Weightlifting bar clamp

Abstract

A constrictable clamp has an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weightlifting bar therethrough. A tightening mechanism includes a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of a cable around the spool and tightening the constrictable clamp onto the weightlifting bar. The knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool to relax the cable and open the clamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising:
 a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough and defining a cable receiving track; and   a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable receiving track of the clamp around the spool, whereby actuating the knob winds the cable onto the spool and tightens the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar.   
     
     
         2 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable. 
     
     
         3 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool. 
     
     
         4 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 3 , wherein the knob is movable along an axis of rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions. 
     
     
         5 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar. 
     
     
         6 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the constrictable clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments. 
     
     
         7 . The weight lifting bar of  claim 6 , wherein the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively define the cable track extending therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state and compress as the cable is tightened. 
     
     
         9 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 6 , including a gripper attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar. 
     
     
         10 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 9 , wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges. 
     
     
         11 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 9 , wherein the gripper is comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         12 . A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising:
 a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough, the clamp comprising a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments, the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively defining a cable track extending therethrough; and   a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable track around the spool;   wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state; and   wherein actuating the knob winds the cable onto the spool compresses the elastomeric spacers and tightens the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar.   
     
     
         13 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 12 , wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable, and wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool. 
     
     
         14 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the knob is movable along an axis of rotation between the engaged and disengaged positions. 
     
     
         15 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar. 
     
     
         16 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 12 , including a gripper attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar. 
     
     
         17 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges. 
     
     
         18 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the gripper is comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         19 . A weight lifting bar clamp, comprising:
 a constrictable clamp having an opening configured for insertion of an end of a weight lifting bar therethrough and defining a cable receiving track; and   a tightening mechanism including a knob coupled to a spool for manually winding a length of cable associated with the cable receiving track around the spool to tighten the constrictable clamp onto the weight lifting bar;   wherein the tightening mechanism includes a plurality of spaced apart ratcheting teeth associated with the knob or spool for incrementally rotating the spool and winding the cable;   wherein the knob is movable between an engaged position locked with the spool and a disengaged position from the spool; and   wherein the cable is in a relaxed state when the knob is in the disengaged position, permitting the clamp to be removed from the weightlifting bar.   
     
     
         20 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 19 , wherein the constrictable clamp comprises a plurality of arcuate clamping segments having elastomeric spacers connecting adjacent ends of the clamping segments, the clamping segments and spacers cooperatively defining a cable track extending therethrough. 
     
     
         21 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 20 , wherein the elastomeric spacers bias the clamping segments away from one another when the cable is in a relaxed state and compress as the cable is tightened. 
     
     
         22 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 19 , including a gripper, comprising an elastomeric material, attached to an inner surface of each clamping segment configured to grip the weight lifting bar. 
     
     
         23 . The weight lifting bar clamp of  claim 22 , wherein the gripper includes a weight bar engaging surface having spaced apart ridges.