Buffer element for attaching to a barbell

Abstract

Buffer element (1) for securing to one of the two opposite ends of a barbell of a dumbbell, wherein the buffer element comprises a disc-shaped base body (2) with a first end face (3) and a second end face (4) opposite the first end face and forming a substantially flat support surface, wherein a connecting means (5) for detachably connecting the buffer element to one end of the barbell is provided in the region of the first end face, characterized in that the base body (2) is made of an elastic material, preferably polyurethane, in particular polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 45 + / -3, or rubber.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a buffer element for securing to one of the two opposite ends of a barbell of a dumbbell. The following invention further relates to a sports dumbbell comprising such buffer elements and a set for assembling a dumbbell.

[0002] Dumbbells can be used for a variety of strength and muscle training exercises. This allows you to train not only small muscle groups, such as the arm muscles, but also large muscle groups, such as the chest muscles. A classic chest exercise is the bench press. Especially when using heavy weights, the dumbbells are briefly placed with their ends on the thighs of the seated exerciser just before performing the bench press. Then, to perform the exercise in a lying position, they are alternately pushed up and lowered again.

[0003] Particularly with dumbbells whose weight can be varied by adding or removing weight plates, there is often the problem that the ends of the barbell protrude slightly from the outermost weight plates when the dumbbells are not fully loaded. This means that when the dumbbells are placed on the ends of the barbell, extremely high pressure is exerted on a resting surface. For example, with these types of dumbbells it is often no longer possible to place them on the thighs of a trainee before performing a bench press, as this would cause considerable pain or even injury. Such dumbbells can also no longer be stored upright on their ends. A further disadvantage of these dumbbells is the risk of injury if the dumbbells fall. The impact can seriously injure people standing by.In addition, dropping such dumbbells often causes damage to the floor, which is why many gyms have rubber mats on their floors to protect them from damage.

[0004] DE 20 2021 104 343 U1 shows a sports dumbbell in which the counterweight elements can be connected to one another in a stackable manner. Instead of being attached to a central bar, as is the case with conventional models, the counterweight elements are individually screwed together. The disadvantage of this approach is that existing assortments of barbells and weights cannot be upgraded and / or supplemented; instead, an entirely new system must be purchased.

[0005] DE 20 2014 000 359 U1 discloses a piece of sports equipment that has some of the properties of a dumbbell, but is expressly intended for "balancing and juggling." The end piece can be covered with elastomer or leather, making it particularly easy to grip. A disadvantage for traditional strength training is the length of the disclosed piece of sports equipment, which should preferably be 640 to 680 mm. It is also questionable whether existing weights can be used with this piece of sports equipment.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by a buffer element for securing to one of the two opposite ends of a barbell of a dumbbell, wherein the buffer element comprises a disc-shaped base body with a first end face and a second end face opposite the first end face and forming a substantially flat support surface, wherein a connecting means for detachably connecting the buffer element to one end of the barbell is provided in the region of the first end face.

[0008] According to the invention, the base body is made of an elastic material, preferably polyurethane, in particular polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 45 + / -3, or rubber. These materials are particularly comfortable when handling a dumbbell equipped with such a buffer element. This material is particularly gentle when placing the dumbbell on the thigh of an exerciser.

[0009] The buffer element according to the invention makes it possible to equip dumbbells, after they have been loaded with weight plates, with flat resting surfaces that are larger than the end faces of the barbell. Dumbbells equipped in this way can also be easily placed on the thighs of a trainee, for example, for subsequent muscle training. Additionally, the buffer element according to the invention serves as a "lock" that holds weight plates on the barbell. Furthermore, the buffer element protects against injuries and damage to the floor if the dumbbell falls and impacts a body part or the floor.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the buffer element according to the invention, the connecting means has an internal thread and is preferably designed as a screw sleeve or threaded nut for receiving an external thread of a barbell. This embodiment is particularly suitable for the most common design of dumbbells, especially in the home training sector. Most of these dumbbells have barbells whose end regions are provided with external threads to accommodate end sleeves for securing. This embodiment enables extremely simple and quick assembly and disassembly of the buffer element according to the invention at the end region of a barbell with an external thread.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the buffer element according to the invention, the connecting means is integrated into the base body, in particular cast or molded around the material of the base body. This embodiment is particularly space-saving, since the connecting means integrated into the base body does not take up any additional space. Instead, the saved space can be used for additional weight plates. Preferably, the connecting means is flush with a contact surface of the first end face of the base body. As a result, the connecting means does not take up any additional space at all. The contact surface of the first end face is the surface which, when the dumbbell is assembled, generally comes into contact with an outer weight plate.

[0012] Advantageously, the connecting means is attached, in particular screwed, to a plate, in particular a metal plate, preferably an octagonal metal plate, wherein the connecting means including the plate is preferably integrated into the base body. This embodiment provides a particularly high level of stability to a composite dumbbell and prevents the connecting means, such as a screw sleeve or threaded nut, from breaking out under load.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous that material recesses are provided in the base body. These material recesses are provided in particular in the area of the first end face and contribute to reducing the weight of the buffer element according to the invention. It is advantageous that the buffer element has the lowest possible weight in order to minimize distortion of the actual weight of an assembled dumbbell.

[0014] Typically, the base body is designed as a disc with a round cross-section. This disc can, for example, be truncated cone-shaped.

[0015] The present invention further relates to a sports dumbbell, in particular dumbbells for performing muscle training with a dumbbell bar serving as a handle and at least two weight plates arranged at the respective end regions of the dumbbell bar, wherein the two ends of the dumbbell bar are each detachably connected to a buffer element according to one of claims 1 to 7.

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the sports dumbbell according to the invention is characterized in that the dumbbell bar has an external thread in the region of its ends for receiving into an internal thread of the buffer element.

[0017] The present invention further relates to a set for assembling a dumbbell, comprising a dumbbell bar, at least two weight plates and at least two buffer elements according to one of claims 1 to 7.

[0018] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings and the subclaims. The individual features may be implemented individually or in combination with one another.

[0019] The drawings show: Fig. 1: A plan view of the first end face of a buffer element according to the invention. Fig. 2:A longitudinal section through the buffer element according to Fig. 1 along line AA.

[0020] The Fig. 1 and Fig.2 show a buffer element 1 according to the invention for securing to one of the two opposite ends of a barbell of a dumbbell. The buffer element 1 comprises a disc-shaped base body 2 with a circular cross-section. The base body comprises a first end face 3 and a second end face 4 opposite the first end face. The second end face 4 is designed as a flat, smooth, circular surface with a diameter of approximately 10 cm. In the area of the first end face 3, a connecting means 5 is provided for detachably connecting the buffer element 1 to one end of the barbell rod. The connecting means 5 is completely integrated into the base body 2 in that it is enclosed by the material of the base body 2. The connecting means 5 is flush with a contact surface 5 of the first end face 3. The connecting means 5 is in the form of a threaded sleeve with a cylindrical sleeve body 7, which has an internal thread 8.The sleeve body 7 transitions into a receiving area 9 with a larger diameter. The receiving area 9 serves to insert one of the two ends of a barbell, which is first inserted into the receiving area and finally screwed into the sleeve body 7. The sleeve body 7 is firmly connected to a metal plate 10, for example, screwed or welded. The sleeve body 7 and metal plate 10 are completely enclosed by the material of the base body 2. By firmly connecting the sleeve body 7 to a metal plate 10, the buffer element 1 is given increased stability in the assembled state and prevents the entire connecting means 5 from breaking out under load. The contact surface 6 has a diameter of 12.5 cm in this exemplary embodiment.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the base body is made of polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 45. The base body 2 is truncated cone-shaped, with the side surface 11 of the base body being slightly rounded.

[0022] The flat second end face 4, which forms a storage surface, provides the above-mentioned advantages when handling a sports dumbbell equipped with the buffer element 1. Thus, the buffer element 1 ensures that a dumbbell equipped with this buffer element can be easily placed with its end face on the thigh of a trainee without causing pain. If necessary, such a dumbbell can also be placed on its end face and stored that way.

Claims

[1] Buffer element (1) for securing to one of the two opposite ends of a barbell of a dumbbell, wherein the buffer element comprises a disc-shaped base body (2) with a first end face (3) and a second end face (4) opposite the first end face and forming a substantially flat support surface, wherein in the region of the first end face a connecting means (5) is provided for detachably connecting the buffer element to one end of the barbell, characterized by that the base body (2) is made of an elastic material, preferably polyurethane, in particular polyurethane with a Shore hardness of 45 + / -3, or rubber. [2] Buffer element according to claim 1, characterized by that the connecting means (5) has an internal thread (8) and is preferably designed as a screw sleeve (7) or threaded nut for receiving an external thread of a barbell rod. [3] Buffer element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the connecting means (5) is integrated into the base body (2), in particular is at least partially cast or injection-molded by the material of the base body and preferably ends flush with a contact surface (6) of the first end face (3) of the base body. [4] Buffer element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting means (5) is fastened, in particular screwed, to a plate, in particular a metal plate (10), preferably to an octagonal metal plate, wherein the connecting means together with the plate is preferably integrated into the base body (2). [5] Buffer element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that material recesses (9) are provided in the base body (2). [6] Buffer element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the base body (2) is designed as a disc with a round cross-section, which disc is preferably frustoconical or cylindrical. [7] Sports dumbbell, in particular a dumbbell for performing muscle training with a barbell serving as a handle and at least two weight plates arranged at the respective end regions of the barbell, wherein the two ends of the barbell are each detachably connected to a buffer element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Sports dumbbell according to claim 7, characterized by that the dumbbell bar has an external thread in the area of its ends for receiving into an internal thread (8) of the buffer elements (1). [9] Set for assembling a sports dumbbell, in particular a dumbbell, comprising a barbell serving as a handle, at least two weight plates which can be arranged at the respective end regions of the barbell, and two buffer elements (1) which can be detachably connected to the two ends of the barbell, according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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