Patent Publication Number: US-6656093-B2

Title: Adjustable dumbbell having easily adjusting structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dumbbell, and more particularly to an adjustable dumbbell having an easily and quickly adjustable structure. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various kinds of typical dumbbells have been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,690 to Schook, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,413 to Kupferman discloses two of the typical dumbbells each including one or more weight rings that may be selectively or adjustably secured together for adjusting the weight of the dumbbells. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,690 to Schook, the weight rings each includes an outer thread for threading with the inner threads of the other weight rings and for securing the weight rings together. It takes time to thread the weight rings together. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,413 to Kupferman, the weight rings are engaged on a core or a rod and each includes a number of posts for engaging into the holes of the other weight rings. It is also required to secure the weight rings one by one. In addition, the weight rings may be rotated and disengaged from each other while in use. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional dumbbells. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable dumbbell including an easily and quickly adjustable structure. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable dumbbell comprising a rod including a first end, at least one weight engaged onto the first end of the rod, and a latch slidably engaged in the first end of the rod and movable to engage with the weight for selectively securing the weight to the first end of the rod. 
     The weight includes a groove formed therein for receiving the first end of the rod, the first end of the rod includes a pair of slots formed therein for receiving the weight. 
     The weight includes a channel formed therein and communicating with the groove thereof and having a width greater than that of the groove of the weight, for receiving the latch. 
     The first end of the rod includes a conduit formed therein for slidably receiving the latch. The first end of the rod includes a passage formed therein and communicating with the conduit thereof, the latch includes a fastener secured thereto and slidably engaged in the passage of the rod for moving the latch relative to the rod. 
     The first end of the rod includes at least one aperture formed therein and communicating with the passage of the rod, the latch further includes a barrel slidably engaged on the fastener and having a catch for engaging into the aperture of the rod. 
     A device may further be provided for biasing the catch of the barrel to engage with the aperture of the rod. 
     The rod includes a second end, at least one second weight engaged onto the second end of the rod, and a second latch slidably engaged in the second end of the rod and movable to engage with the second weight for selectively securing the second weight to the second end of the rod. 
     The second weight includes a groove formed therein for receiving the second end of the rod, the second end of the rod includes a pair of slots formed therein for receiving the second weight. 
     The second weight includes a channel formed therein and communicating with the groove thereof and having a width greater than that of the groove of the second weight, for receiving the second latch. 
     The second end of the rod includes a conduit formed therein for slidably receiving the second latch. The second end of the rod includes a passage formed therein and communicating with the conduit thereof, the second latch includes a fastener secured thereto and slidably engaged in the passage of the rod for moving the second latch relative to the rod. 
     The second end of the rod includes at least one second aperture formed therein and communicating with the passage of the rod, the second latch further includes a barrel slidably engaged on the fastener and having a catch for engaging into the second aperture of the rod. A device is further provided for biasing the catch of the barrel to engage with the second aperture of the rod. 
     A device is further provided for supporting the weight and includes a base having at least one socket recess formed therein for receiving and supporting the weight. The base includes at least one pair of walls provided therein for defining the socket recess therein. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable dumbbell in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the adjustable dumbbell; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the adjustable dumbbell; and 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial top plane views illustrating the operation of the adjustable dumbbell. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an adjustable dumbbell in accordance with the present invention comprises a base  10  including a number of socket recesses  11  formed in the upper portion thereof and formed and defined by a number of partitions or walls  12 . A number of weights  20  each includes a lower portion engageable or receivable in the socket recesses  11  of the base  10 , for allowing the weights  20  to be supported on the base  10  and to be supported in an erected position. The weights  20  each includes a groove, such as a vertical groove  21  formed therein and having an open top  23 , and each includes a lateral channel  22  formed therein and communicating with or intersecting with the vertical groove  21  thereof. The lateral channel  22  of the weight  20  includes a width greater than that of the groove  21  of the weight. 
     A rod  30  includes one or two ends each having a block  31  provided thereon for engaging into the grooves  21  of the weights  20 , best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The blocks  31  each includes one or more pairs of slots  33  formed therein and defined by one or more pairs of projections  32 , for receiving the weights  20  respectively, best shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and for stably retaining the weights  20  in the slots  33  of the block  31 . The rod  30  includes one or both ends each having a conduit  34  laterally formed therein and preferably formed in the middle portion of the block  31 . The conduits  34  of the rod  30  each includes a length greater than that of the blocks  31 . The blocks  31  each includes a passage  36  formed therein and communicating with the conduit  34  thereof, and each includes one or more apertures  37  formed therein and spaced away from each other and communicating with the passage  36  of the blocks  31 . The apertures  37  each includes a diameter greater than the width of the passage  36  of the block  31 . 
     A latch  40  is slidably received in each of the conduits  34  of the blocks  31  and each includes a hole  42 , such as a screw hole  42  formed therein, preferably formed in the outer end thereof. A fastener, such as a bolt  41  is slidably engaged through the passage  36  of each of the blocks  31  and is engaged into or threaded and secured to the screw hole  42  of the latch  40 , such that the fastener  41  may be moved in concert with the latch  40 , and such that the latches  40  may be moved relative to the blocks  31  respectively. The fasteners  41  each includes a head  43  provided on top thereof. The fasteners  41  are limited to slide and to move along the passages  36  of the blocks  31  respectively, such that the latches  40  may also be limited to move and to slide relative to the blocks  31  and may be prevented from being disengaged from the blocks  31  and the rod  30 . 
     A barrel  45  is slidably engaged onto each of the fasteners  41  and each includes a catch  46  provided in the bottom thereof for engaging into the apertures  37  of the blocks  31  respectively. A spring  44  is received in and engaged with each of the barrels  45  for biasing the catches  46  of the barrels  45  to engage with either of the apertures  37  of the blocks  31 , best shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and for selectively or adjustably securing the latches  40  to the blocks  31  respectively. The spring  44  may be engaged between the head  43  of the fastener  41  and a peripheral shoulder formed in the barrel  45 , for biasing the catches  46  of the barrels  45  to engage with either of the apertures  37  of the blocks  31 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 3, the latch  40  includes a width greater than that of the vertical grooves  21  of the weights  20 , and equals to or smaller than that of the lateral channel  22  of the weight  20 , such that the weights  20  may be secured to the block  31  when the latch  40  is engaged into the lateral channels  22  of the weights  20 . The weights may thus be stably secured to the blocks  31  by the latch  40  and the projections  32  of the blocks  31 . 
     In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the latches  40  may be moved and adjusted relative to the blocks  31  respectively when the catches  46  of the barrels  45  are disengaged from the apertures  37  of the blocks  31  by pulling the barrels  45  away from the blocks  31  against the springs  44  respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. A, the latch  40  may be moved to engage into the lateral channels  22  of all of the weights  20 , in order to secure all of the weights  20 , such as four weights  20  to the block  31 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the latch  40  may also be moved and adjusted to engage into the lateral channels  22  of some of the weights  20 , such as two of the weights  20 , in order to secure only the two weights  20  to the block  31 . At this moment, when the rod  30  is pulled away from the base  10  or the weights  20 , the block  31  may be moved outward of the vertical grooves 21  of the outer two weights  20  via the open top  23  of the weights  20 , such that the outer two weights  20  may still be supported on the base  10  and will not be moved away from the base  10  by the rod  30  and the block  31 . Only the two inner weights  20  may be secured to the block  31  and moved away from the base  10  by the block  31  and the rod  30 . 
     It is to be noted that the weights  20  may also be made with a greater bottom portion or be made with a bottom portion having an increased width or area, for allowing the weights  20  to be supported on the supporting surface without the base  10 . The rod  30  preferably includes two plates  39  for engaging with the weights  20  and for stably retaining or securing the weights  20  to the rod  30  (FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5 ). The weights  20  may also be made as the typical weight rings and engaged onto the blocks  31  or the rod  30 , and selectively or adjustably secured to the rod  30  or the blocks  31  by the movable or adjustable latches  40 . The weights  20  may thus be adjustably or selectively secured to the rod  30  by the latches  40 . 
     Accordingly, the adjustable dumbbell in accordance with the present invention includes an easily and quickly adjustable structure. 
     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.