Patent Publication Number: US-9839806-B2

Title: Cam and wedge barbell clip

Description:
This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/151,896 filed Apr. 23, 2015, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to a clip for securing weight plates used in competitive or recreational weightlifting to a barbell. The system and apparatus disclosed herein provides a more efficient and effective clip that enables quick installation and removal upon the addition or removal of weight plates to a barbell. The system and apparatus disclosed herein employs a single cam design in conjunction with wedge-shaped arched portions of a clip that contact a portion of the circumference of a cylindrical barbell sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and photographs. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a barbell on which an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip of is affixed. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an alternative view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip affixed to a barbell. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip in an open position. 
         FIG. 5  provides a side view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip in a closed position. 
         FIG. 6A  is a view of an upper half of an embodiment of the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of an embodiment of a wedge component of an embodiment the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
         FIG. 6C  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a wedge component of an embodiment the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
         FIG. 6D  is a front view of an embodiment of a wedge component of an embodiment the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
         FIG. 6E  is a front view of an embodiment of a wedge component of an embodiment the presently disclosed barbell clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In Olympic, competitive, or recreational weightlifting and weight training, barbells are used that include some basic components. Aside from the weights applied to the barbell, the barbell includes a steel bar, bearings and the sleeves. The sleeves include a collar.  FIG. 1  depicts an example of a typical weight lifting bar. Barbell  100  includes a main bar  102 , which is an elongated bar having a round cross section and a diameter sufficiently small allowing a user to easily grasp the bar for lifting. In one embodiment, hand placement sections  104  are marked on the main bar section  102 . On each end of barbell  102  is a sleeve  106 . Each sleeve  106  is an elongated member having a slightly larger diameter than bar  102 . At an interior end of each sleeve  106  is collar  108 . Sleeves  106  permit bar  102  to rotate within the sleeves that act as bearings and permit the lifter to keep his or her hands in contact with the bar  102  while executing a lift. 
     In operation, collar  108  and sleeve  106  operate as bearings to permit easy rotation of bar  102  relative to the weight plates. In dashed lines of  FIG. 1 , weight plates  110  that may be installed onto barbell  100  as shown. Weight plate  110  is typically a round or multi-sided plate of various weight made of steel, plastic, or the like. At the center of weight plate  110  is an opening through which sleeve  106  may be easily inserted. The opening of weight plate  110  is of sufficient diameter to allow insertion of sleeve  106  with relative ease. 
     Once weight plates  110  are placed on barbell  100 , the weight plates must be secured. Typically, weight plates  110  are secured on barbell  100  with a clip. In one embodiment of the presently described barbell clip, a clip  120  is situated on sleeve  106  of barbell  100  on the exterior side of weight plate  110  on opposite ends of barbell  100 . As such, clip  120  secures weight plate  110  between collar  108  and clip  120  on sleeve  106 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this manner, a weightlifter may execute various lifts with barbell  100  without concern that one or more of weight plates  110  will slide off of sleeve  106 . 
     One embodiment of the presently disclosed clip  120  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . Clip  120  is constructed of an upper clip half  321  and a lower clip half  325 . Upper clip half  321  comprises an outer wedge  322  and an inner wedge  324 . Similarly, lower clip half  325  comprises an outer wedge  326  and an inner wedge  328 . Each of the outer and inner wedges of the clip halves include a slot and a fin to hold together each outer wedge and inner wedge and to keep each part aligned. As shown in  FIGS. 6D and 6E , fin  370  associated with inner wedge  324  or  328  slides into slot  380  associated with upper wedge  322  or  326  to keep each wedge connected and aligned. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 3 , upper clip half  321  and lower clip half  325  are connected by four shafts  330 . In one embodiment, each shaft  330  is cylindrical and connects upper clip half  321  with lower clip half  325  via a series of holes bored through each clip half. A cap is affixed to the end of each shaft to prevent the upper and lower clip from disconnecting and keep the upper clip half and lower clip in position. Upper clip half  321  also includes a single cam configuration. As shown, a cam  350  is associated with a first side of upper clip half  321  and a cam arm  352  is associated cam  350 . On opposite ends of the upper clip half  321  is a set of holder plates  354 . These holder plates encompass cam  350 . 
     In operation, clip  120  is placed in position on barbell  100  by sliding clip  120  so as to secure weigh plate  110  against collar  108 . While clip  120  is placed into position against weight plate  110 , cam  350  is in an open position, meaning clip  120  may easily pass over sleeve  106  as it is placed in position against weight plate  110 . During the installation of clip  120 , the cam being in the open position causes holder plates  354  to be separated by a distance d. Once clip  120  is positioned in the desired location along sleeve  106  and against weight plate  110 , clip  120  may then be tightened so as not to move from that location. This tightening is achieved by rotating each cam arm  352  so as to cause rotation of cam  350  to a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 3 . Upon cam  350  reaching the vertical or closed position, force is exerted on each of the holder plates along the vertical axis. In turn the distance between holder plates  354  increases to, for example, a distance  3   d.    
     The increase of force along the vertical axis of holder plates  354  is significant. The presently disclosed clip offers the advantages of ease of installation and removal. Known barbell clips require significant force to tighten and loosen the clip at the start and completion of a barbell&#39;s use. Some clips spin around the associated sleeve, making application of the necessary force for tightening and loosening all the more difficult and possible causing injury to the user&#39;s hands. Known clips, however, must include closure mechanisms that create a very tight fit prior to any weightlifting operation. This is necessary because during execution of a lift, the weight plates situated on the barbell move laterally. As such, outward lateral force is repeatedly exerted onto each clip during execution of a lift. Unless the clip is extremely tight, this force will cause the clip to move outwardly away from the weigh plate and perhaps loosen and ultimately fall off of the sleeve. In addition, the repeated lateral force applied to the clip may compromise the clip and ultimately cause the clip to break and fail. 
     An embodiment of the presently disclosed clip  120  provides an easily installed and removed clip while accommodating and taking advantage of the lateral force exerted onto clip  120  during execution of a barbell exercise. Upper clip half  321  and lower clip half  325  are each advantageously configured as comprising an inner and outer wedge. As discussed, upper clip half  321  includes outer wedge  322  and inner wedge  324 . Similarly lower clip half  325  includes outer wedge  326  and inner wedge  328 . As discussed, as cam  350  is placed in the closed position by rotating cam arm  352 , the gap between holder plates  354  increases. In turn, force along the vertical axis is exerted onto outer wedge  322  of upper clip half  321 . At the same time, the tightening or closing of cam  350  causes outer wedge  326  of lower clip half  325  to be forced against inner wedge  328  of lower clip half  325 .  FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of clip  120  in closed or locked position. This is evident from the displacement of outer wedge  322  in relation to inner wedge  324  of upper clip half  321  and similar displacement of outer wedge  326  in relation to inner wedge  328  of lower clip half  325 . Note that in  FIG. 4 , the secured weight plate  110  is located to the right of clip  120 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , cam  350  is in the closed or tightened position, causing the increased gap between holder plates  354 , and consequential additional force asserted along the vertical axis causing the tightening or further aligning of the inner and outer wedges of the upper and lower halves of clip  120 . When this aligning occurs by increasing the gap between holder plates  354  it pushes the outer wedges inward, and reduces the diameter the outer wedges are able to maintain, which in turn causes them to slide downward in a direction as seen in  FIG. 4 , which would be closer to the weight plates.  FIG. 5  provides another view of the positioning of the outer and inner wedges upon closure or tightening of cam  250  of clip  120 . In  FIG. 5 , cam  350  is moved via rotation of cam arm  352  to the closed or tightened position. Note that cam arm  352  is in the vertical or “twelve o&#39;clock” position in this embodiment, but other relationships between cam arm  352  and cam  350  to achieve the closed or locked position may be employed. In this closed position, the outer wedges ( 324 / 326 ), which are connected to the inner wedges ( 324 / 328 ), are forced together. When clip  120  is placed against weight plate  110 , the rotation (closing) of cam arm  352  and corresponding rotation of cam  350  causes outer wedges  322  and  326  to be forced “downhill” against inner wedges  324  and  328 , respectively. Inner curved wedges and outer curved wedges of clip  120  may be constructed of rubber, hard plastic or other materials with suitable gripping and expansion and contraction properties. Other portions of clip  120  such as the cam, cam lever and shafts may be constructed of metal, hard plastic or other material of suitable durability. 
     Note, however, in  FIG. 5  although cam  350  is in the closed or tightened position, the entirety of the upper clip half  321  and lower clip half  325  are not flush against weight plate  110 . Upon initial closure of clip  120  as shown via placing cam  350  in the closed position, each set of outer and inner wedges are not fully aligned. As shown, only the outer wedge  322  of upper clip half  321  and outer wedge  326  of lower clip half  325  come into contact with weight plate  110 . This means that clip  120  may be tightened further. This further tightening is achieved through the lateral force that weight plate  110  exerts on clip  120  during execution of a barbell exercise. As discussed, each repetition of an exercise causes the weight plates  110  to shift laterally against clip  120 . For example, if the user of barbell  100  is performing a familiar curl exercise to increase biceps strength, the motion of the barbell or the barbell being held not perfectly parallel may cause weight plates  110  to attempt to shift outward laterally away from the user&#39;s hands, which are placed on the main barbell section between weight plates  110 . Another example is when a barbell with weights installed is dropped to the floor and the bouncing motion may cause lateral forces that make weights  110  want to shift laterally. 
     When the barbell is set to rest on a rack or the floor the lateral pressure from the weights  110  is released, thus reducing the lateral force applied to clip  120 . With each barbell movement causing weight plate  110  to exert force on clip  120 , outer wedge  322  of upper clip half  321  and outer wedge  326  of lower clip half  325  are forced uphill against corresponding inner wedges  324  and  328 . This causes further tightening of the clip. In turn, less force is absorbed by cam  350  and cam arm  352  during barbell use, making the clip less susceptible to breakage due to repeated strain on the closing mechanism. Thus, while the upper and lower halves of clip  120  along with cam  350  and cam arm  352 , in conjunction with shafts  330  provide sufficient resistance, tension and friction to ensure initial security of weight plates  110  on barbell sleeves  106 , only enough tension and friction is created for initial locking of clip  120  onto sleeve  106 . It is the additional lateral movement of weight plates  110  during normal weightlifting that creates additional lateral force onto clip  120  and specifically the outer and inner wedges ( 322 / 324  and  326 / 328 ) that maximize effective tightening of clip  120  around the sleeve. Accordingly, a clip with increased ease of installation and removal is achieved because only so much force as is necessary to initially tighten the clip and eventually remove the clip is required of the user. The upper and lower wedge configuration that receives the lateral force of the weight plates  110  created by movement of the barbell causes the additional tightening to maintain the position of the each clip  120  on each sleeve  106 . Thus, the difficulty endured with affixing and removing barbell clips from a barbell is eliminated. 
     Other views of various components of an embodiment of clip  120  are also provided. In  FIG. 6A , outer wedge  322  and inner wedge  324  of upper clip half  321  are shown in isolation.  FIG. 6B  depicts a side view of inner wedge  324  of upper clip half  321 .  FIG. 6C  depicts another view of outer wedge  322  of the upper clip half  321 .  FIG. 6D  depicts the inner wedge  324  or  328  of the upper clip half  321  or lower clip half  325 . Also shown in  FIG. 6D  is fin  370  that slides into a corresponding slot  380  of outer wedges  322  and/or  326  as shown in  FIG. 6E  for aligning and securing together the inner and outer wedges. Another view of outer wedge  322  or  326  is also provided in  FIG. 6E . 
     Additional modifications or enhancerrrents of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of components described and photographs herein are intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to serve as limitations of alternative clips within the spirit and scope of the invention.