Weight selection methods and apparatus

• US 7,300,390 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruno Intellectual Reserve, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Krull
• Inventors: Krull, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C.
• Application Number:
  US10/941,339
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 482 93-101, 482106-108
• US Class Current: 482/108
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0728 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

Abstract

Weight selecting members are movably mounted on a handle assembly and selectively rotatable into engagement with respective weight plates to provide adjustable resistance to exercise movement. The weight selecting members rotate into and out of notches associated with any combination of the weight plates.

Claims

1. An adjustable weight exercise device, comprising:

a base;

a first set of weights including a first weight plate and a second weight plate maintained in alignment at a first end of the base, and a second set of weights including a first weight plate and a second weight plate maintained in alignment at an opposite, second end of the base, wherein each said first weight plate has an upwardly opening slot, and a first notch and a second notch that extend into opposing sidewalls of the slot, and each said second weight plate has an upwardly opening slot, and at least one notch that extends into a sidewall of the slot; and

a handle member having an intermediate hand grip that is sized and configured for grasping;

opposite end portions that align with respective weight plates on the base; and

first and second weight selectors that are rotatably mounted on respective end portions, wherein each of the weight selectors extends at least partially through each said weight plate in a respective set, and each of the weight selectors is rotatable from a first orientation disposed entirely outside each said notch, to a second orientation extending into only one said notch in the first weight plate, to a third orientation extending into only one said notch in the second weight plate, to a fourth orientation extending into both an opposite said notch in the first weight plate, and the one said notch in the second weight plate.

2. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, wherein the weight selectors are sized and configured for insertion between the first weight plate and the second weight plate in a respective set.

3. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the weight selectors includes a leaf spring that is biased to remain latched in any said orientation relative to the handle member.

4. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, further comprising weight indicia on the handle member that align with each said orientation of the weight selectors.

5. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the weight selectors includes a strip that enters a respective notch on the handle member for each said orientation.

6. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, wherein each said first weight plate weighs one-half as much as each said second weight plate.

7. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a latching means for latching the weight selectors in any said orientation.

8. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the weight selectors includes a first peg that is configured and arranged to enter the notches in the first weight plate, and a second peg that is configured and arranged to enter the at least one notch in the second weight plate.

9. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 8, wherein the first peg and the second peg are circumferentially offset from one another.

10. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 8, wherein the first peg and the second peg extend in opposite directions away from a divider portion of a respective weight selector.

11. An adjustable weight exercise device, comprising:

a first weight plate configured and arranged to define an upwardly opening slot and a laterally extending notch that opens into a sidewall of the slot;

a second weight plate configured and arranged to define an upwardly opening slot and a laterally extending notch that opens into a sidewall of the slot in the second weight plate;

a weight lifting member configured and arranged to support the first weight plate and the second weight plate in alignment with one another, with the notch in the first weight plate extending in a first direction away from each said slot, and the notch in the second weight plate extending in an opposite, second direction away from each said slot; and

a weight selecting member rotatably mounted on the weight lifting member, wherein at least one peg projects outward from the weight selecting member and at least partially through each said weight plate, and the at least one peg is configured and arranged to (a) occupy only the slot in each said weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a first orientation relative to the weight lifting member, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member relative to each said weight plate, and (b) occupy the notch in the first weight plate and the slot in the second weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a second orientation relative to the weight lifting member, upon rotation in a first direction away from the first orientation, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member and the first weight plate relative to the second weight plate, and (c) occupy the slot in the first weight plate and the notch in the second weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a third orientation relative to the weight lifting member, upon rotation in an opposite, second direction away from the first orientation, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member and the second weight plate relative to the first weight plate.

12. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 11, wherein a portion of the weight selecting member is sized and configured for insertion between the first weight plate and the second weight plate.

13. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 11, wherein the weight selecting member includes a first peg that is configured and arranged to enter the notch in the first weight plate, and a separate, second peg that is configured and arranged to enter the notch in the second weight plate.

14. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 13, wherein the first peg and the second peg are circumferentially offset from one another about an axis of rotation defined by rotating of the weight selecting member.

15. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 13, wherein a portion of the weight selecting member is configured for insertion between the first weight plate and the second weight plate, and the first peg and the second peg extend in opposite directions away from said portion.

16. An adjustable weight exercise device, comprising:

a first weight plate configured and arranged to define an upwardly opening slot and a laterally extending notch that opens into a sidewall of the slot;

a second weight plate configured and arranged to define an upwardly opening slot and a laterally extending notch that opens into a sidewall of the slot, wherein the notch in the first weight plate extends laterally further than the notch in the second weight plate;

a weight lifting member configured and arranged to support the first weight plate and the second weight plate in alignment with one another, with the notch in each said weight plate extending in a common direction away from each said slot; and

a weight selecting member rotatably mounted on the weight lifting member, wherein at least one peg projects outward from the weight selecting member and at least partially through each said weight plate, and the at least;

one peg is configured and arranged to (a) occupy the slot in each said weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a first orientation relative to the weight lifting member, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member relative to each said weight plate, and (b) occupy a first portion of the notch in the first weight plate and the slot in the second weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a second orientation relative to the weight lifting member, upon rotation of the weight selecting member in a first direction away from the first orientation, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member and the first weight plate relative to the second weight plate, and (c) occupy the notch in the second weight plate and a second portion of the notch in the first weight plate when the weight selecting member occupies a third orientation relative to the weight lifting member, upon further rotation of the weight selecting member in the first direction, thereby accommodating upward movement of the weight lifting member together with each said weight plate.

17. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 16, wherein a portion of the weight selecting member is sized and configured for insertion between the first weight plate and the second weight plate.

18. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 16, wherein the weight selecting member includes a first peg that is configured and arranged to enter the notch in the first weight plate, and a separate, second peg that is configured and arranged to enter the notch in the second weight plate.

19. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 18, wherein the first peg and the second peg are circumferentially offset from one another about an axis of rotation defined by rotating of the weight selecting member.

20. The adjustable weight exercise device of claim 18, wherein a portion of the weight selecting member is configured for insertion between the first weight plate and the second weight plate, and the first peg and the second peg extend in opposite directions away from said portion.