Patent Publication Number: US-11642562-B2

Title: Weight bar stopper

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a non-provisional application, application number Ser. No. 16/512,327, filed Jul. 15, 2019, which is incorporated herewith by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an exercise equipment, and more particularly to a weight bar stopper, which can rapidly and securely lock up weight plates at two end portions of the weight bar. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     A dumbbell is one of popular exercise equipments used in weight training, weightlifting, and bodybuilding. The conventional dumbbell generally comprises a weight bar and a plurality of weight plates selectively coupled at two end portions of the weight bar respectively to selectively adjust a total weight of the dumbbell. The dumbbell further comprises two collars detachably coupled at the end portions of the weight bar to prevent the weight plates being slid out of the weight bar. However, the conventional dumbbell has several drawbacks. 
     Each of the collars comprises a ring-shaped clamping member detachably clamped on the weight bar after the weight plate is slid thereat. The grip strength of the collar will be weaker due to the unwanted sliding movement of the weight plates along the weight bar and due to the usage time. The weight plates cannot be stably retained in position along the weight bar once the grip strength of the collar is reduced. Furthermore, the dumbbell cannot be used when the collar is broken or lost. It is worth mentioning that the collars can be slid along the weight bar at any position to block the outward sliding movement of the weight plates. In other words, the lifter or a trainer will clamp the collars at the weight bar by experience in order to keep the weight plates at the weight bar in an even manner. However, a slightly off relative position between the collars at the weight bar will cause the uneven force for the lifter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The invention is advantageous in that it provides a weight bar stopper, which can rapidly and securely lock up weight plates at two end portions of the weight bar. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, wherein a plurality of stopper members are spacedly provided along each end portion of the weigh bar to block the weight plate being slid at the end portion of the weight bar. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, which is built-in at each of the end portions of the weight bar to prevent any accidently loss of external component to the weight bar. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, wherein each of the stopper members is actuated independently to selectively couple one or more weight plates at the weight bar and to selectively retain different positions of the weight plates along the end portion of the weight bar. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, which can incorporate with different weight bars having different cross sections at the end portions thereof to secure the weight plates at the end portion of the weight bar. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, wherein the weight bar stopper is built-in with the weight bar to form a weight bar assembly to incorporate with any existing weight plate, such that the user is able to use the existing weight plates to detachably couple at the weight bar assembly. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, which can be an add-on component to integrally attach to the end portion of the existing weight bar in order to secure the weight plate thereat. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, which does not require altering the original structural design of the exercise equipment, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the weight bar stopper that incorporates the weight plates. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a weight bar stopper, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objectives. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution to provide a securing means for rapidly and securely lock up weight plates at two end portions of the weight bar. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by an exercise equipment, comprising: 
     a weight bar; 
     a plurality of weight plates slidably coupled at two end portions of the weight bar from two free ends thereof respectively; and 
     a weight bar stopper built-in at each of the end portions of the weight bar to increase a peripheral size of the weight bar at the end portion thereof to block the weight plate being slid out of the free end of the weight bar, wherein when the weight bar stopper is actuated to adjust the peripheral size of the weight bar back to its original size, the weight plate is allowed to be slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a weight bar assembly for detachably coupling a plurality of weight plates, wherein the weight bar assembly comprises: 
     a weight bar for the weight plates slidably coupling at two end portions of the weight bar from two free ends thereof respectively; and 
     a weight bar stopper built-in at each of the end portions of the weight bar to increase a peripheral size of the weight bar at the end portion thereof for blocking the weight plate being slid out of the free end of the weight bar, wherein the weight bar stopper is actuated to adjust the peripheral size of the weight bar back to its original size for allowing the weight plate to be slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a exercise equipment according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view of the exercise equipment according to the above first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an alternative mode the weight bar stopper of the exercise equipment according to the above first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a exercise equipment according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a sectional view of the exercise equipment according to the above second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    of the drawings, a exercise equipment according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the exercise equipment comprises a weight bar assembly and a plurality of weight plates  10 . The weight bar assembly comprises a weight bar  20  and a weight bar stopper  30 , wherein the weight plates  10  are slidably coupled at two end portions of the weight bar  20  from two free ends thereof respectively. 
     In one embodiment, the weight bar stopper  30  is built-in at each of the end portions of the weight bar  20  to increase a peripheral size of the weight bar  20  at the end portion thereof to block the weight plate  10  being slid out of the free end of the weight bar  20 . When the weight bar stopper  30  is actuated to adjust the peripheral size of the weight bar  20  back to its original size, the weight plate  10  is allowed to be slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar  10 . As a result, the overall weight of the exercise equipment of the present invention can be selectively adjusted. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, each of the weight plates  10  has a center through slot  11 , wherein the end portion of the weight bar  20  is able to slidably penetrate through the center through slot  11  of the weight plate  10  to couple the weight plate  10  at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . Accordingly, when the weight plates  10  are coupled at two end portions of the weight bar  20 , the exercise equipment forms a dumbbell that the user is able to control the exercise equipment by one hand. The weight plate  10  is loaded at the weight bar  20  by sliding the weight plate  10  from the free end of the weight bar  20  along the end portion thereof at a loading direction. The weight plate  10  is unloaded at the weight bar  20  by sliding the weight plate  10  out of the free end of the weight bar  20  along the end portion thereof at an unloading direction which is opposite to the loading direction. 
     The weight bar stopper  30  is actuated between an accessing position to replace the weight plates  10  from the weight bar  20  and stopping position to lock the weight plates  10  at the weight bar  20 . Particularly, at the accessing position, the weight bar stopper  30  is aligned along an axis of the weight bar  20  to allow the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion thereof, such that the weight plate  10  can be detached from the weight bar  20  and a new weight plate  10  can be coupled thereto. At the stopping position, the weight bar stopper  30  is radially protruded out of the weight bar  20  to block the weight plate  10  being slid out of the free end of the weight bar  20 , so as to lock up the weight plate  10  at each of the end portions of the weight bar  20 . It is worth mentioning that two or more weight plates  10  can be coupled at one free end portion of the weight bar  20  and locked by the weight bar stopper  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the weight bar  20  comprises two stopping rims  21  spacedly and outwardly therefrom to define the weight bar  20  into two outer portions and a mid-portion. The outer portions of the weight bar  20  are the end portions thereof and the mid-portion of the weight bar  20  serves as hand gripping portion thereof. In other words, the end portion of the weight bar  20  is defined between the free end thereof and the stopping rim  21 . The diameter of each of the stopping rims  21  is larger than a diameter center through slot  11  of the weight plate  10 , such that when the weight plate  10  is slid along the end portion of the weight bar  20 , the weight plate  10  is blocked by the respective stopping rim  21  to prevent the weight plate  10  being slid at the hand gripping portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     In one embodiment, each end portion of the weight bar  20  has a non-circular cross section defining a flat outer surface  22  that the weight bar stopper  30  is formed at the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20 , wherein the flat outer surface  22  is extended from the respective stopping rim  21 . 
     The weight bar stopper  30  comprises a plurality of receiving cavities  31  spacedly indented on the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20  and a plurality of stopper members  32  movably received within the receiving cavities  31  respectively. At the accessing position, the stopper members  32  are received in the receiving cavities  31  respectively to align along the axis of the weight bar  20  so as to allow the weight plate  10  being slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar  20 . At the stopping position, the stopper members  32  are protruded out of the receiving cavities  31  to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the receiving cavities  31  are communicated with each other to form a receiving channel indented on the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20 , wherein the stopper members  32  are spacedly supported along the receiving channel. 
     Each of the stopper members  32  is pivotally coupled at the weight bar  20  within the respective receiving cavity  31 , wherein each of the stopper members  32  is pivotally moved in-and-out the respective receiving cavity  31 . Each of the stopper members  32  has a blocking surface  321  arranged in such a manner that when the stopper member  32  is moved in the receiving cavity  31  to hide the blocking surface  321  therewithin, the weight plate  10  is adapted to slidably couple at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . When the stopper member  32  is moved out of the receiving cavity  31  to protrude the blocking surface  321  thereof, the weight plate  10  is adapted to lock at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, each of the stopper members  32  has a guiding surface  322  opposed to the blocking surface  321  to guide the sliding movement of the weight plate  10  along the end portion of the weight bar  20 . Accordingly, when the stopper member  32  is received in the receiving cavity  31 , the guiding surface  322  of the stopper member  32  is aligned with the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20  to hide the blocking surface  321  of the stopper member  32 . When the stopper member  32  is pivotally moved out of the receiving cavity  31 , the blocking surface  321  of the stopper member  32  is protruded from the flat outer surface  22  of the weigh bar  20  to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     In one embodiment, each of the stopper members  32  has a triangular shape defining the blocking surface  321  of the stopper member  32  being perpendicular to the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20  and the guiding surface  321  of the stopper member  32  being inclined to the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20  when the stopper member  32  is protruded out of the receiving cavity  31 . In other words, the guiding surface  321  of the stopper member  32  is downwardly inclined toward the free end of the weight bar  20 . 
     The weight bar stopper  30  further comprises a plurality of resilient members  33  supported in the receiving cavities  31  to bias against the stopper members  32  respectively so as to push the blocking surface  321  of the stopper member  32  protruded from the flat outer surface  22  of the weigh bar  20 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , each of the resilient members  33  is a coil spring having a bottom end coupled at the bottom wall of the receiving cavity  31  and an upper end coupled at the stopper member  32 , wherein a mid-portion of the resilient member  32  is coupled at a pivot point of the stopper member  32 , such that the resilient member  32  is arranged to apply a resilient force for the stopper member  32  to pivotally push the stopper member  32  out of the receiving cavity  31  so as to retain the stopper member  32  at the stopping position. 
     Accordingly, each of the stopper members  32  is actuated independently. Two or more stopper members  32  are provided at the flat outer surface  22  along each end portion of the weight bar  20 . One of the stopper members  32  can be actuated to move from its stopping position to the accessing position, while another stopper member  32  is remained at the stopping position. In other words, the stopper members  32  can retained at the different positions. In one embodiment, there are three stopper members  32  provided at each end portion of the weight bar  20 , wherein the first stopper member  32  is located close to the free end of the weight bar  20 , the third stopper member  32  is located close to the stopping rim  21  of the weight bar  20 , and the second stopper member  32  is located between the first and third stopper members  32 . When the weight plate  10  is slid to the end portion of the weight bar  20  at the loading direction, the inner circumferential wall of the center through slot  11  of the weight plate  10  is slid at the guiding surface  322  of the first stopper member  32  to pivotally push the first stopper member  32  from the blocking position to the accessing position. Once the weight plate  10  passes the first stopper member  32 , the first stopper member  32  is pivotally moved back to the blocking position from the accessing position via the resilient member  33 . As a result, the weight plate  10  is blocked by the blocking surface  321  of the first stopper member  32  to prevent the weight plate  10  being slid out of the free end of the weight bar  20  at the unloading direction. Accordingly, the weight plate  10  can further slide to pass the second and third stopper members  32  until the weight plate  10  is blocked by the stopping rim  21  of the weight bar  20 . The location of the weight plate  10  can be selectively adjusted via the stopper members  32 . Furthermore, two or more weight plates  10  can be locked at one end portion of the weight bar  20 . In order to detach the weight plate  10  from the weight bar  20 , the user is able to press the stopper member  32  to pivotally move the stopper member  32  in the receiving cavity  31 . Once the stopper member  32  is received in the receiving cavity  31  to hide the blocking surface  321  of the stopper member  32 , the weight plate  10  can be slid out of the free end of the weight bar  20  at the unloading direction. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an alternative mode of the weight bar stopper  30 A which comprises a plurality of receiving cavities  31 A spacedly indented on the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20  and a plurality of stopper members  32 A movably received within the receiving cavities  31 A respectively. Each of the stopper members  32 A is moved between the accessing position and the stopping position. At the accessing position, the stopper members  32 A are received in the receiving cavities  31 A respectively to align along the axis of the weight bar  20  so as to allow the weight plate  10  being slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar  20 . At the stopping position, the stopper members  32 A are protruded out of the receiving cavities  31 A to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     In this alternative mode, each of stopper members  32 A is slidably coupled at the weight bar  20 . Particularly, the stopper member  32 A is extended perpendicular to the flat outer surface  22  of the weight bar  20 . Likewise, each of the stopper members  32 A has a triangular shape defining a guiding surface  322 A and a blocking surface  321 A. When the stopper member  32 A is received in the receiving cavity  31 A, the guiding surface  322 A of the stopper member  32 A is aligned with the flat outer surface  22  of the weigh bar  20  to hide the blocking surface  321 A of the stopper member  32 A. When the stopper member  32 A is slid out of the receiving cavity  31 A, the blocking surface  321 A of the stopper member  32 A is protruded from the flat outer surface  22  of the weigh bar  20  to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 . 
     The weight bar stopper  30 A further comprises a plurality of resilient members  33 A supported in the receiving cavities  31 A to bias against the stopper members  32 A respectively so as to push the blocking surface  321 A of the stopper member  32 A protruded from the flat outer surface  22  of the weigh bar  20 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , each of the resilient members  33 A is a compression spring having a bottom end coupled at the bottom wall of the receiving cavity  31 A and an upper end coupled at the stopper member  32 A to retain the stopper member  32 A at the blocking position, such that the resilient member  32 A is arranged to apply a resilient force for the stopper member  32 A to upwardly push the stopper member  32 A out of the receiving cavity  31 A so as to retain the stopper member  32 A at the stopping position. Accordingly, each of the stopper members  32 A is actuated independently to downwardly push the stopper member  32 A from the blocking position to the accessing position. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , a weight bar assembly of the exercise equipment according to a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment. The weight bar assembly comprises a weight bar  20 B and a weight bar stopper  30 B, wherein the weight plates  10  are slidably coupled at two end portions of the weight bar  20 B from two free ends thereof respectively. 
     According to the second embodiment, the weight bar  20 B comprises two stopping rims  21 B spacedly and outwardly therefrom to define the weight bar  20 B to have two end portions and the hand gripping portion. Each of the end portions of the weight bar  20 B has a circular cross section defining a plurality of an outer circumferential surface  22 B that the weight bar stopper  30 B is formed at the outer circumferential surface  22 B of the weight bar  20 B. 
     The weight bar stopper  30 B comprises at least two receiving cavities  31 B oppositely indented on the outer circumferential surface  22 B of the weight bar  20 B, at least two stopper members  32 B movably received within the receiving cavities  31 B respectively to allow the weight plate  10  being slid in and out the end portion of the weight bar  20 B, and a push actuator  33 B operatively coupled at the free end of the weight bar  20 B. When the push actuator  33 B is pushed and actuated, the stopper members  32 B are radially protruded out of the receiving cavities  31 B respectively in a synchronized manner to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 B. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the receiving cavities  31 B are located at two opposed sides of the weight bar  20 B and are aligned with each other, wherein openings of the receiving cavities  31 B face opposite with each other. Each of the stopper members  32 B is slidably coupled at the weight bar  20 B within the respective receiving cavity  31 B, wherein each of the stopper members  32 B is slidably moved in-and-out the respective receiving cavity  31 B. Particularly, the stopper member  32 B is radially extended to the outer circumferential surface  22 B of the weight bar  20 B. Preferably, the stopper member  32 B are provided at each end portion of the weight bar  20  close to the free end thereof. 
     Each of the stopper members  32 B has a blocking end  321 B as the free end arranged in such a manner that when the stopper member  32 B is moved in the receiving cavity  31 B to hide the blocking end  321 B therewithin, the weight plate  10  is adapted to slidably couple at the end portion of the weight bar  20 B. When the stopper member  32 B is moved out of the receiving cavity  31 B to protrude the blocking end  321 B thereof, the weight plate  10  is adapted to lock at the end portion of the weight bar  20 B. 
     The weight bar stopper  30 B further comprises a plurality of resilient members  33 B supported in the receiving cavities  31 B to bias against the stopper members  32 B respectively so as to push the blocking end  321 B of the stopper member  32 B radially protruded from the outer circumferential surface  22 B of the weigh bar  20 B. As shown in  FIG.  5   , each of the resilient members  33 B is a compression spring having an inner end coupled at the bottom wall of the receiving cavity  31 B and an outer end coupled at the stopper member  32 B to retain the stopper member  32 B at the blocking position, such that the resilient member  32 B is arranged to apply a resilient force for the stopper member  32 B to upwardly push the stopper member  32 B out of the receiving cavity  31 B so as to retain the stopper member  32 B at the stopping position. Accordingly, each of the stopper members  32 B is actuated independently to downwardly push the stopper member  32 B from the blocking position to the accessing position. 
     The push actuator  33 B is provided at the free end of the weight bar  20 B to unlock the stopper members  32  in a synchronized manner so as to release the stopper members  32 B from the accessing position to the blocking position. In order to load the weight plate  10  at the weight bar  20 B, the user is able to move the stopper members  32 B from the blocking position to the accessing position by pressing the stopper members  32 B in the receiving cavities  31 B to hide the blocking ends  321 B of the stopper members  32 B within the receiving cavities  31 B. The weight plate  10  can slide along the end portion of the weight bar  20 B from the free end thereof at the loading direction. Once the weight plate  10  is loaded at the weight bar  30 B, the push actuator  33 B is pushed and actuated to release the stopper members  32 B from the accessing position. The stopper members  32 B are radially protruded out of the receiving cavities  31 B respectively in a synchronized manner to block the weight plate  10  being slid at the end portion of the weight bar  20 B. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.