Dumbbell weight training device having detachable weight plates

• US 20090048079A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Nalley
• Original Assignee: Mark Nalley
• Inventors: Nalley, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/063 Weight selecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0728 with means for fixing weights on bars, i.e. fixing olympic discs or bumper plates on bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

Disclosed is a dumbbell of the type commonly found in a fitness center to be used as a weight training device during a weight training or exercise program. The dumbbell includes a gripping handle and a pair of collars fixedly connected to opposites ends of the handle. A series of weight plates having correspondingly different weights are adapted to be detachably connected to each other and to each one of the collars so as to enable a user to selectively and incrementally adjust the gross weight of the dumbbell to conform to his weight training program. Each weight plate carries a lock cartridge having an engagement pin moving therethrough between retracted and extended positions in response to a manual pushing force. In the extended position, the engagement pin of an additional weight plate is received within an engagement pin extension channel of an existing weight plate being carried by the dumbbell, whereby to prevent a disconnection of the additional weight plate from the existing weight plate.

Claims

1. A weight training device comprising a gripping handle at which said weight training device is lifted, a first weight plate connected to said gripping handle, and at least one additional weight plate to be detachably connected to said first weight plate, said additional weight plate having a lock to be moved into removable receipt by said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is coupled to and lifted with said first weight plate.

2. The weight training device recited in claim 1, wherein said gripping handle is a bar and said first and additional weight plates are coupled to one another in face-to-face alignment, such that such weight training device is a dumbbell.

3. The weight training device recited in claim 1, wherein the lock of said additional weight plate includes an engagement pin moving between retracted and extended positions relative to said first weight plate, said engagement pin being moved to the extended position at which to be removably received by said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is connected to said first weight plate, and said engagement pin being moved to the retracted position at which to be removed from said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is disconnected from said first weight plate.

4. The weight training device recited in claim 3, wherein said lock also includes a position control knob attached to said engagement pin, said position control knob being manually accessible to receive a pushing force thereagainst for correspondingly causing said engagement pin to move to said retracted and extended positions depending upon the direction of said pushing force.

5. The weight training device recited in claim 3, wherein said lock comprises a lock cartridge received within a cartridge cavity formed in said additional weight plate, said engagement pin being surrounded by said lock cartridge and movable therethrough between said retracted and extended positions.

6. The weight training device recited in claim 5, wherein said additional weight plate includes a coupling slot for receipt of a portion of said first weight plate therewithin and an engagement pin receiving channel extending between said lock cartridge and said coupling slot, the engagement pin of said lock cartridge moving to the extended position and riding through said engagement pin receiving channel for receipt at said coupling slot at which to engage the said portion of said first weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is connected to said first weight plate.

7. The weight training device recited in claim 6, wherein the said portion of said first weight plate is a coupling body projecting outwardly from said first weight plate and aligned for receipt by the coupling slot of said additional weight plate, said engagement pin riding through the engagement pin receiving channel of said additional weight plate and moving into mating engagement with said coupling body received by the coupling slot of said additional weight plate, whereby said additional weight plate is connected to said first weight plate.

8. The weight training device recited in claim 7, wherein said coupling body projecting outwardly from said first weight plate for receipt by the coupling slot of said additional weight plate includes an engagement pin extension channel running laterally therethrough, said engagement pin riding through said engagement pin receiving channel and into receipt by said engagement pin extension channel, whereby the coupling pin of the lock cartridge of said additional weight plate is located in mating engagement with the coupling body of said first weight plate and said additional weight plate thereby connected to said first weight plate.

9. A weight training device comprising:

a gripping handle at which said weight training device is lifted;

a collar fixedly connected to said gripping handle;

a first weight plate connected to said collar; and

a second weight plate to be coupled to said first weight plate and lifted therewith, said second weight plate having an engagement pin movable between a retracted position, at which said second weight plate is disconnected from said first weight plate, and an extended position, at which said second weight plate is detachably connected to said first weight plate;

said first weight plate having an engagement pin extension channel formed therein, the engagement pin of said second weight plate being moved to the extended position at which to be received within said engagement pin extension channel to thereby prevent a disconnection of said second weight plate from said first weight plate.

10. The weight training device recited in claim 9, further comprising a locking cartridge, said second weight plate having a locking cartridge cavity formed therein within which to receive said locking cartridge, said engagement pin moving through said locking cartridge between said retracted and extended positions in response to a manual pushing force applied to said engagement pin.

11. The weight training device recited in claim 10, wherein said second weight plate has a coupling slot formed therein and said first weight plate has a coupling body projecting therefrom and aligned for receipt within the coupling slot of said second weight plate, the engagement pin extension channel being formed in the coupling body of said first weight plate, the receipt of said engagement pin by said engagement pin extension channel preventing a removal of said coupling body from said coupling slot and correspondingly preventing the disconnection of said second weight plate from said first weight plate.

12. The weight training device recited in claim 9, wherein said first weight plate also has an engagement pin movable between said retracted and extended positions and said collar also has an engagement pin extension channel formed therein, the engagement pin of said first weight plate being moved to the extended position at which to be received within the engagement pin extension channel of said collar, whereby said first weight plate is connected to said collar.