Patent ID: 6971974

Claim:
A quick-release mechanism apparatus for a weight lifting bar, said weight lifting bar having at least two ends, said apparatus comprising: a receiving end, said receiving end being fixedly attached to said end of said weight lifting bar; a keyed protrusion member, said keyed protrusion member having a geometric cross-section, a hollowed portion therein, a channel, a front end and a back end, said hollowed portion having a hollowed back end and a hollowed front end, said front end being fixedly attached to said receiving end with an attachment means; a plurality of individual weight components, said individual weight components having an aperture located approximately in the center thereof, said aperture having a geometric configuration approximately the same as said geometric cross-section and a plurality of aperture teeth on at least one internal surface, wherein said aperture can readily receive said keyed protrusion member; a quick-release handle, said quick-release handle being pivotally mounted within said receiving end; and a ratchet mechanism, said ratchet mechanism being attached to said hollowed portion of said keyed protrusion member.