Barbell Collar with Ribbon Spring and Magnet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing barbell collar systems often suffer from insecurity, allowing slippage or being complicated to connect and disconnect, which hampers effective weight retention during extreme use.

Innovation Solution

A barbell collar system that adjusts between a curled and elongated position, utilizing a ribbon spring and outer covering for friction, along with magnets for secure engagement, allowing easy connection and disconnection while maintaining weight retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional clips or collars are used to secure weights on a barbell, then the weights can be retained during use, but the system becomes complicated to connect or disconnect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight retention securityVSAvoidconnection and disconnection simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into two functional components: a magnetic engagement mechanism for secure attachment to the barbell, and a release mechanism that allows easy disconnection. This segmentation enables the collar to provide both strong weight retention and simple operation through distinct functional zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical clipping systems with a magnetic field-based retention mechanism. The magnet embedded in the collar creates a magnetic field that securely holds the weight on the barbell without requiring complex mechanical interlocks, thereby simplifying the connection and disconnection process while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional clips are used to secure weights, then weights can be retained, but slippage occurs during extreme use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight retention securityVSAvoidslippage during extreme use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces friction-based mechanical clips with a magnetic field-based retention system. The magnet embedded in the collar generates a magnetic field that creates a holding force on the metallic barbell, preventing slippage during extreme use without relying on friction coefficients or mechanical grip that can fail under high loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the retention mechanism from mechanical friction to magnetic field interaction. By embedding a magnet in the collar, the system utilizes magnetic field strength as the retention parameter, which provides consistent and reliable holding force that does not degrade under extreme conditions, thereby eliminating slippage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a secure collar system is designed to prevent slippage, then weight retention is improved, but the system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight retention securityVSAvoidcollar system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the collar structure by replacing complex mechanical locking mechanisms with a single embedded magnet. This magnetic retention system achieves secure weight prevention without slippage while maintaining a simple, elegant collar design with fewer moving parts and lower structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides secure weight retention with ease of use, preventing slippage and simplifying the process of attaching and detaching weights from the barbell.

Implementation Method 1

The collar may include a ribbon spring for snapping between the two positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an outer covering for increasing friction between the collar and the barbell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

One or more magnets may be included with the collar to magnetically engage the collar with the barbell or the collar with itself

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10107317B1Barbell collar system

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 PRX PERFORMANCE LLC

AI summary

A barbell collar system which is both easy to connect or disconnect from the barbell and secure enough to maintain weights on a barbell during extreme use. The barbell collar system generally includes a collar which is adapted to easily and quickly be connected to or removed from a barbell to retain a weight on the barbell. The collar is adapted to adjust between a first position in which the collar is curled around the barbell outside of the weight and a second position in which the collar is elongated in a linear orientation. The collar may include a ribbon spring for snapping between the two positions and an outer covering for increasing friction between the collar and the barbell. One or more magnets may be included with the collar to magnetically engage the collar with the barbell or the collar with itself.