FIELD OF INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to weight retention clamps or collars, particularly to weight retention clamps or collars for retaining or securing weight plates on a barbell.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Conventional weight plates are often circular planar members defining central circular apertures through which cylindrical ends of elongate barbells are receivable. When performing certain exercises with the barbells, for example, dead lifts, squats, bench presses, or snatches, it is desirous to be able to clamp the weights at a desired location relative to the barbell, at respective ends thereof, so as to limit travel of said weight plates along the barbell. In this way, undesired accidents associated with weight plates falling off the barbell or imbalances created by weight plates travelling along a longitudinal axis of the barbell are mitigated.

To this end, weight retention clamps, or "collars" as they are sometimes called, are often employed to address the abovementioned problems by limiting the travel of the weight plates on the barbell. Conventional weight retention clamps are typically in the form of spring-type clamps, for example, a clamp constructed as a resilient wire frame formed in a loop defining a circular passage and having a pair of spaced apart elongate free ends, wherein grasping the free ends and forcing the same together causes the passage to deform to a larger diameter so as to receive the barbell therethrough. The ends have to be held together at a desired force to keep the passage at a desired diameter as the clamp is located at a desired location along the barbell, after which, release of the free ends allows the diameter of the passage to reduce resiliently to effectively fasten the clamp around the barbell. Though clamps of this nature serve the purpose of retaining the weight plates on the barbell, they are problematic in that they are often difficult to operate and require a substantial amount of force to be exerted on the free ends for an extended period of time until the clamps are at a desired location on the barbell. In addition, due to the wire frame construction of clamps of this type, they are more likely to cause injury to the hands of users, in use, particularly due to the force which users have to exert to operate same. In addition, use of these clamps are often time consuming and inconvenient when undertaking certain faster training regiments which require users to quickly change weight plates on barbells. Other barbell clamps are in the form of cylindrical collars having central passages therethrough with screws locatable in the the central passages. The central passages are typically hollow openings that extend through the collars such that the barbells are receivable therein. A screw of a collar may be operated to engage the barbell in a transverse fashion to essentially provide an interference fit between the collar and barbell so as to limit movement of the collar relative to the barbell. However, these clamps are often difficult and time consuming to use and are unreliable as they are prone to slippage which thus allows travel of the weight plates. In addition, they may cause damage to the barbells, in use.

More sophisticated clamps have been developed to retain weight plates to barbells which also address the problems associated with the abovementioned clamps. However, these more sophisticated clamps are often complicated and thus are fairly costly which limits their widespread use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate weight retention clamp to retain weight plates on a barbell, and which addresses at least some of the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a weight retention clamp for a barbell, wherein the clamp comprises: a body defining a passage for receiving an end of a barbell therethrough, wherein the body comprises a pair of opposed end flanges; and an attachment arrangement operatively attachable to the end flanges, wherein operation of at least part of the attachment arrangement operates the clamp between unlocked and locked conditions, wherein the end flanges are substantially closer in the locked condition than in the unlocked condition so as to fasten the clamp around the barbell in the locked condition.

The body may be in the form of an annular body defining the passage which may be suitable for receiving an end of a barbell.

The end flanges may extend in a plane substantially transverse to an axis of the passage. The attachment arrangement may comprise: an attachment member operatively attachable between the end flanges; a lever arm moveably attachable to a second end of the attachment member, the lever arm being operatively moveable between a first and second position to displace the attachment member relative to the flanges thereby causing the flanges to displace, wherein with the lever arm in the first position, the clamp is in the unlocked condition, and wherein, with the lever arm in the second position, the clamp is in the locked condition.

The end flanges may define a pair of substantially aligned apertures, wherein the attachment arrangement is locatable through the aligned apertures of the end flanges and is retained therein by way of the lever arm at the second end portion thereof and by way of a fastening member at an opposite first end portion thereof.

The first end portion of the attachment member may be screw threaded and may be engageable in a complementary fashion with the fastening member.

It will be noted that operation of one or both of the fastening member and the lever arm operates the clamp between the locked and unlocked conditions.

The attachment member may comprise formations adjacent an end thereof to prevent the fastening member from being removed from engagement therewith. The lever arm may be pivotally attachable to the attachment member, and wherein the lever arm may be pivotable about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the attachment member.

The lever arm may be a cam lever engageable with one or both of one of the end flanges and the body of the clamp to facilitate fastening the clamp around the barbell in the locked condition.

The attachment member may be fixedly attached to end flange opposite the one of the end flanges.

It will be noted that in at least the unlocked condition, the body may define a spacing between the flanges, wherein the spacing is in communication with the central passage.

At least one of the end flanges may comprise a safety flange which extends substantially transversely from a free end of the at least one end flange so as to substantially cover the spacing between the flanges.

The body may comprise one or both of gripping formations, and gripping material disposed on an outer surface thereof for facilitating handling of the clamp. The formations may be ridges, etc., whereas the material may be a rubberized material, etc. Similarly the body may also comprise one or both of gripping formations, and gripping material disposed on an interior surface of the passage for facilitating engagement with the barbell.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamp device for securing weight plates on a barbell, the clamp device comprising: a body defining a passage for the receipt of an end portion of the barbell therethrough, wherein the body comprises a pair of opposed end flanges defining a pair of aligned apertures; and an attachment arrangement comprising: an attachment member locatable through the aligned apertures of the end flanges, the attachment member comprising a first end portion and a second end portion; a fastening member attachable to the first end portion of the attachment member; and a lever arm moveably attachable to the second end portion of the attachment member, wherein operation of the attachment arrangement and/or the fastening member operates the clamp device between unlocked and locked conditions, wherein the end flanges are substantially closer together in the locked condition than in the unlocked condition so as to fasten the clamp device to the barbell when in the locked condition, in use

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing weight plates on a barbell, the method comprising: locating one or more weight plates on an end of a barbell; locating a clamp device as described above on the barbell; and operating the attachment arrangement so as to operate the clamp device from the unlocked condition to the locked condition so as to fasten the same to the barbell and limit movement of the one or more weight plates relative to the barbell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a clamp in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a clamp in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention with the lever member in the first position;

Figure 3 shows a side view of a clamp in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional perspective view of a clamp in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, in use, on a barbell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of an embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, where a clamp in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The clamp 10 is typically used for retaining and/or securing weight plate/s to a barbell so as to limit undesirable travel of the weight plates along the barbell during use. To this end, the clamp 10 is operable between a locked and unlocked condition (as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 respectively) so as to facilitate placement of the device 10 on the barbell when in the unlocked condition and attachment to the barbell in the locked condition as will be described below. Though not discussed further, it will be understood that the clamp 10 may be used in other applications, as the case may be and may not necessarily be limited to the example embodiment described herein.

In any event, the clamp 10 comprises an annular body or collar 12 defining a passage or a bore 14 for the receipt of an end of a barbell therethrough. The passage 14 may be shaped and/or dimensioned to receive a typically cylindrical barbell end therein and may thus be circular in cross-section.

The body 12 has a pair of opposed end flanges 16 extending radially from the passage 14 or in other words, in a plane transverse to a central axis of the passage 14. One of the end flanges 16 comprises a safety flange 18 which extends substantially transversely to the respective end flange 16. The safety flange 18 operatively covers a space between the end flanges 16, the space being in communication with the passage 14 as the case may be.

The clamp comprises an attachment arrangement 20 operatively attachable to the end flanges 16, wherein operation of the attachment arrangement 20 operates the clamp 10 between unlocked and locked positions/conditions as shown in Figures 2 and 1 respectively. The attachment arrangement 20 may comprise an attachment member 22 locatable through aligned apertures provided in the flanges. The attachment member 22 may be an elongate cylindrical member having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is screw-threaded. The attachment arrangement 20 further comprises a fastening member 24 in the form of a nut which has a bore and comprises internally disposed screw-threading for complementary engagement with the screw-threaded first portion of the attachment member 22. The nut 24 defines gripping formations on an outer surface thereof for facilitating ease of handling of the same. The member 24 may be located in a seat defined by the body 12. In one example embodiment, the screw-threaded end of the member 22 may have a formation, for example a stamp, etc. so that the nut 24 may not screw off the member 22, in use. To this end, the member 22 may be slightly longer than illustrated for these example embodiments.

The attachment arrangement 20 also comprises a lever arm 26 moveably attachable to the second end portion of the attachment member 22, the lever arm 26 having a free end. In particular, the lever arm 26 is pivotally moveable relative to the attachment member 22 between a first position as illustrated in Figure 2 and a second position as illustrated in Figure 1 . In this regard, the second end portion may terminate in a transverse portion which is locatable in suitable apertures provided in the lever arm 26. Alternately, the second end portion of the member 22 may comprise an eye, wherein the second end portion of the member 22 is locatable in a slot defined by flanking shoulder portions provided at one end of the lever arm 26. The shoulder portions flanking the slot may comprise aligned apertures alignable with the aperture of the member 22, wherein a connection member may be passed through the aligned apertures of the arm 26 and the member 22 so as to permit pivotal movement of the arm 26 relative to the member 22. It will be noted that the lever arm 26 is typically a cam lever arm 26 having a cam head portion operatively engageable with an outer wall of the flange 16, in use. The flange 16 which the lever arm 26 is engageable with is typically opposite the flange 16 adjacent the member 24. The lever arm 26 may be shaped to conform substantially to the body 12. In particular, the lever arm 26 may be curved to conform substantially to the curved body 12. Though described below, it will be noted that the operation of the lever arm 26 between the first position and second position, coupled with the operation of the fastening member 24, actuates the clamp 10 between the unlocked and locked conditions respectively. The clamp 10 also comprises gripping formations in the form of gripping ridges 28 so as to facilitate ease of handling of the clamp. The nut 24 may also have gripping formation on an outer surface thereof for ease of handling.

The clamp 10 may be constructed from a synthetic material, for example, a plastic or nylon material. The body 12 may be of a unitary construction and may have a thickness selected so as to limit the movement of the weight plates, in use, as described below. However, in one example embodiment, the attachment member 22 may be constructed from a metal such as steel. It will be noted that the body 12 may be rigid with a slight play due to the spacing between the flanges 16 to grip the barbell, in use. Though not illustrated, it will be appreciated that in some example embodiments, one or more resilient gripping pads may be located in the passage 14, for example, attached to the inner surface of the body 12.

In use, referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, where the clamp 10 is to be used, for example, to secure and/or retain weight plates 30 on a barbell 32, the weight plates 30 are located on the barbell 32 in a conventional fashion. In particular, the weight plates 30 comprise centrally located apertures through which the end portion of the barbell 32 is receivable.

The clamp 10 is operated to the unlocked condition by moving the lever arm 26 in the direction of arrow A to the first position as illustrated in Figure 2 and/or by operating the member 24. The lever arm 26 typically pivots about an axis parallel to the axis of the passage 14 and in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the passage 14.

In the unlocked condition, the flanges 16 are spaced apart sufficiently to enable an end of the barbell 32 to slide through the passage 14 easily making location of the clamp 10 on the barbell 32 quick and easy. It will be appreciated that the lever arm 26 and the member 24 may be used in a co-operative fashion to provide desired spacing of the flanges 16 and thus the internal diameter of the passage 14. However, it will be understood that in some example embodiments (not shown), the first end portion of the member 22 may be fixedly attached to the flange thereby leaving the lever arm 26 as the sole means to operate the clamp between locked and unlocked conditions.

In any event, once the clamp is located at a desired location on the barbell 32, the member 24 is typically actuated (either clockwise or anti-clockwise direction) thereby to draw the lever arm 26 into engagement with an outer wall of the associated flange 16. The lever arm 26 is then moved in the direction of arrow B to the second position as shown in Figure 1 . The displacement of the lever arm 16 causes the cam head to engage and operatively move relative to the outer surface of the flange 16 thereby drawing the flanges 16 closer together and actuating the clamp 10 to the locked condition. With the flanges 16 displaced closer together, the internal diameter of the passage 14 is decreased thereby allowing the clamp to clamp around the barbell 32. If desired, the member 24 may be operated to further tighten the clamp 10 around the barbell 32. The safety flange 18 which covers the space between the flanges 16 limits the risk of injury to a user, particularly the risk of having fingers of the user getting caught in the space between the flanges 16 and getting pinched when the clamp is operated to the locked condition.

When the clamp 10 is to be removed from the barbell 32, the lever arm 26 and/or the member 24 are actuated in a converse fashion as described above to actuate the clamp to the unlocked condition, i.e. operating the member 24 in the reverse direction and/or operating the lever arm 26 in the direction of arrow A to the first position to widen the gap between the flanges 16 and effectively increase the internal diameter of the passage 14. The clamp 10 is then slid off the barbell 32.

The device as described herein provides at least a convenient manner to retain weight plates on a barbell in a quick and effective manner. The adjustability of the attachment arrangement permits the device to be used for a range of diameters of barbells.