A weight plate for physical fitness equipment including, a plate body formed with a central through-bore and two adjacent bores passing vertically through said plate body, the central through-bore being positioned between the adjacent bores , a locking cartridge mounted in a cavity in a front edge of the plate body; a connector attached to said plate body intermediate said two bores, and being inserted in the central through-bore , wherein the connector comprises a cavity formed within a body of the connector configured to receive a portion of an additional connector on an adjacent weight plate, wherein the connector further comprises two opposing apertures passing through sidewalls of the connector to communicate with the cavity in the connector body, and wherein at least a portion of said connector extends below the bottom surface of said plate body, said portion comprising an engagement loop , an internal bore formed horizontally within said plate body and communicating with said connector , an internal bore end , an engagement pin movably mounted within said internal bore , and a lever adapted to move said engagement pin within said internal bore to positively engage an engagement loop of a portion of an additional connector on an adjacent weight plate, wherein the internal bore end is configured to receive the locking pin after it has passed through the two apertures in the connector attached to the plate body, wherein the weight plate further comprises a pivot pin for mounting said lever in said plate body and wherein the lever is pivotally mounted around the pivot pin , which is inserted through apertures in the cartridge . a plate body formed with a central through-bore and two adjacent bores passing vertically through said plate body, the central through-bore being positioned between the adjacent bores , a locking cartridge mounted in a cavity in a front edge of the plate body; a connector attached to said plate body intermediate said two bores, and being inserted in the central through-bore , wherein the connector comprises a cavity formed within a body of the connector configured to receive a portion of an additional connector on an adjacent weight plate, wherein the connector further comprises two opposing apertures passing through sidewalls of the connector to communicate with the cavity in the connector body, and wherein at least a portion of said connector extends below the bottom surface of said plate body, said portion comprising an engagement loop , an internal bore formed horizontally within said plate body and communicating with said connector , an internal bore end , an engagement pin movably mounted within said internal bore , and a lever adapted to move said engagement pin within said internal bore to positively engage an engagement loop of a portion of an additional connector on an adjacent weight plate, wherein the internal bore end is configured to receive the locking pin after it has passed through the two apertures in the connector attached to the plate body, wherein the weight plate further comprises a pivot pin for mounting said lever in said plate body and wherein the lever is pivotally mounted around the pivot pin , which is inserted through apertures in the cartridge . <EOS>