CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION U.S. provisional application No. 61/382,691 dated Sep. 14, 2010 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a new handle for adapting kettlebell weights and for new modes of lifting weights.
BACKGROUND The present invention relates to exercise devices and methods of use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a handle for converting standard weights into kettlebell weights.
Mixed martial arts has become very popular and with it has come a new wave of work out routines that come from years past. Today, martial artists old proven techniques to improve strength and performance based on current needs. A wide variety of weight training are known, including the fixed or variable weight type of exercise machines, cast dumbbells, and the free weight/bar combination. However, owning a useful set of weights with the weights available in various sizes is difficult due to high costs.
There are a couple of basic forms of dumbbells and most have a fixed weight. Fixed weight dumbbells are ubiquitous in today's gyms. However, kettlebells have a generally asymmetric weight that challenges muscles uniquely and therefore generally are only available in limited or specialized training facilities. Various adjustable dumbbells have been developed. A representative example includes, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,123; 4,556,690; 4,913,422; 4,900,016; 4,880,229; 4,743,017; and 4,529,198. Each of these references, however, addresses only certain aspects of an adjustable dumbbell, such as releaseability, interlocking of the weights, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a releasable handle that adapts any commercially available dumbbell into a kettlebell.
Additionally, the handle can be adapted to rotate about an axis that allows the user to shift the center of mass to create unique weight lifting pathways to target muscles in unique ways.
Additionally, the invention provides a method of exercise comprising the use of the kettlebell invention.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, it is the object of this invention to provide a quickly releasable handle that can mount and detach from commercially available dumbbells. It is also desirable to have the handle adjust to various orientations about the dumbbell to create different centers of mass to challenge the weight lifter and accommodate different ranges of motion than would otherwise be possible with a fixed dumbbell.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded line view of a preferred embodiment with the handle and locking mechanism separated.
FIG. 2 is a perspective line view of a preferred embodiment with the handle and locking mechanism in the locked position.
FIG. 3 is an exploded surface view of a preferred embodiment with the handle and locking mechanism separated.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position with a dumbbell.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
FIG. 7 is a perspective front side view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
FIG. 9 is a perspective oblique view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a solid work preferred embodiment in the locked position without a dumbbell.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows an exploded line drawing of a preferred embodiment. There are four main components comprising a handle 10, an upper body 20, a lower body 30, and a bottom cap 40 that are releasably linked together. The handle 10 has a handle portion 11 comprising a loop structure that attaches to the handle body 12 in two locations (though different designs could comprise more or fewer attachment points). The handle body 12 further comprises a handle body receiver 13 which is designed to mate with a threaded top cap 51 at a threaded top cap projection 52. The threaded top cap projection 52 is cylindrical and projects down into the handle body receiver 13 which has a slightly larger diameter so that the threaded top cap 51 can freely turn. The handle body 12 further comprises handle body grooves 14 that radiate from the center axis of the handle 10. The handle body grooves 14 interdigitate with upper body ridges 24 to lock the orientation of the handle 10 relative to the dumbbell (not shown). In the preferred embodiment the handle 10 has eight handle body grooves 14 that allow the handle 10 to rotate at forty-five degree increments relative to the dumbbell 80. Alternative embodiments could utilize a greater number of handle body grooves 14 to increase the number of potential configurations. In a further embodiment the handle body bottom surface 15 could have various concave shaped modifications that could receive complementary convex shaped modifications on the upper body top surface 25. For example, a golf ball like handle body bottom surface 15 could match contact with the upper body top surface 25 in almost any orientation along the handle 10 axis. The handle 10 is fixed in orientation relative to the upper body 20 via the upper body threaded connector 21 which passes through the handle body central axis 16 and washer 17 (optional) and into the threaded top cap receiver 56. The threaded top cap 51 additionally comprises the threaded top cap projection 52 that aids alignment and stability of the attachment of the handle 10 to the upper body 20. The surface of the threaded top cap 51 serves as a gripping point for the user's hand to tighten and fix the position of the handle 10 or loosen the handle 10 and allow free rotation to the desired orientation. The upper body 20 and lower body 30 mate together at the frontside upper body surface 22 and frontside lower body surface 32 and the backside upper body surface 23 and the backside lower body surface 33 mate, respectively, in the closed position. The frontside and backside define a passage 81 to receive a dumbell 80 (not shown). The upper body 20 and lower body 30 are connected at the front by a quick release 60 that comprises a quick release body 61 and a quick release head 62. The upper body 20 and lower body 30 are connected at the back by a sliding plate 65. The sliding plate 65 has a top mount hole 66 and a lower mount hole 67 that accommodate an upper pin 68 and a lower pin 69. The upper pin 68 flexibly mounts the sliding plate 65 to the upper body 20 at upper body mounts 28 and the lower pin 69 flexibly mounts sliding plate 65 to the lower body 30 at the lower body mounts 38. When the quick release 60 is in the unlocked and open position, the upper body 20 and lower body 30 may pivot relative to one another to form a c-shape and expose the dumbbell mounting surface 37. In an alternative embodiment, either the upper body 20 could have modified upper body mounts 28 that are shaped like parallel tracks instead of simple circles adapted for receiving the upper pin 68 that would allow the upper pin 68 to keep the sliding plate 65 attached to the upper body 20 but allow freedom of movement along the vertical axis. This could make opening and accessing the dumbbell mounting surface easier than a simple pivot. Additionally, the sliding plate 65 could accommodate larger dumbbell handles in the dumbbell mounting surface 37 if it could move along the vertical axis. The alternative embodiment should not be construed to limit the modification of the upper body mounts 28 as the sole method of achieving a variable sized dumbbell mounting surface 37. It would be similarly possible to modify the lower body mounts 38 to allow freedom of movement or to modify both the upper and lower body mounts 28,38. The quick release 60 is comprised of a quick release body 61, a head 62, a threaded end 63, a head mount hole 64, and a head mount pin 74 that is attached to the upper body 20 at the upper body head mounts 29. The head mount pin 74 passes through one side of the upper body head mount 29 then through the head 62 and in to the other side of the upper body head mount 29. The quick release body 61 can pivot away from the lower body 30 in the unlocked and open position while remaining attached to the upper body 20 via the head 62. The quick release body 61 can remain flush against the upper body 20 and lower body 30, but in the preferred embodiment, the upper body 20 has a quick release head receiver 72 with upper body mounts 29 on either side adapted to receive the head 62 and head mount pin 74. The upper body 20 may be further adapted to have a grove to adjust the angle of the quick release body 61 relative to the lower body 20 in the closed position. The quick release body 61 is parallel to the vertical axis when the quick release body 61 is in the closed position. To lock the quick release body 61 in the closed position, the threaded end 63 is inserted into a bottom cap 40 at the bottom cap quick release hole 41. The threaded end 63 of the quick release body 61 is further locked in place with a wingnut 42. The bottom cap 40 can be adapted to have a flat bottom surface 43 to set on the floor. In a preferred embodiment the bottom cap 40 can have a low profile so that a dumbbell will set on the floor and the bottom cap 40 will be suspended over the floor. The bottom cap frontside surface can be sloped in a preferred embodiment to accept the quick release body 61 with a sliding plate 65 mounted at upper body mounts 28 and lower body mounts 38 wherein the upper body 20 and lower body 30 pivot at fixed a fixed distance. The lower body bottom surface 39 could be tapered to have a complementary surface to the bottom cap top surface 45. The bottom cap 40 may have a recess in the bottom surface 43 to recess the wingnut 42 so that the wingnut 42 cannot catch on clothing or other materials during use.
When the quick release body 61 is in the open position the upper body 20 and lower body 30 are free to open and receive a dumbbell 80. The dumbbell mounting surface 37 is disclosed as a smooth surface, but alternative embodiments could be designed to accommodate commercially available dumbbells. Additional features could include surface modification to increase texture to improve grip so that the dumbbell 80 will not slip or move once the quick release body 61 is in the closed and locked position.
FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment in the closed and locked position. FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment in an exploded solid state. The handle 10, upper body 20, the lower body 30 and bottom cap 40 are constructed of machined metal. However, it may be possible to produce handle 10, upper body 20, the lower body 30 or bottom cap 40 with die cast metal. Alternatively, parts may be made of high strength polymers to reduce weight and cost. FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment in a closed and locked position. Additionally, the quick release body 61 is recessed into both the upper body 20 and lower body 30, with only the threaded end 63 visible and protruding through the bottom cap 40. The threaded end 63 is locked in place by a wingnut 42.
FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment in a closed and locked position with a dumbbell 80. The quick release body 61 is recessed in the upper body 20 and lower body 30. FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment with the quick release body 61 locked in place with wingnut 42 and a dumbbell 80 locked in place.
FIGS. 7-10 show drawings of an alternative embodiment that does not require an end cap 40 to lock the dumbbell 80 into place. There are three main components comprising a handle 110, an upper body 120, and a lower body 130 that are releasably linked together. The handle 110 has a handle portion 111 comprising a loop structure that attaches to the handle body 112 in two locations, though different designs could comprise more or fewer attachment points. The handle body 112 further comprises a handle body receiver 113 which is designed to mate with a threaded top cap 151 at a threaded top cap projection 152. The threaded top cap projection 152 is cylindrical and projects down into the handle body receiver 113 which has a slightly larger diameter so that the threaded top cap 151 can freely turn. The handle body 112 further comprises handle body grooves 114 that radiate from the center axis of the handle body 112. The handle body grooves 114 interdigitate with upper body ridges 124 to lock the orientation of the handle 110 relative to the dumbbell (not shown). In the preferred embodiment the handle 110 has eight handle body grooves 114 that allow the handle 110 to rotate at forty-five degree increments relative to the dumbbell 80. Alternative embodiments could utilize a greater number of handle body grooves 114 to increase the number of potential configurations. In a further embodiment the handle body bottom surface could have various concave shaped modifications that could receive complementary convex shaped modifications on the upper body top surface. For example, a golf ball like handle body bottom surface could match contact with the upper body top surface in almost any orientation along the handle 110 axis. The handle 110 is fixed in orientation relative to the upper body 120 via a stud 121 that is permanently fixed in the upper body 120. The stud 121 passes through a spring 191 and the handle body 112 and into the threaded top cap receiver. When the threaded top cap 151 is tightened down it compresses the spring 191 and forces the handle 110 to lock into place. When the threaded top cap 151 is loosened up it releases the frictional grip between the handle body grooves 114 and the upper body ridges 124 allowing freedom of rotation between the handle 110 and upper body 120. The upper body 120 and lower body 130 are connected at the front by a quick release mechanism that comprises a quick release body 192, a proximal mounting pin 196 disposed in the upper body 120, a spacer washer 193, and a release knob 194. The quick release mechanism determines whether the upper body 120 and lower body 130 are in a locked closed position or in an unlocked open position. The upper body 120 and lower body 130 are permanently connected at a distal mount comprising a distal mounting pin 195 that passes through two upper body mounting holes 199 disposed in a distal portion of the upper body 120 and lower body mounting hole 198 disposed in the distal portion of the lower body 130. The distal mount allows the upper body 120 and lower body 130 to open and receive a dumbbell 80 when the quick release mechanism is in an unlocked position. The upper body 120 is permanently connected to the quick release body 192. The upper body 120 has a proximal mounting pin hole 200 that receives a proximal mounting pin 196. The mounting pin 196 further passes through a proximal mount pin hole 197 disposed in a top portion of the quick release body 192.
The upper body 120 and lower body 130 are releaseably connected at a proximal portion of the upper body 120 and proximal portion of the lower body 130. The quick release body 192 can pivot away from the upper body 120 in to an open position to receive a dumbbell 80. If the quick release body 192 is pivoted towards the upper body 120 it will contact a proximal groove in the lower body 130, the closed position with a dumbbell attached. The quick release body 192 has a lower portion that is threaded and passes through the spacer washer 193 into the release knob 194. The release knob 194 is threaded and when twisted pushed the spacer washer 193 against the locking seat 183 disposed in the proximal groove of the lower body 130. The quick release body 192 is completely tightened when spacer washer 193 is pressed tightly against the locking seat 183, the locked position.
When the quick release body 192 is in the open position the upper body 120 and lower body 130 are free to open and receive a dumbbell 80. The dumbbell mounting surface is disclosed as a smooth surface, but alternative embodiments could be designed to accommodate commercially available dumbbells. Additional features could include surface modification to increase texture to improve grip so that the dumbbell 80 will not slip or move once the quick release body 192 is in the closed and locked position.
Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein are intended to represent only one embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.
