Exercise resistance methods and apparatus

• US 6,896,645 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Krull
• Original Assignee: Mark Krull
• Inventors: Krull, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/144,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 482/98, 482/104, 482106-109
• US Class Current: 482/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0605 with boxes, baskets or the like for stacking loose weights therein
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells

Abstract

First and second weight housings are mounted on opposite ends of a handle. Weights are disposed in first and second vertical stacks on opposite ends of a base member. At least one selector rod is selectively moved into engagement with each weight housing and a desired weight in each of the stacks.

Claims

1. An exercise dumbbell system, comprising:

a handle having a first end, an opposite, second end, and an intermediate portion sized and configured for grasping;

a first weight housing connected to the first end;

a second weight housing connected to the second end;

a first vertical stack of weights aligned with the first weight housing;

a second vertical stack of weights aligned with the second weight housing; and

at least one selector rod inserted through the first weight housing and into engagement with a desired weight in the first vertical stack, and through the second weight housing and into engagement with a desired weight in the second vertical stack.

2. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising a means for maintaining the weights in the first vertical stack in alignment with one another, and for maintaining the weights in the second vertical stack in alignment with one another.

3. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising a base disposed beneath each said stack of weights, wherein the base is configured to maintain a fixed, horizontally measured distance between the first vertical stack of weights and the second vertical stack of weights.

4. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein all of the weights are identical to one another.

5. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said stack of weights includes a first weight disposed on top of an identical second weight, and the first weight occupies a first orientation, and the second weight occupies a second orientation, rotated one hundred eighty degrees relative to the first orientation.

6. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said stack of weights includes a first weight disposed on top of a second weight, and at least one registration peg projects downward from a bottom surface on each said first weight, and for each said registration peg, a mating registration hole extends downward into a top surface on a respective second weight.

7. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 6, wherein each said first weight occupies a first orientation, and each said second weight occupies a second orientation, rotated one hundred eighty degrees relative to the first orientation, thereby aligning each said registration peg on each said first weight with a respective registration hole in a respective second weight.

8. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said stack of weights includes a first weight disposed on top of a second weight, and each said first weight and respective said second weight cooperate to define at least one weight groove sized and configured to receive the at least one selector rod.

9. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 8, wherein each said housing defines a housing groove that cooperates with a respective weight groove to define a respective channel sized and configured to receive the at least one selector rod.

10. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 9, wherein each said housing has an end wall, and for each said channel, a respective opening extends through the end wall and aligns with said channel.

11. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 8, wherein each said first weight and each said second weight have opposite top and bottom surfaces, and at least one registration peg projects from one of the surfaces, and for each said registration peg, a mating registration hole extends into an opposite one of the surfaces.

12. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 11, wherein each said first weight occupies a first orientation, and each said second weight occupies a second orientation, rotated one hundred eighty degrees relative to the first orientation, thereby aligning each said registration peg on each said first weight with a respective registration hole in a respective second weight.

13. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said stack of weights includes a first weight disposed on top of a second weight, and each said first weight and respective said second weight cooperate to define first and second grooves extending along opposite sides thereof, and the at least one selector rod includes a U-shaped member having first and second prongs that are selectively inserted into respective grooves.

14. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 13, wherein each said first weight and each said second weight have opposite top and bottom surfaces, and at least one registration peg protrudes from one of the surfaces, and for each said registration peg, a mating registration hole extends into an opposite one of the surfaces.

15. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 14, wherein each said first weight occupies a first orientation, and each said second weight occupies a second orientation, rotated one hundred eighty degrees relative to the first orientation, thereby aligning each said registration peg on each said first weight with a respective registration hole in a respective second weight.

16. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one selector rod includes a U-shaped member having first and second prongs that engage opposite sides of the desired weight in each said stack of weights.

17. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 16, wherein the at least one selector rod includes an intermediate portion interconnected between the first and second prongs, and a means, connected to the intermediate portion, for facilitating withdrawal of the prongs from each said weight housing.

18. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 16, wherein the prongs are movable along respective openings in each said weight housing.

19. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one selector rod includes a first selector rod associated with the first weight housing, and a discrete, second selector rod associated with the second weight housing.

20. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said housing includes an inverted U-shaped member that is sized and configure to fit over a respective stack of weights.

21. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 20, wherein each said U-shaped member has opposing end walls, and shoulders protrude from respective end walls and toward one another to maintain space between the end walls and a respective stack of weights.

22. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 20, wherein each said U-shaped member has opposing end walls, and each said housing includes at least one support interconnected between respective said end walls.

23. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each said housing has opposing walls that bound opposite sides of a respective stack of weights, and shoulders protrude from respective opposing walls and toward one another to maintain space between the opposing walls and a respective stack of weights.

24. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 23, wherein the opposing walls are made of steel, and the shoulders are made of plastic.

25. The exercise dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein each stack of weights includes at least one weight having a horizontally extending portion and a vertical extending portion, and the horizontally extending portion overlies a next lowest weight in a respective stack, and the vertically extending portion extends downward past a side of the next lowest weight in a respective stack.

26. An exercise dumbbell system, comprising:

a lifting member having a handle portion configured for grasping, a first weight housing connected to a first end of the handle portion, and a second weight housing connected to an opposite, second end of the handle portion;

a base;

a first vertical stack of weights disposed on the base and aligned with the first weight housing;

a second vertical stack of weights disposed on the base and aligned with the second weight housing; and

at least one selector rod inserted through the first weight housing and into engagement with a desired weight in the first vertical stack, and through the second weight housing and into engagement with a desired weight in the second vertical stack.

27. A method of adjusting resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:

providing a handle with first and second weight housings at respective first and second ends of the handle;

providing a base;

providing first and second vertical stacks of weights;

positioning the stacks of weights on the base to align with respective weight housings;

resting the handle on at least one of the base and the stacks of weights; and

inserting at least one selector rod through the housings and beneath a desired weight in each of the stacks.