Abstract:
A weighted jump rope for use by a person in an exercise routine which comprises a length of swingable rope, a pair of spaced apart handles, one handle on each opposed end of the length of swingable rope, each of the handles having a grip adapted for use by a person to swing the rope, and one or more weight elements removably secured on each handle, and a movable counterweight secured on the length of rope spaced apart from the handles for varying the swing of the rope. The invention includes a novel ball lock adapted to removable secure the weights on the handle and a snaphook assembly device for quickly attaching and detaching the rope from the handles when replacing or shortening the rope.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Weighted jump ropes are well-known in the prior art, for example: 
     Massa U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,038, granted Sep. 27, 1955, for a WEIGHTED JUMP ROPE; 
     Winston U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,827, granted Jun. 12, 1979, for a HANDGRIP FOR JUMP ROPE AND SIMILARLY GRIPPED EXERCISE DEVICES; 
     Waitz U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,903, granted Jun. 10, 1986, for a VARIABLE WEIGHT EXERCISING DEVICE; 
     Donohue U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,037, granted Mar. 3, 1987, for a WEIGHTED JUMP ROPE HANDLE; 
     Grant U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,624, granted Nov. 29, 1988, for a JUMP ROPE ATTACHMENT FOR HANDWEIGHTS; 
     Douglas U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,137, granted Jan. 31, 1989, for a VARIABLE WEIGHT HAND HELD EXERCISE APPARATUS; and 
     McNamara U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,561, granted Sep. 2, 1997, for a WEIGHTED HANDLE FOR A JUMP ROPE. 
     Weighted handles for jump ropes add resistance to the exercise and help develop the muscles of the wrist, forearm, biceps, triceps and chest. The versatility of such devices is substantially improves where the jump rope design permits adding weight to the handle, thus increasing the degree of difficulty of the exercise, creating an effective aerobic and anabolic workout, as disclosed in some of these prior art patents. Additionally, the use of a weighted jump rope provides a full body workout using all of the large muscle groups. 
     However, all of these prior art ropes have no or cumbersome means for varying and changing the weights applied to the jump rope handle. Some prior art devices have the weight applied to the rope in an ineffective position to give maximum exercise value to the device. None of these prior art devices have a weighted rope remote from the handles and none have means for adjustment of the weight or dynamic shape of the rope during exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a weighted jump rope according to the present invention, discs of varying size and weight are stacked individually or as a group between the jump rope handle and the cap and held in place by a novel single action spring loaded passive locking device located in the handle. These weights are arranged on the handle forward of the hand grip, but yet maintaining the center of gravity closer to the hand. The cap encloses the shaft of a ball lock a set of cavities being arranged within the cap to hold the ball lock, and secure the discs in a desired selected position between the handle and the cap. The rope may be secured to the cap or a rotatable clip may be secured to the cap and a connector at the ends of the rope may be secured to the cap. The invention also includes efficient and simple means for connecting the jump rope to the handles, providing easy shortening or changing of the rope. 
     Preferably, soft, lightweight, repositionable weights, are selectively positioned along the length of jump rope. The weights which may be fabricated from rubber or plastic, and have an aperture therethrough so that they may be threaded over the jump rope. The aperture and rope are cooperatively sized to slidably frictionally engage the rope, so that they will remain in a selected position until manually moved. 
     The stackable handle weights work in conjunction with the rope counter weights, making it easier to manipulated the jump rope during exercise, enhanced by centrifugal force. These counter weights also permit dynamic rope swing patterns to be selectively accomplished, adjusted and controlled. The speed of the swing may also be affected by adjusting the position of the counter weight on the rope. 
     The adjustable counter weights may be fabricated from materials which are colored or photo luminous, making it easier for the user to develop acrobatic jump rope use and as a means to display one&#39;s performance. Also such a fabrication makes it easier to use the jump rope in a darkened setting, as the swing of the rope may be easily seen and tracked. 
     The disc weights preferably are stackable and interlocking, providing a stable weighted handle design. The single action novel quick lock and release mechanism for removably securing the discs and varying weight on the handle are not only convenient, but also permit quick timely changeover of weights without losing the rhythm of the workout, thus providing opportunities for combining anabolic and aerobolic benefits to the exercise. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a jump rope with weighted handles and rope of the character described. 
     Another object is to provide a jump rope with novel stackable selectively interchangeable interlocking disc weights which may be quickly releasably secured on a jump rope handle. 
     Another object is to provide quick action simple and effective mechanism for releasably securing disc weights on a jump rope. 
     Another object is to provide a spring loaded ball lock and shaft arrangement for release and secure mechanism of disc weights on a jump rope handle. 
     Another object is to provide a jump rope with weighted handles and rope where the handle weights are arranged forward of the handle grips but close to the center of gravity during use. 
     Another object is to provide a jump rope having cooperating adjustable weights on its handle and rope length. 
     Another object is to provide a length of robe for a jump rope with counterweights mounted thereon. 
     Another object is to provide repositionable counterweights for a length of jump rope. 
     Another object is to provide repositionable counterweight that adapt to different length rope for different size users. 
     Another object is to provide colored or photo luminescent counterweights for a length of jump rope. 
     Another object is to provide novel means for connecting and disconnecting a jump rope to a handle, facilitating easy and quick changing and shortening of the rope. 
     Another object is to provide a jump rope with weighted handles and rope which is simple, and easy to manufacture and use and efficient in providing exercise for its user. 
     These and other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a elevational view of a jump rope, showing the novel handles and counterweights, with another set of counterweights show in dotted lines. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a counterweight. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the counterweight shown in FIG. 2 taken at a right angle to FIG. 2, threaded over a section of jump rope. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a jump rope handle with the weights locked in position and having clip and connector devices for securing the jump rope on the handle. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, except with the jump rope secured directly to the handle and with the weights in released position. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the handle weights showing the nesting arrangement. 
     FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the nested weights shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the ball lock casing, partially in section for a modified form of the ball lock. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged sectional views of the jump rope handles using the modified ball lock, in position where the weights are locked on the handle and unlocked during insertion of the ball lock, respectively. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view showing rope and snaphook assembly for adjusting the length or changing the rope. 
     FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the rope and snaphook assembly in assembled condition, partially in section. 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 11, except without the connecting hook. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the accompanying drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a jump rope  10  has at each end a weighted handle  11 , and a length of rope  12  extending therefrom. Positioned along the rope length  12  are a pair of spaced apart counterweights  13 , each of which may be equal distant from the weighted handles  11 . These counterweights  13  are preferably made of soft, relatively lightweight rubber or plastic and may be selectively positioned and repositioned at any desire points along the rope length  12 , for example see the counterweights  13   a  shown in dotted lines in FIG.  1 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these counterweights  13  may be round and have a central aperture  14  which permits them to be moved along the rope length  12 , but movably gripping the rope length, so that they may be hand manipulated as desired. 
     The weighted handles  11  and  11   a , shown in section in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, consists of a handle body  15  with an exterior gripper surface  16 . A shoulder  17  is arranged in the handle body  15  and weights  19 ,  20  and  21  may be nested thereon. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the end of the jump rope length  12  is connected to the handle  11  through a clip  22  and connector assembly  23  while in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the end of the jump rope  12  is connected to a snap hook  22   a , all in a manner to be described. A cap  25  of a diameter sufficient to overlie each of the apertures  30  in the disc weights  19 - 21  and the shoulder  17  of the body  15 , secures the disc weights on the handle body  15  in a manner to be described. 
     The lock and release mechanism for removably securing one or more of the nested weights  19 - 21  comprises a rod or spindle  26  which reciprocates within a shaft or casing  18 , and has a normally extended compression spring  27  enclosed in a spring cage  28 , through which the rod  26  moves, and is shouts in this position in FIG.  4 . At the end  35  of the rod  26  remote from the rope  12  near the end of handle  11 , there is a button  43  which caused the rod to reciprocate. The rod or spindle  26  has a groove  52  reducing its diameter which is adapted to receive a cooperating ball lock  31  seated m this groove when the rod is reciprocated toward the disc weights  19 - 21 , as shown in FIG. 5, where the spring  27  is compressed. This shaft  18  also has a series of spaced apart grooves  32 ( a )- 32 ( d ), similar in shape to groove  29 , but disposed oppositely to said groove, which are adapted to receive the ball lock  31  in a selected position, permitting the removal of the cap  25  and one or more of the nested weight  19 - 21  from the handle  11  or  11   a.    
     As discussed above, in the FIG. 4 embodiment, the end of the jump rope length  12  is conuected to the handles  11  through a clip or snaphook assembly  22  and connector  23  (which will be more fully discussed hereafter with regard to FIGS. 11 and 12) while in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the end of the jump rope  12  is connected to a converted snap hook  22   a  all in a manner tobe described. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the clip  22  on junmp rope  12  can be installed on or removed from the weighted handle  11  is freed from the rope length by merely depressing the clip tongue  36  and withdrawing the connector  23  from the clip. This connector  23  is also connected to a plug  37  freely rotatable but secured in the handle  11 . In the FIG. 5 embodiment, the converted snap hook  22   a  substitutes for the plug and merely hold the end of the rope length  12  freely rotatable and secured in the handle  11   a.    
     The disc weights, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, have a central aperture  40 , which is surrounded by an upstanding boss  41  on each of the disc weights  19 - 21 . As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6, the bottom of the central aperture  40  on each of the weighted discs  19 - 21  has an enlargement  42  to accommodate the boss  41 , thus stacking the disc weights together. A rubber washer  44  which fits beneath the cap  25  under the relief  45  corresponding to the boss  41  and enlargement  42  on the weights, thus keeping the weights  19 ,  20  and/or  21  tight, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Each of disc weights  19 - 21  is of substantially sinilar thickness, but of consecutively smaller diameter, and the weight of each disc is detennined by its size. The weight of a disc may also be varied according to other means, for example, thickness or density, which may cause the ball lock system to vary from the relative sizes shown. 
     With reference to FIGS. 8-10, the ball lock and release mechanism has a casing  18  within which a spindle  26  reciprocates. As shown in FIG. 8, the casing  18  has a lateral aperture  50  across its diameter, within which ball bearings  51  are nested in opposed relation, which may be accomplished by magnetizing either the spindle  26  or bearing  51  to attract the bearings. When the cap  25  is secured in the jump rope handle, the position of the spindle  26  relative to the casing  18  is arranged so that the bearings  51  will be moved outwardly by the larger diameter of the spindle when in locked position, as depicted in FIG.  9 . The position of the spindle  26  relative to the casing  18  is arranged so that the bearings  51  will be moved inwardly by the smaller diameter of the groove  52  in the spindle  26  when in unlocked position, depicted in FIG.  10 . Thus when the spindle  26  is reciprocated un the casing  18 , the ball bearings  51  will enter the spindle groove  52  when unlocked and be moved into locking position with the ball bearings forced into one of the locking grooves  32 ( a )- 32 ( d ) of the cap  25 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the rope may be quickly shortened or changed using the snaphook assembly  22  and  22   a , wherein the rope  12  is threaded into the snaphook collar  53  and press fit over the snaphook  54 , causing the wedged detent  55  to bear against and lock the rope into position. Removal of the rope  12  from the snaphook assembly  22  and  22   a  is accomplished by reversing the installation procedure, namely depressing the wedged detent  55  to slide out the snaphook collar  53  from the snaphook, thus freeing the rope for changeover or shortening. 
     In the FIG. 13 embodiment, the snaphook  54  is omitted, and the modified snaphook assembly  22   a  is used for securing the rope in the handle, as shown in FIG.  5 . This modified snaphook assembly  22   a  in section is substantially identical to the snaphook  22  shown in FIG. 12 except the connector hook  54  and tongue  36  have been cut away and eliminated, and the rope  12  is secured in the collar  53  by means of the detent  55 . Removal of the collar  53  from the detent  55  is easily accomplished by turning the detent relative to the collar, so that the collar may be separated from the detent and the rope removed from the collar. 
     In use, the arrangement of the weighted discs  19 - 21  places the weight near the center of gravity but forward of the grips  16 , thus making the workout more strenuous. The quick release arrangement of the ball lock system disclosed allows the user to quickly change weights during workout, so that the rhythm of the exercise is not lost. The counterweights  13  on the length of jump rope  12  not only provide counterweight against the movement of the jump rope during a workout, but also selectively define the dynamic swing of the jump rope, to accommodate ropes of different sizes or persons of different height, posture and exercise potential. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shouts and described, it is not intended that the scope or spirit of the invention should be limited to the exact structure of the disclosure, except as limited by the appended claims, as many changes can be made in specific elements of the structure without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. 
     The following improvements are claimed: