottom bar 35 of frame 30. In addition, left and right vertical guide rods 50L, 50R and left and right tube frames 36L, 36R extend from respective ones of bottom bars 33, 34. A top end of left and right upper welded tubes 31L, 31R are connected to a cross tube 32 that extends between them and connects them together. Similarly, a top end of left and right tube frames 36L, 36R are connected to another cross tube 32. In addition, left welded tube 31L, left tube frame 36L and left vertical guide 50L are connected along their top end by a left horizontal support member 38L that runs substantially parallel to the left bottom tube 34. Similarly, right welded tube 31R, right tube frame 36R and right vertical guide 50R are connected along their top end by a right horizontal support member 38R that runs substantially parallel to the right bottom tube 33. The frame assembly, including the various frame rods and tubes welded together, supports the different components of the exercise apparatus. In addition, the interior area defined by the various fame rods and tubes provides a space within which the user may stand, sit, recline or the like to perform a number of exercise operations.
Referring now in more detail to the components supported by frame 30, FIG. 3 illustrates various aspects of the pair of carriage assemblies 20 coupled to frame 30 of FIG. 1 . The function of the carriage assemblies 20 is to allow the counterbalanced barbell shaft 10 to latch and unlatch to selectorized weight stack 40 to change a resistance of counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft 10. Representatively, from this view, it can be more clearly understood that each of carriage assemblies 20 may be a carriage block assembly having a housing 25 including two plates and a bearing or roller member 21 that is fixedly coupled to a vertically oriented rack 22. The bearing or roller member 21 may include multiple rollers holding the two plates together, and the rollers, along with rack 22, may be sandwiched between the two plates of housing 25. Carriage assemblies 20 are further connected to the selectorized weight stack 40 by a cable and pulley system that will be described in more detail in reference to FIG. 4 . The bearing or roller member 21 is configured to attach to one of the left or right vertical guides 50R, 50L as shown in FIG. 1 , and allow the carriage assembly 20 to slide or otherwise translate up and down the respective one of the vertical guides 50R, 50L. Each rack 20 includes an elongated metal bracket or rail like member 23 attached to housing 25 and having a number of slots, recessed regions or openings 24 arranged between the top and bottom end of the elongated member 23. In this aspect, when member 21 is attached to guides 50R, 50L, the rack elongated member 23 runs parallel to guide rods 50R, 50L and tube frames 36R, 36L as shown in FIG. 1 . This further results in the openings 24 being arranged at different vertical positions along the rods 50R, 50L and/or frames 36R, 36L as shown. In some aspects, member 21 is attached to guides 50R, 50L and housing 25 and/or elongated member 23 may further be attached to rectangular tube frames 36R, 36L to help guide them vertically along frame 30. In this aspect, carriage assembly 20 may be considered to slide or otherwise translate along vertical guides 50R, 50L and tube frames 36R, 36L.
Referring now in more detail to other components supported by frame 30, FIG. 4 illustrates various aspects of the selectorized weight stack 40 coupled to frame 30 and carriage assemblies 20. From this view, it can be seen that selectorized weight stack 40 includes a block of calibrated weight plates 42 with a weight stack top plate 45. Weight stack 40 further includes a weight stack selector pin 43 that is inserted or removed from a weight center selector shaft (not shown) between the weight plates 42 by the user to select the desired number of plates and weight of the stack. Each weight stack 40 is further coupled to a respective one of the carriage assemblies 20 by a cable and pulley system 73. Cable and pulley system 73 may include a cable 70 having one end connected to weight stack 40 and another end connected to carriage assembly 20. For example, cable 70 may be attached at one end to top plate 45 of weights stack 40 and extend from weight stack 40 vertically upward and wrap around an upper pulley 71 (e.g., attached to a top support member 38R, 38L of frame 30) and then back down to a lower pulley 71 attached to carriage assembly 20. In this aspect, weight stack 40 is attached to carriage assembly 20 and the movement of carriage assembly 20 up and/or down the frame 30 will also raise and/or lower weight plates 42 of weight stack 40. In this aspect, weight stack 40 may further be coupled to a weight stack selector shaft and guide rods to help guide the movement of weight stack 40 along and/or within frame 30.
The counterbalanced horizontal barbell shaft 10, which is attached to frame 30 and carriage assembly 20 to lift and/or lower weight plates 42, will now be described in reference to FIG. 5 . Representatively, from this view, it can be seen that counterbalanced horizontal barbell shaft 10 includes a rounded metal shaft 11 having a first end and a second end with latching hooks 13. Latching hooks 13 may be used to attach shaft 11 to carriage assembly 20 and the weight stack 40 as previously discussed, and as will be described in more detail in reference to FIGS. 7A-B and FIGS. 8A-8B. Each end of the barbell shaft 10 is further connected inside a bearing housing assembly 12 which allows for rotation of shaft 11 and latching hooks 13 attached at its ends. In addition, barbell shaft 10 is connected at its ends to sleeves 14 which slidably attach barbell shaft 11 to vertical guides 50R, 50L as described in reference to FIG. 1 . In this aspect, barbell shaft 11 can both translate vertically along vertical guides 50R, 50L (e.g., during an exercise operation) and rotate relative to vertical guides 50R, 50L (e.g., to engage or disengage with carriage assembly 20).
In addition, as illustrated by FIG. 6 , counterbalanced horizontal barbell shaft 10 is further attached to a counterbalance weight assembly 60. Counterbalanced weight assembly 60 may include a round calibrated weight 62 that is selected to exert a force slightly greater than the barbell shaft 11 when coupled to carriage assembly 20 and selectorized weights 40, causing it to have a slight upward force, but not enough to cause the carriage assembly 20 to move upward from the resting position. Calibrated weight 62 is attached to barbell shaft 11 by a cable and pulley system 63. The cable and pulley system 63 may include cables 64 that are attached at one end to a respective one of the weights 62, wrapped around pulleys 61 and connected at their other end to barbell shaft 11. In some aspects, pulleys 61 may be small pulleys connected to top horizontal bars or tubes of frame 30 (e.g., members 38R, 38L).
Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7B and FIGS. 8A-8B, the overall assembly and operation of exercise apparatus will be described in more detail. As previously discussed, the counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft 10 includes a rounded metal shaft 11 with latching hooks 13 connected to the counterbalance weight 60 via a cable and pulley system. Each end of the barbell shaft 11 is connected inside a bearing assembly 12 which allows the shaft 11 to rotate. Rotation of shaft 11 rotates the latching hooks 13 to latch (engage) into the openings 24 in rack 22 of carriage assembly 20 to pick up the selectorized weight stack 40 or unlatch (disengage) the openings 24 to release shaft 11 from the carriage assembly 20 and weight stack 40. When shaft 11 is attached to carriage assembly 20 and weight stack 40, a resistance is applied to shaft 11 and the user can perform the exercise by vertically sliding shaft 11 up and down the cylindrical guide rods 50R, 50L and the carriage vertical tubes 36R, 36L. Representatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7A-7B, latch 13 at the end of shaft 11 is spaced a distance from rack 22 such that it does not engage or otherwise latch with carriage assembly 20, and in turn, weight stack 40. Shaft 11 therefore does not include a resistance from the weight stack 40. It is further noted that the counterbalance weight 60 attached to shaft 11 exerts a force slightly greater than the counterbalance horizontal barbell shaft with latching hooks 10, causing it to have a slight upward force, but not enough to cause the carriage assembly 20 to move upward from its resting position when engaged. As shown in FIG. 8A-8B, however, rotation of shaft 11 in a counterclockwise direction causes latch hook 13 to move into an opening 24 and latch to, or otherwise engage with rack 22 and carriage assembly 20. Carriage assembly 20 is connected to weight stack 40 therefore this also attaches weight stack 40 to shaft 11 and adds a resistance to shaft 11. With the added resistance to shaft 11, the user raises and lowers shaft 11 to perform an exercise. It should further be understood that as previously discussed, shaft 11 is now attached to carriage assembly 20, therefore carriage assembly 20 including rail 22 also move with shaft 11. In this aspect, the user can use the assembly to perform many exercises like the traditional smith machine but with a selectorized weight stack 40 instead of external Olympic weight plates. There are many exercises including but not limited to the hack squat, front squat, hip thrust, smith shrug, split lunge, bent over row, single leg deadlift, smith standing calif raise, inverted row, seated smith overhead press, bench press throws (flat, incline, decline), that can be performed using the exercise assembly disclosed herein.
Referring now to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 illustrate a perspective view of exercise assembly 100 of FIG. 1 including the additional aspects of a shroud 80 and cover 90. In some aspects shroud 80 may be made out of fabric to cover the left and right sides of frame 30. In this aspect, shroud 80 may be customized to cover frame 30. In other aspects, shroud 80 may be a sheet metal or plastic material configured to cover the left and right sides of frame 30. Cover 90 may be a plastic cover that covers the top right and top left portions of the frame 30. For example, cover 90 could be of a shape and size suitable for covering the top of frame 30 and be welded to one of the top tubes or support members of frame 30. In this aspect, the shroud 80 and cover 90 help to hide the various components of assembly 100 making it more aesthetically pleasing.
Although methods and materials similar to, or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack, suitable methods and materials are described above. The selectorized smith machine with moveable carriage and rack may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
While certain aspects have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such aspects are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad disclosure, and that the disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, in some aspects, the transducer assembly disclosed herein may be coupled to, or otherwise positioned near, a button or other input device associated with the enclosure. In this aspect, actuation or excitation of the MLB transmits a haptic or sound output to the button that may, for example, provide an alert or other output to the user. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting. In addition, to aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame having a first vertical guide and a second vertical guide;

a first selectorized weight stack and a second selectorized weight stack coupled to the frame;

a first carriage assembly and a second carriage assembly coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks, respectively, each of the first and second carriage assemblies comprising a rack having a number of openings; and

an exercise bar movably coupled to the frame, the exercise bar having a first end comprising a first latching hook and a second end having a second latching hook, the first latching hook or the second latching hook configured to engage or disengage with an opening of the number of openings in the rack.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second carriage assemblies are coupled to the first and second selectorized weight stacks by a cable and pulley system.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rack is vertically aligned with the first and second vertical guides such that the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the first and second vertical guides.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the first or second latching hook engages with the opening, the exercise bar is coupled to the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stacks to increase a resistance of the exercise bar.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second carriage assemblies and the first and second selectorized weight stacks move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second carriages assemblies further comprise a roller element fixedly coupled to the rack and configured to translate along at least one of the first or second vertical guides.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein a rotation of the exercise bar causes the first latching hook or the second latching hook to engage or disengage with the opening in the rack.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first bearing assembly coupled to the first end of the exercise bar and a second bearing assembly coupled to the second end of the exercise bar, the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the first and second vertical guides and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the first and second vertical guides.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a counterbalance weight coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 wherein the exercise bar is coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system.

12. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame having at least one vertical guide;

a carriage assembly coupled to the at least one vertical guide, the carriage assembly comprising a roller element and a rack operable to translate along the at least one vertical guide;

a selectorized weight stack coupled to the carriage assembly by a cable and pulley system; and

a counterbalanced exercise bar coupled to the at least one vertical guide and having at least one latching hook configured to engage or disengage with the rack.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rack comprises a number of openings vertically aligned with the at least one vertical guide, and the at least one latching hook engages with an opening of the number of openings to increase a resistance of the exercise bar.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13 wherein when the latching hook engages with an opening, the carriage assembly and the selectorized weight stack move vertically together with the exercise bar during an exercise operation.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 13 wherein the number of openings are located at different vertical positions along the at least one vertical guide.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein a rotation of the exercise bar causes the latching hook to engage or disengage with the rack.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein the frame further comprises a second carriage assembly having a roller element and a rack coupled to a second vertical guide, a third vertical guide and a fourth vertical guide, and the rack of the first carriage assembly translates along the third vertical guide and the rack of the second carriage assembly translates along the fourth vertical guide.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a bearing assembly coupled to an end of the exercise bar and the bearing assembly configured to couple the exercise bar to the at least one vertical guide and allow for rotation of the exercise bar relative to the vertical guide.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a counterbalance weight coupled to the exercise bar to reduce a starting resistance of the exercise bar.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 19 wherein the exercise bar is coupled to the counterbalance weight by a cable and pulley system.