Patent Publication Number: US-11040235-B2

Title: Dumbbell assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 108121071, filed on Jun. 18, 2019. 
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a fitness equipment, more particularly to a dumbbell assembly with adjustable weights. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dumbbell is an exercise equipment for training hand muscles, and is usually equipped with a single weight which cannot be changed. If a user needs to adjust different exercise intensity, he/she needs to prepare many dumbbells with different weights simultaneously. This not only results in waste of money, but is also difficult to store. 
     A dumbbell assembly is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. TW201725062, and mainly includes a base seat and a dumbbell. The dumbbell includes a handle and two weight units respectively disposed on two opposite ends of the handle. Each weight unit includes a plurality of hook discs rotatable along with the handle, and a plurality of weight blocks. Each hook disc has a hooking unit which includes at least one protruding portion and at least one gap besides the at least one protruding portion. Each weight block has a hooking protrusion. Rotating the handle can adjust the relative position between the at least one protruding portion and the at least one gap of the hook discs and the hooking protrusion, so that the weight blocks can be selectively mounted to the handle or detached from the handle so as to be placed in the receiving seat, thereby achieving the effect of adjusting the weights of the dumbbell. 
     Although the aforementioned dumbbell assembly can achieve its intended purpose, since each weight block is connected to a corresponding one of the hook discs through the hooking protrusion thereof, the weight of the weight block is thus concentrated on the hooking protrusion, and since the hooking protrusion is not connected as one piece with the main body of the weight block, if there are defects during making of the hooking protrusion and the main body of the weight block, the hooking protrusion is easily broken and removed from the main body of the weight block. If the breakage takes place during exercise, the weight block directly falls downward, and potential hazard may take place. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a dumbbell assembly that is capable of alleviating at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to this disclosure, a dumbbell assembly comprises a base seat extending along a left-right direction, two weight units and a dumbbell. The base seat includes a main seat body having two receiving areas formed in a top surface thereof and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each receiving area has a plurality of receiving grooves arranged spaced apart from one another along the left-right direction. The weight units are respectively disposed in the receiving areas. Each weight unit includes a plurality of weight blocks received respectively and removably in the receiving grooves of a respective one of the receiving areas. Each weight block has at least one engaging hole. 
     The dumbbell includes a handle extending in the left-right direction, and two weight adjustment modules respectively disposed on two opposite ends of the handle and respectively corresponding to the weight units. Each weight adjustment module includes an insertion base defining a plurality of adjustment spaces arranged spaced apart from one another along the left-right direction, and a plurality of engaging units respectively received in the adjustment spaces and respectively corresponding to the weight blocks of a respective weight unit. Each engaging unit includes a drive component mounted on the handle, and at least one insertion pin resiliently connected to the drive component and corresponding to the at least one engaging hole. When the handle is rotated relative to the weight adjustment modules, the handle drives each engaging unit to move between an engaging state and a disengaging state. 
     When each engaging unit is in the engaging state, the at least one insertion pin is driven by the drive component to protrude out of the insertion base and engage with the at least one engaging hole in a corresponding one of the weight blocks, thereby connecting the insertion base with the corresponding weight block; and, when each engaging unit is in the disengaging state, the at least one insertion pin is retracted into the insertion base and is moved away from the at least one engaging hole in the corresponding one of the weight blocks, thereby disconnecting the insertion base with the corresponding weight block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dumbbell assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating a configuration relationship among a base seat, two weight units and a dumbbell; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the dumbbell of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic top view of the dumbbell of the embodiment in an assembled state; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates drive blocks of engaging units of the embodiment being sleeved on a handle and being overlapped in a left-right direction; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but with each side of the dumbbell being mounted with an outermost one of the weight blocks of a corresponding one of the weight units; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line D-D of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line E-E of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line F-F of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but with each side of the dumbbell being mounted with a central one of the weight blocks of the corresponding weight unit; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along line G-G of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line H-H of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but with each side of the dumbbell being mounted with an innermost one of the weight blocks of the corresponding weight unit; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view taken along line J-J of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line K-K of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a sectional view taken along line L-L of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but with each side of the dumbbell being mounted with the innermost one and the central one of the weight blocks of the corresponding weight unit; 
         FIG. 22  is a sectional view taken along line M-M of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a sectional view taken along line N-N of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken along line O-O of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but with each side of the dumbbell being mounted with three weight blocks of the corresponding weight unit; 
         FIG. 26  is a sectional view taken along line P-P of  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a sectional view taken along line Q-Q of  FIG. 25 ; and 
         FIG. 28  is a sectional view taken along line R-R of  FIG. 25 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a dumbbell assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown to comprise a base seat  1 , two weight units  2 , and a dumbbell  3 . 
     The base seat  1  extends along a left-right direction (X), and includes a main seat body  11 , and two projections  13  protruding out of the main seat body  11 . The main seat body  11  has two receiving areas  12  formed in a top surface thereof and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (X). Each receiving area  12  has three receiving grooves  121  arranged spaced apart from one another along the left-right direction (X). The projections  13  are located between the receiving areas  12 . Specifically, each projection  13  is proximate to a respective one of the receiving areas  12 , and has an inverted L-shaped body. 
     The weight units  2  are respectively disposed in the receiving areas  12 . Each weight unit  2  includes three weight blocks  2  received respectively and removably received in the receiving grooves  121  of a respective one of the receiving areas  12 . Each weight block  21  has a substantially U-shaped groove wall  211  defining an insertion groove  20  with an opening that faces upward, and two engaging holes  212  (only one is visible in  FIG. 2 ) formed in two opposite ends of the groove wall  211  in proximity to an upper end thereof and spaced apart from each other along a front-rear direction (Y) transverse to the left-right direction (X). The weight blocks  21  of each weight unit  2  have different thicknesses and weights. An outermost one of the weight blocks  21  is the thinnest and the lightest, whereas an innermost one of the weight blocks  21  is the thickest and the heaviest. 
     The dumbbell  3  includes a handle  31 , two weight adjustment modules  32 , and two anti-rotation modules  33 . The handle  31  extends in the left-right direction (X), and includes a grip portion  311  and a shaft portion  312  extending through the grip portion  311 . The weight adjustment modules  32  are respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the shaft portion  312 . The anti-rotation modules  33  are respectively connected to the weight adjustment modules  32 . 
     Each weight adjustment module  32  includes a hollow insertion base  321 , four substantially U-shaped limiting plates  322  disposed on a bottom portion of the insertion base  321  and spaced apart from one another along the left-right direction (X), three engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″, a top cover  324 , and three first elastic members  325 . Each two adjacent limiting plates  322  cooperate with the bottom portion of the insertion base  321  to define amounting space  302 . Thus, the bottom portion of the insertion base  321  and the limiting plates  322  cooperatively define three mounting spaces  302  spaced apart along the left-right direction (X). The insertion base  321  of each weight adjustment module  32  can be inserted into the insertion grooves  20  of the weight blocks  21  of the corresponding weight unit  2 , such that the weight blocks  21  are respectively received in the mounting spaces  302 . The insertion base  321  defines three adjustment spaces  301  arranged spaced apart from one another along the left-right direction (X) and respectively having openings that face upward. 
     The engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ of each weight adjustment module  32  are respectively disposed in the adjustment spaces  301  of the insertion base  321 , and respectively correspond to the weight blocks  21  of each weight unit  2 . Each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ includes a drive component  400  mounted on the shaft portion  312  of the handle  31 , two insertion pins  500  respectively connected to front and rear sides of the drive component  400 , and two second elastic members  600  respectively sleeved on the insertion pins  500 . The drive component  400  of each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ has a drive block  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ sleeved on one of the ends of the shaft portion  312  and driven to rotate by the handle  31 , and a driven block  42  superposed on and abutting against the drive block  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″. The driven block  42  is driven to move up and down relative to the drive block  41 ,  41 ′  41 ″ when the latter is rotated by the handle  31 . For convenience of illustration, the drive block of the drive component  400  of the engaging unit  323  that is proximate to the grip portion  311  is represented by the reference numeral  41 , the drive block of the drive component  400  of the engaging unit  323 ″ that is distal from the grip portion  311  is represented by the reference numeral  41 ″, and the drive block of the drive component  400  of the engaging unit  323 ′ that is disposed between the engaging units  323  and  323 ″ is represented by the reference numeral  41 ′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ have different shapes. The drive block  41 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , has a substantially sector-shaped drive main body  411 , five spaced-apart protruding portions  412  protruding outwardly and integrally from an outer periphery of the drive main body  411 , and four positioning recesses  413  extending inwardly from the outer periphery thereof and each of which is located between two adjacent ones of the protruding portions  412 . The drive block  41 ′, as shown in  FIG. 6  has a substantially rectangular drive main body  411 ′, three protruding portions  412 ′ protruding outwardly and integrally from each short side of the drive main body  411 ′, and four positioning recesses  413 ′ each of which is located between two adjacent ones of the protruding portions  412 ′. The drive block  41 ″, as shown in  FIG. 7 , has an X-shaped drive main body  411 ″ including four spaced-apart arms  4111 , four pairs of protruding portions  412 ″ each pair of which protrudes outwardly and integrally from a respective one of the arms  4111 , and four positioning recesses  413 ″ each of which is located between a respective one of the pairs of protruding portions  412 ″. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ being sleeved on the shank portion  312  of the handle  31  and being overlapped in the left-right direction (X) (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) with the protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ of the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ blocking one another. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the driven block  42  of each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ has a driven main body  421 , and an abutment portion  422  protruding downwardly and integrally from the driven main body  421  and abutting against the drive block  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ of a corresponding one of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″. The driven main body  421  has two curved guide notches  423  opposite to each other in the front-rear direction (Y). Each guide notch  423  is defined by a notch-defining surface  4231 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 , the insertion pins  500  of each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ are located in a corresponding one of the adjustment spaces  301 . Each insertion pin  500  has a curved head portion  52  abutting against the notch-defining surface  4231  of a respective one of the guide notches  423 , and a shank portion  51  extending outwardly from the head portion  52  along the front-rear direction (Y) and inserted into the insertion base  321  to position thereat. The second elastic members  600  of each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ are respectively sleeved on the shank portions  51  of the insertion pins  500 . Each second elastic member  600  abuts between the head portion  52  and the insertion base  321 . 
     The top cover  324  is mounted on the insertion base  321  and covers the adjustment spaces  301 . Each first elastic member  325  is disposed between the top cover  324  and one of the driven blocks  42  of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″, and elastically biases the one of the driven blocks  42  downwardly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , in combination with  FIG. 7 , the engaging unit  323 ″ will be illustrated hereinafter. The engaging unit  323 ″ can be driven by rotation of the handle  31  to move between an engaging state and a disengaging state. When the engaging unit  323 ″ is moved from the disengaging state (see  FIG. 7 ) to the engaging state (see  FIG. 12 ), the drive block  41 ″ is rotated with one of the arms  4111  pushing upward the abutment portion  422  of the driven block  42  until the abutment portion  422  moves over one of the protruding portions  412 ″ and falls into and engages with the positioning recess  413 ″, thereby driving the driven main body  421  to move upward relative to the insertion base  321  and relative to the insertion pins  500 . At this time, the insertion pins  500  are moved away from the respective guide notches  423  and are pushed by the notch-defining surfaces  4231  of the guide notches  423  to move until the shank portions  51  thereof protrude out of the insertion base  321  and engage with the respective engaging holes  212  of the weight block  21 , thereby connecting the insertion base  321  with the weight block  21 . Simultaneously, the first elastic member  325  is compressed by the driven main body  421  to store a restoring force, and presses downward the abutment portion  422  to abut against the positioning recess  413  and prevent the same from slipping therefrom, thereby fixing the engaging unit  323 ″ in the engaging state. The second elastic members  600  are compressed due to outward movement of the insertion pins  500 , and store restoring forces. 
     To switch the engaging unit  323 ″ from the engaging state to the disengaging state, the handle  31  is rotated to drive rotation of the drive block  41 ″ relative to the driven block  42  so as to move the abutment portion  422  out of the positioning recess  413 ″ and move over the one of the protruding portions  412 ″ to a position between two adjacent ones of the arms  4111 . At this time, the upward pushing force on the driven block  42  is released, and the restoring force of the first elastic member  325  is also released and biases the driven block  42  to move downward relative to the insertion pins  500  to fix the engaging unit  323 ″ in the disengaging state. At the same time, the restoring forces of the second elastic members  600  are also released and respectively bias the head portions  52  of the insertion pins  500  to move into the respective guide notches  423  and gradually retract the shank portions  51  of the insertion pins  500  into the insertion base  321  and away from the respective engaging holes  212  of the weight block  21 , thereby disconnecting the insertion base  321  with the weight block  21 . 
     Since the relative positions of the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ are fixed, when the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ are driven to rotate by the handle  31 , specific areas of the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ can be selected to face upward to a state that the protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ can interact with the abutment portions  422  of the driven blocks  42 . As such, the engaging units  323  can be switched respectively and independently between the engaging state and the disengaging state. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the anti-rotation modules  33  are mounted on the two opposite ends of the shaft portion  312  of the handle  31 , and respectively face the weight adjustment modules  32 . Each anti-rotation module  33  includes an outer casing  331 , and a rotary disc  332  rotatably fixed to the outer casing  331 . Before the insertion base  321  of each weight adjustment module  32  of the dumbbell  3  is inserted into the insertion grooves  20  of the weight blocks  21  of the corresponding weight unit  2 , the anti-rotation modules  33  can prevent rotation of the handle  31  relative to the weight adjustment modules  32 ; and, after the insertion base  321  of each weight adjustment module  32  of the dumbbell  3  is inserted into the insertion grooves  20  of the weight blocks  21  of the corresponding weight unit  2 , the anti-rotation modules  33  are activated by the respective projections  13  so as to permit rotation of the rotary disc  332  and the handle  31  relative to the weight adjustment modules  32  for switching the states of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″. Since the anti-rotation modules  33  are not the main aspect of this disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to use this embodiment, the weight units  2  are first placed in the receiving areas  12 , after which the insertion bases  321  of the weight adjustment modules  32  of the dumbbell  3  are inserted downwardly into the insertion grooves  20  of the weight blocks  21  so as to be disposed at a state shown in  FIG. 1 . At this time, the projections  13  of the base seat  1  respectively activate the anti-rotation modules  33 , so that the user can rotate the handle  31  relative to the weight adjustment modules  32 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , when the user intends to use the lightest weight, that is, the dumbbell  3  is not connected with any of the weight blocks  21 , the user rotates the grip portion  311  of the handle  31  for adjusting the drive main body  411 ,  411 ′,  411 ″ such that the protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ thereof do not face upward, so that all of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ are in the disengaging state. When the user lifts up the handle  31 , all the weight blocks  21  are not connected to the weight adjustment modules  32  and all remain in the respective receiving grooves  121 , so that the user can obtain the lightest weight of the dumbbell  3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 12 , if the user intends to change the weight, for instance, he/she intends to connect only the outermost weight blocks  21  of the weight units  2  to obtain the second lightest weight, the dumbbell assembly of this disclosure is first restored to the state shown in  FIG. 1 , after which the grip portion  311  of the handle  31  is rotated to move one of the pairs of the protruding portions  412 ″ of the drive blocks  41 ″ to face upward, and only the most outermost engaging units  323 ″ are switched to the engaging state, while the other engaging units  323  and  323 ′ remain in the disengaging state. After the adjustment, when the user lifts up the handle  31 , he/she can obtain the desired weight of the outermost weight blocks  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 to 16 , the handle  31  is rotated to adjust the protruding portions  412 ′ on one of the short sides of the drive main bodies  411 ′ of the drive blocks  41 ′ to face upward, so that only the middle ones of the weight blocks  21  can be connected to the weight adjustment modules  32 , or referring to  FIGS. 17 to 20 , only the innermost ones of the weight blocks  21  can be connected to the weight adjustment modules  32 , so that different weight effects can be achieved by connecting with different weight blocks  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21 to 24 , similarly, by rotating the grip portion  311  of the handle  31 , the middle engaging units  323 ′ and the innermost engaging units  323  can be simultaneously switched to the engaging state, while the outermost engaging units  323 ″ are switched to the disengaging state, so that each weight adjustment module  32  is connected with two weight blocks  21 , thereby achieving a heavier weight. Of course, the grip portion  311  of the handle  31  may be rotated such that only the outermost engaging units  323 ″ and the middle engaging units  323 ′ are simultaneously switched to the engaging state, or only the outermost engaging units  323 ″ and the innermost engaging units  323  are simultaneously switched to the engaging state, so that different combinations of two weight blocks  21  connected to the weight adjustment modules  32  can be achieved. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 25 to 28 , the grip portion  311  of the handle  31  is rotated such that specific protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ of the drive main body  411 ,  411 ′,  411 ″ face upward, so that the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ are all switched to the engaging state, and all the weight blocks  21  are connected to the weight adjustment modules  32 , thereby achieving the heaviest weight of the dumbbell  3 . 
     It is worth to mention herein that, in this embodiment, the weight blocks  21  of each weight unit  2  have different widths in the left-right direction (X) and different weights. The widths of the receiving grooves  121  corresponding to the weight blocks  21  are also correspondingly changed. However, in practice, it is not limited thereto. The sizes of the weight blocks  21  and the receiving grooves  121  may be the same, and will not affect the effect of weight adjustment. Moreover, the number of the weight blocks  21  of each weight unit  2  is not limited to three, it may be two or four. Matching the number corresponding to the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ and adjusting the number of the protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ of the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″ and the structures of the overlapping and non-overlapping portions can similarly achieve the effect of weight adjustment. 
     It should be noted herein that, each weight block  21  has two engaging holes  212 , and each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ has two insertion pins  500  insertable into the respective engaging holes  212  in the front-rear direction (Y), apart from providing more stable connection, the balance of the overall structure can also be maintained. However, in practice, it is not limited thereto. In other variations of this embodiment, each weight block  21  may have only one engaging hole  212 , and each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ may have only one insertion pin  500  insertable into the engaging hole  212 . The connection effect between the weight adjustment module  32  and the weight block  21  can still be achieved. 
     In sum, the effect of the dumbbell assembly of this disclosure resides in: through the structural design of the protruding portions  412 ,  412 ′,  412 ″ of the drive blocks  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″, all or a portion of the engaging units  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ can be driven to the engaging state or the disengaging state so as to facilitate the user in selecting different weights of weight blocks  21 , thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the weight of the dumbbell  3 . Further, the connection of each engaging unit  323 ,  323 ′,  323 ″ with each weight block  21  is achieved through the insertion of the insertion pins  500  into the engaging holes  212  of the weight block  21 , replacing the existing weight block which requires an additional connection with a hook protrusion before it could be connected to the dumbbell, and avoiding the situation where the hook protrusion may break and the weight block may detach. Moreover, each weight block  21  is connected with two insertion pins  500 , so even if one of the insertion pins  500  is broken, the weight block  21  will not drop to the ground immediately. Anew insertion pin  500  replaces the broken one, and there is no need to replace the entire weight block  21 . Not only the weight adjustment modules  32  and the weight blocks  21  can be safely connected to each other, but also the maintenance cost can be significantly reduced. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.