Safety Device For Barbell

Abstract

A barbell includes a rod having two grab portions and a protection area is located between the two grab portions. Two load portions are connected to two ends of the rod respectively. A metallic sleeve is mounted to the protection area of the rod and has multiple slits defined through the wall of the sleeve. The metallic sleeve protects the user from being injured by the broken ends of the rod when the rod is broken.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a barbell, and more particularly, to a safety device for a barbell so as to protect the users when the rod of the barbell is broken.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Weightlifting is a way to exercise muscles of users and the barbells are widely used in weightlifting. The conventional barbell generally comprises a rod and two load portions on two ends of the rod. Each load portion is composed of multiple weights. The user holds the rod and lifts the load portions to exercise the muscles.

When making the rod of the barbell, the rod needs to be processed by heat treatment so as to have sufficient stiffness to support the load portions. However, the concentration of stress may be existed during the heat treatment and the rod can be broken by the load portions. The rod slightly bends due to the load portions which may up to 250 kgs and the maximum stress is applied to the central portion between the two hands of the user. The central portion even can be treated as a dangerous portion because it is located at the maximum distance from the load portions. The load portions apply significant torques to the central portion and the barbell is lifted and put down so that the rod slightly bends in opposite directions. The actions may break the rod at the central portion suddenly, and the user is easily injured.

The present invention intends to provide a safety device for a barbell and provides a sleeve at the position where the rod may potentially be broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a barbell and comprises a rod having two grab portions and a protection area is located between the two grab portions. Two load portions are connected to two ends of the rod respectively. A sleeve has a passage axially defined therethrough and multiple slits are defined in the sleeve. The rod extends through the sleeve via the passage and the sleeve is mounted to the protection area.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for the barbell and has a metallic sleeve mounted to the protection area of the rod of the barbell. The metallic sleeve protects the user from being injured by the broken ends of the rod when the rod is broken.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the barbell with the safety device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the barbell with the safety device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view to show the barbell with the safety device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show the sleeve mounted to the rod of the barbell of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view to show the sleeve mounted to the rod of the barbell of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the barbell of the present invention is operated by a user, and

FIG. 7 illustrates the sleeve accommodates the two broken ends of the broken rod of the barbell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the barbell 10 of the present invention comprises a rod 20 having two end collars 30 respectively connected to two distal ends 21 thereof and two load portions 50 are positioned to the two ends of the rod 20 by the end collars 30. Each of the load portions 50 is composed of at least one weight 51.

The rod 20 has two grab portions 22 so that the user can grab the rod 20 at the two grab portions 22. A protection area 23 is located between the two grab portions 22.

Before the load portions 50 are connected to the rod 20, a sleeve 40 made of metal is mounted to the rod 20. The sleeve 40 has a passage 41 axially defined therethrough and multiple slits 43 are defined through the wall 42 of the sleeve 40. The rod 20 extends through the sleeve 40 via the passage 41 and the sleeve 40 is mounted to the protection area 23. The material for the sleeve 40 has high strength and low density, such as stainless steel, Titanium or Titanium alloy. The slits 43 are grouped into multiple annular portions and the annular portions are separated from each other by even distance. The slits 43 extend axially along the sleeve 40 so as to provide the sleeve 40 with flexibility. The weights 51 are then mounted to the rod 20 and secured by the end collars 30.

The two grab portions 22 are located at two ends of the sleeve 40 so that the user 60 grabs the grab portions 22 by two hands 61 and lifts the barbell 10 to exercise the muscles.

As shown in FIG. 6, in case the rod 20 is broken due to any potential or exterior factors, because the sleeve 40 is made by durable material which has better ductility so that the energy of the breakage of the rod 20 is absorbed by the sleeve 40 and the two broken ends of the rod 20 are still accommodated in the sleeve 40 as shown in FIG. 7. The broken ends of the broken rod 20 cannot injure the user 60.

The advantages of the present invention are that when the rod 20 is broken due to unexpected exterior or potential factors, the metallic sleeve 40 having better ductility can enclose the broken position of the rod 20 and protect the user.

The sleeve 40 is made by durable material which has better ductility so that when the rod 20 is broken, the energy of the breakage of the rod 20 is absorbed by the sleeve 40 and the two broken ends of the rod 20 are still accommodated in the sleeve 40.

The sleeve 40 has slits 41 which provide flexibility to allow the sleeve 40 to be bent to accommodate the two broken ends of the rod 20.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A barbell comprising:

a rod having two grab portions and a protection area located between the two grab portions, two load portions connected to two ends of the rod respectively, and

a sleeve having a passage axially defined therethrough and multiple slits defined in the sleeve, the rod extending through the sleeve via the passage and the sleeve mounted to the protection area.

2. The barbell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits are grouped into multiple annular portions and the annular portions are separated from each other by even distance, the slits extend axially along the sleeve.

3. The barbell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits are defined through a wall of the sleeve.