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[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application Number 03216128.X filed Apr. 2, 2003.
[0002] The present invention relates to bodybuilding equipment generally and more particularly to a weight adjustable dumbbell.
[0003] A dumbbell is a weight designed for lifting during physical exercise. In particular, a dumbbell is useful for exercising pectoral muscles and building arm strength. The dimensions of a dumbbell are typically small and therefore it does not require a dedicated training area. Additionally, use of dumbbells provides efficient results to the exercise practitioner. Thus, sports practitioners, especially those who train in exercise gyms, prefer dumbbells as an exercise tool. A conventional dumbbell includes a handle and two bell heads. The bell heads are fixed at opposite ends of the handle. Exercise practitioners can conduct weight burden training by grasping the handle and lifting the dumbbell. Such movements can be done both for exercise and to beautify the person exercising.
[0004] In a conventional dumbbell, the weight of the dumbbell is fixed. Therefore, if the exercise practitioner desires to exercise with different amounts of weight, i.e. for different muscle groups, the practitioner must purchase dumbbells of as many different weights as he or she wishes to use during his or her workout. Further, as the nation's economy develops and people's standard of living improves, the popularity of various forms of exercise, including those requiring dumbbells, has increased dramatically. Additionally, the demographics of those who use dumbbells are also changing. No longer is it the case that only young and middle-aged men use dumbbells as part of their exercise regimen. Today, women, children, and the elderly are increasingly using dumbbells. Due to this demographic change, within a given family or household there may be a need for dumbbells having a wide range of weights to ensure that each family member has a dumbbell or dumbbells of the appropriate weight.
[0005] The need for dumbbells of varying weights spurred the invention of the weight adjustable dumbbell. The weight adjustable dumbbell enables the exercise practitioner or family to possess one dumbbell that meets the needs of different training periods and family members of different ages by providing a dumbbell whose weight can be adjusted. The prior art adjustable dumbbell includes a rod-shaped handle. At the two opposite ends of the handle, a plurality of circular weight plates may be symmetrically attached. To increase the weight of the dumbbell, circular plates are symmetrically added to the opposite ends of the handle. To decrease the weight of the dumbbell, circular plates are symmetrically removed from the opposite ends of the handle. The circular plates are secured at the two ends of the handle by fitting a screw bolt through a screw cap at each end of the handle.
[0006] Despite the fact that the prior art adjustable dumbbell provides weight adjustability, the prior art design has several disadvantages. First, because the plates are circular, they easily roll. This rolling of the dumbbell may create a safety hazard when the dumbbell is placed on the ground. Second, the circular plates placed at the two ends of the handle are separated from each other and must be properly paired to each other so that the weight on each end of the handle is equal. This pairing requirement makes assembly of the dumbbell more complicated and invites mistakes by the person assembling the dumbbell. Third, the circular plates are secured at the two ends of the handle by fitting a screw bolt through a screw cap. Inevitably, vibrations are produced while the dumbbells are being used for exercise and these vibrations loosen the screw bolt and cap, causing the circular plates to be less securely fixed to the handle and effecting the operation of the dumbbell.
[0007] The present invention addresses the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an adjustable dumbbell configured for quick and easy adjustment, safe locking, and equally distributed weights.
[0008] An adjustable dumbbell includes a primary section having a plurality of end structures, a handle and a weight selection structure configured to be advanced from the primary section and having a weight selection mark showing the amount of weight selected. The adjustable dumbbell also includes a plurality of nested weights each constructed from a pair of corresponding attached plates arranged in a longitudinal stack and each plate having a corresponding structure configured to accept the weight selection structure.
[0009] In a first aspect of the present invention, the weight selection structure includes a gear attached to the primary section for rotation by a user and a toothed rod coupled to the gear which is displaced into the nested weights a distance corresponding to the mark showing the amount of weight selected.
[0010] In a second aspect of the present invention, the corresponding structure of each plate that is configured to accept the weight selection structure is a hole.
[0011] In a third aspect of the present invention, the primary section includes a plurality of cross members configured to support the end structures.
[0012] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the weight selection structure includes a first weight selector disposed within a first cross member for coupling plates adjacent to a first end structure of the primary section, and a second weight selector disposed within a second cross member for coupling plates adjacent to a second end structure of the primary section. The first weight selector may include a first gear attached to the primary section for rotation by a user and a first toothed rod coupled to the first gear which is displaced into a first side of the nested weights a distance corresponding to the mark showing the amount of weight selected. The second weight selector may include a second gear attached to the primary section for rotation by the user and a second toothed rod coupled to the second gear which is displaced into a second side of the nested weights a distance corresponding to the mark showing the amount of weight selected.
[0013] In a fifth aspect present of the invention, the plates are marked showing the amount of weight corresponding to the respective plate when coupled to the primary section.
[0014] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, selected cross members include a cushion while other cross members do not include a cushion.
[0015] In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the nested weight assembly the plates at the first side are connected to the corresponding plates at the second side by means of coupling rails. The coupling rails may include side rails and bottom rails.
[0016] The side rails may connect the sides of the plates at the first side to the sides of the corresponding plates at the second side. The lengths of the side rails may decrease in order from the top to the bottom of the primary section. The location of the joint that couples each side rail to the corresponding plates may gradually move upward from the bottom to the top of the primary section.
[0017] The bottom rails may connect the bases of the plates at the first side to the bases of the corresponding plates at the second side. The lengths of the bottom rails may increase in order from inside to outside of the primary section. The location of the joint that couples each bottom rail to the corresponding plates may gradually move outward from the middle to the two sides of the primary section.
[0018] In an eighth aspect of the present invention, each plate has a notch formed at its bottom to receive the ends of the rails at the corresponding position.
[0019] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the toothed rod has a locking pin at one end, and a rotation button is configured at the top of the gear displaced into the recess (groove) that supports the gear, with a spring to force the gear to tightly fit into the gear recess.
[0020] The present invention provides for integrative connection and adjustment of weight plates at the two ends of a dumbbell. The integrative design prevents variation in the amount of weight placed on either end of the dumbbell. In operation of the dumbbell, a plurality of nested weights is defined by attaching the integrally connected plates at the first side to the corresponding plates at the second side of the dumbbell. In this way, the user couples the primary section to the nested weights and rotate the gear driving the toothed rod joggled therewith to move the toothed rod until the locking pin configured at one end of the toothed rod fits into the nested weights. The various positions to which the toothed rod advances reaches the plates so as to adjust the dumbbell weight through the weight selector defined by the gear and toothed rod.
[0021] The weight selection mark is configured so that the distance traveled on the gear corresponds to the number of the attached plates matching the configured weight selection mark on the plates. Thus, the displayed weight selection mark on the gear is equal to the number of plates selected by the weight selection mark after the driving movement of the gear is performed. The user is therefore able to adjust the plates at the two sides of the primary section without making mistakes in equalizing the weight at each side of the dumbbell. The user is also able to select suitable weights according to the weight selection mark to meet with the requirements of people of various ages or training stages (which require different dumbbell weights).
[0022] Thus, quick and easy weight adjustment of the dumbbell is possible. The attachment of the plates to the primary section is implemented through the use of the bottom rails to limit the vertical movement of the plates with respect to the primary section, and through the use of the side rails to limit the lateral movement of the plates with respect to the primary section. The weight selector configured on the primary section operates by penetrating the holes in the plates (plate holes) to limit the movement of the nested weights with respect to the primary section. Thus, the present invention provides steady and safe coupling between the nested weights and primary section of the dumbbell.
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[0044] The first end structure and the second end structure may be collectively referred to herein as the end structure. The first weight selection structure and the second weight selection structure may be collectively referred to herein as the weight selection structure.
[0045] In the weight selection structure, the first weight selection structure is disposed on the first end structure and the second weight selection structure is disposed on the second end structure. The first weight selection mark shows the amount of weight selected and disposed on the first end structure from the nested weights. The second weight selection mark shows the amount of weight selected and disposed on the second end structure from the nested weights. A plurality of cross members
[0046] The first weight selection structure
[0047] The second weight selection structure comprises a second gear (not shown) and a second toothed rod
[0048] The nested weight assembly
[0049] The first toothed rod and the second toothed rod have a row of first weight location marks
[0050] Similarly, the second toothed rod advances into the corresponding nested weights at the second side of the primary section by means of the second weight selection mark
[0051] In practice, when the primary section is assembled, the first weight selection structure and the second weight selection structure are coupled to the first end structure and the second end structure, respectively. The first gear of the first weight selection structure is displaced into the first groove. The first toothed rod fits into the first hole. The placement of the first gear in the first groove and the first toothed rod in the first hole, respectively, creates a joggle between the first toothed rod and the first gear. A joggle is a joint between two pieces of material formed by a notch and a fitted projection. The first gear locks into the first groove, which may be covered by a cap plate (not shown), under the application of the first spring
[0052] The first toothed rod is inserted into the first coupling hole
[0053] To assemble the nested weights, a plate from the first plate set is coupled to a corresponding plate from the second plate set. Corresponding plates
[0054] To adjust the weight of the dumbbell, the first gear of the first weight selection structure is rotated to cause the first gear to move into a plate hole
[0055] To increase the weight of the dumbbell, the user rotates the first gear
[0056] Having disclosed exemplary embodiments and the best mode, modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the subject and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.