Dual-Use Weight and Bar Retention Mechanism for Fast Weight Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weightlifting equipment requires external auxiliary elements like clamps or support surfaces for weight retention, leading to slow and unsafe weight changes, and separate weights for dumbbell and bar exercises, disrupting class dynamics and posing hand injury risks.
Innovation Solution
A weight with a central handle for single-hand grip and a bar mechanism with built-in teeth retention, allowing quick and safe weight changes without external aids, enabling both dumbbell and bar exercises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamps are used to retain weights at the ends of the bar, then the weights are securely fastened, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming requiring external auxiliary elements and support surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism is integrated directly into the bar structure by combining the bar body with movable teeth that can engage with weight holes. This eliminates the need for separate clamps and external support surfaces, reducing operational complexity while maintaining secure weight retention through the unified bar-teeth-weight interaction system
Solution Approach 2:
The teeth are designed to be movable and can be manually positioned to engage with or disengage from weight holes without requiring external auxiliary elements. The system serves itself by using the bar's own structure to retain and release weights through simple manual manipulation of the teeth, eliminating dependence on external clamps or surfaces
2Reliability
If clamps are used to retain weights, then weights are securely fastened, but long pauses are required to change weight configuration interrupting class dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth are designed as movable elements that can be dynamically repositioned along the bar axis to engage with or disengage from weight holes. This dynamic capability allows for rapid weight changes by simply moving the teeth to new positions, eliminating the need for time-consuming clamp attachment and removal operations while maintaining secure weight retention during exercise
3Ease of operation
If terminal actuators are used to retain or release weights, then weight changes can be performed, but hand injuries may occur and support surfaces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth serve as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the weight. Instead of the hand directly interacting with potential hazards at the bar ends, the teeth mediate the weight retention and release process by engaging with weight holes at safe distances from the bar ends, eliminating hand injury risks while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The weight retention function is extracted from the bar ends and relocated to movable teeth positioned along the bar body. This extraction removes the harmful interaction zone from the user's hand path while preserving the weight retention capability, as the teeth can engage with weights without requiring the user's hand to be in dangerous positions
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate weights are used for dumbbell and bar exercises, then exercise versatility is achieved, but equipment complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The weight is designed with a universal structure that enables it to function in multiple exercise contexts. The weight includes a through-hole for bar insertion and a cylindrical portion that can be gripped as a dumbbell handle, allowing the same weight to be used for both barbell and dumbbell exercises. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate weight sets while maintaining exercise versatility
5Ease of operation
If the cylindrical portion thickness is reduced for comfortable grip, then dumbbell usability is improved, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical portion is designed with optimized dimensional parameters, specifically a diameter between 25-36mm and thickness less than 10mm, that balance grip comfort with structural strength. These parameter changes allow the handle to be comfortably gripped while maintaining sufficient strength to support weightlifting exercises, resolving the contradiction between comfort and strength through precise dimensional optimization
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3e
AI summary
The present invention relates to a weight (100) and piece of equipment (200) for weightlifting exercises, the weight comprising a body (108) with a through hole (101) arranged in its centre of masses (C), said hole (101) being suited for placing the weight in a bar (1). The body (108) further comprises a central handle (102) made from a single machined metal part which exhibits a cylindrical portion (107) that the hole (101) passes through, the cylindrical portion (107) being suited to be gripped by way of a dumbbell with a single hand. The piece of equipment (200) further comprises a bar (1) suited to be gripped and lifted with at least one hand, the bar (1) exhibiting at least one end suited for receiving and supporting the one or more weights (100).