Weight Bar Lock Collar with Cam-Actuated Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight bar systems fail to securely hold weights in place, leading to them becoming loose or sliding off during use.
Innovation Solution
A weight bar system featuring lock collars with radially movable pins and a cam mechanism that engage with circumferentially positioned grooves on the weight bar, allowing for secure locking and easy adjustment of weights by rotating a collar to lock or unlock the pins within the grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple weight bar system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the weights become loose or slide off during use
Solution Approach 1:
The locking collar incorporates a rotatable collar with a cam surface that dynamically adjusts the radial position of pins. By rotating the collar, the cam surface moves pins radially inward to engage with grooves on the weight bar, providing dynamic locking and unlocking functionality without requiring complex multi-component mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin acts as an intermediary element between the locking collar and the weight bar. The pin extends radially to engage with circumferentially positioned grooves on the weight bar, transferring the locking action from the rotatable collar to the weight bar structure, thereby securing the weight in place.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to hold weights securely, then the weight retention improves, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable collar with cam surface provides a dynamic locking mechanism that can be easily operated by rotating the collar. The cam surface automatically moves pins radially inward for locking and outward for unlocking, transforming a potentially complex locking process into a simple rotational motion that users can easily perform.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface on the rotatable collar performs the locking and unlocking actions automatically as the collar is rotated. The cam geometry inherently guides the pins through their radial movement, eliminating the need for separate locking steps or additional components, thereby simplifying the user operation.
3Reliability
If pins are made radially movable to lock into grooves, then the weight retention improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking collar merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the main body collar provides structural support and housing, the rotatable collar with cam surface provides the locking mechanism, and the stationary collar provides rotation limitation. These functions are combined in one assembly that works together through the cam-pin-groove interaction, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking collar assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures weights to the bar, allows for easy mounting and dismounting, limits rotation to predetermined amounts, and provides stable weight retention. This multi-functionality is achieved through the coordinated action of the main body collar, rotatable collar, and stationary collar, eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
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 effectively prevents weights from sliding off while allowing for easy mounting and dismounting, ensuring secure and stable weight lifting.
Implementation Method 1
A rotatable collar includes a cam surface to move the pins radially inwardly to lock the locking collar to the weight bar
Implementation Method 2
a cam and a spring, wherein the cam engages the rotatable collar, and wherein the cam presses on the spring which presses on each pin
Data Source
AI summary
A weight bar system includes a weight bar, and two lock collars on each end of the weight bar for holding one or more weights on each end of the weight bar. The ends of the weight bar include circumferentially positioned grooves. A locking collar is engageable with the grooves both in an unlocked and a locked position. The locking collar includes a main body collar including pins which extend in a cross direction relative to the axis and are moveable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the grooves. A rotatable collar includes a cam surface to move the pins radially inwardly to lock the locking collar to the weight bar. A stationary collar may also be provided to limit rotation of the rotatable collar, and to provide a gripping surface. A space on the lock collar may be provided to press against the weights.