Adjustable weight kettlebell

• US 7,976,443 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Krull
• Original Assignee: Mark Krull
• Inventors: Krull, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/590,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20100120588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 482/44, 482/49, 482/50, 482 92- 94, 482/98, 482/99, 482105-110, 482/141, 482/908
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An adjustable weight kettlebell includes a weight lifting member that rests on top of a vertical stack of weights. A weight selector is rotatable into and out of underlying engagement of the weight plates to secure a desired amount of mass to the weight lifting member.

Claims

1. An adjustable weight kettlebell, comprising:

a stack of weights, including an upper weight that defines a first opening, and a lower weight that defines a second opening, wherein the upper weight is configured to occupy a predetermined position on top of the lower weight with a protuberance on the lower weight projecting upward into the first opening;

a weight lifting member configured to rest on top of the upper weight, wherein the weight lifting member includes (a) a handle connected to the weight lifting member, wherein the handle includes a hand grip configured and arranged for grasping in a person'"'"'s hand at a location vertically above the stack when the weight lifting member is resting on top of the upper weight in the stack;

(b) a weight engaging portion that registers with the upper weight; and

(c) a weight selector having (i) a shaft that rotates about an axis relative to the weight engaging portion, and (ii) a weight retaining member rigidly connected to the shaft, wherein when the weight lifting member is resting on top of the upper weight, the weight retaining member occupies each said opening and is selectively rotatable into underlying engagement of each said weight; and

when the weight selector occupies a first orientation relative to the weight engaging portion, the weight retaining member is free to move upward relative to each said weight, whereby the weight lifting member is liftable without any said weight; and

when the weight selector occupies a second orientation relative to the weight engaging portion, the weight retaining member underlies only the upper weight, whereby the weight lifting member is liftable together with the upper weight; and

when the weight selector occupies a third orientation relative to the weight engaging portion of the weight lifting member, the weight retaining member underlies at least the lower weight, whereby the weight lifting member is liftable with each said weight.

2. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 1, wherein rotation of the weight selector from the second orientation to the third orientation rotates the weight retaining member out from underlying engagement of the upper weight.

3. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 1, wherein the weight selector directly underlies the protuberance when in the third orientation.

4. The adjustable weight kettlebell claim 3, wherein a lowermost portion of the weight selector is disposed inside the first opening in the upper weight when the lifting member is resting on top of the stack.

5. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 1, wherein the upper weight is disposed inside a closed curve sidewall of the weight engaging portion.

6. The adjustable weight kettlebell claim 1, wherein a lowermost edge of the weight selector is disposed inside the first opening in the upper weight when the lifting member is resting on top of the stack.

7. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 1, wherein the weight lifting member includes a manually operable knob, and rotation of the knob is linked to rotation of the weight selector.

8. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 7, wherein the knob is mounted in telescoping fashion on the weight selector.

9. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 8, wherein a spring is compressed between the weight selector and the knob.

10. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 9, wherein the knob is configured to occupy a lower position on the weight lifting member when the weight selector occupies the second orientation and alternatively, the third orientation, and the knob is configured to occupy a relatively higher position on the weight lifting member when the weight selector occupies a fourth orientation, disposed between the second orientation and the third orientation.

11. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 10, wherein warning indicia on the knob is visible when the knob occupies the fourth orientation, and the warning indicia are hidden when the knob occupies the second orientation and alternatively, the third orientation.

12. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 11, wherein the relatively higher position of the knob is relatively closer to the handle.

13. The adjustable weight kettlebell of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the weight selector is configured as a manually operable knob.

14. An adjustable weight kettlebell, comprising:

a stack of weights, including an upper weight and a lower weight, wherein the upper weight is configured to occupy a predetermined position on top of the lower weight;

a weight lifting member configured to rest on top of the upper weight, wherein the weight lifting member includes (a) a handle;

(b) a weight engaging member that registers with the upper weight;

(c) an inverted U-shaped bar having a central portion that extends through the handle and first and second distal ends that define a lowermost edge of the weight lifting member when the weight lifting member is resting on the stack; and

(d) a weight selector movably connected to the weight engaging member for movement between a first position, wherein the weight selector is free to move upward relative to each said weight; and

a second position, wherein the weight selector underlies only the upper weight in the stack; and

a third position, wherein the weight selector underlies at least the lower weight in the stack.

15. An exercise device, comprising:

an array of weights; and

a weight lifting member configured to rest on top of the weights, wherein the weight lifting member includes (a) a handle including a handgrip sized and configured for grasping in a person'"'"'s hand;

(b) a weight engaging member configured to register with the weights, wherein the handle has opposite first and second ends rigidly connected to respective first and second sides of the weight engaging member;

(c) a knob rotatably mounted on the weight engaging member for rotation about an axis; and

(d) a weight selector movably mounted on the weight engaging member for movement into and out of underlying engagement with the weights in response to rotation of the knob, wherein the knob is biased to occupy a first axial position along the axis when the weight selector occupies a desired position relative to the weights, and the knob is biased to occupy a discrete, second axial position along the axis when the weight selector occupies an undesired position relative to the weights.

16. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein a safety warning is disposed on the knob, and the safety warning is visible when the knob occupies the second axial position, and the safety warning is shrouded by the weight engaging member when the knob occupies the first axial position.

17. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein a space is defined between a downwardly facing portion of the handgrip and an upwardly facing portion of the knob, and the space is relatively larger when the knob occupies the first axial position, and the space is relatively smaller when the knob occupies the second axial position.

18. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein a spring biases the knob toward the second axial position.

19. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein a spring biases the knob to remain in a desired orientation relative to the weight engaging member.