Abstract:
A multi-handled weighted fitness device. The device is a free weight comprised of a rectangular frame connected by a pair of opposing Y-shaped weighted members. The rectangular frame is comprised of four cylindrical side members that can be variously gripped by a user. The size of the opposing Y-shaped weighted members can be varied to alter the weight of the device. A central connecting member is joined to a base stem of each of the opposing Y-shaped weighted members. A user can also optionally grip the central connecting member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/748,610 filed 2013 Jan. 3 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a weighted device for strength-building exercises. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Free weights familiar in this field of invention, such as kettlebells, dumbbells, and straight bars combined with weighted plates, generally provide only a very limited number of gripping options for a user engaged in strength-building exercises. A user can benefit, however, from gripping the free weights in a variety of different ways while exercising. These grip changes allow a user to lift the free weights in different ways to exercise a wider variety of muscle groups. Additionally, most free weights that can be used without a straight bar do not allow the option of being used in combination with a straight bar. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a free weight embodying the principles of the invention, a user can grip the free weight in a wide variety of different ways. Also, the free weight is designed to be attached, at the user&#39;s option, to an Olympic-sized barbell. 
         [0007]    The free weight is comprised of a pair of opposing Y-shaped weighted members connected by opposed side members and a central connecting member forming a co-planar rectangular frame. The four sides being a first side member, a second side member, a third side member, and a fourth side member, in the same plane. The four side members being cylindrical, have substantially the same diameter. The first side member and the second side member, having the same length, oppose each other across the rectangular frame. The third side member and the fourth side member, having the same length, oppose each other across the rectangular frame. The four side members function as handles for use in gripping and lifting the free weight and define the perimeter of the rectangle exclusive of four corner joints. 
         [0008]    A first Y-shaped weighted member has three stems, the three stems being a first stem, a second stem, and a third stem. The three stems radiate outward from a central point on the first Y-shaped weighted member. The first stem forming a base of the Y, and the second stem and the third stem forming together an upper V-shaped element of the Y and forming the corners of device. 
         [0009]    The first stem of the first Y-shaped weighted member is positioned equidistant between the third side member and the fourth side member, projecting perpendicularly away from the first side member and toward the second side member. The first stem has a first distal end opposite the first side member. 
         [0010]    The second stem of the first Y-shaped weighted member projects away from the central point of the first Y-shaped weighted member culminating to form a first corner joint connecting the first side member and the third side member. The third stem projects away from the central point of the first Y-shaped weighted member culminating to form a fourth corner joint connecting the first side member and the fourth side member. 
         [0011]    A second Y-shaped weighted member has a mirror image structure of the first Y-shaped weighted member, having three stems, the three stems being a first stem, a second stem, and a third stem, the stems radiating outward from a central point of the second Y-shaped weighted member. The first stem forming a base of the Y, and the second stem and the third stem forming together an upper V-shaped element of the Y and forming the corners of device. 
         [0012]    The second first stem of the second Y-shaped weighted member is positioned equidistant between the third side member and the fourth side member, projecting perpendicularly away from the second side member and toward the first side member. The second first stem has a distal end opposite the second side member. 
         [0013]    The second stem of the second weighted member projects away from the central point of the second Y-shaped weighted member culminating to form a second corner joint connecting the second side member and the third side member. The third stem projects away from the central point of the second Y-shaped member culminating to form a third corner joint connecting the second side member and the fourth side member. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the side members are received by boreholes in the corner joints sized to tightly receive the side members. 
         [0015]    The central connecting member, having substantially the same diameter as the four side members, is centrally adjoined to both the first distal end and the second distal end of the opposing mirror-image Y-shaped weighted members, wherein the length of the central connecting member is selected to maintain the rectangular shape of the free weight. The central connecting member functions as a handle for use in gripping and lifting the free weight. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the central connecting member is received by boreholes, sized to tightly receive the central connecting member, bored into the first distal end and the second distal end of the opposing mirror-image Y-shaped weighted members. 
         [0017]    In the preferred embodiment shown, a circular aperture is placed near the central point of both Y-shaped weighted members. Ideally, the circular aperture has a diameter of two inches, allowing a user to slide the free weight onto an Olympic-sized barbell. 
         [0018]    The Y-shaped weighted members can be varied in thickness to alter the overall mass of the free weight. 
         [0019]    The free weight is designed to be a weighted exercise device so it is preferably constructed of a durable, heavy material such as steel. Although steel is preferred, other similar metals and other materials may be used to construct the free weight, including a combination of different materials for the Y-shaped weighted members, side members, and central connecting member. To improve comfort and grip, the side members and central connecting member may also be taped, coated, or wrapped with a rubber or a rubber-like material, or some other cushioned material such as foam. 
         [0020]    Although several varying thicknesses and overall dimensions of the free weight device may be used, it is preferred that the length of the device be thirty (30) inches and the width of the device be nine (9) inches. The length and width being defined by the length of the side member plus the length of the pair of opposed corner joints connected to the side member. Further, it is preferred that the Y-shaped weighted members and have a thickness varying between one and one quarter (1.25) inches and two (2) inches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an isometric side view of the free weight, according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the free weight, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1-2 , a free weight is generally referred to as  10 . The free weight  10  is comprised of a pair of opposing Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400  connected by opposed side members  101 ,  102 ,  201 ,  202  and a central connecting member  500  and forming a co-planar rectangular frame. The four sides being a first side member  101 , a second side member  102 , a third side member  201 , and a fourth side member  202 , in the same plane. The four side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ), being cylindrical, have substantially the same diameter. The first side member  101  and the second side member  102 , having the same length, oppose each other across the rectangular frame. The third side member  201  and the fourth side member  202 , having the same length, oppose each other across the rectangular frame. The four side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ) function as handles for use in gripping and lifting the free weight  10  and define the perimeter of the rectangle exclusive of four corner joints. 
         [0025]    A first Y-shaped weighted member  300 , has three stems, the three stems being a first stem  301 , a second stem  302 , and a third stem  303 . The three stems radiate outward from a central point on the first Y-shaped weighted member  300 . The first stem  301  forming a base of the Y, and the second stem  302  and the third stem  303  forming together an upper V-shaped element of the Y and forming the corners of device  10 . 
         [0026]    The first stem  301  of the first Y-shaped weighted member  300  is positioned equidistant between the third side member  201  and the fourth side member  202 , projecting perpendicularly away from the first side member  101  and toward the second side member  102 . The first stem  301  has a first distal end  310  opposite the first side member  101 . 
         [0027]    The second stem  302  of the first Y-shaped weighted member  300  projects away from the central point of the first Y-shaped weighted member  300  culminating to form a first corner joint  320  connecting the first side member  101  and the third side member  201 . The third stem  303  projects away from the central point of the first Y-shaped weighted member  300  culminating to form a fourth corner joint  330  connecting the first side member  101  and the fourth side member  202 . 
         [0028]    A second Y-shaped weighted member  400  has a mirror image structure of the first Y-shaped weighted member  300 , having three stems, the three stems being a first stem  401 , a second stem  402 , and a third stem  403 , the stems radiating outward from a central point of the second Y-shaped weighted member  400 . The first stem  401  forming a base of the Y, and the second stem  402  and the third stem  403  forming together an upper V-shaped element of the Y and forming the corners of device  10 . 
         [0029]    The second first stem  401  of the second Y-shaped weighted member  400  is positioned equidistant between the third side member  201  and the fourth side member  202 , projecting perpendicularly away from the second side member  102  and toward the first side member  101 . The second first stem  401  has a distal end  410  opposite the second side member  102 . 
         [0030]    The second stem  402  of the second weighted member  400  projects away from the central point of the second Y-shaped weighted member  400  culminating to form a second corner joint  420  connecting the second side member  102  and the third side member  201 . The third stem  403  projects away from the central point of the second Y-shaped member  400  culminating to form a third corner joint  430  connecting the second side member  102  and the fourth side member  202 . 
         [0031]    Preferably, the side members are received by boreholes in the corner joints ( 320 ,  330 ,  420 , and  430 ) sized to tightly receive the side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ). 
         [0032]    The central connecting member  500 , having substantially the same diameter as the four side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ), is centrally adjoined to both the first distal end  310  and the second distal end  410  of the opposing mirror-image Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400 , wherein the length of the central connecting member  500  is selected to maintain the rectangular shape of the free weight  10 . The central connecting member  500  functions as a handle for use in gripping and lifting the free weight  10 . Preferably, the central connecting member  500  is received by boreholes, sized to tightly receive the central connecting member  500 , bored into the first distal end  310  and the second distal end  410  of the opposing mirror-image Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400 . 
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment shown, a circular aperture  600  is placed near the central point of both Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400 . Ideally, the circular aperture  600  has a diameter of two inches, allowing a user to slide the free weight  10  onto an Olympic-sized barbell. 
         [0034]    The Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400  can be varied in thickness to alter the overall mass of the free weight  10 . 
         [0035]    The free weight  10  is designed to be a weighted exercise device so it is preferably constructed of a durable, heavy material such as steel. Although steel is preferred, other similar metals and other materials may be used to construct the free weight  10 , including a combination of different materials for the Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400 , side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ), and connecting member  500 . To improve comfort and grip, the side members ( 101 ,  102 ,  201 , and  202 ) and central connecting member  500  may also be taped, coated, or wrapped with a rubber or a rubber-like material, or some other cushioned material such as foam. 
         [0036]    Although several varying thicknesses and overall dimensions of the free weight device  10  may be used, it is preferred that the length of the device be thirty (30) inches and the width of the device be nine (9) inches. The length and width being defined by the length of the side member plus the length of the pair of opposed corner joints connected to the side member. Further, it is preferred that the Y-shaped weighted members  300  and  400  have a thickness varying between one and one quarter (1.25) inches and two (2) inches. 
         [0037]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) but that the invention will include all embodiments falling with the scope of the appended claims.