Clampless hanging non-traditional weight adapter

Abstract

A hanging non-traditional weight adapter which is designed to hang containers (buckets, juice jugs, detergent bottles, etc.) from an elongated cylindrical weight lifting barbell. The device is comprised of a modified cylindrical hollow head which is capable of sliding and hanging on to a weight lifting barbell in a style while the dual-sided frame, which is attached by design within the cylinder but additionally secured by fasteners, briefly extends out and diverges into two curvilinear yet rounded hooks on one side vertically and a curvilinear yet rounded clasp on the opposite side horizontally. In addition, the cylindrical hollow head features a rounded yet narrow depression at the midpoint around the circumference of the device to secure the handle of a bucket. All features were integrated within the device to either embrace or hang a container by its dimensions or features in various ways to be safely used as a non-traditional free weight adapter during resistance training.

Description

FIELD

This application mainly relates to a non-traditional weight adapter with a modified cylinder with an attached dual-sided frame which has the capacity to hang or attach containers from a weight lifting barbell.

BACKGROUND

Home gym systems, individual free weights, and their respective sets are common resistance exercise equipment options that individuals consider to purchase for their personal use. All are viable preferences to consider for resistance training, however, due to global incidences such as the ongoing COVID pandemic which began early 2020 not only did the price of rent, food, cars, and many other necessities increase, but free weights and home gym prices rose steeply as well which was related to gyms being required to shut down to deescalate the spread of the virus. Unforeseen events became an obstacle for many to obtain or even afford such equipment due to the increase in price and demand.

Prices per pound for weight plates before the pandemic were estimated to have been around $1 per pound or less, so finding a machined 45-pound plate for $45 or less was a pretty normal value. Today however, those same 45-pound plates are being sold for as much as $155 currently by a popular fitness retailer; in contrast, 5-gallon buckets roughly equate to 41-pounds and are currently being sold for as little as $7. A 1-gallon bottle of water, which is roughly 8.34-pounds, is currently being sold for as much as $1.24 in stores while there are 5-pound plates being sold for as much as $22.50 by the same fitness retailer mentioned before selling the machined 45-pound plate. Despite the 5-gallon bucket and 1-gallon of water being potential alternatives to be utilized as resistance weights, it is difficult for them be safely utilized on a weight bar and would more likely be overlooked to be used during resistance training.

I define non-traditional weights as weights you wouldn’t normally find, or utilize, in a gym setting. Weight plates, resistance bands, kettle bells, free weights and even tires are more likely to be utilized in your average gym compared to filled containers, such as an enclosed juice jug or a 5-gallon bucket. From personal experience, non-traditional weights such as those filled containers were the only available option to use during the pandemic. Placing a 5-gallon bucket with the cylindrical handle on a barbell from the center of the handle is unsafe and an inefficient means of utilizing that bucket for resistance training because the slick plastic material from the handle that is often included on a bucket easily shifts from the center of the handle onto the bend of the wire attached to the bucket which even a clamp cannot stop, ultimately altering the individual’s ability to keep the weight balanced during training sessions. As for the 1-gallon bottle of water, the plastic handle that comes with 1-gallon jugs cannot be utilized to hang on a barbell because of the small diameter and weak plastic material; attempting to stretch the plastic handle around a barbell sleeve for resistance training poses the risk of potentially causing the plastic to snap, dropping the weight, leading to potential injury. Clearly, placing containers such as these on a barbell without a safe and efficient means of keeping the weight still and evenly balanced as possible can lead to individuals potentially injuring themselves because the weight is unstable. The design of a standard weight plate offers such stability, however, they and other free weights are susceptible to exponential price increases and high demand in times of crises.

SUMMARY

By providing a hanging non-traditional weight adapter such as this one, which is a modified cylinder with an attached dual-sided frame that can be utilized with a weight supporting bar, individuals are given a new convenient apparatus that utilizes commonly accessible, and significantly inexpensive, containers as a means of free weight for resistance training. This device can also be scaled to different weight bar diameters to allow smaller diameter barbell sleeves to utilize this benefit.

The disclosed example presents a device wherein one portion is a modified cylinder with a surface midpoint that has a rounded yet narrow depressed circumference and an additional portion of the device extending from beneath that forms into a dual-sided frame with two separate hooks on one side, and a horizontal facing curvilinear yet rounded clasp which is initially connected to the frame by two brief bends into a horizontal angle but is then reshaped to create the rest of the clasp as depicted from the drawings. The extended dual-sided frame is bound in place by fasteners, the surrounding casted material, and by the frames design.

Further matters, qualities, advantages and properties of device according to the present application will become apparent from the detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a shows a perspective side view of the device.

FIG. 1b shows an inferior view of the device.

FIG. 1c shows an inferior view of the device.

FIG. 1d shows an inferior view of the device.

FIG. 1e shows a perspective side view of the device.

FIG. 1f shows a superior view of the device.

FIG. 2a shows the device attached to an Olympic barbell supporting a bucket.

FIG. 2b shows the device attached to an Olympic barbell supporting a juice container.

FIG. 2c shows the device attached to an Olympic barbell supporting a juice container.

FIG. 2d shows the device attached to an Olympic barbell supporting a juice container.

FIG. 3a shows the device’s internal assembly including the fasteners and frame design within the modified cylinder.

FIG. 3b shows the device’s dual-sided frame separated from the cylinder, screw, and lock washer.

FIG. 4a shows a perspective side view of the assembled dual-sided frame with screw and lock washer without the modified cylinder.

FIG. 5a shows a detailed view of the dual-sided frame assembly with fasteners within the modified cylinder without view of the cylinder.

FIG. 6a shows a detailed view of the dual-sided frame assembly within the cylinder with a partial view of the cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

FIGS. 1a-1f shows various perspective views of the device 1. 2 depicts the modified hollow cylindrical head of the device on the weight barbell sleeve 10 as seen in FIGS. 2a-2d. 3 represents the dual-sided frame support of the device which is initially straight and eventually diverges in a bending fashion where one side forms a clasp 5 and the other side into two hooks 4 as depicted; the hooks can be reangled if necessary, and the clasp can be reangled to face horizontal as depicted or reangled during the creation process to account for proper weight distribution if needed, however their functions still remain as described. 6 displays the rounded, narrow, depressed circumference of the device’s midpoint. 7 depicts a collar on the barbell for demonstration purposes. 8 depicts a bucket for demonstration purposes. 9 displays a juice container for demonstration purposes. 12 displays a lock washer. 13 displays female screw threads to receive the same threaded screw 11 which could either have locking function or be a screw without the locking function. 14 displays a functional component of the frame design located on the upper portion which, when casted over to creating the whole cylinder, would function to further support the entire frame within the cylinder. 15 displays the brief inner circular recessed regions of the cylinder in a 2-dimensional plane where the screws will have space to sit flush against the lock washers on each side of the cylinder which would lay flat against a segment of casted material when the screw is tightened down to keep it from loosening, but also to squeeze the frame to the cylinder as displayed in FIG. 3a. 16 displays the curvilinear detail within the clasp as this portion will grasp a container with a circular neck such as a juice jug. 17 depicts the bucket’s handle.

Operation- FIGS. 1 and 2

An ideal way this device 1 can be recreated is by metal casting or mold casting the cylinder and dual-sided frame separately. First the dual-sided frame, and then the cylinder would preferably be casted over the upper portion of the dual-sided frame as depicted in FIG. 3a. The cylinder by itself can be casted with the circular recessed regions 15 with either centered premade holes or drilled holes after its casted. To assemble the device, it would require placing a locking washer 12 within the inner circular recessed segments of the device directly above the hole, and then a screw 11 can be rested into the hole meeting the upper female locking thread inserts 13 on the upper frame, and then screwed into the frame so the device can then be used. The device can then be attached and slid to the end of the barbell sleeve 10 through the modified hollow cylindrical head 2 of the device as seen in FIGS. 2a-2d which will fit the diameter of the barbell and slide off of the apparatus effortlessly when removed. From there, containers such as: a bucket 8 can be hung on to the device by its handle 17 and fit between the rounded narrow midpoint of the device 6 as seen in FIG. 2a, a juice container 9 with a handle such as in FIG. 2c can be placed on the device with the handle of the container resting in the curvilinear yet rounded hooks 4, or a container with a certain neck clearance 9 can slide into the clasp 5 ultimately resting within the curvilinear yet rounded form within the clasp 16 as depicted in FIG. 2b. When weight is placed within the clasp or hooks, the weight would be supported throughout the frame 3 as well as the cylinder during resistance training. The barbell collar 7 was demonstrated to create awareness that it can be used to assist the device just as it could be utilized keeping weight plates in place.

This device is solely different from other devices because it is able to utilize non-traditional loads as depicted and detailed. There is currently no other device available which has these various adaptations in one device that are as convenient, safe, effective, and unique in functionality such as what is presented in this device. In addition, this device can be scaled to varying weight bar diameters to fit varying weight supporting bars.

The illustrations of the device are rough expressions of the preferred form factor and should not be interpreted as restrictive in scope. As an additional disclaimer, despite the mentioned specifics regarding preferred materials- this may be subject to change. However, its function still remains to be ideal for its application.

Claims

1. I claima device comprising a modified hollow cylindrical head.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein includes a rounded, narrow, depressed circumference located at the midpoint of the device.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein has circular recessed regions.

4. I claim a device comprising a dual-sided frame as depicted and described with a curvilinear yet rounded clasp which faces horizontal and curvilinear yet rounded vertical hooks.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein includes a female locking thread insert.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein includes a detailed curvilinear form within the clasp.

7. A device according to claim 4, wherein includes a functional component of the frame which is extra support for the device.

8. I claim a device that safely supports hanging or holding containers on a weight supporting barbell for the purpose of resistance exercise.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein can be made to various barbell sleeve diameters.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein can allow fasteners to secure the device.