Weight-lifting bar having sensory training components

Abstract

A weight-lifting bar having a metal tubular member, a transparent plastic tubular member, a plurality of balls, and first and second elastomeric plugs is provided. The plurality of balls are disposed within the transparent plastic tubular member. At least a first ball of the plurality of balls is viewable through the transparent plastic tubular member when the first ball is proximate to an elongated opening of the metal tubular member. The first and second elastomeric plugs are coupled to the weight-lifting bar such that the plurality of balls are contained in the weight-lifting bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight-lifting bar, comprising
 a metal tubular member having a first end portion, a second end portion, an intermediate portion, and a first internal region; the intermediate portion being disposed between the first and second end portions; the first internal region extending through the first and second end portions and the intermediate portion; the intermediate portion having an elongated opening extending therethrough;   a transparent plastic tubular member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a second internal region, the transparent plastic tubular member being disposed in the first internal region;   a plurality of balls being disposed in the second internal region of the transparent plastic tubular member that at least partially fill the second internal region; at least a first ball of the plurality of balls being viewable through the transparent plastic tubular member when the first ball is proximate to the elongated opening of the metal tubular member;   a first elastomeric plug being disposed in at least one of the first and second internal regions proximate to the first end portion of the metal tubular member to contain the plurality of balls in the second internal region; and   a second elastomeric plug being disposed in at least one of the first and second internal regions proximate to the second end portion of the metal tubular member to contain the plurality of balls in the second internal region.   
     
     
         2 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls further includes second and third balls; the first ball being disposed between the second and third balls. 
     
     
         3 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 2 , wherein the first ball being constructed of plastic, and the second and third balls being constructed of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 2 , wherein the first ball having a first color, and the second and third balls having a second color different than the first color. 
     
     
         5 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 2 , wherein the weight-lifting bar having a longitudinally extending central axis; the first end portion of the metal tubular member defining a first opening, the second end portion of the metal tubular member defining a second opening; the metal tubular member having a dimensional midpoint on the longitudinally extending central axis that is between and equidistant from the first and second openings of the first and second end portions, respectively; and when the longitudinally extending central axis is disposed generally perpendicular to a gravity vector, the first ball is disposed at the dimensional midpoint and is viewable through the transparent plastic tubular member and the elongated opening. 
     
     
         6 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated opening of the metal tubular member being centered longitudinally about the dimensional midpoint on the longitudinally extending central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 6 , wherein the second and third balls being viewable in the elongated opening of the metal tubular member, when the longitudinally extending central axis is disposed generally perpendicular to a gravity vector. 
     
     
         8 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of balls further including fourth and fifth balls; the fourth ball being disposed between the first and second balls, and the fifth ball being disposed between the first and third balls. 
     
     
         9 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 8 , wherein the first, fourth and fifth balls being constructed of at least one of a plastic, nylon, wood, cork, and copper; and the second and third balls being constructed of a metal. 
     
     
         10 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 8 , wherein the first, fourth and fifth balls being a first color, and the second and third balls being a second color different than the first color. 
     
     
         11 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 8 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth balls are viewable through the transparent plastic tubular member and the elongated opening of the metal tubular member when the longitudinally extending central axis is disposed generally perpendicular to the gravity vector. 
     
     
         12 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 11 , wherein the first end portion of the metal tubular member having first and second apertures extending through the metal tubular member perpendicular to the metal tubular member, and the first end portion of the transparent plastic tubular member having first and second apertures extending through the transparent plastic tubular member perpendicular to the transparent plastic tubular member, the first elastomeric plug having an aperture extending therethrough, and the first fastener member comprises a barrel nut and a mating bolt; the mating bolt extending through the first and second apertures of the metal tubular member, the first and second apertures of the transparent plastic tubular member, and the aperture of the elastomeric plug, the barrel nut is disposed on the metal tubular member and is coupled to the mating bolt. 
     
     
         13 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 5 , wherein the metal tubular member further includes a second elongated opening between the first end portion of the metal tubular member and the first elongated opening. 
     
     
         14 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 13 , wherein the metal tubular member includes first and second longitudinally extending edges that are disposed apart from one another and which at least partially define the first elongated opening; the metal tubular member further includes third and fourth longitudinally extending edges that are disposed apart from one another and which at least partially define the second elongated opening, the first and third edges being collinear with one another, the second and fourth edges being collinear with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 13 , wherein the metal tubular member further includes a third elongated opening between the second end portion of the metal tubular member and the first elongated opening. 
     
     
         16 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 2 , wherein the first ball being constructed of a first material, and the second and third balls being constructed of second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         17 . The weight-lifting bar of  claim 1 , wherein the first endcap member being configured to cover the first end portion of the metal tubular member and first and second ends of the first fastener member.