Weight selection methods and apparatus

• US 7,387,597 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• 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:
  US11/652,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20070167300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 482 93- 97, 482106-109
• 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

An exercise dumbbell includes a handle member and weight plates maintained in spaced relationship at opposite ends thereof. Knobs on the handle member have contoured bearing surfaces that bear against respective selector members to alternatively hold the selector members in weight engaging positions and disengaged positions.

Claims

1. An exercise dumbbell, comprising:

a handle member having a handle that defines a longitudinal axis, a first weight supporting section disposed at a first end of the handle, and a second weight supporting section disposed at an opposite, second end of the handle;

first weights sized and configured to occupy the first weight supporting section;

second weights sized and configured to occupy the second weight supporting section;

a weight selector movably mounted on the handle member for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first position, underlying one of the first weights, and a second position, free to move upward relative to said one of the first weights;

a knob rotatably mounted on the handle member for rotation about a knob axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein a contoured bearing surface on the knob bears against the weight selector to alternatively hold the weight selector in the first position and the second position as a function of orientation of the knob relative to the handle member; and

a separate means for selectively securing the other first weights to the handle member in response to rotation of the knob.

2. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured and arranged to compress the weight selector between the spring and the contoured bearing surface on the knob.

3. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein a weight engaging tab on the weight selector is configured and arranged to occupy an upwardly opening slot in another of the first weights when in the second position.

4. An exercise dumbbell, comprising:

a handle member having a handle that defines a longitudinal axis, a first weight supporting section disposed at a first end of the handle, and a second weight supporting section disposed at an opposite, second end of the handle;

first weights sized and configured to occupy the first weight supporting section;

second weights sized and configured to occupy the second weight supporting section;

a first weight selector movably mounted on the handle member for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first position, underlying one of the first weights, and a second position, free to move upward relative to said one of the first weights;

a second weight selector movably mounted on the handle member for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first position, underlying a second one of the first weights, and a second position, free to move upward relative to said second one of the first weights; and

a knob rotatably mounted on the handle member for rotation about a knob axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein a first contoured bearing surface on the knob bears against the first weight selector to alternatively hold the first weight selector in its first position and its second position as a function of orientation of the knob relative to the handle member, and a second contoured bearing surface on the knob bears against the second weight selector to alternatively hold the second weight selector in its first position and its second position as a function of orientation of the knob relative to the handle member.

5. The exercise dumbbell of claim 4, wherein each said contoured bearing surface is concentrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis.

6. The exercise dumbbell of claim 4, wherein the knob rotates from a first orientation, wherein each said weight selector occupies a respective said second position, to a second orientation, wherein only said one of the first weights is engaged, to a third orientation, wherein only said second one of the first weights is engaged, to a fourth orientation, wherein each said weight selector occupies a respective said first position.

7. The exercise dumbbell of claim 4, further comprising at least one spring configured and arranged to press each said weight selector against a respective said contoured bearing surface on the knob.

8. The exercise dumbbell of claim 4, wherein a weight engaging tab on the first weight selector is configured and arranged to occupy an upwardly opening slot in another of the first weights when in the second position.

9. An exercise device, comprising:

a weight lifting member;

weights sized and configured to align with the weight lifting member;

a weight selector movably mounted on the weight lifting member for movement between a first position, underlying one of the weights, and a second position, free to move upward relative to said one of the weights; and

a knob rotatably mounted on the weight lifting member for rotation about a knob axis, wherein a contoured bearing surface on the knob is configured and arranged to bear against a distal end of the weight selector, and the knob is rotatable to a first orientation relative to the weight lifting member, wherein the contoured bearing surface bears against the distal end and thereby holds the weight selector in the first position, and the knob is rotatable to a discrete, second orientation relative to the weight lifting member, wherein the contoured bearing surface bears against the distal end and thereby holds the weight selector in the second position.

10. The exercise device of claim 9, further comprising a second weight selector movably mounted on the weight lifting member for movement between a first position, underlying a second one of the weights, and a second position, free to move upward relative to said second one of the weights, wherein a second contoured bearing surface on the knob is configured and arranged to bear against the second weight selector to alternatively hold the second weight selector in its first position and its second position as a function of orientation of the knob relative to the weight lifting member.

11. The exercise dumbbell of claim 10, wherein each said contoured bearing surface is concentrically arranged relative to the knob axis.

12. The exercise dumbbell of claim 10, wherein the knob rotates from a first orientation, wherein each said weight selector occupies a respective said second position, to a second orientation, wherein only said one of the weights is engaged, to a third orientation, wherein only said second one of the weights is engaged, to a fourth orientation, wherein each said weight selector occupies a respective said first position.

13. The exercise dumbbell of claim 9, further comprising a spring configured and arranged to keep the distal end of the weight selector pressed against the contoured bearing surface on the knob.

14. The exercise dumbbell of claim 9, wherein a weight engaging tab on the weight selector is configured and arranged to occupy an upwardly opening slot in another of the weights when in the second position.

15. The exercise dumbbell of claim 9, further comprising a separate means for selectively securing the other weights to the handle member in response to rotation of the knob.

16. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the weight lifting member includes a handle that defines a longitudinal axis, a first weight supporting section disposed at a first end of the handle, and a second weight supporting section disposed at an opposite, second end of the handle, and the weights include first weights sized and configured to occupy the first weight supporting section, and second weights sized and configured to occupy the second weight supporting section.