U.S. patent number 3,825,253 [Application Number 05/386,532] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-23 for barbell with removable weights.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sears, Roebuck and Co.. Invention is credited to Henning J. Speyer.
United States Patent |
3,825,253 |
Speyer |
July 23, 1974 |
BARBELL WITH REMOVABLE WEIGHTS
Abstract
A barbell exercising device having weights adapted for mounting
on a barbell. Each weight has a circular shape and a centrally
disposed, axially aligned bore formed therein, and includes walls
defining a radial slot extending from the bore to the periphery of
the weight with the walls defining the slot being disposed at an
angle with respect to the axis of the bore. The radial slot in each
weight allows the weight to be mounted on a barbell and demounted
therefrom without removing a collar or other weight retaining
device by passing the barbell through the canted slot of the weight
and then aligning the barbell with the axially aligned bore of the
weight. A barbell is provided for supporting the weights which
includes a hollow rod having flanges affixed to each of its
terminal ends and a pair of bar members. Each bar member is
partially, telescopingly insertable into the rod and has locking
means affixed thereto for retaining each bar member in the hollow
interior of the rod and retarding movement of the bar member
axially of the rod. Protuberances formed on flanges positioned on
the barbell, the rod and a weight form castellated mating surface
portions capable of interengaging in antirotational
relationship.
Inventors: |
Speyer; Henning J. (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26952570 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/386,532 |
Filed: |
August 8, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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267696 |
Jun 29, 1972 |
3771785 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/106; 177/191;
403/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/0728 (20130101); Y10T 403/16 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/072 (20060101); A63B 21/06 (20060101); A63b
011/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/81,84
;177/191,248,250,252,256-258 ;161/7 ;287/DIG.8 ;403/350,351 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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687,153 |
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Feb 1953 |
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GB |
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18,336 |
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Aug 1891 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Arnstein, Gluck, Weitzenfeld &
Minow
Parent Case Text
This is a division, of application Ser. No. 267,696, filed June 29,
1972, now Pat. No. 3,771,785.
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercising device comprising in combination:
a. a hollow rod having a flange affixed at each of its ends, said
flanges having a central bore formed therethrough;
b. a pair of bar members each bar member being adapted to have a
plurality of weights mounted thereon and each being partially,
telescopingly insertable into said rod, each of said bar members
having a flange affixed to one end thereof and having locking means
affixed to said bar member for retaining said bar member in the
hollow interior of said rod and retarding movement of said bar
member axially of said rod; and
c. at least one barbell weight having a circular shape and a
centrally disposed, axially aligned bore formed therein, said
weight having walls defining a radial slot formed in said weight
extending from said bore formed therein to the periphery of said
weight, said walls defining said slot being disposed at an angle to
the axis of said bore formed in said weight, whereby said weight is
mountable on either of said bar members by passing said bar member
through said slot formed therein.
2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein said locking means
comprises an eccentrically journalled, rotatable camming member
affixed to the other end of each of said bar members, said camming
member having its cross-sectional dimensions substantially equal to
the cross-sectional dimensions of each said bar member, whereby
each of said bar members and its affixed camming member are
insertable into the hollow interior of said rod with said camming
members being lockingly engageable in weight retaining relation
with said rod in response to rotation of said bar members in either
direction with respect to said rod.
3. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein each said flange
affixed to said rod and said weight have substantially identical,
spaced radial protuberances on the interengaging surfaces thereof,
whereby said weight is lockingly and anti-rotationally clampable on
either of said bar members between one of said flanges affixed to
said rod and the flange affixed to said bar member.
4. The exercising device of claim 3 wherein said protuberances
formed on said flanges and said weight form castellated mating
surface portions capable of interengaging in anti-rotational
relationship.
5. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein each said flange
affixed to each of said bar members includes a knob portion adapted
for gripping for manual rotation of said bar member.
6. The exercising device of claim 1 including a plurality of said
weights.
7. The exercising device of claim 6 wherein said walls defining
said slot of each of said plurality of weights are disposed at an
angle greater than 0.degree. and less than 90.degree. to the axis
of said bore formed in said weight.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to barbells and weights therefor. The
use of barbells and weights for exercising is known throughout the
world. However, the known devices require the removal of collars at
either end of the barbell or bar in order to add weights to the
barbell by passing the bar through a centrally disposed bore in the
weight. Similarly, removal of weights from the bar requires removal
of the collar from the bar followed by pulling the weight axially
off the bar. In the past, considerable time and effort was required
to loosen and demount the collar in order to add or to subtract
weights from the bar. More recently, snap-action type locking
devices have been utilized to decrease the amount of effort
required to loosen the collar prior to removal of the collar.
However, even with these improvements, the collar must be removed
from the bar and the weight slipped on or off the end of the
bar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is the provision of a combination of
barbell and weight wherein the weight can be mounted on or
demounted from the barbell without removal of weight retaining
means, such as a collar.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination
of barbell and weights wherein the weights each have a canted slot
extending from the periphery of the weight to the bore through the
center of the weight. The weights are mounted on a rod that
telescopes into the hollow end of the barbell. The telescoping ends
of each rod has a cam type locking device whereby rotation of the
telescoped end of the rod will cause the locking device to engage
the barbell and lock thereto. Protuberances formed on the flanges
on the barbell, the rod and the weights form castellated mating
surface portions capable of interengaging in anti-rotational
relationship.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become
apparent from the following description when the same is considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a
barbell weight having a centrally disposed, axially aligned bore
and a substantially radial slot formed therein whereby the weight
is mountable on a barbell by passing the barbell through the slot
formed in the weight. The walls defining the radial slot extend
from the bore to the periphery of the weight and are disposed at an
angle with respect to the axis of the bore. In the use of the
weight, the weight can be mounted on or demounted from the barbell
by canting the weight with respect to the axis of the barbell and
passing the barbell through the radial slot in the weight. In
mounting the weight on a barbell, upon the barbell reaching the
bore of the weight, the weight is cammed along the junction between
the walls defining the slot and the bore into axial alignment with
the barbell, thus seating the bore of the weight about the barbell.
The mounted weight is retained on the barbell by providing a force
longitudinally to the axis of the barbell to prevent the canting of
the weight by being cammed by the barbell passing through the
junction between the bore and the walls defining the radial slot.
By providing the longitudinal force, the weight cannot accidentally
slip or fall from the barbell in use or upon other movement as the
passage of the barbell through the canted, radial slot is prevented
by the surface formed at the junction of the radial slot and the
bore. The weight can also be retained on the barbell by gravity by
providing at least one portion of greater density than the density
of the remainder of the weight near the periphery of the weight
adjacent the slot.
The present invention further provides a barbell in combination
with the weight, the barbell being adapted for supporting a
plurality of the weights adjacent the ends thereof. The barbell
comprises a hollow rod having a flange affixed at each of its
terminal ends and a pair of bar members insertable into the rod and
adapted to have a plurality or weights mounted thereon. Each of the
flanges affixed to the rod has a central bore formed therethrough.
Each bar member has a flange affixed to one end thereof and further
has locking means affixed to the bar member for retaining the bar
member in the hollow interior of the rod and retarding movement of
the bar member axially of the rod.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing weights of the present
invention mounted on a barbell.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of
two weights and one end of the barbell shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a weight as described herein,
on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one end of the barbell assembly
shown in FIG. 1 with a first weight mounted on the barbell, and
with a second weight being partially mounted on the barbell and
with the fully mounted position of the weight being shown in broken
lines, the slots of the weights being horizontally disposed.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken
substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the barbell shown in
FIG. 1, having three weights mounted thereon, the slots of the
weights being horizontally disposed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the barbell and weights shown in
FIG. 6, with the weights being rotated approximately 90.degree. and
with one weight being partially demounted from the barbell.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the barbell shown in FIG. 1 with a
weight in accordance with the present invention lying in a
demounted position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the particular construction shown in the drawings, the numeral
10 indicates, generally a weight adapted for mounting on a barbell
in accordance with the present invention. Weight 10 is generally
circular in shape and has a centrally disposed, axially aligned
bore 11 formed therein. Weight 10 further has walls 12 which define
a radial slot extending from bore 11 to the periphery of weight 10.
Walls 12 are disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of bore
11 of weight 10 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
Preferably walls 12 defining the radial slot are disposed at an
angle greater than 0.degree. and less than 90.degree. from the axis
of bore 11. Walls 12 are preferably spaced apart at least a
distance substantially equal to the diameter of bore 11 and are
substantially parallel, although walls 12 may be divergent from
their junction with bore 11 to the periphery of weight 10. Weight
10 preferably has spaced radial protuberances 13 on the
substantially planar surfaces thereof. Protuberances 13 are
designed for interengagement with surfaces having substantially
identical protuberances, such as other weights 10. Preferably,
protuberances 13 form a castellated surface capable of meshing with
substantially identical castellated surfaces.
The present invention includes an assembly formed of one or more
weights 10 with a barbell indicated generally by numeral 15.
Barbell 15 includes a rod 16 having a hollow interior. Rod 16 can
be of any desired shape and preferably is circular in cross-section
and has a circular bore as its hollow interior. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 2, rod 16 comprises two concentric tubular members
16a and 16b, wherein member 16a is a rod freely rotatable about
member 16b and flanges 17. Flanges 17 are each secured to rod 16b
by means of at least one bolt or screw 18 and each has a central
bore formed therethrough.
Barbell 15 further includes a pair of bar members 19, each being
adapted to have a plurality of weights 10 mounted thereon. Each of
bar members 19 are partially, telescopingly insertable into rod 16
as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the bar members 19 has a flange
21 affixed to one end thereof. Flange 21 preferably has a knob
portion 22 adapted for gripping for manual rotation of the bar
member 19 to which the flange is affixed. Knob portion 22 is
secured to flange 21 by means of a screw 23.
Each of bar members 19 is provided with locking means affixed
thereto for retaining the bar member within the hollow interior of
rod 16 and for retarding movement of the bar member axially of rod
16. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the locking
means comprises a camming member 24 which is eccentrically
journalled on the end of bar member 19 opposed from the end thereof
bearing flange 21. Camming member 24 is rotatable about threaded
stud 26 and is held thereon by means of a pair of nuts 27 threaded
onto the end of stud 26. Bar member 19 can be formed of a suitable
material such as steel, and can be either solid or tubular. Stud 26
can be affixed to bar member 19, particularly if the latter is
tubular, by affixing stud 26 to a solid bar portion 28, inserting
bar portion 28 into the end of bar member 19, and crimping or
deforming bar member 19 against bar portion 28, as at 29. Bar
portion 28 may have an annular depression 31 to facilitate crimping
bar member 19 thereagainst.
Preferably, the cross-sectional dimensions of camming member 24 are
substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of bar member
19 to which it is affixed to enable insertion of camming member 24
and the adjacent end of bar member 19 into the hollow interior of
rod 16 when camming member 24 is aligned with bar members 19.
Following insertion, camming member 24 is lockingly engagable with
the interior of rod 16, by friction, in response to rotation of bar
member 19 in either direction with respect to rod 16. Thus, the
largest cross-sectional dimension of bar member 19 and camming
member 24 should be slightly smaller than the cross-sectional
dimensions of the hollow interior of rod 16 to permit bar member 19
and camming member 24 to be inserted into rod 16 while permitting
the locking engagement of camming member 24 to the interior of rod
16 by friction as bar member 19 is rotated.
As barbell 15 forms an exercising device assembly in combination
with one or more weights 10, it is preferred to have the outer
periphery of bar member 19 corresponding in configuration and be
slightly smaller than bore 11 and the radial slot formed by walls
12.
In accordance with the present invention, weight 10 is mounted on
bar member 19 of barbell 15 by passing bar member 19 through the
slot defined by walls 12 and seating bar member 19 in bore 11.
Similarly, weight 10 is removed from barbell 15 by causing bar
member 19 to pass through the slot defined by walls 12 from bore 11
past the periphery of weight 10.
In the mounted condition, weight 10 is clamped between flanges 17
and 21 to resist accidental demounting of weight 10 from barbell 15
upon use or other movement of the combination. Weight 10 is
particularly resistant to accidental demounting from barbell 15 due
to the radial slot defined by walls 12 being disposed at an angle
to bore 11. Thus, when bore 11 is seated about bar member 19,
weight 10 cannot be removed from bar member 19 unless weight 10 is
angled and withdrawn slightly from bar member 19 to align bar
member 19 with the slot defined by walls 12. Only a relatively
small longitudinal force is required to prevent the canting or
angling of weight 10 thereby effectively preventing the accidental
demounting of weight 10. Barbell 15, and its locking means provided
by camming member 24 frictionally engaging the hollow interior of
rod 16, has been found to effectively provide the longitudinal
force required to prevent accidental demounting.
Although resistance to accidental demounting of weight 10 from
barbell 15 is provided by the clamping action between flanges 17
and 21 of barbell 15, a positive weight retaining action and
prohibition of rotation of the weights on barbell 15 is provided by
having spaced radial protuberances 32 formed on the outwardly
facing surfaces of flanges 17. Protuberances 32 are substantially
identical to and are adapted to mesh and interengage with the
radial protuberances 13 formed on weight 10. By providing mating
protuberances 13 and 32, weight 10 is held in locking and
anti-rotational engagement upon the clamping of weight 10 between
flanges 17 and 21. Preferably, protuberances 32 and also
protuberances 13 form castellated mating surface portions capable
of interengaging in anti-rotational relationship. Since both
substantially planar surfaces of weight 10 have protuberances 13
formed thereon, additional weights 10 can be held in
anti-rotational locked arrangement by having the protuberances 13
on each subsequent weight interengage the protuberances 13 on each
preceding weight. In this manner, a plurality of weights 10 are
mountable on barbell 15 in anti-rotational relationship and are
protected against accidental demounting by the interengagement of
their respective protuberances 13, the interengagement of the
protuberances 13 formed on one substantially planar surface of one
of the weights 10 with the protuberances 32 formed on flange 17,
and the clamping action on the weights between flanges 17 and 21
due to bar member 19 being inserted into rod 16 to the fullest
extent permitted by the presence of the weights 10 and by being
lockingly engaged with the interior of rod 16.
Additional resistance to the demounting of weight 10 from barbell
15 is provided by having the density of weight 10 vary so that
portions of greater density are placed near the periphery of the
weight adjacent to or in proximity of the radial slot defined by
walls 12. The portions of greater density will seek a downward
orientation on barbell 15 due to the force of gravity, maintaining
the radial slot in vertical downward-facing orientation. Thus,
under the majority of conditions, weight 10 will be held on barbell
15 by gravity even where the clamping action on the action of
mating protuberances 13 or 13 and 32 are temporarily suspended,
such as during the mounting or demounting operations. The portions
of greater gravity can be provided, for example, by boring holes in
weight 10 adjacent the walls 12 defining the slot and filing these
holes, such as by casting, with material of greater density, such
as lead, than the density of the material comprising the remainder
of weight 10, which may generally comprise, steel, concrete, iron,
and the like.
The operation of mounting or demounting a weight 10 with respect to
barbell 15 is illustrated in FIG. 4. To prepare barbell 15 for
either mounting or demounting of a weight, such as weight 10b, knob
portion 22 of flange 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the
direction utilized in locking bar member 19 to rod 16 to cause
camming member 24 to release its frictional hold on the interior of
rod 16. Bar member 19 is then axially withdrawn from rod 16, for
example, by pulling knob portion 22 away from flange 17. Bar member
19 need only be axially withdrawn from rod 16 a distance to provide
release of protuberances 13 of weight 10b from engagement with
protuberances 32 on flange 17 and from engagement with
protuberances 13 on other weights, such as weight 10a and to permit
canting or angling of weight 10b to align the slot formed by walls
12 with the axis of bar member 19. Barbell 15 is now prepared for
mounting or demounting of weights. In demounting, weight 10b is
pulled from bar member 19 at the periphery of weight 10b at a point
diametrically opposed to the slot formed by walls 12. Upon the
initial pulling of the weight 10b, the weight is cammed along the
junction of walls 12 with bore 11 of the weights causing weight 10b
to be canted from its mounted position 10b to the position shown in
FIG. 4 with the walls 12 of the weight being aligned with the axis
of bar member 19. Continued pulling of the weight causes bar member
19 to pass through the slot formed by walls 12. After bar member 19
has cleared the open end of the slot formed by walls 12, the weight
10b is fully demounted. Where weight 10b is mounted between two
weights, 10a and 10c, as shown in FIG. 6, bar member 19 need be
axially withdrawn from rod 16 only to the extent necessary to
permit disengaging of protuberances 13 on weight 10b from the
protuberances on each of weights 10a and 10c and to permit the
canting or angling of weight 10b as shown in FIG. 7. In mounting a
weight such as weight 10b, the operation is reversed in that bar
member 19 is again withdrawn from rod 16 to the extent described,
the weight 10b is aligned with bar member 19 so that the slot
formed by walls 12 is in axial alignment with the bar member and
the weight is applied to the bar member by passing the bar member
through the slot as illustrated in FIG. 7. Upon reaching the
interior end of the slot, weight 10b is cammed along the surface of
the junction between the radial slot formed by walls 12 and the
bore 11 to axially align weight 10b with bar member 19. Thereafter
the bar member is inserted into rod 16 to the fullest extent
permissible by the presence of weight 10b and other weights, the
protuberances of the weights are interengaged and the protuberances
13 of weight 10c is interengaged with protuberances 32 of flange
17, followed by the locking of bar member 19 to rod 16 by rotating
bar member 19 in either direction, for example, by the manual
rotation of knob 22. In this manner, weight 10b can be readily
mounted or demounted on bar member 19 without the removal of a
collar or other weight retaining device from barbell 15, and upon
completion of the mounting is securely held in non-rotational
engagement on the bar member whereby accidental demounting is
prevented.
Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may
suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not
wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described
or uses mentioned but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the
scope of my invention being limited only by the appended
claims.
* * * * *