Adjustable - sold dumbbells
One embodiment of the Adjustable-Solid Dumbbell having a hitch pin (20) which joins with dumbbell shaft (22). The assembly produces a preferred method of retaining add on weight plates (not shown) on a dumbbell shaft. The proposed dumbbell shaft having multiple holes enables the use of a selected number of add on weight plates. A dumbbell body is constructed in a way which attaches a specific weight. The Adjustable-Solid Dumbbells can be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate multiple weight ranges. Other embodiments are described and shown.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/881,204, filed Jan. 19, 2007 by the present inventor.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use of hitch pins (also known as hair pin cotters) which are used to retain weight plates on a dumbbell shaft.
2. Prior Art
For many years, common methods of retaining weight plates to dumbbell shafts are known as collars. Bolt or t-bolt collars makes use of a bolt to clamp through a collar body onto a dumbbell shaft. This type of collar can loosen while in use from the movement of the weight plates.
There after many types of adjustable dumbbells were designed in such ways of manually changing dumbbell weight. U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,144 to Towley and Olson (2000) describes a complex dumbbell assembly using many machined parts which are prohibitively expensive to manufacturer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,446 to Krull (2002) discloses a dumbbell system comprising of an complex selector mechanism complicating the manufacturing process, thus raising cost.
Although the dumbbell handle and collar combination has been in use for many years, they produce a dumbbell assembly that is clumsy to use and may not properly secure the weight plates.
Among the types of dumbbell collars proposed for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,680 to Larsen (1997) discloses a collar long in size producing a dumbbell cumbersome to use. Although this method of retaining weight plates to is less complicated, it is limited to a certain size and length of dumbbell shafts. This type of dumbbell collar is expensive to manufacture. The heretofore known methods of adjusting dumbbells suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) Their manufacturing processes requires great tooling and machine operations adding extra man hours and complicating production methods.
(b) The need to produce an excess number of parts requires additional assembly hours.
(c) Complicated operating mechanism may not always engage or function properly minimizing user effectiveness.
(d) The excessive number of manufactured parts requires additional finish processes such as chrome or zinc plating or coatings.
(e) Increased machine, finish and assembly processes raises the manufacturing cost. Due to the competitive nature of these products, production must adhere to low manufacturing cost to enable any commercial value.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one embodiment a adjustable solid dumbbell comprises a dumbbell shaft having drilled holes accepting a hitch pin (hair pin cotters) to retain weight plates.
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
One embodiment of the Adjustable-Solid Dumbbell is illustrated in
The manner of using Adjustable-Solid Dumbbells given procedure of retaining add on plates (not shown) enables the use of a hitch pin 20 (
From the description herein, advantages derive from the embodiments of my Adjustable-Solid Dumbbells and are evident.
a) The method of changing and retaining weight plates are simplified, creating a user friendly adjustable dumbbell.
b) The use of hitch pins (hair pin cotters) to retain weight plates, produces a very secure method of retaining add on weight plates.
c) Adjusting the dumbbells does not require the need to move large weight plates.
d) Cast iron weight plates can be used for the bulk of the weight, minimizing machine operations.
e) Less time and parts are required in the manufacturing process thus reducing cost.
f) Minimal dumbbell pairs are needed to obtain large dumbbell weight ranges.
Conclusion, Ramifications and ScopeAccordingly, the reader will see that the Adjustable-Solid Dumbbells various embodiments provide effectiveness and efficient uses of these dumbbells while engaging in weight lifting. In addition to the uses, Adjustable-Solid Dumbbells will provide good value and a very durable product. Furthermore, dumbbells have additional advantages in that
they permit quick production requiring less man power to produce.
they provide large knurled handles for good gripping.
they can be used in both home and commercial applications.
they provide immediate weight plate change.
they have only one moving part, wear is extremely minimal.
they do not require complicated or cumbersome collars.
The description above contains many specifications, however it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing figures and illustrations of some of the proposed embodiments. For example, the dumbbell handle can have different shapes such as having a taper or a varying grip size etc.
Thus the scope of the embodiment needs to be established by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather then by the examples given.
Claims
1. An adjustable solid dumbbell of the type comprising a shaft having multiple holes located near shaft ends for the purpose of accepting hitch pins, also known as hair pin cotters.
2. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 1 wherein said body of material is composed of steel and cast iron.
3. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 1 wherein said shaft is adjacent to weight plates giving said dumbbell a predetermined weight.
4. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 1 wherein said dumbbell possesses a handle affixed to said shaft.
5. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 4 having said handle is adjacent to large washers located between handle flanges and weight plates.
6. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 4 wherein said handle is knurled, producing a textured finish.
7. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 3 having said weight plates are machined producing a hole accepting an assembly ring.
8. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 7 wherein said ring is composed of steel.
9. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 7 wherein said ring is properly machined to closely fit the finished assembly.
10. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 7 wherein said ring attaches last on both ends and completes dumbbell assembly.
11. An adjustable solid dumbbell of the type comprising a shaft having multiple holes located near shaft ends for the purpose of accepting hitch pins, also known as hair pin cotters, characterized in that the said hitch pin is used for the purpose of retaining add on weight plates.
12. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 11 wherein said hitch pin comprises a wire type body.
13. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 11 wherein said hitch pin is manufactured in a way of producing a spring like action for the purpose of self retention once installed on dumbbell assembly.
14. The adjustable solid dumbbell of claim 11 characterizes the use of add on weight plates. Add on weight plates are used in conjunction with adjustable solid dumbbells producing multiple weights.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 24, 2008
Inventor: Philip Chrysanthus (Broadview Heights, OH)
Application Number: 12/009,191
International Classification: A63B 21/075 (20060101);