US2244351A - Exercising device - Google Patents

Description

v June 3, 1941. & VENABLES 2,244,351

EXER CIS ING DEVICE 7 Filed March 16, 1940 I JAMES G. VENABLES (lttomeg Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED EXERCISIN G DEVICE James G. Venables. York, Pas assignor. to Robert C. Hoffman, doing business as York Barbell Company, York, Pa.

Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,258

2 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement and exercising devices and more particularly to exercising devices of the type known as dumb-bells, bar bells, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding the weights on bar bells, dumb-bells, and the like, so that the amount of weights on such devices can be quickly changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, simple and easily operated releasable collar for bars used in exercising devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient, strong and durable device of the class specified which may be economically constructed.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bar bell of the adjustable weight type showing the application of the presentinvention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the handle being shown in elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the handle being shown in the position in which the collar is released from the bar in full lines and in a position in which the collar is clamped to the bar by broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, the handle being shown in clamped position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the collar; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the handle is pivotally connected to the collar.

The bar bell is a well known exercising device having near each end a collar secured to the bar at such a distance from the end as to permit the addition of a plurality of disk-like weights which slidably fit on the end of the bar. During a series of exercises the number of weights is increased or decreased, depending on the exercises being performed or depending upon the person performing them. Heretofore the bar bell was so constructed that the removal or addition of extra weights required a wrench for manipulating the collar which was used to secure the weights to the ends of the bar. The collar ordinarily used was of a common cylindrical type which loosely fitted on the bar and was provided with a set screw that fit into the bar when tightened by a wrench. Thus, in order to remove a collar it was necessary to retract the set screw and then after a number of weights were changed the collar was again mounted on the bar and the set screw turned into holding position by means of a wrench. The use of a wrench always required a considerable amount of time and was a source of annoyance to the user. Furthermore. it sometimes happened that a set screw became loose or was not made sufficiently tight in which case the collar slipped and allowed the weights to drop ofi the bar.

By the present invention the collar is so constructed that the 'set screw is eliminated, and in lieu thereof means have been provided for firmly clamping the collar in position on the bar.

Referring to the drawing, the bar bell consists of a bar H having mounted thereon adjacent to each end thereof, a number of weights l2, of different sizes.

The innermost weight l2 at each end of the bar engages-onthe inside a collar I3 which is permanently held in position by some means, such as a .set screw I4.

The weights l2 are held on the bar by a removable adjustable collar l6 adapted to be mounted on the 'bar in position to engage the outermost weight so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the weights on the bar.

The collar 16 is, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, of the split type having a slot I! which extends the entire length of the collar and having on each side of said- ;slot upright cooperating flanges or ears'IB'and l9.

The ears l8 and I9 are formed with slots 26 which extend upwardly at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the collar from one end of said ears.

The slots 20 each have an upper wall 2|, a lower wall 22 and an inner wall 23 which connects the inner portions of said walls. The construction is such that the slots are substantially U-shaped as seen in Figs. 3 and 7.

As shown in Fig. '7, when the slots 20 are being formed in the ears l8 and 19, the mouth of each slot is made of sufficient width to permit the insertion into said slots of a rod 24 mounted on the legs 25 of the bifurcated end of a handle or lever 26. After the rod 24 has been disposed adjacent the inner wall 23 the upper corner portion 21 of the ears is struck by a hammer or other tool and the material bent downwardly to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '7,

and by full lines in Fig. 3. In this way the handle 26 is prevented from being accidentally displaced from the collar l6, although said handle can be readily detached from the collar simply by prying the nose portion 28 upwardly by means of a screw driver or other suitable tool, to position the tip of said nose away from the wall 22. When the handle 26 has been attached to the collar H3 in the manner above described the rod 24 functions as a pivot pin for said handle so that the latter can be swung from the full line position to the dotted line position, of Fig. 3.

The legs 25 of the lever or handle 26 are closer together at their inner portions 29 (Figs. 2 and 4) near the handle end, than at the pivot or free end.

The relative dimensions of the forked lever and the ears l8 and I9 are such that when the lever is in an upright or substantially vertical position, as shown by full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, the ears are released and permit the collar IE to spread to its normal position in which position the diameter of the collar is greater than the diameter of the bar H (see Fig. 2) with which said collar cooperates so that the collar may be easily slipped on and ofi the bar. But when the handle 26 is pushed downwardly towards a horizontal position the sides 29 of the legs 25 engage the sides of the ears l8 and I9 and cam the ears towards each other, thus causing the collar E6 to grip the bar I I.

The ends of the rod 24 are embedded in the legs 25. This permits the use of a cast handle of which the rod 24 is an integral part thereby providing a tension member for preventing the ends of said legs from spreading during the camming or locking action. This also permits the use of a much lighter handle than would otherwise be required.

At a point diametrically opposite to the slot H, the collar I6 is formed with a pair of knobs or protuberances 30. These members 30 are spaced a suitable distance apart so as to provide a notch 3! on the underside of the collar. When the handle 26 is operated from the full line position shown in Fig. 3 towards the broken line position, the operator may grip the underside of the collar with his first finger, disposing the finger in the notch 31. In this way the operators hand will be held from slipping from the device when force is exerted to clamp the collar on the bar.

The operation of the locking collar 16 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. After the chosen number of weights l2 are placed on the bar H the collar I6 is pushed into place as shown in Fig. 3, the lever 26 being in its raised or released position. Then holding the collar 16 firmly against the end weight the lever 26 is pressed downwardly until the cam surfaces 28 of the legs 25 force the flanges or ears l8 and I9 towards each other, thereby reducing the diameter of the collar so that said collar is locked securely to the bar.

In order to limit the downward swinging movement of the lever 26, thus avoiding any danger of pinching the fingers between the lever and the bar II, a lug 32 may be formed on the underside of said lever in such a position to engage the end portion 33 of the collar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A locking device for releasably clamping weights on bar bells comprising a split collar having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the rod or bar on which it is to be used, spaced upright ears bordering the split in said collar and each ear having an open slot in its forward end, a bifurcated handle having a pair of legs straddling said ears, a pivoting rod connecting the ends of the legs, said slots extending upwardly at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the collar from the end of the cars so that the handle may be easily connected to said collar, and cam surfaces formed on said legs for engaging the ears when said handle is turned about its pivot towards the axis of the collar to thereby force the ears towards each other, whereby the diameter of the collar is reduced and the collar is clamped to a bar.

2. A locking device for releasably clamping weights on bar bells comprising a split collar having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the rod or bar on which it is to be used, spaced upright flanges bordering the split in said collar, an Open slot formed in the forward end of each flange, a handle having an end formed with spaced apart legs for straddling said flanges, a pivot pin connecting the free ends of said legs and passing through the slots in said flanges whereby the handle may be

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