Hollow dumbbell

Abstract

A hollow dumbbell includes left and right shells which are detachably connected to left and right coupling ends of a neck member. Each shell includes a shell body defining an accommodation chamber therein for containing liquid so as to increase the weight of the dumbbell, and a tubular portion defining an access port that provides access to the accommodation chamber. The access port is closed by the respective coupling end of the neck member. A light-related brightening member is disposed in one of the shells and the neck member for illumination and embellishment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/669,939, filed by the applicant on Sep. 24, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hollow dumbbell, more particularly to a hollow dumbbell with a detachable construction for convenient carrying.

2. Description of the Related Art

In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/669,939, the applicant disclosed a hollow dumbbell that includes right and left shells respectively defining accommodation chambers for containing liquid therein so as to increase the weight of the dumbbell, and a hollow neck member for gripping purposes. The neck member defines a passage therein which is in fluid communication with the accommodation chambers. An access port is formed on one of the right and left shells and the neck member to provide access to the accommodation chambers and the passage, and is closed by a detachable plug. A light-related brightening member, such as a battery-powered lighting body, and fluorescent flakes, etc., is disposed on or in one of the shells and the neck member for enhancing the fun of exercising using the dumbbell.

It is desirable to improve the aforesaid hollow dumbbell to facilitate carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow dumbbell which has an appealing appearance and which has a detachable construction to facilitate carrying.

According to this invention, the hollow dumbbell includes left and right shells, each including a shell body which defines an accommodation chamber adapted for containing liquid therein so as to increase the weight of the dumbbell, and a tubular portion which extends along a longitudinal axis from the shell body and which defines an access port that provides access to the accommodation chamber. A neck member is elongated along the longitudinal axis, and has left and right coupling ends opposite to each other along the longitudinal axis. A left fastening member is disposed to detachably connect the tubular portion of the left shell to the left coupling end so as to close the access port in the tubular portion of the left shell. A right fastening member is disposed to detachably connect the tubular portion of the right shell to the right coupling end so as to close the access port in the tubular portion of the right shell. A light-related brightening member is disposed in one of the left and right shells and the neck member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded plan view of a preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to the present invention is shown to comprise left and right shells 4, a neck member 3, left and right fastening members, a light-related brightening member.

The left and right shells 4 and the neck member 3 are made from a transparent rubber or plastic material. Preferably, the transparent rubber or plastic material has incorporated therein a fluorescent substance. Each of the left and right shells 4 includes a shell body 41 which defines an accommodation chamber 42 adapted for containing liquid, such as water 7, and a tubular portion 43 which extends along a longitudinal axis from the shell body 41 and which defines an access port 431 that provides access to the accommodation chamber 42. The neck member 3 is elongated along the longitudinal axis, and has left and right coupling ends 31,32 opposite to each other along the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the left and right shells 4 are patterned on outer surfaces 411 thereof for enhancing the appearance of the dumbbell.

Each of the left and right fastening members includes internally and externally threaded surfaces 432,311 and 432,321 which are formed on the tubular portion 43 of a respective one of the left and right shells 4 and a respective one of the left and right coupling ends 31,32, respectively, which surround the longitudinal axis, and which threadedly engage each other so as to connect the respective one of the left and right coupling ends 31,32 to the tubular portion 43 of a respective one of the left and right shells 4 and so as to close the respective access port 431. In addition, a water-tight ring 5 is sleeved on each of the left and right coupling ends 31,32, and engages the tubular portion 43 of the respective one of the left and right shells 4 so as to establish a water-tight engagement between the internally and externally threaded surfaces 432,311 and 432,321. The neck member 3 defines a passage 33 therein which extends along the longitudinal axis and which has two ends that are respectively disposed in the left and right coupling ends 31,32 and that are in fluid communication with the accommodation chambers 42 in the left and right shells 4, respectively. In this embodiment, a recess 34 is formed in an outer surface of the neck member 3, and extends inwardly towards the passage 33. The light-related brightening member includes a battery-powered lighting body 6 received in the recess 34. The lighting body 6 includes two illuminating portions 61 and a control switch 62 connected electrically to the illuminating portions 61. Alternatively, a fluorescent bar 6′ made from a fluorescent material may be used, as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, the lighting body 6 is first inserted into the recess 34. Then, one of the left and right shells 4 is connected to the respective coupling end 31,32 of the neck member 3. Water 7 is introduced through the other coupling end 32,31 into the passage 33 and the accommodation chamber 42. If desired, a plurality of fluorescent bodies 8, such as fluorescent pellets or flakes, can be disposed in the passage 33 and the accommodation chamber 42 to be mix with or to scatter in the water 7. Finally, the other one of the left and right shells 4 is connected to the other coupling end 32,31 so that the lighting body 6 is retained in the recess 34 steadily.

Since the dumbbell of this invention includes left and right shells 4 which are in a threaded engagement with the neck member 3, the shells 4 can be separated from the neck member 3 for convenient carrying and storage. Moreover, the access ports 431 in the shells 4 are closed by the coupling ends 31,32 of the neck member 3 without the need for a plug.

Referring to FIG. 3, another preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiment in construction, except that the neck member 3′ is made from a metal material and is not formed with a passage. A flexible strap 9 is fastened around the neck member 3′ to facilitate gripping. A plurality of battery-powered lighting bodies 6 and fluorescent bars 6′ are received in a plurality of recesses 44 that are formed in outer surfaces of the left and right shells 4. The left and right coupling ends 31′ of the neck member 3′ have externally threaded surfaces 311′,321′ in threaded engagement with the internally threaded surfaces 432 of the tubular portions 43 of the left and right shells 4. Thus, the user can grip the metal neck member 3′ more steadily.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A hollow dumbbell adapted to be filled with liquid therein for increasing weight thereof, said dumbbell comprising:

left and right shells, each including a shell body which defines an accommodation chamber adapted for containing the liquid therein, and a tubular portion which extends along a longitudinal axis from said shell body and which defines an access port that provides access to said accommodation chamber;

a neck member which is elongated along the longitudinal axis, and which has left and right coupling ends opposite to each other along the longitudinal axis;

a left fastening member disposed to detachably connect said tubular portion of said left shell to said left coupling end so as to close said access port in said tubular portion of said left shell;

a right fastening member disposed to detachably connect said tubular portion of said right shell to said right coupling end so as to close said access port in said tubular portion of said right shell; and

a light-related brightening member disposed in one of said left and right shells and said neck member.

2. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein each of said left and right fastening members includes an internally threaded surface and an externally threaded surface which are formed on said tubular portion of a respective one of said left and right shells and a respective one of said left and right coupling ends, respectively, and which surround the longitudinal axis to threadedly engage each other so as to connect the respective one of said left and right coupling ends to said tubular portion of a respective one of said left and right shells.

3. The hollow dumbbell of claim 2, wherein each of said left and right fastening members further includes a water-tight ring disposed to establish a water-tight engagement between said externally and internally threaded surfaces.

4. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said neck member defines a passage therein which extends along the longitudinal axis and which has two ends that are respectively disposed in said left and right coupling ends and that are in fluid communication with said accommodation chambers in said left and right shells, respectively.

5. The hollow dumbbell of claim 4, wherein said left and right shells and said neck member are made from a transparent material having a fluorescent substance incorporated therein.

6. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said neck member is made from a metal material, said dumbbell further comprising a flexible strap fastened around said neck member to facilitate gripping.

7. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said light-related brightening member includes a battery-powered lighting body which is disposed on one of said shell bodies of said left and right shells and said neck member.

8. The hollow dumbbell of claim 7, wherein said light-related brightening member further includes a plurality of fluorescent bodies which are disposed in a respective one of said accommodation chambers and said passage and which are adapted to scatter in the liquid.

9. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said shell bodies of said left and right shells are patterned.