Weightlifting device

A weightlifting device includes a handle member, an adjustable member, a set of weight plates, and a restricting unit. The handle member has a tubular end portion. The adjustable member extends into the end portion of the handle member, and is movable axially relative to the handle member. The weight plates are attached removably to the adjustable member. The restricting unit is operable so as to arrest and permit axial movement of the adjustable member relative to the handle member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a weightlifting device, more particularly to a weightlifting device that simplifies attachment and detachment of weight plates to and from a handle member.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional dumbbell includes a handle member, a set of weight plates that are attached removably to the handle member, and a pair of spin locks, each of which is threadedly engaged to a respective one of opposite end portions of the handle member for retaining the weight plates on the handle member.

The aforementioned conventional dumbbell is disadvantageous in that attachment and detachment of the weight plates to and from the handle member is relatively complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a weightlifting device that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.

According to the present invention, a weightlifting device includes an exercising weight that includes a handle member, an elongated adjustable member, a set of weight plates, and a restricting unit. The handle member has a tubular end portion. The adjustable member extends into the end portion of the handle member, and is movable axially relative to the handle member. The weight plates are attached removably to the adjustable member. The restricting unit includes first and second restricting members. The first restricting member is provided on one of the adjustable member and the end portion of the handle member. The second restricting member is provided on the other of the adjustable member and the end portion of the handle member. The adjustable member is rotatable relative to the handle member between a first angular position, where the first and second restricting members engage to each other, thereby arresting axial movement of the adjustable member relative to the handle member, and a second angular position, where the first and second restricting members are disengaged from each other, thereby permitting axial movement of the adjustable member relative to the handle member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a weightlifting device according to this invention is shown to include an exercising weight1and a rack unit9.

The exercising weight1includes a handle member2, elongated left and right adjustable members61,51, first and second sets of weight plates41,31, left and right restricting units63,53, and left and right retaining units62,52.

The handle member2has opposite tubular left and right end portions22,21, and a tubular middle portion23that interconnects the left and right end portions22,21.

Each of the left and right adjustable members61,51extends into a respective one of the left and right end portions22,21of the handle member2, and is movable axially relative to the handle member2.

The weight plates41,31in each of the first and second sets is attached removably to a respective one of the left and right adjustable members61,51.

Each of the left and right restricting units63,53serves to arrest axial movement of a respective one of the left and right adjustable members61,51relative to the handle member2.

Each of the left and right retaining units62,52serves to retain the weight plates41,31in a respective one of the first and second sets on a respective one of the left and right adjustable members61,51.

Since the constructions of the left end portion22of the handle member2, the left adjustable member61, the weight plates41in the first set, the left restricting unit63, and the left retaining unit62are similar to those of the right end portion21of the handle member2, the right adjustable member51, the weight plates31in the second set, the right restricting unit53, and the right retaining unit52, respectively, only the right end portion21of the handle member2, the right adjustable member51, the weight plates31in the second set, the right restricting unit53, and the right retaining unit52will be described hereinafter.

With further reference toFIG. 3, the right adjustable member51has a circular cross section.

The right restricting unit53includes a first restricting member535that is provided on the right adjustable member51, and a second restricting member532that is provided on the right end portion21of the handle member2.

The right adjustable member51is rotatable relative to the handle member2between a first angular position, where the first and second restricting members535,532engage each other, thereby arresting axial movement of the right adjustable member51relative to the handle member2, and a second angular position, where the first and second restricting members535,532are disengaged from each other, thereby permitting axial movement of the right adjustable member51relative to the handle member2.

In this embodiment, the first restricting member535includes a plurality of spaced apart engaging grooves5351that are formed in and that are disposed along the length of the right adjustable member51. The right adjustable member51is formed with a guiding groove511that extends along the length thereof and that is in spatial communication with the engaging grooves5351. The second restricting member532includes an engaging protrusion5321that is formed on an inner wall of the right end portion21of the handle member2. When the right adjustable member51is rotated to the first angular position, the engaging protrusion5321of the second restricting member532moves out of the guiding groove511in the right adjustable member51and extends into a selected one of the engaging grooves5351of the first restricting member535, thereby resulting in engagement between the first and second restricting members535,532. Conversely, when the right adjustable member51is rotated to the second angular position, the engaging protrusion5321of the second restricting member532moves out of the selected one of the engaging grooves5351of the first restricting member535and extends into the guiding groove511in the right adjustable member51, thereby disengaging the first and second restricting members535,532from each other.

The right retaining unit52includes a secured member521and a movable member522. The secured member521of the right retaining unit52has a first end portion that extends through and that is secured to a distal end of the right adjustable member51, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion thereof. The movable member522of the right retaining unit52is coupled movably to the second end portion of the secured member521of the right retaining unit52, and is movable relative to the secured member521between an engaging position, where the movable member522engages a rightmost one of the weight plates31when the weight plates31are attached to the right adjustable member51, and a disengaging position, where the movable member522is disengaged from the rightmost one of the weight plates31.

In this embodiment, each of the weight plates31is formed with a notch312in a periphery thereof. The movable member522of the right retaining unit52extends into the notch312in the periphery of the rightmost one of the weight plates31when the movable member522engages to the rightmost one of the weight plates31.

With further reference toFIG. 4, the right retaining unit52further includes a biasing member527for biasing the movable member522thereof to the engaging position. In particular, the movable member522of the right retaining unit52is hollow, and has an inner wall that is formed with an annular shoulder528. The second end portion of the secured member521of the right retaining unit52extends into the movable member522and is formed with an annular shoulder525. The biasing member527of the right retaining unit52is sleeved on the second end portion of the secured member521, is disposed in the movable member522, and has opposite ends that abut respectively against the annular shoulder525of the secured member521and the annular shoulder528of the movable member522.

In this embodiment, the inner wall of the movable member522of the right retaining unit52is formed with an inner thread. The second end portion of the secured member521of the right retaining unit52is formed with an outer thread that threadedly engages the inner thread of the movable member522. As such, when the movable member522is disposed at the engaging position, the movable member522may be engaged to the second end portion of the secured member521in order to retain the movable member522at the engaging position, thereby preventing accidental movement of the movable member522to the disengaging position.

With further reference toFIG. 5, each of the weight plates31is formed with a first through-hole313for extension of the right adjustable member51therethrough. The weight plates31are attached to the right adjustable member51such that the right adjustable member51is extended through the first through-holes313in the weight plates31.

Each of the weight plates31is further formed with a second through-hole314that is in spatial communication with the first through-hole313in a respective one of the weight plates31, and that permits the right retaining unit52to pass therethrough when the weight plates31are attached to the right adjustable member51.

Each of the weight plates31is further formed with a latching groove317and a latching protrusion316. When the weight plates31are attached to the right adjustable member51, the latching protrusion316of each of the weight plates31extends into the latching groove317of an adjacent one of the weight plates31. As such, the weight plates31are prevented from rotating relative to each other.

With further reference toFIG. 6, the right end portion21of the handle member2further has an end face that is formed with a first recess211. When the weight plates31are attached to the right adjustable member51, as best shown inFIG. 2, the latching protrusion316of a leftmost one of the weight plates31extends into the first recess211in the end face of the right end portion21of the handle member2. As such, the weight plates31are prevented from rotating relative to the handle member2.

Moreover, the end face of the right end portion21of the handle member2is further formed with a second recess212. When none of the weight plates31is attached to the right adjustable member51, the right adjustable member51may be retracted into the right end portion21of the handle member2such that that each of the first and second end portions of the secured member521of the right retaining unit52is received in a respective one of the first and second recesses211,212in the end face of the right end portion21of the handle member2.

Further, the end face of the right end portion21of the handle member2is formed with a notch213in a periphery thereof. When the right adjustable member51is retracted into the right end portion21of the handle member2and is disposed at the first angular position, and when the movable member522of the right retaining unit52is disposed at the engaging position, the movable member522extends into the notch213in the right end portion21of the handle member2.

Referring back toFIG. 5, the rack unit9serves to support thereon the exercising weight1. In particular, the rack unit9has opposite left and right end portions93,94, each of which supports thereon the weight plates41,31in a respective one of the first and second sets, and a middle portion92that interconnects the left and right end portions93,94thereof and that supports thereon the handle member2.

Each of the weight plates41,31is further formed with a locking groove318. Each of the left and right end portions93,94of the rack unit9has a distal end91that is provided with a locking projection911. As best shown inFIG. 2, the locking projection911on the distal end91of the left end portion93of the rack unit9engages releasably the locking groove318in a leftmost one of the weight plates41when the left end portion93of the rack unit9supports the weight plates41thereon. Likewise, the locking projection911on the distal end91of the right end portion94of the rack unit9extends into the locking groove318in a rightmost one of the weight plates31when the right end portion94of the rack unit9supports the weight plates31thereon.

Each of the weight plates41,31is further formed with a locking groove318. Each of the left and right end portions93,94of the rack unit9has a distal end91that is provided with a locking projection911. As best shown inFIG. 2, the locking projection911on the distal end of the left end portion93of the rack unit9engages releasably the locking groove318in a leftmost one of the weight plates41when the left end portion93of the rack unit9supports the weight plates41thereon. Likewise, the locking projection911on the distal end of the right end portion94of the rack unit9extends into the locking groove318in a rightmost one of the weight plates31when the right end portion94of the rack unit9supports the weight plates31thereon.

In use, at an initial state, the rack unit9supports thereon the exercising weight1. At this state, when it is desired to attach or detach the weight plates31to or from the right adjustable member51, the movable member522of the right retaining unit52is first disposed at the disengaging position, and is subsequently operated to rotate the right adjustable member51to the second angular position, as best shown inFIG. 7. At this time, the right adjustable member51may be extended or retracted, via the movable member522of the right retaining unit52, to add or reduce the number of the weight plates31attached thereon as required. As an example, when attaching two of the weight plates31on the right adjustable member51, the right adjustable member51is extended or retracted such that the right retaining unit52is passed through the second through-hole314and is disposed adjacent to the weight plate31that is adjacent to the leftmost one of the weight plates31. Thereafter, the movable member522of the right retaining unit52is operated to rotate the right adjustable member51to the first angular position, and is subsequently disposed at the engaging position, and is engaged threadedly to the second end portion of the secured member521, as best shown inFIG. 8.

Since the procedure for attaching or detaching of the weight plates41in the first set to the left adjustable member61is similar to the above-described procedure, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed with herein for the sake of brevity.

Once the weight plates41,31in each of the first and second sets are attached to a respective one of the left and right adjustable members61,51, the exercising weight1may be lifted from the rack unit9, as best shown inFIG. 9.

It is noted that, when all of the weight plates41,31in each of the first and second sets are attached to a respective one of the left and right adjustable members61,51, since each of the leftmost weight plate41in the first set and the rightmost weight plate31in the second set engages the distal end91of a respective one of the left and right end portions93,94of the rack unit9, the rack unit9is likewise attached to the left and right adjustable members61,51. The construction as such enhances portability of the weightlifting device of this invention.

Referring toFIG. 10, each of the left and right end portions22,21of the handle member2is formed with a window81,71therethrough. Each of the left and right adjustable members61,51is marked with a plurality of gradations82,72. When in use, one of the gradations82, which indicates the total weight of the weight plates41on the left adjustable member61, is registered with the window81in the left end portion22of the handle member2, as best shown inFIG. 11. Similarly, one of the gradations72, which indicates the total weight of the weight plates31on the right adjustable member51, is registered with the window71in the right end portion21of the handle member2.

FIG. 12illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the weightlifting device according to this invention. When compared to the previous embodiment, the first restricting member535of the right restricting unit53is provided on the right end portion21of the handle member2. The second restricting member532of the right restricting unit53is provided on the right adjustable member51.