Barbell having a detachably mounted weight supporting bar

Abstract

A barbell for supporting removable weights includes a hollow rod having flanges affixed at each of its terminal ends and a pair of bar members, each bar member being partially, telescopingly insertable into the rod. Each of said bar members has a locking device affixed thereto for retaining the bar member in the hollow interior of the rod and retarding movement of the bar member axially of the rod. The locking device features an eccentrically mounted, rotatable camming member affixed to the end of each of the bar members whereby the camming member is lockingly engageable with the rod in response to rotation of the bar member in either direction. Each of the bar members has at least a single weight mounted thereon and positioned between the flange on the rod and a flange on the bar that supports one or more weights. On the face of each weight there are radial protuberances that mate with protuberances on the flange on the rod. The radial protuberances on each weight mate with an adjoining weight. A weight is provided for use with the bar, the weight having a radial slot by which the weight can be mounted on the bar bell and demounted therefrom without removing the bar members from the rod of the barbell by passing the bar member through the slot formed in the 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 the invention, therefore, is the provision of a barbell adapted for supporting removable weights adjacent the ends thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a barbell adapted for supporting weights, in which weights can be added to or subtracted therefrom without the necessity of removing a collar or other weight retaining device from the bar.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a weight adapted for use with a barbell in which weight retaining devices, such as a collar, need not be removed from the barbell in order to mount or remove the weight from the barbell.

Still another 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.

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 adapted for supporting removable weights adjacent the ends thereof. The barbell comprises a hollow rod, a flange affixed on each end of the rod, and a pair of bar members adapted to have a plurality of weights mounted thereon and being insertable into the rod. Each of the flanges affixed to the rod have 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. The present invention further provides a barbell weight in combination with the barbell, the weight having a substantially radial slot formed therein whereby the weight is mountable on either of the bar members by passing the bar member through the slot formed in the weight. In the use of the barbell and combination, weights can be mounted on or demounted from the barbell by unlocking the locking means and sliding one or both bar members partially from the rod to permit passage of the bar member through the radial slot in the weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the barbell of the present invention with weights being mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale of one end of the barbell shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a weight as described herein, on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view showing the other end of the weight shown in FIG. 4, taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the bar member illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the bar member illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of one end of the barbell shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of one side of the weight shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of one end of the barbell assembly shown in FIG. 8 with a single weight on the bar and having its slot horizontally disposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the particular construction shown in the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates, generally, a barbell adapted for supporting removable weights adjacent the ends thereof in accordance with the present invention. Barbell 10 includes a rod 11 having a hollow interior. Rod 11 can be of any desired shape and preferably is circular in cross-section and has a circular bore as its hollow interior. Affixed to each of the terminal ends of rod 11 is a flange 12 having a central bore formed therethrough.

Barbell 10 further includes a pair of bar members 13, each being adapted to have a plurality of weights mounted thereon. Each of bar members 13 is partially, telescopingly insertable into rod 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the bar members 13 has a flange 14 affixed to one end thereof. Flange 14 preferably includes a knob portion 16 adapted for gripping for manual rotation of the bar member 13 to which it is affixed.

Each of bar members 13 is provided with locking means affixed thereto for retaining the bar member within the hollow interior of rod 11 and for retarding movement of the bar member axially of rod 11. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the locking means comprises a camming member 17 which is eccentrically journalled on the end of bar member 13 opposed from the end thereof bearing flange 14. Camming member 17 is rotatable about stud 18 which may include a headed end, as shown. Stud 18 can be replaced with a threaded stud and nut combination (FIG. 9). Bar member 13 can be formed of a suitable material such as steel, and can be either solid or tubular. Stud 18 can be affixed to bar member 13, particularly if the latter is tubular, by affixing stud 18 to a solid bar portion 19, inserting bar portion 19 into the end of bar member 13, and crimping or deforming bar member 13 against bar portion 19, as at 21. Bar portion 19 may have an annular depression 22 to facilitate crimping bar member 13 thereagainst.

Preferably, the cross-sectional dimensions of camming member 17 are substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of bar member 13 to which it is affixed to enable insertion of camming member 17 and the adjacent end of bar member 13 into the hollow interior of rod 11 when camming member 17 is aligned with bar member 13. Following insertion, camming member 17 is lockingly engageable with the interior of rod 11, by friction, in response to rotation of bar member 13 in either direction with respect to rod 11. Thus, the largest cross-sectional dimension of bar member 13 and camming member 17 should be slightly smaller than the cross-sectional dimensions of the hollow interior of rod 11 to permit bar member 13 and camming member 17 to be inserted into rod 11 while permitting the locking engagement of camming member 17 to the interior of rod 11 by friction as bar member 13 is rotated.

The present invention also provides a weight 23 for use in combination with barbell 10. Weight 23 is disc-shaped and has a substantially radial slot formed by walls 24 thereof. Walls 24 preferably unite centrally of weight 23 to form an aperture at the axis of weight 23 corresponding in configuration and slightly larger than the periphery of bar member 13. In accordance with the present invention, weight 23 is mounted on bar member 13 of barbell 10 by passing bar member 13 through the slot defined by walls 24. Similarly, weight 23 is removed from barbell 10 by causing bar member 13 to pass through the slot defined by walls 24 from the center past the periphery of weight 23.

Thus, in the operation of mounting or demounting weight 23 from barbell 10, knob 16 of flange 14 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction utilized in locking bar member 13 to rod 11 to cause camming member 17 to release its frictional hold on the interior of rod 11, and bar member 13 is axially withdrawn from rod 11 only to provide sufficient clearance to withdraw weight 23 from bar member 13 or to provide clearance to add weight 23 to bar member 13. In this manner, weight 23 is added to or removed from bar member 13 without removal of bar member 13 from rod 11 and without removal of any collar or other weight retaining device. Weight 23 is retained on bar member 13 after mounting thereon by pushing knob 16 on flange 14 to insert bar member 13 into rod 11 to the extent permitted by the presence of weight 23. Knob 16 is then rotated in either direction to cause camming member 17 to frictionally engage the interior of rod 11 as heretofore described. In this condition, weight 23 is clamped between flanges 12 and 14 to resist accidental demounting of weight 23 from barbell 10 upon use or other movement of the combination.

Although resistance to accidental demounting of weight 23 from barbell 10 is provided by the clamping action between flanges 12 and 14 of barbell 10, a positive weight retaining action is provided by an annular groove or shoulder 26 formed on the outwardly facing surfaces of flanges 12 cooperating with radial protuberances 27 formed on weight 23 adapted to mesh with and interengage with the groove or shoulder 26. By providing mating surfaces 26 and 27, weight 23 is held in locked engagement upon the clamping of weight 23 between flanges 12 and 14. Protuberances 27 may be replaced with a solid annular shoulder (not shown) formed on weight 23, broken by the slot formed by walls 24, the shoulder being shaped to engage groove or shoulder 26. In addition, the reverse surface 28 of weight 23 does not have protuberances 27, but instead has an annular ridge or shoulder 29 which is engageable with the protuberances 27 on additional weights 23 so that pluralities of weights can be positively mounted on bar members 13, as hereinafter described.

In accordance with the present invention it is preferred to utilize a plurality of weights 23 to enable adjustment in the total weight of the barbell and weights combination and to maintain a balance of the weights mounted adjacent the ends of barbell 10. The plurality of weights 23 are identical in shape and construction, except that members of the plurality will vary in size and weight. Each of the weights desirably has protuberances 27 formed on one of its substantially planar surfaces and a shoulder 29 on the other to maintain locking relationship between the weights 23 and barbell 10 irrespective of the number of weights mounted on barbell 10. As described above, each of the weights 23 can be removed from barbell 10 by rotating and pulling knob 16 and withdrawing weight 23 by causing bar member 13 to pass through the slot formed by walls 24. Similarly, additional weights 23 can be added by rotating and pulling knob 16 to provide space between weights or between a weight and either of flange 12 or 14 and then adding a weight 23 by causing bar member 13 to pass through the slot in the weight 23 formed by walls 24. Thereafter, the weight can be clamped in place as described above.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8-11. Since many of the elements of the barbell and the weights therefor are substantially identical to elements in the embodiment previously described, identical reference numberals have been used and further description is unnecessary. In this embodiment, rod 11 comprises two concentric tubular members 11a and 11b, wherein member 11a is a rod freely rotatable about member 11b and flanges 31. Flanges 31 are each secured to rod 11b by means of at least one bolt or screw 32. Flanges 31 have spaced radial protuberances 33 formed on the outwardly facing surfaces thereof. Bar members 13 have flanges 14 affixed thereto as in the previously described embodiment, and each flange has a knob 16 secured thereto by a screw 34. A camming member 17 is eccentrically journalled on the other end of each bar member 13 by means of a threaded stud 36, and is secured thereto by a pair of nuts 37 on the end of the stud. Weights 38, which are identical in configuration, but may differ in size and weight, have substantially identical mating radial protuberances 39 on both substantially planar surfaces thereof. By providing mating protuberances 33 and 39, weights 38 are held in locking and antirotational relationship upon the clamping of weights 38 between flanges 31 and 14. Preferably, protuberances 33 and also protuberances 39 form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in anti-rotational relationship. It is desirable that both of the substantially planar surfaces of weights are identical to facilitate mounting of the weights with either surface facing flange 31. Therefore, it is preferred to have protuberances 39 formed on both substantially planar surfaces of weights 38. In all other respects, the barbell and weights of this embodiment are substantially the same as in the previous embodiment and the mounting and removal of weights from the barbell is accomplished as heretofore described.

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.

Claims

I claim:

1. An exercising device for supporting removable weights adjacent the ends thereof comprising an internally unthreaded hollow rod, a flange having a central bore affixed on each end of said hollow rod, each of said flanges affixed to said rod having a plurality of substantially identical spaced radial protuberances on its outwardly facing surface, and a pair of bar members, each of said bar members being partially, telescopingly, unthreadingly slidably insertable into said rod, each of said bar members having a flange affixed to one end thereof and having unthreaded rotatable camming locking means affixed to said bar member for frictionally retaining said bar member in the hollow interior of said rod and retarding movement of said bar member axially of said rod, said locking means comprising 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 said bar members, each of said bar members and its affixed camming member being insertable into the hollow interior of said rod with said camming members being lockingly engageable in weight retaining relation with said rod, and each of said bar members having at least one weight means for resisting lifting by a user mounted thereon, said at least one weight means having a plurality of substantially identical radial means for mating with the protuberances on the outwardly facing surfaces of one of the flanges affixed to said rod or with another weight means and to be lockingly and antirotationally clampable on either of said bar members between one of said flanges affixed to said rod and one of the flanges affixed to one of said bar members.

2. The exercising device of claim 1 wherein said protuberances formed on said flanges and said weight means form castellated mating surface portions capable of interengaging in antirotational relationship.

3. The exercising device of claim 2, said weight means includes a plurality of disc-shaped weights, each having a substantially radial slot formed therein, and each of said weights being mountable on one of said bar members by passing said bar member through the slot formed in said weight.