U.S. patent number 3,726,522 [Application Number 05/144,058] was granted by the patent office on 1973-04-10 for combination of a barbell with weight and collet device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Diversified Products Corporation. Invention is credited to Ira J. Silberman.
United States Patent |
3,726,522 |
Silberman |
April 10, 1973 |
COMBINATION OF A BARBELL WITH WEIGHT AND COLLET DEVICE
Abstract
A collet device is disclosed for securing barbell weights on a
bar. The device includes an inner member and an outer member, and
is attached to the bar by the frictional engagement of the inner
member with the bar. The outer member progressively threadably
engages the inner member and compresses a portion thereof against
the bar. The device also includes keys for engaging the weights to
prevent them from rotating relative to the bar.
Inventors: |
Silberman; Ira J. (Opelika,
AL) |
Assignee: |
Diversified Products
Corporation (Opelika, AL)
|
Family
ID: |
22506864 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/144,058 |
Filed: |
May 17, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/107; 285/322;
403/290; 403/356; 403/360 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/0728 (20130101); Y10T 403/535 (20150115); Y10T
403/7021 (20150115); Y10T 403/7037 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/072 (20060101); A63B 21/06 (20060101); A63b
013/00 (); A63b 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/84,81
;273/8D,8R,81.2,68 ;82/2 ;279/48,49 ;287/52.05,52.07,116,119
;43/4,44,98 ;285/330,322,323 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a barbell, the combination comprising a bar, at least one
weight adapted to fit on said bar, and a collet device for securing
said weight on said bar; the improvement wherein said collet device
comprises;
a first means for lockably attaching the weight to the bar,
said first means telescoping on the bar and said first means
including an externally threaded portion and a compressible portion
at the other end and having at least one longitudinally extending
slot therein;
a second means telescoping over the bar for compressibly engaging
said compressible portion of said first means, said second means
including an internally threaded portion threadably engaging said
externally threaded portion and said second means having at one end
a portion compressible engaging said compressible portion, at least
one of said compressible and compressing portions having a tapered
surface engageable with the other of said compressible and
compressing portions so that when said threaded portions
progressively are engaged, said compressing portion progressively
engages said compressible portion and said compressible portion is
compressed against said bar; and
a third means affixed to said first means and engaging said weight
for prevent the weight from rotating relative to said bar, said
third means extending longitudinally from the end opposite the end
with the compressible portion of said first means and keyed to the
weight on the bar.
2. A barbell as recited in claim 1, wherein said bar is
demountable.
3. A barbell as recited in claim 2, wherein said bar comprises a
central tube, a pair of end bars telescopingly receivable in the
ends of said tube, and means for securing each of said end bars to
said tube.
4. A barbell as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for securing
said end bars comprises a collar adapted to fit around said central
tube and a set-screw insertable through said collar and said
central tube and engageable with one of said end bars.
5. A barbell as recited in claim 3, wherein said securing means
comprises at least one longitudinally extending slot in an end of
said central tube, an externally threaded portion formed on said
tube end and a nut engageable with said threaded portion for
compressing said tube end against one of said end bars.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to barbells, and specifically to a collet
device for securing barbell weights on a bar.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional barbells used for exercising purposes generally
comprise a bar and a number of disc-like weights, each weight
having an axially extending central opening therein through which
the bar is received. Each weight is relatively heavy, and therefore
must be secured firmly to the bar to avoid risk of injury to
persons and property. Also, the weights frequently are changed to
change the overall weight of the barbell. Further, it is desirable
that the weights be prevented from rotating relative to the bar to
provide the barbell with stability and reduce rattling of the
weights during use of the barbell.
Previous devices used to secure barbell weights on a bar commonly
include a collar and setscrew assembly. Such assemblies have not
proved completely satisfactory because the forces required to
secure the weights on the bar must be concentrated in the
relatively small area defined by the tip of each screw.
Consequently, a relatively large per unit area force must be
applied by the screws to hold the weights in place frequently
resulting in deformation of the bar or stripping of the threads on
the screw or collar. Moreover, it is generally necessary to use a
wrench or other tool to tighten and loosen the screws. The use of
such a tool obviously is time consuming and annoying to a user.
One attempted solution to the use of conventional setscrews is an
L-shaped setscrew, as shown in James U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,486.
Although setscrews of this type are easier to manipulate than
conventional setscrews, they introduce an additional disadvantage,
namely a potentially hazardous projection extending outwardly from
the associated collars. Moreover, a relatively large per unit area
force also must be applied by L-shaped setscrews resulting in the
attendant disadvantages mentioned above.
In addition to collar and setscrew assemblies, cam-action clamps
have been used to secure barbell weights on a bar, as shown in
Venables U.S. Pat. No. 2,224,351. Clamps of this type usually
include a handle or lever which protrudes outwardly from the
barbell and therefore is potentially hazardous. Also, such clamps
may be released accidentally when snagged on a foreign object or
when the barbell is dropped accidentally.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an improved device for securing barbell
weights on a bar, which device is effective and safe.
It is another object of the invention to provide a collet device
for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device can be attached
and released easily and rapidly.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a collet
device for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device has no
potentially hazardous protruding parts.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a collet device
for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device is not subject
to accidental release.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a collet
device for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device does not
require the use of any supplementary tools for attachment or
release.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a collet
device for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device
distributes the forces required to secure the weights on the bar
over a relatively large area.
It is yet an additional object of the invention to provide a collet
device for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device does not
deform the bar.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a collet device
for securing barbell weights on a bar, which device prevents the
weights from rotating relative to the bar.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing
a collet device for securing a barbell weight on a bar comprising;
an inner member adapted to fit onto the bar and including an
externally threaded portion and a compressible portion having at
least one longitudinally extending slot therein; an outer member
adapted to fit around said inner member and including an internally
threaded portion engageable with the externally threaded portion of
the inner member and a compressing portion engageable with the
compressible portion of the inner member, at least one of said
compressible and compressing portions comprising a tapered surface
so that when the threaded portions of the inner and outer members
progressively are engaged, said compressing portion progressively
engages said compressible portion and said compressible portion is
compressed against the bar; and means affixed to one of said inner
and outer members and engageable with the weight to prevent the
weight from rotating relative to the bar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of a barbell,
including a demountable bar, a weight on the bar and the collet
device of the invention slightly offset from the normal position
thereof adjacent the weight;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the collet device of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the inner member of the collet device
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an opposite end view of the inner member of the collet
device shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a portion of a barbell,
including a bar, a weight on the bar and the collet device of the
invention securing the weight on the bar; and
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a
demountable bar.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A barbell is shown in FIG. 1, including a demountable bar 1, a
disc-shaped barbell weight 2 and a collet device 3 for securing
weight 2 on bar 1. Bar 1 comprises a central tube 10 and two end
bars 11 which are adapted to be telescopingly received in the ends
of tube 10. A knurled sleeve 12 is placed over tube 10 to
facilitate gripping and lifting the bar. A locking collar 13 fits
over each end of tube 10 and includes a threaded opening 15 for
receiving a setscrew 14 therein. Screws 14 are threadably inserted
through openings 15, inserted through aligned openings 16 in tube
10, and engage the inner ends of end bars 11 to secure the end bars
to tube 10.
End bars 11 are adapted to supportingly engage weights 2. Weights 2
each have an axially extending central opening therein through
which one of bars 11 is slidably received. The weights are slid
inwardly on bars 11 until they abut collars 13 or another weight,
and are secured to the bars by collet device 3, the collet device
of the invention.
Collet device 3 includes an inner member 4 and an outer member 5,
and may be made from any suitable material, such as plastic or
metal. Inner member 4 (FIGS. 2-5) is basically tubular-shaped and
has an inside diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of
end bars 11. Member 4 includes an externally threaded portion 43
adapted to be engaged by outer member 5, as described
hereinbelow.
Member 4 also includes a compressible portion comprising a
plurality of deformable sections 41 disposed between and defined by
a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 42. Sections 41 are
adapted to be compressively deformed inwardly and frictionally
engage one of bars 11 to secure weights 2 on bar 1. The number of
sections 41 and slots 42 formed in member 4 is a matter of design
choice. Similarly, the length of the slots is optional. However,
the longer the slots, the greater will be the inner surface area of
sections 41, and thus the lower will be the per unit area force
required to secure weights 2 on bar 1. Sections 41 include tapered
end surfaces 44 which facilitate progressive compressive
deformation of the sections upon the engagement of outer member 5
therewith, as described hereinbelow.
Inner member 4 further includes a pair of longitudinally extending
fingers or keys 45 adapted to engage weights 2. Each weight 2
includes a pair of diametrically opposed notches 22 formed adjacent
the central opening therein. Fingers 45 are receivable in notches
22 to prevent the weights from rotating relative to bar 1.
Outer member 5 (FIGS. 2 and 5) includes an internally threaded
portion 53 which is adapted to engage threaded portion 43 of inner
member 4 when device 3 is attached to bar 1.
Outer member 5 also includes a compressing portion defined by an
annular tapered surface 54 (FIG. 5). Surface 54 is adapted to
progressively engage surfaces 44 of inner member 4 when threaded
portion 53 engages threaded portion 43. Although in the preferred
embodiment of the collet device of the invention, surfaces 44 and
54 both are tapered, only one of such surfaces need be tapered for
the proper functioning of the device.
Outer member 5 further includes a pair of radially extending,
diametrically opposed flanges 56 formed on the exterior of the
member to facilitate manipulation thereof.
The assembly of the barbell, including device 3 will now be
described. Central tube 10 is first inserted into knurled sleeve
12. End bars 11 are then inserted into tube 10 and secured thereto
with collars 13 and setscrews 14.
A weight 2 is then placed on one of bars 11, and one of devices 3
placed on the same bar with the fingers 45 thereof extending
inwardly toward the weight. During assembly, threaded portions 43
and 53 are engaged only sufficiently to permit device 3 to be
positioned as a single unit. Device 3 is then slid along bar 11
until the inner surface of the weight abuts the associated collar
13, and fingers 45 are fully inserted into notches 22. Outer member
5 is then rotated and tightened onto inner member 4 by manipulating
flanges 56. While member 5 is being tightened onto member 4, the
latter is held against rotation by holding weight 2 with which
member 4 is engaged. As portions 43 and 53 progressively are
engaged, tapered surface 54 progressively engages and compresses
tapered surfaces 44 to thereby compressively deform sections 41
inwardly against bar 11. The compressible portion of inner member 4
thus frictionally engages bar 11 to secure weight 2 on the bar. As
will be apparent, device 3 prevents the weight from moving axially
or rotationally relative to the bar. A similar procedure is then
followed for securing a weight 2 on the other end bar 11.
To release device 3 for the purpose of adding, removing or
exchanging weights, outer member 5 is simply rotated in the
opposite direction until surface 54 disengages surface 44
sufficiently to relieve the compression forces applied to the
compressible portion of inner member 4. While member 5 is being
untightened from member 4, the latter is again held against
rotation by holding weight 2. Device 3 can then be removed from the
bar easily.
An alternate embodiment of a demountable bar is shown in FIG. 6, as
designated be reference numeral 60. Bar 60 includes a central tube
62 which is adapted to telescopingly receive end bars 11 in the
opposite ends thereof. Tube 62 is provided with at least one
longitudinally extending slot 64 in each end thereof. Also, each
end of the tube is externally threaded, as at 66. A cylindrically
shaped, internally tapered and threaded compression nut 68 is
adapted to engage threads 66 to compressively deform the associated
end of tube 62 inwardly and thereby clamp bar 11 in tube 62.
While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of the
collet device of the invention and a barbell in which such device
may be employed, it is recognized that various modifications
thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, a
plurality of separate shim-like pieces may be substituted for inner
member 4. Such pieces would be configured similarly to the
individual sections which would result if slots 42 extended the
full length of member 4. Alternatively, only one of the slots may
extend the full length of member 4, resulting in a single
wrap-around member. In either of the above embodiments, the
operation of the inner member is the same as the operation of inner
member 4. Also, means engageable with the weights other than
fingers 45 may be affixed to the inner or outer member for
preventing the weights from rotating relative to the bar. For
example, such means may be engageable with sockets formed on the
outer surface of the weights. Therefore, the scope of the invention
is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *