Patent Publication Number: US-11045685-B2

Title: Rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to dumbbell bar attachments. More specifically, the presently claimed invention relates to a new dumbbell bar attachment for allowing hand rotation during lifting to reduce the risk of shoulder injury. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The related art includes a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar with a first plate that has an upper face and a lower face, and a second plate that has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is pivotally coupled to the upper face so that the first plate and the second plate rotate freely with respect to each other. A handgrip is positioned on the lower face so that it is easy to grasp with the user&#39;s hand. A clamp is positioned on the top surface so that it can secure the second plate to the dumbbell bar. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as that found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,630,045 to Martin, Sr. (“the “&#39;045 patent”). This art is representative of rotatable handles for dumbbell bars. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     However, the screw locking mechanism disclosed in the &#39;045 patent in is time consuming to use, and requires both hands to attach and detach the rotatable handle. This slows down the user&#39;s workout routine. In turn, this could effect the thoroughness of the user&#39;s workout, especially if they have a limited amount of time to spend at the gym. It could also result in user&#39;s skipping the use of the rotatable handle in the interest of saving time, putting themselves at greater risk for injuries. 
     Ideally, a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar should provide an easy way for user&#39;s to shift their hand position while lifting weights to help avoid injury and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar that can be quickly and easily attached and removed from the dumbbell bar to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known art, the present invention provides a novel rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar that is quick and easy to attach and remove from the bar, has an ergonomic, non-slip grip, and helps reduce the risk of injury while lifting weights. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and meets an important need in weightlifting safety. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention that are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures that accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to a prior art device. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric perspective view illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the prior art device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the internal bearings and clamps of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the clamping mechanism and bar hook of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the clamping mechanism and bar hook of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the clamping mechanism of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3  when it is not engaged. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the clamping mechanism of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3  when it is engaged. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating an exaggerated locked position of the clamping mechanism of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention with the clamping mechanism locked. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view illustrating the locations of all the internal components respective to each other of the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view from below illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention with the clamp locked. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view from below illustrating a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention with the clamp unlocked. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating the hard stop mechanism to prevent over rotation for the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating the clamping mechanism for the rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar according to an embodiment of the presently claimed invention. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar and more particularly to a rotatable dumbbell bar handle that is quick and easy to secure and remove from the dumbbell bar, barbell bar, or any other weight bar, to improve the user&#39;s grip on a dumbbell bar while lifting, to better prevent injury. 
     The claimed invention is a piece of workout equipment that is designed to optimize the biomechanics of the human body while weight lifting. The rotatable handle is intended to be used as a pair—one for each hand—and fastens onto a barbell or other weight lifting bar. The user engages a locking lever on the bottom of the device to quickly and securely clamp the product to a weight lifting bar. Once the lever is engaged and the device is secure, the user can grab the rotating Martin Press handles and continue on to lift weights. The Martin Press is strong enough to lift weights in both a pulling (e.g. deadlift) and pushing (e.g. bench press) direction. Additionally, there is a hard stop to prevent over rotation and ensure an optimized range of motion with every lift and prevent injury. The Martin Press has some resemblance of other products designed for pushups, but it is unique in that it is designed for multi-directional weight lifting, and has a quick and easy clamping mechanism, and a hard stop to further prevent injury. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the prior art device with a rotatable handle for a dumbbell bar  10  that includes a round first plate  12  with an upper face  14  and a lower face  16 , and a round second plate  12  with a top surface  20  and a bottom surface  22 . The bottom surface  22  is coupled to the upper face  14  so that the first plate  12  and the second plate  18  can freely rotate up to 180 degrees with respect to each other. The second plate  18  has a smaller circumference than the first plate  12 . 
     A grip  24  is positioned on the lower face  16  so that it can be grasped by a user. The grip  24  includes a pair of sidebars  26 , each with a first end  28  coupled to the lower face  16  at 180 degrees along a perimeter  30  of the first plate  12 . The sidebars  26  have opposing edges  32  having three arcuate curves  34  so that the opposing edges  32  meet and define a second end  36  of the sidebars  26 . The crossbar  40  is substantially circular when viewed longitudinally, and has an inner surface  42  facing the lower face  16  of the first place  12  with four indentations  44  that are configured to accommodate the four fingers of a hand inserted into the grip  24 . 
     A clamp  46  is coupled to the top surface  20 . The clamp  46  is complimentary to a dumbbell bar so that the clamp  46  secures the second plate  18  to the dumbbell bar. The clamp  46  has a base  48  coupled to the top surface  20  of the second plate  18 . A channel  50  is located in the top  52  of the base  48 . A hinged clasp  54  is coupled to the first edge  56  of the channel  50  so that together the channel  50  and the clasp  54  form a tube  58  when the clasp  54  is closed. The tube  58  is circular when viewed longitudinally, and is formed to hold the dumbbell bar. A first couplet  60  is coupled to a first side  62  of the clasp  54 . A second coupler  64  is coupled to the base  48  near a second edge  66  of the channel  50 . The second coupler  64  interacts with the first coupler  60  to secure the clasp  54  in a closed position. The first side  62  of the clasp  54  includes an extension  68  with a plurality of holes  70 , while the second coupler  64  has a plurality of threaded orifices  72  that are allignable with a respective one of the plurality of holes  70 . A plurality of screws  74  are insertedable through each of the respective one of the holes  70  and threadable into a respective one of the orifices  72 , such that the clasp  54  is securable around the dumbbell bar. An end of a large threaded screw  76  is positioned at a center  77  of the clasp  54 . The threaded screw  76  is is threaded into a hole in a hinged bolt  78  and so that the threaded screw  76  can be tightened to prevent the dumbbell bar from rotating in the tube  58 . Each of the screws  74  and the bolt  78  has a tightening ring  79  coupled to a terminus  80  that is distal from the clasp  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 10-15 , an embodiment of the presently claimed invention, a rotatable handle  100  for a dumbbell bar  101 . The handle  102  is formed of corrosion resistant metal and knurled like a bench press bar to create a non-slip grip. The handle  102  is held in place by the two handle supports  103 . The handle  102  does not need any additional securing method, as the handle supports  103  are sufficient to hold the handle  102  in place. The handle supports  103  are made of corrosion resistant metal and are screwed into the Upper Bearing Wheel  106  with one or more screws  128  each. 
     The rotatable handle  100  may also have a notch  104  in the handle supports  103  that prevents it from rotating. This hard stop mechanism  104  may be located within at least one of the handle supports  103  and on top of the mushroom bearing clamp  105 . The hard stop mechanism  104  may also be located in a more discrete location, such as within the internal bearing mechanism  105 ,  106 ,  107 . The hard stop mechanism  104  has two parts, a stopper  104   a,  and a rotating block  104   b  that will stop the handle from rotating when they come in contact with each other. This is to prevent the handle  102  from becoming parallel with the weight lifting bar  101 , because when they are parallel, the load becomes unstable and potentially unsafe. The hard stops  104  will stop the rotation when the handle  102  is between 5-15 degrees from parallel with the bar  101 , regardless of whether the handle  102  is rotating clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the bar  101 . 
     A black plastic shield part  118  rests on top of the mushroom bearing clamp  105 . The black plastic shield part  118  has a concave upper surface to allow more room for the user&#39;s knuckles, and shields the bearing raceways  113 ,  114  from dirt and other grime that could clog up the ball bearings  117 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 14 , the upper bearing wheel  106  is formed from an upper bearing clamp  111  and an upper bearing raceway  113 . The lower bearing wheel  107  is formed from a lower bearing clamp  112  and a lower bearing raceway  114 . The mushroom bearing clamp  105  is screwed via a threaded screw and hole  110  into the lower bearing clamp  112 . The lower bearing clamp  112  and mushroom bearing clamp  105  will sandwich the upper bearing clamp  111  in between. The upper bearing raceway  113  has two sets of ball bearings  117 . The ball bearings  117  are loose steel balls that ride in grooves on the bearing raceway between mushroom bearing clamp  105  and the upper bearing clamp  111  and between the upper bearing clamp  111  and the lower bearing clamp  112 . The ball bearings  117  are spaced apart from each other with a simple plastic ring  115 ,  116  that is thin and has holes in it for the ball bearings  117  to ride in. The mushroom bearing clamp  105 , the upper bearing clamp  111 , and the lower bearing clamp  112 , are made of corrosion resistant metal for strength and durability. The dual bearing raceways  115 ,  116  allow the handle  102  to rotate regardless of the direction in which the force is applied. This is what gives the Martin Press the capability of being used for pulling (e.g. deadlift) and pushing (e.g. bench press). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the user will place the Martin Press  100  over the barbell handle  101  and secure the dumbbell bar  101  in place by pushing the clamp handle  119  inward until the clamp handle  119  snaps into place. The bar hook  120  is tapered to accommodate for slight variations in barbell handle  101  diameters. The bar hook  120  is formed from a corrosion resistant metal, and is attached to the rotatable handle  100  by a plurality of screws  127  as needed to ensure it is securely attached to the lower part. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , showing a detailed view of the clamping mechanism  122  for clamping the bar  101 . The clamping mechanism  122  includes a clamp handle  119 , a clamp block  121 , two clamp block guides  123  to guide the clamp block as it is moved by the handle  119 , a lever  124  that connects the handle  119  to the clamp block  121 , a hard stop  125  to halt the inward rotation of the clamp handle  119  and a plurality of screws  126  as needed to secure the mechanism  122  together and attach it to the rotatable handle  100 . The clamp handle  119  designed so that when the clamp block  121  is engaged with the barbell  101 , the reactive force of the barbell bar  101  helps the clamping mechanism  122  to stay closed. The clamping mechanism  122  is as an over-center latch, a very stable and secure type of latch that can be opened and closed quickly and efficiently. The clamping mechanism  122  works as follows:
     1) The clamp handle  119  is rotated counterclockwise.   2) This pushes the clamp block  121  inward toward the barbell bar  101  via a lever  124  that connects the clamp handle  119  and the clamp block  121     3) The clamp block  121  eventually reaches a point of maximum travel and halts   4) The clamp handle  119  continues to rotate counterclockwise a small distance even after the clamp block  121  reaches its point of maximum travel, as determined by the block supports  123  that secure the clamp block  121  to the rotatable handle  100     5) This pulls the clamp block  121  back outward a small distance away from the barbell bar  101     6) Once the clamp block  121  is past the point of maximum travel, any outward force on the clamp block  121  will force the handle  119  inward to keep the clamping mechanism  122  engaged.
 
This clamping mechanism makes it possible to clamp and remove the rotatable handle  100  onto and off the bar  101  without having to slide the bar  101  in through a hole or spend time fiddling with screws.
   

     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 ,  FIG. 7  shows the clamping mechanism  122  when not engaged, while  FIG. 8  shows the clamping mechanism  122  when engaged.  FIG. 9  shows an exaggerated view of the clamping mechanism  122  moving past the point of maximum travel. 
     The amount the clamp handle  119  is rotated past the point of maximum travel is very slightly and can hardly be seen, so  FIG. 9  shows an exaggerated example of the clamping forces when the clamping mechanism  122  has moved past the point of maximum travel. This example is exaggerated beyond what would be possible in the real product, and is included only to help illustrate how the clamping mechanism  122  works. As shown in  FIG. 9 , any rightward force on the clamp block  121  works to keep the clamp handle  119  rotated counterclockwise so that it stays locked. The clamp handle  119  is prevented from over-rotating counterclockwise by one ore more hard stops  125 . 
     Most parts in the clamping mechanism will be made using corrosion resistant metal. Rubber and/or plastic components may be used to compensate for the inevitable outward travel of the clamp block  121  when the clamping mechanism  122  is engaged. The inward/outward position of the entire clamping mechanism  122  may be adjustable or fixed in place. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.