Adjustable dumbbell

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device, and more particularly to an adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device including an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or handle and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the users.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical barbells or dumbbells comprise a handle to be grasped or held by the user, and a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for weight lifting or exercising purposes, or for exercising or training the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user.

[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al. discloses a typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of plates in stacked relationship, a handle having a shaft passing through the weight plates, and a sleeve and a plate engaged onto the shaft and the weight plates for selectively or adjustably attaching the weight plates to the shaft.

[0006] However, the sleeve and the plate may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the shaft and into the weight plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,274 to Mattox discloses another typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of receptacles and spring-biased shafts are required to be attached onto the ends of the handle for mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

[0008] However, the receptacles and the spring-biased shafts may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,093 to Chen discloses a further typical dumbbell comprising a handle which can be grasped or held by the user, a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for exercising or training the arms or the feet of the user, and a latch attached onto the end of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

[0010] However, the latch may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,674 to Krull, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,424 to Krull disclose the further typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of weight selectors or selector rods should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

[0012] However, the weight selectors or selector rods may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,931 to Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,536 to Liu, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,214 to Chen disclose the other typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of latching members or a complicated latch device should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.

[0014] However, the latching members or the complicated latch device may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.

[0015] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable dumbbells.

[0016] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable barbell or dumbbell including an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or handle and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the users.

[0017] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable barbell or dumbbell comprising a handle including a first end portion, and including a second end portion, and including a narrowed neck segment formed in each of the first and the second end portions of the handle, a base plate provided on each of the first and the second end portions of the handle and including an outer diameter greater than that of the handle, at least two weight members each including a slot formed therein and having a width no less than the narrowed neck segment of the handle for receiving the narrowed neck segment of the handle, and for allowing the weight members to be attached to and disengaged from either of the first and the second end portions of the handle, the weight members each including an enlarged opening formed therein and communicating with the slot of the weight members, and the enlarged opening including an inner diameter greater than the width of the slots of the weight members and no less than the outer diameter of the handle for receiving the handle, and for allowing the weight members to be retained to the handle and for preventing the weight members from being disengaged from the handle when the weight members are offset from the narrowed neck segment of the handle, and a sliding member slidably attached onto each of the first and the second end portions of the handle for engaging with the weight members after the weight members have been engaged onto the handle and after the weight members have been disengaged from the narrowed neck segment of the handle, and the sliding members each including a latch for engaging with the handle and for selectively locking the sliding member to the handle, in order to retain and secure the weight members to the handle.

[0018] The handle includes a rack provided on each of the first and the second end portions of the handle for selectively engaging with the latch. The sliding members each include a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the rack of the handle.

[0019] The latches are each pivotally attached to the sliding member with a pivot axle and each include an actuating end for engaging with the rack and for adjustably latching the sliding member and the weight members to the handle.

[0020] The sliding members each include a spring member disposed between the latch and the sliding member for biasing and forcing the actuating end of the latch to engage with the rack.

[0021] The handle includes at least one notch formed in either of the first and the second end portions of the handle for forming the narrowed neck segment in either of the first and the second end portions of the handle.

[0022] The weight members each include an open end communicating with the slots of the weight members for guiding the narrowed neck segment of the handle into the slots of the weight members. The handle includes a hand grip provided on a central portion of the handle.

[0023] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, an adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a longitudinal shaft or handle 10 including a hand grip 11 formed or provided on the center portion thereof for being grasped or held by the users and for carrying or lifting or moving the handle 10 and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell 1 to be easily operated by the users, and including two end members or end portions 12 each having a rack 13 formed or provided on the end portion 12 of the handle 10, an anchor or base plate 14 is attached or secured to each of the end portions 12 of the handle 10 with one or more latches or fasteners 15 (FIG. 4), in which the base plate 14 includes an outer diameter greater than that of the handle 10.

[0031] The base plate 14 may also be formed integral with the handle 10 with molding or mold-injection processes or with forging processes. The racks 13 are preferably extended out of the end portions 12 of the handle 10 and arranged parallel to the handle 10, and include a width smaller than the outer diameter of the handle 10, and the handle 10 includes one or more (such as two) cut-off portions or notches 16 oppositely formed in each of the end portions 12 of the handle 10 for forming a narrowed neck segment 17 in the end portion 12 of the handle 10 (FIGS. 1, 3), in which a portion of the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10 includes an outer diameter smaller than that of the handle 10. It is preferable that the handle 10 further includes two stops 18 formed or radially extended out of the middle portion of the handle 10 and spaced from each other for defining or forming the hand grip 11 between the stops 18 and for protecting the hands of the user.

[0032] A number of weight plates or weight members 30 each include a substantially U-shaped structure having a slot 31 formed therein for receiving the narrowed neck segments 17 and/or the racks 13 of the handle 10, and for allowing the weight members 30 to be easily and quickly attached to or disengaged from the handle 10, in which the slots 31 of the weight members 30 include a width equals to or slightly greater than or no less than the narrowed portion the narrowed neck segments 17 and/or the racks 13 of the handle 10, but smaller than the outer diameter of the other portion of the handle 10, for allowing only the narrowed portion the narrowed neck segments 17 and/or the racks 13 of the handle 10 to be engaged into the slots 31 of the weight members 30 (FIGS. 1, 3-4).

[0033] The weight members 30 each further include an enlarged opening 32 formed therein, such as formed in the middle or central portion thereof and communicating with the slot 31 of the weight member 30, and having a width or inner diameter greater than the width of the slots 31 of the weight members 30 and equals to or slightly greater than or no less than the outer diameter of the handle 10 for receiving the handle 10, and for allowing the weight members 30 to be stably retained or anchored to the handle 10 and for preventing the weight members 30 from being disengaged from the handle 10 when the weight members 30 are offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10. It is preferable that the weight members 30 each include a wide open end 33 formed at one end of the slot 31 of the weight member 30 or communicating with the slot 31 of the weight member 30 for allowing the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10 to be guided to easily and quickly engage into the slots 31 of the weight members 30.

[0034] A fastening or locking device 4 includes a ring or sliding member 40 slidably attached onto each of the end portions 12 of the handle 10, or the sliding member 40 includes a bore 41 formed therein (FIGS. 2, 4) for slidably receiving the end portion 12 of the handle 10, and for allowing the sliding member 40 to be moved along or relative to the end portion 12 of the handle 10, and the sliding member 40 may be moved to engage with the weight members 30 after the weight members 30 have been engaged onto the handle 10 and after the weight members 30 have been disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10 (FIGS. 2, 4), in order to stably anchor or position or retain or secure the weight members 30 to the handle 10.

[0035] The sliding members 40 each further include a channel 42 formed therein and communicating with the bore 41 of the sliding member 40 for slidably receiving the rack 13 of the handle 10, and/or for preventing the sliding members 40 from being rotated relative to the handle 10. The sliding members 40 of the locking device 4 each further include a latch 43 partially engaged into the channel 42 of the sliding member 40 and rotatably or pivotally attached or mounted or secured onto the sliding member 40 with a pivot axle 44 for allowing one end or free end or actuating end 45 of the latch 43 to be engaged with the teeth 19 of the rack 13 in order to adjustably secure or lock or latch the sliding member 40 and the weight members 30 to the handle 10. A spring member 46 is disposed between the other end 47 of the latch 43 and the sliding member 40 for biasing or forcing the actuating end 45 of the latch 43 to engage with the teeth 19 of the rack 13 (FIGS. 3-5).

[0036] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5, the selected or the required number of the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the handle 10 by engaging the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10 into the slots 31 of the weight members 30, and the weight members 30 may then be disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10 and may have the handle 10 stably anchored or positioned or retained or secured in the enlarged openings 32 of the weight members 30 relatively when the weight members 30 are disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10. The sliding members 40 of the locking device 4 may then be moved along or relative to the handle 10 and may be engaged with the weight members 30 for stably locking or securing the weight members 30 to the handle 10. The sliding members 40 may be freely moved along or relative to the handle 10 when the other end 47 of the latch 43 is depressed by the user to compress the spring member 46 and to disengage the actuating end 45 of the latch 43 from the teeth 19 of the rack 13.

[0037] It is to be noted that the selected or the required number of the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the handle 10, and may be easily and quickly locked or secured to the handle 10 with the sliding members 40 of the locking device 4, such that the weight members 30 may be changeably and easily and quickly mounted or attached to the handle 10. Accordingly, when the sliding member 40 of the locking device 4 is disengaged or offset from the narrowed neck segment 17 of the handle 10, the weight members 30 may be easily and quickly engaged onto or disengaged from the handle 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the size or length or dimension of the handle 10 and/or the weight members 30 may be enlarged to form and to act as a barbell.

[0038] Accordingly, the adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or handle and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the users.

[0039] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.