Dumbbell adjustable in weight

• US 7,090,625 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darren Patrick Chermack
• Original Assignee: Darren Patrick Chermack
• Inventors: Chermack, Darren Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/655,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92- 94, 482106-109, D21681-682
• US Class Current: 482/108
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells

Abstract

An adjustable dumbbell featuring a handle containing an internal selection mechanism within series of nested weight units. The selection device is operated by a single action, in this case by turning a knob, which extends or retracts bars contained in the handle to attach a desired number of weight units to the handle.

Claims

1. A weight lifting system comprising:

a) a weight unit comprising of a plurality of weights with each of said weights formed of a pair of upstanding plates and at least one bar, or similar connecting device, that connects each pair of plates;

b) a handle having opposing ends;

c) extendable elements which protrude from each end of the handle;

d) means for simultaneously extending and retracting the extendable elements to engage the weights, which include a means to allow travel to the full limit of the extendable elements;

e) a visual indicator indicating the amount of weight selected;

f) said handle comprises;

(i) a grip having two ends,

(ii) each end having an endplate permanently attached, and

(iii) a channel or channels in the grip in which the extendable elements may be extended from or retracted into;

wherein the grip has a gripping surface configured to be grasped by a user, the grip containing two channels therein, each channel housing one of said extendable elements, each said extendable element comprising a rod movably disposed within a respective channel of the grip;

wherein said means for simultaneously extending the extendable elements to engage the weight comprises means for selectively advancing the rods out of opposing ends of the grip such that the rods selectively pass through apertures in first and second ends of the weights, and the gripping surface having no obstruction to grasping by a user; and

wherein said rods comprise first and second rods having teeth formed along a length thereof, the first rod moveable by a gear connected to a selection knob, the teeth of the first rod engaging a pinion gear, and the pinion gear engaging the teeth of the second rod to move the second rod.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for selectively advancing the rods in desired increments out of opposing ends of the handle, or retracting the rods in desired increments into the opposing ends of the handle by means of a gear or other reduction transmission.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising of incremental locks that stop the extendable elements at desired positions and limit their movement.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, comprising a weight stack comprising said plurality of weights, each weight comprising first and second upstanding weight plates connected by two bars, wherein the bars connect first and second weight plates on either side of the handle;

wherein connecting bars couple the first upstanding plate and the second upstanding plate allowing the handle to rest within;

wherein a relatively larger weight allows a relatively smaller weight to nest within it, and the handle to nest within the smallest weight;

wherein a plurality of bars that connect the first and second weight plates of each weight are stacked one beneath the other, each being an integral part of the nested stack; and

lending support of all bars above them when the handle is in use; and

wherein each of the first and second weight plates has an aperture extending therethrough.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the ends of the handle have surfaces which are parallel to end surfaces of the weight.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the upstanding plates are angled away from each other slightly, making a top opening larger than the bottom.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the upstanding plates are shaped to include an angle on each side causing their edges to not be parallel with one another, as to allow the top width to be wider than the bottom.

8. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the ends of a first weight have surfaces which mate with corresponding end surfaces of a second weight.

9. A weight lifting system as recited in claim 1, wherein

there is adequate space to allow room for both hands on one handle while maintaining industry standard grip dimensions;

there is simplicity in operation simultaneously with traditional dumbbell shape and configuration;

access to the handle from the bottom as easily as from the top; and

means to restrict accidental movement of the extendable rods, making it unlikely for any weight to become disengaged from the handle mechanism unless user intervention commands it and the entire unit is safely sitting on a solid surface.

10. A weight lifting device comprising:

a handle unit comprising a pair of endplates with a grip therebetween;

said grip having a substantially obstruction free grip surface between said pair of endplates for grasping by a user, and at least one channel therein;

a pair of extendable rods moveable within said at least one channel of said grip;

each extendable rod having teeth along a portion thereof;

said handle unit further comprises a selection knob operatively connected to a drive gear, said drive gear engaging the teeth of a first one of said pair of extendable rods;

said teeth of said first extendable rod also engaging a pinion gear, said pinion gear engaging the teeth of a second one of said pair of said pair of extendable rods;

a plurality of weights, each weight comprising first and second weight plates joined by at least one connecting rod, and each weight plate having an aperture aligned with said at least one channel to selectively receive one of said pair of extendable rods, wherein said handle unit can be centrally positioned between said pairs of weight plates and rotation of the selection knob rotates the drive gear and moves the first extendable rod into or out of engagement with the first weight plates of a selected number of weights via the aperture in each respective first weight plate, and the movement of the first extendable rod rotates the pinion gear and moves the second extendable rod, in a direction opposite to movement of the first extendable rod, into or out of engagement with the second weight plates of the selected number of weights via the aperture in each respective second weight plate.

11. The weight lifting device of claim 10, wherein said at least one channel comprises first and second channels.

12. The weight lifting device of claim 10, wherein said selection knob is located on one of said pair of end plates of said handle unit.

13. The weight lifting device of claim 12, further comprising:

a drive axle mounted between said selection knob and said drive gear.

14. The weight lifting device of claim 13, further comprising:

a dial gear mounted on said drive axle between said selection knob and said drive gear; and

an indicator dial operatively connected to said dial gear, wherein said indicator dial provides a user with an indication of the number of weights selected by the selection knob.

15. The weight lifting device of claim 14, further comprising:

a ball and dimple engagement to provide a selected positioning of said extendable rods.

16. The weight lifting device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of weights comprising nesting weights, wherein a relatively smaller weight is nested within a relatively larger weight and said handle unit is nested within a smallest one of said plurality of weights.

17. The weight lifting device of claim 16, wherein said at least one connecting rod comprises first and second connecting rods joining first and second weight plates of each respective weight.

18. The weight lifting device of claim 16, wherein said first and second weight plates of each respective weight have inner and outer surfaces, the inner and outer surfaces of the first weight plate being non-parallel to the inner and outer surfaces of the second weight plate, such that the first and second weight plates are angled toward one another from a top of the weight toward a bottom of the weight.

19. The weight lifting device of claim 16, wherein said first and second weight plates of each respective weight have side surfaces that are angled inwardly from a top of the weight to a bottom of the weight.

20. The weight lifting device of claim 10, further comprising:

a drive axle mounted between said selection knob and said drive gear;

a dial gear mounted on said drive axle between said selection knob and said drive gear;

a ball and dimple engagement to provide a selected positioning of said extendable rods;

an indicator dial operatively connected to said dial gear;

wherein said indicator dial provides a user with an indication of the number of weights selected by the selection knob;

wherein said selection knob is located on one of said pair of end plates of said handle unit, and wherein said at least one channel comprises first and second channels;

wherein said plurality of weights comprise nesting weights, wherein a relatively smaller weight is nested within a relatively larger weight and said handle unit is nested within a smallest one of said plurality of weights;

wherein said at least one connecting rod comprises first and second connecting rods joining first and second weight plates of each respective weight;

wherein said first and second weight plates of each respective weight have inner and outer surfaces, the inner and outer surfaces of the first weight plate being non-parallel to the inner and outer surfaces of the second weight plate, such that the first and second weight plates are angled toward one another from a top of the weight toward a bottom of the weight; and

wherein said first and second weight plates of each respective weight have side surfaces that are angled inwardly from the top of the weight to the bottom of the weight.