GB2468689A

GB2468689A - Weight adjustable exercise device

Info

Publication number: GB2468689A
Application number: GB0904667A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-19
Filing date: 2009-03-19
Publication date: 2010-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-19
Also published as: GB2468689B; GB0904667D0

Abstract

A exercise device, such as a dumbbell, barbell or kettlebell, includes a shank 10 having a narrowed neck segment 17, a base plate 20 attached to one end portion of the shank 20, two or more weight members 30 each having a slot 31 for receiving the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10, and a threaded lock nut 40 engaged with the shank 10 for quickly engaging and retaining the weight members 30 to the shank 10 after the weight members 30 have been disengaged from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 and moved to abut against the base plate 20. Each weight member 30 has an enlarged opening 32 communicating with the slot 31 for receiving the shank 10 and for retaining the weight members 30 to the shank 10 when the weight members 30 are offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10.

Description

WEIGHT ADJUSTABLE EXERCISE DEVICE

The invention relates to a weight adjustable exercise device, such as dumbbell, barbell or kettlebel!, including an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or shank and for allowing the weight adjustable exercise device to be easily operated by the users.

Typical weight adjustable exercise devices, such as dumbbells, barbells or kettlebells comprise a handle to be grasped or held by the user, and a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for weight lifting or exercising purposes, or for exercising or training the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al. discloses a typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of plates in stacked relationship, a handle having a shaft passing through the weight plates, and a sleeve and a plate engaged onto the shaft and the weight plates for selectively or adjustably attaching the weight plates to the shaft.

However, the sleeve and the plate may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the shaft and into the weight plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

U.S. Patent No. 5,879,274 to Mattox discloses another typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of receptacles and spring-biased shafts are required to be attached onto the ends of the handle for mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

However, the receptacles and the spring-biased shafts may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

U.S. Patent No. 6,656,093 to Chen discloses a further typical dumbbell comprising a handle which can be grasped or held by the user, a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for exercising or training the arms or the feet of the user, and a latch attached onto the end of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

However, the latch may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

U.S. Patent No. 6,719,674 to Krull, and U.S. Patent No. 6,733,424 to Krull disclose the further typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of weight selectors or selector rods should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

However, the weight selectors or selector rods may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

U.S. Patent No. 7,137,931 to Liu, U.S. Patent No. 7,172,536 to Liu, and U.S. Patent No. 7,223,214 to Chen disclose the other typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of latching members or a complicated latch device should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

However, the latching members or the complicated latch device may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a weight adjustable exercise device including an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or shank and for allowing the weight adjustable exercise device to be easily operated by the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a weight adjustable exercise device comprising:-.

a shank including a first end portion, and including an outer thread formed on the shank, and including a narrowed neck segment formed in the shank, a base plate provided on the first end portion of the shank and including an outer diameter greater than that of the shank, at least two weight members each including a slot formed therein and having a width no less than the narrowed neck segment of the shank for receiving the narrowed neck segment of the shank, and for allowing the weight members to be attached to and disengaged from the shank, the weight members each including an enlarged opening formed therein and communicating with the slot of the weight members, and the enlarged opening including an inner diameter greater than the width of the slots of the weight members and no less than the outer diameter of the shank for receiving the shank, and for allowing the weight members to be retained to the shank and for preventing the weight members from being disengaged from the shank when the weight members are offset from the narrowed neck segment of the shank, and a lock nut including an inner thread for engaging with the outer thread of the shank and for engaging with the weight members after the weight members have been engaged onto the shank and after the weight members have been disengaged from the narrowed neck segment of the shank, in order to retain and secure the weight members to the shank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a weight adjustable exercise device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weight adjustable exercise device; FIG. 3 is another perspective view illustrating the operation of the weight adjustable exercise device; FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the weight adjustable exercise device taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is another partial exploded view illustrating the storage housing for the weight adjustable exercise device; and FIG. 6 is a further partial exploded view illustrating the other arrangement of the adjustable exercise device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a weight adjustable exercise device 1, such as a dumbbell, a barbell or a kettlebell, comprises a longitudinal shaft or handle or shank 10 including a hand grip 11 formed or provided on the center portion thereof for being grasped or held by the users and for carrying or lifting or moving the shank 10 and for allowing the weight adjustable exercise device 1 to be easily operated by the users, and including two end members or end portions 12 each having an outer thread 13 formed or provided on the outer peripheral portion of the end portions 12 of the shank 10. A base plate 20 is attached or secured to each of the outer portions or outer end portions 14 of the shank 10 with one or more latches or fasteners 15 (FIG. 4), in which the base plate 20 includes an outer diameter greater than that of the shank 10.

A pad or cushion or casing 21 is attached or secured to the outer portion of each of the base plates 20 with one or more latches or fasteners 22. The shank 10 includes one or more (such as two) cut-off portions or notches 16 oppositely formed in each of the end portions 12 of the shank 10 and formed or located distal to the outer portions or outer end portions 14 of the shank 10 for forming a narrowed neck segment 17 in the end portion 12 of the shank 10 (FIGS, 1, 4), in which a portion of the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 includes an outer diameter smaller than that of the shank 10.

A number of weight plates or weight members 30 each include a substantially U-shaped structure having a slot 3 1 formed therein for receiving the narrowed neck segment 17 of the central shank 10, and for allowing the weight members 30 to be easily and quickly attached to or disengaged from the central shank 10 without disengaging or disassembling the base plate 20 from the shank 10, in which the slots 31 of the weight members 30 include a width equals to or slightly greater than or no less than the narrowed portion the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10, but smaller than the outer diameter of the other portion of the shank 10, for allowing only the narrowed portion the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 to be engaged into the slots 31 of the weight members 30 (FIGS. 1, 3-4).

The weight members 30 each further include an enlarged opening 32 formed therein, such as formed in the middle or central portion thereof and communicating with the slot 3 1 of the weight member 30, and having a width or inner diameter greater than the width of the slots 31 of the weight members 30 and equals to or slightly greater than or no less than the outer diameter of the shank for receiving the shank 10, and for allowing the weight members to be stably retained or anchored to the shank 10 and for preventing the weight members 30 from being disengaged from the shank 10 when the weight members 30 are offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10.

It is preferable that the weight members 30 each include a wide open end 33 formed at one end of the slot 31 of the weight member or communicating with the slot 31 of the weight member 30 for allowing the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 to be guided to easily and quickly engage into the slots 31 of the weight members 30. A fastener or lock nut 40 includes a screw hole or an inner thread 41 for threading or engaging with the outer thread 11 of the shank 10 and for engaging with the weight members 30 after the weight members 30 have been engaged onto the shank 10 and after the weight members 30 have been disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 (FIG. 2), in order to stably anchor or position or retain or secure the weight members 30 to the shank 10.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-4, the selected or the required number of the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the shank 10 by engaging the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 into the slots 3 1 of the weight members 30, and the weight members 30 may then be disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10 and may have the shank 10 stably anchored or positioned or retained or secured in the enlarged openings 32 of the weight members 30 relatively when the weight members 30 are disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10. The lock nut 40 may then be threaded or rotated relative to the shank 10 and may be engaged with the weight members 30 for stably locking or securing the weight members 30 to the shank 10.

It is to be noted that the selected or the required number of the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the shank 10 without disengaging or disassembling the base plate 20 from the shank 10, and may be easily and quickly locked or secured to the shank 10 with the lock nut 40, such that the weight members may be changeably and easily and quickly mounted or attached to the shank 10. Accordingly, when the lock nut 40 is disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 10, the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto or disengaged from the shank 10. As shown in FIG. 5, one or more storage housings or receptacles 50 may further be provided and include a chamber 5 1 formed therein for receiving or storing the weight members 30.

The size or length or dimension of the shank 10 and/or the weight members 30 may be used as a dumbbell, and may be enlarged to form and to act as a barbell. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the shank 101 may include a hand grip 19 formed or provided on the other end portion 18 thereof for being grasped or held by the users and for carrying or lifting or moving the shank 101 and for allowing the adjustable exercise device 1 to be easily used or operated by the users as a kettlebell. The cut-off portion or notch 16 or the narrowed neck segment 17 of the shank 101 is arranged or located closer to the other end portion 18 or the hand grip 19 or distal to the outer end portion 14 of the shank 101.

Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. A weight adjustable exercise device comprising: a shank including a first end portion, and including an outer thread formed on said shank, and including a narrowed neck segment formed in said shank, a base plate provided on said first end portion of said shank and including an outer diameter greater than that of said shank, at least two weight members each including a slot formed therein and having a width no less than said narrowed neck segment of said shank for receiving said narrowed neck segment of said shank, and for allowing said at least two weight members to be attached to and disengaged from said shank, said at least two weight members each including an enlarged opening formed therein and communicating with said slot of said at least two weight members, and said enlarged opening including an inner diameter greater than the width of said slots of said at least two weight members and no less than the outer diameter of said shank for receiving said shank, and for allowing said at least two weight members to be retained to said shank and for preventing said at least two weight members from being disengaged from said shank when said at least two weight members are offset from said narrowed neck segment of said shank, and a lock nut including an inner thread for engaging with said outer thread of said shank and for engaging with said at least two weight members after said at least two weight members have been engaged onto said shank and after said at least two weight members have been disengaged from said narrowed neck segment of said shank, in order to retain and secure said at least two weight members to said shank.
2. A weight adjustable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank includes at least one notch formed in said shank for forming said narrowed neck segment in said shank.
3. A weight adjustable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two weight members each include an open end communicating with said slots of said at least two weight members for guiding said narrowed neck segment of said shank into said slots of said at least two weight members.
4. A weight adjustable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank includes a casing secured to each of said base plates.
5. A weight adjustable exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank includes a second end portion having a second narrowed neck segment formed in said second end portion of said shank for engaging with said at least two weight members, and a second lock nut attached onto said second end portion of said shank for engaging with said at least two weight members after said at least two weight members have been engaged onto said second end portion of said shank and after said at least two weight members have been disengaged from said second narrowed neck segment of said shank, in order to retain and secure said at least two weight members to said second end portion of said shank.
6. A weight adjustable exercise device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.