Spring-Loaded Clip-Weight for Barbell Lateral Slippage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current weight clips for barbells are cumbersome to use, requiring multiple steps for loading and unloading, often resulting in loose connections, lateral slippage, and inconsistent weights, which complicates workout planning and progress tracking.
Innovation Solution
The development of weight-actuated clipping mechanisms that integrate into the weight plates or barbells, allowing for self-clipping and rapid weight adjustment without additional steps, providing lateral tightening and securing, and applicable in both sporting equipment and apparel for easy fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional weight clips are used, then weights can be secured to barbells, but the clipping process requires multiple steps and significant time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the weight plate and clip into a single integrated unit called a 'clip-weight'. The clip mechanism is built into the weight plate itself, eliminating the need for separate clip components. This integration allows the weight to be loaded onto the barbell in one continuous motion without separate clipping steps, directly resolving the time loss contradiction while maintaining secure weight attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip-weight is designed to be self-securing through its integrated spring-loaded collar mechanism. When the weight is placed on the barbell, the collar automatically compresses and locks onto the bar, requiring no manual intervention for securing. This self-service feature eliminates the multiple manual steps required by traditional clips, significantly reducing loading time while ensuring reliable weight securing.
2Reliability
If traditional clips are used, then weights can be attached, but lateral slippage occurs due to insufficient lateral force application
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded collar in the clip-weight is pre-compressed during manufacturing to exert continuous lateral force against the barbell. This preliminary action ensures that lateral securing force is always present before any lateral slippage can occur. The pre-compressed spring maintains constant pressure on the bar, preventing lateral movement of the weight during exercise operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar of the clip-weight features a curved, spherical contact surface that interfaces with the barbell. This curved geometry allows the collar to conform to the bar's surface and distribute lateral forces more effectively. The spherical contact area provides greater surface engagement compared to flat traditional clips, enhancing resistance to lateral slippage while maintaining secure connection.
3Reliability
If traditional clips are used, then weights can be secured, but the clips may loosen or break from repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the clip-weight, constructing it from high-strength, fatigue-resistant materials capable of withstanding repeated compression and lateral forces. The spring-loaded collar uses materials with optimized elastic properties that maintain consistent force output over thousands of cycles. This parameter optimization ensures the clip-weight maintains its fastening power and structural integrity throughout extended service life, preventing loosening and breakage.
4Device complexity
If clips with small contact area are used, then the clip structure remains simple, but holding force is weak and subject to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The collar of the clip-weight employs a curved, spherical contact surface that interfaces with the barbell. This curved geometry naturally increases the contact area between the clip and bar compared to flat traditional clips. The spherical contact distributes the holding force over a larger surface area, enhancing grip strength and reducing stress concentrations that could lead to failure, while maintaining relatively simple clip structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded collar is pre-compressed to apply maximum lateral force against the barbell from the moment of installation. This preliminary action ensures optimal contact pressure is established before any lateral loads are applied during exercise. The pre-compressed spring maintains this high contact pressure throughout use, ensuring strong holding force without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
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
Enables faster and more secure weight changes, reduces the risk of loose connections, and simplifies workout planning by providing consistent and easily adjustable weights, enhancing user experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded collar that tightens automatically upon placement on a weight-loading member
Implementation Method 2
The loading mechanism includes a spring-loaded collar
Data Source
AI summary
New donning-actuated clips and other fastening and tightening techniques for garments are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a garment includes a self-contained fitting and fastening system that, preferably, is reversibly actuated by donning, and therefore requires no additional fastening or fitting step to use—a user need only don the garment in an ordinary fashion. In one embodiment, a lateral tightening and fitting mechanism is provided, which translates donning movements into fitting and fastening force via channeled bands, eliminating lateral play in the garment when worn. In other aspects, the fitting and fastening system is configured to aid in compressing and folding the garment when the system is released and the garment is removed by a user. The techniques of the invention are also applied in the context of sporting garments, such as running shoes, allowing a user to put on well-fitted shoes quickly, with easy entry, and no need for separate lacing or binding steps.