Barbell Sleeve Assembly

Abstract

An assembly includes a bar having a sleeve assembly connected to an end portion. The end portion has a first outer diameter, a shoulder section having a smaller diameter than the first outer diameter, a neck section having a smaller outer diameter than the shoulder section, and a head section having a larger outer diameter than the neck section, such that the neck section forms a recessed slot. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve having a connection assembly for connecting the sleeve to the end portion, which includes a split ring having semi-annular pieces received within the recessed slot and around the neck section, a proximal washer positioned axially inward from the split ring, around the shoulder section, a distal washer positioned axially outward from the split ring, around the head section, and an annular member extending circumferentially around the split ring to retain the semi-annular pieces within the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barbell comprising:
 a bar having opposed end portions spaced from each other along an axial direction, each of the end portions comprising a portion having a first outer diameter and a projection located at an end of each of the end portions, each projection having a shoulder section located axially outward from the portion having the first outer diameter, each shoulder section having a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter, a neck section located axially outward from the shoulder section and having a third outer diameter that is smaller than the first and second outer diameters, and a head section located axially outward from the neck section and having a fourth outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter and larger than the third outer diameter, such that the neck section forms a recessed slot between the shoulder section and the head section; and   a pair of sleeve assemblies connected to the end portions of the bar, each of the sleeve assemblies comprising a sleeve having an axial bore receiving a respective one of the end portions of the bar and a connection assembly for connecting the sleeve to the respective one of the end portions of the bar, the connection assembly comprising:
 a split ring comprising a first semi-annular piece and a second semi-annular piece received within the recessed slot and around the neck section of the projection, wherein the split ring, assembled within the recessed slot, has an inner width smaller than the second outer diameter and the fourth outer diameter; 
 a proximal washer positioned axially inward from the split ring, around the shoulder section of the projection, the proximal washer engaging an inward axial side of the split ring; 
 a distal washer positioned axially outward from the split ring, around the head section of the projection, the distal washer engaging an outward axial side of the split ring; 
 an annular member extending circumferentially around the split ring and radially retaining the first and second semi-annular pieces within the recessed slot; and 
 a retaining member positioned axially outward from the distal washer and axially engaging the distal washer and an inner surface of the bore to retain the proximal washer, the distal washer, and the split ring in connection with the bar and the sleeve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the annular member is formed by an annular flange extending axially inward from the distal washer and around the split ring, such that the distal washer is a cup-shaped member defining a cavity receiving the split ring therein. 
     
     
         3 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth outer diameter is also smaller than the second outer diameter, and an inner diameter of the distal washer is smaller than an inner diameter of the proximal washer. 
     
     
         4 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is a snap ring positioned in an annular groove on the inner surface of the bore. 
     
     
         5 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer diameter of the shoulder section is greater than the fourth outer diameter of the head section. 
     
     
         6 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein each end portion of the bar and the shoulder section, the neck section, and the head section of the projections all have circular cross sections. 
     
     
         7 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the bar further comprises a center portion having an outer diameter that is greater than the first outer diameter, creating ledges between the center portion and the end portions of the bar, wherein the barbell further comprises a plate fixed to one of the end portions of the bar and axially abutting the respective ledge. 
     
     
         8 . The barbell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixed structure forming a part of the bar or fixedly joined to the bar, the fixed structure located axially inward from an end of the bar and creating a radial dimension too large for the fixed structure and a portion of the bar associated with the fixed structure to pass through the bore, wherein a distance between the end of the bar and the fixed structure is smaller than a length of the sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The barbell of  claim 1 , wherein the bore of each sleeve has a proximal portion extending inwardly from a proximal end of the sleeve and a distal portion extending inwardly from a distal end of the sleeve, the proximal portion having a first inner diameter adjacent to the distal portion, and the distal portion having an inner section adjacent to the proximal portion and having a second inner diameter that is larger than the first inner diameter, creating an annular abutment surface between the proximal portion and the inner section of the distal portion, and wherein the proximal washer abuts the annular abutment surface, such that the sleeve is axially fixed with respect to the bar by a combination of the proximal washer abutting the annular abutment surface, the retaining member axially engaging the distal washer and the inner surface of the bore, and the respective split ring axially engaging the bar within the respective recessed slot. 
     
     
         10 . A barbell comprising:
 a bar having first and second opposed end portions spaced from each other along an axial direction, the first end portion having a first recessed slot located axially inward from a first end of the bar, and the second end portion having a second recessed slot located axially inward from a second end of the bar; and   a first sleeve assembly connected to the first end portion of the bar and comprising a first sleeve having a first axial bore receiving the first end portion and a first connection assembly for connecting the first sleeve to the first end portion, the first axial bore having a first annular abutment surface formed by a change in inner diameter of the first axial bore, the first connection assembly comprising:
 a first split ring positioned around the first end portion of the bar and comprising a first semi-annular piece and a second semi-annular piece both received within the first recessed slot; 
 a first proximal washer positioned around the first end portion of the bar and axially inward from the first split ring, the first proximal washer axially engaging an inward axial side of the first split ring and axially engaging the first annular abutment surface; 
 a first distal washer positioned around the first end portion of the bar and axially outward from the first split ring, the first distal washer axially engaging an outward axial side of the first split ring; 
 a first annular member extending circumferentially around the first split ring and radially retaining the first and second semi-annular pieces of the first split ring within the first recessed slot; and 
 a first retaining member positioned axially outward from the first distal washer and axially engaging the first distal washer and an inner surface of the first axial bore to retain the first proximal washer, the first distal washer, and the first split ring in connection with the bar and the first sleeve; and 
   a second sleeve assembly connected to the second end portion of the bar and comprising a second sleeve having a second axial bore receiving the second end portion and a second connection assembly for connecting the second sleeve to the second end portion, the second axial bore having a second annular abutment surface formed by a change in inner diameter of the second axial bore, the second connection assembly comprising:
 a second split ring positioned around the second end portion of the bar and comprising a third semi-annular piece and a fourth semi-annular piece both received within the second recessed slot; 
 a second proximal washer positioned around the second end portion of the bar and axially inward from the second split ring, the second proximal washer axially engaging an inward axial side of the second split ring and axially engaging the second annular abutment surface; 
 a second distal washer positioned around the second end portion of the bar and axially outward from the second split ring, the second distal washer axially engaging an outward axial side of the second split ring; 
 a second annular member extending circumferentially around the second split ring and radially retaining the third and fourth semi-annular pieces of the second split ring within the second recessed slot; and 
 a second retaining member positioned axially outward from the second distal washer and axially engaging the second distal washer and an inner surface of the second axial bore to retain the second proximal washer, the second distal washer, and the second split ring in connection with the bar and the second sleeve. 
   
     
     
         11 . The barbell of  claim 10 , wherein the first annular member is formed by a first annular flange extending axially inward from the first distal washer and around the first split ring, such that the first distal washer is a first cup-shaped member defining a first cavity receiving the first split ring therein, and the second annular member is formed by a second annular flange extending axially inward from the second distal washer and around the second split ring, such that the second distal washer is a second cup-shaped member defining a second cavity receiving the second split ring therein. 
     
     
         12 . The barbell of  claim 10 , wherein an inner diameter of the first distal washer is smaller than an inner diameter of the first proximal washer, and an inner diameter of the second distal washer is smaller than an inner diameter of the second proximal washer. 
     
     
         13 . The barbell of  claim 10 , wherein the first retaining member is a first snap ring positioned in a first annular groove on the inner surface of the first axial bore, and the second retaining member is a second snap ring positioned in a second annular groove on the inner surface of the second axial bore. 
     
     
         14 . The barbell of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a fixed structure forming a part of the bar or fixedly joined to the bar, the fixed structure located axially inward from the first end of the bar and creating a radial dimension too large for the fixed structure and a portion of the bar associated with the fixed structure to pass through the first axial bore, wherein a distance between the first end of the bar and the fixed structure is smaller than a length of the first sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The barbell of  claim 10 , wherein the first sleeve assembly further comprises a first end cap positioned within the first axial bore to cover a distal opening of the first axial bore, and the second sleeve assembly further comprises a second end cap positioned within the second axial bore to cover a distal opening of the second axial bore. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly for use in weightlifting, comprising:
 a bar elongated along an axial direction and having a first end portion terminating in a first end, the first end portion comprising a portion having a first outer diameter, a first shoulder section extending toward the first distal end from the portion having the first outer diameter, the first shoulder section having a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter, a first neck section extending toward the first distal end from the first shoulder section and having a third outer diameter that is smaller than the first and second outer diameters, and a first head section extending axially outward from the first neck section and having a fourth outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter and larger than the third outer diameter, such that the first neck section forms a first recessed slot between the first shoulder section and the first head section; and   a first sleeve assembly connected to the first end portion of the bar and comprising a first sleeve having a first axial bore receiving the first end portion and a first connection assembly for connecting the first sleeve to the first end portion, the first axial bore having a first annular abutment surface formed by a change in inner diameter of the first axial bore, the first connection assembly comprising:
 a first split ring comprising a first semi-annular piece and a second semi-annular piece received within the first recessed slot and around the first neck section, wherein the first split ring, assembled within the first recessed slot, has an inner width smaller than the second outer diameter and the fourth outer diameter; 
 a first proximal washer positioned axially inward from the first split ring, around the first shoulder section, the first proximal washer proximal washer axially engaging an inward axial side of the first split ring and axially engaging the first annular abutment surface; 
 a first distal washer positioned axially outward from the first split ring, around the first head section, the first distal washer axially engaging an outward axial side of the split ring; 
 a first annular member extending circumferentially around the first split ring and radially retaining the first and second semi-annular pieces within the first recessed slot; and 
 a first retaining member positioned axially outward from the first distal washer and axially engaging the first distal washer and an inner surface of the first axial bore to retain the first proximal washer, the first distal washer, and the first split ring in connection with the bar and the first sleeve. 
   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the bar has a second end portion terminating in a second end, further comprising a second sleeve assembly connected to the second end portion of the bar, wherein the assembly is configured for use as a barbell. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first retaining member is a first snap ring positioned in a first annular groove on the inner surface of the first axial bore. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a fixed structure forming a part of the bar or fixedly joined to the bar, the fixed structure located axially inward from the first end of the bar and creating a radial dimension too large for the fixed structure and a portion of the bar associated with the fixed structure to pass through the first axial bore, wherein a distance between the first end of the bar and the fixed structure is smaller than a length of the first sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising a weightlifting device and the assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the bar is connected to the weightlifting device and extends outward from the weightlifting device.