Patent Publication Number: US-7585260-B2

Title: Multifunctional dumbbell assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a dumbbell, in particular, to a multifunctional dumbbell assembly. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Nowadays, a dumbbell with a handle strap is available in the market, in which the handle strap is connected to opposite ends of the handle of the dumbbell. A user, who is going to do walking/running exercise, can hold the dumbbell handle with his hand which is constrained by the strap, and can do an exercise with a dumbbell in his hand as his hand sways forwardly and backwardly. At this time, the handle strap can prevent the dumbbell from slipping off and provide a sense of safety. The handle strap can be fixedly or detachably connected to the dumbbell handle. In a detachable connection, the dumbbell becomes a conventional one so long as the handle strap is detached therefrom. 
   However, in the case of the existing dumbbells with a detachable handle strap, it is necessary to take down the whole head portions in order to connect or disconnect the handle strap to/from the dumbbell handle, which takes more time and is inconvenient in use. Moreover, the dumbbell is lack of additional functions. It is a need, therefore, to provide a dumbbell with an improved design and some more functions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to overcome the deficiencies of the existing dumbbell, the object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional dumbbell assembly which can be quickly assembled and disassembled and provide additional exercise functions. 
   In order to achieve the object, the invention provides a multifunctional dumbbell assembly. It comprises a dumbbell body and a handle strap, which is detachably connected to the dumbbell body. The dumbbell body includes a handle, a first head and a second head. The heads are fixed to the opposite ends of the handle respectively. The handle strap includes a strap and two connectors which are connected to the ends of the strap respectively. Each of the first head and the second head includes: an end cover covering an end of the dumbbell body; a first coupling member having a through hole and a cavity, an arc groove being formed in the cavity; and a second coupling member having a clutch block at one end, the shape of which is complementary to that of the cavity in the first coupling member, further having connector attachment portions, the second coupling member being also provided with a through hole. 
   In the case of the dumbbell assembly of the invention, when it is desirable to attach or detach the handle strap or the additional exercise member, it is unnecessary to take the whole dumbbell heads down and it will be sufficient to move the heads a little out. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly attach or detach the handle strap or the additional exercise member to/from the dumbbell body, so that it is convenient for use. In addition, the dumbbell assembly of the invention has a dual-functional handle, besides the functions of a conventional dumbbell and a dumbbell with a handle strap, the dumbbell assembly further provides an additional exercise function. That is, the dumbbell assembly of the invention provides increased possibilities for use so that it will meet more demands of people. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects, features and advantages will become apparent in the following descriptions in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dumbbell assembly with a handle strap according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the dumbbell assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective sectional view of the dumbbell assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  is a perspective view, a front elevation view and a sectional view of a first coupling member of the dumbbell assembly, respectively; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an additional exercise member, which is optional for the dumbbell assembly, with an elastic tubing being locked; 
       FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the additional exercise member, with the elastic tubing being unlocked and hence being adjustable; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the additional exercise member; 
       FIGS. 8   a - 8   d  is a perspective top view, a perspective bottom view, a sectional view and a front elevation view of a locking member in the additional exercise member, respectively; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the additional exercise member, which has been connected to a dumbbell body; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a dumbbell assembly with a handle strap according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the dumbbell assembly in  FIG. 10 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the dumbbell assembly in  FIG. 10 . 
   

   EMBODIMENTS 
   First, referring to  FIG. 1 , a dumbbell assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a dumbbell body  1  and a handle strap  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dumbbell body  1  includes: a handle composed of a core bar  17  and a protective sleeve  16 , and a first head and a second head, which are mounted to the opposite ends of the handle respectively. The first head and the second head are identical, and each includes an end cover  11 , a screw  12 , gaskets  13 , a first coupling member  14  and a second coupling member  15 . 
   The handle, composed of the core bar  17  and protective sleeve  16 , is cylindrical-shaped, and can also be formed with an oval, a square or any other suitable sections, as desired. Each end of the core bar  17  is provided with a threaded hole  171 . By the way, the handle is not necessary to be made up with two parts, and it can also be a unitary member. 
   End covers  11  cover the two ends of the dumbbell body. The end cover  11  can be cylindrical, or formed with a square, a polygonal or any other suitable sections, as desired. The end cover  11  can be made of iron or other suitable materials such as plastics. The end cover  11  is provided with an internal thread  111 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4   a - 4   b , on one side of the first coupling member  14  is provided an external thread  141  to engage with the internal thread  111  in the end cover  11 . It should be understood by the skilled person in the art that the positions of the external and internal threads can be exchanged with each other. In addition, it is feasible to fix the end cover  11  to the first coupling member  14  in a press fit, or even the end cover  11  and the first coupling member  14  can be formed to be a unitary member. The first coupling member  14  is provided with a through hole  143  for a fastener (screw  12 ) to pass therethrough. On the other side of the first coupling member  14  is provided a cavity  142 , which is formed to be a circular cavity with lug-shaped slots  1421 . In the cavity  142  is formed an arc groove  1422 , the function of which will be described in the following. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4   a - 4   b , one end of the second coupling member  15  is formed to be a clutch block  151  with lugs  1511 , the shape of the clutch block is complementary to that of the cavity  142  in the first coupling member  14 . Because of such a complement, the clutch block  151  can be inserted into the cavity  142  if the lugs  1511  are aligned with the lug-shaped slots  1421 . At this time, the first coupling member  14  and the second coupling member  15  are in a first relative position. And then, the lugs can be further moved into the arc groove  1422 . The lugs  1511  can be rotated between end walls  14221  and  14222  and positioned at the two end walls. That is, the first coupling member  14  and the second coupling member  15  can be moved between the first relative position and a second relative position. The first coupling member  14  and second coupling member  15  can be separated from each other when they are in the first relative position; and they can be locked to each other when they are in the second relative position. Furthermore, other than the clutch block  151 , the coupling member  15  are provided with a first connector attachment portion  152  and a second connector attachment portion  154  for receiving a connector of the handle strap  2  or a connector of an additional exercise member  3 . The first connector attachment portion  152  is less in diameter than the second connector attachment portion  154 . The second coupling member  15  is also provided with a through hole  153  for the screw  12  to pass therethrough. 
   The screw  12  is inserted through the through holes in the first coupling member  14  and second coupling member  15 , and engaged into the threaded hole  171  in the core bar  17 . The screw  12  can preferably be provided with gaskets  13 . It should be understood that the screw  12  can be replaced with other arrangements. For example, it is practicable to directly provide complementary thread-structures on the cover  11  and the core bar  17 , and to insert the core bar  17  (not the screw  12 ) through the through holes in the first coupling member  14  and second coupling member  15 . 
   In  FIGS. 2 and 3  is shown a handle strap  2  which includes a strap  21  and two connectors  22  attached to the opposite ends of the strap. The connector  22  is of a special design to engage with the dumbbell body  1 . 
   In particular, the connector  22  has a U-shaped opening  221  and a partial-circle outer ring  223 . The “partial-circle” means it is not a complete circle but is cut open by the U-shaped opening  221 . On the opposite sides of the U-shaped opening  221  is provided an elastic leg  222  respectively, on which is provided a protuberance  2221 . Surely, it is feasible that only on one side of the U-shaped opening  221  be provided an elastic leg  222  and a protuberance  2221 . Such a protuberance provided on the connector  22  can prevent the connector  22  from slipping off after the connector  22  is connected to the second coupling member  15 . 
   When connecting the connector  22  to the dumbbell body  1 , the U-shaped opening  221  is firstly engaged with the first connector attachment portion  152  of the second coupling member  15 . Next, the connector  22  is axially and downwardly moved by a little distance, so that the outer ring  223  is engaged with the second connector attachment portion  154  of the second coupling member  15 . And then, the first coupling member  14 , second coupling member  15  and connector  22  can be locked together. After the connector  22  is locked, the side of the connector  22  without the outer ring is engaged with a shoulder portion  141  of the first coupling member  14 , and the outer ring  223  is limited by the second connector attachment portion  154 . Moreover, after the connector  22  is locked, it can be rotated by 360 degrees about the second connector attachment portion  154 . 
   It should be understood that the structure of the connector  22  is merely a version of the invention, and so is the matchable structure of the first coupling member  14  and second coupling member  15 . It is feasible to use other simpler structures. For example, it is practicable to directly adopt a flat connector with a U-shaped (or other shape) opening and to have it be interposed between the head and the handle of the dumbbell. By doing so, it is unnecessary to provide the outer ring, elastic legs and the like on the connector, and also unnecessary to provide the two connector attachment portions with different diameters on the second coupling member  15 . Although with this arrangement the connector cannot be rotated by 360 degrees about the connector attachment portions, it, anyway, is not an indispensable function. 
     FIGS. 5-7  show perspective views of an additional exercise member  3  which is optional for the dumbbell assembly of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the additional exercise member mainly comprises an elastic tubing  31 , a locking member  32 , a catch  33 , a strap  34  and connectors  35 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connectors  35  are the same in configuration as the connectors  22  and are connected to the opposite ends of the strap  34  respectively. The strap  34  is passed through and connected to the locking member  32 . The elastic tubing  31  is inserted into the locking member  32  and can be locked in the locking member  32  by the catch  33 . In addition, if desired, the bulbous end  311  of the tubing  31  is helpful to the locking. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tubing  31  can be unlocked for being adjusted in length. After the length adjustment, in order to lock the tubing, the catch  33  is slid in a slot  321  in the locking member  32 . In  FIGS. 8   a - 8   d , there is shown a configuration of the locking member  32  of the additional exercise member  3 . 
   It should be understood that in the additional exercise member  3  described above, it is the structure of the connector  35  is inventive, the remainders are of the prior art, and therefore they can be replaced by other suitable components. For example, the length adjustment can be made by using other conventional length adjustment means for tubing. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a general view of the connection between the handle strap  2  and the dumbbell body  1 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a general view of the connection between the additional exercise member  3  and the dumbbell body  1 . 
   The connection of both the handle strap  2  and additional exercise member  3  to the dumbbell body  1  is implemented by means of the engagement between the connectors and dumbbell heads. Particularly, the dumbbell heads are rotated so that the lugs  1511  of the second coupling member  15  abut against the end walls of the arc groove  1422  of the first coupling member  14 , and thereby the lugs  1511  of the second coupling member  15  are aligned with the lug-shaped slots  1421  of the first coupling member  14  (the first relative position of the first coupling member  14  and second coupling member  15 ), the dumbbell heads can be axially pulled out. When the heads are pulled out, since the engagement between the head of the screw  12  and a shoulder in the through hole  143  of the first coupling member  14  (or a shoulder in the core member  18  of the dumbbell head as described in the following) functions as a stop, and hence the heads are stopped, being pulled out by only a small distance. Next, the U-shaped opening  221  of the connectors  22  of the handle strap  2  can be connected to the connector attachment portion  152  of the second coupling member  15 . At this time, the connectors  22  will not fall off in any orientation due to the blocking of the protuberances  2221  on the elastic legs  222 . Still next, the dumbbell heads are axially pressed, and then the dumbbell heads are rotated to their original position (the second relative position of the first coupling member  14  and the second coupling member  15 ) so that the first coupling member  14 , the second coupling member  15  and the connectors  22  are locked together. Thus, the handle strap  2  is firmly connected with the dumbbell body  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . After the completion of the connection, a user can hold the dumbbell handle to do physical exercise, such as walking/running with the dumbbell load. If it is desired to take down the handle strap  2 , it will be sufficient to operate with steps reversed to the above. 
   The steps for connecting the additional exercise member  3  to the dumbbell body  1  are identical to those for connecting the handle strap  2  to the dumbbell body  1 . After being connected, they are as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, a user can use the dumbbell assembly with the additional exercise member  3  to do exercise. For example, a user can step on a part of the elastic tubing with his foot and hold the dumbbell handle in his hand and raise the dumbbell upwardly and downwardly to do a strength exercise. By adjusting the length of the elastic tubing  31 , different pulling forces can be reached. 
   The dumbbell handle can be called as a “dual handle”, since the handle takes different effects for exercise in the above two cases. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to  FIGS. 10-12 , in which the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numbers and will not be described any more. 
   First, referring to  FIG. 10 , the dumbbell assembly of this embodiment according to the invention comprises a dumbbell body  1   a  and a handle strap  2 . 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the dumbbell body  1   a  is different from the above dumbbell body  1  in its head structure. Particularly, in this embodiment, an end cover  11   a  and a head core  18  take the place of the end cover  11  in the above embodiment, and the first coupling member  14   a  is somewhat different in configuration from the first coupling member  14 . The first coupling member  14   a  and the end cover  11   a  form together an enclosure of the head portion for receiving the head core  18 . 
   In order to assemble the dumbbell body  1   a , the screw  12  is inserted in sequence through the head core  18 , the first coupling member  14   a  and the second coupling member  15 , and is engaged into the threaded hole  171  in the core bar  17 , and then the end cover  11   a  is threadedly engaged with the head core  18 . 
   While the multifunctional dumbbell assembly of the invention has been described in detail with reference to its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art can conceive various equivalent modifications and/or variants based on the disclosures herein. For example, the adjustment means composed of the locking member  32  and the catch  33 , and the bulbous end  311  of the tubing  31  are not indispensable, for simplification, all of them can be omitted; the configuration of the cavity  142  in the first coupling member  14  ( 14   a ) and the that of the clutch block  151  in the second coupling member  15  can be changed; the shape, amount and position of both lugs  1511  and lug-shaped slots  1421  can also be changed; the U-shaped opening of the connector  22  can be modified to other suitable shapes, such as circle-like shape; and the materials of the various components of the dumbbell assembly can be selected depending on different demands. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.