CA3171725A1 - Barbell system and method of use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A barbell system is provided for weight training, the barbell system comprising: a bar which includes two ends and a length therebetween, each end including a threaded first member; an ergonomic handle rotatably engaging the bar; and at least two weight plates, each weight plate including a periphery, a first face, a second face, a centrally located threaded second member on the first face for threaded engagement with the threaded first member and a centrally located threaded first member on the second face for threaded engagement with the threaded second member of a subsequent weight plate.

Description

BARBELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
FIELD
The present technology is a barbell system in which the weight plates attach to one another in any order with the only the first plate in direct contact with the bar. Additionally, it is a barbell system in which the weight plates include a sound and shock reducing bumper and there is an ergonomically designed handle.
BACKGROUND
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20220212052 discloses an adjustable dumbbell that includes weight plates that are selectively connectable to a handle.
Unselected weight plates are secured to a cradle. To secure the unselected weight plates to the cradle, a latch in the cradle is inserted into an engagement surface notch in the weight plate. The unselected weight plates are individually actuated based on which weight plates are selected and connected to the handle. This is a complex system for retaining the unused plates and does not allow a user to releasably retain any combination of weight plates.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20210016124 discloses a set of dumbbells that comprise a plurality of dumbbells of different weights with the dumbbells having a common length. A plurality of adder weights is provided with each adder weight having a cavity that is sized to receive the common length of any one of the dumbbells.
Any one of the dumbbells is dropped down into the cavity of any one of the adder weights.
A slide retainer is then slid into a slideway on the any one adder weight to overlie the dumbbell and secure the dumbbell to the any one adder weight. The slide retainer has a window therein to allow a user to reach through the slide retainer and grip a hand grip of the dumbbell. This system is directed to adjusting the weight of a weight plate by adding an adder plate.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20200306578 discloses an adjustable barbell system that includes a base, two or more weights, a handle assembly, an additional weight, and selection assembly. The two or more weights may be supported by the base and grouped into a first set of weights associated with one end of the barbell Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 system and a second set of weights associated with an opposing end of the barbell system. The handle assembly may be selectively fixedly joined to the first and second set of weights. The additional weight may be disposed distally of the handle assembly. The selection assembly may be secured to the additional weight. The selection assembly may include a selection member that may be linearly moveable between a selected position where the additional weight is operatively secured to the handle assembly and an unselected position where the additional weight is disengaged from the handle assembly.
This is a complex system.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20140243168 discloses a weight plate system for a barbell or dumbbell that includes a first plate adapted to be mounted directly on the bar of a barbell or dumbbell, with the plate having an outer perimeter spaced outwardly from the bar when mounted thereon. A second plate includes a center hole adapted for receiving the outer periphery of the first plate whereby the second plate is mounted in concentric relationship with the first plate. The center hole of the second plate defines an inner periphery of the second plate which is mated with the outer periphery of the first plate. The adjacent first and second plates have seating channels on the outer and inner periphery, respectively, for maintaining the plates in seated relationship. A
locking system maintains the plates in the assembled relationship. Multiple plates can be mounted in concentric relationship in this manner. This system does not appear to provide any advantage over the prior art.
United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 20110294629 and 20100255963 disclose a selectorized dumbbell that has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell.
The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates.
Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates

2 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong. This is a complex system.
What is needed is an easy to assemble barbell system. It would be preferable if it included an ergonomically designed handle and a bar. It would be preferable if the ergonomically designed handle rotated about the bar unless it is locked in place. It would be preferable if the weight plates could be affixed to the bar, with a stack of one or more weight plates, of which only the most proximal was directly attached to the bar. It would be further preferable if each weight plate included a sound and shock reducing bumper about the periphery of the weight plate.
SUMMARY
The present technology is an easy to assemble barbell system. It includes an ergonomically designed handle and a bar. The ergonomically designed handle rotates about the bar unless it is locked in place. The weight plates are affixed to the bar, with a stack of one or more weight plates, of which only the most proximal is directly attached to the bar. Each weight plate includes a sound and shock reducing bumper about the periphery of the weight plate.
In one embodiment, a barbell system is provided for weight training, the barbell system comprising: a bar which includes two ends and a length therebetween, each end including a threaded first member; an ergonomic handle engaging the bar; and at least two weight plates, each weight plate including a periphery, a first face, a second face, a centrally located threaded second member on the first face for threaded engagement with the threaded first member and a centrally located threaded first member on the second face for threaded engagement with the threaded second member of a subsequent weight plate.
In the barbell system, each weight plate may include a groove extending around the periphery and a bumper retained therein.
In the barbell system, each weight plate may include an annular indent extending around the first threaded mating member or the second threaded mating member and an 0-ring retained therein.

3 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 In the barbell system, the ergonomic handle may be in rotatable engagement with the bar.
The barbell system may further comprise a multiplicity of ball bearings housed between the bar and the ergonomic handle.
In the barbell system, the ball bearings may be housed in a race.
In the barbell system, the ergonomic handle may include a releasable lock which extends through the handle to the bar, which when actuated, prevents the bar from rotating.
In another embodiment, a weight plate is provided for use with a bar, the weight plate including a periphery, a first face, a second face, a centrally located threaded second member on the first face and a centrally located threaded first member on the second face for threaded engagement with the threaded second member of a subsequent weight plate.
The weight plate may include a groove extending around the periphery and a bumper retained therein.
The weight plate may include an annular indent extending around the first threaded mating member or the second threaded mating member and an 0-ring retained therein.
In the weight plate, the annular indent may extend around the threaded second mating member.
In the weight plate, the threaded second member may be a male member and the threaded first member may be a female member.
FIGURES
Figure 1 is a plan view of the barbell weight system of the present technology.
Figure 2A is a plan view of the first face of a weight plate; Figure 2B is a plan view of the second face of the weight plate; and Figure 2C is an exploded side sectional view of two adjacent weight plates.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ergonomic handle and the bar of the barbell weight system of Figure 1.

4 Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 Figure 4A is a cross sectional view of the releasable lock in the actuated position; and Figure 4B is a cross sectional view of the releasable lock in the closed position.
DESCRIPTION
Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof', "hereto", "hereinbefore", and "hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are not exclusive and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms "comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Although Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.
A barbell system, generally referred to as 10 is shown in Figure 1. A stack of weight plates includes weight plates 12 of varying weight. Each weight plate has a bumper 14 around the periphery 16. An ergonomic handle 18 extends between the most proximal plates 20. It has flared ends 22 which are pressed against the first plate face 24. The ergonomic handle 18 is made of a plastic polymer and may be three-dimensionally printed. The plastic polymer may be for example, but not limited to nylon, poly-lactate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
As shown in Figure 2A, the first face 24 includes an 0-ring 26 and a threaded male mating member 28 which is centrally located. As shown in Figure 2B the second face 30 includes a centrally located threaded female mating member 32. As shown in Figure 2C
there is a groove 34 around the periphery 16 for accepting the bumper 14 which in one embodiment is an elastomeric 0-ring. In the preferred embodiment, there is also an annular indent 36 around the centrally located threaded male mating member 28 for retaining the elastomeric 0-ring 26. In another embodiment, the annular indent 36 is on the second face 30. The threads 38 can be seen in Figure 2C. It can be seen that the threaded female mating member 32 of one weight plate 12 threadedly mates with the threaded male mating member 28 of the next weight plate 12.
As shown in Figure 3, a bar 50 has a bar threaded female mating member 52 at each end 54 and a length 56 therebetween. The bar threaded female mating member 52 is for threaded engagement with the threaded male mating member 28 of the first weight plate 58. In this manner, only the first weight plate 20 is directly attached to the bar 50 and subsequent weight plates (n+1, n+2, etc.) are indirectly attached to the bar 50 by the previous weight plate. The bar 50 is spaced apart from the ergonomic handle 18 with ball bearings 60 which are located in a race 62 in the bar 50 in a preferred embodiment or the ergonomic handle 18 in another embodiment. The ball bearings 60 allow for free rotation of the ergonomic handle 18 about the bar 50.
In order to remove the first weight plate 20, the handle 18 must be fixed.
Accordingly, as shown in Figure 4A, a releasable lock, generally referred to as 64 has a leg 66 which Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-22 extends through a slot 68 in the ergonomic handle 18 and presses against the bar 50 when actuated. As shown in Figure 4B, when not actuated, the lever 70 of the releasable lock 64 is flush with the outer surface 72 of the ergonomic handle 18.
In use, a user selects the desired weight plates 12. The releasable lock 64 is in the actuated position. The user threads the first weight plates 20 onto each end 54 of the bar 50. The user then releases the releasable lock 64, allowing the ergonomic handle 18 to rotate freely about the bar 50. The user then threads the second weight plates 12 onto the first weight plates 20, and so on until all the desired weight plates 12 have been added.
The 0-ring 26 prevents the weight plates 12 from banging against each other and also ensures that they do not stick to one another when being added or removed. The bumpers 16 reduce the shock and noise when the barbell system 10 is dropped or placed on a surface. To remove weight plates 12, the user unthreads the weight plates from one another and then again locks the releasable lock 64 to remove the first weight plate 20.
In an alternative embodiment, the ergonomic handle 18 is in fixed relation to the bar 50.
The fixed ergonomic handle may be metal.
While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-08-22

Claims (12)

1. A barbell system for weight training, the barbell system comprising: a bar which includes two ends and a length therebetween, each end including a threaded first member; an ergonomic handle engaging the bar; and at least two weight plates, each weight plate including a periphery, a first face, a second face, a centrally located threaded second member on the first face for threaded engagement with the threaded first member and a centrally located threaded first member on the second face for threaded engagement with the threaded second member of a subsequent weight plate.

2. The barbell system of claim 1, wherein each weight plate includes a groove extending around the periphery and a bumper retained therein.

3. The barbell system of claim 1 or 2, wherein each weight plate includes an annular indent extending around the first threaded mating member or the second threaded mating member and an 0-ring retained therein.

4. The barbell system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ergonomic handle is in rotatable engagement with the bar.

5. The barbell system of claim 4 further comprising a multiplicity of ball bearings housed between the bar and the ergonomic handle.

6. The barbell system of claim 5, wherein the ball bearings are housed in a race.

7. The barbell system of claim 6, wherein the ergonomic handle includes a releasable lock which extends through the handle to the bar, which when actuated, prevents the bar from rotating.

8. A weight plate for use with a bar, the weight plate including a periphery, a first face, a second face, a centrally located threaded second member on the first face and a centrally located threaded first member on the second face for threaded engagement with the threaded second member of a subsequent weight plate.

9. The weight plate of claim 7, the weight plate including a groove extending around the periphery and a bumper retained therein.

10. The weight plate of claim 7 or 8, the weight plate including an annular indent extending around the first threaded mating member or the second threaded mating member and an 0-ring retained therein.

11.The weight plate of claim 10, wherein the annular indent extends around the threaded second mating member.

12. The weight plate of any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the threaded second member is a male member and the threaded first member is a female member.