Exercise weight adjustment methods and apparatus

• US 7,625,322 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Core Health & Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Krull
• Inventors: Krull, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/901,784
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92- 94, 482/98, 482104-108
• US Class Current: 482/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/063 Weight selecting means
• 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. Weight selectors are rotatable into and out of engagement with different combinations of the weight plates to secure a desired amount of mass to the handle. The weight selectors selectively underlie peripheral portions the weights to secure the weights to the handle member. Different arrangements may be used to bias the weight selectors toward desired orientations relative to the weight plates, and/or to lock the weight selectors in desired orientations relative to the weight plates.

Claims

1. An exercise dumbbell, comprising:

a lifting member having a handle, 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 be supported by the first weight supporting section;

second weights sized and configured to be supported by the second weight supporting section;

a first weight selector rotatably mounted on the lifting member for selective movement along an arcuate path that partially circumnavigates the first weights, from a first position, free from beneath all of the first weights, to a second position, beneath a peripheral sidewall of only one of the first weights, to a third position, beneath respective peripheral sidewalls of at least two said first weights; and

a second weight selector rotatably mounted on the lifting member for selective movement along an arcuate path that partially circumnavigates the second weights, from a first position, free from beneath all of the second weights, to a second position, beneath a peripheral sidewall of only one of the said second weights, to a third position, beneath respective peripheral sidewalls of at least two said second weights.

2. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector and the second weight selector are integral portions of a unitary selector member having an intermediate portion that extends through the handle.

3. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector is movable to a fourth position, beneath only a discrete one of the first weights.

4. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, further comprising biasing means for biasing each said weight selector to remain in any given said position.

5. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector includes a first segment that spans respective first peripheral sidewalls of all said first weights, and a second segment that spans opposite, respective second peripheral sidewalls of all of said first weights.

6. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weights are bounded by upper edges that lie beneath the arcuate path of the first weight selector.

8. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the at least one weight selector includes a third segment that moves through an arcuate path about a discrete portion of each said profile associated with the first weights, and the weight selector is movable to a position wherein the first rod segment and the third rod segment are disposed beyond respective opposite sides of the first weights.

11. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector moves about an axis, spans respective peripheral sidewalls of all said first weights, and is movable to a position radially outward beyond said peripheral sidewalls.

12. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, further comprising a means for supporting the weights in a horizontal array apart from the lifting member.

13. The exercise dumbbell of claim 12, wherein the first weight selector moves about an axis, and includes first and second segments that are separated by a distance measured perpendicular to the axis, and each of the first weights has a maximum width measured perpendicular to the axis and perpendicular to vertical, and each said maximum width is less than said distance at a respective location along said axis.

14. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector includes a first segment that engages said one of the first weights when the first weight selector occupies the second position, and the first weight selector includes a second segment that engages said one of the first weights when the first weight selector occupies a fourth position along the arcuate path associated with the first weight selector.

15. The exercise dumbbell of claim 1, wherein the first weight selector and the second weight selector are movable independent of one another.

17. The exercise dumbbell of claim 8, wherein the first segment engages one of the first weights when the at least one weight selector occupies a first orientation, and the third segment engages said one of the first weights when the at least one weight selector occupies a second orientation.

7. An exercise dumbbell, comprising:

a set of first weights, wherein each of the first weights has a discrete profile when viewed from an end of the dumbbell;

a set of second weights, wherein each of the second weights has a discrete profile when viewed from an end of the dumbbell;

a lifting member having a handle, a first weight supporting section disposed at a first end of the handle and configured to receive the first weights, a second weight supporting section disposed at an opposite, second end of the handle and configured to receive the second weights;

at least one weight selector rotatably mounted on the lifting member for rotation about a rotational axis, wherein the at least one weight selector includes (a) first segment that moves through an arcuate path about a portion of each said profile associated with the first weights, (b) a second segment that moves through an arcuate path about a portion of each said profile associated with the second weights, and only a portion of each said arcuate path underlies respective said weights, and (c) a third segment, wherein the third segment and the first segment span respective, opposites sides of the first weights.

16. The exercise dumbbell of claim 7, wherein the first segment and the second segment are movable independent of one another.

9. An adjustable weight exercise device, comprising:

a lifting member including at least one weight supporting section;

at least one selector rod rotatably mounted on the lifting member for rotation about a rotational axis, wherein the at least one selector rod includes at least one rod segment that extends parallel to the rotational axis at a radial distance from the rotational axis; and

at least two weights configured to occupy respective positions within the at least one weight supporting section, including space disposed directly between the rotational axis and the at least one rod segment, wherein each of the weights has a discrete peripheral portion that accommodates arcuate travel of the at least one selector rod from a first position, free from beneath all of the weights, to a second position, underlying only one of the weights, to a third position, underlying at least two of the weights.

10. The exercise device of claim 9, further comprising biasing means for biasing the at least one selector rod to remain in any given said position.

18. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein the at least one rod segment includes a first rod segment that engages said one of the weights when the at least one selector rod occupies the second position, and the at least one rod segment includes a second rod segment that engages said one of the weight when the at least one selector rod is rotated to a fourth position.