Patent Publication Number: US-2016220887-A1

Title: Exercising Device with Locking and Positioning Structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an exercising device and, more particularly, to an exercising device which is like a kettlebell. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional exercising device in accordance with the prior art shown in  FIG. 14  comprises two hollow shells  50  combined with each other, two grips  60  mounted on the hollow shells  50  respectively, and two weight modules  70  mounted in the hollow shells  50  respectively. Each of the hollow shells  50  is provided with a mounting groove  55 . Each of the weight modules  70  includes a positioning member  80  secured in the respective hollow shell  50 , a swinging member  86  pivotally mounted on the positioning member  80 , and a driving member  56  pivotally mounted on the respective hollow shell  50  and abutting the swinging member  86 . The positioning member  80  of each of the weight modules  70  is provided with two passages  85  and two recessed locking portions  88 . The swinging member  86  of each of the weight modules  70  is provided with two locking hooks  861  extended through the passages  85  of the positioning member  80 , and two springs  862  biased between the locking hooks  861  and the positioning member  80 . The locking hooks  861  of the swinging member  86  of one of the weight modules  70  are detachably locked onto the locking portions  88  of the positioning member  80  of the other one of the weight modules  70 , so that the weight modules  70  are combined together, and the hollow shells  50  are combined together. The driving member  56  of each of the weight modules  70  is pivotally mounted in the mounting groove  55  of the respective hollow shell  50 . When the driving member  56  of each of the weight modules  70  is pivoted to press the swinging member  86 , the swinging member  86  of each of the weight modules  70  is pivoted, so that the locking hooks  861  of the swinging member  86  of each of the weight modules  70  are unlocked and detached from the locking portions  88  of the positioning member  80  of each of the weight modules  70 . Thus, the weight modules  70  are detached from each other, and the hollow shells  50  are separated from each other. However, when the user unintentionally touches the driving member  56  of each of the weight modules  70  during the exercising process, the swinging member  86  of each of the weight modules  70  is pivoted, and the locking hooks  861  of the swinging member  86  of each of the weight modules  70  are detached from the locking portions  88  of the positioning member  80  of each of the weight modules  70  so that the weight modules  70  are detached from each other, and the hollow shells  50  are separated from each other, thereby easily causing danger to the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exercising device with a locking and positioning structure. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exercising device comprising two hollow housings corresponding to and combined with each other, two positioning switches mounted on the two hollow housings respectively, and two positioning plates combined with the two hollow housings respectively. Each of the two hollow housings has a periphery provided with two lugs and a handgrip mounted between the two lugs. Each of the two hollow housings is provided with a slideway which extends through one of the two lugs. The slideway of each of the two hollow housings has a periphery provided with two guide channels between which each of the two positioning switches is slidable. Each of the two positioning plates is provided with a first through hole a second through hole, a plurality of positioning members, and a plurality of positioning slots. Each of the positioning members has a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. Each of the positioning members of one of the two positioning plates is slidable and releasably lockable in each of the positioning slots of the other one of the two positioning plates. Each of the positioning slots has a large-diameter section and a small-diameter section. Each of the two positioning switches has a drive portion protruding outward from the slideway of each of the two hollow housings. Each of the two positioning switches extends through the first through hole of one of the two hollow housings and the second through hole of the other one of the two hollow housings. 
     Preferably, each of the two positioning switches has a distal end provided with a protruding locking portion. 
     Preferably, each of the two hollow housings has a peripheral portion provided with a plurality of openings, and each of the two positioning plates has a peripheral portion provided with a plurality of positioning projections locked in the openings of each of the two hollow housings. 
     In assembly, after the large-diameter portion of each of the positioning members of one of the two positioning plates is inserted into the large-diameter section of each of the positioning slots of the other one of the two positioning plates, the two positioning plates are rotated in opposite directions, so that the small-diameter portion of each of the positioning members of one of the two positioning plates slides into the small-diameter section of each of the positioning slots of the other one of the two positioning plates, to lock and position the two positioning plates mutually, and to combine the two hollow housings. 
     Preferably, each of the two hollow housings has an interior provided with a plurality of protruding pillars, and each of the two positioning plates is provided with a plurality of hollow mounting posts having a first side mounted on the protruding pillars of each of the two hollow housings and a second side combined with each of the positioning members. 
     According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the two positioning plates are locked mutually to lock and position the two hollow housings, and the two positioning switches are operated to lock and position the two hollow housings, so that the two hollow housings are locked and positioned with a double locking and positioning function, thereby preventing the two hollow housings from being detached from each other accidentally during the exercising process, so as to ensure the user&#39;s safety. 
     According to another advantage of the present invention, the hollow mounting posts of each of the two positioning plates are mounted on the protruding pillars of each of the two hollow housings, and the positioning projections of each of the two positioning plates are locked in the openings of each of the two hollow housings, so that the two positioning plates are respectively juxtaposed to the two hollow housings solidly and stably, without producing vibration. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercising device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a locally enlarged view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top operational assembly view showing combination of the positioning plate and the hollow housing of the exercising device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partially perspective cross-sectional view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partially rear cross-sectional operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic operational view of the exercising device as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional exercising device in accordance with the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-9 , an exercising device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises two hollow housings  10  corresponding to and combined with each other, two positioning switches  14  mounted on the two hollow housings  10  respectively, and two positioning plates  20  combined with the two hollow housings  10  respectively. 
     Each of the two hollow housings  10  has a periphery provided with two lugs  101  and a handgrip  11  mounted between the two lugs  101 . Each of the two hollow housings  10  is provided with a slideway  12  which extends through one of the two lugs  101 . The slideway  12  of each of the two hollow housings  10  has a periphery provided with two guide channels  13  between which each of the two positioning switches  14  is slidable. 
     Each of the two positioning plates  20  is provided with a first through hole  21 , a second through hole  22 , a plurality of positioning members  23 , and a plurality of positioning slots  24 . Each of the positioning members  23  has a large-diameter portion  231  and a small-diameter portion  232 . Each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  is slidable and releasably lockable in each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20 . Each of the positioning slots  24  has a large-diameter section  241  and a small-diameter section  242 . 
     In assembly, after the large-diameter portion  231  of each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  is inserted into the large-diameter section  241  of each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20 , the two positioning plates  20  are rotated in opposite directions, so that the small-diameter portion  232  of each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  slides into the small-diameter section  242  of each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20 , to lock and position the two positioning plates  20  mutually, and to combine the two hollow housings  10 . 
     Each of the two positioning switches  14  has a drive portion  141  protruding outward from the slideway  12  of each of the two hollow housings  10 . Each of the two positioning switches  14  extends through the first through hole  21  of one of the two hollow housings  10  and the second through hole  22  of the other one of the two hollow housings  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Each of the two positioning switches  14  has a distal end provided with a protruding locking portion  142  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two hollow housings  10  has a peripheral portion provided with a plurality of openings  15 , and each of the two positioning plates  20  has a peripheral portion provided with a plurality of positioning projections  25  locked in the openings  15  of each of the two hollow housings  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two hollow housings  10  has an interior provided with a plurality of protruding pillars  16 , and each of the two positioning plates  20  is provided with a plurality of hollow mounting posts  26  having a first side mounted on the protruding pillars  16  of each of the two hollow housings  10  and a second side combined with each of the positioning members  23 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two positioning plates  20  has a face provided with a receiving recess  27  and a mounting tube  28  received in the receiving recess  27 . The exercising device further comprises a plurality of weighting rings  40  mounted on the mounting tube  28  of each of the two positioning plates  20  and received in the receiving recess  27  of each of the two positioning plates  20 , and two covers  30  combined with the two positioning plates  20  respectively to limit the weighting rings  40  in each of the two positioning plates  20 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receiving recess  27  of each of the two positioning plates  20  has a peripheral wall provided with a plurality of deep grooves  271  and a plurality of shallow grooves  272  adjoining the deep grooves  271 . Each of the two covers  30  has a peripheral wall provided with a plurality of protruding blocks  31 . In assembly, after the protruding blocks  31  of each of the two covers  30  are inserted into the deep grooves  271  of each of the two positioning plates  20 , each of the two covers  30  is rotated relative to each of the two positioning plates  20 , so that the protruding blocks  31  of each of the two covers  30  are inserted into the shallow grooves  272  of each of the two positioning plates  20 , to position each of the two covers  30  onto each of the two positioning plates  20 . 
     In operation, referring to  FIGS. 6-13  with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the two positioning plates  20  are initially combined with the two hollow housings  10  respectively. Then, each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  is inserted into the large-diameter section  241  of each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20 . Then, the two positioning plates  20  are rotated in opposite directions, so that each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  slides into the small-diameter section  242  of each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Thus, the two positioning plates  20  are locked mutually so that the two hollow housings  10  are combined together. On the contrary, the two positioning plates  20  are again rotated in opposite directions, so that each of the positioning members  23  of one of the two positioning plates  20  slides into the large-diameter section  241  of each of the positioning slots  24  of the other one of the two positioning plates  20  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Thus, the two positioning plates  20  are unlocked from each other so that the two hollow housings  10  can be detached from each other. 
     On the other hand, when the drive portion  141  of each of the two positioning switches  14  is driven as shown in  FIG. 9 , the protruding locking portion  142  of each of the two positioning switches  14  is moved in the first through hole  21  of one of the two hollow housings  10  and inserted into and locked in the second through hole  22  of the other one of the two hollow housings  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 , so that the two hollow housings  10  are locked and positioned by the two positioning switches  14 . On the contrary, when the drive portion  141  of each of the two positioning switches  14  is driven in the opposite direction as shown in  FIG. 13 , the protruding locking portion  142  of each of the two positioning switches  14  is detached from the second through hole  22  of the other one of the two hollow housings  10  and retracted into the first through hole  21  of one of the two hollow housings  10  as shown in  FIG. 12 , so that the two hollow housings  10  are unlocked from the two positioning switches  14 . 
     Accordingly, the two positioning plates  20  are locked mutually to lock and position the two hollow housings  10 , and the two positioning switches  14  are operated to lock and position the two hollow housings  10 , so that the two hollow housings  10  are locked and positioned with a double locking and positioning function, thereby preventing the two hollow housings  10  from being detached from each other accidentally during the exercising process, so as to ensure the user&#39;s safety. In addition, the hollow mounting posts  26  of each of the two positioning plates  20  are mounted on the protruding pillars  16  of each of the two hollow housings  10 , and the positioning projections  25  of each of the two positioning plates  20  are locked in the openings  15  of each of the two hollow housings  10 , so that the two positioning plates  20  are respectively juxtaposed to the two hollow housings  10  solidly and stably, without producing vibration. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.