ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELL AND SYSTEM
An adjustable weightlifting device having selectable weights. The adjustable weightlifting device allows users to select a desired number of weight plates, and then couples the selected weight plates to retention members disposed in the handle of the device.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/471,156 filed May, 22, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,007,415, which is hereby incorporated by reference, as if fully rewritten herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention is directed to a weightlifting device. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adjustable weight dumbbell device and system having an internal plate retention mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE FIELDMany weightlifters perform a variety of exercises to build and develop muscle. These exercises can be performed through the use of free weights or the use of weightlifting machines. While both free weights and weightlifting machines provide a means to develop and build muscle, many weightlifters prefer the natural motion afforded by the use of free weights, such as dumbbells and barbells. The ability to move naturally allows the weightlifter a greater degree of variety in their exercise routine and the ability to isolate specific muscles.
Although conventional dumbbells provide the freedom desired by weightlifters, conventional dumbbells have several drawbacks. Many conventional dumbbells are made of a cast metal and therefore provide the user with a fixed weight. The fixed weight dumbbells prevent a user from adjusting the amount of weight used, thus decreasing the amount of exercise options available to the user. Other conventional dumbbells are provided with removable weight plates allowing the user to adjust the weight to be lifted. These types of dumbbells may require the clamps, brackets, screws to secure the weight plates to the dumbbell. Although allowing the weight to be adjusted, the attachment devices may be cumbersome and subject to failure potentially injuring the user or others.
Advanced versions of dumbbells and barbells are devices that have attachable weights mounted on a weight lifting bar. In these embodiments, the weights may be prevented from falling from the bar through the use of screws or clamps disposed outside the weights on the bar. These devices are often inconvenient to mount onto the bar and remove from the bar. Each of these mechanisms must be placed separately on the bar. Another drawback of this type of weight lifting system is the expense of purchasing separate pieces of equipment for each different weight desired to be used by the weightlifter.
Even more advanced versions of dumbbells and barbells are devices that allow the user to select a desired amount of weight to be lifted from a stack of weights. However, many of these devices interfere with the natural movement of the user during the lifting motion. These devices force the user to insert a hand into a cage to lift the weight, severely limiting the movement of the user's wrist. These devices may also be cumbersome to use. Although the devices allow a user to select a desired amount of weight, the width of the dumbbell and barbell may be static making the device unstable during use. In addition, these devices offer little in the way of safety.
SUMMARY OF THE GENERAL INVENTIVE CONCEPTA weight lifting device of the present invention takes the form of a handle that includes off-set passages inside the handle and locking mechanisms attached to each end of the handle. A stack of individual weight plates arranged adjacent to the locking mechanisms. The weight plates are supported by a base, the base is adapted to prevent the bottoms of the weight plates from contacting the base.
A retention member is placed within each passage in the handle. The retention member includes a rod having a series of holes running down a portion of the rod and a retention bar. The retention bar extends perpendicularly from an end of the rod. The rod is adapted to slide and rotate within the handle. In other exemplary embodiments the rod is adapted to slide in the handle and prevented from rotating.
The weight plates include a vertical guide, a channel and a retention groove. When the plates are stacked and supported in the base the vertical guides and channels of each plate are aligned allowing the retention member to pass through the plates. The vertical guide is adapted to allow the retention bar to pass through the plate and the channel is adapted to allow the rod to pass through the plate.
To use the weight lifting device to exercise, a user extends the retention member through a desired number of plates on both ends of the device. Next the user rotates the retention bar into the retention groove of the selected weight plate. When the retention bar is placed in the retention groove the holes on the rod are aligned with the locking mechanisms. The user then engages the pin inside the locking mechanism with the aligned hole. This prevents the rod from rotating and moving longitudinally. The weight plate is prevented from slipping off the end of the rod by the retention bar nested in the retention groove.
In other exemplary embodiments, the retention member includes a rod, an attachment member and a retention pin. In this embodiment, the rod is shaped in a manner such that it is prevented from rotating relative to the handle and weight plates. The attachment member is adapted to attach the retention pin to the rod. The retention pin in this embodiment is a spring loaded pull pin. The weight plates are adapted to receive the retention member of this embodiment. The vertical guide in the weight plate is adapted to slidably receive the retention pin, and a retention tab is located in the vertical guide. The retention tab and retention plate are each adapted to retain the selected weight plates to the rod.
In other exemplary embodiments, the weight lifting device may have support adapted to cradle the locking mechanisms providing automatic locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a pin extending through the body of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is positioned transverse to the rod running through the locking mechanism.
When the locking mechanism is removed from the support, a channel disposed in the support forces the pin to engage the rod inside the locking mechanism preventing movement of the rod. As the weight lifting device is lowered onto the base, and the locking mechanisms enter the support, another channel disposed in the support forces the pin to disengage from the rod allowing the rod to freely slide allowing a different number of weight plates to be selected.
In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:
One exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell device 5 (adjustable dumbbell) of the present invention is illustrated in
As shown in
A weight plate of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 5 is depicted in
Weight plates 14 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 5 also includes a vertical guide 38 vertically aligned in the weight plate 14 intersecting with a lateral channel 40 located in the weight plate 14. The vertical guide 38 includes an open end 42 and a terminal end 44. In some exemplary embodiments, the vertical guide 38 may terminate in the lateral channel 40 (as shown in
The weight plate 14 may also include a stacking pin 46 extending from a lower portion of the second side 32 thereof. A corresponding pin groove 48 may be disposed in the lower portion of the first side 30 of the weight plate 14. The pin groove 48 is adapted to receive the stacking pin 46 of adjacent weight plates 14 when in a stacked configuration. The interlocking of the stacking pin 46 and the pin groove 48 prevents the weight plates 14 from rotating relative to one another. This interlocking provides a more stable exercise motion without the need for cumbersome stabilizing features and aids in alignment of the lateral channels 40 of each stacked weight plate 14. Although a pin groove 48 and a corresponding stacking pin 46 are contemplated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that that a variety of concave/convex complementary features may be used to interlock the weight plates 14 and prevent the weight plates 14 from rotating relative to one another.
A retention groove 36 is also disposed within the first side 30 of the weight plate 14. The retention groove 36 is adapted to receive the retention bar 64 (shown in
The handle 10 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 5 is depicted in
The retention member 16 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 5 is depicted in
The series of holes 62 may be arranged in a straight line running along the exterior of the rod 60. The holes 62 may traverse the entire rod 60 or only a portion of the rod 60. The spacing between the holes 62 corresponds to the distance between the retention grooves 36 in the weight plates 14, when the weight plates 14 are in a stacked configuration. The holes 62 are located so that when the retention member 16 is rotated, engaging the retention bar 64 with the retention groove 36 in a weight plate 14, the holes 62 align with the pin 70 (shown in
A locking mechanism 12 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell is depicted in
An additional safety feature may be provided by elongating the pin lever 72 so that when the pin lever 72 is in the unlocked position, the pin lever 72 interferes with the user's ability to grip the handle 10. This interference prevents the user from lifting the adjustable dumbbell 100 when the retention member 16 is not locked, and thus preventing the weight plates 14 from falling off the adjustable dumbbell and injuring the user.
An exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell 5 of the present invention is basically constructed as described above. Operation of the adjustable dumbbell is described below.
To select a desired amount of weight plates 14 for an exercise, a user extends the rod 60 from the handle 10 through the later channels 40 of the stacked weight plates 14 supported by the plate rests 22 by manipulating the retention bar 64. Once rod 60 has been extended to the desired weight plate 14, the user rotates the rod 60 by placing the retention bar 64 into the retention groove 36. The rotation of the rod 60 aligns the holes 62 with the pin 70 within the locking mechanism 12. The engagement between the retention bar 64 and the retention groove 36 prevents the selected weight plates 14 from sliding off the rod 60. A user may then manipulate the pin lever 72 to engage the pin 70 with a hole 62 in the rod 60, preventing longitudinal and rotational movement of the rod 60 (locked position). This process is repeated for both sides of the adjustable dumbbell 5. In this manner, the adjustable dumbbell 5 allows the user to select the amount of weight on each side independently. In addition, weight plates 14 may be added and removed from the rod 60 without removing the rod 60 from the handle 10. The user may then lift the handle 10 and attached weight plates 14, while the unselected weight plates 14 remain in the base 18.
Another exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell device 100 (adjustable dumbbell) of the present invention is illustrated in
As shown in
A weight plate 114 of an exemplary embodiment of the adjustable dumbbell 100 is depicted in
Weight plates 114 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 100 also includes a vertical guide 138 intersecting with a lateral channel 40 located in the weight plate 114. The vertical guide 138 extends from the outer portion of the weight plate 114 and terminates in the lateral channel 40. As shown in
Retention tabs 136 are disposed in the lower portion of the vertical guide 138, near the intersection of the vertical guide 138 and the lateral channel 40. The retention tabs 136 are adapted to complementary engage the lower portion 172 of the retention pin 170 of the retention member 116, to prevent the selected weight plates 114 from sliding off the rod 160. In other exemplary embodiments, the retention tabs 136 may be positioned at any location within the vertical guide 138. In still other exemplary embodiments, multiple retention tabs 136 may be placed at various locations within the vertical guide 138
The handle 10 is described above in
As shown in
In this embodiment, the rod 160 includes a lower portion 166 and an upper portion 168. The lower portion 166 is adapted to be slidably received by the lateral channel 40 in the weight plates 114. The upper portion 168 of the rod 160 extends into the vertical guide 138 through the opening 142; preventing rotation of the weight plate 114 about the longitudinal axis of the rod 160. This feature eliminates the need for the pin 46 and pin groove 48 to prevent weight plate 114 rotation about the longitudinal axis of the rod 160, as described in other exemplary embodiments shown in
The attachment member 164 extends from the rod 160 and is adapted to secure the retention pin 170 to the rod 160. In some exemplary embodiments, the attachment member 164 extends substantially perpendicular from the longitudinal axis of the rod 160. Although depicted in
The retention pin 170 is adapted to nest in the vertical guide 138. When the retention pin 170 is nested in the vertical guide 138 the lower portion 172 of the retention pin 170 is in complementary engagement with the retention tabs 136. This engagement prevents the selected weight plates 114 from sliding off the end of the rod 160. In other exemplary embodiments additional retention tabs 136 may be added to the vertical guide 138.
The depressions 162 are arranged in a straight line running the along the exterior of the rod 160 for engagement with the spring load pin 190 (shown in
A locking mechanism 112 and support 124 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell is depicted in
The aforementioned support 124 includes a receptacle 200 disposed therein and adapted to receive and support the locking mechanism 112. The support 124 further includes a locking channel 202 and an unlocking channel 204 disposed in the sides of the receptacle 200. The locking channel 202 is adapted to force the pin 190 into a locked position as the locking mechanism 112 is removed from the receptacle 200. The unlocking channel 204 is adapted to force the pin 190 into an unlocked position when the locking mechanism 112 is placed in the receptacle 200. To ensure correct movement of the pin 190 into the locked position as the locking mechanisms 112 are removed from the receptacles 200, the locking mechanisms 112 may have substantially square cross-section having rounded corners. This shape prevents rotation of the locking mechanism 112 within the receptacles 200. By eliminating rotation of the locking mechanism 112 relative to the receptacle 200, it ensures engagement of the pin 190 with the locking channel 202 moving the pin 190 into the locked position. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that although a locking mechanism 112 with a substantially square cross-section is contemplated, the locking mechanism 112 have any shape preventing rotation of the locking mechanism 112 within the receptacle while allowing easy ingress and egress.
The locking mechanism 112, receptacle 200, and retention member 116 also provide an important safety feature to the adjustable dumbbell 100. If a user fails to properly nest the retention pin 170 within the vertical guide 138 so as to contact the lower portion 172 of the retention pin 170 with the retention tab 136, the pin 190 located within the locking mechanism 112 will not align properly with the series of depressions 162 in the rod 160. When the pin 190 is not aligned with the depressions 162 the pin 190 is prevented from moving into the locked position. When a user attempts to remove the locking mechanism 112 from the receptacle 200 when the pin 190 is prevented from moving into the locked position, the locking channel 202 prevents the locking mechanism from exiting the receptacle 200. In this manner, the adjustable dumbbell 100 prevents usage when the retention member 116 is not properly placed and locked to eliminate the possibility of the weight plate 114 falling from the retention member 116 potentially injuring the user.
An exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell 100 of the present invention is basically constructed as described above. Operation of the adjustable dumbbell is described below.
To select a desirable amount of weight plates 114 for an exercise, a user extends the rod 160 from the handle 10 through the lateral channels 140 of the weight plates 114 by manipulating the retention pin 170. To extend the rod 160, the pin 170 is lifted so as the clear the retention tabs 136. Once the desired number of weight plates 114 has been selected the retention pin 170 is lowered into the vertical guide 138 of the desired weight plate 114. The lower portion 172 of the retention pin 170 engages the retention tab 136 preventing the selected weight plates 114 from falling off the rod 160. Once the desired number of weight plates 114 has been selected on both sides of the adjustable dumbbell 100, the user may lift the handle 10 and attached weight plates 114 from the base 18. As the locking mechanisms 112 are removed from the support 124, the pin 190 engages a depression 162 in rod 160 preventing longitudinal motion of the rod 160. After completion of the exercise, the adjustable dumbbell 100 is lowered into the base 18 aligning the locking mechanisms 112 with the supports 124. As the locking mechanisms 112 enter the support 124 the pin 190 is forced into the unlocked position by the locking channel 204 allowing the rod 160 to move longitudinally.
Still another exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell device 300 (adjustable dumbbell) according to the present invention is illustrated in
As shown in
As illustrated in
In addition, the weight plate 214 has grooves 220 formed into at least one plate 214a, 214b. Although the grooves 220 are shown in the first plate 214a, it should be understood that the groove 220 may also be located in the second plate 214b. The grooves 220 are positioned on opposing sides of the weight plate 214 and are adapted to engage the protrusions 224 (as shown in
The weight plates 214 also include a vertical guide 138 that intersects with a lateral channel 40 located near the center of the weight plate 214. The vertical guide 138 extends from the outer portion of the weight plate 214 and terminates on the lateral channel 40. As shown in
Retention tabs 236 are disposed in the lower portion of the vertical guide 138, near the intersection of the vertical guide 138 and the lateral channel 40. The retention tabs 236 are adapted to complementarily engage the lower portion 272 of the retention pin 270 (shown in
In the weight plate 214 embodiment presented in
The handle 10 is described above in discussions related to
As illustrated in
The rod 260 is adapted to be slidably disposed within the passages 54, 56 of the handle 10 and includes a series of depressions 262. The rod 260 is also adapted to pass through the locking mechanisms 212 and be inserted into the first and second passages 54, 56 within the handle 10. As the passages 54, 56 are adapted to slidably receive the rod 260, the passages 54, 56 may be contoured to the shape of the rod 260, preventing rotation of the rod 260 within the handle 10.
In the embodiments shown in
The attachment member 264 is attached to the end of the rod 260. As illustrated in
An exemplary retention pin 270 used in the retention member 216 is depicted in
The retention pin 270 is adapted to nest in the vertical guide 138. When the retention pin 270 is nested in the vertical guide 138 the lower portion 272 of the retention pin 270 is in complementary engagement with the retention tabs 236. This engagement prevents the selected weights plates 214 from sliding off the end of the rod 260. In other exemplary embodiments, additional retention tabs 236 may be added to the vertical guide 138.
In order to prevent unintentional movement of the retention pin 270, the retention pin 270 may include a locking tab 268. The locking tab 268 has a locked position as shown in
The depressions 162 are arranged in a straight line running along the exterior of the rod 260 for engagement with the pin 290 (shown in
The locking mechanism 212 of the exemplary adjustable dumbbell 300 is depicted in
The pin 290 includes a complementary portion 292 allowing longitudinal movement of the rod 260 when in the unlocked position. As illustrated, the complementary portion 292 of the pin 290 is an area of decreased diameter as compared to the remainder of the pin 290. In some exemplary embodiments, the pin 290 may be spring loaded forcing the pin 290 into the locked position. The pin 290 has a length such that an end portion may extend beyond the body of the locking mechanism 212 when in both the locked and unlocked position.
As an additional safety feature, the pin 290 may have an extended length and interact with the tray tabs 226. As shown in
An exemplary embodiment of an adjustable dumbbell 300 according to the inventive concept is constructed as described above. Operation of the adjustable dumbbell is described below.
To select a desirable amount of weight plates 214 for an exercise, a user extends the rod 260 from the handle 10 through the lateral channels 40 of the weight plates 214. To extend the rod 260, the locking tab 268 is moved into the unlocked position to allow the retention pin 270 to be lifted upward. The retention pin 270 is then lifted so as to clear the retention tabs 236. Once the desired number of weight plates 214 has been selected the retention pin 270 is lowered into the vertical guide 138 of the desired weight plate 214. The lower portion 272 of the retention pin 270 engages the retention tabs 236 preventing the selected weight plates 214 falling of the rod 260. Once the retention pin 270 is seated properly in the vertical guide 138, the user places the locking tab 268 into the locked position, preventing unwanted upward movement of the retention pin 270. The user then places the pin 290 of the locking mechanism 212 into the locked position. When in the locked position, the pin 290 engages the depressions 162 in the rod 260, preventing longitudinal movement of the rod 260. Once these steps have been repeated for both sides of the adjustable dumbbell 300 the user may lift the adjustable dumbbell 300 from the base 218. The removal is permitted after placing the pin 290 in the locked position as it will clear the tray tabs 226 during removal. After completion of the exercise the adjustable dumbbell 300 is lowered back into the base 218.
While certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims:
Claims
1. A weight lifting device, comprising:
- a handle having end portions;
- at least one retention member slidably disposed within said handle, said retention member longitudinally movable relative to said handle;
- a locking mechanism disposed on at least one of said end portions of said handle, said locking mechanism having a movable pin disposed therein, said movable pin engaged with said retention member preventing longitudinal movement of said retention member when in a locked position; and
- a plurality of weights removably attached to said retention member.
2. The weight lifting device of claim 1, wherein each said weights includes a protrusion on a first side thereof and groove on a second side thereof, said groove adapted to receive said protrusion from an adjacent weight when in a stacked position.
3. The weight lifting device of claim 1, wherein said retention member comprises a rod, an attachment member, and retention pin, said rod preventing rotation of said retention member relative to said handle.
4. The weight lifting device of claim 1, wherein each said weight includes a channel, a vertical guide, and at least one retention tab disposed within said vertical guide.
5. The weight lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a support having at least one receptacle for receiving said locking mechanism disposed therein, said receptacle having a locking and an unlocking channel.
6. The weight lifting device of claim 5, wherein said locking channel forces said movable pin into a locked position when said locking mechanism is removed from said receptacle.
7. The weight lifting device of claim 1, wherein the movable pin is horizontal and biased toward the locked position.
8. The weight lifting device of claim 5, wherein said unlocking channel forces said movable pin into an unlocked position when said locking mechanism is placed in said receptacle so as to allow longitudinal movement of said retention member.
9. A weight lifting device, comprising:
- a handle having end portions,
- at least one retention member slidably disposed within said handle, said retention member longitudinally movable relative to said handle,
- a plurality of weights removably attached to said retention member; and
- a locking mechanism immovably interposed between said at least one of said end portions of said handle and said plurality of weights, said locking mechanism preventing the longitudinal movement of said retention member when in the locked position.
10. The weight lifting device of claim 9, wherein each said weight has a first plate and a second plate.
11. The weight lifting device of claim 9, wherein each said plate has plate tabs extending therefrom and plate apertures, said plate tabs adapted to nest within said plate apertures of an adjacent weight plate.
12. The weight lifting device of claim 9, wherein said retention member comprises a rod, an attachment member, and a retention pin, wherein said retention pin further includes a locking element preventing movement of said retention pin relative to said attachment member when in the locked position.
13. The weight lifting device of claim 12, wherein said attachment member is attached to and extends substantially perpendicular from said rod.
14. The weight lifting device of claim 9, further comprising a support having at least one receptacle for receiving said locking mechanism disposed therein, said receptacle having a locking and an unlocking channel.
15. The weight lifting device of claim 9, wherein said locking mechanism includes a moveable pin disposed therein, said movable pin engaging said retention member preventing longitudinal movement of said retention member when in a locked position.
16. The weight lifting device of claim 15, wherein when said pin is in the unlocked position it prevents removal of the weight lifting device from a base.
17. A weight lifting device, comprising:
- a base, said base including plate rests,
- an adjustable dumbbell adapted to be supported by said base, comprising: a handle having end portions, at least one retention member slidably disposed within said handle, said retention member longitudinally movable relative to said handle, a plurality of weights removably attached to said retention member and adapted to rest on said plate rests when not in use; and a locking mechanism immovably interposed between said at least one of said end portions of said handle and said plurality of weights, said locking mechanism preventing the longitudinal movement of said retention member when in the locked position.
18. The weight lifting device of claim 17, further comprising protrusions on said plate rests adapted to align said plurality of weight plates when not in use.
19. The weight lifting device of claim 17, further comprising a tray tab extending from said plate rest, said tray tab preventing removal of said adjustable dumbbell from said base when said locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.
20. The weight lifting device of claim 17, further comprising a locking tab associated with said retention member.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2012
Inventors: Randal L. Lundquist (Mansfield, OH), Jason B. Luedeke (Delaware, OH)
Application Number: 13/220,421
International Classification: A63B 21/072 (20060101);