Adjustable exercise device

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable exercise device or dumbbell or barbell or the like, and more particularly to an adjustable exercise device or dumbbell including an improved compact structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and quickly and readily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or handle and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the user.

[0002] Typical exercise devices or barbells or dumbbells comprise a central handle member to be grasped or held by the user, and a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle member for weight lifting or exercising purposes, or for exercising or training the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,478 to Liang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,446 to Krull, U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,093 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,606 to Krull, U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,674 to Krull, U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,424 to Krull, U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,931 to Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,243 to Krull, U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,536 to Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,214 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,077 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,641 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,025,613 to Wang disclose several typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a number of weight plates or weight members selectively or adjustably attaching or mounting onto the handle shaft or handle bar that is provided for being held or grasped by the users to train the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user, and a latch device attached onto the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing selected or different number of the weighted plates on the ends of the handle and for exercising or training the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user.

[0004] A supporting base is further required to be provided for stably supporting the weight plates or weight members in place, and the latch device is required to be moved relative to the handle or the weight plates or weight members or actuated to engage with the required or selected number of the weighted plates or weight members when the weight plates or weight members are supported on or in the supporting base, and before the handle and the weight plates or weight members may be lifted or moved away from the supporting base, and the latch device is required to be moved relative to the handle or the weight plates or weight members or actuated to engage with and to couple the required or selected number of the weighted plates or weight members to the handle before the handle and the weight plates or weight members may be lifted or moved away from the supporting base.

[0005] However, the typical adjustable dumbbells include a complicated structure or configuration that may not be easily and quickly made or manufactured by the manufacturers and that may include a complicated making or manufacturing procedure and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing cost.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable dumbbells.

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable exercise device or barbell or dumbbell including an improved compact structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and quickly and readily 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.

[0008] The other objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable exercise device or barbell or dumbbell including an improved compact structure for allowing the adjustable exercise device or dumbbell to be made or manufactured by the manufacturers.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable exercise device comprising a number of weight members each including a groove formed therein, and the weight members each including two arms pivotally connected together with a pivot pin for allowing the arms to be pivoted and moved toward or away from each other, a handle device including a handle bar having an end portion selectively engageable into the grooves of the weight members, and a hand grip rotatably disposed on the handle bar, and a number of plates rotatably disposed on the handle bar and rotated in concert with the hand grip relative to the handle bar, the plates being selectively engageable between the weight members, and the plates each including an engaging element provided thereon for selectively engaging with the weight members respectively and for selectively moving the arms toward each other to engage with the handle device when the plates and the hand grip are rotated relative to the handle bar, and for selectively anchoring a selected number of weight members to the handle bar of the handle device with the plates.

[0010] The plates each include a barrel provided thereon and rotatably engaged on the handle bar for spacing the plates from each other. A first plate of the plates includes two engaging elements, a second plate of the plates includes four engaging elements, and a third plate of the plates includes eight engaging elements.

[0011] The handle device includes a follower disposed between the plates and the hand grip and rotated in concert with the plates and the hand grip relative to the handle bar. The follower includes a number of flaps extended therefrom and spaced from each other for forming a number of notches between the flaps.

[0012] The handle device includes a housing rotatably engaged on the handle bar, and the housing includes a spring biased latch for selectively engaging with either of the notches of the follower and for preventing the follower from being rotated relative to the housing. The housing includes a casing having a compartment formed in the casing for slidably engaging with the spring biased latch. The casing includes an orifice formed therein, and a base support is provided for supporting the weight members, the base support includes a key extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the orifice of the casing.

[0013] The housing includes a shank secured to the housing for engaging into the grooves of the weight members and for anchoring the housing to the weight members and for preventing the housing from rotating relative to the weight members. The shank includes a window formed in the shank, and the follower includes a number of ears for selectively aligning with the window of the shank, and the ears each include a numeral for being shown through the window of the shank.

[0014] The housing includes a spring biased projection engageable with the follower for anchoring and positioning the follower to the housing at selected angular positions. The follower includes a number of depressions formed therein for selectively engaging with the spring biased projection. The follower includes a drum extended therefrom and secured to the hand grip, and the housing is rotatably engaged on the drum.

[0015] The arms of each of the weight members each include a jaw extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the handle device. The weight members each include a spring biasing member engaged between the arms for biasing the arms away from each other and for opening the groove of the weight member.

[0016] The weight members each include a recess formed therein for selectively engaging with the plates. The weight members each include a projection extended into the recess of the weight member for selectively engaging with the engaging elements of the plates and for allowing the arms of the weight members to be moved toward each other with the projections of the arms and the engaging elements of the plates.

[0017] 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.

[0034] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-8, an adjustable dumbbell or barbell or exercise device in accordance with the present invention comprises a receptacle or base support 10 including one or more (such as two) side or end portions 11, 12 each having one or more (such as three) recesses or socket openings 13 formed therein for receiving or accommodating or engaging with the weight plates or weight members 20 respectively, and each having a projection or key 14 extended upwardly therefrom. The weight members 20 each include two weight bodies or arms 21, 22 pivotally or rotatably connected or coupled together with a pivot pin 23 at the middle or intermediate portion thereof and arranged for allowing the arms 21, 22, particularly the upper portions 24 of the arms 21, 22 to be pivoted or moved toward or away from each other (FIGS. 8, 9). The weight members 20 each include a U-shaped opening or groove 25 formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion 24 thereof and located above the pivot pin 23.

[0035] The weight members 20 each further include a spring biasing member 26 contacted or engaged between the arms 21, 22, particularly the upper portions 24 of the arms 21, 22 for biasing and forcing or moving the upper portions 24 of the arms 21, 22 away from each other and/or for opening the U-shaped groove 25 of the arms 21, 22 or of the weight members 20. The arms 21, 22 of the weight members 20 each include a pawl or jaw 27 extended therefrom and extended into the groove 25 of the arms 21, 22, and the jaws 27 of the arms 21, 22 of each of the weight members 20 are extended toward each other, and the arms 21, 22 of the weight members 20 each further include a key or projection 28 extended therefrom, for example, the weight members 20 each include a depression or recess 29 formed therein, such as formed in the outer side portion thereof and formed in both of the arms 21, 22, and the projections 28 are extended into the recess 29 of the weight member 20.

[0036] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, when the arms 21, 22 of the weight members 20 are disposed or engaged into the socket openings 13 of the base support 10, the upper portions 24 of the arms 21, 22 may be pivoted or biased and forced and moved away from each other with the spring biasing member 26, and the U-shaped groove 25 of the arms 21, 22 or of the weight members 20 may be opened for receiving or engaging with a handle device 3. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, the handle device 3 includes a longitudinal spindle or handle bar 30 having a hand grip 31 rotatably disposed or provided on the middle or intermediate portion of the handle bar 30 for being grasped or held by the user and for carrying or lifting or moving the handle device 3 and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the user, and the hand grip 31 is rotatable relative to the handle bar 30. One or more (such as two) end plates or end members 32 are attached or mounted or secured to the end portions of the handle bar 30 respectively.

[0037] One or more (such as two) followers 40 are rotatably disposed or provided on the end portions of the handle bar 30 and mounted or secured or coupled to the hand grip 31 and pivoted or rotated in concert with the hand grip 31 relative to the handle bar 30, the followers 40 each include a cylindrical member or drum 41 formed or provided on the middle or center portion thereof and rotatably engaged on the handle bar 30 and extended toward the hand grip 31 and engaged with or secured to the hand grip 31 with a toothed or serrated mechanism 42 (FIG. 6) for allowing the followers 40 to be pivoted or rotated in concert with the hand grip 31 relative to the handle bar 30. The followers 40 each include one or more (such as six), or a number of flaps 43 laterally extended from the outer peripheral portion thereof and equally spaced from each other and extended toward the hand grip 31 for forming or defining one or more (such as six), or a number of equally spaced gaps or notches 44 between the flaps 43.

[0038] As also shown in FIG. 6, the followers 40 each further include one or more (such as six), or a number of equally spaced ears 45 formed or provided or extended in the notches 44 of the followers 40 respectively, and the ears 45 each include a mark or digital or numeral 46 formed or provided thereon for weight indicating purposes. The followers 40 each further include one or more (such as six), or a number of equally spaced recesses or depressions 47 formed in one side portion thereof and faced or directed toward the hand grip 31. One or more (such as three) spacing panels or plates 50, 51, 52 are also rotatably disposed or provided on each of the end portions of the handle bar 30 and disposed between the follower 40 and the end member 32 respectively, and the plates 50, 51, 52 each include a cylindrical member or barrel 53 formed or provided on the middle or center portion thereof and rotatably engaged on the handle bar 30 and extended toward the other plates 50, 51 or the followers 40 for separating or spacing the plates 50, 51, 52 and the followers 40 from each other.

[0039] For example, the first plate 50 is disposed located closer to the follower 40, and the second plate 51 is disposed and arranged or located between the first and the third plates 50, 52, and the third plate 52 is disposed and arranged or located closer to the end member 32 respectively, the barrels 53 of the second and the third plates 51, 52 are extended toward the first and the second plates 50, 51 respectively, and the barrels 53 of the first and the second plates 50, 51 are extended toward the follower 40 and the first plate 50 respectively, and the barrels 53 of the plates 50-52 are engaged with each other or secured together with a toothed or serrated mechanism 54 (FIG. 6) for allowing the plates 50-52 and the followers 40 to be pivoted or rotated in concert with the hand grip 31 relative to the handle bar 30. The plates 50, 51, 52 each include one or more engaging or anchoring members or elements 55, 56, 57 formed or provided on the inner peripheral portion of the plates 50-52 respectively, for selectively engaging with the projections 28 of the weight members 20 (FIGS. 8-9, 11-12, 14-15).

[0040] For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 14-15, the first plate 50 includes one or more (such as two) equally spaced or opposite engaging elements 55 which extend or which include a curvature or length of about one fifth of the outer peripheral portion of the first plate 50, and the second plate 51 includes one or more (such as four) equally spaced engaging elements 56 which extend or which include a curvature or length of about one eighth of the outer peripheral portion of the second plate 51 and smaller than that of the first plate 50, and the third plate 52 includes one or more (such as eight) equally spaced engaging elements 57 each of which include a curvature or length of about one twenty-fourth of the outer peripheral portion of the third plate 52 for selectively engaging with the projections 28 of the weight members 20 respectively when the followers 40 and the plates 50, 51, 52 are rotated relative to the handle bar 30 with the hand grip 31, and for selectively forcing and moving the upper portions 24 and the jaws 27 of the arms 21, 22 toward each other, and for selectively anchoring or latching or retaining the selected numbers of the weight members 20 to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 50, 51, 52 (FIGS. 7-18).

[0041] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3-4 and 7-8, the end portions of the handle bar 30 and the barrels 53 of the plates 50-52 may be engaged into the grooves 25 of the weight members 20 for allowing the plates 50-52 to be engaged into the recesses 29 of the weight members 20 and for allowing the weight members 20 to be engaged between the plates 50-52 and the followers 40. As shown in FIGS. 7-18, the followers 40 and the plates 50-52 may be rotated relative to the handle bar 30 with the hand grip 31 for selectively engaging the engaging elements 55-57 with the projections 28 of the weight members 20 respectively, and for selectively forcing and moving the upper portions 24 and the jaws 27 of the arms 21, 22 toward each other, and for selectively anchoring or latching or retaining the selected numbers of the weight members 20 to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 50-52 due to the arrangement or the engagement of the engaging elements 55-57 of the plates 50-52 with the projections 28 of the weight members 20 respectively.

[0042] The adjustable exercise device or dumbbell further comprises one or more (such as two) control ferrules or housings 60 rotatably disposed or engaged on the handle bar 30 and/or the drums 41 of the followers 40 respectively, and an anchor lever or shank 61 mounted or secured to the respective housing 60 and to be engaged into the grooves 25 of the weight members 20 for anchoring or latching or retaining or positioning the housings 60 to the weight members 20 and for preventing the housings 60 from moving or pivoting or rotating relative to the weight members 30, and the shank 61 includes an opening or window 62 formed and provided therein for selectively aligning with the ears 45 of the followers 40 and for allowing the numeral 46 of the ear 45 of the follower 40 to be seen through the window 62 of the shank 61 of the housing 60 selectively (FIGS. 1-5). The housings 60 each include an orifice 69 formed therein (FIG. 6) for slidably receiving or engaging with a spring biased projection 63 (FIGS. 4, 6-7) which is engageable with either of the depressions 47 of the followers 40 and for anchoring or positioning the follower 40 to the housing 60 at the selected or predetermined angular position.

[0043] The housings 60 each further include a receptacle or casing 64 formed and provided therein (FIG. 6), and a chamber or compartment 65 formed in the casing 64 (FIGS. 4, 6-7) for slidably receiving or engaging with a spring biased lock or latch 70 therein, and an orifice 66 formed in a bottom wall 67 of the casing 64 and communicating with the compartment 65 of the casing 64 for selectively receiving or engaging with the key 14 of the base support 10 (FIG. 4). The casing 64 includes a with the latch 70 latch 70 to selectively engage with either of the notches 44 of the followers 40 that are formed or provided between the flaps 43 of the follower 40 (FIG. 6) and to prevent the followers 40 and the plates 50-52 and the hand grip 31 from being pivoted or rotated relative to the handle bar 30 and the housings 60, when the followers 40 and the handle device 3 are removed or disengaged or separated from the key 14 of the base support 10 (FIGS. 7, 10, 13).

[0044] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the handle device 3 and the followers 40 and the plates 50-52 are engaged into the grooves 25 of the weight members 20 that are supported on the base support 10, and when the keys 14 of the base support 10 are engaged into the orifices 66 of the bottom walls 67 of the casings 64 respectively, the keys 14 of the base support 10 may be contacted or engaged with the latch 70 for disengaging or separating the latch 70 from the notches 44 and the flaps 43 of the followers 40 and for allowing the followers 40 and the hand grip 31 of the handle device 3 and the plates 50-52 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30. At this moment, the keys 14 of the base support 10 are engaged with the orifices 66 of the bottom walls 67 of the casings 64 respectively such that the housings 60 are anchored or positioned or retained to the base support 10 and may not be pivoted or rotated or moved relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30.

[0045] The followers 40 and the plates 50-52 may thus be rotated relative to the handle bar 30 with the hand grip 31 for selectively engaging with the weight members 20 and for selectively anchoring or latching or retaining the selected numbers of the weight members 20 to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 50-52 (FIGS. 7-18). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, when the handle device 3 and the followers 40 and the plates 50-52 are removed or disengaged or separated from the base support 10 and the weight members 20, and when the keys 14 of the base support 10 are removed or disengaged or separated from the orifices 66 of the bottom walls 67 of the casings 64 of the housings 60, the latch 70 may be biased and forced and moved to engage with either of the notches 44 of the followers 40 that are formed or provided between the flaps 43 of the follower 40 and to prevent the followers 40 and the plates 50-52 and the hand grip 31 from being pivoted or rotated relative to the handle bar 30 and the housings 60 at this moment.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, when none of the engaging elements 55-57 of the plates 50-52 are engaged with the projections 28 of the weight members 20, the upper portions 24 and the jaws 27 of the arms 21, 22 may not be moved and forced toward each other and none of the weight members 20 may be anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 50-52, such that none of the weight members 20 may be moved out of the base support 10 by or with the handle device 3 when the handle device 3 is moved away from the base support 10. As shown in FIGS. 10-12, two of the weight members 20, such as the outermost weight members 20 may be anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plate 52 when the hand grip 31 of the handle device 3 and the plates 50-52 and the followers 40 are pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30 and when the engaging elements 57 of the plate 52 are engaged with the projections 28 of the selected or outermost weight members 20.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 13-15, four of the weight members 20, such as the outer weight members 20 may be anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 51, 52 when the hand grip 31 of the handle device 3 and the plates 50-52 and the followers 40 are pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30 and when the engaging elements 56, 57 of the plates 51, 52 are engaged with the projections 28 of the selected or outer weight members 20. As shown in FIG. 16, six or all of the weight members 20 may be anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with the plates 50, 51, 52 when the hand grip 31 of the handle device 3 and the plates 50-52 and the followers 40 are pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30 and when the engaging elements 55, 56, 57 of the plates 50, 51, 52 are engaged with the projections 28 of all of the weight members 20.

[0048] Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 17-18, the selected numbers of the weight members 20 may be selectively anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 with either or some of all of the plates 50-52 when the hand grip 31 of the handle device 3 and the plates 50-52 and the followers 40 are pivoted or rotated relative to the base support 10 and the handle bar 30 and when the engaging elements 55-57 of the selected plates 50-52 are engaged with the projections 28 of the selected weight members 20. The total weight of the selected numbers of the weight members 20 that are anchored or retained to the handle bar 30 of the handle device 3 may be reflected and indicated with the numeral 46 of the ear 45 of the follower 40 and may be seen through the window 62 of the shank 61 of the housing 60 selectively (FIGS. 1-5).

[0049] Accordingly, the adjustable exercise device or dumbbell in accordance with the present invention includes an improved compact structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and quickly and readily 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.

[0050] 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.