Weight plate with center post locking cartridge and locking fork

摘要

A weight plate for physical fitness weight lifting equipment so that the weight plate may be coupled to other weight plates and lifted in a stack. The weight plate includes a pivotal switch arm having a first end at which to receive a pushing force to cause the switch arm to rotate and an opposite end at which a fork is carried. A post runs through a center bore hole of the weight plate. The weight plate also includes an intermediate channel and a locking cavity that are aligned with one another at opposite sides of the bore hole. When the pivotal switch arm is rotated to a locked position, the fork is rotated through the intermediate channel, into surrounding engagement with the center post, and completely through the bore hole for receipt by the locking cavity by which the weight plate is reliably coupled to the post.

主权项

1. A combination comprising:
a weight plate having a bore hole formed therethrough and a locking cavity lying adjacent a first side of and communicating with said bore hole; and a post received through the bore hole of said weight plate so that said weight plate can be coupled to and lifted by said post, said weight plate also having a switch arm that is movable relative to said weight plate, a first end of said switch arm receiving a force for causing said switch arm to move in either a first direction to an unlocked position at which the weight plate is uncoupled from the post or in an opposite direction to a locked position at which the weight plate is coupled to the post so as to be lifted thereby, the opposite end of said switch arm being sized to move into locking engagement with said post within said bore hole and to extend completely through said bore hole for receipt by said locking cavity adjacent the first side of said bore hole when said switch arm is in said locked position; wherein the opposite end of said switch arm is a fork having opposing first and second fingers and a space lying between said first and second fingers, said first and second fingers extending completely through said bore hole for receipt by said locking cavity such that said post is located within said space between and engaged by said first and second fingers when said switch arm is moved to said locked position.