Patent Publication Number: US-11642565-B2

Title: Weight apparatus including weight adjustment arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/992,706, filed Aug. 13, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/265,749, filed Feb. 1, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,773,118, issued Sep. 15, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/124,228, filed Sep. 7, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,232,216, issued Mar. 19, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/959,233, filed Apr. 22, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,092,790, issued Oct. 9, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/361,395, filed Nov. 26, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,994, issued May 22, 2018, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/306,422, filed Jun. 17, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,271, issued Apr. 11, 2017, which is divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/488,470, filed Jun. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,784,283, issued Jul. 22, 2014, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     The present invention relates generally to weight apparatus and, more particularly, to weight apparatus comprising bars to which one or more weights can be attached. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/744,965, 12/744,972, 12/744,975, and 13/412,457, which are incorporated by reference, describe weight apparatus to which a plurality of weights can be attached and by rotation of a handle of a bar of the apparatus so that rods protrude from ends of the bar and are adapted to selectively secure one or more weights to the bar. In these arrangements, the rods have an overall length of half of the bar, or less, which imposes limits on the number of additional weights that can be attached to the bar. It is desirable to provide an apparatus that facilitates attaching additional weights to a bar. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a weight apparatus includes a handle, first and second anchorages mounted to first and second ends of the handle, respectively, the handle and the first and second anchorages having an axially extending opening, first and second rods axially movable inside the axially extending opening and adapted to be moved axially relative to the axially extending opening in opposite directions upon rotation of first and second pinion gears in the first and second anchorages, respectively, that engage with first and second racks on the first and second rods, respectively, and a lock having a locked condition in which rotation of the first and second pinion gears is prevented and an unlocked condition in which rotation of the first and second pinion gears is permitted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention are well understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a portion of a base for a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective, exploded view of a bar of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a bar of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a portion of an anchorage of a bar of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  6 - 9    are perspective, partially cross-sectional views of a portion of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention showing rods of the bar of the weight apparatus at different positions relative to an anchorage of the bar and weight discs adjacent to that anchorage; 
         FIGS.  10 - 12    are perspective, partially cross-sectional views of a portion of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention showing operation of locking and indexing structures of the weight apparatus; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of an auxiliary weight disc according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  14 - 15    are perspective, partially cross-sectional views of a portion of a weight apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention showing operation of an arrangement for attaching an auxiliary weight to an anchorage of the weight apparatus; 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a bar of a weight apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of portions of the bar of the weight apparatus of  FIG.  16   ; 
         FIG.  18    is a perspective view of portions of an auxiliary weight disc and weight apparatus showing an arrangement for attaching the auxiliary weight disc to a handle according to another aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIGS.  19  and  20    are perspective views of portions of an auxiliary weight disc and weight apparatus showing relative positions of a rod in an adjacent base weight disc when the auxiliary weight disc is connected to ( FIG.  19   ) and not connected to ( FIG.  20   ) the handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A weight apparatus  21  according to an aspect of the present invention is shown in  FIG.  1   . The apparatus  21  ordinarily includes a base  23  (a portion of which is seen by itself in  FIG.  2   ) and a dumbbell  25 . The apparatus  21  may comprise a barbell (not shown) instead of a dumbbell, however, the apparatus is particularly well-suited for use with a dumbbell. The present invention will, therefore, generally be described in connection with a dumbbell, however, it will be appreciated that the invention can pertain to barbells, as well. 
     The dumbbell  25  ordinarily comprises at least one and ordinarily a plurality of weight discs  27  and/or  29 . Ordinarily, at least one weight disc  27  and/or  29  is provided at opposite ends of a bar  31  of the dumbbell  25 . While the term “disc” is used to refer to the weights, it will be appreciated that the weights may have forms other than discs. An innermost weight disc  27  shall be referred to herein as an auxiliary weight disc and attaches to the bar  31  differently than the other weight discs  29 , which are ordinarily all identical.  FIG.  1    shows the dumbbell  25  with only one auxiliary weight disc  27 , however, there are ordinarily two such discs disposed on opposite ends of the dumbbell. 
     The bar  31  comprises a handle  33  and an anchorage  35  rotatably mounted to an end  37  of the handle. Another anchorage  39 , which may be substantially identical to the anchorage  35 , is rotatably mounted to the other end  41  of the handle  33 . For purposes of discussion, the invention will be primarily described in connection with the anchorage  35 , it being understood that the discussion regarding the anchorage  35  can generally also apply to the anchorage  39 , except where otherwise noted. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3 - 5   , the handle  33  and the anchorage  35  (and also the anchorage  39 —not shown in  FIG.  5   ) have an axially extending opening in which, ordinarily, a tube  43  is disposed. The tube  43  is non-rotatably attached to the anchorage  35  (and  39 ) by a pin  45 . The attachment of the tube  43  to the anchorages  35  (and  39 ) by the pin  45  retains the anchorages axially relative to the handle  33 . 
     As seen, for example, in  FIG.  1   , the weight discs  29  and the anchorages  35  and  39  each comprise respective components  47  and  49 , respectively, of a joint that permits radial movement of and prevents axial movement of an attached weight disc relative to the anchorage. A preferred form of joint is a in the form of a V-shaped dovetail connection of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/744,965, 12/744,972, 12/744,975, and 13/412,457, which are incorporated by reference. In the embodiments illustrated, the joint comprises a male V-shaped dovetail joint portion  49  on the anchorage  35  and a female V-shaped dovetail joint portion  47  (a portion of which is seen in  FIG.  1   ) on the weight disc  29 . The weight disc  29  is seated in a weight seat  51  of the base  23  with the female joint portion  47  facing upwardly and the bar  31  is lowered to a bar seat  53  so that the male joint portion  49  mates with the female joint portion. When the female and male joint components  47  and  49  are fully mated in this fashion, the weight disc  29  is radially movable relative to the anchorage  35  but not axially movable. 
     To attach the weight disc  29  to the anchorage  35  so that the weight disc is also not radially movable relative to the anchorage, as seen, for example, in  FIGS.  6 - 9   , the bar  31  is provided with an arrangement that causes rods  55  to extend from the anchorage into axial openings  57  of attached weight discs  29 , thereby preventing radial movement of the weight discs. Ordinarily, a plurality of identical weight discs are positioned adjacent to each other on the weight seat  51  ( FIG.  2   ) of the base  23 . Each weight disc  29  has, on one side, a female V-shaped dovetail joint portion  47  and, on an opposite side, a male V-shaped dovetail joint portion  49 ′ ( FIG.  1   ) of the same general shape as the male V-shaped dovetail joint portion  49  on the anchorage  35 . When seated in the weight seat  51  of the base  23 , each of the weight discs  29  are not axially movable relative to each other (or to a bar  31  seated in the bar seat  53 ) but are radially movable relative to each other. As seen in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , when the rod  55  is disposed entirely inside of the anchorage  35 , the weight discs  29  and the bar  31  are movable relative to each in a radial direction (for example, by lifting the bar  31  from the bar seat  53 ). However, when, as seen in  FIGS.  8  and  9   , the rod  55  extends into an axial opening  57  of a weight disc  29  adjacent to the anchorage  35 , the weight disc is no longer radially movable relative to the bar  31  and, if the bar is lifted from the bar seat  53  of the base  23 , the weight disc will be lifted with the bar. Additional weight discs can be attached in the same manner by continuing to move the bar  55  outward from the anchorage  35 . A rod  55  ordinarily extends from each anchorage  35  and  39  so that an equal number of weight discs  29  are picked up on each end of the bar  31 . 
     The rod  55  is caused to extend from or retract into the bar  31  by rotating the handle  33  relative to the anchorages  35  and  39 . As seen, for example, in  FIG.  5   , a pinion gear  59  is non-rotatably mounted on an axle  61  and is rotatably mounted in a bearing or pinion house  63  in the tube  43 . Such a pinion gear  59  is rotatably mounted in a pinion house at each end of the tube  43 . 
     The rod  55  is slidably disposed inside the tube  43  and has a rack  65  arranged to be moved axially relative to the tube upon rotation of the pinion gear  59 . When the tube  43  is circular in cross-section, the rod  55  ordinarily has the general cross-sectional shape of a segment of a circle, the circle having a diameter that is slightly less than the interior diameter of the tube  43 , and the segment being approximately the thickness of the radius of the interior of the tube minus the one half the thickness of the pinion house  63 . The tube  43  need not be circular in cross-section, and the rod  55  need not have the shape of a segment of a circle, however, these are conveniently manufactured shapes. 
     The rack  65  is ordinarily on the flat surface of the segment or, more typically, recessed into the flat surface of the segment in a channel having a width at least as great as a thickness of the pinion gear  59 . Two identical rods  55  are disposed on opposite sides of the pinion house  63  in the tube  43  with their respective racks  65  in engagement with the pinion gear  59 . Rotation of the pinion gear  59  causes the rods  55  to move in opposite directions. The rods  55  are ordinarily slightly shorter than the tube  43  so that they can each be fully retracted inside the tube but are sufficiently long so that the rack  65  of each rod is always engaged with teeth of at least one of the pinion gears  59 . By providing two identical rods  55  that are both nearly as long as the tube  43 , it is possible to attach more weights to the dumbbell  25  (or barbell) than would be possible in arrangements such as those shown in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/744,965, 12/744,972, and 12/744,975 where rods are only half as long as the dumbbell, or shorter, and, thus, cannot extend as far out from the anchorage. 
     A gear drive arrangement is provided for rotating the pinion gear  59  upon rotation of the handle  33  relative to the anchorage  35 . Ordinarily, the gear drive arrangement is an angle gear drive arrangement such as a bevel gear, a face gear, or a worm gear drive arrangement. A bevel gear arrangement is shown in, e.g.,  FIGS.  3 - 5   . As seen, for example, in  FIG.  5   , a gear housing  67  can be non-rotatably attached at an end  37  of the handle  33  (or may be formed integrally with the rest of the handle). The gear housing  67  comprises a first gear  71  of the bevel gear, and a second gear  73  is non-rotatably mounted on the axle  61 . The axle  61  extends through holes  75  in the tube  43  and ordinarily abuts surfaces  77  and  79  in a body  81  of the anchorage  35 . 
     The gear  71  of the gear housing  67  can be recessed from an end of the gear housing inside an opening  83  that is provided with interior teeth  85 . A spring loaded lock  87  having the general shape of a pin is mounted in the body  81  of the anchorage  35  and is movable against the force of a spring  89  to a first or radially inner position (seen in, e.g.,  FIGS.  5 - 10  and  12   ) in which teeth  91  ( FIG.  5   ) on the lock are not engaged with the interior teeth  85  ( FIG.  5   ) on the gear housing  67  so that the handle  33  is rotatable relative to the anchorage  35 . The lock  87  is movable by the force of the spring  89  to a second or radially outer position ( FIG.  11   ) in which the teeth  91  on the lock engage with the interior teeth  85  on the gear housing  67  so that the handle is non-rotatable relative to the anchorage. The base  23  can be provided with a protrusion  93  on the bar seat  53  that can extend through an opening  95  in the body  81  of the anchorage  35  to contact the lock  87  and compress the spring  89  to move the lock to the first position so that the teeth  85  and  91  disengage and the handle  33  can be rotated relative to the anchorage when the bar  31  is disposed in the bar seat. When the bar  31  is lifted from the bar seat  53  ( FIG.  11   ), the protrusion  93  is removed from the opening  95 , the spring  89  forces the lock  87  to the first position, and the teeth  85  and  91  engage to prevent rotation of the handle  33  relative to the anchorage  35 . In this way, inadvertent withdrawal of the rods  55  into the tube  43 , which might result in a weight disc  27  or  29  being dropped (or inadvertent extension of the rods from the tube) can be prevented when the bar  33  and one or more weight discs are lifted from the base  23 . 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,457, which is incorporated by reference, discloses a structure and method for attaching an auxiliary weight to a bar that can be adapted for use in connection with the present invention. That application discloses, and accompanying  FIGS.  19  and  20    show, securing the auxiliary weight  27   c  around part of a circumference of an anchorage  35   c  by means of a lock comprising spring-loaded pins  97   c  that are moved radially outward by a cam surface formed on the rod  55   c  that is moved axially in and out of the anchorage. 
     While the construction of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,457 can be adapted for use in the present invention, such as by forming cam surfaces on the rods  55 , a presently preferred structure uses a lock comprising at least one, ordinarily two, radially extending pins  97  that are adapted to extend through openings  99  in the body  81  of the anchorage  35  (or pin housing  121  as seen in  FIG.  5   , if provided). The radially extending pins  97  are movable relative to the anchorage  35  between an innermost position ( FIGS.  5 ,  6 ,  8 , and  10 - 12   ) in which an outer end  101  ( FIG.  5   ) of the pin is disposed radially inside or even with an external surface  103  of the anchorage  35  (or pin housing  121 ) and an outermost position ( FIGS.  7 ,  9 , and  14 - 15   ) in which the outer end of the pin extends radially beyond the external surface of the anchorage. 
     An auxiliary weight  27  (shown by itself in  FIG.  13   , and partially in cross-section in  FIGS.  6 - 9  and  14 - 15   ) comprises a weight opening  105  in which the anchorage  35  is adapted to be received. The auxiliary weight  27  also comprises one or more radially extending pin openings  107  adapted to receive the outer end  101  of the pin  97  when the pin is in the outermost position to attach the weight to the anchorage. 
     As seen, for example, in  FIG.  5   , the exterior surface of the gear housing  67  of the handle  33  comprises a cam surface  111  having a first portion  113  with a first diameter and a second portion  115  with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The first diameter of the first portion  113  of the cam surface  111  is such that the first portion of the cam surface contacts the radially inner end of the pin  97  so that the pin is not movable inwardly of the outermost position when the handle  33  is rotated to a first position relative to the anchorage  35 . In this position, the auxiliary weight  27  is fixed to the anchorage  35 . The second diameter of the second portion  115  is such that, when the handle  33  is rotated to a second position relative to the anchorage  35 , the inner end of the pin  77  is adapted to contact the second portion  115  of the cam surface so that the pin  97  is movable to the innermost position. A spring  119  or other resilient structure can be provided to urge the pin  97  to the innermost position. 
     The axial opening  57  of the weight disc  29  has an axially inner end (i.e., closest to the handle) and an axially outer end (i.e., furthest from the handle). Ordinarily, for the first weight disc  29  in contact with the anchorage  35 , the pin  97  is disposed in the innermost position when an end of the rod  55  is between the axially inner end and the axially outer end. The pin  97  is ordinarily disposed in the outermost position when the end of the rod  55  is disposed at at least one of the axially inner end and the axially outer end of the axial opening  57 . Except for the manner by which the pins are moved, this is the same as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,457, the arrangement of which is shown in  FIG.  19   , where the end of the rod  55   c  is disposed at the axially outer end of the axial opening  57   c  in the weight  29   c  and the auxiliary weight  27   c  is connected to the anchorage  35   c  by the radially extending pins  97   c . The auxiliary weight  27   c  would also be connected to the anchorage  35   c  if the end of the rod  55   c  were at the axially inner end of the axial opening  57   c . As seen in  FIG.  7   , for example, the rod  55  is disposed at the axially inner end of the axial opening  57  of the first disc  29 , not inside the axial opening  57  between the inner end and the outer end, and the pin  97  has been extended outwardly to the radially outermost position. As seen in  FIG.  8   , when the end of the rod  55  is disposed between the axially inner end of the axial opening and the axially outer end, the pin is retracted to the radially innermost position. Except for the manner in which the pins are moved, this is the same as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,457, the arrangement of which is shown in  FIG.  20   , where the end of the rod  55   c  is disposed between the ends of the axial opening  57   c  in the weight  29   c  and the auxiliary weight  27   c  is not connected to the anchorage  35   c  by the radially retracted pins  97   c . As seen in  FIG.  9   , when the end of the rod  55  is disposed at the axially outer end of the axial opening  57 , the pin is again extended outwardly to the radially outermost position. 
     The pins  97  can be in the form of substantially rectangular boxes (seen in, e.g.,  FIG.  3   ) defining a chamber open on one side to receive approximately half of a spring  119  or other resilient structure so that opposite ends of the spring contact interior ends of the box. The other half of the spring  119  abuts on one (radially outer) end against an interior surface of the body of the anchorage  35  or, preferably, a surface of a pin housing  121 . The pin housing  121  can have a radially extending structure (not shown) to assist in retaining the spring  119  in the pin and relative to the pin housing. When the first portion  113  of the cam surface  111  contacts the inner end of the pin  97 , the pin is moved radially outward to the outermost position and the spring  119  is compressed against the inner surface of the pin housing. When the second portion  115  of the cam surface  111  is moved below the pin  97 , the spring  97  presses at one end against the inner surface of the pin housing  121  and at the other end against an inner surface of the pin and moves the pin inwardly to the innermost position. 
     An indexing arrangement for assisting in proper positioning of the rods  55  relative to the handle  33  so that the rods will be in optimal positions for attaching weights  27  and/or  29  can be provided. The indexing arrangement can include an indexing cam surface  123  attached to the handle  33 . In a presently preferred embodiment, the indexing cam surface  123  is an exterior surface of an end portion of the handle  33 , where, as seen in  FIG.  3   , the end portion of the handle comprises an opening  125  for receiving a portion  127  of the gear housing. The opening  125  in the end of the handle  33  and the gear housing portion  127  can be provided with grooves/ridges for preventing rotation of the gear housing  67  relative to the handle  33  when the gear housing portion is received in the opening. 
     As seen, for example, in  FIG.  5   , the indexing cam surface  123  has a first portion  129  with a first diameter and a second portion  131  with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A spring loaded, radially extending indexing pin  133  is movably attached to the anchorage  35  and movable between an innermost position (seen in, e.g.,  FIGS.  4 - 11   ) in which an innermost end  135  (e.g.,  FIGS.  10 - 11   ) of the indexing pin  133  contacts the second portion  131  of the indexing cam surface  123  when the handle  33  is rotated to an indexing position relative to the anchorage  35  and an outermost position ( FIG.  12   ) in which the innermost end of the indexing pin contacts the first portion  129  of the indexing cam surface when the handle is rotated to a non-indexing position relative to the anchorage. 
     The indexing pin  133  can be spring loaded by a spring (not shown) or other resilient structure in a chamber of the pin in substantially the same manner as the pins  97  for the auxiliary weight  27 , with the spring held in place by a protrusion (not shown) on the pin housing  121 . It will be appreciated that the structures of the pins  97  and  133  can be substantially identical and that the description of the operation of the pin  97  applies equally to the manner of operation of the pin  133 . The pin  133  and spring are arranged such that movement of the handle  33  relative to the anchorage  35  from the indexing position to the non-indexing position is against a force of the spring. 
     The indexing cam surface  123  will ordinarily comprise a plurality of first portions  129  and an equal plurality of second portions  131 . When the handle  33  is rotated relative to the anchorage  35  to an indexing position, i.e., the innermost end  135  of the indexing pin  133  contacts a second portion  131 , the rods  55  will be properly positioned for attaching anywhere from zero to whatever the maximum number of weight discs  29  is for the particular weight apparatus  21 , and the auxiliary weight pins  97  will be properly positioned for attaching or not attaching the auxiliary weights  27 . 
     When the handle  33  is rotated relative to the anchorage  35  to a non-indexing position, i.e., the innermost end  135  of the indexing pin  133  contacts a first portion  129 , the rods  55  may not be optimally positioned for attaching weight discs  29  and the auxiliary weight pins  97  may not be optimally positioned for attaching or not attaching the auxiliary weights  27 . In the non-indexing position, the outermost end  137  of the indexing pin  133  extends beyond the external surface  103  of the anchorage  35 . As seen in  FIG.  2   , the bar seat  53  on the base  23  includes one or more recesses  139 . Ordinarily, the handle  33  can only be turned relative to the anchorage  35  while the anchorage is received in the bar seat  53  and the lock  87  is released. If the handle  33  is turned relative to the anchorage  35  to a non-indexing position, the outermost ends  137  of the indexing pins  133  will be received in the recesses  139  of the bar seat  53  on the base  23 , and it will not be possible to lift the bar from the base. 
     Ordinarily, the indexing cam surface  123  will be configured to have twice as many first and second portions  129  and  131  as the cam surface  111  for contacting the pins  97  for the auxiliary weights  27  on the exterior surface  109  of the gear housing  67 . In this way, for each additional weight disc  29  that the rods  55  attach to the bar  31 , the rods can be indexed in either of two positions. In a first one of the positions in which, ordinarily, the rods  55  extend only about half of the way through the axial openings  57  of respective ones of the weight discs  29 , and the position of the cam surface  111  will be such that the auxiliary weight disc pins  97  will not extend beyond the exterior surface  103  of the anchorage  35  and the auxiliary weight disc  27  will not be attached to the anchorage. In a second one of the positions, the rods  55  will ordinarily extend fully into but not beyond the axial openings  57  of respective ones of the weight discs  29 , and the position of the cam surface  111  will be such that the auxiliary weight disc pins  97  extend beyond the exterior surface  103  of the anchorage  35  and are received in the openings  107  in the auxiliary weight disc and the auxiliary weight disc will be attached to the anchorage. Usually, the auxiliary weight disc  27  will be half the weight of the weight discs  29  so that a user can incrementally increase the weight to be lifted by half the weight of the weight discs  29 , rather than have to increase the weight by the entire weight of the larger weight disc. The auxiliary weight disc  27  can be attached to the anchorage  35  before the rods  55  extend axially out of the end of the tube  43 , i.e., before any weight disc  29  is attached to the bar  31 . 
     Components of the weight apparatus can be made in a variety of suitable ways, and from a variety of suitable materials. As seen in  FIG.  16   , it may be convenient in some circumstances to make the handle  33  from two halves  33   a  and  33   b  having facing surfaces joined together along a plane extending along a longitudinal axis of the handle. While the embodiment of  FIG.  16    can have an entire handle that rotates relative to the anchorages  35   a  and  35   b  to move the rods  55 , the rods may instead be moved by rotating only an end of the handle in the form of a separate ring  67   a  that can be provided by just one of the anchorages  35   a  or  35   b , or, if preferred, by both of the anchorages. The rest of the handle may be non-rotatable relative to the anchorages  35   a  and  35   b . Where a rotatable ring  67   a  is provided, a variety of suitable gripping structures  67   b  can be provided on the exterior surface of the ring to facilitate gripping and turning of the ring. 
     In the embodiments thus far described, the pinion gear  59  engages directly with the rack  65  on the rods  55 . However, as seen in  FIGS.  16 - 17   , it may be convenient in some circumstances to provide an intermediate belt  141  with inner and outer teeth for engaging with the pinion gear  59  and the rack  65 . In the design of the bar  31  shown in  FIGS.  3 - 5  and  10 - 12   , each anchorage  35  will ordinarily, but not necessarily, have a gear drive arrangement such as a bevel gear arrangement for rotating the pinion gear  59  upon rotation of the handle  33  relative to the anchorage  35 . Providing the belt  141  can facilitate using a single gear drive arrangement in one of the anchorages to drive pinion gears in both anchorages as seen in  FIG.  17   , such as might be useful when providing a ring  67   a  instead of a rotatable handle to move the rods  55 , particularly relative to having one of the pinion gears not being driven other than by virtue of movement of the racks  65  on the rods  55 . 
       FIG.  18    shows an alternative form of auxiliary weight  27 ′. Instead of the auxiliary weight  27 ′ being connected to a handle by a lock comprising spring loaded pins as in the embodiments described in connection with, e.g.,  FIGS.  12 - 15   , the auxiliary weight is adapted to be connected to the handle via a lock comprising one or more prongs  97 ′ on the auxiliary weight and one or more openings  107   a  in an axially extending portion of the gear housing  67   a . In a position in which the auxiliary weight  27 ′ is not attached to the handle, as seen in  FIG.  18   , the prongs  97 ′ align with the openings  107   a  in the axially extending portion of the gear housing  67   a  on which the interior teeth  85   a  are provided. When the gear housing  67   a  is turned relative to the auxiliary weight  27 ′ so that the prongs  97 ′ are not aligned with the openings  107   a , the auxiliary weight is attached to the handle. The openings  107   a  are ordinarily located so that the auxiliary weight  27 ′ will be locked to the handle when the rod, e.g., the rod  55 , is disposed at the axially innermost end or the axially outermost end of the axial opening  57  in one of the weight discs  29  attached to the handle, but not when the rod is disposed between the axially innermost or outermost ends of the axial opening(s) in the weight discs. In this way, the auxiliary weight  27 ′ can be used to more incrementally increase the amount of weight on the bar between additional weight discs. The gear housing  67   a  can be of the ring type rotatable relative to the anchorages and the rest of the handle as shown in  FIG.  16   , of the type shown in  FIGS.  3 - 12    that is rotatable relative to the anchorages but not the handle, or of a variety of other suitable forms. In addition, instead of a gear housing, the openings  107   a  may be formed in any suitable, axially extending annular portion of the handle that is rotatable relative to the anchorages, such as an indexing ring portion of the handle described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/744,965, 12/744,972, 12/744,975, and 13/412,457. 
     In all embodiments, the auxiliary weight  27 ′ is ordinarily locked to the handle when the rod, such as the rod  55 , is disposed at one of the ends of the axially extending opening through one of the weight discs  29  attached to the handle, but is unlocked from the handle when the rod is disposed between the ends of the axially extending opening through one of the weight discs attached to the handle. This is illustrated by the arrangement described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,457, which is shown in  FIGS.  19  and  20   , where, in  FIG.  19   , the end of the rod  55   c  is disposed at the end of the axial opening  57   c  in the weight  29   c  and the auxiliary weight  27   c  is connected to the anchorage  35   c  by the radially extending pins  97   c  and, in  FIG.  20   , where the end of the rod is disposed between the ends of the axial opening in the weight and the auxiliary weight is not connected to the anchorage by the radially retracted pins. 
     In the present application, the use of terms such as “including” is open-ended and is intended to have the same meaning as terms such as “comprising” and not preclude the presence of other structure, material, or acts. Similarly, though the use of terms such as “can” or “may” is intended to be open-ended and to reflect that structure, material, or acts are not necessary, the failure to use such terms is not intended to reflect that structure, material, or acts are essential. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are presently considered to be essential, they are identified as such. 
     While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.