Weight sensing base for an adjustable dumbbell system

• US 9,814,922 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Moran, Thomas H., Flick, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/587,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20160184623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• 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: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

In various implementations, an adjustable dumbbell system may include a handle assembly, two or more weight plates, and a base. The weight plates and the handle assembly may be configured such that each weight plate can be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the handle assembly. The base may be configured to support each of the weight plates. The base may include a sensing mechanism that senses a characteristic of the weight plates where the characteristic depends upon which of the weight plates are supported by the base.

Claims

1. An adjustable dumbbell system, comprising:

an adjustable dumbbell including;

a handle assembly; and

a plurality of weight plates, the plurality of weight plates and the handle assembly configured such that each of the plurality of weight plates can be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the handle assembly; and

a base configured to support each of the plurality of weight plates, the base including a sensing mechanism comprising one or more load cells that sense a total aggregate weight of the plurality of weight plates that are supported on the base.

2. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising a display device configured to display a number that is determined using the characteristic of the plurality of weights, and the characteristic includes the total aggregate weight of the plurality of weights.

3. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, wherein the number represents a calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell where the calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell is calculated by adding a weight of a handle assembly to a difference between a total aggregate weight of all of the plurality of weight plates and a total aggregate weight of the plurality of weight plates that are supported on the base.

4. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, wherein:

the display device is disposed on the handle assembly; and

the base further comprises a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to the handle assembly.

5. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 4, further comprising:

a processor;

at least one memory operably linked to the processor, wherein the at least one memory comprises instructions, which when executed on the processor, cause the processor to;

receive sensor data generated by the sensing mechanism sensing the characteristic of the plurality of weight plates; and

process the sensor data to determine a calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell.

6. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 5, wherein:

the processor is associated with the base;

the data that is transmitted by the wireless transmitter includes the calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell; and

the number represents the calculated weight.

7. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 6, further comprising a second processor associated with the handle assembly, and the second processor causes the number to be displayed on the display device.

8. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 5, wherein:

the processor is associated with the handle assembly; and

the data transmitted by the wireless transmitter includes the sensor data.

9. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, wherein the display device is disposed on the base.

10. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic includes how many of the plurality of weight plates are supported on the base at the time of sensing by the sensing mechanism.

11. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, further comprising a communication interface configured to transmit data to an electronic device associated with a user, which data is used by the electronic device to display a number that is determined using the characteristic.

12. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 2, wherein the characteristic includes presence of weight plates on the base, and the sensing mechanism includes a plurality of sensors that each detect a presence of a particular weight plate of the plurality of weight plates in the even that the particular weight plate is supported on the base.

13. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 12, wherein each sensor includes a first electrical contact that is disposed on the base and that engages a second contact disposed on the particular weight plate so as to signal that the particular weight plate is supported on the base.

14. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 12, wherein each sensor includes a mechanical switch that closes when engaged by the particular weight plate so as to signal that the particular weight plate is supported on the base.

15. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising a switch that is configured to provide power to at least the sensing mechanism in response to the handle assembly being removed from the base.

16. An adjustable dumbbell system, comprising:

an adjustable dumbbell including;

a handle assembly; and

a plurality of weight plates, the plurality of weight plates and the handle assembly configured such that each of the plurality of weight plates can be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the handle assembly; and

a base configured to support each of the plurality of weight plates, the base including a sensing mechanism configured to sense a characteristic of the plurality of weight plates where the characteristic depends upon which of the plurality of weight plates are supported by the base, wherein the characteristic is weights of weight plates supported on the base, and the sensing mechanism includes a plurality of load cells that each sense a weight of a particular weight plate of the plurality of weight plates in the event that the particular weight plate is supported on the base.

17. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 16, further comprising a display device configured to display a number that is determined using the characteristic.

18. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 17, wherein the number represents a calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell where the calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell is calculated by adding a weight of the handle assembly to a difference between a total aggregate weight of all of the plurality of weight plates and a total aggregate weight of the plurality of weight plates that are supported on the base.

19. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 18, wherein:

the display device is disposed on the handle assembly; and

the base further comprises a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to the handle assembly.

20. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 19, further comprising:

a processor;

at least one memory operably linked to the processor, wherein the at least one memory comprises instructions, which when executed on the processor, cause the processor to;

receive sensor data generated by the sensing mechanism sensing the characteristic of the plurality of weight plates; and

process the sensor data to determine a calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell.

21. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is associated with the base;

the data that is transmitted by the wireless transmitter includes the calculated weight of the adjustable dumbbell; and

the number represents the calculated weight.

22. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 21, further comprising a second processor associated with the handle assembly, and the second processor causes the number to be displayed on the display device.

23. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 20, wherein:

the processor is associated with the handle assembly; and

the data transmitted by the wireless transmitter includes the sensor data.

24. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 19, wherein the display device is disposed on the base.

25. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 18, wherein the characteristic includes how many of the plurality of weight plates are supported on the base at the time of sensing by the sensing mechanism.

26. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 17, further comprising a communication interface configured to transmit data to an electronic device associated with a user, which data is used by the electronic device to display a number that is determined using the characteristic.

27. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 16, further comprising a switch that is configured to provide power to at least the sensing mechanism in response to the handle assembly being removed from the base.