Weight selection methods and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
- providing a rod having a longitudinal axis;
providing weight supporting members on the rod at axially spaced positions along the rod;
providing a plurality of aligned weights with openings sized and configured to accommodate the rod, and gaps disposed between adjacent weights to accommodate respective members;
moving the rod downward into the openings in a manner which aligns each of the members with a respective one of the gaps;
rotating the members relative to the weights until respective members underlie desired ones of the weights;
separately latching each of the members in a desired orientation; and
moving the rod upward together with the desired ones of the weights.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Weight supporting members are rotated into engagement with respective weight plates to provide adjustable resistance to exercise movement. On a first embodiment, the weight supports are rigidly mounted on a selector rod and rotate together therewith. On a second embodiment, the weight supports are rotatably mounted on the selector rod and rotate relative thereto.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rod having a longitudinal axis;
providing weight supporting members on the rod at axially spaced positions along the rod;
providing a plurality of aligned weights with openings sized and configured to accommodate the rod, and gaps disposed between adjacent weights to accommodate respective members;
moving the rod downward into the openings in a manner which aligns each of the members with a respective one of the gaps;
rotating the members relative to the weights until respective members underlie desired ones of the weights;
separately latching each of the members in a desired orientation; and
moving the rod upward together with the desired ones of the weights. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rod having a longitudinal axis;
providing weight supporting members on the rod at axially spaced positions along the rod;
providing a plurality of aligned weights with openings sized and configured to accommodate the rod, and gaps disposed between adjacent weights to accommodate respective members;
moving the rod downward into the openings in a manner that aligns each of the members with a respective one of the gaps, wherein the rod is held in a horizontal orientation as the rod is moved downward into the openings;
rotating the members relative to the weights until respective members underlie desired ones of the weights; and
moving the rod upward together with the desired ones of the weights, wherein the rod is held in a horizontal orientation as the rod is moved upward out of the openings. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first set of weights and a second set of weights;
providing a base sized and configured to support each set of weights at a respective end of the base;
providing a handle member having an intermediate portion that is sized and configured for grasping, a first end portion that is sized and configured to support the first set of weights, and an opposite, second end portion that is sized and configured to support the second set of weights;
providing a plurality of separately rotatable weight selectors on each said end portion, wherein each of the weight selectors is configured and arranged to selectively engage and disengage a respective one of the weights as a function of orientation relative thereto;
moving the handle member to a rest position relative to the weights and the base;
rotating a first subset of the weight selectors to a first orientation relative to the handle member to engage respective weights; and
rotating a second subset of the weight selectors to a second orientation relative to the handle member to disengage respective weights, wherein each said rotating step rotates a respective said subset of the weight selectors relative to the other said subset of the weight selectors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first set of weights and a second set of weights;
providing a base sized and configured to support each set of weights at a respective end of the base;
providing a handle member having an intermediate portion that is sized and configured for grasping, a first end portion that is sized and configured to support the first set of weights, and an opposite, second end portion that is sized and configured to support the second set of weights;
providing weight selectors on each said end portion, wherein each of the weight selectors is provided with a leaf spring portion, and is configured and arranged to selectively engage and disengage a respective one of the weights as a function of orientation relative thereto;
moving the handle member to a rest position relative to the weights and the base;
rotating desired weight selectors to a first orientation relative to the handle member to engage respective weights;
rotating desired weight selectors to a second orientation relative to the handle member to disengage respective weights, wherein each said rotating; and
latching each of the weight selectors in one of the first orientation and the second orientation by moving the leaf spring portion into a respective notch at a respective end of the handle member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first set of weights and a second set of weights;
providing a base sized and configured to support each set of weights at a respective end of the base;
providing a handle member having an intermediate portion that defines a longitudinal axis and is sized and configured for grasping, a first weight housing disposed at a first end of the handle member and sized and configured to support the first set of weights, and a second weight housing disposed at an opposite, second end of the handle member and sized and configured to support the second set of weights;
providing multiple weight selectors at longitudinally spaced locations on each said weight housing with first portions that are configured and arranged to protrude through respective, longitudinally spaced slots in a respective weight housing, and second portions that are selectively movable into engagement and disengagement relative to respective weights;
lowering the handle member into a rest position relative to the weights and the base; and
moving desired weight selectors relative to the handle member to adjust which weights are connected to the handle member and which weights are disconnected from the handle member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification