Clamp for a weightlifting bar

Abstract

A clamp for lockingly and releasably gripping an object, comprising a first handle having a first jaw including a first gripping section; a second handle having a second jaw including a second gripping section; a pin associated with said first handle and pivotably engaging an aperture in said second handle; and, a locking mechanism for maintaining said clamp in either in a closed position while engaging said object or an open position.

1 . A clamp for lockingly and releasably gripping an object, comprising:
 a) a first handle having a first jaw including a first gripping section;   b) a second handle having a second jaw including a second gripping section;   c) a pin associated with said first handle and pivotably engaging an aperture in said second handle; and,   d) a locking mechanism for maintaining said clamp in either in a closed position while engaging said object or an open position, said locking mechanism comprising
 i) a curved latch associated with and extending from said first handle and having a notch formed therein, 
 ii) a locking lever having
 (1) a first portion having a curved end, 
 (2) a slot formed in said first portion dimensioned to slidingly receive said curved latch, and 
 
 (3) a second portion, 
 iii) a lever engaging member extending from said second handle for engaging said curved end of said locking lever, and 
 iv) a resilient member for biasing said locking lever in a first position while allowing movement into a second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member comprising a pin and a head for maintaining said first handle pin in a pivotable relationship with said second handle. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp of  claim 3 , wherein said spring is disposed at least partially within a recess defined in said second handle. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said 
     
     
         6 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said lever engaging member comprises a post extending from said second handle and a pin extending from said post. 
     
     
         7 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first jaw includes a flat portion at a distal end and said second jaw includes a flat portion at a distal end, said flat portions being able to grip an object. 
     
     
         8 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second jaws, when said clamp is in a closed position, form a generally circular shape. 
     
     
         9 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second gripping sections of said first and second jaws, when said clamp is in a closed position, form a generally square shape. 
     
     
         10 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second gripping sections of said first and second jaws, when said clamp is in a closed position, form a generally hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         11 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second gripping sections of said first and second jaws, when said clamp is in a closed position, form a generally triangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The clamp of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second gripping sections of said first and second jaws, when said clamp is in a closed position, form a generally polygonal shape. 
     
     
         13 . A clamp for lockingly and releasably gripping an object, comprising:
 a) a first handle comprising,
 i) a first grasping portion, 
 ii) a first jaw, 
 iii) a first insert associated with a portion of said jaw, 
 iv) a curved latch having a notch formed therein and extending from said first handle, and, 
 v) a bearing having an aperture defined therein extending from said first handle; 
   b) a second handle comprising
 i) a second grasping portion, 
 ii) a second jaw, 
 iii) a second insert associated with a portion of said jaw, 
 iv) an aperture for pivotably receiving said bearing, and, 
 v) a pintle extending from said second handle; 
   c) a pin having a shaft and a head, said shaft being dimensioned to be receivable within said aperture bearing and maintainable therein so as to maintain said first handle and said second handle in a pivoting relationship;   d) a locking lever having
 i) a first portion including a curved end, said curved end dimensioned to be in a sliding relationship with respect to said pintle during operation, 
 ii) a slot formed in said first portion dimensioned to slidingly receive said curved latch and said notch, 
 iii) a second portion depressible by a user to unlock said latch from said locking lever; and, 
   e) a spring associated with said second handle and contacting said locking lever first portion for biasing said locking lever in a first position while allowing movement into a second position.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said insert comprises a compressible material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said insert snap-fits to either said first handle or said second handle. 
     
     
         16 . A clamp for lockingly and releasably gripping an object, comprising:
 a) a first handle comprising,
 i) a first grasping portion, 
 ii) a first jaw, 
 iii) a bearing having an aperture defined therein extending from said first handle; 
   b) a second handle comprising
 i) a second grasping portion, 
 ii) a second jaw, and 
 iii) an aperture for pivotably receiving said bearing, and, 
   c) a pin having a shaft and a head, said shaft being dimensioned to be receivable within said aperture bearing and maintainable therein so as to maintain said first handle and said second handle in a pivoting relationship;   d) a locking mechanism comprising
 i) a curved latch extending from said first handle and having an aperture formed therein, 
 ii) a locking lever having
 (1) a press plate section, 
 (2) an angled section, 
 (3) a fulcrum section having a pivot mechanism, and 
 (4) an angled pin section at least a portion of which can engage said aperture in said curved latch, 
 
   iii) a base member having a pivot mechanism which pivotably engages said pivot mechanism of said fulcrum section,   iv) a resilient member for biasing said locking lever in a first position whereby said locking lever can pivot so that said angled pin section engages said aperture in said curved latch so as to maintain said first jaw and said second jaw in a fixed relationship.   
     
     
         17 . The clamp of  claim 16 , further comprising a first insert associated with a portion of said first jaw and a second insert associated with a portion of said second jaw. 
     
     
         18 . A clamp for lockingly and releasably gripping an object, comprising:
 a) a first handle comprising,
 i) a first grasping portion, 
 ii) a first jaw, 
 iii) a bearing having an aperture defined therein extending from said first handle; 
   b) a second handle comprising
 i) a second grasping portion, 
 ii) a second jaw, and 
 iii) an aperture for pivotably receiving said bearing, and, 
   c) a pin having a shaft and a head, said shaft being dimensioned to be receivable within said aperture bearing and maintainable therein so as to maintain said first handle and said second handle in a pivoting relationship;   d) a locking mechanism for maintaining said clamp in either in a closed position while engaging said object or an open position, said locking mechanism comprising   i) a curved latch associated with and extending from said first handle and having a stud extending from said curved latch,   ii) a locking lever having
 (1) a first portion having a curved end, 
 (2) a slot formed in said first portion dimensioned to slidingly receive said curved latch, and 
 (3) a second portion having a projection, and 
 (4) a third portion for pivoting said locking lever, 
   iii) a lever engaging member extending from said second handle for engaging said curved end of said locking lever, and   iv) a resilient member for biasing said locking lever in a first position while allowing movement into a second position.   
     
     
         19 . The clamp of  claim 18 , further comprising a first insert associated with a portion of said first jaw and a second insert associated with a portion of said second jaw. 
     
     
         20 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein said first jaw has a first gripping section and said second jaw has a second gripping section, such that, when said clamp is in a closed position, said first and second gripping sections form a generally polygonal shape.